Expo plans to ramp up business engagement

The World Expo in Shanghai reached its halfway point yesterday with Oliver Hayakawa, director of the Liverpool Shanghai Partnership, telling Insider that delegates from Liverpool planned to use the next three months to ramp up engagement with Chinese businesses. As the city's pavilion is now at full capacity – attracting between 5,000 and 6,000 visitors each day – Hayakawa said the main focus would be to attract more high-profile dignitaries in the hope of creating new inward investment opportunities.

Liverpool takeover back in spotlight

The takeover of Liverpool FC has returned to the spotlight with reports suggesting that Chinese billionaire Kenneth Huang has made a £237m offer to buy the club from American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett. The news comes as Yahya Kirdi, a former Syria international footballer, is also thought to be in talks with the bank.

Nestlé moves for Vitaflo

Vitaflo, a Liverpool-based provider of nutritional products, has been acquired by food giant Nestlé. The acquisition price has not been disclosed.

United Utilities continues non-core asset sale

North West water and utilities giant United Utilities (UU) has continued to sell off its non-core assets after agreeing a deal to dispose of Meter Fit. Meter Fit is the exclusive owner and supplier of gas and electricity meters to British Gas customers in the North West and North East.

FPB calls for better access to finance

Bank lending to small businesses is in decline, according to the latest figures from the British Bankers’ Association (BBA) and new research from the Forum of Private Business (FPB). The FPB's Matthew Goodman said: "Banks do have their backs against the wall but the way out of this situation isn’t to clamp down on one side to fix the other."

Citrus Suite wins BBC brief

Liverpool development studio Citrus Suite has started work on a project for Project Canvas, a new partnership between the BBC, ITV, BT, Channel 4 and Talk Talk to develop a standard for internet television services in the UK.

£14m boutique hotel opens in Liverpool

Hotel operator Base2stay has opened its second boutique hotel in the UK. The £14m hotel has 106 rooms and is located in Seel Street, Liverpool.

Skin Clinics set for Bold move

Skin Clinics, a laser treatment company, has announced plans to move to larger premises in Liverpool city centre. The business will move from its premises in Rodney Street in September after sub-leasing a 2,360 sq ft retail unit from the HMV Group in Bold Street.

Europa Plaza seeks council talks

Europa Plaza Developments is seeking talks with the leader of Wirral Council after the authority pulled out of a development agreement for a £24m regeneration scheme in Birkenhead. The council has terminated an agreement to create a casino, hotel and office blocks on Europa Boulevard due to concerns over the scheme’s viability.

ICL expands in Liverpool

Shipping company ICL Agencies UK has expanded its office space in Liverpool city centre. The company, part of the US-headquartered Independent Container Line Group, has taken 5,000 sq ft in Bruntwood’s Burlington House building.

Talking Point: Small businesses hold key

John Leach, founder of Winning Pitch, believes that it is the country's entrepreneurial spirit that will reinvigorate growth.

Tague on Tour: This cut may sting a bit

Neil Tague looks at the list of schemes affected by the NWDA funding cuts and wonders where the future lies for some of them.

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