COVER FEATURE
HOW WE GOT HERE – REFLECTING ON 175 YEARS AND WHY IT MATTERS Paul Cherpeau Chief Executive, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce
Liverpool Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1850 “to represent the commercial interests of the businesses within the city” and “to meet and act for a common good.” As we approach our 175th Anniversary year in 2025, it brings about a period of celebration, reflection and anticipation for the future. Through a series of thoughtpieces in this year’s editions of Well Connected, we consider the Chamber’s power to fulfil the role for which it was founded over the coming years. It is a great honour to lead a 175-year-old organisation in my home city. The Chamber has become a substantive part of my life in the near-twenty years since I joined as a fresh-faced graduate, before completing an MBA (thesis: business network changes through the history of Chambers of Commerce) and latterly becoming CEO. The 175th Anniversary has long been on our radar as it represents another landmark in our organisation’s fascinating history and another opportunity to catalyse our next big contribution to the city region. We can and should celebrate the enormous impact the Chamber has had on behalf of members during this period; the businesses we’ve helped to grow, the services and advice we’ve provided, the projects we’ve initiated, the community organisations we’ve supported and the collaboration
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we’ve enjoyed with government bodies and fellow business organisations in the city region.
the power of longevity and I realised that, ultimately, the greatest contributing factor can be captured in one word. Relevance.
We are proud of our achievements and excited for the times that lie ahead before our Bi-Centenary in 2050.
In the UK, Lloyds Bank, Boots and Cadbury remain a staple of our everyday lives, despite being founded in the 18th or 19th Century, much like ourselves. Each understands that their heritage is an advantage as it reflects reliability and trust. They also understand their heritage can only be an asset if they remain relevant for their customers – endurance requires adaptation and change.
However, it’s also important to reflect upon and question what has gone before. Successful organisations review their performance to identify aspects of strength, areas for improvement and crucially, I think, ask “Why?” In our case, why have we endured for so long amidst fluctuating social, political and economic landscapes? Why do so many organisations continue to trust us as the authentic voice of business? Of course, there can be no single answer to such a complex question. For starters, we can’t speak to anyone who attended the first board meeting in 1850, or even the 75th Anniversary in 1925. We’ve an abundance of historical records and correspondence which give us clues, but finding the ‘magic bullet’ takes some determination. Recognising this, I began thinking about what gives some brands and businesses
Other historic brands have slipped away. Sometimes this has been due to circumstances beyond their control, but many have simply failed to stay relevant or ensure audiences still know what they offer. Think of Rover, Kodak or Woolworths. The marketing director of British Gas once commented that, in an evolving society, older brands must ask themselves how to serve customers on their terms when they have an infrastructure that’s been built over hundreds of years and they must keep challenging their business model. You must constantly adapt to survive and thrive.