WE*GENERATE Podcast #7 – Gerry Proctor, Engage Liverpool

Liverpool’s greatest asset is its people: here’s how they have been organising

How can citizens organise from a place of love for their city? How can this be done without an “us and them” mentality between citizens and DMO? How can DMOs better collaborate with resident-led organisations? In this first instalment of WE*GENERATE: COMMUNITY, we speak with Gerry Proctor, chair of Engage Liverpool, which is a social enterprise run by residents existing to improve the quality of life for people living in Liverpool City Centre and Waterfront neighbourhoods. We look into how engaged resident organisations can bring about collective city action, and why DMOs must make sure to recognise residents as part of tourism offer.

Takeaways

• Engage Liverpool organises seminar series to instigate city change by bringing knowledge and experts from abroad, to share insights with residents and stakeholders. Their approach means that politicians, council officers, and key stakeholders are in the same room and part of the conversation for creating a more liveable Liverpool.
• When tourism became a focus, Engage Liverpool worked closely with the DMO and collaborated in “Day Tripper” workshops. These workshops, inspired by a Beatles song, brought residents together in tourism planning and the city’s liveability, all driven by a genuine love for Liverpool.
• Despite Liverpool being often known for its Beatles legacy and football, the city’s greatest asset is its people. From bus drivers to locals on the street, these everyday interactions define the visitor experience. Giving both residents and visitors the freedom to engage with one another will make for more poignant visitor experiences.
• During mega-events like Eurovision, Engage Liverpool initiated meetings inviting the DMO and city council, whereby 250 residents turned up to the same location where Eurovision was going to be held.
• For a stronger partnership between the DMO and residents, these key steps are highlighted:
  • Recognition that a city that works for locals will naturally work for visitors.
  • The establishment of a citizens’ assembly to collaborate with the DMO.
  • A genuine recognition that the people living in the city are an integral part of its tourism offer.

The WE*GENERATE podcast series interviews destinations across Europe to find out what it really means to generate together, regenerative tourism futures. WE*GENERATE invites you into candid conversations to learn about the pursuits of really dedicated people: from CityDNA members and urbanists to community leaders, creatives from arts and culture, and volunteers. Collective action and collaboration are essential in addressing the complex challenges of our time, and Welcoming Wegeneration* is a manifest of collective responsibility.

If you have any comments of questions about the podcast, please contact host Sarah Frosh.

*Read more here about the Welcoming Wegeneration strategy