PROFESSIONAL LIVERPOOL (PL)is reporting its membership has grown by 50% over the past six months.

The organisation, which represents members of the city region’s professional and financial services sector revealed at its AGM that membership had grown from around 60 to more than 90.

Over the past year PL has faced a fight for its survival after losing its £200,000-a-year Northwest Development Agency funding last year – 80% of its budget.

It was forced to part company with its then chief executive Mark Chadwick who has gone on to form a rival body called LCR.

PL chairman Jim Gill told members at the AGM at Liverpool Chamber of Commerce that the outlook for 2012 was “optimistic”.

He added that PL now had an executive resource “which will allow us to deliver what the members want”.

Earlier this year PL appointed the former managing partner of Liverpool law firm Bermans, John Hall, as its chief executive.

He told LDP Business: “The support I have received has been overwhelming. It is clear that the business community recognises the need for PL to be strong and active.”

PL has now put together a programme of events for this year and next.