LIVERPOOL—Sir Richard Branson is backing the world’s entrepreneurs as the primary engine of economic growth and global stability by joining the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Liverpool.

The visionary British entrepreneur known for his Virgin brand empire has been announced as the headline speaker at the event—the world’s largest gathering of startup champions.

Branson welcomed the Congress to the UK as a valuable step toward a strong global economy.

“A strong economy needs to encourage entrepreneurs to create and grow their businesses,” he said. “It is great to see the Kauffman Foundation backing Britain by bringing the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, a showcase of entrepreneurial talent, to Liverpool this March. I’m very happy to be supporting the event.”

The GEC, whose headline sponsors are Lloyds TSB and Dell, Inc., 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.

"As delegates from 120 nations race to strengthen their startup ecosystems and create a global roadmap to help their nascent entrepreneurs, it is undoubtedly the experience and insight of Richard Branson that will inspire and fuel the next generation of job creators," stated Jonathan Ortmans, chairman of the GEC and president of Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Branson will be joined at the Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool on March 13, 2012, by business heavyweights including former Tesco CEO Sir Terry Leahy, the UK Digital Champion and founder of Lastminute.com, Martha Lane Fox and Lord Michael Heseltine, former Deputy Prime Minister and founder of the Haymarket publishing group.

Other participants at the first ever GEC to be held in Europe are Paul Lindley of Ella's Kitchen, who recently won the Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the Orange National Business Awards; Lara Morgan, founder of Pacific Direct and Company Shortcuts; Doug Richard, former ‘Dragon’ from the BBC show ‘Dragons’ Den’ and founder of School for Start Ups; and Steve Felice, president of consumer, small and medium business at Dell Inc.

The Congress is hosted by Liverpool Vision, the city’s economic development company, Global Entrepreneurship Week and the Kauffman Foundation—the world’s pre-eminent foundation dedicated to entrepreneurship. It aims to unleash the potential of innovators and their ideas through a week of events which will explore the concept of winning in business:

• Who Dares Wins - a celebration of the best in the business
• Who Cares Wins - nurturing talent to unleash ideas
• Who Shares Wins - inspiration to accelerate your business

“The Global Entrepreneurship Congress is a landmark international event and we are thrilled to be the host city for 2012,” said Max Steinberg, CEO of Liverpool Vision. “When we secured this prestigious event we wanted to attract a wide range of entrepreneurs and thought leaders and Sir Richard Branson is a major capture for Liverpool’s GEC and adds yet another outstanding name to a stellar list of speakers and participants.”

Steinberg continued, “To welcome an entrepreneur like Sir Richard Branson to the city is an honour as we aim to be a winning city for enterprise. The Congress forms a key part of our ambition to encourage and celebrate entrepreneurship in Liverpool and create a meaningful legacy for the city.”

Throughout the week there will be a broad range of established GEC events such as the Kauffman Foundation’s International Research & Policy Roundtable, the global finals of ‘Your Big Year’, Software City, Cleantech Open and the Liverpool Business Fair.

The GEC is also being supported by Liverpool Community College, Liverpool Community Health, Liverpool John Moores University, ARUP and Cosmopolitan Housing.

For more information on packages available, sponsorship opportunities and the full Congress program visit gec.unleashingideas.org. You can also follow GEC 2012 on Twitter @gec2012 and join the Facebook page facebook.com/gec2012.

About Global Entrepreneurship Week: Global Entrepreneurship Week is the world’s largest celebration of the innovators and job creators who launch startups that bring ideas to life and drive economic growth. During one week each November, more than 35,000 events and competitions in 120 countries inspire millions to engage in entrepreneurial activity while connecting them to potential collaborators, mentors and even investors.

About Liverpool Vision: Liverpool Vision is the city’s economic development company which integrates economic and physical development and business and enterprise support designed to accelerate the city’s growth and build a sustainable economy.

About the Kauffman Foundation: The Kauffman Foundation works to harness the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to grow economies and improve human welfare. Through its research and other initiatives, the Foundation aims to open people's eyes to the possibility of entrepreneurship, promote entrepreneurship education, raise awareness of entrepreneurship-friendly policies, and facilitate the commercialization of new knowledge and technologies.