History

History of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce

1850 - Liverpool Chamber was founded. References to a Chamber existing in Liverpool as early as the mid-18th century exist. You can learn more about the Chamber's early history in the publication 'The Voice of Liverpoool Business'. Details here.

1900 - Chamber membership stood at 807

1907 - 1911 - Changes in British working practices during this period included the introduction of old age pensions, National Health Insurance and Labour Exchanges. The Chamber carried out a census of production, as well as proposing Workmen's Compensation and profit sharing schemes. It also lobbied for the provision of factory sites to fill a gap in Liverpool's economy.

Menu card for a banquet held for the Secretary of State for the Colonies of the German Empire at the Adelphi Hotel, 1909

1912 - The Chamber negotiated an improvement in telephone services. This resulted in the nationalisation of Britain's telephone networks.

1914-1918 - First World War. The Chamber undertook a recruitment campaign known as the Chamber of Commerce Scheme. This led directly to the national call-up system.

1920 - The International Chamber of Commerce was founded.

1924 - The Carriage of Goods by Sea Act was passed. This was the culmination of much effort by the Chamber's Commercial Law Society.

1936 - The Chamber moved from Exchange Buildings to its present site in Old Hall Street.

1939 - 1945 - Second World War. The Chamber was involved with air raid precautions, national defence, black-out tests and conscription. It also addressed the increasing problems of maintaining trade and commerce in a city as heavily bombed as Liverpool. Immediately after the war, issues like war damage payments, employment policies and rebuilding the city and docks were tackled.

1950 - The Chamber's centenary was celebrated with a reception at Liverpool Town Hall and a service at Liverpool Cathedral.

1961 - The Waterfront Commission was created. This covered the interests of traders associated with the Mersey Docks & Harbour Board, Ship Owners, Master Porters and other port organisations.

Number One Old Hall Street in 1964

1966 - First Chamber Overseas Trade Mission, to the Middle East.

1967 - Second Overseas Trade Mission, to East and Central Africa. Regular missions all around the world have since taken place, resulting in considerable export businesses for participants.

1972 - The Chamber introduced a computerised payroll service for its members. In the same year it changed its name to Merseyside Chamber of Commerce, anticipating the 1974 formation of Merseyside County Council.

Late 1970s to mid 1980s - Despite a declining local population and reduced business base, the Chamber continued to promote trade and regeneration within the city.

1992 - The Chamber reverted to its original title of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce. This was a recognition of Liverpool's international reputation and the mainly UK significance of 'Merseyside'.

1997 - Liverpool Chamber was elected to the Network of Approved Chambers of Commerce, part of the British Chambers of Commerce. This organisation pools the resources of accredited chambers around the country to improve and expand services on offer to members.

2000 - Infopool, now called Business Liverpool, the information gateway for business support and advice opened at 8 Chapel Street in the city centre. The Chamber also celebrated its 150th year.

2001 - to present - Launch of a number of key business services, including Chamber Utilities, Chamber Telecom, Chamber Healthcare, Chamber4Learning and Chamber Tender Alert has helped to secure a growing membership.

The MerseyBroadband demonstration centre, 2004

This period has also seen the refurbishment of our offices at Number One Old Hall Street. We secured several contracts and launched projects including COMPETE, MerseyBroadband, Skillworks, the New Entrepreneurship Commission and Mersey Skills Network.

We have consistently successfully passed reaccredidation of the BCC with flying colours.

David Wade-Smith and Jack Stopforth were also selected as Chair and CEO respectively during this period. David Wade-Smith stepped down as Chair in 2008, to be replaced by G Ed Oliver.

Lean about the Chamber's beginnings in 'The Voice of Liverpool Business - The First Chamber of Commerce and the Atlantic Economy'

Fuelled by its growing role as a city of innovation and power, Liverpool's Chamber of Commerce was one of the first in the world, and the earliest in a major mainland UK port.

Driven by Liverpool's profitable trade with North America, the Chamber's aim was to provide a voice for the local business community, guiding and debating issues of the day, and influencing and lobbying government policy. Preceding the current Chamber by nearly a century, it burned briefly but brightly for around 20 years during the last decades of the 18th century.

Published to coincide with the current Chamber's 160th anniversary, The Voice of Liverpool Business takes a contemporary look at the Chamber; its dynamics, motivation, issues and intrigues, and finds that many of its concerns - and those of its members - are little different over 200 years later.

Author: Robert J. Bennett
Cost: £15
ISBN 978-0-9566531-0-9

Order your copy today:

Call the membership team on 0151 227 1234

Email membership@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Download and complete the order form and send in the post to: