Enterprise Minister Robert Cowell says it is too early to measure the benefits of a recent Isle of Man delegation to a Liverpool awards ceremony.
The minister told the House of Keys: “It is too early to attribute a completed investment outcome to an event held less than two weeks ago.”
He argued that it was important for the Isle of Man to have a presence at business opportunity events in both the UK and further afield.
“”We need to be at these events,” he said.
“We need to be on a global platform and bringing the innovative businesses to the Isle of Man.”
But he pledged to carry out a review of all trips organised by his department over the past two years.
Cost of Trip
Cowell was questioned today (November 3) about the delegation that attended the Liverpool Innovation and Impact Awards last month.
He said a number of local businesses and representative groups and were joined at the event by representatives of Liverpool City Council, the University of Liverpool, Liverpool College and Abuka Healthcare Training.
“The cost associated with the event was £4,000 for sponsoring an award, the Catalyst Award, and £241.122 for the Finance Isle of Man representative’s travel and accommodation,” he said.
“All other participants met their own travel and accommodation costs.”
The sponsorship paid for a table of 10 guests, the presentation of the award and “event branding, promotional activity and post-event coverage”.
Address
Finance Isle of Man gave an address to about 350 people to promote the island’s position as a business centre.
“Our economic connection to Liverpool, and indeed the broader North West region, is vitally important,” Cowell said.
The issue was raised by Douglas East MHK Andy Saunders, who also asked what were the specific objectives and sought details of any outcomes.
Cowell, who was only appointed minister just days before the event, said: “In terms of predetermined objectives, I do not know what they were at this point in time.
“I do know that the event was a success. There has been activity and interest.”
He was further pushed on details of any connections made and Cowell said they included talks on the possibility of a business with Ramsey connections setting up an “Isle of Man distribution hub”.
But he was coy about further elaboration.
“There is activity. It is too early to pinpoint exactly what that is. But the event, from what I can see so far, has been a success.”
Who Went on the Trip?
Glenfaba and Peel MHK Katryna Baptist asked for details of the businesses and representatives from the island that attended.
But Cowell declined to go into specifics.
“There were various businesses and representatives from the island there,” he said. “They all did meet their own cost, apart from the ticket price.
“I do feel uncomfortable to list the businesses that were there because if we do not have that trusting relationship, people will not go to any event and sell the Isle of Man in the future. I feel a bit uneasy in terms of giving you specific business names.”
But he added: “Everybody there was on their own back, in terms of travel and accommodation.”
He said there was no direct political involvement in the trip and only the Finance Isle of Man representative from government.
Reviewing the Worth of Such Trips
Saunders asked for cost breakdown and report on value for money from attending event.
The minister replied: “I will happily commit to a review of events that are attended by the department.
“As the inbound minister it is very important for me to look back at the last, probably, 12-24 months’ worth of activity outbound, to see where we have been, what we have done, what are the measurable outcomes from that.”
He added: “Obviously in the last two weeks, that is a very difficult thing to do but, over the last 12 months or 24 months, that should be quite an easy task.”
You can hear the full discussion in the House of Keys here:
