★★★★

BUSINESS SurviveStart

ThriveECH

O

Shelf stackertowebguru

Pearl tobea jewelincity’scrown

PAGES2&3 PAGES4&5

CLAMOURGROWSFORVATREVISIONTHE clamour to cut VAT rates isgrowing among small firms.

A survey by Liverpool-based BibbyFinancial Services reveals a 25% rise innorth west firms calling for a return toVAT’s 17.5% level from last year, whenthe Government announced itsdecision to raise it to 20% thisJanuary.

And small firms lobby group theFederation of Small Businesses (FSB)has echoed the plea with a call for“targeted and time specific VAT cuts...

to restore growth in key sectors”.The Bibby research shows that 45%

of small firms in the north west want areturn to 17.5% as a matter of urgency.

Spokesman Dave Golding, said: “It isclear from our research that small andmedium-sized businesses are feelingsomewhat marginalised by the

government and would like to see DavidCameron and his ministers do more toaddress their specific needs.”

The FSB goes further and wants thegovernment to follow the lead of otherEuropean countries and cut VAT in theconstruction and tourism sectors to 5%for a year to help boost the economy.

Evidence from EU countries showsthat any lost revenue to the Exchequerby making VAT cuts will be met byearnings from additional demand, jobsand the wider economic activity.

Latest FSB figures show confidenceamong small firms is now lower than atthe start of the year.

FSB development manager NeilDutton said: “Confidence is key togetting Merseyside’s small businesses

back on track and this survey isworrying. The economy is still in afragile state and these figures clearlyshow that the Government’s growthstrategy is just not working.

“We need the Government’s actionsto match its rhetoric and it must finallydeliver on actions in its growthstrategy.”

Liverpool Chamber of Commercechief executive Jack Stopforth addedhis support for VAT reform, saying: “Ialways felt the hike in VAT wasill-judged.

“It is all about trying to recreate, orgenerate, consumer confidence at atime when people aren’t spending.

“A return to previous VAT levelswould be a welcome development.”

January risewas‘ill-judged’ sayschamber chief

Duocheckinto jobsatHiltonTWO job seekers havestarted work atLiverpool One’s HiltonHotel in a new schemefor young unemployed.

The Jobcentre PlusWork Experience lastseight weeks withoutaffecting benefits.

Clare Jones, 21, fromFazakerley, had neverhad a job since leavingschool and Tom Hughes,19, from KnowsleyVillage, had been onJobseekers Allowancesince early 2011.

Both have been givenjobs after placements atthe Hilton.

Clare said: “I felt workexperience was my lastchance to show anemployer what I coulddo – I really wanted ajob.”

Hilton HR directorElaine Cawley said: “Welook forward to offeringmore placements.” JOB JOY: From left, Hilton Liverpool HR director Elaine Cawley, Clare Jones, Tom Hughes and hotel manager Marcus Magee

● THE latest 60 ReallyUseful Minutes

presentation will takeplace at the Old HallStreet offices of theLiverpool Chamber ofCommerce at 9am thisFriday, July 22, on Healthand Safety Essentials,and will address howlegislation impactsemployees and employerson a day-to-day basis andwill provide an overviewof the documentationthat is required. Bookonline at Liverpoolchamber.org.uk

● THE KnowsleyBusiness and

Regeneration Awardsare seeking nominationsfrom individuals, localcompanies andentrepreneurs for the 12categories in the latestcompetition. Newcategories in the 2011awards, which take placeon October 7, includesuccess in the builtenvironment as well aseconomic prosperity,including Best HousingScheme of the Year.Entries should besubmitted before August12. Please call IreneJohnson on 0151-4432262 for details.

● JOHN Timpson,owner of high street

cobbler and key-cutterTimpson, is a guestspeaker at the CelebrateCheshire event atChester Racecourse onSeptember 16-17. He willspeak as part of theCelebrate CheshireBusiness Fridayprogramme which willconclude with theTrinity Mirror CheshireBusiness Awards,showcasing the businessexcellence withinCheshire. OpportunitySaturday will focus onthe career, training,voluntary work andleisure opportunitiesthat Cheshire has tooffer. To register visitwww.celebratecheshire.co.uk

● HM Revenue &Customs is

launching a discussiondocument as part of aclampdown on dishonesttax agents. PermanentSecretary of Tax DaveHartnett said: “Tacklingdishonesty reassures thepublic.”

EXCLUSIVEByNEIL HODGSONIndustry Reporter

NEWS Wednesday, July 20, 20112 ★★★★

ChinaPearlaimstobeaculturaljewel incity crown

BUSINESSSMALL

of the Week

Neil Hodgson talks toFenfen Huang about herartistic development plans

LOVELL AIDSPOSITIVEOUTCOMEFOR SCHEMEBIRKENHEADaffordable homesbuilder Lovell helpedimprove a Buddhistcentre in Sefton Park,and the employmentprospects of youngMerseysiders, in arecent three-partproject.

Lovell providedskips, timber and atrainee joiner for fivedays for a gardeningproject at the DuldzinKadampa BuddhistCentre.

The building firmworked with MerseyFire and RescueService and youngpeople from youthcharity The Prince’sTrust. The youngpeople were on a12-week “teamprogramme”,delivered by the Fireand Rescue Service, tohelp them developskills and confidenceto get into work,education or training.

Elaine Pritchardfrom the BuddhistCentre said: “Theimproved garden isfantastic, as it’sprovided a tranquilspace for all thepeople of Liverpool tosimply sit and relax inpeace and quiet.We’re very grateful toall the volunteers fortheir help and hardwork.”

Sara Lawton, fromMersey Fire andRescue Service,added: “The youngpeople have gainedwork experience, withsome individualssecuringapprenticeships in theconstruction industry.The lives of thoseinvolved have beenchanged in a positiveway.”

GLITZ TO HOSTFASHION SHOWINDEPENDENThandbags andaccessories retailerGlitz N Glamour isholding a fashion showat Maghull Town Hallthis week.

The Maghull store isowned by SusanSlater, who hasorganised the show inaid of MacmillanCancer Support.

She said she wantedto “heighten theprofile of local smallbusinesses who arefinding it hard in thepresent climate”.

It starts at 7.30pmand tickets are £2.50.

BUSINESS

LIVERPOOL, a former capital ofculture, is to receive a freshinfusion of culture in the formof a Chinese venture which aimsto strengthen the cultural bonds

between China and the west.China Pearl was established by

Fenfen Huang, 30, who has finallyrealised her dream of building acareer in dance after first coming tothe city to study at the University ofLiverpool in 2001.

Born in Linhai, in Zhejiangprovince, near Shanghai, she studiedat the university and gained a degreein environment and planning.

But she said her overriding passionhas always been dance, and it wasn’tlong before she joined the university’sballroom dancing team and was takingpart in dance competitions inLiverpool and beyond.

Having successfully gained herdegree she decided that the world ofenvironment and planning wasn’t forher, so she began a full-time dancetraining course at LiverpoolCommunity College.

She said: “I thought, planning is notreally my cup of tea and dancing is inmy heart.”

Fenfen gained her diploma and thenundertook an MA in marketing atLiverpool John Moores University.

But she continued her dancetraining throughout her academicstudies, including two visits to theBeijing Dance Academy to learntraditional Chinese dance.

“I was also learning western danceforms and visited New York andLondon,” she said.

But she had fallen in love withLiverpool, so after successfullycompleting her MA she set out onestablishing China Pearl in the city.

She said: “Liverpool is where Istarted my dance career and pursuedmy dream.

“I love this city. It is great and it hassuch a distinctive culture of its own,with its own accent and arts.Liverpool is my second home.”

She set up China Pearl in 2007 and,after recruiting two fellow directors inLiverpool Labour councillor GaryMillar and Indian dancer BisakhaSarker, registered the limited companyby guarantee this June.

Their aim is to promote Chineseculture, not only through dance butthrough other traditional arts such asmusic, calligraphy and painting.

They also hope to build bridgesbetween the Chinese and Liverpoolcommunities.

One strand will be to focus on themany different Chinese festivalsthroughout the year, and open up their

different themes and traditions to awestern audience.

Fenfen said: “There are so manytraditional Chinese festivals thatwestern people are unaware of.

“They know all about Chinese NewYear, but there are the Dragon Boatfestival, the Lantern festival and theMid-autumn festival, and ChineseValentine’s Day.”

The next festival will be the

Mid-autumn festival straddling Augustand September and focused, accordingto the Chinese lunar calendar, on thefull moon of mid-August.

She explained: “This is for familyreunions or gatherings and is atraditional festival, with foods likemooncakes.”

China Pearl’s shows will featureChinese music and dance and Fenfenexplained: “Even though the

Mid-autumn festival is very Chinese itis a way to get Chinese and westernmusicians working together.

“We are working with localcommunity choirs on songs and wewant to show how the Chinesecelebrate their festivals. We want toshow British audiences about theorigin of the festivals.”

She is also working on theprogramme in partnership withLiverpool’s Primary Care Trust aspart of its 2020 Decades of Health andWellbeing programme.

“My company wants to put onperformances and workshops for thepublic and visit places like nursinghomes, hospitals, schools andcommunity centres, even somewherelike Sefton Park. I am hoping the finalshowpiece will be a theatreproduction.”

Fenfen said the project will providework for Chinese and western

Bosses’ leader incall forbetter linkswitheducationTHE north west leader ofbosses’ organisation the CBIhas called for more linksbetween business and theregion’s schools to improveemployability prospects forpupils.

Damian Waters, CBI northwest director, made hisremarks during a visit toKirkby Sports College (KSC)

in Knowsley, one of thegovernment’s new PFIschools.

He said more meaningfullong-term strategicpartnerships between schoolsand businesses are required,saying: “Both need tounderstand each other better.

“For many business ownerstheir last experience of school

was a long time ago and theyneed to see how education andschools have changed.

“You only have to come toKSC to see how different thelearning environment is. Thisis a wonderful inspirationalbuilding with fabulousfacilities a world away fromwhat many business ownersremember. Moreover through

closer links schools can gain afar greater insight into whatskills business wants.”

KSC principal Baljit Gandhiwelcomed the CBI visit andurged local employers to workwith the school: “As a stateschool our purpose is to raiseaspirations and ambitions.”

She added: “We have someof the best sporting facilities

in the country, one of the bestbuildings and one of the mostdedicated teaching teams.

“However, we really do wantgreater input from industry inthis area so we can inspireour pupils to think big.

“Critically, pupils are tellingus this is what they want –real experience from realbusinesses.”

Wednesday, July 20, 2011 NEWS 3★★★★

NEW JOBSIN STORESEXPANSIONDISCOUNT retailerCash Generator,dubbed the “eBay ofthe high street”, hascreated more than 50jobs after opening sixnew stores in eightweeks acrossMerseyside.

The stores aresituated in Wavertree,Netherton, NorrisGreen, Toxteth,Kensington andWallasey.

Six store managershave also beenappointed, includingLaura Lawless fromWavertree, JayneSwindlehurst fromWallasey, Liverpool-born Tony Yates, PeterMcGerraty fromWalsall, ChrisBirmingham fromFormby and BruceHardman from SouthAfrica, who hasworked for the chainfor 18 months.

Cash Generatormanaging directorJulian Urry said:“Liverpool has playeda significant part inour expansion plans inrecent months withthe opening of sixstores.

“Job creation hasfollowed naturally andwe are delighted tohave carefully selectedsix store managers todrive forward ourdiscount retail offeringin the region.”

The chainspecialises in thebuying and selling of“nearly new” goods.

DANCING FAN: Fenfen Huangpictured in Liverpool’sChinatown wearing a Hancostume from China’s Zhejiangprovince Picture: PAUL HEAPS

musicians, including 10professional artists and 20community artists andstudents.

They will also produce afilm about how localfamilies celebrate familyevents, funded by the PCT andlinked to a project on integratingcommunities.

Fenfen believes she can build on thegrowing trade links between Liverpooland the UK and China

She said: “I think people want toexpand their scope beyond trading.They want to go beyond products anddiscover culture and arts, and bothcountries have fantastic talents. I wantto see more cultural exchangesbetween the two countries.”

She predicts a modest £15,000turnover for the first year, but believesthat could grow to more than £60,000or £80,000 within five years as shebroadens China Pearl’s horizons.

“After the first year we want to lookto Manchester and then raise ourprofile in the north west area and thenfrom there go nationwide.

“Maybe in three years we could doexchange projects in China, Europe oreven America.

“I want to explore integration ofChinese styles with modern andwestern styles.

“China is developing very fast andpeople like to explore different styles.Here we have fantastic contemporarydance, ballet and media. It would bereally nice to see the two culturescome together.”

RALLYING CALLFROM ROVERSTRANMERE Rovers iscalling on local firmsfor support.

The npower LeagueOne side has launcheda set of sponsorshipand corporatehospitality packagesaimed at the businesscommunity.

Home gates averageabout 5,500 andcommercial sales andbusiness developmentmanager LizDicastiglione said:“We have what webelieve are greatsponsorshipopportunities with theability of reaching acaptive audience ofthousands of people atevery home game.”

She added: “Wehave put a lot ofthought into thesepackages andconsidered the effectsof the recession onbusinesses whenlooking at pricing.”

Do you wantto be our Business

of the Week?Contact Neil

Hodgson 0151 4722451 or emailneil.hodgson

@liverpool.com

PERFORMANCE: Fenfen Huang wants to build cultural links between Liverpool and China

NEWS Wednesday, July 20, 20114 ★★★★

BUSINESS

MATT BULLAS can’t helpgoing at 100mph – andthat’s how he made thejourney fromshelf-stacker to

award-winning business leader.Today Bullas, 33, leads Click

Consult, the Cheshire webdevelopment agency that he hasgrown from a one-man band to anaward-winning firm employing 75people.

He describes himself as a manwith “a huge amount of drive”, andproudly tells the story of how herose through the ranks at Safeway.

Bullas joined the chain at 17 andsoon rose from shop-floor junior toa key role in its head office. Butwhen Safeway was taken over byMorrisons and he faced redundancy,Bullas decided he should apply thepassion he applied to his Safewaycareer to his own business.

“I was always restricted workingfor a large company like that,” hesaid.

“I remember one person sayingthe problem people had with mewas that I was getting on the trainand going at 100mph and leavingeveryone else behind.

“They saw it as a negative. I sawit as a positive.”

Bullas went to school in the smallDevon town of Cullompton.

“I’m not academic,” he said. “Ididn’t get above a C in my GCSEs.

“I went to college for one year – apainful year. I left there and startedworking at Safeway.

“I started stacking shelves andworked around different parts ofthe store. I had a huge amount ofdrive. I was inspired by storemanagement, so I worked my wayinto the management trainingscheme.”

He became one of the youngeststore managers in the countrybefore moving to a regional role,managing the allocation offloorspace in stores from Cornwallto Basingstoke. But after two years,he wanted a change.

“I’m the kind of person that doesget bored quite quickly, fortunatelyor unfortunately,” he smiled.

“It became the same old stuffevery day. So I started looking forroles in head office.”

He took a project managementrole at Safeway’s Middlesex base,but soon moved into buying.

“ I found myself a junior buyingrole – it was almost a step back, butit offered progression,” he said.

“When I finished buying atSafeway, I was buying £160m ofelectronics and telecoms goods.”

In 2004, Safeway was bought byrival Morrisons. Bullas kept his jobat first, overseeing the transition,but swiftly made plans for hisfuture. He said: “Even before I gotmy redundancy, I knew I wanted tostart a company.”

And so he launched PlanetPhonecards, a site that offerssavings on international phonecalls. He said: “I had the idea ofcreating a website and getting rid ofthe physical phonecards.”

Bullas moved to Wirral, wherehis girlfriend lived, and got a smalloffice in Heswall. Next, he had tolearn the skills he needed to run abusiness.

“I’m not a technical person,” hesaid. “I couldn’t build the website.

“I had to go through the processof finding a company to build it.”

Planet Phonecards proved asuccess and was, at its peak,

turning over £2,500 a day. It survivestoday, running alongsideClickConsult.

“There’s always going to be amarket for phonecards,” saidBullas. “There are people who don’thave access to broadband or Skype.

“Planet is a brand in its ownright. I’m never going to sell it. It’sa declining market, but there’s stilla niche.”

To make Planet Phonecards work,Bullas had to delve into themysteries of online marketing. Andthat gave him his big business idea.

“I had to learn the marketing sideof things, and how to make this

business work online,” he said.“Other people were creating

websites and saying ‘why am I notselling?’ So I had to get into thenitty-gritty of various ways ofmarketing.”

He focused on the pay-per-clickmodel, where revenues aregenerated depending on how manytimes an advert or a link are clickedon. And, as he learned more, herealised his research had opened upanother business opportunity.

“There’s got to be a chance for meto recycle what I’ve done for me forother businesses,” he said.

“So I started Click Consult, andbuilt the website, and startedadvertising pay-per-clickmanagement.”

The business grew steadily. Butas more agencies started to offerpay- per-click services, ClickConsult had to diversify.

Bullas said: “If we didn’t do that,it was going to stand still, or gobackwards. So we started to look atsearch engine optimisation (SEO).”

Bullas created the SEO Consultbrand and recruited experts in SEO– the art of getting websites rankedas high as possible on searchengines.

The move paid off – today SEOmakes up some 80% of ClickConsult’s business. The companyalso offers web design services.

For Bullas, the key to success inthe ongoing economic downturn isto prove to clients that theirinvestment in Click Consult’sservices is paying results.

“If you don’t deliver a return oninvestment, clients won’t deliver thespending,” said Bullas.

Web development is such a fast-moving industry that it is hard topredict what technologies will be all

A100mphjourneyfromshelfstackingtoonlinesuccess

INTERVIEWBIGAlistair Houghtontalks to MATTBULLAS, managingdirector of ClickConsult

‘Iwasalwaysrestrictedworkingforalargecompany’

Wednesday, July 20, 2011 NEWS 5★★★★

AS Stepclever business advisors,we have the privilege to beinvolved in supporting manydifferent types of business. Mostinspiring is when a client has

sheer passion and drive for what they aretrying to achieve.

One such example is Claire Morgans, theCEO of YKids, a children’s charity based inBootle, which seeks to benefit the lives ofchildren and young people living in areas ofdeprivation.

Originating in 1988 as a voluntaryorganisation, Ykids works with over 2,000children and young people every week,delivering a variety of mentoringprogrammes, street play projects, sports andarts projects, self esteem programmes inover 40 schools in Bootle and surroundingareas.

From this, another social enterprise, NotJust Cooking, was formed last year wherecooking workshops are delivered in variouslocations promoting real cooking, healthyeating and life skills, as well as trainingyoung people in the catering industry.

In the coming months, there are plans fora coffee bar on the high street in Bootle,which will not only provide an income tohelp sustain the charity but also become amuch needed evening venue for targetedyouth work.

All of this can’t be achieved, though,without pure passion and commitment.Claire said: “I love Liverpool and I have aparticular passion for Bootle. I love itspeople and its communities, and I long to seeregeneration and a sense of hope andanticipation return.

“I want to see investment in Bootle on agrand scale alongside the development ofmany small businesses and socialenterprises which give self-esteem andpower to local people.

“People need to believe in themselves, findhope for the future and reach for theirdreams. Certainly, as a charity, a large partof our work is about helping children andyoung people to see their worth andencourage them to realise their potentialand achieve their dreams.

“The Stepclever programme is aboutsupporting people to set up new businessesin areas of deprivation and I want tochampion anything that brings investmentand regeneration into Bootle.

“I know of a number of businesses in thearea that have set up as a direct result of oursignposting and Stepclever has been therefor many of them.”

If you want to find out more about Claire’swork visit www.ykids.co.uk

● Stepclever has a range of services to helpyou on your way from turning an idea into areal life business.

To find out more visit Stepclever.co.uk orcall 0151 934 4672.

the rage in years to come. But, saysBullas, many firms have yet to getto grips with current trends.

He said: “There are a lot oftraditional companies that haven’tyet invested in a good website. Theydon’t have sites that integrate withsocial media. There are bigopportunities there.”

Bullas has largely handed overthe day-to-day running of ClickConsult, now based in Hooton, tohis management team. He focusesinstead on the firm’s strategicdirection and growth plans.

That also allows him to work onother business ideas. He has built aportfolio of domain names and isnow planning to see if he can buildbusinesses around them.

“I’m an idea generator, and nichespotter,” he said. “The concepts arethere and now I need to thrash outthe business models.

AMBITIOUS: Matt Bullasworked his way upthrough supermarketchain Safeway beforefounding his own business

HONOUR: Matt Bullas receives a HighSheriff ’s Award for Enterprise from theHigh Sheriff of Cheshire, Diana Barbour

“Click Consult is the big beast.It’s the core focus. I don’t want tolose sight of what’s happeninghere.”

Even outside the office, Bullasdoesn’t believe in sitting still.

He and his wife, who have afour-year-old daughter, manage aproperty portfolio. Bullas is also aManchester United season ticketholder, and regularly visits the gym– “I believe that you need a healthybody and a healthy mind,” he says.

To that end, he insists on leavingwork at a reasonable hour so he canspend time with his family. But hecan never truly leave work behind.

“I’m not a 12-hour-a-dayworkaholic,” he said. “But I’malways checking emails.

“My BlackBerry is the bane ofmy life, even when I’m on holiday.It’s very difficult for me to switchoff completely.”

AdvertisingFeature

Passion canmean businessKarenTate,businessstart-upadvisor atStepclever,has someadvice forreaders

Stepclever

NEWS Wednesday, July 20, 20116 ★★★★

BUSINESS

GLOBAL business changesrapidly but it seems theold-fashioned royal seal ofapproval can still provide aboost for British firms

trading both at home and overseas.Last week saw the latest batch of

UK firms receive their Queen’sAwards for Enterprise 2011.

This year there were threerecipients in the Liverpool cityregion – RS Clare in Liverpool, EATechnology, based at Capenhurstnear Chester, andSkelmersdale-based socialenterprise, Brighter FutureWorkshop.

Winners are entitled to put theQueen’s Award logo on theirstationery and marketing materialfor five years.

Both current and past winnerssay the accolade can give them asignificant advantage whenattempting to win new business.

RS Clare, Merseyside’soldest-surviving manufacturer, haswon the Queen’s Award forInternational Trade.

The firm was founded in 1748 andhas been at its current StanhopeStreet site since 1795, where itproduces specialist lubricants forthe oil and gas industry as well asthe rail, car, steel and constructionsectors.

It exports to more than 30countries worldwide, with exportsaccounting for almost 50% ofturnover.

New markets include Africa,Syria, Romania, Gabon, Trinidadand Tobago.

The firm has expanded this year,with the number of employeesrising by 20% to 68 and it has anannual turnover of £12m.

Its gate valve lubricants are usedby several major oil companiesglobally and the China market isopening up for all its productsectors.

RS Clare was visited last monthby Lord Green, Minister for Trade& Investment, and congratulated onits contribution to strengtheningthe local economy throughmanufacturing and internationaltrade.

Chairman Ian Meadows said: “Tous at RS Clare, the Queen’s Awardis the ultimate accolade. It’s the onelogo that everyone wants to wear onthe corporate shirt.

“We have become accustomed towinning awards since the RACpresented to us the massiveBallymenagh Trophy over a centuryago for Britain’s ‘foremost dustlaying compound for road surfaces’.

“But the Queen’s Award forInternational Trade is a stepchange.

“It reflects on the whole team atClare, and we are very proud.

“Internationally acclaimed, it hasenhanced our credibility globally,and that will doubtless contributeto even stronger export growth bothin specialist lubricants and surfacecoatings where we are buildingsignificant niche market positions.”

The winner of the Queen’s Awardfor Innovation is EA Technology ofCapenhurst. It is the second timethe firm has won the award.

EA won the award for thedevelopment of instruments for usein the electricity industry, whichcan identify faults before they leadto failures and power cuts,improving efficiency, reliability andsafety.

In the last three years worldwidesales of its UltraTEV products have

soared by 345%. EA’s developmentdirector Neil Davies said: “TheQueen’s Award for Innovation is agreat honour for the company andfor all the team.

“The award carries real weightaround the world and confirms ourposition as innovators of highlyspecific equipment in the field ofenergy technology.”

EA has also doubled its workforceto nearly 200 and won orders in 86countries during a time of globalrecession.

More than 85% of its UltraTEVproducts are exported, with growthmarkets including China.

The original UltraTEVinstrument won the Queen’s Awardfor Innovation in 2007 and has givenrise to three subsequentgenerations of development, with afourth on the way.

Brighter Future Workshop inSkelmersdale has won the Queen’sAward for its “outstandingcommitment” to enhancing thelives of the local community.

The enterprise has recycled morethan 5,000 items of used mobilityequipment as well as providing over

3,000 training places in adisability-friendly workshop totrain those with physical, medical,learning or emotional problems.

Chairman Peter Cousins said:“We have received plenty of callssince winning the Queen’s Award,and I feel it definitely has thepotential to help our business.

“We are only a small socialenterprise, so we are delighted tohave received this accolade and Ifeel it can only do the businessgood.”

Liverpool scrap metal recyclingfirm S Norton has been therecipient of two Queen’s Awards forInternational Trade – in 2004 and2009. Its 2009 win came off the backof a three-year period of growthduring which its export businessgrew by £39m.

David Hulse, the company’spublic affairs advisor, said winningthe award was a great boost forbusiness and for the morale of itsstaff.

“It is like a badge of honour,” hesaid. “When we talk to potentialoverseas customers they see that asevidence of our good standing.”

RIGHTROYALFOCUS. . . on Queen’s

Awards

Tony McDonoughon the latest winnersof Queen’s Awardsfor Enterprise.

PROUD: RS Clare chairman Ian Meadows says the Queen’s Award is the ‘ultimate accolade’ for the firm and its employees

THERE are three categoriesthat businesses can enter forthe Queen’s Awards forEnterprise.

They are: InternationalTrade, Innovation andSustainable Development.

There is also an individualaward category – the Queen’sAward for EnterprisePromotion.

Each Queen’s Awardscategory has differentapplication criteria that mustbe met before application.

The awards are madeannually and are only givenfor the “highest levels ofexcellence” demonstrated ineach category.

Business secretary VinceCable pictured, has now put

Enternowfor2012

Wednesday, July 20, 2011 NEWS 7★★★★

BOOST

POWERING AHEAD: EA Technology in Capenhursthas won the Queen’s Award for Innovation

● WITH energy bills setto soar, inflation is

hitting 65-74-year-olds thehardest, says the AllianceTrust Research Centre,which reckons this age groupis suffering inflation at 5.1%per year, some 21% abovethe rate of 4.2%

Food price inflation hit6.5% in June, and gas andelectricity price hikes willhammer this age groupfurther in the comingmonths.

The under-30s face thelowest rate of inflation – just4.6% – as they benefit fromlow inflation in rents.

With this month’s officialinflation report showing theheadline rate of inflationdown from 4.5% to 4.2%, theAlliance Trust’s monthlystudy says all age groups sawa fall in their inflationrates over the month.

● TWOmarket-leading

accounts fromNationwide BS aredesigned to givelong-suffering savers a break:an 18-month Loyalty FixedRate ISA and an 18-monthLoyalty Fixed Rate Bondboth pay 3.30% grosspa/AER, between 0.30%and 0.55% above theSociety’s existing range of18-month fixed rate options.

Since launching theSavings Promises inNovember 2010, NationwideBS has launched three

Patrick Connolly, at financialadvisors AWD Chase deVere, reckons PremiumBonds still have attractions.

With a £1m prize eachmonth, Premium Bondspromise a total return of1.5% per annum, tax free.This equates to a return of3% per annum for a 50%taxpayer, or 2.5% for a 40%tax payer – not bad in thecurrent savings market.

● IF YOU missed out onthe £161m up for grabs

in the EuroMillions lottery,Patrick Connolly, at financialadvisors AWD Chase deVere, reckons PremiumBonds still have attractions.

With a £1m prize eachmonth, Premium Bondspromise a total return of1.5% per annum, tax free.This equates to a return of

3% per annum for a 50%taxpayer, or 2.5% fora 40% tax payer -

not bad in thecurrent savings

market.

● HARD-UP Britonsneed credit cards

to pay bills some 21 daysafter payday, saysmoneysupermarket.com.

The personal financewebsite says a quarter ofBritons – some 11million adults – usecredit cards as afallback when they run

out of funds in their currentaccount.

MONEY

out the call for firms to gettheir entries in for the 2010awards.

“It’s important we createthe right conditions forBritain’s new and up-and-coming entrepreneurs tosucceed and I strongly

encourage businesses to startthinking about nominationsfor next year,” he said.

The application/nomination period for TheQueen’s Awards forEnterprise 2012 is now openand closes on October 31.

Winners will be announcedon April 21, 2012.

Entrants must be based inthe UK.

Entry is free and forms canbe completed and submittedonline at www.business-link.gov.uk/queensawards

MATTERS withJEREMYGATES

SOCIAL ENTERPRISEwith Jo McGrath,chair of the SocialEnterpriseNetwork

AS ANY social entrepreneurwill tell you, starting a socialenterprise can be a verytough yet ultimatelyrewarding experience.

One person who can attestto this is Steve Taylor-Smithwho is a Wirral based socialentrepreneur who hassuccessfully trodden the pathof social entrepreneurship,and is now helping others todo the same.

Having worked in thecommunity and socialenterprise sector for anumber of years it becameclear to Steve that a socialenterprise was needed thatwould help other socialenterprises to becomesustainable and deliversocial impact. Fast forwardto today and Urban Quay hassparked a huge amount ofsocially entrepreneurialactivity across Merseysidethrough the provision ofeffective, affordable solutionsto social matters.

Urban Quay, which wasestablished in 2009, hassupported the start-up of 36new social enterprises overthe last 12 months andattracted over £10m ofinvestment into the sector onMerseyside.

And this is just the start.Urban Quay recognises thatthe political and economic

upheaval of the past year hasopened up hugeopportunities for socialenterprises locally.

The political landscape haschanged and as such therewill be many opportunitiesavailable within publicservice delivery. Socialenterprises are well-placed tocapitalise upon theseopportunities so long as theyhave the right mindset andstructure.

And it is these new

challenges which are drivingSteve and the rest of the teamat Urban Quay to ensure thatlocal community-drivensocial enterprises don’t missout on the valuableopportunities that arecurrently being presented tothem.

So if you're consideringsetting up a socialenterprise, you’re not alone.Others have trodden the pathof social entrepreneurship,and you can too!

SUCCESS:SteveTaylor-Smith

loyalty savings accountsrewarding more than150,000 members. The newrates adhere to the Society’sPromise to ensure that FixedRate ISA rates match orbeat equivalent Bond rates.

Both products areavailable in branch toexisting customers with aminimum £1 in a Nationwidesavings account for at leastthree months prior toapplication.

The Bond is available tocustomers aged seven orover, while the cash ISA isavailable to customers aged16 and over.

● IF YOU missed out onthe £161m up for grabs

in the EuroMillions lottery,

NEWS Wednesday, July 20, 20118 ★★★★

BUSINESS

R&DFILLIPVITALFORUKGROWTH

LloydsBanksimplifies chargesforSMEs

Digby Jones incall to SMEs toclaimEU funds

FUNDING CALL: Lord Digby Jones, pictured before presenting one of Liverpool Jones Moores University’s Roscoe Lectures this April

FORMER CBI director generaland UK Trade and InvestmentMinister Lord Digby Jones isurging small firms to exploit a£1.22bn European reserve to fundtheir research and developmentcosts.

He believes UK firms aremissing out on the aid and will usea conference next week in theMidlands to call for more to bedone to help the small businesssector.

Next Tuesday he will addressthe event organised by businesssupport company Pera, but on therun up to his speech hehighlighted the importance of theSME (small and medium-sized

enterprise) sector to the UKrecovery, saying: “This country isonly going to get itself out of thiseconomic malaise if we trade ourway out of it.

“If you ever analyse the firstyear out of a recession, it’s alwaysthe small business sector thatpulls the country out: it is thesector that starts to employ first,the sector that grows wealth againfirst. The small business sector iskey to economic recovery.”

But he said since the start of the

recession money spent onresearch and development (R&D)in the SME sector has fallen by aquarter to just £25bn in 2009.

“The UK spends 1.79% of GDPon R&D. This is behind the OECDaverage – behind Belgium.

“The UK R&D tax-credit systemworks well, but much more mustbe done with small, innovativebusinesses receiving special fiscalhelp.”

Lord Jones says Europerecognises the value of SMEs,which was why it has a £1.22bnfund to help small firms innovateand develop new products andprocesses.

The fund for SMEs is part of theCommission’s SeventhFramework Programme (FP7) forResearch and Development whichis designed to drive growth,

innovation and collaborationacross Europe.

Lord Jones said: “Companiesare missing out on millions ofpounds of FP7 funding andtherefore investing less in R&D.

“UK firms spent less onresearch and development thaneither Germany or France. In 2007before the banking crisis,Germany spent £54.3bn, France£34.2bn and Britain just £32.4bn.”

He believes the governmentshould do more to support smallfirms, saying: “If they and the EUwere to do one thing to help SMEsit should be to cut regulation andthe paperwork and make doingbusiness easier.

“It is vital that the governmentand banks do more to unlock thepotential through research andtechnological innovation.”

LLOYDS TSB hasintroduced a new pricingplan aimed at businesscustomers.

It says it simplifiesbusiness banking chargesby allowing customers topay a fixed monthly feefor a package oftransactions, like directdebits and chequepayments, as an

alternative to paying forindividually priced items.

Customers can choosefrom a range of fivePricePlans, depending ontheir business needs andwill be able to switchbetween plans to reflectchanges in theirbusinesses.

It follows recentresearch among 2,000

small firms that showed78% of north westrespondents felt bankcharges need to besimpler, while 64%believed a flat fee wouldprovide that simplicity.

John Maltby, LloydsBanking Group managingdirector commercial,said: “Small businessesare facing a lot of

uncertainty at themoment, with a volatileeconomy, rising energyprices and input costs alltaking their toll, so wewant to ensure that theservice we provide is asstraightforward andsupportive as possible.

“We are tackling thecrucial issue of access tofinance, head on, through

our ongoing efforts tolend, and we havebolstered our SME (smalland medium-sizedenterprise) Charter withour latest pledge onlending appeals.”

He said the monthlyPricePlan will help firmscut down on the timemanaging theirday-to-day finances.

byNEIL HODGSONIndustry Reporter

Business to BusinessBusiness For Sale

LIVERPOOL www.christie.com

E: manchester@christie.com

• Well presented 3-storey property• 2-bar operation. Trading area c. 2,845 sq ft• Further 8 rooms on the upper 2 floors

14 UK Offices – Contact Manchester Office Ref 56/LP51275/S

PUBLIC HOUSE

OIEO £600,000 Freehold

T: 0161 833 3311

FOR SALE £35,000 WirralPublic House tenancy, free oftie, inclusive of £50,000 offixtures and fittings, 4 bed-roomed living accommodation,large car park, nice area andgreat potential. Quick salerequired. No offers. 07510557342/ 0151 678 7451

L1CITY CENTRE Shop £20,000£500pcm 07776 305336

CommercialPremises

NNEEWW LLEEAASSEEFLEXIBLETERMS/

RENT FREE

SHOP TO LETPRESCOT ROAD, LIVERPOOL

MAIN RD MAGHULL LargeShop & offices, forecourt park-ing roller shutter security, welldecorated , low rent . Su i taccountants/ solicitor etc. Alsoshop of f i ces & warehousesuitable for furniture sales etc.1,900 sqft 01695 423489

INDUSTRIAL UNITS To Let.South L’pool 500 to 4000 sqft,monthly tenancy, competitiverents. From £50pw Tel: 0151427 5051

TO LET OR MAY SELLSHOWROOM. Office, Factory,Car parking area. Would suitany business. L21 area.Further details 07711 819835

SHOP L7 Busy Road, any use.....................................£100pwL20 OFFICE/SHOP.........£95pwL 2 0 S H O P T a k e a w a yplanning........................£100pw07710 498311

TO LET Nursery, 3,600sqft. Upto 80 child capacity. Next toBelle Vale Shopping Centre, JobCentre, Police & Fire Station. Fronly £500pw. Cal l 07949689802

OFFICE TO LET Knowsley In-dustrial Estate, 1st flr, s/c,brand new decor, 1500sqft,£400pcm 07587 130170 or07572 956272

CROSBY 99 Liverpool Rd (NrEndbutt Lane). Prominent,spacious, lock up shop. No hotfood 07799 180456

OFFICES TO LET Next toBellevale Shopping Centre.Singles from £40pw, inc CarParking. Call 07949 689802

PICTON RD Large doublefronted shop & basement. Idealshowroom, £15,000pa 07587130170 or 07572 956272

5 O F F I C E S T O L E T NrAl le r ton Rd L18. 2 w.c ’ s ,kitchen, staffroom £1,000 pcmTel: 07938 877632

UNITS TO LET 5,000−15,000sqft. Initial Rent free period.0151 486 0004KNOWSLEY IND EST 600sqftlock up unit £300pcm 07587130170 or 07572 956272

S H O P S T O L E T S p e k e -Liverpool, excellent deals. CallMichael. 07538 279150

WELLINGTON RD L15 Varietyof Industrial units available now0151 227 2875

ORRELL PARK shop unit to letbusy parade 07711 819835

Business For Rent

PRESCOT Shop, OppositeWeatherspoons proposedentrance. Suit off licence. Call07730 200027

BusinessOpportunities

THE FIVE STAR WASH Cafe/vehicle storage possible carwash. Tel 07772 000000

Taxis/Cab & Plate

D A V Y L I V E R R e q u i r eexperienced radio operators.P l e a s e s e n d C V ’ s t ovacancies@davyliver.co.uk

02 TX WHITE 2.7 Nissan ex-cellent condition 12 monthspass. £6,250 07768 622517

CITY NIGHT COLLAR 56 Regc/o Hunts Cross over 35’s exp07533 398829

NEW & USED CABS &PLATES f inance arranged.0151 922 3626

TAXI & CITY PLATE For sale08 TX4. Will sell seperately.07740 148537

DAY COLLAR REQUIRED 51Plate TX1 07400 372323

TX1 CITY DAYS/ NIGHTS L/COLLAR 07715 172487

LONG COLLAR CITY CABTX1 £270pw. 07923 599709.

BOTANIC CARS Requiresowner drivers 0151 220 2020

CITY DAYS/NIGHT/LONGCOLLAR 07789 884399

Building Trade

FRAMELINETRADE SUPPLY

COMPOSITE DOORSUPVC WINDOWS, DOORS,

CONSERVATORIES.5 Day Turnaround

Tel 0151 546 5577Fax 0151 546 5588ACCREDITED WITHBS7412 & BS7950

KITCHEN & BEDROOMFITTINGS from a hinge to a fullkitchen/bedroom. 3D plans nowavailable. Showroom & TradeCounter at 3 Rockley Street,Kirkdale, L4 0151−207 0008.www.brosna.co.uk

Loans / Finance /Mortgage

CASH LOANS Secured againstyour car. Loans for any purpose.0 1 5 1 2 2 0 4 4 8 8www.mobilemoney.co.uk

ACCOUNTS & TAX. Problemsw i t h H M R C ? A c c o u n t s &returns late? For help anda d v i c e f r o m e x p e r i e n c e dchartered accountants cal lBarry or Gavin on Tel: 0151493 9700.

Accountancy /Bookkeeping

B U S I N E S S T O B U S I N E S S

A-K TEL: 0151 472 2746L-Z TEL: 0151 472 2573

Appears every day in your