This week, the world's greatest celebration of entrepreneurship comes to the UK.
At the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, business leaders from Sir Richard Branson to Sir Terry Leahy, from Martha Lane Fox to Will King will join delegates from more than 120 nations to inspire others to unleash their ideas.
As Chief Executive of the economic development company for Liverpool, I could not be prouder of this city and what we have achieved in preparing to stage this prestigious event and in securing so many rock-stars of the business world as headliner participants.
These entrepreneurs are the self-starters, the front-runners and the pioneers - those that seek out new challenges and take a leap into the unknown.
It goes without saying that to welcome these business leaders to the city is a great honour, but it is not just the attending startups that should be taking advice and inspiration from the Congress speakers.
Cities in the UK must also be striving to demonstrate the one trait that unifies all entrepreneurs - the will to win. They, like businesses, need to take on an entrepreneurial outlook if they are going to compete on a global stage.
The UK regions will be key in driving entrepreneurial activity and the economy in 2012 and beyond, when the nation will need to adapt to survive.
The majority of job creation comes from young, growing companies, and cities need to play an integral part in providing these businesses with the tools, mentoring and networking opportunities they need to thrive.
In the same way a business should, a city must create an environment that attracts talent, cultivates knowledge and shares experience.
In Liverpool, with an innovative-thinking city council and a wiling and pro-active private sector we are doing this, uniting in our efforts to propel this city forward, encouraging all sectors and our youth to secure our future prosperity.
From our world-leading Women's Organisation to Liverpool John Moore's University's Centre for Entrepreneurship we are preparing to win in business.
It is critical that in Liverpool we are continually learning and adapting, helping to develop an entrepreneurial culture within the city.
We are currently facing the challenge of being behind the UK average in terms of startup businesses, but we are working hard to bridge the gap.
With the GEC we want to unleash the potential of our innovators and their ideas through a week of events that will explore the concept of winning in business, to mine our rich entrepreneurial seam.
From 9-16 March, the Congress will gather 3,000 entrepreneurs, investors, researchers and thought leaders to celebrate enterprise and work to build startup ecosystems that will nurture a new generation of entrepreneurs.
This is about celebrating the best in the business, nurturing talent to unleash ideas and providing inspiration those to looking to accelerate their business.
In Liverpool, the GEC will be a platform to spotlight the creative and entrepreneurial spirit of businesses in the city and will showcase just how much they can accomplish. The Congress will help to drive this city forward and will set us on course to achieving our ambitious aim to be the winning city for enterprise.
Find out more at www.gec2012.com.