Peel announced as major sponsor of the International Festival for Business 2014

The Group, which has development, port, logistics, media and energy interests in the North West, will become an official festival supporter for the two-month event being staged in Liverpool this summer.

Peel’s sponsorship follows its backing for the City of Liverpool’s presence at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai. The sponsorship package includes a financial investment from Peel as well as in-kind support.

Peel, through its Land & Property arm, is behind the Liverpool Waters and Wirral Waters schemes to redevelop the city’s waterfronts. Peel Ports is responsible for the development of the new Liverpool 2 container terminal. All three projects are key pillars of Ocean Gateway – Peel’s 50-year vision for the revitalisation of the North West economy.

The International Festival for Business takes place in June and July and is a UK-government supported national and international festival which is being positioned as the ideal way to make global business connections, with the strapline ‘meet your global network’.

It’s thought that some 250,000 people will visit the city during the festival – many from overseas – and more than 100 events are scheduled to take place over the two-month period. Peel is also the joint headline sponsor of the World Corporate Games that take place in Liverpool between 26 - 29 June 2014 and form part of the International Festival for Business.

Lindsey Ashworth, Development Director for Peel Land & Property, said: “Our vision for Liverpool Waters and Wirral Waters has already taken us around the globe as we promote the Liverpool city region and the UK to potential inward investors. The festival provides us with the perfect platform on which to build on and continue the excellent progress already made with these projects.”

“We’re working hard with the International Festival for Business to leverage the many overseas contacts we’ve made in recent years.”

Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said: “The festival will give businesses of whatever size an opportunity to work with government, with trade bodies and with supply partners to open discussions with overseas customers. It is dialogue and human contact that pushes a sale over the line and the IFB provides the region’s businesses with the perfect platform, on home turf, to win in new markets.”

Ian McCarthy, Director of the International festival of Business, welcomed the commitment from Peel and said that he was in advanced discussions with other sponsors.

“We’re starting to hit our stride in terms of negotiations and we’re delighted that one of the North West’s leading investors and employers has recognised the value we bring to businesses seeking to boost their profile in overseas markets.

“We’ve been delighted by the level of interest from businesses across the North West in the IFB. They see it as their festival and recognise the quality of the infrastructure we have here in Liverpool to host such an event.”