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Liverpool Chamber of Commerce Magazine
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Enter the dragon -Shanghai Expo unwrapped
www.liverpoolchamber-magazine.org.uk
INSIDE:
Airport growth continues pages 5 & 29
Liverpool first for wealth management page 6
Networking in prison page 19
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR LIVERPOOL AND MERSEYSIDE ISSUE 27 SUMMER 2010
£3 WHEN SOLD | ISSN: 1757-7705
CHAMBER
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SUMMER 2010 ■ 3
Enter the dragon -Shanghai Expo unwrapped
www.liverpoolchamber-magazine.org.uk
INSIDE:
Airport growth continues pages 5 & 29
Liverpool first for wealth management page 6
Networking in prison page 19
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR LIVERPOOL AND MERSEYSIDE ISSUE 27 SUMMER 2010
£3 WHEN SOLD | ISSN: 1757-7705
CHAMBER
EditorialIf you have any news or views you would like to share with other Chamber members, contact Pamela Holstein on 0151 227 1234 or e-mail at [email protected]
Contact points
Advertising
For details on advertising opportunities in Liverpool Chamber, contact:
Amanda Sutton on 0113 228 5203 or e-mail [email protected]
Liverpool Chamber is produced on behalf of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce and Industry by Excel Publishing Co Ltd. It is distributed to members of the Chamber and other qualifying businesses free of charge.
DURING the week of negotiations that resulted in the new Tory-Lib Dem coalition, the parties’ talked of the ‘national interest’, though it seemed their own tribal interests were really front and centre.
Watching the results unfold, two questions stuck in my mind: What about business? Will the new coalition be able to recognise and deal with business concerns about prolonged uncertainty?
Markets at home and abroad are sensitive to politics these days – and as the Quarterly Economic Survey has shown, our economic recovery remains fragile. The voters’ choice of a hung Parliament will have an impact on the markets and on our companies.
More than ever before, business needs a clear message – so that collectively, we can hold Britain’s new coalition Government to account for its actions. It is our duty to remind Messrs Cameron and Clegg that there are two priorities that matter to this country’s economic future: cutting the defi cit and creating an environment that lets businesses deliver jobs, profi ts, and tax revenues.
In many countries with a tradition of coalition government, plans to pare back public spending are one of the fi rst victims of an inter-party pact. Given the UK’s unprecedented budget defi cit and rocketing levels of debt, we in the business world must not allow this to happen. Business must be clear: there can be no back-room deals to protect large swathes of public spending.
This is no time to shirk from the tough decisions. We need a clear plan for public spending cuts, an immediate freeze in the public sector wage bill complemented by targeted cuts across Government. The Coalition’s early priorities – an Emergency Budget, with moves toward £6bn in spending cuts in 2010 and more from 2011 – seem to recognise this. Yet business must remain vigilant, to ensure that serious defi cit-reduction measures are real rather than just the stuff of headlines.
There’s another set of tough decisions that need to be taken alongside defi cit reduction – decisions that result in a better environment for business growth. The biggest single statement that the Government could make to business early on is a complete and comprehensive roll-back of the 1pc rise in employers’ National Insurance scheduled for next April. The Coalition’s promise to implement Tory NI plans, which include a partial roll-back, are a step forward. But they are not enough. We need to secure a complete roll-back so that business can create jobs and re-start the economy.
There’s more the new coalition Government could do to help business. Speedy announcements to freeze new employment regulation, stabilise the planning system, and guarantees for future infrastructure projects will give companies the confi dence to drive growth and higher productivity.
It’s going to be an exciting, if unpredictable, summer. Britain has not seen a coalition in over sixty years. From my perspective, it’s the perfect time for businesses up and down the country to speak with one voice – and set the agenda for the politicians, rather than the other way round.
After the election, making business’s voice count
THE ULTIMATE BUSINESS NETWORK visit www.liverpoolchamber.org.uk
ContentsNews
4-5Member news
6Retail
7Arts and Culture
8-9Finance
10World Expo 2010
12-13Construction
14Tourism
15Events
18-19Skills and Training 20-24Partners
25Legal
26-28Transport
29Environment and Wellbeing 34New members
35
Front cover image:Chinese Dragon from the 3D fi lm currently being screened at the Shanghai Exposupplied by River Media
MembershipFor more information about membership of Liverpool Chamber, visit www.liverpoolchamber.org.uk or ring Nick Preston on 0151 227 1234.
Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained in Liverpool Chamber, the Chamber nor its publishers cannot accept any responsibility for any omissions or inaccuracies it may contain.
Liverpool Chamber’s chief executive, Jack Stopforth
4 ■ NEWS
Liverpool Highways InvestmentLIVERPOOL City Council is still investing in roads and highways with four major schemes currently on site, all aimed at balancing the needs of road users – motorists, public transport, cyclists and pedestrians.
The Highways Project Team are delivering improvement schemes in the Baltic Triangle – Jamaica Street; the Commercial District – Dale Street and Old Hall Street; the Knowledge Quarter – Mount Pleasant corridor; and the Hall Lane Strategic Gateway.
This means an investment of around £40 million with work due to start on Castle Street and Edge Lane later this year. All the schemes are progressing well and aim to boost the local economy and attract business, as well as improve traffi c fl ow and road safety.
Funding for all of the schemes includes a mixture of contributions from Liverpool City Council, Northwest Development Agency,
European Regional Development Fund, Merseytravel and the Local Transport Plan.
Councillor Joe Anderson, leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “We are still investing in our city’s highways and public spaces and that is great news in this time of national recession as public spending is reduced.
“Liverpool City Council’s Highways Project Team have delivered some excellent schemes which have improved movement around our city and as ever we can see the impact that the NWDA and the ERDF have had through their fi nancial contributions. The NWDA have been crucial to so many public realm improvements over the past few years which have absolutely transformed parts of Liverpool.”For more information on all of these works, please visit www.liverpool.gov.uk/highwayprojects or call Liverpool Direct on 0151 233 3001.
LIVERPOOL Innovation Park (LIP) operator, Space North West, has appointed Steve Smith as chairman of its
Advisory Group which meets on a quarterly basis to advise on development of the Park and its role in Liverpool’s growing knowledge economy.
Steve’s experience in leading Merseyside’s vibrant ICT sector, forging national and international links for its businesses, and delivering dynamic international connection forums such as Software City,
brings a uniquely effective approach and considerable expertise to the group.
In addition to his day job as ICT Industry Director at Liverpool Vision, Steve will chair the Advisory Group comprising representatives of LIP tenant businesses, Liverpool’s universities, Business Link NW’s innovation team, NHS innovation specialists TrusTech, and the Northwest Regional
Development Agency. LIP Innovation Manager, Mark
Tock said: “That LIP Advisory Group’s member organisations also support complementary facilities such as MerseyBio and Liverpool Science Park demonstrates a joined up approach to growing Liverpool’s Knowledge Economy. Under Steve’s chairmanship, we hope to advance an increasingly collaborative agenda.”
Smith chairs Liverpool Innovation Park Advisory Group
Prominent Merseyside businessman and chairman of city law fi rm Mace & Jones, Roy Morris has been appointed by the Queen as the new High Sheriff of Merseyside.
Mr Morris was appointed to the role at a special meeting of the Privy Council. The appointment marks a career high point for Liverpool born Mr Morris who is the former chief executive of investment fi rm Rathbone Brothers.
Mr Morris said he passionately wanted to champion the very best of Merseyside to high profi le visitors and use the role to help the region’s charity sector.
“Having lived and worked on Merseyside all my life, I feel that this appointment is a great privilege and a wonderful honour,” he said. “I feel a strong responsibility to help the
community in a meaningful way through this position. I hope the knowledge and passion I have for Merseyside will help me fulfi ll these aims. I feel in particular that charities are fi nding it harder in the current economic climate so I intend to help the sector as much as I can.”
Mr Morris said he would be looking further to use the role and his contacts to encourage the private and public sector to work in partnership to help Merseyside fi ght back against the recession.
“Merseyside is the greatest place to work and live in the UK,” he said. “It has the best work life balance in the country and the warmest people, it also has a very big heart. I will be working as hard as I can to ensure Merseyside is seen at its very best during my year in offi ce.”
Roy Morris appointed new High Sheriff for Merseyside
“Merseyside isthe greatest place to worrrkkk aaand live in theee UKKKK.”
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PASSENGER numbers for Liverpool John Lennon Airport (JLA) show that throughput has continued to grow with a 15% increase for the fi rst three months of 2010, compared to the same period in 2009.
This is the fi fth consecutive month that JLA has seen year on year monthly passenger growth, with over 140,000 additional passengers choosing to use the airport this year making Liverpool one of the
UK’s fastest growing airports.To accommodate the growing
passenger numbers, a £12m development program is now well underway, including the opening of a new passenger security screening area in June 2010, with additional and latest generation security equipment. Expansion of the airport’s departure lounge is also taking place, bringing a number of new and exciting retail developments and high street names to the
airport for the fi rst time. Neil Pakey, Deputy CEO for
Peel Airports commented, “Liverpool is continuing to buck the trend and is now one of the UK’s best performing airports in terms of passenger growth. More and more passengers are now fl ying via the airport and improved accessibility from across the region means that JLA is becoming the airport of choice for growing numbers of travelers from right
across the North West.”Plus, a recent survey published
by web based aviation intelligence specialist anna.aero (Airline Network News & Analysis) looking at passenger throughput across UK airports, named JLA as one of the top 10 busiest airports in the UK for the fi rst time in its history. The specialist website also revealed that JLA was only one of two airports to experience growth in January 2010.
JLA becomes one of UK’s best performing airports
A WEBSITE which allows users to exchange and recycle unwanted building supplies has scooped a Merseyside Innovation Award.
BuilderScrap is a free, not for profi t, service for the construction industry which allows users to pass on leftover building supplies which would have otherwise been thrown away.
This saves costs, because materials are given away for free or at a low price and it benefi ts the environment because it
reduces the construction waste sent to landfi ll.
The family company, from Wirral, is now in the running to compete for the three shortlisted places at this year’s Merseyside Innovation Awards fi nal in July.
Rebecca Owens, marketing manager for BuilderScrap said: “Statistics show that at least 13 million tonnes of the waste produced in England and Wales every year is reusable.
“The main purpose of
BuilderScrap is to lessen the impact of the construction industry on the environment by providing a system which encourages the reuse of surplus material.
“Winning the Merseyside Innovation Awards would allow us to promote our business on a larger scale so that we can educate people in the industry to work together to reduce the amount of unnecessary waste produced.”
Launched in October 2008, BuilderScrap has already built a successful online presence and has over 3,500 companies using it.
Sue Roberts, managing director of Amatica, one of the award sponsors, said: “BuilderScrap is a worthy monthly winner as its website is of use to the local Merseyside community; businesses, charities and schools can all benefi t through the reduced costs it offers.”
Builders’ website cements its success with innovation award win
6 ■ MEMBER NEWS
BBC’S Dragon’s Den can be a make or break opportunity for start-up businesses; however when Skelmersdale based Germ Paragon PE LTD were given the opportunity to appear on the programme they played their hand very carefully.
The company produces a unique a product range called Germ Warfare; it’s a variety of non-hazardous anti bacterial cleaning products, Paul Ward, Director described the company’s strengths saying: “Unlike disinfectants, which are more superfi cial, our products focus on the spores, the root element. C-diffi cile spores are the hardest of all to kill, but our formulations are effective with 60 seconds of contact.”
Paul set up the company four years ago, he said: “I had a
background in army medicine then I went to do R & D in the chemical industry, I developed Germ Warfare line when I set this company up four years ago.”
He entered the den seeking £100,000 for 5% of the company. After a gruelling hour and a half being grilled by the dragons in front of the camera, he received an offer of 30% from James Cann. However, Paul rejected this offer choosing to
keep control of his company, wisely understanding that he had innovative products and the PR from the programme would boost the business.
This turned out to be a shrewd strategy as he explained: “After appearing in Dragon’s Den we’ve grown the business from £0.5 M turnover to 1.5M in just eight months. After the programme the sales went through the roof, we knew we had good
products. The programme just helped us to get the message out to our market.”
Paul continued: “Although we haven’t moved into retail yet, which was the aim of the Dragon’s Den appearance. We are concentrating on supplying contracts to clients across Europe, the States and Malaysia in addition to UK trials including Arrowe Park and Alder Hey Hospitals.
FOR Birkenhead-based web development and software company, Amatica, 2010 heralds a number of new projects, including the release of version 3.5 of it’s Proximity content management system. Now supporting more than a dozen customer websites and intranets, this latest release offers even more functionality.
In terms of client development; MD, Sue Roberts commented: “We’ve completed a pilot kiosk project for a Belgian utility supplier and the successful launch of new websites for Kingcombe Environmental Centre and National Money Helpline. We’re also continuing the redevelopment of the websites for wealth managers Syndicate group.”
Germ warfare infiltrates the Dragon’s Den
MAJOR sponsor of St Helens RLFC (Saints) is leading healthcare cash plan provider, Medicash.
Liverpool based Medicash signed an exclusive partnership agreement with the club which sees the brand emblazoned on the Saints’ away shirts.
Medicash are working closely with Saints and the Saints Community Development Foundation which works directly with more than 50,000 local young people delivering programmes around health, sports coaching, local heritage and education.
Chief executive of Medicash Sue Weir said: “We want our support to make a
real difference to the club, its fans and the people of St Helens. Saints already does invaluable work within the community.”
Saints chief executive Tony Colquitt said: “Sponsorship is critical to us in terms of funding and development. Both our organisations have longstanding charitable and community links so there is real synergy in the partnership.”
Medicash announced as major sponsor of St Helens RLFC
LIVERPOOL’S Wealth Management industry is the strongest outside of London, a report by a leading independent industry benchmarking fi rm has concluded.
Liverpool’s status as the leading wealth management centre outside the City was confi rmed following nationwide research undertaken amongst private banks, private client investment managers, full service stockbrokers and execution only stockbrokers.
The ComPeer report produced
for Professional Liverpool focused on assets managed, portfolios held and revenue generated. The North West was identifi ed as the strongest region outside of London, and the report highlighted Liverpool as the specifi c driving force behind this success.
The North West has £24.8bn worth of assets managed, 145,930 portfolios are managed in the region, and its wealth managers generate £249.29m.
The fi ndings of the report
validate the city’s strength in this sector. Part of the region’s attraction as a destination for wealth managers are its competitively priced staff and premises, and despite turbulent economic conditions and corporate changes, many of the major players have chosen to operate in the city.
Deutsche Bank established strong links with the city through the acquisition by its private wealth management division of local fi rm Tilney Investment Management.
Tom Slocock, UK CEO of Deutsche Bank Private Wealth Management, commented: “We have long been aware of the signifi cance of Liverpool as a centre for private wealth having acquired Tilney Investment Management in 2006 – a Liverpool based fi rm with a strong local heritage. The city remains a key location in our network of regional offi ces which serve the signifi cant wealth located outside of London and the South East”.
Liverpool first for wealth management
(L-R): Tony Colquitt, Saints chief executive; Saints scrum half Kyle Eastmond; and Sue Weir, Medicash chief executive)
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LIVERPOOL ONE celebrated its second anniversary with an exciting programme of events.
There is a lot to celebrate from the past 12 months, with numerous award wins, including those from prestigious organisations BURA and RIBA, along with impressive sales and footfall figures, despite a nationwide recession.
Commented Estate Director,
Chris Bliss: “We’re happy to report a strong start to the year with sales up 37% compared to the same period in 2009 and footfall also up by 11% for the year to date. We expect an estimated 26.6 million people will visit by the end of 2010.”
However it’s the impact Liverpool ONE has had on the whole of the city that makes Mr Bliss and the team most proud, “Since opening two years ago,
the city has seen an increase in footfall of 18%, along with the news that Liverpool has been named in the top three UK city break destinations for the second successive year by readers of travel bible, Condé Nast Traveller Magazine.
“At Liverpool ONE specifically, late night trading now accounts for 20% of our overall footfall, a real sign that the culture of shopping and
leisure in the city is changing. The restaurants and bars on the leisure terrace overlooking Chavasse Park have had a great 12 months, with sales in excess of £36million.” Said Mr Bliss.
“We’re proud of the fact that twelve per cent of our retailers are new to the North West and of the number of new brands we’ve attracted to the city. Our next big opening will be Jamie’s Italian in mid-June.”
A plaque in commemoration of David Lewis, the retail entrepreneur and founder of Lewis’s Department store has been unveiled on Ranelagh Street.
It was made all the more poignant as the famous landmark store has now closed down. The event was organised by Arnold Lewis the Chairman of the Liverpool Jewish Historical Society.
Steve Binns MBE - Liverpool Community Historian and
Mark Brunel- Cohen a lateral descendant of David Lewis, formally unveiled the plaque.
A spokesperson for Lewis’s said: “Although the dedication of a plaque has occurred at such a sad time in the history of the store we feel it is a fi tting testament to him and the generations of staff who have served the people of Liverpool for over 154 years. There is now a lasting testament to David Lewis and his contribution to Liverpool.”
Liverpool ONE celebrates second anniversary
Poignant event to honour great city benefactor
Fred O’Brien – Steve Binns MBE – Mark Brunel Cohen – Arnold Lewis
8 ■ ARTS AND CULTURE
Chamber promotes local artLIVERPOOL Chamber is hosting an exhibition of locally sourced original art work to celebrate its 160th birthday.
Maresa Molloy, the Chamber’s Head of Policy and Information commented: “We aim to highlight the Chamber’s recognition of arts and culture as a driver of a vibrant economy, to raise awareness of local artwork and to provide commercial opportunities for artists.”
The exhibition will be hosted at the 08 Place, Liverpool’s offi cial tourist information offi ce and will focus on diverse themes of Liverpool life, curated by Lucy Byrne of Dot Art. The private view will be held at 5.30pm on Thursday 15th July.
THE shortlist for the Liverpool Art Prize 2010 was selected by a panel of judges from over 90 nominations received from the public.The exhibition takes place at the exciting new space for art, Metal at Edge Hill Station.
The artists will be exhibiting a selection of previous works alongside exciting new works created especially for the exhibition which runs for fi ve weeks. They are working in diverse practices from new media to large installations, drawing and painting.
There will be an award ceremony on Wednesday 30 June 2010 at METAL with £2000 going to the overall winner and £1000 to the artist chosen by gallery visitors during the exhibition,
At a later date the overall winner will have the opportunity to show work in the Walker Art Gallery.
The Liverpool Art Prize was founded by artinliverpool.com
during Liverpool’s Capital of Culture year.
Arthur Diamond Design Ltd T/A ADD Signs has been a main sponsor of the Liverpool Art Prize since its inauguration three years ago.
Founder, Ian Jackson said:
“The Liverpool Art Prize was one of the fi rst major art events in 2008. The exhibition and prizes acknowledge the outstanding achievements of the artists and their contribution to contemporary art within Liverpool, as well as further afi eld.”
THE organisers of Liverpool Sound City music festival and International music conference have hailed this year’s festival a resounding success. The 2010 festival took place in May and was their most successful to date, with a round-the-clock programme of events bursting with local, national and international music talent and creativity.
Over 450 artists and bands, 1000 conference delegates and
35,000 revellers descended on Liverpool to take part in the four day celebration of music. The 2010 festival’s buzz across the city streets has already been deemed to echo the celebration atmosphere and excitement felt when Liverpool hosted European Capital of Culture.
Festival Director Dave Pichilingi said: “This year was our most ambitious yet. We have big plans for Sound City
to turn it into the South by South-West of Europe. Liverpool is an amazing and special city. It is fantastic to play our part in helping the world realise that and make them want to come here to do business and to have a great time!”
The international music conference held in Hilton and Hard Day’s Night Hotels had increased attendance fi gures with music giant and founder
of Sire Records Seymour Stein being the highlight. Mr Stein enjoyed his stay in Liverpool stating: “Liverpool is a music city. It is what you think of when you think of the name. So it is right that Sound City is doing what it does in such an amazing way. I have been coming here for many years but I cannot believe how it has changed beyond recognition. It really feels like it is a city on the up.”
Liverpool Sound City festival a resounding success!
Art prize celebrates city’s leading artists
ARTS AND CULTURE ■ 9
BLUECOAT DISPLAY CENTREGolden Age of Lettering26 June – 7 August 2010
AN exhibition looking at the role of calligraphy and typography, showing that these are not just limited to the printed page. Encompassing ceramics, jewellery, architecture, and design.Admission Free.
THE LIVERPOOL MAPTHE artists behind an iconic sculpture for Liverpool have released an impression of what it will look like when installed in its new home – the new Museum of Liverpool at the Pier Head.
The Liverpool Map, made up of six 2m-tall panels of fused glass capturing a snapshot of the city in its birthday year, will stand in front of one of the 80ft picture windows in the People’s Gallery. The map will highlight the city’s local, national and global infl uences and is composed of 16 layers of glass, divided into four sections: history, shifting boundaries, people’s city and culture.
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TATE HOSTS MAJOR PICASSO SHOWA major exhibition bringing together over 150 works by Picasso from across the world is at Tate Liverpool until 30 August. Picasso: Peace and Freedom reveals a fascinating new insight into the artist’s life as a tireless political activist and campaigner for peace, challenging the widely-held view of the artist as creative genius, playboy and compulsive extrovert.
This is the fi rst exhibition to explore the postwar period of the artist’s life in depth. It looks at Picasso’s work in the Cold War era, and how the artist transcended the ideological and aesthetic oppositions of East and West.
10 ■ FINANCE
FOR many owner managers of small and medium sized businesses, the major part of their wealth is tied up in their business. As they approach retirement, it becomes clear that achieving a successful sale of the business, at the best available
price, is a critical element of their retirement planning.
In the years immediately before retirement, there are some key steps which owners can take, in order to maximise the value of their business. These include:
• Identifying the most likely buyer or type of buyer and undertaking research to understand what businesses they are buying and why;
• Establish the changes that should be made to their own business so that it fi ts this profi le;
• In many cases this will mean ensuring that the business
is less dependent on the owners who are leaving – and particularly that somebody else has the relationships with key customers;
• Maximising margins and squeezing back on overheads will help to stretch profi ts in the last few years. Given that buyers generally value businesses on a multiple of profi ts, any improvement in profi ts at this stage, can have a signifi cant impact on value.
• Persuading longstanding customers to sign-up to medium or long-term contracts;
• Growing recurring income streams, such as maintenance
or support income, which carry a higher value to the right buyer.
The above are a selection of value improvement opportunities which will be relevant to many businesses. However, the most important step is a critical assessment of the owners business, with it’s current and potential values and then the steps which can be taken to close the gap.
Brian McCann is Principal of Vanguard Corporate Finance which specialises in helping owner managers to achieve a successful sale of their business.
THOUSANDS of small and medium sized businesses are facing a problem.
They really could use the fi nancial expertise of an experienced qualifi ed accountant – and commercially minded too, of course but an additional £50,000 salary is out of the question.
Admittedly, many directors think they are better off without a ‘bean counter’ spoiling the party – at least that is until the
overdraft gets out of hand, or the fi rst major supplier puts them on stop. Yet the fact is that an experienced accountant with a ‘hands on’ approach can often contribute signifi cantly to the profi tability of the business.
Many companies assume that their accountants will provide whatever ‘high level’ fi nancial input they need. But their accountants are often busy enough with the technical requirements of annual accounts and tax returns. The diffi culty is that these conventional (compliance) services can be of little benefi t to the important matter of running the business.
So is there a solution to this predicament?
I believe that there is – and increasing numbers of forward looking accountancy firms are waking up to the fact that they have the answer. Many are now offering a ‘Financial Management’ service.
Typically this involves a qualified accountant spending one day a month at the companies’ premises. They should agree at the outset which areas to focus on, eg. profitability review, business planning, monthly management accounts, cashflow forecasting. Then each month they would report to the directors in concise, jargon free terms on their findings. They should then
go on to help the company implement any improvements.
Using the services of a skilled and qualified accountant in this way represents an affordable alternative to employing an FD. The right person can help to bring about improvements in profits and efficiency which far exceed the costs.
The real question is can you afford to be without this sort of financial expertise?
Financial expert Peter Charlery from PDC Online Accountants offers financial director services and one to one, half day and full day financial and tax advice sessions for start-ups.
BIRKENHEAD based business accountants Woods Squared has urged Merseyside business owners to review their credit control procedures, amid predictions that more than 26,000 fi rms will become insolvent during 2010-2011.
“The recession is far from over,” said Alan Woods. “The blunt truth is that failure to get a grip of credit control could be massively damaging to small fi rms that are performing well despite the economic climate.”
Alan advised business owners to ‘get tough’ on late payment.
“We advise checking the credit rating on
all new and existing customers to assess their health and performance. Ask all customers to pay by standing order or direct debit, rather than cheque so you have a nailed down payment date and do not have to waste valuable time chasing money that should be spent on the business. If a customer refuses, make clear what your payment terms are. Consider suspending work or charging interest until payment is made.”
Have a set procedure for chasing payment as soon as the invoice has been sent.
“Check immediately the customer has
received your invoice and ask when you can expect payment. This lets them know you are on the case and are alert to any potential problems. It is critical that the client is aware that you are prepared to chase payment hard; they are more likely to pay your invoice before those that are not being chased.”
It is even worth considering asking for immediate payment on receipt of invoice.
“If you buy goods at a supermarket you pay for them there and then, not 30 days later. Business owners should not automatically assume they must offer payment terms.”
Wealth management for owner managers
Brittle economy means tough credit control ‘vital’ for small firms
So you can’t afford a finance director?
by Brian McCann
by Peter Charlery, FCCA MBA, PDC Online Accountants
At RBS we are continually looking for ways to add value to your business. We want to ensure that we are offering you the support you need to maximise your opportunities in the months and years ahead. We will work with you to support your business strategy and plans for the future. We continue to support UK and regional clients through our Business Lending Commitments, our expertise in Trade Finance and our all round Cash Management solutions.
Benefit from our range of financial solutionsOur Corporate team based in Liverpool has a great deal of experience devising and delivering cash management and lending solutions tailored to meet the specific business needs of a wide range of organisations. Whether you are looking to free up working capital
to fund expansion or need to look at restructuring existing facilities, we have a range of solutions and expert advice to meet your requirements.
Asset Finance - Lombard Asset Finance remains the number one provider of asset finance in the UK. Lombard provides solutions from standard vehicle and plant finance to more sophisticated capital expenditure needs including IT, construction, building and commercial property fit-outs.
Invoice Finance – turning your invoices into working capital can help you realise future plans and maximise your growth potential. RBS Invoice Finance is the number one provider of Asset Based Lending solutions to the SME market in the UK. These fully flexible lending solutions enable you to borrow against
not only your sales ledger but also against a combination of other company assets such as inventory, plant and machinery and property. This is an expanding area of financial solutions in which RBS is a market leader with a strong reputation for innovative delivery.
International Trade - RBS offers international cash management and tailored trade finance to streamline international transactions and mitigate risk in the dynamic international trade markets. One of the much publicised paths to recovery this year lies through the UK expanding our export markets. So, whether you are seeking new markets or taking the first steps in exploring overseas opportunities, you can benefit from the expertise of our trade experts.
For more information please contact:-
Matthew MartinBusiness Development DirectorMerseyside ,Cheshire & North Wales [email protected] 242 5491 Mobile:- 07917 158 091
Supporting Business in Merseyside
12 ■ WORLD EXPO 2010
*THIS is what the dragon symbolises in China, its also what some companies think they need to succeed there. With the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai now open, there’s never been a better opportunity for companies to develop links and fi nd out more about how they can enter this potentially lucrative market.
The Shanghai Expo largest ever held. It is situated near the Jiangsu and Zheijang provinces, two of China’s wealthiest and most industrious regional economies. With Liverpool the only UK city to have its own pavilion, this six month showcase is a tremendous marketing opportunity. It is an ideal platform for the city in this crucial economy, boosting profi le for tourism and business opportunities.
It is estimated that participation in the Expo could be worth up to £50m to Liverpool in the next 10 years. Expectations are that fi ve or six major investments should emerge as a result of its presence in this dynamic market. A leading Chinese investment agency is already in talks to help fi nance the second bridge across the River Mersey.
More than 8,000 people visited the city pavilion in the fi rst four days of the event. A survey of the visitors revealed that 85 per cent previously had little or no knowledge of Liverpool and 95 per cent would recommend it to a friend.
Mike Taylor, director of investment and enterprise at Liverpool Vision, said: “The £1.1m stand opens with a video greeting from Sir Paul McCartney and has strong maritime and football themes.”
Jack Stopfoth, Liverpool Chamber’s CEO who returned from Shanghai recently said: “The scale of the project is immense; the Expo site is the size of Liverpool city centre. Its an incredible spectacle. The Liverpool Pavilion is one of the most popular of the city pavillons, and I think that’s because they’ve got the balance just right in terms of design and content, its good fun and people are responding well to this.”
Visitors can take part in a penalty shoot out and the Chinese students who are working there work well with the crowd. People are leaving with a very
positive impression of a dynamic city with opportunities for both tourism and business. The showpiece 3D fi lm linking to two cities has been a great hit and is an imaginative way of presenting the city to a new audience.”
The Chamber, as part of its sponsorship of the Pavilion, has business and contact information on offer and enquiries are already coming through to the Chamber.
Jack continued; “With the volume of people who are
Power, strength & good luck* Opportunities at the Shanghai Expo
WORLD EXPO 2010 ■ 13
visiting the exhibition there will be very positive links made that will grow and develop both immediately and over the coming years. Developing links with this growing economy enables the city to build on the global profi le as Capital of Culture.”
Shanghai is China’s economic powerhouse. It is the centre of fi nance and trade in mainland China. Like Liverpool, Shanghai grew to importance in the 19th century due to its port location.
Because of growing affl uence, Shanghai offers the largest market in China with a growing middle-class interested in luxury goods. The key to breaking into China is through Shanghai, which is the business capital of the country.
As well as developing obvious trade and commercial links with the Far East, Expo benefi ts from the presence of the University of Liverpool’s Chinese campus in the city of Suzhou to the west of Shanghai.
The UK is now the second top European destination for Chinese inward investment with nearly 400 Chinese companies having UK operations. Ian Crawford, head of the British Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, admits the global downturn punctured the trend a little, but he thinks it’s the perfect time for UK businesses to reassess their Chinese ambitions.
“All the reasons that were valid for investing in China a year ago are still valid,” he says. “It is a
market of roughly 250 million people with disposable income down the east coast.”
There are grants available through Liverpool Chamber
and UKTI for Liverpool companies to attend the Expo, for further details contact the Chamber’s International Team on 0151 227 1234.
“The UK is now the second top European destination for Chinese inward investment with nearly 400 Chinese companies having UK operations.”
MADE IN LIVERPOOL FOR THE SHANGHAI EXPOCreative merchandise producers, Wild Thang are providing retail merchandise for the World Expo in Shanghai.
The range refl ects Liverpool’s colourful and dynamic nature. Merchandise is being retailed at Liverpool’s pavilion throughout the event. All merchandise was designed and some actually manufactured by Wild Thang at their Liverpool based premises.
Andrew Dwerryhouse, Managing Director commented: “It’s always a very proud moment for us when actual products we have produced are going half way around the world to be used at such a prestigious event.”
14 ■ CONSTRUCTION
MERCHANT Taylors’ Schools are building a new £5.5 million sports centre, to be completed for the new school year starting September 2011. Ex-England rugby international World Cup star and Old Boy of Merchant Taylors’, Ben Kay MBE, cut the fi rst sod in an offi cial ceremony.
Located at the boys’ school site on Liverpool Road, this ambitious development designed by Buttress Fuller Alsop Williams Architects, will benefi t all pupils from the family of Merchant Taylors’ Schools, and will include a dance studio, fi tness suite and a large indoor facility
equipped to provide state-of-the-art facilities for rugby training, football, hockey, tennis, and badminton.
Bardsley Construction, a £70m turnover business that specialises in such partnering contracts with the public sector, has been contracted to construct the sports centre.
Wayne Bardsley, the chairman of Bardsley Construction, said: “We’re delighted to be working with such a blue chip client as Merchant Taylors’ Schools on this excellent project that will help to enhance our reputation and presence on Merseyside and indeed throughout the wider North West.”
New sports hall is under starters orders
WITH new inspection rights now in force, fears over Revenue demands to look at PAYE and subcontractor records without prior warning are growing. While the Government continues to struggle
with the defi nition of what an ‘employee’ actually is, the tax status of subcontractors working through limited companies often remains uncertain.
Over the years, various changes have been made to the Construction Industry Scheme to counter the belief that tax avoidance or evasion is rife within the construction industry. However, one fundamental issue that has not gone away is the identifi cation of subcontractors who, due to their working arrangements, are considered employees for tax purposes. Since this is now the centre of even more Revenue activity, those working in the construction industry must ensure that
all contractual and working arrangements truly refl ect the tax status of their workers.
The root of the problem is the absence of a defi nition of what an employee actually is. The closest thing is a remark by Lord Denning, that: “an employee is like an elephant, diffi cult to describe but you know one when you see one”.
So while lawyers, accountants, and HMRC continue debating elephants, contractors on the ground are getting it wrong. Often this is due to a worker genuinely taken on as a subcontractor initially, but falling into the category of being an employee over the course of time. This is particularly the case where a subcontractor is approached to carry out work on a specifi c project but is then hired to undertake other tasks and ends up working exclusively for one contractor under their terms and conditions.
HMRC is currently considering ways of defi ning an employee and the result is expected shortly. It is likely that, if implemented, this will result in a large proportion of current subcontractors being
re-categorised as employees. Whilst some certainty will be welcomed, any mass change from self-employment to PAYE will do little to improve conditions for an industry that is already under enormous fi nancial pressure.
Compliance offi cers are taking an increasingly aggressive line when reviewing subcontractor payments. Even where a worker has held the usual CIS6 and CIS5 cards in the past and/or is now registered for gross payments, that does not mean he or she is not an employee. If adequate steps have not been taken to ensure that the original arrangement is truly a self-employed one and remains as such, then the contractor or employer will be faced with a bill including interest and penalties.
Tax status for subcontractors ‘the elephant in the room’
by John Hill, BTG Tax
“An employee is like an elephant, diffi cult to describe but you know one when you see one”
LIVERPOOL Chamber’s Construction and Development Lunch has changed and now as an additional seminar programme to provide additional timely and specifi c information to these quarterly, sector specifi c networking events. Recent topics included the plans for the new Everyman Theatre and redevelopment of Liverpool Royal Hospital.
John Sutcliffe, MD of Sutcliffe Projects and Chair of the Chamber’s Construction and Development Committee explained: “We represent the views of Chamber members in the construction, property and professional sectors, by identifying and promoting members’ issues, and give the construction sector a voice on planning and construction issues.”The next construction lunch is on the 8th September, book online at www.liverpoolchamber.org.uk Member fee is £30 and non-member fee is £40.
New format for construction sector lunch
TOURISM ■ 15
LIVERPOOL’S fi rst commercial enclosed wet dock is now open as the city’s latest historic attraction. Free ticketed tours for schools and members of the public start from Merseyside Maritime Museum.
The internationally-important Old Dock has been carefully preserved under the new Liverpool ONE. For the fi rst time in centuries the bed of the Pool – the creek that gave Liverpool its name – can be seen.
The Old Dock was discovered during excavations in 2001 after being buried since 1826. Developers Grosvenor preserved the dock and have made it publicly accessible.
When built, the Old Dock was a huge risk but it paid off handsomely, paving the way to many decades of dock expansion on both sides of the river. It was one of Liverpool’s greatest contributions to progress in world trade and commerce.
The Old Dock was constructed in 1715 at the mouth of the Pool which had been at the heart of the town’s successes. The impact of this radical structure was immense and London, Bristol and Chester lost signifi cant amounts of trade throughout the 18th century as a result.
Chris Bliss, Liverpool ONE’s estate director, says: “Working with Oxford Archaeology North who undertook the initial excavations in 2001, Grosvenor has incorporated the Old Dock into the design of Liverpool ONE and has developed a visitor facility which will be run by National Museums Liverpool.”
THE National Museum in Prague, in collaboration with Liverpool’s Beatles Story, is hosting a special Beatles Exhibition entitled ‘BEATLEMANIA‘. The venue will continue its major campaign to establish Liverpool as a UK tourism hotspot.
The Beatles Story is working with VisitBritain to encourage more tourists from the Czech Republic to visit Liverpool. In 2008 over 430,000 Czechs visited the UK, spending in excess of 120million Euros.
Jerry Goldman, managing director, said: “This is an ideal opportunity for us to promote Liverpool to a
nation of Beatles fans. We are determined that foreign visitors are aware of what the city of Liverpool has to offer and how accessible we are.’
The Beatles Story is currently undertaking a significant tourism drive in the affluent USA and Australian markets as well as in India. Almost 400,000 Indians, 900,000 Australians and over 3.5 million Americans visit the UK each year, Liverpool welcomes less than two per cent of these visitors; a statistic Jerry is planning to change.
He claims: “Liverpool has its own airport and vibrant culture, we just need to tell people
about it and ensure that tour operators and travel agents include Liverpool as part of their UK offering.”
LIVERPOOL welcomed its fi rst Pageant of Power in May. The event celebrated Liverpool One’s second anniversary while promoting the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power in Cheshire.
It attracted 20,000 ‘petrol heads’ who enjoyed the roar of engines and the smell of burning rubber as a parade of supercars both old and new, motorbikes and army hardware tore up The Strand.
The event also saw formula two powerboats racing around Salthouse Dock and jet skis performing tricks in the Canning Dock. Overhead two bi-planes performed skydives while the Breitling wing walkers put on a breathtaking show.
Cars that appeared before the excited crowd were supercars from Le Mans Bentleys to classic Ferraris, aero-engined “fi re spitters” and rally cars. The event was brought together by Grosvenor’s Guy Butler and James Hall of Cholmondeley Pageant of Power.
James, comments: “The support we have
received has passed our expectations and created a real buzz of excitement around the city.”
Guy Butler, project director at Grosvenor and developer of Liverpool ONE was instrumental in bringing a team of backers together. He adds; “This type of activity is a symbol of everything that is great about Liverpool.”
LIVERPOOL’S iconic UNESCO World Heritage Waterfront and major cultural events programme is the focus of The Mersey Partnership’s latest national advertising campaign.
The six-week campaign was seen online for the fi rst time on Friday, 21st May and featured in Saturday’s Independent magazine and Seven magazine in the following day’s
Sunday Telegraph.Further appearances will
follow in a range of broadsheet newspapers and travel magazines.
The campaign also featured on a number of poster sites at key London Underground stations.
LIVERPOOL ONE’S UNDERGROUND ATTRACTION
Power display draws the crowds
The ‘Beatles’ promote the city in Prague
NEW NATIONAL ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE LIVERPOOL
16 ■ CORPORATE TRAVEL
A SURVEY carried out earlier this year by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and KPMG showed that business travel in all sectors had reduced. It said three-quarters of private sector employees (74 per cent) had cut their travel expenses, compared with 50 per cent in both the public and voluntary sectors. Two-thirds in the private sector said they had cut international travel specifi cally.
And, unsurprisingly, the numbers of private businesses booking into fi rst class for work trips have dwindled further. According to the KPMG survey, nearly 70 per cent in the private sector said they have used fi rst class travel less. Given that many airlines have scrapped their fi rst class cabins altogether in favour of extending and refurbishing
their business class cabins, it seems fi rst class is a dying breed. But is it a tragic loss to the business world?
A glass of bubbly and some in-fl ight pyjamas are all very nice but, for as much as eleven times the cost of an economy seat, did fl ying fi rst-class ever make business sense?
“If I’m paying, absolutely not,” says David Howland, a self-employed IT management consultant who spends half of his week working away from home.
And the same goes for business class, according to Howland. Even with an average of 15 inches more in legroom and a half-decent menu instead of steerage slop, for up to four times as much as the economy equivalent, Howland says, “There is no business case for fl ying business class on your own
business’s money.”The majority of Howland’s
business travel is within the UK but, he says, as more businesses outsource their IT to cut costs, his trips to India have increased.
“I would never expect to travel fi rst class because it’s grossly expensive. And I am perfectly capable of going economy if I am paying,” he continues.
“I do a lot of work with companies looking at how I can save them money so it would be hypocritical if I insisted on them paying over the odds for my travel.”
Knutsford entrepreneur David Thompson runs DG Thompson International, which exports top-end food, alcohol and duty-free goods to Indo-China and the United Arab Emirates. He takes, on average, four trips to Asia and six or seven short-haul European fl ights each year.
For most of his 30 years in business he’s used a business travel agent for its “simplicity”.
“We send them the itinerary by email and they come back to us, usually within 24 hours, with the availability and the cost.
Howland agrees that it makes sense for an agent to do the legwork for the convenience but also for their local capabilities. “They can get into hotels that you can’t get into from the UK,” Howland says.
“We were struggling to fi nd a hotel in India for less than £250 a night yet, when you speak to the potential suppliers, all of a sudden accommodation is available at £100 in the hotel that you want to stay in. The rates vary depending on who you know, especially in India.”
And his economising has paid off closer to home. Since last September he’s stayed in Liverpool’s Crowne Plaza hotel for up to three nights a week and through the hotel’s loyalty card system has earned enough points to pay for a family holiday to Dubai.
The added luxuries of extra luggage weight allowance,
priority boarding, private passenger lounges with local newspapers and wifi computer points and added leg room mean Thompson travels in business class “the majority of the time”.
“The times have passed when you could arrive, go to the hotel, have a relaxing night and go to work at midday the next day. Now, you get off the plane, have a shower and go straight into the meeting two hours after you arrive.
“I also think your choice of fl ight and hotel gives off an impression, especially when you are overseas and talking quite substantial business or high quality goods.
But Thompson says travelling in the right cabin can be a business-generating activity. “I was out in Asia two weeks ago when I met a guy who I hadn’t seen for fi ve years in the hotel lounge. He’s now the general manager of a tobacco company. I wouldn’t have seen him if I hadn’t been in what’s considered a good business hotel.”
The KPMG survey also revealed that 62 per cent of its 892 respondents have increased their use of tele/video conferencing.
Thompson says, “We do have conference calls and we do use Skype but it’s not a substitute for trips, it’s just a useful addition.
“I think customers expect to see you. They know things are more diffi cult at the moment, so maybe if you were visiting a market three or four times a year previously, two or three visits might be enough now. But to drop out and not visit at all is considered by the customers to be a pretty bad sign.”
For Thompson, travel and marketing go hand in hand and in a diffi cult climate, he says, it’s still important to go and “kick the tyres” in person.
“It is very important for you to be there,” he says. “How you get there is not that important but there really is no substitute for being there and seeing that customer.”
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Mile high club ...class?Business trips have been hit hard by the recession, but is there still an argument for entrepreneurs to travel in style?
18 ■ EVENTS
THINGS were hotting up at the May Platform Lunch in Sapporo Teppanyaki.
After some table speed networking, guests enjoyed a lunch of spring rolls then salmon cooked Teppanyaki style in front of them with added fun and fl ames from the host chefs.
The speakers got underway with
Rachael Halliday from Hugh Baird College talking about their successful apprenticeship schemes, followed by Suzanne Courtney of TNT Post explaining their different mailing services. The final speaker was Dermot Browne of Dermot Browne Design who showcased his design work.
PAN-ASIAN restaurant, Host gave Chamber members and their guests a superb, varied banquet that earned its own round of applause from the diners.
Following the lunch, Lisa Bradshaw and Sally Lupton from Liverpool Biennal described the theme of this
year’s event. Geniene Reese from Novotel described the superbly appointed meeting rooms and facilities at the newly opened four star premises. Henry Powell-Jones from Distressed Assets described how to invest in the property market using several case studies of sales and rentals.
Host proves to be the perfect host
L-R Hazel Lui, Sapporo Teppanyaki, Suzanne Courtney, TNT Post, Costas Constantinous, Sapporo Teppanyaki, Rachael Halliday, Hugh Baird College, Nick Preston, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, Dermot Browne, Dermot Browne Design, Rachael Heller, Hugh Baird College, Liam Rothwell, TNT Post.
Turning Japanese at the Chamber Lunch
If its April, it must be Aintree! Every year the Chamber’s glamorous race day is the hot ticket and this year, tickets sold out faster than ever! Guests enjoyed the very best in hospitality while experiencing all the excitement of this famous race meeting. Book early for next year.
NETWALK – LIVERPOOL WATERFRONTFOR the Year of Health and Wellbeing, Liverpool Chamber has launched a range of ‘healthy-themed’ events, including a series of lunchtime walks through the city centre. The walks are designed to provide a networking opportunity while discovering more about our unique city.
Guide, Tony Vaughan of Sight See Liverpool was born and bred on Merseyside. He is a guide on the City Explorer open top bus and provides guided tours around the city and throughout the North West.
April’s Netwalk told the story of the growth of Liverpool from a fi shing village through Second City of Empire, WW2, it’s resurrection as Capital of Culture and third most visited city in the UK. Followed by lunch at Rathbones in the Port of Liverpool Building.
L –R Lisa Bradshaw and Sally Lupton, Liverpool Biennal, Jenny Stewart, Liverpool Chamber, Henry Powell-Jones, Distressed Assets, Geniene Reese from Novotel
EVENTS ■ 19
Easy networking at Hard Days NightTHERE was a defi nite buzz in the air as people arrived in Hari’s Bar for April’s Platform Lunch in Hard Days Night Hotel. Guests enjoyed chicken with rosti and seasonal vegetables followed by a delicious summer fruits syllabub.
The speakers got underway with John Holmes from Core Business Solutions showcasing their marketing and communications services.
John was followed by Jenny Esau of Credit Management Group UK discussing their new online Credit Manager’s Toolkit which can be accessed via the chamber website.
The fi nal speakers were Mike Tarry and Julie Holmes from Remploy who presented about the vital work they do providing employment services for those with disabilities.
L –R Mike Tarry, Remploy, John Holmes, Core Business Solutions, Jenny Esau, Credit Management Group UK, Julie Holmes, Remploy, Julie Anders, Core Business Solutions, Nick Preston, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Tuesday 22 June Cereal NetworkingCome along for breakfast networking with the theme on Health & Wellbeing. This month we look at the workplace wellbeing charter and how it can help businesses have a more productive and profi table workforce. Costa Coffee, Tithebarn Street, MEMBER FEE: £10NON-MEMBER FEE: £15.
Thursday 24 JuneBusiness After Hours @ Staybridge SuitesHelp Staybridge Suites celebrate their 2nd birthday. Come dressed for summer and enjoy fruit punch on arrival, a BBQ on the terrace, wine, beer and soft drinks with live music in the lounge. 17.30 - 19.30pm. MEMBER FEE: £10NON-MEMBER FEE: £15 Friday 16 JulyChamber’s 160th Birthday CelebrationShare a long summer night of opulence and glamour in one of the city’s hidden gems, the Isla Gladstone Conservatory in Stanley Park, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce is celebrating our 160th anniversary in style, we’re putting on a tasty barbeque, a charity auction and superb entertainment, in one of the city’s most stunning locations.MEMBER FEE: £65.00 NON-MEMBER FEE: £75.00
Tuesday 20 JulyPlatform Lunch @ Resturant Bar & GrillMeet people who want to know about your business, table networking and three presentations from members at this top city centre restaurant.MEMBER FEE: £25.00 NON-MEMBER FEE: £30.00 Book online for all events at liverpoolchamber.org.uk
As part of the Year of Health and Welleing, mental health charity, Calm held a business after hours event at hip city centre bar in Parr Street Street studios. As well as hearing about the vital work of the charity, targetting depression in young men, guests networked while enjoying refreshments in this converted recording studio, that has seen some of the greats of the music industry.
“WHY go to a prison?”When we announced details
of our May breakfast event, this reaction was commonplace, one of surprise, shock and genuine curiosity.
Head of Client Services, Jenny Steward explained:”HMP Altcourse in Fazakerley provided the venue for the most unique networking event we’ve ever had and with more than fi fty delegates present, it clearly garnered the interest of members, providing them with the opportunity to witness fi rst-hand the tremendous work being undertaken behind bars to engage and rehabilitate offenders.”
HMP Altcourse was the fi rst designed, constructed, managed
and fi nanced private prison in the UK and receives adult male and young offenders from Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales with over 1200 inmates currently on site.
Over a hearty breakfast, delegates learnt about the fantastic education and employment opportunities provided to inmates that allow them to contribute to the prison’s society. Inmates have the chance to gain experience in textiles, welding, train track maintenance, automotive repair and carpentry. Having the opportunity to speak directly to prisoners gave a fresh insight into life behind bars and how the use of enterprise and business skills have been used to help
them improve their lives, their environment and their future prospects outside the prison walls.
A walking tour of the facility demonstrated the existence of a close-knit community and a healthy amount of respect between guards and prisoners that challenged many of the preconceptions of the prison that people may have had.
Feedback to the event has been overwhelmingly positive and the opportunities for businesses to engage in activities at Altcourse are plentiful. Contact John Arnold, Head of Enterprise and Training 0151 522 2119 and fi nd out how you could benefi t from the skills and abilities of this very unique workforce.
Locked-in networking in Area 51
20 ■ SKILLS AND TRAINING
ADVERTISING FEATURE
THE Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require you to provide adequate and appropriate fi rst-aid equipment, facilities and people so that employees can be given immediate help if they are injured or taken ill at work. What is ‘adequate and appropriate’ will depend on the circumstances in your workplace.
St John Ambulance, the nation’s leading fi rst aid and health and safety organisation, has found many employers are inadvertently breaking health and safety laws by
not training the required number of staff in fi rst aid. A recent survey carried out by St John Ambulance discovered 79% of businesses experienced periods of time where no trained fi rst aiders were present in the workplace leaving staff at risk if a workplace accident were to occur.
‘First aid can be the difference between a life saved and a life lost. It’s vital people have fi rst aid skills in the workplace at all times. ‘ said Stephanie Littler from St John Ambulance ‘In the case of cardiac
arrest, if someone is not there to start CPR before an ambulance arrives, the chances of survival are very slim.’
She continues: ‘A company without a recognised trained fi rst aider puts the wellbeing of staff at risk as there is always a possibility of accidents or sudden illness in a workplace, whatever an organisation’s size. Inadequate cover will mean an employer is in breach of their legal obligations. Our research suggests that the Health and Safety Executive’s
(HSE’s) new guidance, introduced in October last year, has yet to be fully embraced. Businesses with inadequate fi rst aid cover in place may also be invalidating their workplace insurance policies’. To protect your organisation, St John Ambulance is advising North West businesses to use a HSE-approved training provider for their fi rst aid and health and safety training. Visit www.sja.org.uk/comply for free advice on health and safety issues or call 0844 770 4800.
The importance of first aid training in the workplace
For thirty years L’Arche has offered care and support to vulnerable adults in Liverpool. However, to quote Bob Dylan, ‘the times they are a changing.’ Liverpool City Council is in the process of introducing a more person centered funding model, which means that the day centre run by L’Arche Liverpool will no longer be guaranteed grant funding. This has given us the opportunity to embark on a new and exciting project called THE ARK@L’ARCHE !
The Ark@ L’Arche is a social enterprise that aims to provide employment,training and volunteering opportunities for people with learning difficulties.
The company aims to directly employ people with learning disabilities and aims to equip others with skills and experience to enable them to move into employment elsewhere.
The Ark@ L’Arche produces greeting cards, including corporate Christmas cards, candles and weaving products. Future plans include a handyman service and the development of a community café and linked horticultural project.
In each of these projects people with learning difficulties will either be directly employed, volunteering to gain experience of work or receiving training to enhance their employment prospects. People with learning difficulties need opportunities to develop their skills and confidence before moving on to other employment. It is our aim that everyone involved will have ownership of the social enterprise and be included in the decision making process.
Come and see what we are doing and be part of this exciting new venture!
Contact: Andrew Lawler The Ark @L’arche, Lockerby Road, Liverpool L7 0HG
T: 0151 261 0422 E: [email protected] W: www.larcheliverpool.org
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SKILLS AND TRAINING ■ 21
No one should die because they needed first aid and didn’t get it.
With St John Ambulance training you can be the difference between life and death.
To book a course, call 0844 770 4800 or email [email protected] (quoting May.ins)
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Here at Liverpool YMCA we know that life can be a difficult journey. We are here to help you to overcome the difficulties that you face and assist you in building the skills that will enable you to achieve and maintain a tenancy of your own. We offer programmes that can be enjoyable and exciting as well as practical and educational. By utilising this support you can uncover skills you never knew you had and achieve independence, you can fulfil your potential in a safe and supportive environment. We can help you to make your journey a positive, meaningful and successful experience.
Liverpool YMCA have been working with local people for 150 years and we believe that to grow people need to be nourished in Mind, Body and Spirit as represented by the equal sides of the Red Triangle. The YMCA can also help you to access the support you need from other agencies, colleges, training programmes and voluntary services.
If you require any further information regarding application please contact a member of the support team on: 0151 600 3530 or visit our website at
Build confidence
Learn new skills
Overseas projects
Time to re-evaluate
Supporting the people ...serving the people of Liverpool
www.liverpoolymca.org.uk
22 ■ SKILLS AND TRAINING
ADVERTISING FEATURE
NEUROSUPPORT is a registered charity providing information, advice and support to people diagnosed with neurological conditions including stroke, epilepsy, brain tumours, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, motor neurone diseases, brain or spinal injury; in fact any condition that affects the brain or nervous system.
Our experienced staff can offer support to employers and their staff, to help them understand and manage the possible effects that diagnosis of a neurological condition can have on an individual, the workforce and the business itself. Our aim is to work with all concerned to ensure that everyone is supported to effectively carry out their duties.
Everybody knows somebody, either directly or indirectly, who has been affected by one of these conditions, they are more common
than you would think. Ignoring the situation is bad for the individual and is bad for business. Under the Disability Discrimination Act employers have to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to support disabled employees, which does not always involve a cost, but unless you understand the nature of the diffi culty it is hard to be ‘reasonable’. We can identify what adjustments are required and how to implement them.As a business there are many ways that you can benefi t from working with our charity;• You or your employee may want to talk to
us and get information and support for an issue in the workplace.
• You may be able to offer work placement to people trying to get back to work following diagnosis of a neurological condition. You would receive support from our staff if you chose to do this.
• You might like to offer sponsorship to an event or training course run by neurosupport.
• You might like to become a “friend” of Neurosupport. A small donation of £25 per year will keep you informed about our work and give you the opportunity to get involved as much or as little as you like.
• You could hire our accessible meeting/conference rooms in the city centre. The income from this enables us to continue to provide a free service to people with neurological conditions and their families.
To fi nd out more about our services contact us on 0151 298 2999 [email protected], Norton StreetLiverpool L3 8LR
Doctor is awarded £500,000 in disability discrimination case after employer refused to make reasonable adjustments Source: BMJ Case Reports, 28th April 2010
Do not let your business fall into the same trap. Let us help YOU to support YOUR employees.
RECENT years have seen successful executives increasingly realise that the best succession planning in business is a combination of external recruitment and growth of internal talent. In these times of economic downturn, making the most of what you have got is common sense.
Ultimately, responsibility for an individual’s career rests with that individual; whether you or one of your people. However, organisations usually offer some form of advice and support through appropriate coaching; whether via an internal coach (often the manager) who is part of and therefore knows the company or a ‘fresh-pair-of-eyes’ external coach who may have a broader view.
While you’re pondering what you need to do with your own career – or how you can ensure coaching for your
people to manage theirs – here’s a fun exercise to help you assess your career from a different perspective. All you need is a pen, paper and a little imagination.
STAGE ONEImagine that you are starring in a
movie about your career so far and ask yourself the following questions:• What is the title?• What music is playing as the
opening credits roll?• Who are the main characters?
(Other than you, of course.)• Which actor or actress plays you?
(They don’t have to look like you.)• Who designed the costumes? (What
about the sets?)• What are the basic elements of
the plot? (Write down your job
How to make your movie and manage your careerAre you pondering what to do with your own career? Here is a fun exercise to help you assess it from a different perspectivepective
Continued on page 24 >
SKILLS AND TRAINING ■ 23
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Oxford College of Marketing – providing professional courses relevant to today’s needs
24 ■ SKILLS AND TRAINING
moves, important decisions you have taken, your learning along the way, any changes in attitude, etc.)
STAGE TWOTake a step back and refl ect
on your answers; try to look at them objectively. What do they tell you? Were you the director of your movie or was someone else telling you what to do? Are any patterns emerging? Is there anything that you wish had been different? Ideally you would do this stage with someone who coach you through these (and other) questions. If not, then try to talk it through it with someone you trust.
STAGE THREENow to imagine the sequel. In
other words, the movie of your career from now on. For this, you are defi nitely the director and the only rule is that it must have a happy ending. (Remember to think positive!)• What is the title?• Who are the main characters?• Which actor or actress plays you?
(It doesn’t have to be the same.)
• Who designed the visuals?• What are the basic elements of
the plot? (Job moves, decisions, learning and development you will need, etc.)
• What music is playing as the end credits roll?
STAGE FOURNow, having created a picture of
your future career, bring it back to the ‘real world and set some clear objectives to help you achieve the goals in your sequel. Again, having a coach or someone who can take on that role would be helpful. In fact, to build on the metaphor of seeing your career as a movie, you could see the coach as your agent; except that they won’t take 20 per cent of everything you earn!
So, are you ready for your close-up? Is your movie a Hollywood blockbuster, a European art-house fi lm or an amateur clip on YouTube? Perhaps it’s Prêt-à-Porter, The Devil Wears Prada or Coco Before Chanel. Whichever it is, hopefully this exercise has got you thinking (positively, of course!) about where you career will take you next.
> Continued from page 22
We provide the following courses from our purpose built modern training centre at City Point, Great Homer Street, Liverpool:
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We run regular courses from our centre or can run in house courses for your staff at times that suit you, including evenings and weekends.We also offer instructor development partnerships for those looking to deliver training and substantial discounts to organisations who work in partnership with us to train their staff over a longer periods.
Detailed course information can be viewed at www.nstc.org.uk
Whatever your training requirements, please contact us for a no obligation discussion and free training needs analysis on 0845 4746782 or [email protected]
NSTC is Liverpool’s leading provider of work based safety and security training
PARTNERS ■ 25
EMPLOYEES who are off sick for longer than seven days now receive ‘fit notes’ instead of ‘sick notes’ from their GPs.
It is a major change thought likely to revolutionise the culture of workplace absence.
From April 6th this year, GPs were given more flexibility in the way they can deal with patients asking if they are fit to work. This could benefit all employers, including members of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce.
In the past, with the old sick note, doctors had to decide whether or not a person was too sick to work. With the fit note, doctors can now advise patients if they are ‘not fit for work’ or if they ‘may be fit for work taking account of the following advice’.
A GP can suggest ways of helping an employee to get back to work and this might mean discussing different options including a phased return to work, flexible working, changed duties or adaptations at work.
Keeping people in work can help their physical and mental wellbeing. Studies show that work is good for
health and prolonged sickness absence can produce spiralling problems such as isolation, loss of confidence, mental health issues, de-skilling and social exclusion.
For the employer, sickness absence can cause problems within a company, such as loss of productivity, continuity and, in the worst cases, loss of business or the ability to meet deadlines.
While the move from sick
notes to fit notes clearly represents a big change for employers and employees alike, the long-term benefits can only be realised if the new policy is part of a fundamental shift in workplace culture.
Employers are now being asked to take more responsibility for the health and wellbeing of their staff, and providing healthcare benefits for employees could help them to achieve this.
To help employers maintain a health workforce Westfield Health’s Chamber Primary Health Plan is available to all members of Liverpool Chamber. It provides money back towards the cost of dental treatment, eye care, physiotherapy, acupuncture, chiropractic treatment and diagnostic consultations.
The Chamber Plan provides fast access to MRI, CT and PET scans, which can detect
conditions early at a potentially treatable stage, including serious illnesses such as heart disease, brain disorders and cancer.
Employees can also access a 24-hour freephone counselling and advice line and up to six face-to-face counselling sessions.
In addition, a GP telephone consultation benefit enables employees to speak to a fully qualified UK GP at a time convenient to them.For more information about the Chamber Primary Health Plan, please visit www.westfieldhealth.com/chamber or call on 0845 602 1629, available 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
Fit notes aim to keep people in work
CASE STUDY: MANDO GROUP
WEB consultancy company Mando Group introduced Westfield Health’s Chamber Primary Health Plan, more than three years ago, as a way to attract and retain staff.
The company, which has its head office in Liverpool as well as offices in Manchester and London, currently employs 49 people and is seeing the benefits of investing in the health of its staff.
Mando Group’s Commercial Manager, Andrew Wishart, explained: “Mando introduced the Westfield Chamber Plan in September 2006. We were looking for an employee benefit that would help to attract and retain
staff, which at the same time would give the company a boost.
“The main benefit of the plan for our employees, judging by feedback, has proven to be the financial help towards dental and optical care. This has led to an increase in the number of employees seeking regular dental and optical check-ups, which is great.
”The plan eases the financial burden of any subsequent treatment, making employees more likely to seek help. This has long-term benefits for the employee and the company in reducing sickness levels and absenteeism.”
LOCAL athlete and Olympic swimmer, Steve Parry will be firing the starting pistol for the Liverpool Chamber 5k Team Challenge on September 12th.
Steve, who competed in both Greece and Sydney, winning Britain’s first Olympic swimming medal in eight years at Athens Olympics in 200-metres butterfly, said: “I want to run the race as well as start it!”
Last year over 1000 runners took part in this fun race along Liverpool’s iconic waterfront. This year enquiries have already starting to come in from as far away as the Republic of Ireland, where several keen teams of runners are gearing up to run the event.
To participate, businesses must enter teams of four with at least one female member. Organiser, Alan Rothwell commented: “Come down to Liverpool’s impressive
waterfront and run 5K with your work colleagues. You can compete against other teams within your organisation or perhaps raise a team to beat your industry rivals!
You can raise money for charity, either Sunflowers nominated as this year’s charity or you might have a favourite company charity that you would like to support.”
Enter your team online at www.runliverpool.org.uk
Olympian to start 5K
26 ■ LEGAL
ADVERTISING FEATURE
WHEN we embark on Marriage we do it with good heart and in good faith, and assume we will be together with our partners for the rest of our lives. The reality is rather different and sadly Divorce has become more and more common, causing major problems for those in business for themselves.
The three main Scenarios are as follows:1. Husband and Wife work together.2. One spouse works in the Business,
the other stays at home.3. One spouse owns a Business
prior to Marriage.
For points 1 and 2, it is important to understand that any fi nancial settlement will include a valuation of the Business (as this is deemed one of the assets of the marriage), this will be determined by a number of things, including current market conditions, the accounts of the Business and various other factors,For point 3, this is where a prenuptial agreement will play its part, and is especially important if a Business has been a “family business” of one of the parties for a period of time. Although ‘Pre-nups’ are not considered legally binding, the courts are certainly attaching more weight to them when it comes to complex fi nancial issues. At the time of writing this article, the legal community are awaiting a landmark decision on a case
(Radmacher v Granatino) which could give real direction to the courts on how to treat a prenuptial agreement.We at Tracey Miller Family Law specialise in Divorce & Judicial Separation, Financial Settlements, Civil Partnerships and Prenuptial Agreements.The difference between TMFL and other solicitors is that we are the Only Mobile Family Law Firm in The North West , which means We Come To You Wherever and Whenever 7 DAYS A WEEK. The big advantage for Business
People is that we can arrange to meet you at your Business Premises or at a place which is convenient to you, thereby reducing the disruption to your working day. We also Offer an ENTIRELY FREE OF CHARGE, NO TIME LIMIT, INITIAL CONSULTATION.
For further information visit our website on www.traceymillerfamilylaw.comContact us on Tel No: 0151 515 3036 Mob 1: 07780 617217Mob 2: 07917 055 229
The nightmare scenario – Divorce v Business
AN Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) ruling will provide some comfort to companies that decide to switch longstanding providers of professional services, where that provider has employed staff solely to work on the client’s account.
Ward Hadaway Solicitors had acted for the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) for a number of years and built up a team specifi cally to service the work it received from the NMC. Then the NMC decided, going forward, to use another fi rm, Capsticks.
According to John Hassells, employment partner at KBL Solicitors, “Ward Hadaway
argued its team of employees [should be] transferred to Capsticks under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE). If this argument was successful it would mean Capsticks inherited the relevant employees and associated employment liabilities.”
Under the TUPE, Hassells explained, where there is transfer of “activities” from one contractor to another – and there is also an “organised grouping of employees” working on those activities before the transfer, their employment will transfer to the new contractor with protection
under TUPE. Thankfully the EAT upheld an earlier tribunal ruling that Ward Hadaway’s employees did not transfer to Capsticks because the NMC had allowed Ward Hadaway to fi nish the work and fi les it had been given. In other words it had run off that work.
As Ward Hadaway fi nished off the work it had and it was not transferred to Capsticks solicitors, the tribunal determined there was not transfer of employees. Even if this was not the case, the EAT said there still would not have been a transfer because the activities Capsticks performed were not fundamentally the
same as those performed by Ward Hadaway.
The result is a good one for most companies that employ lawyers, accountants, PR agencies etc – and the providers to which they decide to transfer their contracts. It is not, however, clear-cut and the judgment leaves enough questions unanswered for other fi rms to try their hand after losing contracts.
Could we yet see a case in which a new professional service provider is nonsensically forced to take on the team employed by the previous incumbent? This ruling makes it less likely but not impossible.
A step in the right directionTribunal makes the right decision – but doesn’t provide certainty
LEGAL ■ 27
ONE of the region’s leading law firms Kirwans has unveiled a new Managing Partner and a new look.
Simon Gibson, 32, becomes one of the youngest managing partners in the country, having previously been the youngest partner of a law firm in the UK when he was just 25.
Kirwans founder, David Kirwan, remains as Senior Partner, and will work closely with Gibson, who will have day to day responsibility for the management of the firm.
Fee income at the firm grew by 10 per cent last year and is forecast to grow by more than 30 per cent during the current financial year.
Kirwans, which has offi ces in Liverpool and Wirral, has nine partners and more than 80 staff.
The announcement of Gibson’s elevation to Managing Partner coincides with the launch of a new brand for the firm. This is being rolled out in a new website, advertising campaign and a number of other marketing initiatives.
Gibson, who is based at the firm’s Liverpool office on Water Street, said: “Kirwans is one of the most established firms in the region with clients locally and nationally.
“My job is to ensure that Kirwans is seen as a genuine national provider of legal services.
“We believe in innovation, cutting edge technology and harnessing and developing the talents of our people. The rewards available to the best
people compare favourably with the region’s biggest firms.
“We provide the complete range of legal services to businesses and individuals at competitive prices.”
David Kirwan said: “Simon Gibson has played a hugely important role in the growth and success of Kirwans during the past seven years and his promotion to Managing Partner is fitting reward.
“We believe we are well placed to compete locally and nationally in an ever more challenging legal marketplace.
“We have just enjoyed our best ever year and are currently recruiting a number of terrific new lawyers who will help us to achieve the ambitious targets we have set ourselves for the coming years.”
Simon Gibson named managing partner at Kirwans after best ever year
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28 ■ LEGAL
ONE of Liverpool’s well-known solicitors has been appointed chairman of the lawyers section of the National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants (NASDA).
Ray Goodman, senior partner at Goodman Legal on Rodney Street, will head up the group of specialist dental lawyers, which was formed to work alongside NASDA to make it easier for dentists to select and appoint complementary
specialist advisors.Mr Goodman, who has more
than 25 years experience in acting for dentists in practice acquisition and disposal, described NASDA’s membership as ‘a badge of excellence’. He added that two of the group’s main priorities were to develop standard contracts for the buying and selling of dental practices to help to promote speedy and robust sales and also to develop the members’
expertise in this specialist fi eld of legal work.
He said: “The important part of the lawyers group of NASDA is that it is the only UK forum where specialist dental lawyers get to exchange information and experience. The fact it is part of NASDA gives it additional benefi t to the accountants and the lawyers involved because there is a huge amount of cross over with the work that they both do.”
NICHE family law practice, Heaney Watson has announced its acquisition of the family department of Adams Taylor Solicitors in Manchester.
The acquisition sees the fi rm build on its strong base of three offi ces in Liverpool and one in the Spinningfi elds area of Manchester.
The acquisition will mean that the fi rm will now base its
Manchester operation at St John Chambers, St John St.
Liza Watson, Managing Director of Heaney Watson, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Adam Taylors Solicitors to Heaney Watson and to have a greater presence in Manchester. Sue Taylor has a committed team of family lawyers and the expansion marks a very exciting time for the Heaney Watson team.”
LEADING Merseyside law fi rm Morecrofts has appointed three new Solicitor Associates.
Gaynor Lanceley, Helen Dring and Mark Fergusson will now join three other associates at the well-established fi rm, which provides a wide range of services in areas such as commercial company law, property, insolvency, dispute resolution, probate and all
aspects of family law including resolving disputes by mediation and collaborative law.
Morecrofts managing partner Helen Broughton said: “We aim to bring a fresh and dynamic approach to Liverpool and also the North West’s legal services and these three people, with their backgrounds and knowledge, are very welcome additions to our team.”
THE holiday season is upon us and local solicitors are already seeing an increase in enquiries from disappointed holiday makers. In the wake of the volcano ash disruption and incidents such as the recent bout of illness on the Boudicca cruise ship, Liverpool law fi rm Brabners Chaffe Street is reporting an unusually high number of enquiries concerning ruined holiday plans.
Paul Lunt, litigation partner at Brabners Chaffe Street, says: “Holidays are extremely important to most people who often spend all year planning for their break. Understandably, they feel very strongly when things go wrong through no fault of their own.”
“A common problem in advising disappointed holiday makers is that they often feel the amount of compensation provided for is inadequate or that it doesn’t properly refl ect the level of upset
and distress caused to them. In some circumstances, there are regulations that will cover direct costs such as accommodation costs for those that are stranded but the actual
compensation for a ruined holiday can be fairly meagre.”
Only weeks ago, the Court of Appeal reviewed the level of compensation to be awarded in ruined holiday claims. It acknowledged the “rather low awards” given by the courts but did little to change the position.
“One of the highest awards for the distress of a ruined honeymoon was only £4,406. Run of the mill ruined holidays have typically attracted between £80 and £1800” says Lunt. “Holiday makers are advised to look very carefully at the level of cover on their travel insurance to make sure that they will be adequately compensated should anything go wrong.”
Morecrofts Solicitors appoint three new associates
Ray Goodman becomes chairman of the lawyers section of NASDA
Brabners Chaffe Street reports increase in holiday claims activity Heaney Watson
celebrates acquisition
The Heaney Watson team (from left to right) Director’s Tracey Winstanley and Simon Heaney with Managing Director Liza Watson and new Director Ruth Kearns.
(L-R) Gaynor Lanceley, Mark Fergusson and Helen Dring
TRANSPORT ■ 29
THE opening of a new MtoGo retail outlet and ticket unit at Hooton station heralds an investment of almost half a million pounds in three Wirral stations.
Improvements at Hooton also include a fully accessible toilet, along with a new waiting shelter on the Liverpool bound platform.
Rock Ferry and Meols stations are also to benefi t from the improvement scheme which has been jointly funded by Merseytravel and the National Stations Improvement Programme (NSIP). In all, seven stations on
the Merseyrail Network have received funding through the NSIP.
Hooton and Rock Ferry stations will also benefi t from the provision of secure cycle parking later this year, funded from a successful £1 million joint bid by Merseytravel and Merseyrail to become a National Cycling Demonstration Train Operator.
Earlier this year, Ormskirk station was the fi rst station in the country to benefi t from an investment of £500,000, plus £200,000 from Merseytravel, as part of an overall £1.6m refurbishment programme.
KLM’S popular city hopper service is now running four fl ights a day from Liverpool JLA.
The increased frequency brings extra capacity to the route and creates a schedule that will increase long haul connectivity via KLM’s award winning hub, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
These improvements come just over a year after the inaugural route launch and are testament to KLM’s commitment to the Liverpool region.
Commenting on the new fl ights, Boet Kreiken, KLM City Hopper’s managing director says: “The new and improved schedule is great news for
Liverpool. This additional fl ight is a testament to the strength of our service from Merseyside and our improved schedule allows
faster connectivity.Neil Pakey (pictured inset),
Peel Airports group deputy CEO adds: “Over the past year KLM
has given the region’s business community the opportunity to start long haul journeys to hundreds
of worldwide destinations from the convenience of their local airport. This additional service will give travellers even greater fl exibility and choice of long haul destinations, as well as helping to improve the standing of the Liverpool city region on the world stage – which is great timing knowing that the team are out promoting just that over at the Shanghai World Expo right now.”
RYANAIR are now running a new route from Liverpool John Lennon Airport (JLA) to Szczecin in North East Poland bringing the number of destinations in Poland served by Ryanair from Liverpool to seven.
JLA is now on level terms with London Stansted as the top UK
airport for choice of destinations to Poland.
Robin Tudor, Head of PR for the Peel Airports Group commented, “Liverpool is now by far the market leader when it comes to services to Poland outside of London, with more departures, more capacity and more destinations.
Stations benefit from cash boost
Pictured at Hooton Station are (left to right) Peter Morton and Councillor Mark Dowd
KLM’s ‘Fab Four’ daily flights from JLA get underway
JLA becomes top UK airport for Polish destinations
‘Buon Giorno’ to Ryanair’s newest Italian flight
(L to R): Boet Kreiken, Neil Pakey and Anko van der Werff celebrate ahead of the KLM’s newest departure from JLA.
LJLA celebrated Italian style with passengers departing on Ryanair’s latest new route, to Trapani on the Italian island of Sicily, with top Italian restaurant Il Forno kindly laying on typical Sicilian cuisine for the 150 passengers.
Liverpool now serves seven Italian destinations.
Katie Smorthit, JLA’s Head of Marketing commented, “With a large number of Sicilians travelling on this fl ight this route looks like it will be popular not only with the region’s holidaymakers, but also Italians living here in the North West or visiting this region too.”
Il Forno Head Waiter Luigi Buonincontro, JLA’s Katie Smorthit, Ryanair’s Maria Macken and Il Forno Restaurant Manager Piero Palermo all on hand ready to serve passengers jetting off to Sicily.
30 ■ EDUCATION
We ensure the best preparation for the next step in your child’s education and are committed
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Runnymede St Edward’s SchoolA Catholic, Co-educational, nursery, pre-prep. and prep. school with a tradition of academic and musical excellence, sporting achievement and outstanding pastoral care for children aged 3 - 11 years
For a prospectus or personal tour please contact the Admissions Officer at North Drive, Sandfield Park, Liverpool L12 1LETel: 0151 281 2300 www. runnymede-school.org.uk e.mail [email protected]
Runnymede St Edward’s School is a leading Catholic Co-educational Independent Day School.
Here at Runnymede, we aim to develop the whole child, laying the foundations for well-balanced, confident individuals who are healthy in mind, body and spirit. Our professional staff plan for children’s progress and learning in accordance
with national guidelines. We are a school with a proven track record of academic excellence, a fantastic range of extra-curricular activities and an atmosphere of openness and understanding where your child can flourish.
Runnymede is also Choir School to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool.
Ch
allen
ge In
spire S
up
port
FOR over a hundred years students have been sitting down in January and June to take the 13+ Common Entrance exam to gain entrance to their chosen senior school at 13.
Nowadays while most students move to their secondary schools at 11 many of the old boy’s schools have maintained a strong emphasis on a 13+ intake. Around 80% of pupils in independent prep schools take the Common Entrance exam set by the Independent Schools Examinations Board on behalf of the sector.
Before taking the exams pupils and parents are asked to pick their fi rst and second choice senior school. The completed exam scripts are sent to the fi rst choice schools to be marked. This school has absolute discretion as to whether or not a pass is achieved and a place is secured. If a place is not offered the exam papers can then be passed onto the second choice school. The pass mark varies from school to school and can
differ from 50% to 60%. It is always a good idea to enquire with the school directly.
Searching for Independent schools that match your criteria has never been easier thanks to the Independent Schools Council (ISC) with our personalised advanced school search. This online school search allows you to use more specifi c criteria in your search for a school. You will fi nd the search particularly useful if you have more specifi c criteria including: school location; gender; day/boarding; subject and sports offered by the school; Examinations (including in Scottish schools); Religious affi liation; and School fee assistance.
If you have any queries relating to the Personalised Advanced School Search or Common Entrance then do not hesitate to contact the ISCias (Independent Schools Council information & advice service) team directly on 0845 SCHOOLS (7246657) or [email protected].
Common entrance: a gateway to independent education
LIVERPOOL BUSINESS FAIR 2010 ■ 31
HUNDREDS of businesses from across the region fl ocked to Liverpool Town Hall for the ninth annual City of Liverpool Business Fair on Tuesday 23rd March.
As well as attending the Business to Business exhibition, visitors were able to benefi t from free Marketing Clinics delivered by the Chartered Institute of Marketing and Speed Networking Sessions as well as the opportunity to ‘Ask the Experts’ on topics including Sales & Improving Sales Performance, HR / Health & Safety Law, Finance / Tax Issues and Driving More Traffi c to your Website.
The exhibition itself featured 80 companies from a broad Business Spectrum with everything from High Street Banks and Government bodies to emergency locksmiths and cab companies represented.
The huge range of support services available to businesses was also highlighted, with more than 10 of the exhibiting companies providing free or subsidised information and support on major
issues such as Manufacturing, Employment, Emergency Planning and Environmental Effi ciency.
Kathy Haines of Event Organisers Liverpool BA said “We’re really pleased that this year’s event was the biggest ever with 80 companies exhibiting and over 700 business visitors attending on the day. We always have a wide variety of different business sizes and types participating at the event but feel this year’s exhibition was the most diverse we have had in terms of the numbers of companies exhibiting and the range of sectors represented.
At a time when the economy has been on everyone’s mind it’s really good to see so many local businesses getting out there and being proactive in raising their profi le, making new contacts and generating sales.
Hopefully we can build on this and make next year’s event - which will be the tenth City of Liverpool Business Fair - even bigger!”
A programme of Informative
Seminars & Workshops (Sponsored by National Apprenticeship Service and their local partners Riverside LEC and Dingle Opportunities) also ran throughout the day with Seminars including ‘How Apprentices can make your business more effective, productive and competitive’, ‘Pricing to Maximise Sales and Profi ts’ and ‘How an SME can win a Public Sector tender in 45 minutes’.
And for those who needed a bit of light relief after all that serious business, there was the opportunity to have a free head and back massage from Cloudnine Bodyworks and browse the original art and board games displayed by local Artists and Game Inventors, Adrenaline Brush.For more information visit www.businessfairsuk.com or call 0151 709 8932.
Liverpool Business Fair 2010
If your team’s feeling blue, can your business be in the pink? Call our free adviceline for information on a wide range of issues, such as reducing absenteeism, improving staff health, morale and productivity – and help your business look forward to a healthier future.
Call us on 0800 0 77 88 44 and take the first step to a healthier business
www.health4work.nhs.uk
32 ■ ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Knowsley Environmental Services LimitedOffi ce 4. Barclay Business Park, Wareing Road, Aintree Industrial Estate, Merseyside. L9 7AU
Telephone: 0151 5210692 Fax Number: 0151 524 2580
Email: [email protected] Site: www.knowsleyenv.co.uk
The Control Of Legionnaires Disease:
ARE YOU UP TO DATE?
For Further Assistance Ring Paul Muldoon On 07789 557 995
ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certifi ed Accountants) says that it is not just large businesses who can be sustainable and responsible.
According to the Carbon Trust, in the UK, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) generate a quarter of carbon dioxide emissions a year. So they have a part to play in sustainable development (SD) and Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR).
ACCA offers a series of various activities SMEs can incorporate into everyday business processes to ensure that sustainability is integrated into all levels of the organisation. These can include:• Implementing energy effi ciency
measures • Reducing paper use• Employee satisfaction ·• Education of employees on
sustainability issues.In its recent policy document
called Going Concern? ACCA says that SMEs account for the majority of economic activity. For example, in the EU, there are approximately 23 million SMEs,
constituting 99% of all enterprises. The sector generates two-thirds of all private-sector jobs, some 75 million and more than half (52%) of private-sector turnover is generated by SMEs.
From its Going Concern? report ACCA makes a number of recommendations, such as:
*Governments should review the incentives provided by SME corporate taxation systems to increase the propensity of the SME sector to invest in cleaner technology
*SMEs should become more proactive in the unfolding CSR debate and increase their profi le and contribution within the growing number of initiatives, guidelines and standards being developed
*Governments should produce guidance to help SMEs measure their key environmental and social impacts
*Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) should develop a more accessible version of its current sustainability reporting guidelines for smaller organisations.
SMEs can be sustainable
BUSINESS CRIME ■ 33
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ATR Security Services Ltd. has the fl exibility to give you cover when you need it and will help you work within your budget. We can offer your business long or short term cover to suit your requirements. ATR Security Services Ltd is dedicated to quality and service.
For further information please call 0151 222 3992 or email [email protected]
ATR Security Services Ltd.ATHE National Security Inspectorate (NSI) is leading a drive to further raise security guarding standards with the launch of the Contract Quality Marque (CQM) scheme
The scheme is designed to show that individual contracts for security guarding have achieved a higher standard than those currently recognised in the industry.
The scheme criteria incorporates and builds on those already required for achieving ISO 9001 and the relevant British Standards, with the prerequisite that the company is a Security Industry Authority Approved Contractor.
Supported by the British Security Industry Association, Skills for Security and other key industry representatives, it is designed to demonstrate to customers that the security offi cers contracted to them receive the benefi ts of improved terms and conditions, including training and development opportunities.
The CQM can also provide a benchmark for tender documents
and provides assurance that contracts are being set to the highest standards available.
The CQM is a unique scheme that has been developed to show customers that specifi c security guarding contracts have achieved a higher standard than those currently recognised in the industry.
The scheme is open to any security guarding company that can meet the CQM criteria and is not restricted to NSI approved companies. It is awarded for individual customer contracts with the agreement of both the customer and the security guarding company.
After the initial assessment of the contract by NSI, annual inspections will be conducted to ensure both the security company and the contract conditions continue to meet the scheme criteria. In addition, unannounced visits will provide reassurance that security offi cers are competent and doing what they are contracted to deliver.
Safe and sound
IT’S offi cial! Runcorn-based, and Liverpool Chamber members, Select Security are in a class apart. In a recent audit for their Security Industry Authority Approved Contractor Status, the company scored so highly they are now in the top two per cent of the best performing security companies in the UK.
Business development manager Dave Potts commented: “It was an amazing score but we haven’t let it go to our heads. We are not complacent, we work on the principle that we have to prove our quality to our clients every hour of every day. We are aware that any security company is only as good as its frontline staff. We have invested considerable resources in making sure that our clients’ needs and expectations are met in full.”
Acknowledged as one of the fastest growing independent security companies in the north of England, Select Security has bucked the downward trend in the economy with a succession of prestigious contract wins. In the last 12 months they have won contracts with Liverpool John Lennon Airport, TNT Liverpool, Halton Borough Council, Cheshire West and Chester Council, St Helens Primary Care Trust, Bruntwood Estates and The National Trust. Last month they won a major contract with Groundwork Cheshire.
Dave explains: “It has been an amazing
period of growth and we believe our success is having a combination of value, quality and response, and always striving to go the extra mile. We look to form long lasting partnerships with our clients and we really do believe that their business is our business.”
Select employ over 300 staff and have a range of services such as manned guarding, mobile patrols, alarm response and key holding. In 2009 Select became the fi rst security company in the north of England to achieve the British Standard 8406 in Crowd Control and Event Stewarding.
An important factor in their success has been a heavy investment in cutting edge technology. Dave explains: “We use real time monitoring on all our sites which means that we are able to track live our patrols and attendance and we can
instantly pass this data onto our clients.”A consequence of Select’s success has
been a proliferation of their signs around Merseyside, Cheshire and Manchester. Says Dave: “One of our clients rang me to say that his daughter and her friends play a game of ‘count the Select signs’ on their way to school. It made me laugh out loud. I told him we weren’t quite yet Eddie Stobart but we’re getting there!”
Dave can be contacted on 01928 599928 or 07968 604978. www.selectsecurity.info
34 ■ ENVIRONMENT AND WELLBEING
LIVERPOOL Chamber held a launch event at the Hope Street Hotel to welcome its newest and greenest member, Natural Folk Limited.
Natural Folk is a British company of Indian origin who are opening a distribution and warehousing centre here in Liverpool. The company designs and manufactures eco-conscious bags and accessories for promotions and fashion.
Their products are made with processed jute and cotton. The company specialises in custom made and specially printed promotional bags.
Natural Folk produced and logoed the ‘People, Planet,
Profi t’ gift bags that were given away at the Chamber’s green themed annual dinner.
Maresa Molloy, head of policy & information commented: “We are delighted to welcome Natural Folk Limited to Liverpool and into the Chamber. The bags that they produced for us were a great talking point at our Annual Dinner and I’m confi dent that Manjir will be
able to successfully grow her UK and European business from her Liverpool base.”
Manjir Chatterjee, managing director said: “We were looking for a UK base to operate our whole European market, Liverpool was the obvious choice because of its central location within the UK and its direct transport links to Europe and beyond.”
‘Wealthy landowners make millions in the wind rush’, screamed the headline in the Sunday Times recently. The good news is you don’t need to be a millionaire or own a county to benefi t fi nancially from an investment in clean, green wind energy. What many people don’t realise is just what a resource we have in this country. The UK has 40 per cent of Europe’s wind, and the Northwest of England and North Wales are particularly blessed.
Between the monolithic wind turbines that cause so much controversy, and the windmills ill-advised people stick to their homes sits a range of industrial scale turbines capable of generating triple digit returns.
On the 1st April the government introduced ‘feed in tariffs’ (FIT’s). These subsidise people
that generate their own renewable energy at their homes or businesses. For wind turbines up to 15kw in rating you will earn 26.7p per kilowatt hour (kwh) of electricity you generate. What is more this income is index linked, tax free, and guaranteed for 20 years.
Feed in tariffs are equally suitable for businesses and commercial sites. Local company, Eco Environments is working on a commercial project to install six 15kw turbines for a client in the northwest. “Our customer sees the benefi t of generating their own energy on site, and at the same time showing their commitment to ‘doing their bit’ for the environment,” says David Hunt, Director “but whilst doing so they are likely to see their investment paid back in under fi ve years.”
Natural Folk choose Liverpool
A healthy approach
Health and wellbeing (or how to live longer)
WHAT is health and what is wellbeing, and which would you prefer? According to Chambers, health is ‘a state
of physical, mental and social well-being accompanied by freedom from illness or pain’ whilst wellbeing is ’the state of being healthy and contented.’
The terms seem interchangeable, and you could be forgiven if you thought that health is preferable, but are we prepared to accept wellbeing and still be unwell? For many, that is reality. Many people have long term ill health, whether physical, mental or both despite the best treatment that money can buy. A choice between wellbeing and health may exist for some, but are we ready to accept this?
The questions above are very relevant to the current economic diffi culties, where the state-provided options for health and care are under severe pressure. What exactly does wellbeing offer us? Is this simply coming to terms with chronic illness? Wellbeing could be seen as a way to delay and prevent ill health, but also perhaps a way of living a contented life despite health diffi culties. It is perhaps about bringing the arts into the science of health care.
The new economics foundation ‘think-and –do’ tank have produced a simple guide in their ‘5 ways to wellbeing’, supported during the Liverpool 2010 Year of Health and Wellbeing, where Mersey Care NHS Trust is one of many partners. This guidance sets out the areas of change that we can make as individuals or a society to improve wellbeing. The fi ve ways are – connect, be active, take notice, keep learning and give. How do we start? Well, in the Year of Health and Wellbeing, opportunities abound.
www.2010healthandwellbeing.org.uk
WHILE vending machines may not be the fi rst thought when it comes to healthy eating, local company, Mersey Vend has successfully broken the mould, discovering a new way to promote healthy eating and grow their business at the same time.
For the past few years, the Liverpool company have been pioneering fresh fruit vending machines. Sales Manager, Des Flanagan explained: “We have worked with both central government and the local PCT promoting healthy eating for a childhood obesity project. The service was established fi ve years ago and has been rolled out to 32
schools throughout Merseyside and is now being rolled out to Manchester.”
“We have formed links with the JD Fruits to ensure that the freshest fruit reaches the city’s schools and since the service has been on offer, over a million pieces of fruit have been consumed by Liverpool school children. Schools who have adopted the pioneering service get commission back on the sales of fruit from the vending machines.”
Des was recently invited by the Welsh Assembly to make a presentation to them about the unique service and following on from this is expanding his service into North Wales.
The fresh fruit vending service is also available to commercial premises and the fresh fruit vending machines are in Liverpool Women’s hospital and the Walton Neurological Centre, Liverpool University faculty of law and a chain of leisure centres.
YOU DON’T NEED TO OWN A COUNTY TO MAKE A GREAT INVESTMENT IN WIND ENERGY
NEW MEMBERS ■ 35
New members to Liverpool Chamber March and April 2010
4D Products Ltd7B Harlech Road, Blundellsands, Liverpool, Merseyside L23 6XAT: 0151 324 0038Mr Iain McCall
A K9 Support Services UK LtdSuite 3, 4th Floor, City Point, Great Homer Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L5 3LDT: 0845 643 6393Mr Robert Taylor
A National Security Training Centre (NSTC Ltd)Suite 3 City Point, Great Homer Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L5 3LDT: 0845 474 6782Mr Robert Taylor
Aprils Boutique46 Renshaw Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 4EFT: 0151 709 4300
Brokerage Solutions Ltd9-15 Grundy Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L5 9SGT: 0151 207 2082Mr Dan Willoughby
Callprint Limited19 Clarence Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L3 5TNT: 0151 709 3253Ms Karen Lea
Caroline Oates Ltd16-18 Newington Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 4EDT: 07787 186 838Ms Caroline Oates
Clas OhlsonUnit 8, Clayton Square Shopping Centre, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 1QRT: 07732 206 377
Coast7 Peters Arcade, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 3DET: 0151 709 6794
Data Performance Consultancy Ltd.Unit 4E Newton Court, Wavertree Technology Park, Liverpool, Merseyside L13 1EJT: 0151 230 0349Mr Brian Bishop
Hamilton CharlesSuite B West Barn, Rouge Farm, Normans Lane, Higher Whitley, Warrington, Cheshire WA4 4PYT: 01925 732 868Mr Andrew Budden
Hi Life Diners Club LtdUnit 3, Whitehills Drive, Whitehills Business Park, Blackpool, Lancashire FY4 5LWT: 01253 608910Ms Lisa Lund
i3 Group18 The Parks, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside WA12 0JQT: 01942 868 640Ms Sylvia Davies
John Turner & Sons Ltd4th Floor, 1 Dale Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L2 2ETT: 0151 237 2830
Lancashire EmbroideryLees Road, Knowsley Industrial Park, Kirkby, Liverpool, Merseyside L33 7SAT: 0151 546 5161Ms Sue Norris
Madame Foners84 Bold Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 4HRT: 0151 709 4757
McGrath Associates LtdStation House, 30 Station Road, Maghull, Liverpool, Merseyside L31 1DBT: 0151 520 3333Mr John McGrath
Megacentre241 Vauxhall Road, Liverpool, Merseyside L5 8TYT: 0151 207 0033Mr Phillip Clayton
Melia Recruitment8b Hurricane Court, Estuary Business Park, Speke, Liverpool, Merseyside L24 8RLT: 0151 236 7112Ms Laura Melia
Merseyside Tuesday and Thursday Clubsc/o Cheyne Gardens, Liverpool, Merseyside L19 3PHT: 0151 427 2709Mr Bob Davies
MothercareUnit 5612 & 13 Clayton Square, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 1QRT: 0151 703 2260
Mr Colin Fletcher9 Harrier Drive, Liverpool, Merseyside L26 7WQT: 0151 488 0625Mr Colin Fletcher
NCI Training59 Mosspits Lane, Wavertree, Liverpool, Merseyside L15 6XET: 0151 280 8540Mr Darrell Young
New Horizons Global LimitedPenrhyn Road, Knowsley Business Park South, Liverpool, Merseyside L34 9HYT: 0151 632 8100Mr Duncan Grosvenor
Paparatzzi4 Bold Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 4DST: no phone!
Paul O’Hare Ltd350 St Marys Road, Grassendale, Liverpool, Merseyside L19 0NQT: 0151 427 7000Mr Paul O’Hare
Red Balloon Learner Centre Merseyside16 Oakfield, Anfield, Liverpool, Merseyside L4 2QHT: 0151 263 8866Ms Tracy Doran
Riverford Home Delivery54 Bexton Road, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 0DST: 01565 640813Mr Alan McInnes
Securitas Security Services LtdUnit 2 Redhall Court, Paragon Business Village, Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF1 2UFT: 01924 382 800Mr Darren Read
Signature Cafe Liverpool LtdRapid Building, Williamson Square, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 1EAT: 0151 703 0248Mr Harry Foster
The Isla Gladstone ConservatoryStanley Park, Anfield Road, Liverpool, Merseyside L4 0DTT: 0151 263 0363Ms Mandy Seddon
The Restaurant Bar & GrillHalifax House, Brunswick Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L2 0UUT: 0151 236 6703Mr Patrick Hall
The Restaurant Bar & GrillHalifax House, Brunswick Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L2 0UUT: 0151 236 6703Mr Andrew Wigger
TKTK Limited125 Liverpool Road, Southport, Merseyside PR8 4NTT: 07771 771 217Mr Tim Kirk
TLP11 Pinewood Close, Formby, Merseyside L37 2HXT: 0800 292 2450Mr Tom Phillips
Waterfront Magazines Limited4 Stable Court, Water Lane, Tarbock Green, Merseyside L35 1RDT: 0151 487 6900Mr Phil Harris
Westshield LimitedWaldron House, Drury Lane, Chadderton, Oldham, Lancashire OL9 8EUT: 0161 682 6222
Xicon LtdBank House, 1 Bank Street, , Warrington, Cheshire WA1 2APT: 01925 240342Mr Simon Heyes
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