Radar: Festival of Entrepreneurship

The GEC Festival of Entrepreneurship brings Branson, Heseltine and Leahy to Liverpool in March.

A festival of entrepreneurs? Is that the recognised collective noun? Either way that’s what’s coming to Liverpool in March.

Who exactly is part of the festival entrepreneurs, SevenStreets, we hear you cry. Well, Richard Branson for one. Michael Heseltine for another. And Liverpool’s own Terry Leahy, ex CEO of Tesco (the one who’s blamed for the store’s disastrous Christmas performance. Moving swiftly on…)

They’ll all be talking about unleashing the will to win, apparently. And common themes will be based around things passion (Who Dares Wins); people (Who Cares Wins); and potential (Who Shares Wins). We’re assured this is for real.

All scoffing aside though - and ignoring the appalingly cliched thinkspeak - the assembly of some of the UK’s most famous business brains in the city can’t be a bad thing; the last two were in Dubai and Shanghai - and follows a theme of Liverpool increasingly being used as a venue for such high-level conferences. And with them, hopefully, more attention on Liverpool and more money flowing into the local economy.

Talking of which, the city’s go-to App developers, Apposing, have created the event’s official app.

Director, Dave Brown said: “The event looks set to be a great triumph for Liverpool, showcasing what the city has to offer while also strengthening business links across the world. We wanted the app to give delegates everything they need to fully take advantage of what the Congress can offer them. It will be a jam-packed few days, but the app will give users the tools to take it all in and work it to their advantage.”

The Global Entrepreneurship Congress is an inspirational gathering of entrepreneurs, thought-leaders, economists and policy makers from more than 120 countries and anyone of any age or background who ever had a dream of running their own business.

With a far reaching range of ‘once in a lifetime’ events for everyone from students to technology geeks; inventors to investors – and ordinary people who have a dream of living an extraordinary life, the event’s organisers are hoping for a turn out of around 5,000. With over 25 official GEC 2012 events over the week, there’s every chance your Big Idea could get the kick-start you’ve been looking for.

Details are fairly scant, so we’re not sure exactly what’s going on and where at the moment but there are gala dinners and cocktails receptions if you’re willing to put your hands in your pockets - as well as themed days on women’s entrepreneurship, social enterprise and a Liverpool Business Fair.

GEC Festival of Entrepreneurship
Liverpool Echo Arena and Convention Centre
9-16 March 2012