Verbal report.

The Director of Corporate Services gave a presentation outlining the Invest Wirral’s role and responsibilities in providinginformation and support to help businesses grow and develop, including:

-  locating business premises

-  links to key business support organisations

-  training and skills knowledge

-  funding support

-  networking and events

-  supplier links

-  business partner collaboration

-  apprenticeship opportunities

-  inward and local investment enquiries

He provided key statistics for the past year highlighting performance against targets for jobs created/safeguarded, and investment.

The Director gave some specific examples of the range of work with local companies to assist their development plans; partnership working with a range of business support organisations; development of the Wirral Business Forum; organisation of key business promotion events; and participation in international events to raise awareness and create opportunities for overseas trade and investment.

The Director responded to a range of questions from members including:

-  the potential for increasing membership of the Business Forum;

-  Wirral’s initiative in taking the lead for communicating the “green” agenda across the North West Region through the Green Power Forum, the availability of government funding, and the potential locally for  training schemes utilising ‘ Green Deal ‘ and Skills Agency funding.

Resolved – That the Committee thank the Director for his presentation and note the achievement against the key performance indicators relating to jobs created/safeguarded, and investment.