A key entrepreneurship event will turn the global spotlight on Liverpool. Alex Turner reports

LIVERPOOL will host a global conference on entrepreneurship next year in what has been billed as a “milestone” for the city.

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Sir Paul McCartney and former Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy have all been approached to speak at the 2012 Global Entrepreneurship Congress.

The five-day conference will be held at the Echo Arena and BT Convention Centre from March 12-16, 2012.

About 500 people from more than 100 countries are expected to attend next year, with up to 50 Ministers of State among the delegates. Economists, experts and entrepreneurs from around the world will make up the rest of the attendees.

Liverpool will be following on from previous host cities, Kansas City, Dubai and Liverpool’s sister city Shanghai, which is hosting the 2011 event this week.

Cllr Joe Anderson, leader of Liverpool City Council, said he was “really excited” about the Congress.

“We are talking about another great milestone in Liverpool’s renaissance,” he said.

“Last week, we were talking about the extension of the Arena and Conference Centre, now this. To win this accolade just shows what a fantastic brand Liverpool is and what a fantastic city we have to sell – a modern city, a vibrant city.

“It’s building on the likes of Capital of Culture and the Shanghai Expo. I know it will be a great success.

“I would encourage you to go out and give the message to others that Liverpool is back. It’s punching its weight – not above its weight, but punching its weight.”

The congress is organised by the Kauffman Foundation, a non-profit foundation based in Kansas City, Missouri, which studies and promotes all aspects of entrepreneurship and is the driving force for Global Entrepreneurship Week.

“We had a great deal of competition, the interest was pretty wide,” said Carl Schramm, president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation.

“Liverpool had the strongest proposal – with the endorsements of Sir Terry Leahy, Gordon Brown and Lord Heseltine.