Liverpool is the third largest city in England with a population of 435,500, and a uniquely rich cultural and commercial history. In the late 20th century Liverpool is perhaps best renowned for its contributions in the fields of music and sport. The Beatles and the exploits of Liverpool FC made the city famous worldwide in the 1960's, and this cultural legacy continues to generate over ￡1 billion a year in tourist revenues. Other attractions include the fact that Liverpool is probably the most beautiful city in northern England, with a friendly, welcoming and diverse local population. Commercially, Liverpool has never since scaled its late-19th century peak, when the port handled over 40% of the world's goods. Global maritime trade made Liverpool one of the world's most important cities, and enriched it with an architectural heritage which is probably second only to London in the UK. Industrial decline caused massive social upheaval in the 1980's, yet since the mid-1990's the Liverpool has been comprehensively and successfully regenerated, culminating in the city being named European Capital of Culture in 2008.

The era of Liverpool's greatest economic success was based on the city's port, docks and manufacturing base. Liverpool's port remains one of the largest in the UK, and continues to employ around 10% of the local workforce. Redevelopment plans aim to create around 17,000 new jobs, and there is no doubt that Liverpool's status as a major harbour will continue to play a leading role in the city's economic future. The most important element of Liverpool's economy however is the public sector, which employs 39% of the workforce based on 2010 figures. This percentage is much higher than the UK average, and cuts in local government over coming years are therefore likely to affect the city worse than others. Liverpool also has thriving private service sector industries, including banking, insurance and legal services. Recently the 'knowledge' economy, including software designers and media firms, have begun to make a contribution to Liverpool's economic success, and this is likely to grow significantly in the future.

The staggering regeneration of Liverpool since the city's late-1980's nadir has helped make the city the third most visited in the UK. The leisure and tourism sectors have been boosted by both the global popularity of Premier League football, and the development of world-class facilities for the city's visitors. The two Merseyside clubs (Liverpool FC and Everton) continue to promote the city, and attract visitors from all over the world to their respective homes at Anfield and Goodison Park. One of the most important recent developments in the city is the Echo Arena Liverpool, and its adjacent convention centre, opened in 2008.

The complex has attracted major musical acts and events such as the MTV Europe music awards, while the convention centre is one of the most advanced of its kind in the world, regularly hosting major corporate clients. Shopping in Liverpool has improved dramatically with the opening of the Liverpool One retail development. Spread over 42 acres in the city centre, Liverpool One features 160 shops, as well as hotels, offices and apartments. Major UK brands such as John Lewis and Debenhams have flagship stores located in the development, while the largest Topshop in the UK opened on Church Street in 2009. Another upscale development is the Metquarter, also located in the heart of Liverpool, and with tenants including Diesel, Hugo Boss and Jo Malone.

Employers and businesses in Liverpool all have a responsibility for the health and safety of their workforce and visitors. In a major bustling city like Liverpool, accidents are inevitable, and in some cases the injuries that result can be life-altering for individuals and their families. Specialist legal advice must always be sort in order to obtain the correct amount of compensation.

Published at www.liverpoolfchk.com