Millar time
It’s
Having shown a knack for entrepreneurship over the course of a varied career, Gary Millar is now putting his business savvy to use as the new Lord Mayor of Liverpool. He discussed his ambitions for the year ahead with Jonathan Kearney
S
ince being elected to Liverpool City Council in 2008 as a relative latecomer to politics, Gary Millar has risen to the rank of Liverpool’s first citizen within
the space of five years. Te Edinburgh-born “adopted scouser” began his year as Lord Mayor in May, having served a term as Deputy last year. In that short time Gary’s mayoral duties have been unrelenting, a state of affairs he is keen to take full advantage of to achieve his primary objectives in office. He said: “Apart from the day to day job the biggest role as Lord Mayor is raising money for charity. I get invited to lots of different events now and we use those opportunities to promote the charity work. I’m looking to tackle cancer in any way I can, homelessness, support special educational needs
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and disabled children, and create a safe haven for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. Tese are areas that are very close to my heart anyway and I’m going to try and raise up to £1m.” A successful entrepreneur, Gary’s business interests include co-ownership of Liverpool’s
“I’d love to see more business people get involved in politics”
Parr Street Studios. Te Grammy-award winning recording studios, which were previously owned by Phil Collins, have been utilised to record a charity album of classic war
time covers. Gary drew upon his contacts in the local music industry to record hits from musical icons of the time such as Dame Vera Lynn and Te Andrews Sisters. He even mixed some of the songs on the 18 track album, which features local artists including Pacific Swing and Mayoral Consort Steve Macfarlane, and he has also spearheaded the release of a number of products and souvenirs, from jewellery to money boxes, in order to reach the fundraising target. Gary said: “Te CD is selling really well. You might attend events where you can promote the fundraising but you need products as well.” With a background in innovation and IT, dating back to the Computer Studies BTEC he attained at Liverpool Polytechnic in 1985,
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