LOCAL Member of Parliament Louise Ellman took time out earlier this month to survey the progress being made on the multi-million pound development of the brand new Womens International Centre for Economic Development (WICED).

The Riverside MP was joined by a group of leading women from throughout the area on a site visit to the development which is based in the Baltic Triangle area of Liverpool.

“This is a truly ambitious scheme” said the Labour MP, “and one which will have real and lasting impact for women from all walks of life and I am extremely proud that it is being developed right here in Liverpool.”

Also visiting the site, which is now into its third month of development, were WICED’s Chief Executive Officer Maggie O’Carroll and Operations Director Helen Millne. 

Maggie said: “This latest visit to the site was a great opportunity for those involved to see just how work is progressing and to give them a real feel for what the centre promises to be.

“We were delighted to be joined by MP Louise Ellman and were also pleased to take along Gill Moglione who leads the trustee board on the development of WICED.  In a previous role Gill was pivotal in the redevelopment of Blackburne House and we are now privileged to have her on the team, providing an advisory and leadership role in this new venture.”

Sue Oshikanlu, expert in financial management, who has been an instrumental member of the WICED development team from the outset, also went along to visit the site.  Sue has been responsible for helping to steer a financial package to secure the £5.3million development. 

WICED, is being developed by Train 2000, following a £2.4 million investment from the Northwest European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programme – part of a £5.3 million finance package.

The ERDF programme is backed by the Programme Monitoring Committee (PMC) – a group of senior representatives from across the region.  The group was formed to monitor, oversee and advise on the delivery of the programme and improved invaluable to the development of the new fund.

Flo Clucas, ERDF FMC member and President of WICED, said: “there is a huge economic potential in women’s enterprise which needs to be encouraged and supported.  WICED will be the first such centre in the world which sets out to do exactly that.

“Creation and growth of more enterprise led by women is crucial to ensuring economic growth in the Northwest and WICED will provide the right conditions to help women entrepreneurs achieve their goals.”

Work on the new building is expected to be completed by December 2010 – when the centre will open, providing a multitude of services to women throughout the region and creating thousands of new jobs over the forthcoming years. 

For further information about WICED please visit www.train2000.org.uk/wiced