The Liverpool businesses that have made the city what it is, and how The Guide can support yours!

Where do we start with talking about Liverpool businesses? From our world-class waterfront and iconic buildings to our outstanding attractions, people and places, Liverpool is a fantastic city to live in. 

With a regional economy worth £171 billion, it’s also one of the nation’s best cities for work and business. 

Now the UK’s second-largest regional economy and home to over 317,000 businesses, Liverpool’s renaissance as a hotspot for commerce shows no signs of slowing down. 

Liverpool was, is and always will be the business. 

Here’s why. 

Putting Liverpool on the Map

Between 1710 and 1715, engineer Thomas Steers set up the world’s first commercial wet dock in Liverpool to facilitate trade with the Americas. 

An instant success, the dock quickly helped to establish Liverpool as the ‘western gateway’ and one of the world’s most important trading cities.  

Since those early days of trading cotton, sugar, timber & grain – and playing a role in the International Slave Trade – Liverpool’s fortunes as a port have not always been smooth sailing. 

But despite our turbulent history as a global trade route, one thing is certain: Liverpool has long been the home of business pioneers. 

From the founding of Liverpool’s oldest manufacturer, RS Clare, in 1748 to Sir John Moores establishing Littlewoods in the city in 1923, some of the world’s most influential brands were set up on Merseyside. 

Household names like Unilever, Woolworths, Boodles, Home Bargain, and TJ Hughes all launched here, with most still operating within the city region. 

And with the likes of Home Bargains, TJ Hughes and Bibby Line also founded in Liverpool, it’s safe to say that our thriving business community is built on solid foundations. 

Today, over 300 years since Thomas Steers put Liverpool on the business map, the city continues to hone its reputation as an international trade hub and economic powerhouse. 

And it’s all thanks to businesses like yours. 

For business and pleasure 

Due to the vision and skill of local organisations, homegrown entrepreneurs, and our dedicated workforce, Liverpool is now one of the most sought-after trade locations for ambitious businesses.

We only need to look at Liverpool ONE for proof. As the region’s flagship retail and leisure destination, Liverpool ONE is an attractive proposition for big-name brands and fast-growing companies. 

Apple, Boss, Footlocker, Fred Perry, John Lewis, MAC, Victoria’s Secret and many more have taken advantage of the prime retail space Liverpool ONE offers. And with the recent launches of Gravity Max, Bread Street Kitchen, Bershka, and the new flagship M&S setting up shop, the future for the estate looks bright. 

But Liverpool ONE isn’t alone in contributing to our thriving retail and leisure economy. 

Liverpool BID Company represents over 350 local, national and international businesses in the heart of the city centre, offering vital support to the retail and leisure, culture and commerce and accommodation industries. 

Speaking of accommodation, Liverpool certainly doesn’t disappoint when providing home comforts to the millions of tourists and business people visiting the city each year. 

For group bookings, locally-founded iStay offers eight serviced apartments across the city centre, whilst new hotels Radisson Red, INNSiDE by Melia and Novotel complement the overnight stay offering of long-established properties like The Pullman, The Hilton and The Titanic. 

Considering the number of bars, restaurants and events Liverpool has to choose from, it’s no wonder we need so much bed space in the city. 

Paul Askew’s The Art School puts Liverpool on the culinary map alongside Manifest, Roski and Belzan, whilst the city’s own Nisha Katona has now taken her Bold Street-based Mowgli concept to 18 UK locations. 

At the ever-growing Baltic Triangle- an upcoming business hub in its own right – we have locally owned and operated venues to thank for rocking our nightlife economy. 

Baltic Market, Content and Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group (who now have Liverpool-founded Cain’s as part of their impressive portfolio) make the area a must-visit destination. 

And with Liverpool developer JSM’s ever-growing group boasting at least 37 pubs and bars, we’ll always have a place to talk business over a pint. 

But the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors only skim the surface of what Liverpool businesses bring to the table. 

Montirex, founded by two friends in a Kirkby living room, is now a multi-million-pound brand making waves in sportswear. And Open Media, based in the Liver Buildings, continues to take on the big boys in the out-of-home advertising space, with locations across the UK. 

Then there’s our fantastic Convention Centre, which attracts conferences and delegates from across the business world. Our maritime industry is thriving, too, with many of the world’s top shipping lines having HQs in the city. 

As pioneers in life sciences and the energy sector, Liverpool is also a technology hotspot and home of JLR, which produces 250,000 cars here annually. 

And we’ve not even started on the city’s booming marketing and professional services sector, where the likes of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, Downtown In Business and The Women’s Org offer expert assistance to Liverpool’s business community. 

Businesses Like Yours

For all the rightful celebration of big businesses in the city, we can’t overlook the enormous contribution made by the small operators and community-based companies. 

From The Nest and Shiverpool to The Bus Yard, Matta’s and Merseymade, Liverpool’s local independent businesses make the city tick. 

So it’s only right that we shout loud and proud about the plumbers and printers, the florists and furniture stores, the solicitors, accountants and web developers. 

That’s what The Guide Liverpool Business Directory is here for. 

The perfect place to promote your small business, our directory lets you promote your products and services to people in your area for free. 

And it’s easy to get involved. 

Just fill out the form below to claim your free listing and join over 1,500 Merseyside-based businesses already promoting themselves on our platform. 

And be a part of Liverpool’s success story. 

It really is the business. 

Send us your business details so we can add it to The Guide Liverpool Business Directory. Simply fill in this form to apply.