The mystery of Liverpool's Regional Growth Fund winner

When the government unveiled the successful applicants for the second round of Regional Growth Fund (RGF) cash there was just one business with a media-related name in the North West list.

The Listen Media Company Ltd was one of 34 successful bids that the government said will create 8,500 jobs in the region and contribute to a further 39,500 in the supply chain.

So How-Do was keen to find out more about the business and what it plans to do with the cash.

But this has proved difficult.

The Department for Business Innovation and Skills has given an outline of the bid, but no more, citing commercial sensitivity.

It concerns, "the establishment in Liverpool of the Listen Media Company Ltd, a commercial company producing and selling worldwide media products".

One press officer said it would bring business to Liverpool, "rather than California", but no more information will be released until the government has concluded its legal checks.

In many RGF cases applicants have promoted their success and revealed key details, such as the sum received and the number of jobs that could be created.

But Listen Media has been difficult to track down. It has no website and the only Listen Media Company registered at Companies House is a dormant business with a Cambridge address and an ex-directory phone number.

Until the end of May it was called Tribute Campaigns and its sole director was Neil McCartney, a film producer and journalist according to Wikipedia.

He is also a director of a string of other businesses including the production company McCartney Media and Tribute Inspirations, which owns the rights to events such as Nelson Mandela's 70th Birthday Tribute show.

McCartney left Listen Media in June and was replaced by Stephen Callen, who also holds all the shares. A second director, Shunmagum Pillay, joined at the start of November.

Callen, pictured, is the finance director of AIM-listed London film and TV production company Talent TV. At Talent TV he sits on the board with George Kynoch, the deputy chairman of the Scottish Conservatives and a junior minister from 1995-97 when Lord Heseltine was deputy prime minister.

Heseltine now chairs the Independent Advisory Panel that attracts projects to the Regional Growth Fund and advises the government on which to back.

Neither Callen or McCartney have responded to calls and emails.

Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Vision and The Mersey Partnership, which all have inward investment teams, all say they have not heard of the business.

When How-Do contacted Felicity Goodey, who also sits on the panel, she acknowledged it would make a "good and interesting" story but referred us back to the government for comment.

If there are any How-Doers out there who can shed any light, please get in touch.

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