NEW INTERIM CHIEF EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT FOR LIVERPOOL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

19th July 2018

Following a formal recruitment process, Colin Sinclair, CEO of Knowledge Quarter Liverpool (KQ Liverpool), has taken up the dual role of Interim CEO of the newly formed Knowledge Quarter Development Company.

Colin Sinclair pictured in KQ Liverpool.
Images by Gareth Jones

The new company, jointly owned by Liverpool City Council, Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Liverpool, will work with investors to boost the Liverpool City Region’s offer in science and tech and build a world-leading innovation eco-system to increase the commercialisation of academic research, foster more spin-outs and starts ups and help our innovation-led businesses to grow.

With an initial focus on Liverpool Science Park and Sensor City, the development company will look to enhance the existing facilities and will support the Accelerator by creating a single point of contact for sales and marketing. Once further private sector investment has been secured the company will look to develop and operate new science and tech facilities across the city region.

Colin Sinclair, said: “Liverpool has an increasingly strong international brand and is now, once again, seen globally as a place of opportunity. By working collaboratively and by focusing on health and education, science and technology we make a real difference to the city, its region and the lives of the people that live, work and study here”.

Colin, formally CEO at Manchester Investment and Development Agency (MIDAS) and Director at property developers Bruntwood, has been in post at KQ Liverpool for the last two years. During this time, he has supported Liverpool City Council with their Paddington Village and Knowledge Quarter Gateway developments, whilst contributing to many other key projects in the city including the Liverpool brand work, the Liverpool MIPIM partnership, the City Region’s emerging Internationalisation strategy, the creation of the Fabric District and he is also the Chair of Club Liverpool, which attracts global conferences and exhibitions to the City.

Professor Nigel Weatherill, Vice Chancellor of LJMU, said: “As we seek to compete with other cities both nationally and internationally, it is vital that we build on what the Knowledge Quarter partners, Colin and the team have achieved over the last two years, in order to encourage more start-ups, help innovation-led businesses to grow and win new inward investment”.

Professor Dame Janet Beer, Vice-Chancellor of UoL, said: “The future of the UK economy post Brexit will rely heavily on the relationships between our world-leading universities and hospitals, local government and importantly the private sector. Colin’s appointment to this new role will give us the experience and expertise we need to attract significant long-term, sustainable investment, into our science and tech infrastructure.”

Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: “What we have achieved in the Knowledge Quarter Mayoral Development Zone in just two short years is absolute proof of how important it is to our economy and job creation. The formation of this new development company will enable even greater collaboration and we are building a world-leading innovation district right here in Liverpool.”

About KQ Liverpool:

KQ Liverpool, a 450-acre urban innovation district, is home to some of the world’s most influential players in science, health, technology, education, music and the creative and performing arts.

With over £1bn of new developments underway – and a further £1bn in the pipeline – we are bringing forward new development opportunities, successfully attracting new investment, increasing the city’s employment figures, improving graduate attraction & retention rates and establishing the Liverpool City Region as a key player in the Northern Powerhouse.

Notes:

KQ Liverpool’s world-leading strengths in life sciences, infection & disease, sensor technology and materials chemistry has already attracted the Royal College of Physicians, who are moving into a stunning new building at the 30-acre Paddington Village development. The KQ Liverpool partners are the University of Liverpool, John Moores University, School of Tropical Medicine, the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust, the Hope Street CIC and Liverpool Vision.

See: kqliverpool.co.uk for more information

19th July 2018