Sefton Economic Forum
The Sefton Economic Forum is the key business event held twice a year by InvestSefton. It is a great opportunity to hear about what is happening for businesses in Sefton, and to network with other business owners.
Following each forum is the Business Support Marketplace where businesses can see what help and support is available across the Liverpool City Region.
Our latest forum was held on Thursday 14th November 2024 at The Lake House in Waterloo and had talks from the Bank of England, The Kings Award for Enterprise and Mersey Care. The Forum was chaired by Joanne McIntyre, Managing Director & Clinical Lead at local business Promed Health & Derma.
All of the mornings presentations can be viewed here:
There is also a post from Sefton Council including a short video from the morning which can be viewed on the MySefton website.
If you would like to find out more about the Economic Forum please call Dom and Sharon on 0151 934 3452 or email on investsefton@sefton.gov.uk
Our next Economic Forum will be held on Thursday 12th June 2025 at Formby Hall.
There will be talks by
- Economist, Christian Spence who will give an update on the economy
- Ruth Wildhart from Matchstick Creative will highlight how SMEs can benefit from ‘Good Growth’ principles
- Joe Keegan from LCR Combined Authority will talk about opportunities for businesses to upskill
- Alan Adams, Board Member of LCR Local Visitor Partnership and Southport Flower Show General Manager will provide an update on the 2025 Southport Flower Show and opportunities for businesses.
The Forum will be chaired by Chris Lewis from Merseyside Expanding Horizons.
Summer Economic Forum
Our summer Economic Forum was held on Thursday 6th June at Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa.
With over 150 delegates the Forum was a great success.
Presentations on the day included:
Christian Spence- Economist
Mo Maghazachi- Everton Football Club
Anthony Walker and Jim Mooney- Horizons Project
The Forum was chaired by Fiona McGregor from Southport based business One Media Solutions Ltd.
Winter Economic Forum
Our winter Economic Forum was held on Thursday 7th December 2023 at The Lake House in Waterloo.
Over 100 businesses were in attendance along with 30 organisations in the marketplace offering funded support for businesses in the Liverpool City Region. The speaker line up was as follows:
- Christian Spence- Economist
- Danny Donachie- Business coach and mentor at Embodyism and former Head of Medical Services at Everton FC
- Phil Porter– Chief Executive of Sefton Council
- Robin Tudor – Liverpool John Lennon Airport
The forum was chaired by Vince Luk, Director of local business iFi Audio.
Christian Spence, Economic Presentation Christian Spence
Liverpool John Lennon Airport – Robin Tudor Robin Tudor December 2023
Summer Economic Forum
A brilliant turnout at the Sefton Economic Forum attended by some 150 businesses in the beautiful surroundings of Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa with a diverse range of excellent and informative presentations on the economy, innovation, regeneration and business support in the borough. We also had a great update by the Chair of Marine FC Cara Leach, on Marine FC and their growing impact in the community.
Christian Spence, Economic presentation Christian Spence slides SEF June 2023
Innovate UK EDGE IUK_EDGE- Sefton Economic Forum June 2023
Assistant Director of Economic Growth and Housing Assistant Director EGH Presentation SEF June 2023
Sefton Economic Forum and Growth Hub Marketplace
The Lake House Thursday in Crosby, which is a new enterprise owned by Sefton Council, was the setting for the Sefton Economic Forum on 8th December 2022.
The forum covered a variety of topics as well as provided an economic update from the Bank of England.
The forum was a relaxed and informal event, with many opportunities for networking and meeting other business owners, leaders and support providers from across Sefton and the City Region.
Presentations from the day:
Bank of England Economic Update
Introduction to BIPC Liverpool City Region
Introduction to Export Academy
Liverpool John Lennon Airport Update Winter 2022
Kickstart Your Summer
The July 2022 Sefton Economic Forum was held at Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa with the main focus of the event being on the economy. We had guest speakers from Formby Hall, Bank of England, Manchester Metropolitan University, Mickledore Ltd, Angel Solutions, and Edge Hill University. The Growth Hub Marketplace was also included to see the support available for businesses across the Liverpool City Region.
Presentations from the day:
Putt Your Business to the Fore!
The December Sefton Economic Forum was held at Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa with the main focus of the event being on the North West economy. We had guest speakers from Formby Hall, Southport FC, Bank of England and University of Liverpool. The event was very well attended and included the Growth Hub Marketplace to see the support available for business across the Liverpool City Region.
Presentations from the day:
Bank of England Sefton Economic Forum Formby 7 December 2018
Sefton Economic Forum – 7 Dec 2018 uni lpool(TH)
Have I Got News for You in Netherton 8th June 2018
The Park Hotel was the setting for the Sefton Economic Forum in June. Guest Speakers included Tony Evans, former football Editor from The Times, Robin Tudor from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Peter Moore from Sefton Council on future supply opportunities with the Council and how local businesses can access them. Rob Capleton from International Business Festival talked about the SMART technologies available at the Festival.
If you were feeling peckish, there was high quality cheese and and artisan crisp breads to sample from Elite Food Cheese Importers Ltd and PlainTasty Ltd. Both businesses have had support from InvestSefton under the Business Growth Programme.
Opportunities Landing in Southport 17th November 2017
The Autumn Economic Forum was held at the Ramada in Southport. Guest speakers BLISS hotels, new owners of the Ramada, Pete Sandman, Head of Visitor Economy from Liverpool LEP, Robin Tudor from Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Julie Swarbrick Growth Programme Business Adviser. Each presenter gave a great insight at how tourism is great for business.
Light entertainment was provided by a local magician David Burgess who has been working with InvestSefton Growth Programme.
The Future for Business is Digital 19th May 2017
The Sefton Economic Forum in May focussed on digital technology, and how it is fast becoming the biggest tool for companies. The Forum explored how to make the most of digital technology in your business, and how it can help your business to grow. The Forum was followed by the Growth Hub Marketplace, giving delegates the opportunity to browse the available funded business support from across the Liverpool City Region.
Brexit, the Economy and Sefton 25th November 2016
Businesses across the LCR region descended on Crosby Lakeside to find out more about the future of the borough and Brexit at the Sefton Economic Forum. The event featured talks from business leaders actively finding out how our economy is changing following Brexit and making sure that they are ready for any challenges they may face.
Presentations from the day:
Simon Hooton (Director, Regeneris): ‘Sefton Economic Assessment and Strategy’
Christian Spence (Head of Research & Policy, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce): ‘The UK Economy and Brexit- What does it mean?‘
