Well Connected January 2018

Well Connected Official Magazine for Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce - January 2018

Inside

• The Mayoral 100 Club Culture means business • Liverpool John Lennon Airport

Further passenger growth

• Travelling in the right direction

How do your employees travel to work?

• Healthy Workplace

Mike Moran

delivering the vision

New staff wellbeing service

Welcome & Contents

Welcome to the latest Edition of Well Connected Magazine 2018: A Year for Business?

•

Paul Cherpeau, CEO Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce

elcome to the New Year Wedition of Well Connected.

We’re entering unchartered territory in 2018 as the countdown to Brexit gathers pace and the seemingly inevitable exit from the European Union changes the dynamics of our business environment for the generation to come.

In this edition, we celebrate some of the achievements of our member businesses and report on some of the exciting developments and opportunities ahead.

There is an inevitable retrospective view of a decade ago when Liverpool delivered its outstanding Capital of Culture year but the prevailing mood is to look forward at how the legacy can be built upon and maintained amidst the challenging and uncertain economic future that looms large.

This edition’s feature on the Mayoral 100 club – of which the Chamber is a member is indicative of the continuing importance of culture and commerce in our city life.

This year’s return of the International Business Festival

Find Inside...

Contents 4-5

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8-9 10-11 14-15 16-17 19 20-21 23 24 26-27 28-29 31

Chamber News - Annual Dinner Chamber Membership Economy Cover Feature Skills News My Story International Business Festival Legal Members News Culture Chamber Transport

32-33 34 35 36-37

Transport International Transport Voluntary Sector 38-39 Chamber Events 40-41 Trading with Vietnam 43 Members News 44 Export Events 45 Members News 46 Ask the Expert 48 Staff Directory 49 New Members 50 5 Minutes with...

Enquiries Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce Number One Old Hall Street, Liverpool L3 9HG t: 0151 227 1234 e: membership@liverpoolchamber.org.uk w: www.liverpoolchamber.org.uk Publisher Benham Publishing Limited, Aintree Building, Aintree Way, Aintree Business Park, Liverpool L9 5AQ t: 0151 236 4141 e: admin@benhampublishing.com w: www.benhampublishing.com

highlights the continuation of the UK’s attractiveness as a business destination – Brexit or no Brexit.

The ambition and scope of the festival will enable our local economy to achieve maximum returns from this year’s iteration.

The Chamber will promote and support the festival opportunities and encourages our members to engage with the programme.

We’re also pleased to introduce a tweaked membership programme in 2018 which is simplified and, we believe, provides a degree of value for our member businesses that is welcome. You’ll find details inside.

Finally, I’d like to say a big thank you to our sponsors, supporters and guests who attended our recent Annual Dinner. The winners and finalists in the responsible

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NEWS

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Ground breaking works starts at Liverpool Waters Development

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CULTURE

The Mayoral 100 Club Culture means business

Published January 2018 © Benham Publishing Contributing Editor John Dean e: john@benhampublishing.com Advertising and Features Karen Hall Tel: 0151 236 4141 e: karen@benhampublishing.com Advertising Sales Tony Sheldon e: tony@benhampublishing.co.uk Studio Mark Etherington e: studio@benhampublishing.com Media No.1620

business categories were worthy recipients of the recognition.

A great evening of positivity, entertainment and celebration was had and we look forward to more such occasions in 2018.

We’ve made knowledge, advocacy and network the cornerstone of our activity this year. It’s a year with a great deal of potential for our city region with the opportunity to make strikes in tackling the challenges we face.

I do hope readers will participate fully as we seek to enable Liverpool and Sefton to be the best place to start, operate and locate a business in the UK. Enjoy the read.

Regards Paul Cherpeau

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TRANSPORT

Liverpool John Lennon Airport Further passenger growth

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VOLUNTARY SECTOR Breakfast star to launch new staff wellbeing service

Disclaimer Well Connected is mailed without charge to all Chamber members and distributed at all Chamber events.

All correspondence should be addressed to the Editor at Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce. Views expressed in publication are not necessarily those of Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce.

Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden except by permission of the Editor. © 2018.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in this journal, Benham Publishing and its agents can accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributions in advertising or editorial content.

Benham Publishing cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in web or email links supplied to us.

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Chamber News

Chamber celebrates

the best of responsible business at Gala Dinner

The Chamber’s Annual Dinner and Awards evening, sponsored by SP Energy Networks, was a fantastic celebration of responsible business in the Liverpool City Region.

imon O’Brien, our evening S host, welcomed more than 300 colleagues from across our business community to enjoy the evening with us in the magnificent surroundings of the RUM Warehouse, a pertinent reminder of the city’s trading history.

Guests were welcomed by the glorious sounds of the Archbishop Blanch School Choir and enjoyed an evening of entertainment, insight and fun.

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We were delighted to hear from the Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, Sir Charlie Mayfield, who spoke passionately about the ‘Productivity Problem’.

Sir Charlie discussed the responsibility of businesses in the UK to create the value, capital and wage growth for citizens in our country, to avoid a return to Victorian-era reductions in living standards.

The prevailing ‘good’ of business, as articulated by Sir Charlie, was an uplifting and inspirational centrepiece for our evening.

The awards celebrated those businesses and individuals who are mainstreaming responsible business as part of their everyday activities.

The breadth and diversity of all the applications demonstrated best practice and all were

exemplars in demonstrating how leadership, communication and understanding the importance of social impact are fundamental to being a responsible business, no matter how large or small the organisation.

We were also delighted that our guests raised in excess of £2,500 for our nominated charity, The Brain Charity.

Chamber News

Huge congratulations to our award nominees and winners: Responsible Business Award (Large) Sponsored by BT Local Business Winner: Peel Land & Property Finalists: Enterprise Holdings & First Ark

Responsible Business Award (Small/Medium)

Sponsored by BT Local Business Winner: Homecarers Liverpool Finalists: FRC Group, Liverpool ONE, BWM, Agent Marketing, Stephen Hunt Associates

Environmental Impact Award

Sponsored by SP Energy Joint winners: Liverpool City Region Bus Alliance & Emmaus

Empowering People & Community Impact Award

Sponsored by Liverpool John Lennon Airport Winner: The Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust Finalists: BWM, Everton in the Community, Liverpool Biennial

Local Hero Award

Awarded by Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce Winner: Paul Dixon (Volunteer, The Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust) Finalists: Chris Bliss (Liverpool ONE), David Connor (2030 hub), Carena Duffy (Everton in the Community), Lynne Thomas (International Cotton Association)

••• Thanks to our sponsors and events partners

Sponsors: SP Energy Networks, BT Local Business and Liverpool John Lennon Airport Event Partners: Verb Marketing, Fisher AV, RUM Warehouse, Alma de Cuba, Antonio Franco and Archbishop Blanch School Event Supporter: Property, Maintenance & Construction

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enterprise europe network

Innovate2Succeed is an innovation support programme open to SMEs that are able to demonstrate ambition, growth and innovation potential.

Find out what your customers value

www.rtcnorth.co.uk

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Develop a clear strategy and implementation plan

enquiries@rtcnorth.co.uk

Oer a solution your customers actually want

01925 607 040

Membership

Membership Programme confirmed for New Year

Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce have launched a refined and improved membership programme for businesses in the region.

he refresh provides greater T simplicity and value within the services provided by the

Chamber and has been developed following consultation with members over the previous year.

CEO Paul Cherpeau stated: “Providing a valuable service to businesses is fundamental to the Chamber’s mission. We’re here to enable Liverpool to be the best place to start, locate and operate a business in the UK and a vibrant, valued and valuable Chamber of Commerce is a key network to enabling this to happen.

Supporting and championing businesses of all shapes and sizes and delivering a membership programme that is cost-effective but valuable is intrinsic to our business model and the sustainability of our Chamber.”

From 1st January, businesses can join the chamber on one of three member packages. Each lasts twelve months from the date of joining and provides a range of benefits and services.

Membership - £360 (Charities £275) Access Chamber events including assortment of inclusive events Access employer service programme provided

by British Chambers of Commerce Promote your business through the Chamber’s website and social media channels Use our hot desk facilities at 1 Old Hall Street in Liverpool City Centre Access affinity services, surveys, reports and information to boost your business performance

Membership Plus - £600

Dedicated client management to support your business aspirations Priority access to all events Inclusive tickets for Chamber’s Exchange, Construction and Executive Networking events Dedicated international trade and export network through our international trade club Participation in advocacy campaigns, promotional work and affinity services

Strategic Partnership - £2,500

Providing access to all events, including 2 tickets for the Chamber annual dinner Dedicated client management and introductions Partnership in advocacy work with British Chambers and government Marketing & Promotional work including magazine, newsletter & social media content Hosting Executive Dinner with selected businesses and contacts Provide a dedicated affinity service or discount to Chamber members Prioritisation in news, surveys, comment pieces and blogs

Existing members renewing this year will receive a discounted rate. Full details about these membership opportunities are available online at www.liverpoolchamber.org.uk where you can access details of Chamber news, reports, surveys and events. Members can also upload their own news and events content for sharing across the network.

Contact membership@liverpoolchamber.org.uk for more details.

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Cover Feature

Mike Moran

delivering the vision

Paul Cherpeau talks to Mike Moran Chief Executive of Proton Partners International about delivering his vision.

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What is Proton Partners International and Proton Beam Therapy?

Proton Partners International Ltd was formed in 2015 and is an award-winning healthcare company in the vanguard of advancing high energy proton beam therapy in the UK. The Company has four wholly owned subsidiaries; Rutherford Estates, Rutherford Cancer Centres, Rutherford Innovations and Rutherford Diagnostics.

Our mission is to build a network of cancer centres in national and international markets. Our vision is to create a better future for cancer patients. Proton Beam Therapy is a type of radiotherapy used in cancer treatment, delivering heavily charged Protons in a more targeted manner to reduce damage to peripheral tissue and organs.

It can treat hard-to-reach cancers, such as spinal tumours (chordomas), with a lower risk of damaging the surrounding

Cover Feature

tissue and causing side effects.

There are more than 150,000 cancer patients in the UK every year, treated with radiation therapy and at least 10% of these people might be better treated with proton beam therapy. Proton Partners International aims to treat up to 500 patients per centre annually here in the UK.

What are your aspirations for The Rutherford Cancer Centre North West opening in Liverpool?

There is a pressing need to make specialised cancer care more accessible worldwide, and high energy proton beam therapy plays an important role in that.

Our aspirations for The Rutherford Cancer Centre North West (RCC NW) is to be recognised as a Centre of Excellence in cancer care and to be seen as a thought leader in clinical innovation. By offering a variety of cancer therapies, our centres will deliver a fully comprehensive level of cancer care, tailored to fit the different needs of each patient – something which is not available in the UK at the moment.

What were your motivations behind Proton Partners International?

I am extremely proud to be one of the founders of Proton Partners International and I am privileged to be its CEO. There is a great opportunity to build, within the next five years, up to seven centres nationally.

We already have 1 centre fully operational, 3 further centres

under-development and it is our ambition to have a Rutherford Cancer Centre within 90 minutes of the front door of 75% of the UK population by 2021. This will mean that patients will have a far better experience as they are not travelling for several hours or abroad for cancer treatment that is best delivered close to home.

I see this as the most strategic health care project across the UK in decades. We are doing something that nobody has ever done before; building a network of proton beam therapy centres and contributing towards the broader research effort.

What will the centre mean for Liverpool?

As someone born, raised and schooled in Liverpool, this centre is significant for me and I’m thrilled Proton Partners International will be part of this exciting new chapter in the City’s history, which will put the whole region at the forefront of innovative cancer treatment.

We’re also undertaking a major genomics research programme at the Life Sciences Accelerator building in Liverpool and working with the University of Liverpool’s Physics Department to collate, analyse and distribute data from our treatment centres.

It’s an incredible feeling of achievement and a fantastic opportunity for Liverpool to lead as a city delivering critical world class cancer treatment and scientific research.

Who are the team delivering the vision?

To deliver this it is vital I have the right people in place and I have assembled a very strong

team in Liverpool who are committed to our work as well as playing a wider role in the city.

Ron Russell heading the Rutherford Cancer Centre North West, like me, is Liverpool born and bred and totally committed to the city.

Dr Ian Barwick our Chief Scientific Officer is based in the city and is already forging strong links throughout academia and industry and will play a key role in the development of the region as a key centre for the Health Life Sciences sector.

Dr Steve Powell has worked for many years in Liverpool as a clinician and medical leader and is driving forward an ambitious programme which will ensure that Liverpool is at the forefront of Diagnostic technology.

Mike Ashton is the General Manager of Rutherford Innovations and Rutherford

Diagnostics. I have worked with Mike previously and value his broad commercial experience, his ability to develop a network and his common sense approach.

The contribution they will make across the city collectively will be significant. It is important to me that, as an organisation, we add value to the city and to the city region.

Proton Partners International aims to treat up to 500 patients per centre annually here in the UK.

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Innovation: The process of translating an idea or invention into a good or service that creates value for which customers will pay

Innovate2Succeed is a fully-funded programme delivered by RTC North which helps ambitious, growing companies to manage the development of products and/or services, helping them to reach the right market in a timely fashion.

So how does it work?

Who are RTC?

RTC North specialises in the commercialisation and development of new products and services, we work with individuals, businesses and the public sector to help create more innovative and vibrant economies.

We have a proven track record of helping businesses of all sizes to improve the way they work and the products and services they provide, ultimately leading to a more targeted, valuable audience, greater knowledge of their ideal market, and more sales.

We have vast experience of helping businesses with all stages of the innovation and commercialisation process and currently use this expertise to support partners at a UK regional, national and European level.

RTC North is also a lead UK partner in the worlds’ largest business support network, Enterprise Europe Network, and has established relationships with partners in Asia as well as North and South America. Our team has delivered hundreds of

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innovation and technology transfer projects over the past 26 years and is a trusted partner of regional, national and international agencies.

RTC recognises the fundamental role innovation plays in your company’s growth and we’re here to help.

The Innovate2Succeed programme is designed to overcome barriers to growth, help you develop your ideas into products or services and take them to market.

What is Innovate2Succeed?

I2S a fully funded programme providing up to seven days of bespoke coaching support to meet and overcome the specific problems and barriers your business is facing, some of which you may not even be aware of.

Specialist and highly experienced innovation advisers from RTC will work with you to understand the barriers to process, product and service innovation, create an action plan with you and then help to implement it using internal and external expertise as required.

Analysis: One of our specialist innovation advisers will come visit you to establish where the barriers lie, what is holding you back, and explore potential opportunities for growth.

Action: Together, we will agree on an effective, sustainable and achievable action plan. This will set out how you can tackle barriers standing in your way, develop your approach to innovation and increase your commercialisation potential.

Delivery: Your business will receive tailored support and coaching to help you tackle identified barriers. Activities may include but are not limited to: • Strategic management • Improving processes • Accessing new markets and/or strategic partners • Improving the innovation culture • Becoming ‘investment ready’ • Protecting and exploiting ideas • Accessing finance and investment • Embedding entrepreneurship into business operations • Developing lean business practices • Marketing coaching & support

Review: RTC will carry out a programme review to assess impact, success and change.

We will work with you to put together a forward plan for sustainable commercialisation a recognised innovation management process that can be replicated, to help bring more products, processes and services to market.

On completion, your business will be better placed to: • Bring products and services to new or existing markets • Identify market opportunities for new and existing products in the UK and abroad • Have a more defined plan for future growth • Recognise, value and understand how to protect intellectual property and make better use of it • Explore and address the organisational changes that may arise within your growing business; • Introduce new processes that lead to the development of products and services

If this programme interests you, and you would like to get involved or find out more, give us a call on 01925 607 040 or email enquiries@rtcnorth.co.uk.

Innovate2Succeed is delivered by RTC North and funded by Innovate UK and the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.

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Skills

Management Training gives David a new perspective

M&Y Maintenance and Construction is putting its managers through their paces as it prepares for growth.

Driving business forwards with new business improvement techniques

If you plan on 2018 being the year you take your business to the next level, then a qualification in Business Improvement Techniques could be the way to ensure you reach your business goals.

D

esigned primarily for manufacturing businesses the qualification provides students with the skills and knowledge to enables them to contribute to cost, quality and delivery improvements in the workplace, studying methods such as Kaizen, Six Sigma, the 5S process, failure modes and effects analysis, and statistical process control procedures.

Delivered by St Helens Chamber this qualification is suitable for managers and team leaders responsible for teams or processes and is a highly cost effective way to drive positive changes in your business.

If your business pays the Apprenticeship Levy then you can use your Levy to fund this training.

If you don't pay the Levy, government funding is available, covering 90% of training costs.

To find out more about a qualification in Business Improvement Techniques or other training available from St Helens Chamber contact the Workforce Development team on 01744 742333 or email workforce@sthelenschamber.com

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s well as offering A Apprenticeships to young people, the company

also offers high level management qualifications to its top level staff, as part of a commitment to staff development and growth.

David Morell, Head of Health, Safety and Facilities, explains: “M&Y Maintenance and Construction is part of the Regenda Group, which owns properties and social housing.

M&Y repairs and maintains these properties and fits new kitchens, new bathrooms and performs gas installations, as well as construction and refurbishment projects.”

David manages teams at both M&Y and Regenda and is currently undertaking a Level 5 Diploma in Management through St Helens Chamber.

He said: “The management course covers a massive breadth of subjects over the two years like Financial Performance, Strategic and

Critical Thinking and Leadership and Management.

I decided to take it up, as it was a good opportunity to gain a qualification to reinforce the things I was doing on a daily basis.

“I am also chartered with the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and they expect me to keep up to date with my professional development.”

As well as providing David with additional skills and a nationally recognised qualification, the course has also given him a fresh outlook.

He continued: “Most importantly, the course provided me with a different perspective on the difference between leadership and management; like when to lead and when to manage.”

M&Y places a lot of importance on staff training and development, recognising that providing a workforce

with the right skills can greatly benefit the business.

David said: “M&Y is looking to grow as a business by recruiting staff and venturing into more areas and my team has grown since we started going down that path. It is vital that all staff grow and develop and in order for us to keep up.

“After the course, I will see what I can do next and use it as a stepping stone to do more qualifications.”

David is pleased with the way that St Helens Chamber has delivered the Management course.

He said: “The advisers have been very helpful and clearly explained the course, which is also broken down well.

“When we do assignments I know exactly what I am expected to do and when it needs to be done by. The sessions we have are very helpful too as they guide you towards doing each unit and how to complete them.”

To find out more about the Level 5 Diploma in Management or any other qualifications delivered by St Helens Chamber contact the Workforce Development Team on 01744 742333 or visit www.sthelenschamber.com/business-school

The Sky is the limit for former Apprentice working with the Metro Mayor James Crombleholme is carving himself out a career in politics thanks to the skills he gained through his Apprenticeship.

ames completed his JBusiness Level 3 Management and Administration

whilst working as a senior case worker with MP for Liverpool Wavertree, Luciana Berger.

He said: “I’d just finished my courses at Sixth Form college and I decided not go down the University route straight away.

“I managed to find an Apprenticeship opportunity, advertised through Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, at Luciana Berger’s MP office.

I had been interested in politics for quite a while and studied it at A Level.

Whilst working with Luciana Berger, James undertook an Apprenticeship which he says has given him valuable and transferable skills for the future.

He said: “The qualifications gave me a wide variety of skills including the ability to organise and apply different management techniques. It has also given me the ability to engage more confidently with senior stakeholders which is helpful for me in my current role.”

He continued: “I know that University is very valuable but I also feel that Apprenticeships are. If you take the time to investigate what opportunities are available to you and decide what career path you want to

study then Apprenticeships can get you into that just as well as University can.”

James’ Apprenticeship has certainly paid off and he has continued to work within local government.

James added: “Doing an Apprenticeship allowed me to progress in Luciana’s office and I am now a Communications Assistant in the Metro Mayor’s office.

“In Luciana’s office I was head case worker, I’d be dealing with Members of the public and issues they wanted to take to their MP. “I still deal with the public but now I’m responsible for stakeholder engagement, meeting businesses and third sector and community orientated groups with the Mayor and getting out in to the community.”

Overall, James’ experience of completing an Apprenticeship has been positive including his interaction with his trainers.

He said: “Everyone I came into contact with at the Chamber was really helpful, especially Sue Moister who was always on hand to give me advice. I feel that you develop a real personal relationship with your assessor, not just a professional one.”

As a result of his Apprenticeship, James feels that he has been able

For more information about the Apprenticeships available from St Helens Chamber please call Starting Point on 01744 698800 or email apprenticeships@sthelenschamber.com

to gain the qualifications and experience he needs to progress in his career.

He said: “I would recommend doing an Apprenticeship if you think you could progress better through that route than through University. I’ll always value the Apprenticeship that I did, it has prepared me for working life and has been really helpful.

“The sky is the limit to anyone who wants to pursue a career through an Apprenticeship.”

Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce and St Helens Chamber are working together to deliver Apprenticeships across the Liverpool City Region.

As a result of this partnership, St Helens Chamber is delivering a wide range of Apprenticeships.

Skills

New partnership

sees first 50 trainees start new career paths

The new partnership with St Helens Chamber has seen the first 50 young people embark on traineeship programmes delivered at Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce’s Old Hall Street base.

the new ‘Fast track to Apprenticeships’ Since programme launched in September, 50

16 to 24 year olds have embarked on the course, equipping them with the skills, qualifications and work experience needed to succeed in the workplace.

On successful completion of the programme and being ‘Chamber Approved’ to enter the workplace, the young people are put forward to apply for Apprenticeship vacancies with local businesses.

Laura Brogden, Young People’s Development Manager at St Helens Chamber, explains: “We have been delivering our Fast-track to Apprenticeships programmes at St Helens Chamber for a number of years, successfully preparing our trainees for the world of work and providing a valuable pool of enthusiastic young people to local businesses looking to recruit.

“We are delighted to have been able to roll out this highly successful model in Liverpool thanks to our new partnership with Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce and we are already seeing great results with more young people moving into Apprenticeships every week.”

There are currently 25 young people ‘Chamber Approved’ and looking for Apprenticeships in the Liverpool area.

Laura adds: “The majority of our young people who are ready to work are hoping to secure Apprenticeships in Business Administration roles so we are keen to hear from any businesses that have a vacancy in this area that could be filled by an Apprentice.

“Apprenticeships are a highly cost-effective way to add bright, young talent into your workforce.

After interview, you also get the opportunity to offer the candidates a one or two week work trial before you commit to employing them, to ensure they are a good fit for your company.”

All the trainees have completed a four week training programme to give them a range of essential office skills, such as data entry, how to professionally deal with telephone enquiries and are proficient in Microsoft Office programmes such as Excel spreadsheets and Word. They are also well versed in how to behave in the workplace.

If you have a vacancy that could be filled by an Apprentice, contact the Workforce Development team at St Helens Chamber to discuss your requirements. Grants may be available. Call 01744 742333 or email workforce@sthelenschamber.com

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News

Ground breaking work starts at Liverpool Waters Development

Building work at Liverpool Waters, one of Europe’s largest redevelopment projects, is officially underway after a ground-breaking ceremony for Plaza 1821 marked the beginning of a wave of construction work at Princes Dock.

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News

laza 1821 is a £21 million, P sixteen-storey residential tower which will house 105

one and two bedroom apartments. The building will also have dedicated amenity space on the ground floor.

Plaza 1821 is a PRS (Private Rented Sector) development

by Peel Land and Property on behalf of The Regenda Group. North West based construction firm Forrest, has been appointed as the construction partner for the project. Once complete, Plaza 1821 will be owned and managed by Redwing Living, a subsidiary of Regenda.

The new development will be the first building to be constructed since Peel unveiled its vision for the 60-hectare Liverpool Waters site just over a decade ago.

Two other buildings, Your Housing Group’s Hive City Docks and Moda Living’s The Lexington, are also due to begin construction at Princes Dock in the near future.

The news is the latest in a series of major announcements regarding the £5 billion Liverpool Waters development as the project moves into its delivery phase. Last year saw the revised masterplan for Central Dock unveiled, significant progress on plans for the new Liverpool Cruise and Isle of Man ferry terminals, planning permission being granted for the first development at Central Dock and Everton Football Club exchanging contracts with Liverpool Waters to make BramleyMoore Dock the club’s new home as they finalise plans to leave Goodison Park.

Lindsey Ashworth, development director at Liverpool Waters said: “2017 was a breakthrough year for Liverpool Waters so it is fitting that the first building work now starts this new year. 2018 will be a significant year for the project and Plaza 1821 marks the beginning of an exciting

new chapter here and we are looking forward to seeing our vision for Liverpool Waters becoming a reality.”

Neil Baumber, development director for residential at Peel Land and Property, said: “This is the first PRS development that Peel Land and Property has developed and it is great to have Regenda and Forrest as our partners on this project.

We are all focussed on expanding the residential offering available at Liverpool Waterfront and delivering a quality development that is in keeping with this prime location.”

Fiona Coventry, managing director of Redwing Living, said:“We’re really excited to see work begin on Plaza 1821, which is a flagship development for the Regenda Group and Redwing Living, and part of our ambitious plans for the Liverpool City Region. Plaza 1821 will offer

beautiful and spacious apartments in a highly sought after location, with views over the River Mersey and back across the city. Liverpool Waters is a spectacular project, and we are rightly proud to be involved.”

Mark Nicholson, CEO at Forrest said:“Commencing work on creating this high quality residential development on such a prestigious site as Liverpool Waters is a truly exciting opportunity for us. The culmination of six months working collaboratively with Peel Land and Property and the design team to reach this stage is a credit to all involved and the ground-breaking ceremony marks the start of the much-anticipated construction phase.”

For all the latest news on the development, please visit www.liverpoolwaters.co.uk

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Liverpool digital entrepreneur Dean’s big gamble boosts clients by £23m

My Story

Less than four years after starting Verb in a damp bedroom Dean Currall runs a thriving business that has generated more than £23m in extra revenues for its clients.

2013 entrepreneur Dean IhisnCurrall quit his job and started digital marketing business

Verb from the damp bedroom of his Liverpool flat.

Less than four years later Dean runs a thriving business from a city centre business and calculates he has already generated more than £23m in extra revenues for his clients.

Key strategy

Verb’s early strategy was to offer its clients 30-day rolling contracts hoping that the level of service offered would persuade them to stay with the fledgling business.

That strategy paid off and now the business employs 14 full-time members of staff, 37 contractors and more than 65 clients.

“I’d become tired of being an employee, working for someone else, being constrained, feeling unable to achieve the standards I believed the company should have been striving for.

So I rolled the dice.

“Many challenges emerged as I didn’t have the backing of a venture capitalist, or attempt to get a loan from a bank, essentially I was poor and had no contacts.

“However, as difficult and tedious as this was, it shaped us. We knew the only way to ‘make it’ was to deliver for the customer, simple as.”

On a mission

Dean adds his mission was to help his clients grow as fast as Verb was growing.

He explained: “We recognised the best way to do this was to employ the successful methods of Verb’s growth within our client businesses.

“This was achieved through not selling social media to businesses that did not need it, not adding unnecessary extra services just to increase profits and refusing to sell standardised packages to customers just because it was easy.

“The success of our strategy is clear and the results we have achieved for our customers’ speak for themselves, generating £23m for them in our first three years of operations.

“For example, in 2016 we generated £3.3m for DMF Wakefield through a range of techniques such as creating their online platform for both staff and customers to use and via LinkedIn connections.”

Continuous leads

Verb’s affiliate marketing campaigns are also a key part of its integrated marketing strategies, generating continuous leads, worth a collective £7.35m for its customers.

Dean added: “The B2B/relationship marketing packages that we provide have connected our clients and has led to revenues of more than £8m for them.

“This shows how important creating a strong network is in order to be successful.

“Within the Liverpool city region we link businesses together through workshops, and events such as ‘Tech Tuesdays’, and create inbound content marketing strategies, making it easier for businesses to connect through the use of channels such as blogs, search engines and social media.”

Original article written by Tony McDonough (YB News).

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Accessing investment, life after Brexit and the North’s very own NASA

International Business Festival

First phase of International Business Festival programme unveiled.

T

BBC Business Editor Simon Jack

o mark the beginning of 2018, a major year for trade, industry and the Liverpool City Region, the International Business Festival has announced the first phase of its main stage programme.

Sessions exploring everything from how to supercharge productivity to the business of football, will run on the Festival’s Futures Stage, a platform for lively debate and expert insight.

Developed in collaboration with key trade partners including HSBC and the CBI, the Festival programme has been curated by a senior BBC journalist and producer with a focus on future forecasting and forward thinking.

Each of the Festival’s nine days will focus on a different high-growth industry – from manufacturing to sustainable energy to life sciences – and the main stage programme will explore the big ideas and trends driving international growth in these sectors.

Hosts for these theme days, leading thinkers and commentators in their fields, have also been confirmed – including BBC Business Editor Simon Jack for

Programme highlights The Business Landscape

On our opening day, we take the temperature of the UK and international business community with CBI DirectorGeneral Carolyn Fairbairn. In this presentation, she looks back at what has been a tumultuous couple of years for British industry and discusses some of the challenges and opportunities “that lay ahead.

Global Economics day, 12 June 2018

2030: A Space Industry

The final frontier for business.

The UK might not seem like the obvious home of spacefaring innovation could occupy a glorious place in the cosmos. Northern Space Consortium chairman Alan Cross presents a vision of how Britain can build a worldleading space industry – and how UK business can boldly go where few have gone before.

Future Transport day, 19 June 2018

Clean, Green and Good for Business

With production of energy from renewable sources set to surpass that from fossil fuels by 2040, what does this mean for your business? This session explores changing sources of energy and asks if business is adapting quickly enough to the changes in technology.

Sustainable Energy day, 14 June 2018

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Manufacturing day and designer Wayne Hemingway for Creative Industries day.

Global Logistics & Shipping day will be hosted by author and academic Chris Kutarna, who at the 2016 Business Festival predicted Brexit and the election of Donald Trump.

“Business success is about forecasting the future, predicting what your next move will be in a rapidly changing environment.” said Ian McCarthy, Festival Director.

“It’s so important to consider your business alongside the big trends and challenges facing us all, and this is something we wanted to capture in our programme.”

“Whatever industry you work in, there’s going to be something at the Festival for you. There are many inspiring and engaging sessions and presentations take a look at the programme and sign up to attend today.”

Brexit: The Elephant in the Room

What impact will Brexit have on the UK and the wider world.

This session will examine Britain’s place in the world as its global trading relationships change dramatically. Experts will consider what that transformation means for businesses, and what life after the EU will look like.

Global Logistics & Shipping day, 21 June 2018

The Pitch

Eight specially selected businesses seeking scale-up investment will pitch to a group of investors and take questions. This is Dragons Den without the bad business plans and bruised egos. Presented with investor programme partners UK Business Angels Association.

Across Festival programme, 12-28 June 2018

Take a look at the first phase of the Festival programme – and buy discounted tickets Day and Festival Passes now available at Internationalbusinessfestival.com

Liverpool and Sefton Chamber of Commerce members

can access a 30% discount on tickets until 1 March 2018

Enter the code LSC2 at checkout

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Legal

Jackson Lees Group

raises over £3,800 for Everton in the Community

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On Friday 10th November, a team from the Jackson Lees Group slept-out at the home of Everton Football Club, Goodison Park, raising over £3,800 for Everton in the Community.

team of 17, including Brian Cullen (Chief Executive), Joanna Kingston-Davies (Chief Operating Officer) and fellow board member Chris Topping (Law Society Human Rights Lawyer of the Year 2016), spent the whole night out in the Park End stand.

Established in 1988, Everton in the Community is the official charity of Everton Football Club. The charity delivers a wide range of programmes to promote health, education, social inclusion and equality of opportunity to over 30,000 participants every year across

Merseyside and North Wales.

Everton in the Community is widely regarded as one of the leading football club community programmes in the country.

Over 200 people braved the cold weather on the evening, including Everton Manager David Unsworth and the club’s Under-23s. After the sleep-out, David Unsworth said “It’s been another terrific yet eye-opening sleep-out here at Goodison Park. Last year’s sleep-out culminated in the launch of our “Home Is Where the Heart Is” campaign and less than 12 months later, we have raised more than £250,000 and have secured a property to house vulnerable young adults on the cusp of homelessness.”

Brian Cullen, Chief Executive at Jackson Lees Group, said “I am proud of our team for taking part and for the

generous support we have received. For one night we had a small glimpse into the reality of being homeless – it makes you realise just how fortunate you are to have security and somewhere to call home.

The number of people who find themselves sleeping rough in the North West is increasing, it is not an issue we can ignore.

Everton in the Community are doing some fantastic work and we know that the efforts of everyone will have made a positive difference.”

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Bulky Bob’s

Members News

Half Year Review

It’s been six months since Bulky Bob’s expanded its services to offer office and confidential waste collection – and it’s been a very busy six months.

And it’s about to get even busier as they are offering all Chamber members a 10% discount on the first year of any new waste contract! ulky Bob’s has collected B bulky household waste for Liverpool City Council, and other local authorities across the North West, for the past 18 years and this waste collection experience meant expanding in a commercial market made perfect sense.

It has also created the opportunity to increase revenue to help fund their campaign to End Furniture Poverty and their awardwinning salaried training programme.

Bulky Bob’s has expanded its purple fleet to include a big purple shredding truck, offering secure document destruction in line with the BSIA industry standards, both on and off-site, and as well as general office waste with paper and card recycling

collections, their furniture collection expertise has meant lots of office furniture clearance work too.

Gary Tait, Bulky Bob’s Office and Commercial Waste General Manager, explained: “We have a philosophy at Bulky Bob’s that the answer is always yes – whatever the question. Whatever our customers need from us, we will deliver and this has l ed to us offering food waste collection services too.”

Bulky Bob’s offers free recycling audits, a flexible service, and if a customer is contracted to another supplier, Gary will do all the hard work to make a switch easy and swift.

One of the key benefits of working with Bulky Bob’s is that customers know they

are supporting a local social enterprise, one that recycles everything, including all profits which are reinvested back into the business to help to end furniture poverty.

Gary said: “We give away thousands of pounds of free furniture every year to local people in need, with free delivery, all of which costs money. Our new services help to support this, as well as giving us a more opportunities to do good things. For example a recent office clearance for Liverpool John Moores University provided us with great quality items to furnish an office at Alder Hey’s Ronald McDonald House for free.”

Bulky Bob’s customers are delighted with the new services too. Andrea Rushton,

Director of Projects and Business Development at Blackburne House said: “Bulky Bob’s service is amazing, the staff are really friendly and it’s a really good value for money service. Bulky Bob’s is a social business so wealth from waste is kept locally - if you want good value for money, staff who are friendly but discrete, use Bulky Bob’s for your office waste.”

Jackie Kelly, Office Manager at Kier Group describes Bulky Bob’s service as “excellent, reliable and friendly”. She added: “When people move into our building, I will always recommend Bulky Bob’s to them because they do a good service, offer value for money and they do good things.”

To find out more about the exclusive 10% Chamber member discount, email Gary at Gary.Tait@BulkyBobs.co.uk or to find out more about the services Bulky Bob’s offers, visit www.BulkyBobs.co.uk 24

The North West.

We’re all over it.

With 42 years of specialist lending experience, Together are property lending experts. In the North West, your local expert is Kirsty Rogers. Kirsty can help meet the diverse needs of the North West with our range of property lending solutions.

Contact Kirsty Rogers on 0151 954 1064 or discover more about our expertise in the North West at togethermoney.com/kirsty For professional intermediary use only

The Mayoral 100 Club: Culture Means Business

Culture

The Mayoral 100 Club is a business and networking initiative, set up to forge local, national and international opportunities. Exclusive to 100 businesses, it leads the way in creating a symbiotic ecosystem to foster regeneration through culture and business.

The city’s offer will surprise, delight and inspire. This has never been more evident than in the scale and ambition of the Liverpool 2018 campaign – a 12 month programme of transformational cultural events.

2018 aims to shine a light on Liverpool as a place to visit, live, study, work and invest, and the Mayoral 100 Club is the incubator for the continuation of this reality. iverpool is a place where the L sounds from our streets create the soundtrack of our

lives. The city is a stage where giants walk on roads and Queens play in the river. Passion comes as standard and every welcome is warm. We’re a collective of people, ideas, strength, ambition and confidence; a place where you’ll never walk alone and all you need is love.

2017 welcomed more than 1 million visitors to the city, generating £36.4m to our local economy. It is estimated that for every £1 invested in the cultural sector, £10 is brought back into the city.

A decade since the city’s year as European Capital of Culture in 2008, investment into Liverpool’s cultural offer and events programme have

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Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, OBE undeniably impacted the city – not only economically, but socially. As we embark into the next decade of regeneration, it is quite remarkable to reminisce on where we once were, to how far we will go in the future.

‘The most exciting city in the UK’

In an interview with the Liverpool City Region Business Post in December, Claire McColgan MBE, Director of Culture Liverpool, spoke of the city’s journey since its turn as European Capital of Culture: “You actually saw the transformative effect it had on the city’s confidence and the way we all worked together … Our great cultural institutions; museums, art galleries, theatres and concert venues have played a major part. And so has the business community, which

have picked up the baton as the public purse has been squeezed by government cuts.

“It is right that we use this anniversary to celebrate the extraordinary organisations which make this city the most exciting in the UK, but also it is crucial that we use it as a chance to look forward to the next ten years and challenge ourselves to imagine what we might look like and can achieve by 2028.”

The value of culture

Working closely with business to align arts and cultural objectives with city and region wide growth has now become more important than ever. Shifts in funding are placing a renewed emphasis on the need to forge new publicprivate sector relationships in order to create cross-sector models for the delivery of arts and culture. The DCMS Culture

White Paper emphasises just this; the instrumental value of arts and culture in creating stronger and healthier communities, economic growth and asset-based place-making.

2018 is set to be a spectacular year filled with magnificent events of cultural significance, and it will celebrates the city’s position at the epicentre of UK art, culture, fashion, business and sport. As the city continues to develop, bringing both economic benefits and reputational advantage, the Mayoral 100 Club will continue to facilitate networking and relationship-building by opening doors to key decision-makers in the city, the region and the country. As the official business partner of the Liverpool 2018 destination marketing campaign, the Mayoral 100 Club will be at the forefront of culture in

Culture

business, forging crucial and meaningful public-private sector relationships.

Since its inception in 2014, Mayor Joe Anderson’s exclusive business initiative has been driving this agenda, specifically focused on the annual Mersey River Festival, hosted on Liverpool’s UNESCO World Heritage waterfront. Working collaboratively with private sector businesses and organisations such as; Briggs Automotive Company (BAC MONO), Liverpool and Sefton Chambers of Commerce, Think Publicity and Liverpool Waters, it allows the city to furthermore place itself as a frontrunner, delivering leading arts and cultural happenings on a global stage.

“With the Mayoral 100 Club Members’ support, we will continue to develop and deliver a world-class cultural programme, building even further on our national and international relationships with other cities and destinations for tourism, residents and business benefit.”

Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, OBE.

Liverpool: A forwardthinking cultural capital of the world

With an exciting diary of once-ina-lifetime events, corporate, client and staff engagement opportunities, the Mayoral 100 Club will mirror the city’s cultural offer in a business setting, ripe for connections and collaborations.

Throughout 2018, key city stakeholders and local businesses will stand shoulder to shoulder with the public sector, local government and international influencers to collectively drive the city’s agenda as a forward-thinking cultural capital of the world.

With the focus on collaborative, cross-sector relationships, the Mayoral 100 Club will set a new precedent of how to sustain the magnificent arts and cultural offer in Liverpool.

Twitter: @Mayoral100Club

LinkedIn: Mayoral 100 Club

alissa.koopal@liverpool.gov.uk

www.mayoral100club.co.uk

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Chamber

Travelling in the right direction - how do your employees travel to work?

The journey to and from work is fundamental part of the working week for most of us, whether by car, public transport or cycling and walking. Transport can be a key barrier however for many of people either looking for employment or those who risk falling out of employment without travel support.

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s a responsible business, employers can support staff at little or no cost, which not only helps to reduce individual travel costs but also support wider initiatives around physical and mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. These include corporate ticketing schemes from local public transport operators as well as putting measures in place to encourage staff to cycle and walk to work.

The cost of travel can have a disproportionate impact on those on low incomes and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has received ÂŁ770,000 of funding from the Department for Transport as part of a new pilot Cycling and Walking to Work Programme (which includes a range of projects) to support access to employment, particularly through increasing the opportunities for people to cycle or walk.

Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce are working closely with city region partners and public transport operators to ensure that employers receive the information

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they need to enable staff to reduce travel costs or choose alternative ways to travel. A recent employer survey carried out by the Chamber highlighted a low level of awareness of the support available but a real appetite to find out more. For example, only 7% of employers currently offered corporate ticketing schemes but 66% requested more information.

To help address this, the programme provides direct access to business support from dedicated staff who can provide advice and one-to-one support, including how to access revenue grants to enhance walking and cycling provision (which are available between January and March 2018).

For more information contact the Chamber at editorial@liverpoolchamber.org. uk or the programme’s business support officers direct at Business.Support.LCR@wsp.com or 0151 331 8283/0151 331 8174.

The Cycling and Walking to Work Programme is also providing cycle related employment opportunities for city region residents who are over 18, registered unemployed, working 16 hours or less a week or on a zero hours contact.

The training courses cover a range of skills including cycle instructor and cycle mechanic, as well as cycle internships with BikeRight!, providing a pathway to enter the transport sector from which candidates can seek longer term apprenticeships or employment.

Individuals can apply for any course by contacting BikeRight! via email merseysideoffice@bikeright.co.uk or to register your interest call 0151 207 3140

Chamber

#GetOutThere17

Photographic Celebration of the Walk to Work

Liverpool & Sefton Chamber’s autumn photo competition, #GetOutThere17, demonstrated that you don’t need to look far across the city region to enjoy some amazing images on the way to work or out and about during the working day. he competition, part of the Chamber’s T promotion of cycling and walking attracted over 80 entries and represented

what is best about our region – from the iconic to the downright quirky!

Autumn is the perfect season to get out and about and the competition clearly inspired employees across the city region to do just that – capturing the unexpected, including photo bombing seagulls and ducks in scarves, as well as some stunning scenic shots. The competition was supported by the Cycling and Walking to Work Programme and local company, dot-art, whose MD, Lucy Byrne was our expert judge with the difficult job of choosing the winner.

After careful deliberation, Mike Devlin, with his amazing photo of the four bridges in Birkenhead, taken on his cycle journey to work in Liverpool, was our overall winner. Lucy commented: “This photograph perfectly captured the spirit of the competition to encourage people to get out and about and demonstrated that you can create a striking image, whatever the landscape.”

Second place was awarded to Dominic Stockton with his walk to work by the Albert Dock.

Finally, in joint third place came Keith Hitchmough with his city centre commute photo and Lynne Butterworth with her

lunchtime stroll on top of Central Library.

Lynne captured the spirit of the competition when she said: “I haven’t been going out a great deal recently so the competition has really given me the motivation to get out there”.

Thank you to everyone who entered the competition and got out there this Autumn!

If you would like information on how you can introduce more active travel in your working day, including cycle hire schemes like citybike and Merseyrail Bike and Go or lunchtime walks like those organised by the Liverpool BID contact editorial@liverpool.chamber.org.uk

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STAY AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION Travel TransPennine Express for your next business trip and you’ll enjoy O free Wi-Fi, onboard entertainment and power sockets at your seat.

Our trains travel directly to the heart of major cities, so you can get from platform to pitch without a traffic jam or airport transfer in sight.

O

s And this is just the beginning. We’re set to increase our train services linking the largest cities in the North and Scotland by 55%, meaning more chances you to get connected and50%.* close new deals – all at over 100mph.

Bookfor tickets in advance and save – all at over 100mph. Book tickets in advance and save 50%.*

s TPEXPRESS.CO.UK/BUSINESS

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*Savings are calculated by comparing Advance Purchase Standard single ticket fares for 300 TransPennine Express journeys, purchased before the day of travel to the equivalent price of an Anytime Standard single ticket.

E Subject to availability. Full terms and conditions at tpexpress.co.uk t

Transport

Brighter, bigger, better A modern makeover for TransPennine Express

Train company TransPennine Express are currently upgrading their existing, modern trains for customers across the North and into Scotland

ll 51 of the ‘Class 185’ trains A operated by TransPennine Express are currently going

through a phased refurbishment programme with many of these already carrying customers across the rail network.

TransPennine Express is working with manufacturing company Siemens, and train owner Eversholt Rail to deliver the £32million investment creating a noticeable upgrade to the customer experience.

Enhancements include brand new seats throughout, including leather in first class, and real practical benefits such as standard plug and USB sockets at every pair of seats, both in

standard and first class; bigger tables to allow more space for laptops and devices; refitted toilets; and LED lighting throughout.

The train company has a vision to ‘Take the North further’, and has worked with local suppliers from across the North to complete the refurbishment.

The quality is extremely high, with standard class seat fabrics produced by Camira Fabrics, based near Huddersfield, and the first class curtains are made by A.W. Hainsworth, who are based in Pudsey, Yorkshire.

The on-board catering features locally sourced products such as flapjacks and cakes made in

Yorkshire and beer from Manchester’s Cloudwater Brewery.

Wi-Fi is also being introduced and is available free of charge in both first and standard class along with on-board entertainment system Exstream which allows people to stream the latest news, TV programmes and films including selected episodes of Game of Thrones, League of Their Own and Coronation Street.

The whole fleet is due to be upgraded by July 2018.

Further improvements are also on the horizon for customers across the region and

TransPennine Express are delivering a £500million investment in enhanced services and brand new trains with more seats, the delivery of which will start in autumn 2018.

220 new carriages are being introduced over the next two years which will provide 13 million more seats per year.

Customers can also look forward to a brand new direct service and three trains per day between Liverpool Lime Street and Glasgow Central, due to be introduced in December 2018.

To learn more visit: tpexpress.co.uk

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Transport

Airport

LJLA’s Paul Winfield with easyJet’s Ali Gayward celebrating the news of three new routes from Liverpool for next Summer following the airline’s decision to base their 8th aircraft at Liverpool.

hits the heights

Latest report shows Liverpool John Lennon Airport has one of the world’s best on time records as 2017 brings further passenger growth

was another successful 2017 year for Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) and the cause for a double celebration with the latest figures showing an increase in passengers and Liverpool achieving one of the industry’s best scheduled flight punctuality records.

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Last year some 4.95 million passengers used the Airport, with over 125,000 more passengers choosing to use Liverpool - an increase of almost 3%, compared to 2016 and the Airport’s highest annual figures since 2011.

In addition, the Punctuality League - a report published

by OAG, the world’s leading air travel intelligence company, shows that Liverpool has the 7th best record in the world for scheduled flight on time performance when compared to airports of a similar size.

When compared to airports of all sizes across the world, LJLA was placed 13th overall.

This is great news for the growing numbers of passengers who choose to fly from Liverpool, reassured to know that whilst the Airport becomes busier it has been able to ensure that as many flights as possible continue to operate on time.

Transport

Blue Air based an aircraft at Liverpool for the first time last year and introduced new year round services to Rome, Milan and Alicante

More Destinations and Developments

Highlights in 2017 included the start of Blue Air’s base at Liverpool and the introduction of new year round services to Rome, Milan and Alicante.

Blue Air have also just announced an additional service to Malaga for Summer 2018 too. Other new services to a range of European cities included Venice with easyJet, and Prague, Bari and Girona with Ryanair, whilst TUI commenced Summer holiday flights to Ibiza from Liverpool too.

Last year the Airport also completed the latest phase of development work aimed at further improving the customer experience for departing passengers with the introduction of a number of new retail brands including Dixons and Accessorize, new shops, bars and restaurants and over £4.5m invested in the refurbishment and upgrade of approximately 2,000 sq m of the upper floor of the Airport’s Departure Lounge.

Other improvements have also included new and improved stores for existing retailers, completely new washroom facilities, large flight information screens, new seating and new lighting to create a lighter and brighter passenger environment.

The latest phase of improvement works are nearing completion with the expansion and redesign of the existing World Duty Free shop with a broader range of products and brands available including MAC and Jo Malone.

Over £4.5m has been invested in the refurbishment and upgrade of the Airport’s Departure Lounge.

take advantage of the convenience of flying from here with Liverpool now seen as the Faster, Easier, Friendlier Airport of choice for passengers from across the region.

To achieve such high levels of on time performance once again whilst giving a growing number of passengers an even better passenger experience is a real credit

to everyone who works at the Airport and an achievement that we are all proud of.”

We expect 2018 to be even busier with easyJet basing another aircraft at Liverpool from July onwards. Everyone will be working hard to deliver a great customer experience at the same time as continuing to push for more new routes from both existing and potential new carriers.”

The Year Ahead Liverpool has one of the airport industry’s best scheduled flight punctuality records.

Mark Povall, Strategy Director for Liverpool John Lennon Airport commented, “2017 has been another great year for the Airport with even more passengers choosing to

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U.K. Exporters Benefit from Lower Costs, Efficiency and Flexibility when promoting products abroad

International

Central Asia, Asia and South America Expand Acceptance of ATA Carnets India Expands Scope of ATA Carnet Acceptance

ost matters to exporters.

C So, shipping or carrying samples or demo equipment

to a foreign country shouldn’t be costly (or a hassle).

Fortunately, broader acceptance of the ATA Carnet temporary export document reduces costs and increases the efficiency of getting product samples and test and demo equipment into some of the largest world economies.

U.K. small and medium-sized exporters especially stand to gain from the increased acceptance of the ATA Carnet since, typically, they don’t have in-house trade compliance and logistics departments.

The ATA Carnet allows goods and equipment to be temporarily exported, without paying import duty and tax, for up to 1 year. Countries that have either joined the ATA Carnet system recently or

expanded acceptance of temporarily imported goods are: Brazil, China, India and Kazakhstan, a major gateway to Russia.

Kazakhstan Is the Newest ATA Carnet Country

Kazakhstan joined the ATA Carnet system in 2017.

As a major transit and logistics channel into Russia, the ability to use an ATA Carnet for shipments via Kazakhstan makes temporarily importing to Russia vastly easier and more efficient. Kazakhstan accepts ATA Carnets for commercial samples, professional equipment and goods for fairs and exhibitions. Depending upon shipment logistics, blue transit certificates may be required if the ultimate destination is Russia. An ATA Carnet Specialist can advise applicants regarding certificate use and countryspecific guidelines.

Stay current on changes that may impact export opportunities by signing up online for the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce (LCC) carnet newsletter, Exportise, or checking the boomerang carnets website at www.boomerangcarnets.co.uk.

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India has significantly increased the scope of what it will accept under the ATA Carnet Exhibitions and Fairs provision. Indian customs has expanded the scope of what it will accept under carnet, not only to include private exhibitions and fairs but also meetings, demonstrations and similar shows or displays. It is still advisable to present a letter of invitation from the host in India, along with the ATA Carnet, when presenting the carnet and goods/equipment to Indian customs upon entry.

Brazil Corrects Regulatory Constraints on Carnets

Brazil began accepting carnets in 2016 however their customs regulations did not allow carnets to be used for handcarried shipments. In late 2017, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) announced that Brazilian customs regulations were amended to include “goods carried by the traveler.” These changes remove the last regulatory hurdles to using carnets to Brazil and expands South America for carnets.

LCC now issues over 1000 ATA Carnets annual to U.K. businesses and organizations with its partner, boomerang carnets LTD. To apply for an ATA Carnet or make an inquiry contact Sarah Woolley at the LCC: Sarah.Woolley@LiverpoolChamber.org.uk.

China Announces Big Increase in ATA Carnet Acceptance

China limits acceptance of carnets to Exhibitions and Fairs however they recently announced the intention to accept the Commercial Samples and Professional Equipment provisions of the ATA Carnet convention.

Carnet issuers have always had a large demand from carnet users for both commercial samples and professional equipment going into China due to the desire to enter the Chinese market with foreign goods. Opening the doors to these additional uses of the carnet into China should significantly increase ATA Carnet activity into that growing economy. A formal announcement is expected to be made by the ICC in February of 2018.

The ATA Carnet system is 87 countries and territories joined by a reciprocal guarantee program. Adding countries, like Kazakhstan, and expanding acceptance, as in India, Brazil and China, are annual occurrences.

Your Region, Your Network, Your Future

In two years’ time, Merseyrail passengers will be travelling in style on-board a fleet of new, state-of-the-art trains which are on track to transform travel in the Liverpool City Region and potentially beyond.

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rriving in 2020, the new trains are being manufactured and will be maintained by Swiss manufacturer, Stadler, as part of a £460million project managed by Merseytravel on behalf of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

New trains by the early 2020s are considered the best option in meeting growing demand on the network and in supporting the City Region's economic ambitions, while promoting our well established reputation as a premier place to do business and as an attractive visitor destination. A better rail service will bring a boost to the regional economy of £70m every year, plus around 1000 new jobs.

In addition, the new trains will be at no additional cost to passengers or council tax payers and will be in local, public ownership.

In fact with future investment, they will also have the potential to run beyond the current Merseyrail boundaries to places like Skelmersdale, Wrexham and Warrington, which are all aspirations of the Liverpool City Region’s Long Term Rail Strategy (LTRS) - a vital and timely vision of the role that an expanded rail offer can play in facilitating the accelerated economic growth of the City Region.

By having the capacity to carry up to 60% more passengers, but with the same amount of seating as the current fleet, and shorter journey times the new trains will help meet growing demand on the network, of which parts are already close to capacity at peak times.

Progress on the new trains

The project is on target to deliver on time and on budget.

The concept design for the new

trains is complete and detailed design is on track to be completed by the end of March 2018.

Manufacturing of the first ‘bodyshells’ is due to start in May 2018 at Stadler’s plant in Hungary.

Assembly will be taking place later in the year in Switzerland.

The depot modernisation team is on site and is due to start construction of the new depot at Kirkdale in early 2018.

What customers can expect

The new trains will be safer, faster, more comfortable, convenient and better for the City Region. They will rely on the latest advances in safety and technology and customers will benefit from a wide range of on board features designed with their needs in mind and to enhance their travel experience. They will also make the Merseyrail network the most accessible of any traditional rail network in the UK. Stations will remain staffed from first train to last.

Transport

The trains will be safer than the ones they replace in a whole host of ways, most notably through a sliding step that will allow level boarding at each doorway, so people won’t have to ‘mind the gap’.

On-board safety

• The train will be a ‘safe space’ forming one continuous space with no dividing doors • CCTV with images displayed within the train saloon and to the driver and control room • A direct link to the driver and control room • The driver will be visible through a transparent cab door

Door safety

• Traffic light system door illuminations indicating when it’s safe to get on and off • Sensitive door edges that will detect ‘the pull’ from something as narrow as a tie or finger, stopping the train from moving or bringing it to a stop.

Features

• Better space for wheelchairs, bikes, prams and luggage • A mixture of airline-style and pod-style seating, open, light and bright carriages enabling passengers to see along the whole length of the trains • Intelligent air-conditioning • Customer service personnel on board at key locations and times including after 8pm, • Other staff including British Transport Police, security staff, ticket inspectors and cleaners

The trains will be amongst the greenest in the UK. The combination of a new lighter train, a modern and efficient electric drive system and major improvements to the electrical supply system will enable the new train to carry more people, more quickly and use less energy – saving up to 20 per cent per journey.

How the trains will be operated The new trains will be operated differently, with the driver – assisted by cameras along the length of the train – responsible for the opening and closing of the doors and the dispatch, rather than the guard.

This mode of operation, Driver Controlled Operation (DCO), is considered safe by the regulator.

The Office for Rail and Road (ORR), and the Rail Safety Standards Board (the RSSB). More importantly, it is not about removing the guards and keeping everything else the same, but using modern technologies and new processes to transform how the train operates.

While this method of dispatch doesn’t require a second person to operate the train, it is recognised that local people value on-board staff which is why the new customer services roles, based in the train saloon, will be created.

As you will no doubt be aware there is a dispute between the RMT union and Merseyrail about this mode of operation concerning the role of guards, which is part of a wider, national dispute. To date, only Merseyrail has taken up the Metro Mayor’s offer of conciliation with no preconditions, with a view to resolving this dispute.

More information about the new trains is available online at www.merseytravel.gov.uk/newtrains and follow #movingforwardtogether on Twitter @merseyrail

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Voluntary Sector

Breakfast star Steph

in town to launch new staff wellbeing service ddressing business leaders at a A special lunch event, Steph will assess the state of the local economy

and look ahead to what 2018 has in store. High on the agenda will be ways to improve productivity.

Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation has teamed up with training programmes provider Get Event Fit to design the new ‘Healthy Workplace’ service. It offers a range of programmes to help staff eat better, increase their physical activity and to quit smoking.

The Liverpool-based charity has established a track-record of delivering evidence-based advice on lung health, and initially partnered with Get Event Fit to support people taking part in fundraising activities.

Get Event Fit is a national enterprise that delivers integrated training programmes via its Get Event Fit app to guide, educate, inspire and motivate; helping people to achieve their goals when training for a running event or a virtual challenge from Virtuathon Mary McLaughlin, the Foundation’s Corporate Fundraising Officer, said, “Nowadays, employers recognise they should help staff to look after themselves. We’re providing ways to meet that need.

“A company’s greatest asset is its staff. Human beings are more effective and productive when they’re happy and healthy, so employers need to ensure their wellbeing both in and out of work.”

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BBC TV ‘Breakfast’ presenter Steph McGovern is coming to Liverpool to promote a new scheme to boost the health and wellbeing of the region’s workforce.

Last year, the UK lost 31.2 million working days to work-related ill-health and non-fatal workplace injuries, costing businesses almost £15billion.

A recent government study suggested that greater wellbeing improves workplace performance in terms of profitability, labour productivity and the quality of outputs or services.

The same study also showed that job satisfaction - including appreciation of training, skills development opportunities, how much autonomy employees have in their role, and how much scope they have to use their own initiative and influence decisions – is strongly linked with workplace performance.

The lunch event takes place on Wednesday 7th February at Rathbones Hall in the Port of Liverpool Building at the Pier Head.

Steph McGovern will discuss the importance of workplace health initiatives with Dr Mamta Ruparel of University College Hospital London (UCLH). Dr Ruparel works with the UCLH lung cancer team and has carried out lung cancer early detection research projects supported by funding from Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.

Julian Rathbone, Head of Charities with Rathbones Investment Management Services, will host the event. He said, “We’re very much looking forward to hearing from Steph. Her analysis is always refreshingly direct and insightful.

You don’t want to miss this one.”

Tickets for the ‘Healthy Workplace’ lunch are available now; the eventruns from 12 noon till 2pm. For full details, contact mary.mclaughlin@roycastle.org or 0333 323 7200 9128

Voluntary Sector

Local businesses offer complimentary breaks to carers

“Mytime” makes huge difference to carers in Liverpool.

ocal Solutions, a Liverpool L charity, developed ‘mytime’ in response to the number of

carers that were referred to Liverpool Carers Centre.

Across the UK there are over 6.5 million carers supporting a loved one who is older, disabled or seriously ill. That is currently 1 in 8 people and this number is rising. Mytime aims to connect carers who would benefit from a break from their demanding caring roles, with businesses and organisations offering complimentary leisure, cultural and educational activities. There is a generous and committed group of 24 hotels providing complimentary overnight stays with breakfast that allow carers to take a well earned break.

In total over 38 local businesses and organisations have been working with ‘mytime’ to give carers access to breaks from their demanding roles.

Many of these are stretched to the limit and find it difficult to balance work, family, health and personal wellbeing with their caring roles. This can often lead to stress, depression, isolation and mental health issues.

Breaks on offer include things like overnight stays, meals, afternoon tea, spa trips, cultural / sporting activities and theatre tickets. This is great for carers who cannot take advantage of an overnight break due to the demands of their caring roles. But with over one thousand carers currently registered with mytime, demand exceeds supply.

Carers hold families together, This ‘hidden, often forgotten, army’ are ‘on duty’ around the clock, unable to maintain a life of their own as they make huge sacrifices along the way to ensure that their loved ones lead a fulfilling life.

Their contribution to society is immeasurable. Carers could really do with a break… with some ’mytime’. Their devotion, resilience and dedication should be recognised.

Yvonne Roberts, lead Writer of the Observer, said of mytime, “In India they call it ‘frugal innovation’ – small changes, employing familiar ingredients, costing comparatively little, that can make a big difference in surprising ways.”

One carer who enjoyed an overnight stay at a hotel said; “I stayed in the hotel with my wife who has taken long term leave from work to help look after our son. It takes all of our time, commitment and energy and although we wouldn’t have it any other way, it is still draining. It was lovely to get away without having to worry and fantastic being able to sleep – I slept for 12 hours straight in the hotel”

Thanks to funding from The Big Lottery Fund, mytime has now been able to develop a new website which allows carers to easily access information about the breaks on offer and register their interest. The website can also be used to help the project grow to areas outside of Liverpool so that carers right across the UK can benefit.

Contributing organisations recently received a recognition award from Liverpool’s Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Christine Banks at a special event at The Hilton Hotel.

They also heard from carers who have been on a break and find out about the massive impact it has had on them.

Businesses can get involved at www.mytime4carers.co.uk to provide opportunities for carers and find out how they can get involved.

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Chamber Events

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Anfield

A venue with history and a tradition of world class events

Liverpool Football Club’s Main Stand is one of the largest all-seater single stands in Europe.

isible from several points V in the city, it adds another impressive landmark to the

world-renowned Liverpool skyline. Every aspect of its design and construction has been considered to ensure the finished structure enhances Anfield’s unique reputation as a sporting location recognised throughout the world for its history and now world-class facilities.

The stand itself provides state of the art hospitality,

*SPECIAL OFFER*

entertainment and amenities for visitors. A portfolio of new and beautifully appointed lounges, offering a stylish and comfortable setting for any occasion have been integral to the development.

Its glazed front offers outstanding views of Anfield’s hallowed turf and fantastic views of the City beyond, creating a memorable backdrop and talking point for conference guests and delegates.

Liverpool FC are offering a reduced day delegate package for any meeting, conference or event held at Anfield from now until the end of February 2018.

Special Reduced Winter Day Delegate Package from £29pp plus vat

Includes:

Liverpool FC can cater for any event, from a small meeting for two guests (interview style) in the Kenny Dalglish Stand, to a conference for 500 delegates in the Main Stand.

Our hospitality and event spaces and have been designed to offer a versatile space that can adapt to numerous conference, meeting, wedding, celebration or corporate dinner configurations.

The contemporary look and feel to the hospitality and corporate event spaces is enhanced by a friendly and professional events team with specialist knowhow and experience from hosting numerous world-class events to deliver everything clients need for their meeting, conference or celebration.

The legendary experience of Anfield makes the stadium famous across the world.

• 3 servings of tea, coffee & freshly baked cookies • Working Lunch • Mineral water • Pads and Pens • Projector • Screen • Free Wi-fi • Free Car parking Contact Philippa Teale Sales Manager

e: Philippa.teale@Liverpoolfc.com t: 0151 210 0312 m: 07885 966196

www.liverpoolfc.com

T&Cs apply

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International Trade

Discover Vietnam’s thriving food and beverage market

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International Trade

Vietnam is one of the most dynamic economies in Asia, with a large market for capital goods and a growing domestic market for consumer goods.

W

ith a vast market of over 95 million people and its fast GDP growth of 6.67 per cent in 2015, exceeding world’s average, Vietnam remains an enticing destination for UK exporters.

According to a report by PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC) in 2008, Vietnam holds the potential to grow up to 10% per annum, becoming the fastestgrowing emerging economy by 2025, where the scale of its economy is estimated to reach 70 per cent of the size of the UK economy by 2050. The increasing prosperity of the Vietnamese economy not only show the steady progress made in recent years but also presents the prospect of an exciting future.

Location

Vietnam is situated in an extremely strategic position for international trade. Its proximity to the Asia-Pacific area means that it acts as a gateway to the in-land economies of Cambodia and Laos, whilst it also opens out to the strong economies by the South China Sea such as Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.

As a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), Vietnam benefits from international cooperation

By Mia Ensenyat

and has free trade agreements with India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

The lower tariffs due to market liberalisation under ASEAN and other specific bilateral agreements combine with the young population with an average age of 27 to offer endless opportunities.

Increasing numbers of UK companies are following well-established brands like Standard Chartered, HSBC, Karen Millen and Oasis into the market. Rolls Royce, Mini and Marks and Spencer established a presence in 2014.

Demand

The Vietnamese food and beverage sector currently accounts for 37 per cent of its GDP and is one of the rising stars in the market.

The strong economic growth and the development of a financially well-off consumer group has directed a change in consumption habits and led to the emergence of retail systems.

According to the Association of Vietnam Retailers, there are currently 750 supermarkets, 130 shopping centres and 9,000 traditional markets in the country.

In addition, the annual production of beer, wine and spirits, and non-alcoholic drinks will rise to 4.25 billion litres, 360 million litres, and 9.2 billion litres in 2020.

Vietnamese consumers are shifting towards consumption of beverages with higher value, creating gaps to exploit the high-end beverage segments.

Though both local and foreign players have attempted to respond to this shift, overseas companies currently enjoy the edge as Vietnamese consumers favour international brands.

As Vietnam ranks fourth most popular destination in Asia with over 10,013,000 visitors in 2016, the increasing tourism contributes towards the demand for western-style products such as beef, cheese, seafood, wine and seasonings.

Trade Mission

The Enterprise Europe Network desk at LCCI in collaboration with the EUVietnam Business Network (EVBN), has organised a company trade mission to Vietnam scheduled to take place in January 2018.

The company trade mission to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will encourage UK companies wishing to enter the Vietnamese market to interact with local companies, as well as existing European companies operating in the market. The introduction and referral to EVBN will help participants attain a more personalised experience, following their individual business plans.

This article first appeared in London Business Matters in October 2017 www.londonbusinessmatters.co.uk

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Are you compliant?

GDPR

A data protection bill is currently winding its way through Parliament. It incorporates the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and will replace the current Data Protection Act which was enacted when cyberattacks were little more than science fiction! ith just eight months to go W organisations should ensure that they will to comply

with what will be the known as the Data Protection Act 2018.

One key area that needs consideration is how to ensure against the accidental loss, theft or misuse of personal data. Data controllers must employ “appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure the level of security appropriate to the risk”.

Taking appropriate measures should be done in five clear steps.

Step 1 - Create an Information Security Culture A top down approach must reinforce the importance of data security and explain the consequences of security failures.

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Staff and contractors must understand the requirements of data protection laws – for example the new right for data subjects have ‘to be forgotten’.

Every organisation should communicate its controls for the deletion and disposal of obsolete data.

Step 2 - Mapping the data processes To prevent the loss, theft or misuse of personal data there are many elements and all should be considered – for example: • Touchpoints – who comes into contact with data • Who has the authority to delete it • Retention periods • The format it is held in; and, • How is data physically destroyed.

Step 3 - Develop Clear Policies

Organisation need to understand the requirements of the law.

Clear guidelines should be developed to mirror the needs of the data subjects.

It is important that policy statements state what standards and controls will be set to keep data safe.

Step 4 - Develop Best Practice

An easy to follow guide for staff (and data processors) should detail exactly how data deletion and erasure should be performed.

Clear boundaries should be defined and a chain of custody process should ensure deletion and destruction of data is followed.

Step 5 - Enact your Policies Communicate the policy and guides to all staff and interested parties.

Audit your data processors to sufficient competence is contractually binding.

Test and train employees to ensure they have sufficient technical skills and knowledge.

These processes need to be enforced and incorporated into disciplinary procedures.

The above steps are to ensure compliance with GDPR but above all if you keep in the right side of the law you will also help ensure your business information is safe and your competitive advantage protected!

Tom Gilruth is a Director of Topwood Ltd - experts in the secure destruction of sensitive information.

Colloids Celebrate 50 Years of Polymer Masterbatch Making

Established in 1967, Colloids Ltd. has just celebrated 50 Years of polymer masterbatch making.

‘60s and ‘70s themed fancy A dress party was held at the Liverpool Marriot hotel to mark this

key milestone in the company’s history. The 50th Anniversary celebration party was attended by more than 130 past and present employees. The glittering, festive occasion was also the perfect opportunity to recognize and pay tribute to the valuable contributions to the business from two long serving Colloids employees: Frank Johnson, who is the IT Manager, received his 35 years’ long service award, along with Health & Safety Manager, Mick Sullivan who has been with Colloids for 25 years.

50 Years on, with factories in Merseyside, Northamptonshire and China, Colloids is now firmly established as a leading multinational manufacturer of high quality coloured and black speciality compounds, additives and bespoke masterbatches. CEO Russell Livesey, aka “Ozzy Osbourne” on the night, reflected on the company spirit, how the business has developed over the last 50 years

and shared future plans to take Colloids forward for the next 50 years, including further international overseas business expansion.

“I am very proud of the people working at Colloids, who have such a positive company spirit and determination to work hard and ensure continued business growth and success. At the heart of the business is our tremendously talented R & D team, which continues to develop innovative products for both new and existing customers and markets. The business has come a long way, especially since becoming part of the global Tosaf Group in 2004, which has helped Colloids to grow exports and expand internationally.

In 2016, Colloids Plastic (Suzhou) Co, Ltd., our new masterbatch manufacturing plant located in Changshu, China started production, which has also helped us to secure new export orders for speciality plastic Masterbatches and concentrates made in our UK factories,” explained Livesey.

Members News

Livesey went on to say: “The future is looking very positive for Colloids, with strong double digit organic growth forecast for the coming years. The next strategic objective, which is already underway, is to set up Colloids masterbatch manufacturing operations in the USA to serve the North American market. This is a very exciting and challenging project, which when completed will see the Colloids brand established in Europe, Asia and North America.”

Livesey was appointed as Colloids’ Managing Director in 2006. He has been instrumental in leading significant business growth and a return to consistent profitability over the last 11 years. Colloids has grown from an annual turnover of less than £16 million to more than £45 million per annum, now with 160+ employees globally. Today, Colloids is globally recognized as being a highly innovative manufacturer of high quality coloured and black speciality masterbatch compounds and additives, with proven colour

he agency is fast becoming T market leaders within the recruitment marketing sector, and

is delivering employer brand, talent attraction and candidate experience services for such household names as BT, RBS, Virgin Media, and Telefonica, with an increasing client roster in the United States including Blizzard Entertainment and Magellan Health.

Ph.Creative rebrands, expands, and focuses on finding great staff It’s busy times at Ph.Creative, with the company unveiling a rebrand, completing an expansion of its Liverpool headquarters and adding new staff to its offices in London and New York.

With the new strapline “Defenders of Happiness”, the company is putting the focus clearly on its creative employer brand solutions, and in an brave and confident move the Ph.Creative website has been redesigned purely to help find new people to join its growing team.

The website delivers a talent attraction campaign with a specially-shot sci-fi film entitled “Human Codec”, and an interactive quiz that highlights the creativity and innovation driving the company’s services. As well as the film and website, the campaign is supported by an intriguing Instagram collage, Facebook Live Photo activity and video adverts.

CEO Bryan Adams comments, “We are really excited at taking this next

matching capabilities and technical expertise in providing material for use in extrusion, injection and blow moulding. All Colloids’ masterbatches offer manufacturers technical, cost and quality benefits such as rapid dispersion, homogeneous mixing, and high extrusion throughput rates.

Colloids Group also has overseas links to Tosaf sister companies in Germany, Turkey, The Netherlands, Israel and the USA, offering a global service to the plastics industry for coloured, black and performance enhancing additives.

Colloids has automotive industry ISO/TS 16949 accreditation, with its manufacturing sites having ISO 9001 quality accreditation and 14001 environmental accreditation, supplying the automotive, E&E, construction pipe and geomembrane markets, as well as polymer producers and compounders worldwide.

For further information visit www.colloids.com. step in the evolution of Ph.Creative.

The brand refresh makes it very clear where, why and how we do business, and the website redesign puts the focus on finding great talent to join the business, rather than looking for new clients. We firmly believe that by the time a prospective client views us online they will know what we do and will already be considering our services, so we wanted to put something creative front and centre to show them the quality of the work we deliver day in, day out. It makes sense to do this by running our own campaign to find great staff, which at the same time shows clients what we can do for them.”

With a raft of new clients wins in the UK and the USA, the business is growing quickly. In addition to the rebrand, Ph.Creative has expanded its Liverpool head office with a new studio and additional staff, and has added to staff levels in London and New York, with more offices planned for 2018, especially in the USA. The new website can be found at www.ph-creative.com

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"You Can Export" Series of events

Events

As part of the Exporting is GREAT Campaign, the Department for International Trade is hosting a series of starter exporting events during January, February and March 2018.

25 Jan You Can Export: An introduction to Exporting Workplace, Churchgate House, Manchester, M1 6EU http://bit.ly/2mhGYXe 30 Jan You Can Export: An introduction to Exporting Barton Grange Hotel, Barton, Preston, PR3 5AA http://bit.ly/2Fo2Ngt 09 Feb You Can Export: Selling internationally for Service providers Crewe Hall, Crewe, CW1 6UZ http://bit.ly/2D4zUbm 15 Feb You Can Export: Online marketing to maximise export sales Merseyside - Venue to be confirmed http://bit.ly/2D1kiVn 05 Mar You Can Export: How to manage Agents and Distributors Manchester - Venue to be confirmed http://bit.ly/2mky230 27 Mar You Can Export: How to thrive at Exhibitions Cheshire Venue to be confirmed http://bit.ly/2CRXDHL

Greater China business awards dinner 2018 & China bites seminar

The Department for International Trade North West is delighted to announce that we are now accepting entries for the Greater China Awards 2018, an opportunity to get the recognition you deserve for all your hard work with Greater China over the last 12 months - http://bit.ly/2qOXqU4

Northern Powerhouse Missions

19 - 23 Feb Northern Powerhouse Technology trade mission to India The NPH DIT-led Mission will provide unprecedented access to strategic partners driving India’s Technology growth. UK companies are invited to promote their capabilities to a growing marketplace and take part in bespoke 5 day business programme offering 1-2-1 meetings with potential partners and market experts.- http://bit.ly/2AQ8v7f 09 - 18 Mar Northern Powerhouse trade mission to SXSW The Department for International Trade (DIT) are taking companies from the Northern Powerhouse region to attend the SXSW conference in the Interactive, Film and Music sectors. Alongside the mission there will be a Northern Powerhouse showcase* at the British Music Embassy promoting talent from across the region. - http://bit.ly/2CR0rVI

OFFICE • INDUSTRIAL • RETAIL • LAND • AGENCY • RENT REVIEW •

• LEASE RENEWAL • VALUATION •

Recent transactions include:

• Acquisition of Exchange Station 193,000 sq.ft. on behalf of CEG • Letting of 58,000 sq.ft. to Liverpool John Moores University

• Regeneration and letting of Great Homer St. District Centre – Sainsburys + 90,000 sq.ft. retail on behalf of St Modwen • Sale of Drury House and acquisition of new offices in Princess Dock for Griffiths & Armour

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Members News

T

Aztec completes Princes Dock fit-out for Griffiths & Armour

Fit-out and construction firm, Aztec, has completed the fit-out of Griffiths & Armour’s new 18,500 sq ft head office in Liverpool.

he global insurance broker, which also has offices in Manchester, London and Dublin, has relocated to Princes Dock, a five-storey, Grade A office building adjacent to the River Mersey. Its new HQ provides state-of-the-art facilities in the heart of Liverpool’s new Central Docks neighbourhood.

Griffiths & Armour’s highly skilled team to work as comfortably and efficiently as possible, on a single floor and within an open space that encourages knowledge sharing and collaboration.

Aztec has created a space that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also allows

Sustainability was also core to the project, with Aztec’s own joinery workshop

Operating nationally from its headquarters in Liverpool, Aztec is an experienced fit-out and construction company, delivering projects ranging from small works and minor alterations to multi million pound ‘turnkey’ projects.

Recent projects include the £250,000 Delivery Centre fit-out for Tata at Birchwood Park and the £1million Avenue HQ fit-out, which recently won a prestigious Mixology North Award.

Designed to facilitate different ways of working and encourage movement away from workstations throughout the day, the space comprises a variety of different areas, including video conferencing, a breakfast bar which maximises impressive views over the River Mersey, private meeting rooms, banquet social space, individual lounge chairs and a social collaboration table. Aztec also designed the kitchen to achieve a social as well as functional purpose, encouraging colleagues to chat over a cup of coffee.

manufacturing bespoke furniture and fittings with materials from sustainable sources only and engaging Johnsons Moving Services to upcycle and reuse 30 tonnes of furniture from the firm’s previous office at Drury House.

Neal Maxwell, Founder and managing director at Aztec, said: “Princes Dock is a great space, so it was crucial that we did it justice, maximising those fantastic views over the Mersey and the natural light provided by the large windows.

Griffiths & Armour were also very clear from the start that the space should be about people – creating an environment where people are comfortable and enjoy spending time, providing a variety of areas to accommodate different working styles, to boost collaboration and productivity.

“Griffiths & Armour recognised that the modern office

shouldn’t be created using a one-size-fits-all approach, but with a bespoke solution tailored to their own team and how they prefer to work. Initial feedback has been incredibly positive and I’ve no doubt that the team will continue to thrive in their new home.”

Nicholas Brace, Partner at Griffiths & Armour, said: “The relocation and fit-out has had a significant impact on what was already a very positive, engaged and outward looking team. The configuration of the space has encouraged even closer collaboration across our business and there has been a notable extra spring in people’s step as they go about their day-to-day work. Our new home has also driven a surge in interest from our clients and insurer partners to visit, which is really positive. We’re delighted with the result.”

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Ask the Expert

Ask the Expert

The Workforce in 2018 Top Tips from Kingsley

2. Understand the Graduate Market

Applications to universities have also taken a drop in the last year, the latest UCAS figures show there was a 4% drop in applications in the UK, there has also been a considerable drop in applications from mature students, as fees have increased it’s increasingly harder for people to afford to take courses to upskill or change careers.

ooking ahead to the next L 12 months, many businesses are facing

challenges particularly, when it comes to recruitment and the skills shortage, this is something especially prevalent within the legal and property sectors.

Skills Shortages are hitting the construction industry hard.

The industry is set to grow over the next four years, despite construction output lowering, however, the skills shortages are making the future look gloomy, particularly when you consider the average age of construction workers is 49.

1. Maximise the Apprenticeship Opportunities

The future isn’t completely bleak, there has been a record number of people starting apprenticeships in construction according to the CITB. Almost 21,000 people started a construction apprenticeship in 2016/2017.

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The legal sector has also benefited, with 138,000 apprentices starting a business administration and law apprenticeship in 2016/2017.

In 2016 apprenticeships in the legal sector had an overhaul and there is now a direct route to become a qualified solicitor, which opens up more career paths to people who enter the law from an apprenticeship.

This is a great way for companies to train talent to suit their business and can help elevate the skills shortage, and as apprenticeships become more common, more opportunities are opening up for people once they have completed their apprenticeship along with more training and education.

Many Directors and business owners now feel that apprentices are more ‘work ready’ than graduates.

This is also having a negative impact and increasing the issues that companies are having finding talent.

In 2010 there was an average of 70 applications for every graduate job, this has dropped to 40, which is great news for graduates, but less so for employers.

3. Innovate with Work Practices

A new year also calls for a new outlook and if companies want the best, they have to offer the best (or at least flexibility).

Luring candidates in with the promise of high salaries isn’t the only way to fill roles.

Businesses can actually capitalise on the skills shortage whilst saving money.

This can be done in a number of ways, such as working from home. This can attract a higher calibre of candidates who have the skills, but need a flexible working life to accommodate their home life.

According to the Office for National Statistics there are approximately 4.2 million homeworkers in the UK. If home working is to be truly

embraced by employers, then hot desking is another way for businesses to cut costs.

Office space is a huge expense and rent doesn’t show any signs of getting cheaper.

With the highest increase to train fares since 2013, commuters are looking for alternatives and some have been priced out of roles in London and Manchester.

Some industries, including the legal sector, have seen a drop-in salaries, leading to staff feeling unappreciated and heading to the recruitment market to see what else is out there.

Salary surveys have reflected that flexi-time is now one of the most desirable benefits for UK staff.

4. Mergers & Acquisitions are changing the market

Mergers and acquisitions are another way companies can beat the skills shortage, as well as being a way to acquire talent, and remain competitive.

Merging or acquiring a business is another way to increase profitable growth.

We have seen an increase in the trend for mergers in both the property and legal sector since 2009 with buyers looking to expand their firm’s skill set geographical coverage, gain access to specialist markets or boost staff numbers.

Introducing the BT Local Business Team

Members News

BT is now closer for chamber members than ever with a dedicated Chamber Team ready to assist businesses with questions regarding their current or future telecoms and connectivity infrastructure, so we spoke with Andy MacGregor Managing Director of the BT Local Business Team covering Liverpool to ask him why this is now so important and why chamber members should take advantage.

ndy explains that many A businesses still don’t understand what is available

to them especially with regards to internet connectivity. The change programme means what is great one year is often superseded within the next few years and it’s important to keep an eye on what is available and how your business should always be looking at what may either may be technology advances that assist your business or costs savings by moving to different platforms.

Andy gave the following examples of what has changed and businesses may be interested in:Ultrafast Broadband - offering up to 330 mg download is just being rolled out across the UK with Liverpool benefitting from the trial for the Liverpool Centre Exchange, ultrafast BB uses the same fibre to the cabinet technology which you get from the new green cabinets you see on the streets however is enhanced g-fast boxes which are effectively making it 4-5 times faster.

Moving up from Broadband Dedicated Lease Lines are now so available in our area with all different bandwidths and options available. Historically many businesses would have not been able to take advantage of these due to cost whereas nowadays so many can and it is so worthwhile for businesses to enquire and explore the benefits available when working with a lease line in comparison to broadband.

SIP channels with all calls included from £8.95 per month (comparing this to a lines at £15 not including the calls means businesses can now achieve much more for less)

Flexible working – many businesses often benefit from the ability to offer remote working and home workers and often this advantage can be used to retain good people or attract good people, or just to provide business owners who often do massive hours with a more flexible approach.

Number portability – using the new technology no longer are numbers stuck to exchanges and it may be possible to move your business to a totally different area and keep your number.

Cloud Telephony – most businesses and people use the cloud in some shape or form, whether that be only for email hosting or photo storage, and with telephony many businesses are finding the same benefits by using the cloud.

Customers love the no maintenance, little to no upfront costs and simple monthly license fee they pay for using the cloud telephony platforms and what they can get in terms of features leaves businesses often feeling like kids in a sweet shop.

For chamber members Andy explains that the BT local Business in following feedback from members and the chamber team have handpicked a few people who lead with regards to Chamber Members enquiries with the BT. Andy is delighted with the team and has provided a dedicated number for members to ring the BT Local Business team on 01704 898 205. Ring this number and you are straight to through to the team, no auto attendant and or voicemail. In addition and to bring the team closer to the chamber members we have given a brief overview of each team member below.

Kate Kerley Kate Joined us over 10 years ago, prior to which she sold advertising space. Kate initially started as an outbound sales advisor and has risen through the ranks to where she is now “Senior account manager” specialising with both our Education and high value customer’s. Kate is extremely dedicated to her role and will go to the nth degree to ensure her customers have a great experience, all round professional.

Kate says “I love the challenge of the role and never knowing what the next call will bring.”

Reece Catterall Reece another long standing and very experienced account manager who similar to Kate also joined us nearly 10 years ago. Reece is highly knowledgeable in his role and takes pride in all her does.

Feedback from his customers is excellent, great team-player too who will do all he can for both his customers and colleagues.

Reece has successfully done several roles in the business and five years ago promoted to senior account manager.

Prior to joining us Reece worked for a hearing aid company as a customer service representative.

Reece says ‘With the pace of technology there is always a good news story to talk to my customers about which I love to do with confidence and ease.’

Steven Waring Steven joined us approximately 9 years ago, prior to this he worked for a car hire company sourcing specialised vehicles for customers following claims.

Steven initially joined us as a Broadband and Mobile specialist and having successfully delivered his numbers year on year he has now progressed to a Senior Account Manager which he enjoys thoroughly. Technology sometimes brings challenges however working closely with his customers regularly on changes really does take the hassle away for them. This is the part of the role that Steven really enjoys in addition to the consistency in managing his own customers.

Steven say this is a “Good business, brilliant people and I love the challenges of bringing the big BT brand to our customers in the Liverpool area.”

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Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Chamber staff are here to provide dedicated support for business members of the Chamber.

The directory below provides a list of contacts for members should they need to contact us.

Paul Cherpeau Chief Executive paul.cherpeau@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Jon Cranston Director of Finance jon.cranston@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Helen Gibbons Accounts Manager helen.gibbons@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Julie Sankey International Trade Executive julie.sankey@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Ian Bulmer Programmes & Policy Manager ian.bulmer@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Sarah Woolley Export Documentation Manager sarah.woolley@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Heather Whitaker Export Documentation Analyst heather.whitaker@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Lisa Noon Export Documentation Assistant lisa.noon@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Michelle Cameron Sustainable Business Advisor michelle.cameron@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Jane Wardle Events Manager jane.wardle@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Zoe Bleasdale Marketing & Membership Executive zoe.bleasdale@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Richard Smith Member Engagement Manager richard.smith@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Melissa Healy Office Manager melissa.healy@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Elena Enciso International Trade Executive

(Seconded to Dept for International Trade)

elena.enciso@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Contact Us : Tel: 0151 227 1234 | Email: membership@liverpoolchamber.org.uk | export@liverpoolchamber.org.uk www.liverpoolchamber.org.uk | @Lpoolchamber 48

Welcome to our new Chamber Members

20 Stories High

Luva Marketing Ltd

Bluecoat Limited

National Broadcasting School

0151 708 9728 www.20storieshigh.org.uk 0151 702 7770 www.thebluecoat.org.uk

BT Local Business

0170 489 8200 www.bt.com/btlocalbusiness

Campbell Cain (Infrastructure)

07540 634198 www.campbellcain.co.uk

CFS Management Limited 0151 655 0196 www.cfs-management.co.uk

Close Brothers Asset Management

01606 810 100 www.closebrothersam.com

Colliers International 0151 433 0350 www.colliers.com/en-us

CTB B2 B Limited

0151 282 1020 www.catchthebusiness.com

0151 372 8444 www.luvamarketing.co.uk

07710 555538 www.nationalbroad castingschool.com

NW Reserve Forces' and Cadets Association 0151 727 4552 www.nwrfca.org.uk

Privias Services Limited 01704 201333 www.privias-services.co.uk

Proton Partners International Limited 01633 810661 www.proton-int.com

New Members

ERDF Funding aids Easirent Overseas Expansion Easirent exhibited at the 2017 World Travel Market (WTM) in London with the help of ERDF funding.

asirent exhibited at the 2017 E World Travel Market (WTM) in London with the help of ERDF

funding. The chamber of commerce in Liverpool were very helpful, making the whole process very straight forward.

Head quartered in the Royal Liver Building in Liverpool, Easirent is a UK owned car rental company with branches across the UK, Ireland and most recently, the USA. The WTM brings tour operators and online travel agents from across the globe, allowing exhibitors to show off their products and entice new business. Exhibiting at the WTM allows Easirent to create new relationships with travel companies from all corners of the world, as well as meeting up with current partners and building on these important relationships.

Easirent have ambitions plans for 2018, with further expansion planned for the UK, Ireland and USA. 2017 saw the car rental fleet expand to over 4,500 cars from 32 airport and city locations.

Tim Koehler - Easirent USA, Sonia Chan China account manager

Easirent has been present in the UK since 1999, with a large proportion of the car rental fleet based in the UK. Whilst some growth will be in the UK and Ireland, a large focus is on the USA market, which is still in its infancy. Easirent opened 3 locations in southern Florida in the second half of 2017, with 6 more planned for 2018.

For more information on Easirent, please visit www.easirent.com.

Regus Management UK Limited 0151 244 5400 www.regus.co.uk

RTC North Ltd 01925 607 040

Directory of Social Change www.rtcnorth.co.uk 020 7697 4200 www.dsc.org.uk

Everton Football Club 0870 280 5041 www.evertonfc.com

Family Money Trees 07951 843056

KCD Export

07527 780336

LEC (Liverpool) Ltd 0151 734 1411 www.insetteuk.com

Shaw Integrated Management Systems 07983 106277 www.shims-nw.uk

Skinny Coffee Club Ltd 07402 315497 skinnycoffeeclub.com

Universal Technologies Limited

0151 294 3050 www.universaltechnologies.co.uk

49

5 Minutes with ...

Minutes with...

Introduce yourself

Alissa Koopal, Commercial Manager at Culture Liverpool (part of Liverpool City Council) and Project Manager of Mayor Joe Anderson’s business initiative, The Mayoral 100 Club.

What happens on a typical day in the life of Alissa?

A typical day consists of building relationships with and between key city stakeholders, and supporting the cultural agenda from a commercial angle to ensure it is sustainable. However, the exciting nature of my role means that I am constantly on the move and could be aboard a historic Tall Ship, planning a VVIP event for the Mayoral 100 Club, or trying to source a car full of carrots for an artist!

From a business perspective, what is one of your key objectives for the year ahead?

2018 is a major year for Liverpool and my main priority is forging crucial relationships between the public and private sector.

We will facilitate opportunities for local businesses and key city stakeholders to collaboratively drive the cultural agenda of the city, using the Mayoral 100 club as a frontrunner in sustaining Liverpool’s magnificent arts and cultural offer, which not only impacts the city on an economic level, but also uplifts it on a social level too.

What would you say to your 18-year-old self?

Your journey is going to take you right to where you need to be, at the right time, with the right people. Take a moment to take it in and either enjoy it wholeheartedly or learn from it and move on.

Ps. Put a coat on - it’s freezing!

Can you describe yourself in three words?

Honest. Resourceful. Little-bit-quirky (does that count as one word?).

50

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