HowMaxSteinbergmakes Liverpool good for business
WHEN CHANCELLOR George Osborne asked to meet him, Max Steinberg knew he had created a successful Merseyside-based business forum.
As chairman of the inaugural International Festival of Business in 2014, he helped to turn a few million pounds of government investment into an estimated £200 million of trade by bringing together representatives of thousands of businesses from around the globe.
The “three weeks of deal-making” also led to 6,000 British companies exporting for the first time and created up to 8,000 new jobs.
So it was unsurprising that Mr Osborne wanted the chief executive of Liverpool Vision — the city council’s economic development arm — to organise a follow-up.
“He said that what he was hearing was that the festival was very positive for business, that the government would undertake to hold it again in 2016, and that they wanted me to chair it again.”
Now the second festival is in full swing, partnered with such major players as Google, HSBC and BT.
More than 30,000 delegates from 100 countries as diverse as Brazil, China and Nigeria have gathered at Liverpool’s Exhibition Centre. Speakers include WPP’s Sir Martin Sorrell, Aston Martin head Andy Palmer and former South African President FW De Klerk.
The government has put £6.5 mil- lion into the event and is this time anticipating £269 million worth of new business. Fifteen Israeli companies have sent senior representatives.
That the festival has also attracted two Israeli government delegations pleases Mr Steinberg, who was senior warden at Liverpool’s now defunct Greenbank Drive Synagogue and chaired the local King David High School for 15 years.
“The festival allows Israeli and UK companies to meet, share knowledge and, most importantly, to do deals helping to create jobs in both the UK and Israel.”
He took the Liverpool Vision job in 2010 after long-time involvement in housing and economic development at council and government level.