★★★★

BUSINESS SurviveStart

ThriveECH

O

Growingcity’shi-techsector

Copingwiththechallengeofchange

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JMU’SINCUBATORFORFRESHTALENTAN INCUBATION area to nurtureyoung entrepreneurs is to open withinLiverpool John Moores University.

It is the latest initiative by theuniversity aimed at developingsuccessful small businesses and willbuild on its World of Work (WoW)scheme and a new degree devised by itsbusiness school to develop the nextgeneration of small business owners.

From September, the Centre forEntrepreneurship will open in MountPleasant, in the heart of the city’s

knowledge quarter, providing flexible,drop-in workspace for graduatesstarting a business.

It will provide co-working spacewhere young business start-ups,freelancers and entrepreneurs will beable to share ideas and collaborate and

will offer access to LJMU’s own team ofbusiness advisers.

It is linked to the EnterpriseFellowship Programme, which is aEuropean Regional Development Fundinitiative designed to support andincrease the number of sustainablegraduate businesses in Merseyside.

The university provides businesssupport and resources and theopportunity to pitch for £1,500 offunding for up to 50 graduates.

LJMU is currently supporting morethan 20 graduate businesses under thescheme, including LawrenceArmstrong’s Frontier Ecology whichprotects wildlife affected byconstruction or refurbishmentprojects.

He has been dubbed ‘Bat Man’ aftertime spent on building sites looking forprotected bat species!

Another project is UK Visits, set upby Toni Hynes offering transport toprisons for families of offenders.

Lynne Robertson, JMU’sentrepreneurship champion forincubation, said: “The launch of theCentre for Entrepreneurship bringstogether eight years of expertise inhelping our student and graduatestart-ups in the city.

“This year’s Enterprise FellowshipProgramme has been the best yet interms of the workshops and activitiesthe entrepreneurs have participated in,and now, with the Centre this level ofaccelerated support can continue.”

University sets upspace tonurtureand retain talent

WildtimeforBootlemarketerBOOTLE marketingspecialist Wild Thangenjoyed a successfulexhibition at MarketingWeek Live in LondonOlympia last week,taking nearly 300enquiries for items, froma simple printed t-shirtto branded condoms.

The firm’s SarahHowarth and AndrewDwerryhouse mannedtheir stand to delivertheir message toconference-goers.

Andrew Dwerryhousesaid: “Even though wehave had one of our bestfinancial years yet, weknow there is massivepotential in London andwe would really like aslice of it.”

He added: “Bydelivering first-classservice, with innovativeideas, at the right price,and on time, we believewe will taste success.” ON MESSAGE: Sarah Howarth and Andrew Dwerryhouse spread the Wild Thang word at Marketing Week Live

● A PRESENTATIONon how to improve

your email managementtechniques takes place atLiverpool Chamber ofCommerce this Fridaymorning as part of the 60Really Useful Minutesprogramme.Warrington-based Xiconwill explain how tocentralise contacts, howto handle spam,archiving emails, andusing email ‘blasts’ toattract new business.Book a place at http://www.liverpoolchamber.org.uk/events.html?eventID=2708

● A FREE legislationupdate seminar

aimed at managingdirectors on changes toemployment law andhealth and safety issues isbeing held at AintreeRacecourse on July 25,from 9.30am- 12.45pm,hosted by employmentlaw firm Peninsula. PeterDone, Peninsulamanaging director, said:“We want to ensurebusinesses remaincompliant and that theirpolicies and proceduresare watertight.” Toconfirm attendance callthe 0161-834 2771.

● THE Warringtonmanufacturing site

of fastening specialistAvdel celebrated its 75thanniversary last weekwith an open day and thelaunch of a new product.The plant, whichemploys 250 staff, isproducing the NeoSpeedfastener which the firmsays is greener because itproduces no metal wasteand is half the weight ofequivalent fasteners.

● DAN Rigby, fromWidnes, has

become the first Airbusworker to join thecompany’s graduateprogramme from theshop floor. He gained abusiness studies degreein his spare time,studying at St HelensCollege, to secure aplace on the Airbus inthe UK Direct EntryGraduate (DEG)Programme which givestaff a chance to workacross the company inthe UK and even abroad.Dan, 31, works as a fitterat the Airbus Broughtonplant which makes wings.

EXCLUSIVEByNEIL HODGSONIndustry Reporter

NEWS Wednesday, July 13, 20112 ★★★★

Breakingdownwallstocopewithwindsof change

BUSINESSSMALL

of the Week

Neil Hodgson talks toDr Peter Hawkins, a masterof managing upheaval

FIRMS CUTBORROWINGLEVELS SAYSBIBBY POLLSMALL firms have cuttheir borrowingrequirements,according to a surveyby Liverpool-basedBibby FinancialServices.

The poll claims thatthe number ofbusinesses investing intheir future over thepast 12 months hasfallen by 29%.

And the surveyrevealed that 81% offirms in the northwest did not apply forexternal funding in thepast 12 months – asharp increase from52% in the previousquarter and higherthan the UK averageof 65%.

The UK-wide surveyof small and medium-sized businesses alsorevealed just 5% offirms in the northwest depend on bankoverdrafts, while afurther 11% draw onpersonal savings ormoney from familyand friends to financetheir business.

Less than one in 10(8%) small firms hadapplied for a bank loanin the past year.

This follows claimson Monday by thebanking industry thatit has increasedlending to smallbusinesses.

Bibby FinancialServices northernsales director DaveGolding said thatwithout access tofinance, businessgrowth in the regionmay be stunted andadvises firms to viewall the funding optionsavailable to ensurethey have sufficientcash to operatesuccessfully.

NETWORKINGCLUB EXPANDSLIVERPOOL-basedEntrepreneur ClubUK is launching inLeeds and Manchesternext month.

The networkingventure, whichrecently set up aChester arm, willstage its first Leedseven on August 8,followed by aManchester event onAugust 18, the sameday it launches its ownapp.

It is also staging aseries of seminars onhow businesses canget the best out of theLinkedIn system.

BUSINESS

THE News of the World officeswould have been a depressingplace last Saturday, but for DrPeter Hawkins it would havebeen the latest challenge for his

Formby business, Windmills.It provides support for companies

undergoing change, from structural orleadership change or, in this case,redundancies.

Windmills was spun out of theUniversity of Liverpool two years agoas a company in its own right headedby Dr Hawkins, and his colleagueHelen Wakefield, who had establishedthe university’s Graduate toEmployment scheme as a flagship forhigher education, helping more than5,000 graduates into jobs – 85% of theminto small firms – and helping retainhigh level skills within the region.

Dr Hawkins’s work attracted theattention of the then Department ofTrade and Industry Minister, andMakerfield Labour MP, Ian McCartney,and he said: “We still have very stronglinks with government policy agenda.”

But he said: “Windmills became ateenager, and like most teenagersneeded to leave home.”

He explained its ethos, saying:“When the wind blows some peoplebuild walls while others buildwindmills.

“We are all dealing with the windsof change in our lives – do you build awall or a windmill to use thesechanges for the good?”

He illustrated his point with apersonal recollection: “I have an eyeproblem and am registered blind. Iwas told when I was 17 I would not beable to drive, and I would sit in thepub with friends who were talkingabout taking their driving tests.

“I would go home and cry and prayfor them to fail.

“But three years later my sisterpassed her test and I realised the morepeople who pass their test, the morethere were to drive me around and Icould have more beers. I realised theproblem wasn’t my eyesight, it was mycoping ability.

“It has opened me up to differentpossibilities. I realised for three yearsI was building walls, not windmills.Life is 5% what happens to us and 95%how we cope with what happens tous.”

After receiving a call from NewsInternational last week he will behelping 200 journalists to cope withhuge personal upheaval.

The Windmills technique is basedon encouraging people to take morecontrol of their lives, which is thethrust of one of several books DrHawkins has written, funded by the£400,000 annual turnover the business

has made each year since its spin-off.No Regrets on Sunday splits the

average person’s life into seven days,equivalent to 12 years each day.

Dr Hawkins said: “There are 6bnpeople on this planet who only havetwo things in common. We are all bornand we all die.”

Windmills encourages people not tohave any regrets. Dr Hawkins said:“We use this as an opportunity toreposition the skills and passions intheir life. We look at their mindset and

how they’re approaching the changeand help people identify their skillsand passions.

“Too many people rely on their jobtitle, but we ask them to look atthemselves in the mirror in themorning and ask themselves who theyare.”

And he said Windmills, which hassupported about 10,000 people so far tomanage change, is better equipped todo so compared with other agencies.

“We ask people are they maximising

their skills for causes they feelpassionate about and are they in theright place with the right people toenergise and inspire themselves everyday – 97% of people can’t answer yes tothose three questions.

“Jobcentres aren’t set up to dealwith high skill levels, most are longterm low-skilled unemployed, so mostmiddle managers would not be able toget any help from jobcentres.”

Dr Hawkins says they take thelonger view. “We help organisationshave more forward looking visionsrather than looking at pastperformances,” he said.

This includes helping staff toengage in what he calls ‘threethinking’ based on their ownpotential, their impact inorganisations, and how they make adifference in the local community.

“The more forward lookingbusinesses are doing that, but it can

MPschallengedtoexperiencebusiness ‘at coal face’THE Forum of PrivateBusiness (FPB) has set up aspecial work experiencescheme this summer for MPsto learn about the realities ofrunning a small business.

It is inviting every MP, MSPand AM in Britain to take partin its Business Buddy scheme.About 100 have signed up sofar.

It is also hoped that the MPswho take part in BusinessBuddy will stay in touch withbusiness owners after theirvisits, creating a ‘hotline’ forfirms to communicate anyemerging issues and concerns.

FPB head of campaigns,Jane Bennett, said: “It’s allwell and good for lobby groupslike the Forum to tell the

government about the issuesfacing small businesses, butthere’s no substitute forfirst-hand experience.

“We want politicians to seefor themselves what it’s like torun a small business – that’swhy we developed theBusiness Buddy scheme.

“In recent years the numberof MPs who have owned their

own businesses has increased,and that is to be welcomed.

“However, different types ofcompanies face very differentproblems, and the legislationimposed on business isconstantly changing, so wehope every MP, MSP and AMis able to give just a few hoursof their time to take part inBusiness Buddy.”

She added: “We'd like to saya big thank you to ourmembers who havevolunteered to help GetBritain Trading by hosting avisit from their MP.

“Hopefully, together, we canstart to bring it home todecision-makers just howmuch small firms contributeto the economy.”

Wednesday, July 13, 2011 NEWS 3★★★★

FEATURE INCHAMBER’SGREEN BOOKLIVERPOOLChamber ofCommerce is callingfor entries for its LittleGreen Book, a guideon how to do businessand stay competitivein a low carboneconomy.

The previous issue,in the 2009 Year of theEnvironment,generated positivefeedback from as faraway as California.

Maresa Molloy,chamber head ofpolicy andinformation, said:“Demand for thisbook has been suchthat we are we areupdating andreprinting it to ensurethat it remains asrelevant as possible.”

The book listsenergy firms,recyclers, consultants,and companies whooffer environmentalservices or assistance.

There is no fee tobe listed. Email detailssuch as an address,phone number, emailaddress and websiteand a 50-worddescription of servicesto william.fitzpatrick@liverpoolchamber.org.uk by July 15.

WORLD’S END: The final edition of the News of the World

CHANGINGMINDSETS: HelenWakefield and DrPeter Hawkins ofWindmills

translate to smallfirms just as easily,”he said.

Windmills is workingwith Birkenhead trainingprovider Scientiam and theManchester enterpriseacademy of TV’s Dragons’ Den starPeter Jones. Dr Hawkins said: “Wewere called in to teach their firstcohort of students.”

And help in setting up their ownventures for the growing number ofstaff leaving the public sector affectedby the government’s austeritymeasures will also figure prominentlyin Windmills’ plans.

The next wave of entrepreneurs willalso benefit from a new charity justlaunched by Dr Hawkins to help youngpeople fulfil their potential. TheWindmills Foundation will receive10% of the company’s pre-tax profitsand its first exercise illustrated theimpact it can make when 300 Formbysixth formers were given £10 with thegoal of making the world a better placeand making someone smile.

He said: “One group got sponsorshipfor 400 balloons with a teabag or a seedattached. They had to have tea with anelderly neighbour or plant the seed.

“Another group created photoalbums for people with Alzheimer’s.

“It taught young people at a veryyoung age their role in the communityand the fact they could make a smalldifference very quickly. Too muchfocus is on making money. The otherbottom line is making a social impacton life.”

Do you wantto be our Business

of the Week?Contact Neil

Hodgson 0151 4722451 or emailneil.hodgson

@liverpool.com

For further details:www.losttribeofeverton.com

11-4pm, Saturday 16th July.St George's Church/Everton Park

LOSTTRIBE BOOKSTREET REUNION

• Make• Make the ‘journethe ‘journey home’y home’to Evto Everton’erton’s fas famous slopesmous slopes

• List• Listen to Ken to Ken Ren Rogers’ taogers’ talkslkson the people’on the people’s memoriess memories

• Climb the St• Climb the St GeorGeorge’sge’sChurChurch towerch tower

• Enjoy• Enjoy the greatestthe greatest viewviewin Livein Liverpool frrpool from Evom EvertonertonHeightsHeights

• Arr• Arrange toange to meetmeet oldoldneighbourneighbours and haves and have a picnica picnicin Evin Everterton Paon Parkrk

If you are one of the thousands who wereinspired by KKeen Rogn Rogers’ers’ book about theEverton and Scottie Road clearances,

you can now fulfil your dreams andre-unite with old friends and neighbours

NEWS Wednesday, July 13, 20114 ★★★★

BUSINESS

THEY spent years studyingscience – but when RhysRoberts and GeoffWainwright decided to takeover the running of

Liverpool’s MerseyBio centre theyhad to learn the art of running abusiness.

It’s a skill they soon picked up.Today 2Bio, as well as running theMerseybio incubator which hashoused many life sciencecompanies, helps researchersthroughout the world make moneyfrom their ideas.

Merseybio was founded by theUniversity of Liverpool in 2001 tohouse spin-out life sciences firms.Geoff and Rhys – who both havePhDs and have years of experiencein scientific research – joinedMerseybio in 2001 and 2002respectively.

The university managed thecentre until 2007, when Rhys andGeoff formed 2Bio to take over itsmanagement.

Rhys said: “Part of theresponsibility we had was tocontinue our stewardship of theincubator, because it was somethingwe had built up, operated and madesuccessful since the start of theproject.

“But we knew we wanted tointernationalise the business. Thisgave us the freedom to do that.

“We now have more empathywith our customers than we’ve everhad. We’ve been there ourselves. Weknow what it is to take a risk, tostart a new business and to grow abusiness.”

The 2bio team can also share itsyears of experience in scientificresearch with Merseybio tenants.

Geoff said: “Part of the ethos isthat this is not just a property.

“Diseases don’t have passports.They travel. Our market is globalbecause the problem is global.”

Merseybio companies haveworked in areas from makingdiagnostic tests for diseases fasterand cheaper to finding ways tomake promising drug treatmentsmore soluble and therefore easier touse.

The 2Bio team still works closelywith the University of Liverpool,meaning they can dip into the poolof local research talent.

Geoff said: “Facilities such asthis would be very difficult to

replicate well if you didn’t havesuch a strong base around you.”

That research pool, along withthe presence locally of companiessuch as Eli Lilly and Bristol-MyersSquibb, means Liverpool has aglobal reputation for life sciences.

Geoff said: “Liverpool has clearhighlights when you go overseas inareas such as infectious diseases,materials chemistry, physics andpharmacology.

“People understand that we havea critical mass in a very smallspace.

“Shanghai has 14m people.Liverpool has just 450,000. But whenwe start to explain the density ofhigh-quality activity we have in

Liverpool, they immediately get it.It’s not a difficult sell and peopleare willing to listen.”

The key challenge facing the lifesciences sector in Liverpool is thelack of suitable laboratory space.There are currently few suitablespaces for firms that have outgrownMerseybio and need largerlaboratories.

Since Merseybio opened in 2004,39 companies have called it home.

But, alarmingly, 16 companieshave left the city because of a lackof space in which to expand.

Geoff said: “They were companiesthat just got too big.

“They had to make a decision –can they grow further in Liverpool?

The answer for them was,unfortunately, no.”

Asked if the movement ofcompanies was frustrating, Geoffsaid: “It has been for five years.We’ve been pretty much full since2005.”

But the future looks muchbrighter thanks to plans to build aBiocampus in Liverpool to housegrowing firms developing the drugtreatments of the future.

The campus, part of the new£451m Royal Liverpool Hospital,will eventually house dozens offirms researching pioneeringmedical treatments.

Geoff and Rhys are working withthe hospital and the university onplans for the first phase of thecampus, a BioInnovation Centre(BIC) that will give space forgrowing firms.

The more firms that move on tothe BIC, the more will pass throughMerseybio – and the more Geoff and

Rhys can share their experiencewith.

Geoff said: “The new hospitalrepresents, for Liverpool, one of thebiggest opportunities forforward-looking economicdevelopment in this part of thecountry that we’re ever going to get.

“The university and the hospitalare bringing together a project,which essentially is one of these butbigger ” – he pointed at Merseybio –“to capture the value that wecurrently lose.

“As a company, 2Bio doesn’t losethat value. We still have contactswith these companies. But the cityhas lost valuable company stockthat would have spent money andemployed people in the city.”

Life sciences firms bring morethan just an economic benefit to theregion. Rhys said: “While there areclear economic benefits to theBiocampus model, there’s a hugebenefit for patient healthcare as

AFORMULAFORSUCCESSINTERVIEWBIGAlistair Houghtontalks to GeoffWainwright and RhysRoberts of 2Bio

‘Ourmarket isglobalbecausetheproblemisglobal’

SCIENCE PLANS: GeoffWainwright, left, and RhysRoberts outside theMerseybio centre

Wednesday, July 13, 2011 NEWS 5★★★★

well. Innovative treatmentsdeveloped here for commercialreasons will also be available herefirst of all.”

2Bio helps researchers andcompanies to exploit theirintellectual property.

It works with clients includinguniversities, research institutions,investors and biotechnologycompanies large and small.

Rhys said: “What really motivatesus, given our love of science, is thecommercialisation of new ideas. It’sa very satisfying business for us.”

2Bio has customers around theworld, particularly in Europe andin Singapore, Australia and Canada.

Geoff said: “We constantly reviewwhether we need to establish anoverseas presence. It’s a big step fora small business.”

2Bio hopes to use itsinternational connections to benefitMerseybio’s tenants and the citymore generally. It is helping to forge

links between the University ofLiverpool and Singapore’s Agencyfor Science, Technology andResearch, and Rhys hopes othercollaborations will follow.

Geoff and Rhys are clearlypassionate about their work, andare enthusiastic about the prospectsfor the region’s life sciences sector.

They have left hands-on researchbehind for a new life as businessgurus – but laugh when asked ifthey missed their labs.

“I was too dangerous in labs,”smiled Geoff. “There were a lot ofexplosions. It was time to get out.

“But we work with businesses allthe time. And one thing we doreally well is speak geek.

“There are so many times whenwe sit down with someone who isexplaining something to us, and wesee that it’s really cool.”

Rhys added: “We live vicariouslythrough the experience of otherswhose experiments rarely fail.”

AFORMULAFORSUCCESS

HIGH HOPES: Regeneration officials say the lifesciences sector is crucial to Liverpool’s future

GRAND PLANS: An artist’s impression of theBiocampus at the new Royal Liverpool Hospital

LAWIT’S THE

THERE has beenconsiderable Presscoverage about the

effect of employmentlaw on the ability ofemployers to recruitnew staff, with someemployers citingcurrent employmentlaws are too restrictiveand inhibit growth.

On the other hand,other employers statethey have no troublerecruiting and do notconsider employmentlaw inhibits growth.

Modern employmentlaw has increasedgreatly since the 1960sdue to two factors: thefirst a lack ofprotection foremployees.

For example, in theevent a company hit adownturn and had toshed staff, prior to theRedundancy PaymentActs 1965 there was noprotection for workers.

The second factorwas the impact on theUK from joining theEuropean Union, whichhas led to legislation tocomply with EUDirectives.

Is employment lawtoo burdensome? Somesay yes, but, generally,the answer must be no.

It is not too difficultto comply with existinglegislation.

Employees areentitled to terms andconditions of theiremployment which setout what they canexpect from anemployer and what anemployer expects fromthem. These must beprovided within twomonths of employment.

But you would besurprised at thenumber of employerswho still do not provideemployees with termsand conditions, eventhough this has beenlaw since 1963.

By failing to evenattend to this basic taskemployers leavethemselves wide opento a claim. The penaltyfor not providing termsand conditions is up tofour weeks pay. Not ahuge sum, but if noemployee has termsand conditions thiscould be multiplied bythe number ofemployees.

The government hasindicated it will review

employment law to tryand reduce theadministration burdenon employers. But, withrespect, this is not theanswer.

Employers who citethat employment law istoo burdensome areblaming legislation as areason for not growingtheir businesses.

As it stands, from theinception ofemployment employeesare protected with anumber of rights. At 12months an employeewill have the right notto be unfairlydismissed althoughthere are exceptionsduring the first year.

In general employerswill have a period toassess the suitability ofemployees. Withrespect to employers, itshould be a relativelystraightforwardprocess to assess anindividual during theprobationary period. Ifthe employee is notsuitable, his or heremployment can beterminated.

The government hasindicated that inreviewing employmentlaw, fairness forindividuals, ieemployees, will not becompromised. Thegovernment willendeavour to makelegislation easier tounderstand, improveefficiency in howemployment law isadministered andreduce unnecessarybureaucracy. It haslaunched an EmployersCharter clarifying whatan employer can do.

Employers who areaware of theirobligations make ittheir business to findout and obtain adviceon issues that confrontthem, employment lawbeing one. TheEmployers Charter isavailable on www.businesslink.gov.uk/employerscharter.

This column wasbrought to you byemployment lawspecialist ELAS,Employment LawAdvisory Services.For more informationcall the ELAS adviceteam on 0161-7852000 or emailinfo@employment-law.uk.com

with

NEWS Wednesday, July 13, 20116 ★★★★

BUSINESS

LIVERPOOL Science Park hasteamed up with two collegesin the region to encouragemore young sciencegraduates to go into business

for themselves.It’s being done because the

creation of new businesses based onscience and technologybreakthroughs is seen as one of thebest ways forward for the region’seconomy.

The Mount Pleasant-based parkhas launched the “Graduate i-pass”with Manchester MetropolitanUniversity’s business incubatorInnospace and the University ofChester’s Riverside InnovationCentre.

Graduate i-pass will allowgraduate and start-up tenants toaccess facilities across the threesites.

A reciprocal agreement has beendrawn up between the threeorganisations setting out theoffering, which includes guest daypasses, free wireless connection,use of communal facilities and theoption to book meeting rooms.

Liverpool Science Park chiefexecutive Chris Musson said: “Weare delighted to unveil the Graduatei-pass.

“Each of our organisations sharesa deep-rooted commitment tosupporting the brightest and besttalent starting out in business, andthis scheme is about giving ahelping hand to those ambitiousyoung firms working hard toestablish a presence across theNorth West.

“Not only does this initiativeprovide professional bases acrossmultiple premises, but opens upaccess to our vibrant communitiesof like-minded knowledge-basedcompanies.”

Last September, LiverpoolScience Park opened a GraduateEnterprise Centre (GEC)exclusively for new and recentgraduates starting out in thescience and knowledge- basedsectors.

The 24-hour facility providestenants with all the necessaryingredients they need to build abusiness, including low-cost,short-term lease options.

Mr Musson added: “This is apermanent long-term initiative,primarily aimed at companiesbased within our GraduateEnterprise Centre and starter pods,

with the idea being the scheme willgrow as more graduates move in.”

There are 10 graduates in theGEC and this number is expected togrow after the graduation period.

Mr Musson said: “The Graduatei-pass has been met with greatenthusiasm by the existing tenantsand has proved quite a draw tocompanies soon to move into thescience park, with the passes nowstarting to be issued.

“We hope in time to expand thescheme to include other like-minded facilities across the NorthWest.”

Manchester MetropolitanUniversity’s director of enterprise,Ian Jamieson, said: “We’re verypleased to be working with ourpartners across the region to offeran enhanced service for graduates.

“In the current economic climate,it is vitally important that westimulate new enterprise andsupport start-up businesses – thisinitiative will do both.”

And Charlie Woodcock, TheUniversity of Chester’s executivedirector of innovation anddevelopment, including RiversideInnovation Centre, added:

“Graduate i-pass is a great schemeto help support enterprisinggraduates across the North Westand is a good example of innovativesupport facilities working together.

“With access to three prime citylocations, young businesses canbenefit from professional premisesand the opportunity to networkwith like-minded entrepreneursacross the region.”

All three locations offerexemplary credentials in thedevelopment and encouragement offledgling knowledge-based ventures.

Liverpool Science Park waslaunched in 2006 and is currentlythe second fastest growing sciencepark in the UK, behind CambridgeScience Park.

It was created to develop andsupport Liverpool’s commercialknowledge economy and has proveda huge success to date, providing arange of services to nurtureembryonic ventures and help themflourish.

Its offer includes flexible, bespokefit-for-purpose accommodation;versatile leasing arrangements;specialist business support; lifescience laboratory compatible

accommodation; links to theregion’s specialist experts; andaccess to the academic researchbase.

Located in the heart of theKnowledge Quarter, at the foot ofthe steps of the MetropolitanCathedral, Liverpool Science Parkcurrently comprises two buildings,Innovation Centre 1 (ic1) andInnovation Centre 2 (ic2).

Occupants span a wide range ofknowledge-based sectors, includingthe creative industries,pharmaceuticals, life sciences, ICT,software development and genetics– all at the cutting edge of newtechnology.

And not only does the facilityretain home-grown talent, but it isincreasingly attracting companiesfrom outside the region and abroad,from as far afield as Finland andCanada.

The park has twice collected the“Best Science-Based Incubator”award at the International AnnualIncubator Conference & Awards,and it is estimated that, with thedevelopment of further phases, thePark could support as many as 7,000local jobs within the next 10 years.

CITYBOFFINSFOCUS. . . on graduates

Three universitiesjoin forces to helpkeep graduates inthe region

LIVERPOOL Science Park isa joint venture betweenLiverpool City Council,Liverpool John MooresUniversity and the Universityof Liverpool. It was partfinanced Merseyside’sEuropean Union fundedObjective One programme.

Innospace is ManchesterMetropolitan University’sbusiness incubator forstart-ups and newenterprises.

It comprises a communityof more than 120 start-upbusinesses with access to aprofessional office team and arange of back-up facilities.

It helps start-ups and earlystage businesses that havebeen trading for up to 36

Experthelpavailable

Wednesday, July 13, 2011 NEWS 7★★★★

FINDAHOMEAMBITIOUS PLANS: Chris Mussonat Liverpool Science Park

UNLESS you’ve had yourhead buried in the sand forthe past few weeks, you’relikely to have encounteredthe BBC’s The Apprentice inone form or another.

Wannabe entrepreneursruthlessly compete for thechance to build a career inbusiness with Lord Sugar.

Watching The Apprenticeit’s easy to fall into the beliefthat all business people arecut-throat individuals whoare in business for personalgain, but it’s socialenterprises like Knowsley’sCollage Marketing that proveotherwise.

Established in 2007,Collage Marketing is asuccessful social enterprisemarketing agency thatspecialises in providingsupport for local people,charities, community groupsand other social enterprises.By offering a strong portfolioof marketing services andtrading with public, privateand community sectororganisations, CollageMarketing is financially

stable and does not rely onfunding, meaning that itcontinues to be able to offervaluable services to the localcommunity despite today’schallenging economicclimate.

Donna Lucy, director ofCollage Marketing, wasinspired to create to set upthe agency as a means ofoffering local people real,creative opportunities.

She had lived in London

for 20 years but thenreturned to Liverpool. Shewas surprised not so muchby the lack of jobopportunities or lowself-esteem, but more so bythe unimaginative supportthat people were offered.People were being boxed inand pigeon-holed.

As a result, she openedCollage Marketing, whichhas in turn opened doors forlocal people, providingvaluable job and trainingopportunities that broadentheir skill base and raisetheir aspiration levels.

After bad experiences witha number of cut-throatbusiness people Donna isdetermined that CollageMarketing continues to offera real ethical alternative thatdoes its bit in creating amore equal, just and sociallyresponsible businessenvironment. Being a socialenterprise means Collage isnot reinforcing andcontributing to the ‘dog eatdog world’. Can you say thesame about your business?

months.In addition, it is fast

becoming a hub for socialenterprises, with specialistsupport services andnetworking available.

Its unique selling point is itsspecial emphasis on

supporting cutting-edgedigital, creative andtechnology businesses andsays it is attracting increasingnumbers of overseasentrepreneurs.

Chester’s RiversideInnovation Centre is set to

officially open this summerand the university plans todevelop it into its owninnovation-focused businessstart-up facility. It is based inthe former County Hall, nextto the River Dee, and offersaccess to expert advice.

SOCIAL ENTERPRISEwith Jo McGrath,chair of the SocialEnterpriseNetwork

COLLAGE: Donna Lucy

HUB: Charlie Woodcock, of the University of Chester, at the Riverside Innovation Centre

TALENT: Graduates are being encouraged to stay in the region to start businesses

NEWS Wednesday, July 13, 20118 ★★★★

BUSINESS

LUXURYPADSSETNEWSTANDARDS

EEFandUKTI inexportpromotionsdeal

Managed flatsanalternativeto city’s hotels

SITTING PRETTY: Katie Kenwright in one of Signature Living’s luxury managed apartments situated in Victoria Street

A LIVERPOOL firm ischallenging the hotels sector withits luxury range of managedapartments aimed at weekendvisitors.

Signature Living will offer 230bed spaces in three locations,building on its first venture inVictoria Street.

Former HR manager KatieKenwright bought her firstapartment in 2008 and used theprofits to eventually acquire all 12spaces in the Victoria Street site.

They offer underfloor heating,a double whirlpool bath in one,free wi-fi, films, even a welcomingbottle of wine.

Katie said: “You can press a

button in the morning and yourlights come on, the curtains drawand the TV comes on.

“Whatever hotels charge youon, we won’t. I paid a hotel bill inHolland and had an extra 180 eurocharge for a Kit-Kat bar, a bottle ofwater, use of wi-fi and films. Hereit is about your room rate andeverything else is free.”

Since the launch of the VictoriaStreet apartments local developerIliad has worked with Katie onfurther schemes in Mathew Street

and Bold Street which will include16-bed and 10-bed apartments.

She said during the week theproperties attract families,including Spanish and Chinesetourists, who would pay about£150 a night.

But at weekends the rates riseto about £340 a room aimed atgroups and stag and hen parties,mostly from London.

However, Katie said allproperties are strictly regulatedand each site has its own securityguard: “They are all self-contained units with noresidents.”

The firm also provides alifestyle service for visitors new tothe city: “We offer discount atrestaurants and clubs and canorganise their nights for them.

“We can tell them, ‘go to this

bar at 9pm and leave at 10 becauseit dies, then go to this bar’. Weguide them and tell them how todress and if they are drunk theywon’t get in.

“You have to take the thresholdto a different level. We have tocompete with hotels. Our motto is‘expect more’.

“There are about 5,000 hotelrooms in Liverpool and another2,000 on the way in what is analready aggressive market.

“But we are out of that becausewe are great accommodation.

“There’s no-one really doinggreat accommodation in the cityon the scale that we are.”

She said that is reflected inoutstanding reviews on the TripAdviser and Booking.comwebsites, adding: “ If you get badreviews your are finished.”

MANUFACTURERS’organisation EEF and UKTrade & Investment(UKTI) have signed amemorandum ofunderstanding tocooperate on thepromotion of exportservices to manufacturingand engineeringcompanies.

The three-year

agreement is aimed atworking on initiatives andsupport for firms to boostUK exports, especially toemerging markets suchas Brazil, Russia, Indiaand China.

Recent survey evidencefrom EEF showed 90% ofmanufacturers areinvolved in exporting and,that for two fifths of

companies, exports nowaccount for more thanhalf their turnover.

However, obtaining afoothold in new marketscan require significantinvestment andcommitment andguidance.

EEF north westdirector David Ost said:“Exports are the lifeblood

of UK manufacturing and,with the prospects forinternational traderemaining very positive, itis vital for our economicprospects that we takeevery opportunity toboost our performance.

“By combing theexpertise of UKTI withEEF’s access to market,companies will be set fair

to reap the benefits of theunique expertise to whichthey will gain access.”

Acting chief executiveof UKTI Susan Hairdadded: “Working withorganisations such as EEFis vital. We want to workwith partners to help getthe message through toas many companies aspossible.”

byNEIL HODGSONIndustry Reporter

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