More about Gary
BIPC ENTREPRENEUR IN RESIDENCE
Back in January 2015, I started my pro bono Entrepreneur in Residence Business Clinic at Liverpool's Central Library, dedicated to helping our business community thrive.
Whether you are a pre-start, a new start, a growing business, or a brave entrepreneur with an initial idea to explore, these sessions offer guidance that is completely:
- Volunteer-led
- Free of charge
- Confidential
- Non-judgmental
- Impartial
Our core mission has always been to #payitforward. Thanks to the dedication of over 70 incredible volunteers and business ecosystem stakeholders, we have had the privilege of supporting thousands of individuals on their entrepreneurial journeys.
We proudly deliver 10 clinics every month without any external funding. This is only possible thanks to the incredible generosity, time, and expertise of our volunteers.
A massive thank you to our amazing hosts, BIPC Liverpool at Central Library, for their continued partnership and vital support.
Let's connect and continue building together.
PLEASE NOTE: These sessions are designed to be face to face only, on our published days (eg. Thursday afternoons, 1 to 4, at Liverpool Central Library's BIPC), for up to 30 minutes at one of our 3 Liverpool City Region locations. Visitors are welcome to return for further advice. Sadly, due to the volunteer nature of these sessions it is highly unlikely that we will have the capacity to offer you pro bono guidance over the phone or by email or via social media.
Further details about my volunteer led sessions, plus Liverpool's outstanding BIPC and their services can be found at https://liverpool.gov.uk/libraries/business-services/.
DISCLAIMER: All information provided is presented in good faith. No warranty or endorsement is given or responsibility accepted regarding the standing of any individual, firm, company, or organisation. It is crucial that individuals conduct their own due diligence if they decide to engage in financial transactions with others and before transferring funds.
SILENT VICTIMS: PART ONE
Silent Victims: Part One: The Impact of Thalidomide on One Family is a powerful, deeply personal memoir by Gary Millar, published by the Liverpool-based arts and literature organisation Writing on the Wall. Released on 28 February 2025, the book explores the devastating ripple effects of the Thalidomide medical scandal through the lens of the author's own family.
Core Focus of Part 1
- The Central Figure: The book centers entirely around the author's mother, Margaret Marjorie Millar (affectionately known as "Madge").
- The Tragic Legacy: It chronicles her life as a mother caught in the harrowing aftermath of taking Thalidomide—a drug widely prescribed to expectant mothers for morning sickness in the UK starting in 1958, before being withdrawn in 1961 due to causing severe birth defects and miscarriages.
- Unreported Trauma: The narrative details over 60 years of Madge's internal "demons and traumas," providing a voice to a mother who was never personally in a position to fully explain the extent of what she went through during her lifetime.
- Blended Format: Gary Millar reconstructs this history by combining raw, deeply personal family reflections with meticulously transcribed medical case notes.
Availability
The book can be purchased directly from the Writing on the Wall Shop
https://writingonthewall.org.uk/shop/silent-victims/
SILENT VICTIMS: PART TWO
Silent Victims: Part 2 is a powerful, factual book by Liverpool author and former Lord Mayor Gary Millar. Published by the Liverpool-based organisation Writing on the Wall, the book continues the Millar family's harrowing story, detailing the hidden toll of medical negligence and the legacy of the Thalidomide scandal.
The book shifts focus to Gary's brother, Leslie, and the wider Millar family, exploring more than six decades of endurance, truth, and resilience. It serves as an emotional sequel to Part One, which detailed the devastating impact of potential connections to Nazi war crimes and toxic drug experimentation on the family.
Availability
You can read more about the book's background and order a copy directly via the Writing on the Wall Shop at https://writingonthewall.org.uk/shop/silent-victims-part-2/
Writer, Speaker, Volunteer, Mentor & Advisor
Gary has provided significant voluntary and philanthropic support since 1986 across a number of areas including in fundraising (over £1 million), and pro bono business guidance (to over 30,000 entrepreneurs). He has been very active, since 2002, in supporting community and inclusion projects (including significant local and national support for veterans, cancer, visual & hearing impairment, students, LGBTQIA+ and homelessness projects). His international efforts relating to the US, Europe, Asean, East Asia, and the Commonwealth has been conservatively estimated to be have been worth in excess of £200 million. All of this is a vocation, it is voluntary, it is passion, and it continues to this day!
Born in Edinburgh, Gary lives as an 'Adopted Scouser' in the wonderful City of Liverpool. After graduating from Liverpool Polytechnic, he built a successful career as a technologist, teacher, entrepreneur, and business mentor. He is an Alderman, former Lord Mayor of Liverpool, an enthusiastic 'Pay It Forward' champion,
philanthropist, Senior Fellow, international relations lead and writer.
Career background in computing, teaching and business development. International relations and significant business guidance expertise.
Former Lord Mayor and “First Citizen” of Liverpool, diversity and equality champion, "Pay It Forward" evangelist and major fundraiser.
Led international delegations bringing well over £200 million into local communities (in trade, foreign direct investment, sport, health and education) and directly responsible for bringing over 50 delegations to attend 2 International Business Festivals with a further 200 overseas delegations looking to work with local govt, health, sports, culture, education and trade partners.
Founded 2 unique pro bono business guidance services and inspired over 60 specialist volunteers to provide free of charge, independent and impartial guidance to thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs.
Created the award winning Fashion Hub, Parr Street Hotel and STUDIO2 (a UK top 50 best bar) and has produced 6 music albums.
Invented 2 building products, helped set up 2 charities (Liverpool’s Habitat for Humanity and Ripples on The Mersey) and built successful businesses. Gary has also created and organised several events.
During the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns Gary personally supported and mentored over 2000 business owners desperately seeking information about grants, and business support - or simply looking for someone to listen to their worries and pleas for help.
Most recently, Gary has written 2 works of non-fiction exploring the devastation on his family created by the Thalidomide drug. Silent Victims: Part 1 and Part are real-life stories about ignorance, blame, guilt, trauma, domestic violence, addiction and hope. Available at https://books.by/gary-millar
CURRENT ROLES:
| Alderman of Liverpool
| Chair & President Liverpool China Partnership
| Hon. President Liverpool Commonwealth Assoc.
| Senior Fellow Liverpool Hope University
| Honorary Fellow John Moores University
| Vice-Chair St George's Hall Charitable Trust
| Trustee The Cornerstones Foundation
| BIPC Entrepreneur in Residence
PREVIOUS ROLES:
| Lord Mayor of Liverpool
| Deputy Mayor of Liverpool
| Assistant Mayor of Liverpool
| Cabinet Member for Employment & Skills
| Cabinet Member for Culture & Enterprise
| Mayoral Lead Business & International Relations
| Old Swan Councillor
| Board Member Liverpool BID Company
| Chair Liverpool Commonwealth Association
| Chair Merseyside Enterprise Hub Strategic Board
| Board Member Chrysalis (General Partner) Ltd
| Patron Michael Causer Foundation
| Co-owner and Founder of the Fashion Hub
| Co-owner and Founder of Parr Street Hotel
| Governor Broadgreen International School
| Governor Dixons Broadgreen Academy School
| Governor Dixons Fazakerley Academy School
| Patron Liverpool Schizophrenia Association
| Patron NW Training Council
| Patron Liverpool Cricket Club
| President PSS
| President Age Concern Liverpool
| President of RSPCA Liverpool
| Vice President Seafarers UK
| Vice President English Speaking Union
| Hon. President Liverpool Sea Cadets
| Board Member Social Enterprise Network
| Regional President CMI
| Board Member Arts Council North
| Board Member Stepclever
| Chair Employment & Skills Select Committee
| Chair and Founder of Ripples on the Mersey
| Trustee Liverpool Habitat for Humanity
| Business Development Manager Apple Liverpool
| Managing Director Treads UK Limited
| Marketing Director Castle Flooring Group
| Senior Consultant Merseyside Innovation Centre Computer Services (MICCS)
| Training Manager MICCS
