★★★★ BUSINESS Survive Start Thrive ECHO Ex-footballer nets his business dream Surfboard survivor’s charitable vision PAGES 2&3 PAGES 4&5 EXPORT IS ANSWER TO ‘SATURATED’ UK WITH spending cuts and slow growth in the UK cutting domestic demand, exports offer an increasingly attractive proposition for small firms, says the President of the Liverpool Society of Chartered Accountants. Jan McDermott is urging the small firms sector (SMEs) to consider expanding overseas to bolster growth after recent research by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales found that 70% of UK businesses are looking overseas to further their recovery, and that the downturn has increased the pace of globalisation in advanced and emerging economies. “The UK is an almost saturated marketplace. Economic growth will be delivered by SMEs and those that look beyond these shores to market their products and services,” she said. But she warned they first need to satisfy three areas of concern before embarking on overseas expansion: the Plan, the Place and the Process. She said the plan needs the right research into targeted export territories. Potential exporters must study issues including whether particular export documentation is needed and whether a new joint venture or operation is required to deliver the process. She added: “There’s good news to support the prospect of growth from exports in the current exchange rates. “UK exporters are enjoying an increasingly competitive position and more UK businesses are already choosing to exploit international markets to take advantage of the situation.” Mastering three ‘P’s important for successful drive Job gives John his energy JOHN Sweeney is the oldest employee at Knowsley’s Total Glass, having celebrated his 79th birthday. The former joiner has been at the firm for 12 years since the death of his wife Margaret and not missed a single day. “Working full-time keeps me active and gives me energy,” said John, who looks after the stores and the recycling of waste materials. Managing director Frank Deary said: “John’s an inspiration to us all.” GLASS ACT: Total Glass managing director Frank Deary (left) with 79-year-old employee John Sweeney ● PENINSULA Business Services is hosting a free seminar for managing directors on changes to employment law and health and safety legislation tomorrow at Aintree Racecourse, from 9.30am to 12.45pm. To confirm attendance, call the Peninsula Seminar team on 0161-834 2771. ● THE Centre for Construction Innovation is running four free workshops for small Merseyside construction firms next month at Milk & Sugar in Wood Street’s Tea Factory. They are Lean4Construction and carbon footprinting, on March 15; and bid coaching and performance measurement, on March 22. To reserve a place contact emma.looskin @ccinw.com ● “DEVELOPING Shopfloor Talent” is a free morning breakfast event hosted by north west manufacturing support body MAS-NW at the Blackpool City Learning Centre on March 3, to help manufacturers identify their training and development needs and the most suitable training support organisations to fulfil those needs. Phone 0800 458 9585 or visit www. mas-nw.co.uk for more information. ● THE National House Building Council is holding a series of “Building For Tomorrow” seminars across the UK, including a free event on March 10 at the Thistle Hotel, Haydock Park. by NEIL HODGSON Industry Reporter 20% off meeting rooms in March & April Red Rooms - a higher standard of meeting room...take it as red. Call 0800 731 0300 www.the-red-rooms.com
Transcript
★★★★
BUSINESS SurviveStart
ThriveECH
O
Ex-footballernetshisbusinessdream
Surfboardsurvivor’scharitablevision
PAGES2&3 PAGES4&5
EXPORTISANSWERTO‘SATURATED’UKWITH spending cuts and slow growth inthe UK cutting domestic demand,exports offer an increasingly attractiveproposition for small firms, says thePresident of the Liverpool Society ofChartered Accountants.
Jan McDermott is urging the smallfirms sector (SMEs) to considerexpanding overseas to bolster growthafter recent research by the Institute of
Chartered Accountants in England andWales found that 70% of UK businessesare looking overseas to further theirrecovery, and that the downturn has
increased the pace of globalisation inadvanced and emerging economies.
“The UK is an almost saturatedmarketplace. Economic growth will bedelivered by SMEs and those that lookbeyond these shores to market theirproducts and services,” she said.
But she warned they first need tosatisfy three areas of concern beforeembarking on overseas expansion: thePlan, the Place and the Process.
She said the plan needs the rightresearch into targeted exportterritories. Potential exporters must
study issues including whetherparticular export documentation isneeded and whether a new joint ventureor operation is required to deliver theprocess.
She added: “There’s good news tosupport the prospect of growth fromexports in the current exchange rates.
“UK exporters are enjoying anincreasingly competitive position andmore UK businesses are alreadychoosing to exploit internationalmarkets to take advantage of thesituation.”
Mastering three‘P’s important forsuccessful drive
JobgivesJohnhisenergyJOHN Sweeney is theoldest employee atKnowsley’s Total Glass,having celebrated his79th birthday.
The former joiner hasbeen at the firm for 12years since the death ofhis wife Margaret andnot missed a single day.
“Working full-timekeeps me active andgives me energy,” saidJohn, who looks after thestores and the recyclingof waste materials.
Managing directorFrank Deary said: “John’san inspiration to us all.”
GLASS ACT: Total Glassmanaging directorFrank Deary (left) with79-year-old employeeJohn Sweeney
● PENINSULABusiness Services is
hosting a free seminarfor managing directorson changes toemployment law andhealth and safetylegislation tomorrow atAintree Racecourse, from9.30am to 12.45pm. Toconfirm attendance, callthe Peninsula Seminarteam on 0161-834 2771.
● THE Centre forConstruction
Innovation is runningfour free workshops forsmall Merseysideconstruction firms nextmonth at Milk & Sugar inWood Street’s TeaFactory. They areLean4Construction andcarbon footprinting, onMarch 15; and bidcoaching andperformancemeasurement, onMarch 22. To reserve aplace [email protected]
● “DEVELOPINGShopfloor Talent” is
a free morning breakfastevent hosted by northwest manufacturingsupport body MAS-NW atthe Blackpool CityLearning Centre onMarch 3, to helpmanufacturers identifytheir training anddevelopment needs andthe most suitabletraining supportorganisations to fulfilthose needs. Phone 0800458 9585 or visit www.mas-nw.co.uk for moreinformation.
● THE NationalHouse Building
Council is holding aseries of “Building ForTomorrow” seminarsacross the UK, includinga free event on March 10at the Thistle Hotel,Haydock Park.
byNEIL HODGSONIndustry Reporter
20% off meeting rooms inMarch & AprilRed Rooms - a higher standard of meeting room...take it as red.
Call 0800 731 0300www.the-red-rooms.com
NEWS Wednesday, February 23, 20112 ★★★★
Surfboardaccidentsurvivor isdriventohelpothers
BUSINESSSMALL
of the Week
Alistair Houghton talksto Mark Wood, founder ofCharityprintshop
CITY EVENTTO EXPLORETRADINGWITH CHINAA ONE-day eventexploring businessopportunities in Chinais being staged atLiverpool’s HiltonHotel on March 30.
“Beyond Shanghai’aims to explore thelegacy of the city’s sixmonth presence at theShanghai Expo lastyear.
But it will also seekto widen business linksbeyond Liverpool’stwin city to othermajor cities andsecond-tier cities inChina and willhopefully be theprecursor to a regularbusiness club toexplore tradeopportunities.
The main partnersbehind the event arethe ConfuciusInstitute, a Chinesegovernment-fundedbody promoting Chinaand its culture; theUniversity ofLiverpool, which hostsa Confucius Institute;and Liverpool ChineseBusiness Association.
Three seminarsbetween 10am and4pm will featureChinese ConsulGeneral Ni Jian, ProfMichael Howey, theuniversity’s ProVice-Chancellor forInternationalisation,leading professionalsfrom the city’sbusiness sector andrepresentatives fromthe Hong KongEnterprise and TradeOffice London teamand the government’sUK Trade andInvestment.
For furtherinformation on theevent please visitwww.beyondshanghai.co.uk
TAILORED OFFERFOR BUILDERSSKELMERSDALE-based HHSC Training& ConsultancyServices has formed apartnership withDamar Training ofStockport to offeraccess for north westfirms to the specialistAdvancedApprenticeship inHousing.
The scheme isexpected to grow asmore young peoplechoose not to go touniversity, but to gainprofessionalqualifications via avocational routeinstead.
BUSINESS
ANEAR-FATAL surfboard
accident changed MarkWood’s life and made himpassionate about fundraisingfor charity.
Now he is determined that hisbusiness can help other small firms dotheir bit for good causes.
Mark was left minutes away fromdeath after his artery was severedwhen his surfboard fell on top of himin the seas off North Wales.
Once he recovered he began raisingmoney for Wales Air Ambulance,whose helicopter saved his life.
Wirral-based Mark lovedfundraising so much that he decidedto make it his business. So in Januarylast year he set up Charityprintshop, aprinting business that gives half itsprofits to charity.
It prints anything from businesscards through to exhibition stands, aswell as offering boxes ofcharity-branded air fresheners.
He insists his prices compete withthose of other commercial printers,meaning small firms can give tocharity without any extra cost.
He said: “I believe every businesscan give something back, even if it’sjust through business cards. Whywouldn’t you?”
Mark, originally fromStoke-on-Trent, started life as a designtechnician before moving into officesuppliers. That in term led him tostart selling printed products.
Even before his surfboard accident,he was no stranger to charitablefundraising.
When mother died 16 years ago, heran a marathon to raise money for thehospice that took care of her.
And when his father died a fewyears later of a heart condition, Markdid a skydive and raised more than£1,000 for the British HeartFoundation.
He organised several moresponsored walks, and gave regularly tocharity.
But the journey that led him to startCharityprintshop began with hissurfing accident off the North Walescoast in 2008.
Mark had been a surfer for 10 years,and was making a routine visit to theseas off Conwy when he was badlyinjured by his own board.
“I just came in badly, a bit late to thewave,” he said.
“I tried to bail out and push theboard away, but my leg went round theback of the board. Then the board hitthe sand.
“It felt like a dead leg – no painwhatsoever. But when I tried to standup, my leg just gave way. I looked backat the water and it was just thick red.
“There were two other surfers thereand they dragged me out. I used theleash on the board as a tourniquet.
“The ambulance was there in notime. The coastguard came out. It wasquite exciting at the time – there wasno pain. I didn’t realise theseriousness until I was in hospital.”
Mark had severed the artery in theinside of his leg, losing pints of blood.
He later found that his injury was sosevere that the air ambulance crewgave him just 20 minutes to live. Buttheir helicopter got him to hospital in12 minutes, saving his life.
“The surgeon said ‘somebody musthave been looking out for you’,” said
Mark. “He’d never seen a surfinginjury so severe.”
Mark decided to show his gratitudeto the air ambulance, which is fundedentirely through donations, bypledging to raise money for it. He firstraised £3,500 through a charity walkup Snowdon.
He lost his job as a salesman soonafter his accident and became afreelance print manager to pay hisway. But as he spent more timeworking with charities, he realisedthat there was a way he could use hisentrepreneurial skills to raise moneyfor those good causes.
“Charities were having trouble
getting to the local businesscommunity,” he said.
“The Charity Commission says 95%of a charity’s income comes frompeople who have been touched by thecharity. Only 5% of their incomecomes from corporate support.
“Small and medium enterprises(SMEs) don’t tend to support charityout of their profits. Times are hard.Cash is king. But charity fundraisersare going to SMEs asking ‘how canyou help us?’
“They‘re saying ‘will somebody runa marathon for us?’ Somebody mightraise hundreds of pounds as a one-off.
“People will say ‘I can get lots ofpeople to sponsor me.’ But you canonly ask for sponsorship once a year.”
Mark started a business networkingbreakfast club, where he said he couldgive money to charity if he gotreferrals. His charitable offer was wellreceived – and that inspired hisbusiness venture.
“People didn’t just want to talk tome about being a printer,” he said.“They wanted to talk to me about
Internationalspecialists toexplainbusinessrisksTOP international expertshave been confirmed asspeakers at The Institute ofRisk Management’s annualconference in Liverpool nextmonth.
The Global RiskManagement ProfessionalDevelopment Forum, at theBT Convention Centrebetween March 21-23, will be
opened by Dr Jeevan Perera,risk manager at NASA’sJohnson Space Centre.
He will explain how the USspace agency completelyrebuilt its risk managementculture and processesfollowing the 2003 ColombiaSpace Shuttle disaster.
Speakers also include GertCruywagen from Tsogo Sun
Group, South African RiskManager of the Year, wildlifeenthusiast and TV personality,who will discuss ‘Jungle RiskManagement’, or how animalsavoid becoming prey.
Information security riskexpert Paul Dwyer, SecurityGRC Principal at leading Irishtelecoms company Eircom,will explain the complex and
extensive undergroundbusiness of cyber crime andexplore the motivations andrewards of the participants inthis virtual economy.
He will also delve into thelink between cyber crime,cyber terrorism and warfareand outline the threats posedto business, critical nationalinfrastructure and the
economy from this activity.And to close the conference
one of the world’s leadingacademics in the field of riskpsychology, heuristics anddecision making, Prof GerdGigerenzer, Director of theMax Planck Institute forHuman Development inBerlin, will be speak on thetopic of risk literacy.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 NEWS 3★★★★
FSB PLEA TOEXTEND NIC‘HOLIDAY’THE governmentmust extend theNational InsuranceContributions (NICs)holiday to existingfirms to create anenvironment for jobcreation and helpstem highunemployment, lobbygroup the Federationof Small Businesses(FSB) has urged.
The FSB welcomesthe government'scommitment for a“National InsuranceHoliday” for start-upbusinesses that takeon up to five membersof staff, but believesthis does not go farenough and must beextended to includeexisting businesses.
FSB research showsthat businesseslooking to take on newstaff fell from 12.2% inquarter three to 8.7%in quarter four. Moreworryingly, 12.4%expect to decrease thenumber of staff theyhave in quarter one2011 – up from 10.4%in quarter four 2010.
The FSB researchshows 44% of smallfirms would take onmore staff if thegovernment cut NI.
The FSB’sMerseyside chairmanJohn Allan said: “Weknow that small firmswould take on morestaff if NI was cut, soto really help boostemployment in smallbusinesses, thegovernment mustextend the NICsholiday to existingsmall firms.”
CHARITY PARTNERS: Mark Wood (left) with Joan Elmer of Sunflowers and Harry Grierson from FS Commercial.Sunflowers received thousands of pounds after teaming up with FSC and Mark’s company Charity Print Shop
having a serious accidentand working for charity.
“I was sitting watchingEastEnders one Sundayafternoon when I hadmy lightbulb moment –it was time to startCharityprintshop.
“I put the name intoGoogle, saw it was free,and registered it.”
Today Mark, who is basedin Eastham, employs twofull-time and two part-time staff.
He says he is in talks with potentialinvestors about taking the businessnational .
He has a broad portfolio of clients,ranging from wholesaler Costco tobuilding services company Garic.
Among its other key clients isLiverpool-based umbrella company FSCommercial. Charityprintshop hasalready donated thousands of poundsto FSC’s chosen charity, Sunflowers,after printing a range of corporatebrochures and business cards.
“I’ve brought a new sales guy inrecently,” he said. “It’s all going in theright direction, which in the printingindustry is fairly unusual – severalprinters have gone bump over the lastyear.
“It isn’t about the money for me. It’sabout working for the community.
“Having a serious accident changesyour perspective on life.”
And despite his brush with death,Mark still loves getting out on hissurfboard.
“I still surf,” he said. “It’s one of thebest things I’ve ever done.
“I was back surfing six months afterthe accident. I got back to it as soon asI could.”
Do you wantto be our Business
of the Week?Contact Neil
Hodgson 0151 4722451 or emailneil.hodgson
@liverpool.com
WASTE CREATESNEW BIKE PARKAN ELLESMERE Portconstruction firm ishelping create amotocross and quadbike park for localyoungsters as part of akey building contract.
D Morgan is thecontractor on thetown’s new Marks &Spencer store and willuse 50,000 tonnes ofsoil extracted duringthe development tocreate the facilityunder plans putforward by localenthusiasts Andrewand Lyndsey Paul,Graham Lee andSharon Holding.
D Morgan directorJohn Dennan said:“This is a greatopportunity to be partof such a fantasticlocal developmentwhich will benefit thewhole community.”
GIVING BACK: Mark Wood with someof the products printed by his firmCharityprintshop Pictures: PAUL HEAPS
NEWS Wednesday, February 23, 20114 ★★★★
BUSINESS
SO MANY young boys gothrough their childhoodsdreaming of becoming aprofessional footballer andLee Hackett was no
exception.Lee, now a director of small firm
consultancy, Lead Creators,achieved that dream – but it wasshort-lived.
Partly due to injury, he was let goby Wigan Athletic at just 19.
However, Lee was far from aone-trick pony and even before theend of his professional career, hewas already having thoughts aboutone day running his own business.
He said: “The end of my footballcareer was of course a bigdisappointment. All through schoolthat was what I had wanted to do.
“But when I was an apprenticewith Wigan I also had to go tocollege, which is where I didbusiness studies.”
The course turned out to be awise choice. Since the end of hisplaying career Lee, now 37, hasforged a successful career inbusiness.
Last year he founded LeadCreators, which employs ninepeople and operates out of an officein Exchange Flags in Liverpool citycentre.
It has around 40 clients and offerswhat it calls “pipelinemanagement” services, whichmeans it researches and identifiesnew sales opportunities.
“We are more than just amarketing company although a lotof what we do links into that,” saidLee.
“When we get a new client one ofour people will go and spend a daywith them, getting to know theproducts and the people – learningabout the culture of the business.
“We will research the market ontheir behalf and identify some keyobjectives – and then will develop astrategy and decide on what tacticsto deploy.”
Lee has gained extensiveexperience doing business in theMiddle East and Far East and sohelping clients get a foothold intoexport markets is a particularspeciality of Lead Creators.
He added: “I think the biggestissue firms have is a lack ofknowledge and understanding ofhow to access overseas markets.
“The Government could do anawful lot more for exporters. Theperformance from UK Trade &Investment over the past decade hasbeen very poor.
“We don’t have much more thanthe usual bog standard tradedelegations.
“They need to do a lot more tohelp firms understand the issues.For example, payment terms inmany countries are very different
to the UK. Too often, companies aresimply directed to the localconsulate.
“Many have aspirations to dobusiness in emerging markets buthave a complete lack of knowledge.”
Mr Hackett claims that he hadalready delivered up to a 77%return on investment with some of
his clients. In its first year ofoperation he expects the firm toturn over between £500,000 and£750,000.
“During the last 11-12 years, Ihave worked in the UK, Europe andthe Middle East, and I believe I havedeveloped a system and a set oftheories that do work,” he said.
When his professional footballcareer ended, Lee started work as atrainee sales manager with anational builders’ merchant calledGrahams.
He continued to play footballpart-time for Northwich Victoria.
He then worked for a similarfirm, Travis Perkins, as one of theiryoungest-ever branch managers,before setting up a company withhis brother, Peter, in 2002 calledCMS.
The firm specialised in thesupply of construction materialsand it was here that Lee gained his
experience in export markets.He said: “Our products were very
relevant to Middle East and FarEast markets so I was able to gainvital experience and build up a goodlist of contacts.”
CMS was sold to a FTSE 200company, SIG plc, in 2007.
Lee believes his experienceallows him to offer real value toSMEs, especially now that publicsector business support isshrinking.
He added: “I think there has beena lack of real-world businesssupport.
FormerfootballerhelpingSMEstoachievetheirgoals
INTERVIEWBIGTony McDonoughtalks to Lee Hackett,the director ofLiverpool-basedLead Creators
‘Thereisalackofreal-worldbusinesssupportforfirms’
ROOM FOR EXPANSION: Lee Hackett’s latest businessventure is growing fast Picture: JENNY ROBINSON
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 NEWS 5★★★★
“I think owners of SMEs willappreciate talking to someone whohas faced the same problems thatthey are facing.
“That is much better, I think,than speaking to a consultant froma Government agency.”
Lee is also helping SMEs throughanother company where he is adirector – Pantheon International.
It has developed a series oftraining courses under the headingPantheon Academy to provide smalland start-up businesses with coreskills.
Lee said: “Leadership skills such
as effective people management,improving profitability anddeveloping new markets, don’talways come naturally toentrepreneurs.
“Many small businesses find thatthey have gaps in their skill sets,especially during periods of rapidgrowth.
“This is only natural, as asuccessful operation can quicklyoutgrow itself.
“Therefore, the question thatmost owner-managers of SMEs faceis how and when do they introducenew skills into the business?”
ALL SMILES: Lee was disappointed at the premature end to hisfootball career but is now a successful businessman
SKY HIGH: During their time at CMS, Lee Hackett and his brother Peterbenefited from the Middle East building boom
SCIENTIFICGRANT TOHELP SMESSMALL firms onMerseyside couldbenefit from a new£300,000 grant toLiverpool John MooresUniversity (LJMU).
Prof CaroleMundell, head of theLiverpool Gamma RayBurst group of theAstrophysics ResearchInstitute, receivedfunding from theScience andTechnology FundingCouncil (STFC) forher group's leadingresearch into the mostpowerful explosions inthe universe, gammaray bursts.
It involves thedesign andmanufacture of arange of equipment,including cameracomponents, whichwill be sub-contractedto local and UK-widesmall firms.
Birkenhead-basedSenar has alreadymade a number ofprecision componentsfor the instrumentthat holds the optics intheir correct place.
Another impact willbe the availability ofnew research findingsfor Spaceport, apartnership betweenLJMU and MerseyFerries, aimed atengaging members ofthe public inastronomical research.
Prof Mundell said:"We are very pleasedthat STFC hasrecognised theimportance of ourinnovative work.”
TAX HELP FORR&D PROJECTSSMALL firms thatcarry out research anddevelopment (R&D)will find it easier toclaim additional taxrelief after a relaxationin the rules forclaiming R&D taxcredits.
Her Majesty’sRevenue & Customssays companies willnow be able to claimthe additional relief ontheir activities even ifthey don’t own theintellectual propertythat will result fromthe R&D.
R&D tax relief isdesigned to promoteinvestment in scientificand technicalinnovation, providingcompanies with anextra tax allowance toreduce their tax bill.
The scheme is opento firms with less than500 staff, and sales ofless than 100m euros.
NEWS Wednesday, February 23, 20116 ★★★★
BUSINESS
Entry Details
Position:
Company:
Contact number:
Your name:
Address:
Email:
Contact number:
Address:
Email:
If you are nominating someone else please alsocomplete the following
Name of company/individual youare nominating:
Postcode:
Trinity Mirror group companies would like to keep you informed ofnew and exciting offers and promotions. Please tick here if you wouldprefer not to be contacted. Your details will not be passed to third parties.
Postcode:
Please tick the category or categories you areentering (you can enter more than one)
Start-up Environmental Award
Liverpool City Council Environmental Enterprise Award
Liverpool Chamber of Commerce Innovation & Technology Award
Carbon Champion Award
Sustainability Award
The Mersey Forest Corporate Responsibility Award
Personal Achievement Award
Environmental & Health Project Award
Neighbourhood Improvement Project Award
Sustainable School of the Year Award
Community Project Award
Environmental Champion Award
A MESSAGEFROMLIVERPOOLCITYCOUNCIL
LIVERPOOL CityCouncil is very pleasedto be presenting anaward forenvironmentalenterprise.
The city has a stronghistory of enterpriseand innovation and weanticipate that overthe next five yearsthere will be rapidgrowth in theenvironmentaltechnology sector witha possible 6,000-7,000new jobs createdwithin the Liverpoolcity region.
Awards such as thisone will help all ourbusinesses to learnfrom the best practiceof others, sparking newentrepreneurial ideasin this growing market.
The city council hasrecently won a NorthWest Regional Awardfor work on climatechange and is a finalistfor the national LGALow Carbon CouncilAward.
Ourgreenshowcase
ENTRIES are open for thefirst It’s Our WorldMerseyside EnvironmentAwards.
The 2011 awards,supported by sponsorGroundwork, recogniseand celebrate the work ofcommunity groups andpublic and private sectorbodies which arecontributing to makingMerseyside a greener placeto live in.
If you are involved inprojects helping with thesustainable developmentof Merseyside, then wewant to hear from you.
ECHO editor AlistairMachray said: “We wantyou to honour the peopleand organisations whohave helped to makeMerseyside a greener placeto live in. It does not matterhow big or small. Every
little bit helps and we wantto hear all about it.”
The awards are free toenter and are in twocategories: private andpublic sector andcommunity.
Categories includestart-up environmentalaward; innovation andtechnology award andpersonal achievementaward for the public andprivate sectors, andneighbourhoodimprovement andenvironmental championin the community awards.
Entries must relate tothe period January 2010 toMarch 2011. Nominationsmust have a Merseysideaddress. Closing date forentries is March 18. Visitwww.liverpoolecho.co.uk/environmentawards forentry forms.
TheLiverpoolCityCouncilEnvironmentalEnterpriseAward● IS your firmenterprising? Thisrecognisescommercialventures helpingother businessesand socialenterprises tooperate moresustainably,perhaps byadoptingrenewable energyor waste-
managementschemes?
This is for firmsthat have beenestablished formore than twoyears and are ableto demonstratethe social benefitsand thecommercialviability, and thesustainability, oftheir enterprise.
Start-upEnvironmentAward● HAVE you spotted a gap in themarket and started up a commercialenterprise with the potential tocreate jobs and introduce newtechnologies or practices?
This award acknowledges neworganisations – those established forless than two years – that are creatingopportunities to help other businessesand social enterprises operate moresustainability.
Award contenders should be ableto demonstrate the actual orpotential social benefits and thecommercial viability, and thus thesustainability, of their enterprise.
CLEAN: Renewable energy is important for change
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 NEWS 7★★★★
BEING the vice-chancellor ofone of Britain’s topuniversities these days isabout far more thankeeping your academic
staff happy and fending offgovernment cuts.
Just ask Prof Sir Howard Newby,University of Liverpool vice-chancellor, whose role seems to beas much about helping to power theregional economy as running hisesteemed academic institution.
The number of collaborativeprojects between the university andthe private sector is astonishing.
And with the global village openfor business, while other universitiesmerely look for foreign studentsLiverpool has pioneered opening aChinese campus.
As an example of his widerresponsibilities, Sir Howard chairsthe Knowledge Economy Group.
This brings together University ofLiverpool, Liverpool John MooresUniversity, Liverpool Vision, TheMerseyside Partnership, DaresburyScience and Innovation Campus,Northwest Science Council, NationalHealth Service and private sector.
The plan is to push growth in keyareas of the economy in which thecity region has distinctive strengthsand the potential to be a UK leader.
These include life sciences,advanced manufacturing, creativeand digital industries and financialand professional services.
Proposals in the KnowledgeEconomy Plan could secure anadditional 58,000 jobs for the region’sknowledge economy by 2022 – anincrease of 15%.
It will help to realise the fullpotential of major projects such asthe Royal Liverpool BiomedicalCampus and the furtherdevelopment of Liverpool SciencePark, Daresbury Science andInnovation Campus and KnowsleyIndustrial Park.
The plan also supports thedevelopment of a “Superport”,designed to re-establish the Merseyas the principal logistics centre andthe port of the North.
Sir Howard said: “Employment inknowledge-intensive sectors hasgrown at almost two-and-a-half timesthe rate of the rest of the city region’seconomy.
“The current economic climatemeans that the city region must work
smarter to derive maximum valuefrom its full range of knowledgeassets if it is to continue to thrive.
“Leveraging the expertise andtalent within the city region’suniversities and further educationcolleges will help build on recentbusiness growth.
“It will enable Liverpool to makethe transition to sustainable privatesector-led growth and prosperity.
“We’re trying to do an audit ofwhat we have in the city region interms of the knowledge economyassets.
“We need to know what’s here andcan be exploited by working togetherbetter.”
The Royal Liverpool Hospital’sredevelopment is a good example ofhow this happens.
“It’s very important for the mainteaching hospital to have abiomedical campus, or bio-incubator,surrounding it,” said Sir Howard.
“Bio-science is very strong herebut you’d never know it.
“We have the Liverpool School ofTropical Medicine, theSpeke-Garston pharmaceuticalsector and the NHS hospitals.”
“One of Liverpool’s oddities is that
CAMPUSCASHFOCUS
. . . on theUniversity of
Liverpool
Leading a topuniversity is not justan academic job,finds Peter Elson
WIDE-RANGING ROLE: Prof Sir Howard Newby, vice-chancellor of the University of Liverpool Picture: PAUL HEAPS
Companyofknowledge
it doesn’t promote itself as a city ofscience and technology, yet we haveproduced nine Nobel laureates.
“Liverpool is not just about theBeatles and football, but also aboutscience. We have the biggest clusterof life sciences. We also have thecreative and digital sector and moreopportunities with the new MediaCity in Salford.
“Advance manufacturing is reallymore about new processes andmethods which can be used in a widerange of applications in, for example,the nuclear industry. The region hasa big competitive advantage in thissector.”
Simply thinking about the cityregion is not enough these days.
Xi’an Jiaotong-LiverpoolUniversity, based in Suzhou, China,is prospering with 3,000 students,and plans to treble in size in fouryears. Its students stewarded atLiverpool’s Shanghai Expo pavilion.
“It’s also about positioningourselves globally. We could open anIndian campus in India in threeyears,” said Sir Howard.
“The University of Liverpooldoesn’t have to be in Liverpool – notthat we’re planning to leave.”
BIG names like Ford MotorCompany have joined theUniversity of Liverpool inimportant collaboration projects.
The University’s School ofEngineering and Ford areworking to produce ahigh-performance, low carboncars of the future.
The project includes JaguarLand-Rover and Johnson Matthey,a major manufacturer of catalyticconverters.
They aim to develop new waysof setting the engine’s computerto improve fuel consumption andreduce emissions.
Another long-term industrycollaboration is theAgustaWestland-LiverpoolAdvanced Rotorcraft Centre(AWL-ARC).
As a result of AWL-ARC,AgustaWestland has adoptedLiverpool’s HelicopterMulti-Block method for theanalysis of helicopteraerodynamics.
WE HAVE LIFT-OFF: AnAgustaWestland Lynx
NEWS Wednesday, February 23, 20118 ★★★★
BUSINESS
DOCK’SDRIVEFORVISITORS
HelptoavoidrecordHMRCfines
Attraction targetscoachgroupsand schools
GUIDING HAND: Members of the Liverpool Tourist Guides Association on their visit around the Albert Dock
LIVERPOOL’S Albert Dock touristattraction is targeting tour groups andschools in a bid to build on its visitornumbers.
Last year the Dock recorded a 10%increase in visitor numbers, withmore than five million people touringthe waterfront complex.
Next week it will seek to build on itssuccess with the launch of a visitorstrategy at the Great Days Out Fair2011 in Manchester.
And, as part of its build up to thelaunch, the Dock’s Business TenantsAssociation invited 35 of Liverpool’sBlue Badge Guides, Green BadgeGuides and 08 Guides to tour of theDock and give their feedback on how itcan develop a more “group friendly”
offer. The free attraction houses theBeatles Story, Tate Liverpool and theMerseyside Maritime Museum as wellas a host of group-friendly restaurantsand gift shops.
Association chair, Jeremy Roberts,said: “The Dock is keen to act as agroup friendly destination.
“We are working closely withLiverpool council to add to the CoachWelcome, have developed a number ofincentives for coach drivers and are
hosting over 130 group organisersfrom the Great Days Out Fair.
“All of the venues across the Dockare working together to make surepeople can have a great groupexperience.
“Groups are crucial to the ongoingvisitor profile of the Dock and we arelooking forward to welcoming manymore over the next few years.
“To follow will be our newprogramme around targeting schoolsand the Dock-wide education resourcepack we have created which will alsobe a great addition to the Dock.”
Pam Wilsher, head of tourismdevelopment at tourist board theMersey Partnership, said: “The AlbertDock is an ideal group visitdestination. Our guides welcomehundreds of coach groups to the cityevery year and are instrumental togrowing the market for the Dock.”
byNEIL HODGSONIndustry Reporter
FOUR free products havebeen launched by HMRevenue & Customs tohelp small firms improvetheir record-keeping aheadof checks later this yearwhich could impose strongpenalties for non-compliance.
The products aresuitable for the self-employed, sole traders and
small businesses.HMRC acting director
business customer unit,Brian Redford, said “It mayseem like a challenge,particularly when you’restarting out, but keepinggood records will bring realadvantages to yourbusiness.
“Get a proper system inplace and you’ll not only be
confident that you arepaying the right tax, butyou’ll keep up-to-date withhow much you owesuppliers and how muchyou are owed.”
The products include aguide on keeping records(www.hmrc.gov.uk/factsheet/record-keeping.pdf);a general guide to keepingrecords for your tax return
(www.hmrc.gov.uk/sa/rk-bk1.pdf); how to set up abasic record-keepingsystem (www.businesslink.gov.uk/recordkeeping); andguidance on what recordsshould be kept, how wellyou are keeping them anda checklist if you arestarting a business (www.businesslink.gov.uk/recordkeepingcheck).
Business to BusinessECHOCommercial
Premises
INDUSTRIAL UNITS To Let.South L’pool 500 to 4000 sqft,monthly tenancy, competitiverents. From £50pw Tel: 0151427 5051
OFFICE TO LET Knowsley In-dustrial Estate, 1st flr, s/c,brand new decor, 1500sqft,£600pcm 07587 130170
L4 Shop. Ideal takeaway/newsagent £89pw. New lease07710 498311
WELLINGTON RD L15 Varietyof Industrial units available now0151 227 2875
L O W C O S T S T O R A G E130sqft, £50pm 0151 2634230 www.lockupgarages.net
MAGHULL Office space to rent.Negotiable. 07710 431718
L21, L4 Secure Units/offices fr£40pw 0792O 461551
SHOPS TO LET Very secure,elec shutters 07785 562496
Industrial Property
UNITS TO LET Bootle Area5,000−15,000 sqft. Flexibleterms 0151 486 0004
InvestmentProperty
BENEDICT ST BOOTLE 2 bedterr, £25,000. Cash buyers only07976 693731
Business For Sale
Albion Hotel,Llanrwst, GwyneddFor Sale by Public Auction
(unless previously sold)On Wednesday, 9th March, 2011at 2.30 pm prompt at the premises
Open plan split level trade barwith lounge & games area.
4 bedroom ownersaccommodationTrade garden
Price guide £120,000
Full particulars availablefrom Sidney Phillips,Hereford 01981 250333
SANDWICH BAR Established9 yrs, Bootle office quarter.Turnover between £1,500 &£2,200pw. Grants available£35,000 ono. 07725 869968
UNISEX SALON strong clientbase low rent main rd Crosby£9500ono. 07874 220951
CAFE/SANDWICH BAR Wellest, L7 Main road. £7,000 fqs.Tel: 07815 439556
HAIRDRESSERS Bootle, wellestablished 07540 261777
Business For Rent
SHOP/FLAT AIGBURTH Busyroad, PP for hot takeaway.Shop £1,000pm, flat £400pm07938 877632
RESTAURANT FOR RENT StJohn’s Rd Waterloo, 38 seats0151 707 2141
BusinessOpportunities
LATE NIGHT OFF LICENCETo let. Prime location, SouthRoad, L22. Requires fit−out.Alcohol trading times 10am−12midnight. Rent £1200pcmC a l l : 0 1 5 1 9 2 0 9 9 9 9 /07900424441
2X BARBERS SHOPS TOLET Prime locations in Crosby/W a t e r l o o . E q u i p p e d w i t hbarbers chairs/ Mirrors/ Sta-tions etc. Rent £650pcmCall: 0151 920 9999 or 07900424 441
N I G H T C O L L A R c / o v e rDovecot. 07957 636549
CITY LONG COLLAR TX1,Over 35 exp. 07533 398829
C I T Y L O N G C O L L A RAVAILABLE 07809 464860
SEFTON PLATE WANTEDCall Ian on 07976 177439
CITY COLLAR Day c/o Toxteth£130pw. 0151 546 1889
Building Trade
FRAMELINETRADE SUPPLY
COMPOSITE DOORSUPVC WINDOWS, DOORS,
CONSERVATORIES.5 Day Turnaround
Tel 0151 546 5577Fax 0151 546 5588ACCREDITED WITHBS7412 & BS7950
KITCHEN & BEDROOMFITTINGS from a hinge to a fullkitchen/bedroom. 3D plans nowavailable. Showroom & TradeCounter at 3 Rockley Street,Kirkdale, L4 0151−207 0008.www.brosna.co.uk
TILE TRADE big discounts forregulars, 10ltr adhesive £6.99Homeright/ Proti le (BehindTaskers Aintree) 286 8286
![Hackett ITResume SEPT01[2]](https://static.documents.pub/doc/80x56/589b84101a28ab8e5b8b6479/hackett-itresume-sept012.jpg)
