Insider Media Limited

Birmingham is looking to capitalise on a "huge conference" involving the Liberal Democrats which starts in the city this weekend. Marketing Birmingham's commercial director Ian Taylor told Insider he hopes the event will put forward a "positive image" of the city while business leaders attempt to influence policy makers in areas such as high-speed rail and manufacturing. The conference is expected to contribute up to £12m to the city economy.

Taylor, who is heavily involved in the city's business tourism programme, said: "It's a huge conference however you look at it and the sixth political conference in the city in four years.

"It's not just about the spend in the visitor economy, it's the opportunity to profile Birmingham at the heart of the national agenda. The eyes and ears of the UK media will be there.

"It's about getting a positive image of Birmingham out there - an image of a fantastic conference centre and backdrop."

He explained how 8,000 delegates and more than 1,600 UK journalists are expected to attend the party's annual autumn event at the ICC taking place from tomorrow (17 September) to Thursday (22 September). He also said a standard formula incorporating hotel, food and drink spend calculated that the influx of visitors are likely to contribute £12m to Birmingham's economy.

While putting forward a positive image only weeks after the city riots is important, Taylor said the conference offers an opportunity for city leaders to influence a party in government on transport infrastructure, green issues and enterprise zones and investment.

City organisations are putting on a series of fringe events around the conference. They include sessions on nuclear power, local enterprise partnerships, manufacturing and stimulating jobs. They will form part of more than 500 fringe events taking place.

Taylor said: "Our job will be to make sure the key people understand our messages. It's about communicating our successes and our ability to demonstrate what we can do.

"Birmingham is a very diverse and dynamic economy and we are doing a whole host of stuff whch will have an impact on the UK."

He said that Birmingham's central location and conference facilities has been successful in attracting high-profile events with the Conservatives set to return to the West Midlands next year - just two years since they were last in Birmingham.

Paul Tilsley, deputy leader of Birmingham City Council, previously said: "With party conferences come influential figures and the UK's media, particularly when it involves the government of the day, providing a unique opportunity to show the city at its best. The impact of a conference such as this on Birmingham's profile is significant."