The announcement today of the departure of Jim Gill, the Chief Executive of Liverpool Vision, is one which raised a few eyebrows. Although unsurprising as he made no secret, privately or in public that retirement was looming. So what should the digital sector hope for in his successor?

Jim’s leadership of Liverpool Vision has been an undoubted success, delivering genuine results to the City Region, even through the dark and difficult days of the last 24 months. For the Digital sector Vision supports ACME – the creative and digital sector industry body. They have also been great supporters of ICDC, the only UK University research centre focused on New Media. Vision are also supporters of the Liverpool Science Park and regularly support the knowledge economy business breakfasts.  Well worth going if you have not been.  Indeed it is with Vision’s help that the creative, media and ICT sector continues to grow, over 14,000 sq ft of city centre take-up came from these industries in 2009 – massively up on 06 and 07.

In addition to this Vision do handout the occasional new business grants – although not specific to our sector, Vision’s/NWDA’s Financial Assistance to Business grant is worth having a look at.

All the people I speak to in the digital and creative sector say that the main issues facing our sector can be summarised as:

• Skills Gap of School leavers/Retention of talent leaving Universities
• Foreign direct Investment – getting the best digital companies here.
• Financial help for digital start ups/SME’s

All three issues are clearly on Vision’s radar as the laudable Foundation for Growth report in 08 highlights. Keeping them on Vision’s radar, is our job.

The incumbent of Jim’s post will need to address all three issues to keep our sector on the upward curve that it has fought hard to climb onto. It will be hard to find another Jim. He has a proven track record for his work in regeneration with a background in both public and private sector (AMEC and EP). He is a deserving recipient of an OBE. The new incumbent needs to be a visionary, also a person who ‘gets’ digital. A spokesman, with real flair and detailed knowledge of industry.  For my mind, they have to have a private sector background not just a public sector re-tread.

I had the pleasure of sitting next to Jim at the Merseyside Property Forum’s (now Professional Liverpool Property) annual dinner some years ago. His legacy is one of undoubted success; he is one of Liverpool’s champions and real nice guys. They will be big boots to fill indeed.

As a sector, we need to keep pressure on the new Chief Executive. I’m sure they will have an open door policy, we need to ensure the new person is engaged and on board with our issues and concerns. But I’m sure you will all join with me in wishing Jim an enjoyable retirement.