TESCO chief executive Sir Terry Leahy will speak up for his home town when he addresses an audience of business leaders at an event in London this morning.

The event, called Doing Business in Liverpool – City of Opportunity, is organised by inward investment agency The Mersey Partnership (TMP) and the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA). It will highlight the economic renaissance across the Liverpool city region and outline business opportunities that are available.

Sir Terry and other speakers will address an invited audience of London-based industrialists, investors, intermediaries and professional services sector representatives.

“They will hear from senior figures currently committing significant investment to their operations in Merseyside.

Mark Basnett, TMP’s director responsible for inward investment, said: “Liverpool city region has experienced strong economic growth and market confidence during the last six years.

“This fact and the evidence which underpins it, together with new investment opportunities arising from very significant developments now taking place, provide a compelling business proposition which is distinctive to Liverpool city region – not available in any of our competitor locations. In terms of business growth, people and skills, research and innovation assets, property and price we are offering the market something unique, and that is the resounding message we will be taking to the City.”

Other speakers will include TMP chief executive Lorraine Rogers, NWDA chief executive Steve Broomhead, Grosvenor director Rodney Holmes, Mark Powell, executive chairman of Rathbone Brothers, and David Cassidy, chief executive of JPMorgan Invest (UK).

Ms Rogers said: “Independent research commissioned by TMP last year confirms that, overall, Liverpool put in a strong performance to rank in third place in the Image League of UK cities likely to secure investment.

“Forty per cent of all companies asked said they would consider the city as a location to invest. We intend to build on that by showcasing in more detail to an important audience exactly what is available to businesses and the people they employ.

“A further key message we will relay is our lifestyle offer which really does place the city region apart from others.”

tonymcdonough