Our speakers
Cllr Liam Robinson
Leader of Liverpool City Council
Cllr Liam Robinson
Leader of Liverpool City Council
Cllr Liam Robinson is the Leader of Liverpool City Council and Labour Councillor for Kensington and Fairfield, a ward he has represented since 2008. He became Leader of the Council in May 2023, having previously served as Cabinet Member for Finance, where he was responsible for setting the council’s budget. He also sits on the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as Cabinet Member for Innovation.
Sophie Bevan
Director of Regeneration & Development (Major Projects), Liverpool City Council
Sophie Bevan
Director of Regeneration & Development (Major Projects), Liverpool City Council
Sophie Bevan has been Director of Regeneration at Liverpool City Council since May 2023. Prior to this, she worked at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority leading investment into place-based economic opportunities, and has wide experience of asset management and development gained through various private sector roles. Sophie leads on the delivery of major projects including Festival Gardens and Littlewoods, as well as strategic policy development, such as the recent Liverpool Regeneration and Investment Proposition.
Damian Cooke
Director of Economy, Enterprise and Property, Halton Borough Council
Damian Cooke
Director of Economy, Enterprise and Property, Halton Borough Council
Damian Cooke is a seasoned leader in regeneration and economic development, with extensive experience across both public and private sectors. As a senior figure at Halton Borough Council, he leads the regeneration team, delivering investment and regeneration programmes in collaboration with private sector investors and developers. Damian's expertise spans business parks, commercial property, and housing development, underpinned by a strong foundation in local government leadership and strategic planning.
Sean Traynor
Director of Strategic Growth, St Helens Borough Council
Sean Traynor
Director of Strategic Growth, St Helens Borough Council
Over 32 years’ professional experience in the public sector with involvement in several large-scale, mixed-use regeneration projects and programmes, from inception through to post-planning consent, funding, construction, occupation and management. As Director of Strategic Growth at St Helens Borough Council, responsibilities include regeneration, planning, property and estates, and economy.
Colin Salmon
Director of Work Based Learning & STEM, The City of Liverpool College
Colin Salmon
Director of Work Based Learning & STEM, The City of Liverpool College
Colin Salmon has worked in secondary and further education for fifteen years, following a period in finance and shipping logistics. He has previously managed engineering education in a large FE college, before moving to The City of Liverpool College where he currently acts as the Director for Apprenticeships, Sustainable Technologies and Higher Technical Education. Colin’s main driver in education is securing opportunities for young people in the city region in meeting the growing need for technical skills in a rapidly transforming employment landscape.
Kate Bull
Director of Economic Strategy Skills and Sustainability, Liverpool City Council
Kate Bull
Director of Economic Strategy Skills and Sustainability, Liverpool City Council
Kate Bull is Director of Economic Strategy and Skills at at Liverpool City Council, playing a key role in shaping the city’s economic strategy and sustainability agenda. She has led impactful initiatives focused on inclusive growth, skills development, and partnership working, with a strong emphasis on community engagement and innovation to support Liverpool’s long-term resilience and prosperity.
Why Attend?
Hear from regional decision makers in Liverpool City Region
The event offers a rare chance to hear from Procurement Leads across the city region, who will be sharing their regional spending priorities and procurement strategies publicly, along with how they are adapting their approaches to procurement, delivery and risk management.
Discover regional development pipelines and investment confidence
The event takes national findings from CCBP’s Industry Confidence Report and applies them to local market conditions, so you can gain an understanding of both national trends and local priorities. Across 3 panels, we’ll dive into everything from development pipelines and investment confidence to delivery challenges, sustainability and viability constraints.
Connect with decision makers in Procurement
Decision makers in procurement from across the public sector will be present to hear how other authorities are managing their development portfolio. This is a unique opportunity to connect with industry peers and discuss procurement strategies openly.
Network with industry colleagues in an open and honest format
Benefit from exclusive networking opportunities with public sector clients, professional services organisations and main contractors in an open format. Those attending are seeking strategic procurement advice, whether its on social impact or improving commercial tension.
Tickets are limited. Register now.Limited places available. Book your place today.
This event gives both the private and public sectors an opportunity to better understand the city region’s development pipeline, and learn from pressures affecting the local and national market.
Book Your PlaceCompanies that attended in 2025
A E Yates Ltd, Actua Chartered Surveyors, AHR Architects, Alan Johnston Partnership Ltd, Anderton Gables, APG Capital, Arcadis, Atelier MB, AtkinsRéalis, BAM, Baltic Creative CIC, Black Cat Building Consultancy Limited, Capital&Centric, Cara Brickwork Ltd, Cassidy + Ashton Group Limited, Clancy Consulting, Consortia Integrated Services, Curtins, Dale Structural Repairs Ltd, Dalkia Engineering Ltd, DAY Project Management, Designer Contracts, DGC Consulting Engineers, EFT Group, Egan Bennet Architects, Ellis Williams Architects, Runcorn, CHS, Eric Wright Civil Engineering, Fairhurst Architects, F Parkinson Ltd, Galliford Try Ltd, Gilling Dod Architects, Gleeds, HA Civils, Hill Dickinson, Hydro Building Systems UK Ltd, Identity Consult, John Sisk & Son, Kier, Knowsley Council, Liverpool City Council, MARLO Consulting, Markhams Ltd, McAvoy, McBains, Morgan Sindall, Morris and Spottiswood, OCD Events, Peel L&P’s Wirral Waters, PJH, Placefirst, Plan Ahead, Plus Dane, Procure Partnerships Framework, Project Four Safety Experts Limited, Ridge and Partners, Rider Levett Bucknall UK Limited, Robertson Construction Group, Rodgers Leask Ltd, RSK Environment Ltd, Ryder Architecture, Sciontec, Safer Sphere, Seddon Construction Ltd, SRL, Stepnell, Sterling Services (Northern) Limited, St Helens Council, Sutcliffe, Tilbury Douglas Limited, TREMCO CPG UK, Turner & Townsend, Verde Services Ltd, Vextrix, Vinci Building, Walker Sime, Warden Construction, Wates Group, Widd Signs, Wirral Council, Willmott Dixon and many more
Agenda
08:00 - 09:00
Registration and Networking
09:00 - 09:10
Welcome and Housekeeping
09:10 - 09:30
Keynote Speaker - Cllr Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council
09:30 - 10:15
How rising costs, contractor insolvencies and risk transfer are reshaping commercial relationships.
Wayne Flannery,
Managing Director for Construction West, Wates
Sophie Bevan,
Director of Regeneration & Development (Major Projects), Liverpool City Council
Damien Cooke,
Director of Economy, Enterprise and Property, Halton Borough Council
10:15 - 10:30
Break
10:30 - 11:15
Addressing the industry’s most cited long-term threat: workforce and skills shortages.
Michele Steele,
Chief Executive, Regeneration Brainery
Danny Clarke,
Engagement Director England, CITB
Kate Bull,
Director of Economic Strategy Skills and Sustainability, Liverpool City Council
Colin Salmon,
Director of Work Based Learning & STEM, The City of Liverpool College
11:15 - 12:00
Connecting development and sustainability, what it means for delivery.
Kane Greenough,
Senior Sustainability Manager, Morgan Sindall
Paul Amaan,
Principal Officer Employment and Skills, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Sean Traynor,
Director of Strategic Growth, St Helens Council
12:00 - 12:10
Closing Remarks and Networking
12:10 - 12:30
Networking
What to expect at our events
CCBP hosts regional events, to make sure local priorities are heard and discussed by both the public and private sector in an open setting. You can expect:
Exclusive cross-sector networking opportunities
A real understanding of regional development priorities
Knowledge exchange between decision makers in public and private sectors
Discover the growth potential of different sectors and local areas
Don’t take our word for it, hear from previous attendees on why you should register for a CCBP event:
Limited tickets available. Book now.
Book Tickets
This event takes national findings from CCBP's Industry Confidence Report and applies them to local market conditions. Through keynote insights and panel discussions, the briefing will examine how the trends identified in the report are playing out across the city region, from development pipelines and investment confidence to delivery challenges and viability constraints. To request an invoice, email info@ccbp.org.uk.
Prefer to pay by invoice?
Contact the team today to request an invoice. Please include the event you would like to book, and the number of tickets you would like.
Request Invoice