Well
Connected July 2020
Official Magazine for Liverpool Chamber
INSIDE... •
Chamber’s Restart and Recovery Programme
•
Lockdown Reflections: Local business leaders share their experience
• International: Leading through crisis – maintaining the focus on recovery and growth
Restart, Recover, Renew Restarting Liverpool’s economy post Covid-19
Liverpool Chamber
Connect Support Thrive.
R&D TAX CREDITS: Cashflow to rebuild your business
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WELCOME & CONTENTS
Welcome to the Summer edition of Liverpool Chamber’s Well Connected magazine. Restart, Rebuild, Renew Welcome to the summer edition of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce magazine. It seems like an entire age has passed since the last edition of our magazine was published earlier this year. The impact of Coronavirus on our economy has been substantial and unprecedented, affecting businesses across the globe, causing disruption, testing business resiliency and creating challenges for all of us. Whether a care worker facing Covid-19 each and every day, a manufacturing assembly line supervisor initiating social distancing measures or an office worker desperately seeking decent Wi-Fi connectivity at
home, there are hundreds of inspiring stories across our region.
integrated and engaged within the economic recovery process.
This issue provides some fascinating insights into the problems our members have faced and how they have adapted and innovated during this period and are now looking forward to a sustainable recovery.
I am delighted that we have been able to launch our Business Restart and Recovery Programme to support and enable the start of a resurgence of businesses in our region and you can find out more on page 8.
We look at the additional pressures faced by those businesses involved in international trade, particularly as we enter a new post Brexit period on 1 January 2021.
Finally, on behalf of the Chamber, I want to thank all those who have endeavoured to keep us safe and supported us all through these difficult times. From those working for the NHS, our emergency services, key workers across the public sector, our shop assistants, those working in public transport – the list goes on. We sincerely appreciate everything you have done!
As a Chamber we have tried to provide direct support to our Members and we are now playing a key role working with our colleagues in the public and third sector to ensure businesses are fully
Page 16 Business Growth Programme Supporting businesses to grow through COVID-19 and beyond
Regards Paul Cherpeau CEO
Find Inside 4-5
Economy
8
Membership Update
Page 29 RestartRecover-Renew What have we learnt from COVID-19?
11 Environment 14
Health & Wellbeing
16
Business Growth Programme
22 Innovation Page 20 Restart-RecoverRenew £1.4bn plan to help boost the nation’s economic recovery
Enquiries Liverpool Chamber 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
25 Finance
Page 43 International
29 Restart-Recover-Renew
Leading through crisis maintaining the focus on recovery and growth
43 International 49
Staff Directory
50
5 Minutes with Paul Cherpeau
Published July 2020 © Benham Publishing Media No. 1768 Editorial Content Manager Michelle Cameron Michelle.Cameron@liverpoolchamber.org.uk Advertising and Features Karen Hall Tel: 0151 236 4141 e: karen@benhampublishing.com Advertising Sales Catherine McCarthy e: catherine@benhampublishing.com Studio Peter Wilkinson e: peter@benhampublishing.com
Disclaimer Well Connected is mailed without charge to all Chamber members and distributed at all Chamber events. All correspondence should be addressed to the Editorat Liverpool Chamber. Views expressed in publication are not necessarily those of Liverpool Chamber. Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden except by permission of the Editor. © 2020. 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.
Cover image: Courtesy of Liverpool City Council - Paddington Village in the Knowledge Quarter by Christian Smith
Liverpool Chamber
@LpoolChamber
@LiverpoolChamber
Liverpool Chamber
3
BRITISH CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
LOOKING AHEAD
The survey of over 6,400 firms, employing more than 800,000 people, points to continued stagnation amid rising business costs and a slowing global economy. The balance of firms reporting improved cash flow – a key indicator of the health of businesses – remains very weak across both manufacturing and service sectors. Indicators for improvements across investment and business confidence also show continuing downward trends.
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4 www.britishchambers.org.uk | @britishchambers
BRITISH CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
ECONOMY
LOOKING AHEAD
The survey of over 6,400 firms, employing more than 800,000 people, points to continued stagnation amid rising business costs and a slowing global economy. The balance of firms reporting improved cash flow – a key indicator of the health of businesses – remains very weak across both manufacturing and service sectors. Indicators for improvements across investment and business confidence also show continuing downward trends. Firms facing pressures to raise prices due to the following factors:
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www.britishchambers.org.uk | @britishchambers www.britishchambers.org.uk | @britishchambers
5
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RESTART RECOVER RENEW
BLUE FAMILY
Fresh thinking Thrive Prosper Blossom
On Friday 13 March, Everton Football Club and its charitable arm, Everton in the Community, became the first Premier League Club to close all Club sites and temporarily postpone most community programme delivery due to the impending threat of the coronavirus pandemic. Just one week later, the Club and its official charity launched ‘Blue Family’, a coordinated outreach and engagement campaign to maintain contact with fans and provide vital support and assistance to some of the most vulnerable, socially isolated and at-risk members of the community in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Kick-started with a £50,000 donation from Everton Football Club to fund the launch and initial outreach activities, the last three months has seen the ‘Blue Family’ campaign work to maintain and extend the reach of the Club and charity, with staff reallocated from their usual day-to-day roles to ensure the effective delivery of the campaign. The Blue Family outreach activity has included: • Fans and members of the community in greatest need contacted by Everton in the Community staff to deliver tailored and focused support, assistance and guidance, including: • Essential food parcels distribution, including breakfast packs for young children • Financial assistance for prescription purchases and delivery • Mobile phone credit for those living alone and with limited support networks • Support with gas and/or electricity vouchers for those facing increased fuel bills • Mental health support and advice
Liverpool Chamber
• A referral service for access to Everton in the Community’s support provision • Calls from the Everton Fan Centre to thousands of fans to maintain contact and provide a friendly voice to talk to, prioritising the elderly and isolated • Increased communication through the Club’s email, social media and web platforms to share important public information and deliver engaging content for those in isolation • Exercise and mindfulness videos provided by trained staff from the Club and Everton in the Community At the time of going to print in late June, Blue Family has supported more than 7,000 families and individuals across Liverpool with more than 6,500 welfare and check-in calls being made by staff, players and Club Ambassadors to fans, Everton in the Community participants and members of the community in greatest need. Charity staff have delivered thousands of emergency food parcels and distributed emergency foodbank vouchers and have supported hundreds of local families with utilities and mobile phone credit. A Blue Family referral form has received more than 1,000 applications with Everton in the Community staff on hand to assist vulnerable, elderly, at-risk and socially isolated individuals within the Liverpool area with food deliveries, basic cooking and household equipment, financial assistance and other support services.
The Club’s official charity has supported more than 400 existing and former Everton in the Community participants who have found themselves facing financial difficulties due to loss of income and school closures as well as providing support and assistance for vulnerable families of its partner schools across the Liverpool City Region. The charity has continued to maintain contact with the people on its programmes and has increased its wrap-around support package to include intense mentoring, bespoke support and necessities for its more vulnerable participants and families as well as preparing tools and resources to support rising anxiety concerns and possible bereavement support that might be needed now and in the future. It was recently announced by Everton CEO Denise Barrett-Baxendale that thousands of Evertonians had opted to donate some or all of their 2019.20 Season Ticket refund to Everton in the Community securing almost £400,000 for the Blue Family campaign which was generously matched by Owner Mr Moshiri and Chairman Mr Kenwright. These funds will be critical in supporting a number of Everton in the Community initiatives, including providing even more vital assistance to vulnerable people across the Liverpool City Region over the coming weeks and addressing some of the longer-term issues – not least mental health - presented by this pandemic.
7
MEMBERS UPDATE
UPDATE
Chamber Launches Business Restart & Recovery Programme
Aim Target Goal Objective Purpose Destination
MEMBERSHIP
Liverpool Chamber has launched its Business Restart & Recovery Programme to support and facilitate businesses in our region to sustain existing growth and ultimately prosper and thrive, despite the challenges thrown up by Covid-19.
members, particularly at this really testing time for business.
support efforts to maximise cash flow and investment potential.
The team are all really enthused by these new opportunities and look forward to sharing them with members, particularly as we will be expanding the programme of support and services over the coming months. This is an exciting journey for us and we want you to be part of it so please get in touch with the team at membership@liverpoolchamber.org.uk to discuss how your business could benefit.”
Chamber Mediation:
Liverpool Chamber CEO, Paul Cherpeau, explained: “The experiences of the last few months have really helped us to understand more about what our members are looking for as part of their Chamber membership. We are delighted to be working with excellent partners to deliver the kind of practical and hands on support which will directly benefit our
Chamber Four Services:
Member businesses now have access to an expanded portfolio of inclusive member services, affinity schemes and partnership provision, including:
An expanded helpline and website resource to provide HR, Health & Safety, Tax and Legal support.
Chamber Finance Finder: An online platform for members to find sources of debt, equity or grant funding to
JOIN TODAY
Delivery of mediation support to settle employment or commercial litigation at discounted or pro bono rates.
Covid Testing Solutions: Randox Health present a testing solution for members’ employees at a discounted rate to mitigate operational impact from suspected Covid cases and to aid restart through a staff testing programme.
Deep Clean Solutions: Parthenon’s deep clean solutions have already enabled businesses to reopen. Access a deep clean solution and consultancy at a discounted rate to meet government standards of cleanliness and provide peace of mind to staff, customers and suppliers alike. For more details on the programme or membership more generally please contact membership@liverpoolchamber.org.uk
Connect Support Thrive.
For more information on how you can benefit from Chamber membership, whether through targeted networking opportunities, accessing information and support, promoting your business through our media channels or getting involved in the work we do around policy and advocacy, get in touch with the team via membership@liverpoolchamber.org.uk
or call us on 0151 227 1234.
8
NEW MEMBERS
Welcome
to our new Chamber Members
Connect Support Thrive.
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Liverpool Chamber
9
The Can Do Charity That Does Daisy Inclusive UK really is a place like no other. Founded and ran by Dave Kelly, who lost his sight at the age of 30, over 25 years ago, he wanted to create a safe and inclusive environment were vulnerable and disabled people could take part in sports and activities with their brothers, sisters and friends. Daisy Inclusive UK is now at the forefront of decision making in a number of issues that affects the everyday lives of vulnerable and disabled people from training teachers and educators to be inclusive in the classroom to helping local businesses to be disability friendly and disability confident.
Daisy Inclusive UK’s Training Daisy Inclusive UK are passionate and proactive in making our society more inclusive and diverse. We run a number of different training sessions and workshops that can be tailored to your needs and requirements. From point of contact training to disability awareness training in the workplace, we can help your business to disability friendly, diverse and inclusive. We are also one of the first organisations to receive the disability confident leader award through the Department of work and pensions. We also received the world wide beyond sport diversity and inclusion award.
SMILE initiative Mini SMILE Initiative Daisy Inclusive UK’s SMILE initiative which stands for Self-Motivation, Inclusive Learning and Enrichment helps to support disabled and vulnerable adults in our community to live a more fulfilled and independent life. The SMILE initiative will focus on 3 key links: – self motivation, independent living/ inclusive learning and enrichment with each link being designed to improve the future prospects, skills, confidence and health and well-being of the participants involved. Focusing on improving independent living skills, furthering their education, gaining qualifications and employment skills through vocational learning, we help to support participants to reach their true potential. We also run our Mini SMILE initiative which helps support children and young people
ages 8 to 15 to improve their confidence, make friends and take part in activities in a fun and inclusive environment.
Advice and Guidance Daisy Inclusive UK also offer help, support and guidance for disabled and vulnerable people and their families to ensure that they are receiving the right support financially and have a strong and knowledgeable support network behind them. We run regular support and discussion groups including a disability discussion group and a parent/career discussion group which gives participants the opportunity to forge friendships, share experience and gain the knowledge to ensure that they are receiving the correct support.
Disability Hate Crime Support Daisy Inclusive UK were one of the first charities on Merseyside to become a third party reporting centre for disabled people who are the victims of anti-social behaviour and disability hate crime. We were the first charity in the country to have our very own Disability Hate Crime Officer supporting victims from point of contact to support through the judicial system. Working in partnership with and taking referrals from partner organisations including Merseyside Police, The Anthony Walker foundation, Stop Hate UK, and via self-referrals, the service we provide has steadily grown and has become a vital provision supporting victims of disability hate crime across Merseyside. Daisy also offers as a safe place for victims and their families to come and feel part of a community.
delivery of essential food parcels, befriending service, benefit advice, health and nutrition support all of which will help to tackle the rise in poverty, mental and physical health issues and the impact of loneliness and isolation.
Project isolation to inclusion Project isolation to inclusion will support those in the community who are struggling to adapt to the new normal. Many of our beneficiaries were originally referred to us as they had previously been socially isolated, having slipped through the net of adult social care. It is our concern that social isolation will have a significant impact on their mental health. Strategies will need to be implemented to support them back into society once the lockdown and shielding restrictions are lifted and society begins to return to a sense of normality. It is our aim to work with the most hard to reach and lonely in our community, helping prepare them for what changes may be implemented over the coming months. Through this intervention, we can ensure that we lessen the risk of isolation, loneliness, inactivity and the impact it has on an individual’s mental and physical health. Early intervention will be key in preparing beneficiaries and families to prepare to be active within their community once again. This will help the rehabilitation of individuals to deal with the new social norms.
Covid 19 intervention strategy Daisy Inclusive UK have been proactive in adapting our service provision to encompass the extraordinary and challenging circumstances surrounding the COVID -19 pandemic. We have developed a wraparound support service that will cater for the needs and requirements of disabled and vulnerable people in our community. Daisy Inclusive UK’s COVID -19 intervention strategy has been designed to offer the best support for those who need it most. The Strategy includes
Tel: 0151 261 0309 | Email: info@daisyuk.com | www.daisyuk.com https:/ /www.facebook.com/daisy.inclusive/ |
https:/ /twitter.com/DaisyInclusive
Address: Daisy Nucleus Academy, 2 Barnes Street, Everton, Liverpool L6 5LB
ENVIRONMENT
Clarke Energy Supporting Essential Services and Delivering Energy Resilience During a challenging period for all, Clarke Energy’s installations are supporting the resilience of operation of essential services whilst our service teams around the world are providing with the same high levels of quality support. Combined heat and power plants (CHP) are deployed at the heart of numerous important facilities including hospitals, data centres, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment manufacturing facilities. They provide high efficiency electricity and heat for local use. Delivering energy resilience to these installations is achieved by offering 24-hour service support to maximise availability. Our service teams have been cooperating across borders to ensure the best service for our customers. Clarke Energy’s state of the art overhaul and repair centre in Knowsley, near Liverpool performed a comprehensive 40,000-hour overhaul and repair for a major French multinational organisation. The overhaul and repair centre, service team and access to parts, provided the customer with a cost-effective, fast turnaround as opposed to purchasing premium parts
directly. The gas engine was overhauled in the UK and returned to our service team in France, ready for installation, within time and budget. In Australia, Clarke Energy completed the first major service of the St Andrew’s Hospital new development’s in Adelaide. The service of the power plant took place during the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak. Our technicians in Romania worked to strict social distancing measures to install a third biogas engine to an existing customer in Bucharest to support renewable power production their wastewater treatment plant. Our non-service workers have also helped support essential services by donating important personal protective equipment to front line-workers. Clarke Energy distributed 1,000 face visors manufactured by sister company Kohler Mira. The
protective equipment was donated to the Royal Preston Hospital helping to ensure the safety of their staff. In France, our Technical Project Manager Francois Cappe worked tirelessly to produce 1,200 protective visors using his own personal 3D printers. The protective equipment was donated to a wide variety of key workers including healthcare, firefighters, retirement homes, universities, dentists as well as a donation of 200 to Clarke Energy’s own essential workers.
“Our service teams have been cooperating across borders to ensure the best service for our customers” 11
The EV opportunity Whether at a workplace or retail destination or on-street, a smart charging connection can transform parking. It will serve the community, increase footfall, and boost the green economy.
Eligibility criteria • Trial participants must be in the SP Manweb Licence Area, covering Merseyside, Cheshire, Shropshire, Mid-Wales and North Wales. • Trial participants must already have, or be willing to fund the installation of, a minimum of four chargepoints. • Trial participants must be willing to accept a flexible connection. This means that the connection will be controlled according to network demand.
Get ready for the electric vehicle opportunity With the sale of new petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles banned from 2035 in the UK, the majority of traffic on our roads will soon be electric. To make sure we’re ready for this change, SP Energy Networks’ Charge Project is driving investment in electric vehicle (EV) smart charging connections across Merseyside, Cheshire, North Shropshire, Mid-Wales and North Wales. If you provide parking - whether at a workplace, retail or leisure destination, a service area, or shared residential or on-street area we’d like to partner with you in a major trial to unlock your site’s ‘smart charging’ potential.
Why join?
Other advantages of joining the trial
There has never been a better time to invest in EV infrastructure:
• Government incentivising drivers to switch to
As well as receiving a smart charging connection, there are other benefits to being a trial partner:
EV transport
• Increased environmental/air quality awareness
• Free help and advice on the number of chargepoints and the
accelerating EV adoption
required size of the network connection
• Opportunity to increase footfall and/or benefit
• Positive publicity from participation in the trial • Early access to project learning
your local community The trial is open to existing chargepoint operators or any site owner considering the installation of chargepoints during 2020 and the first half of 2021.
Get involved
What is a smart charging connection? The Charge Project is pioneering intelligent technology that automatically controls the power consumption of chargepoints. A smart charging connection:
If you’re interested in getting a smart charging connection and you think your site might be eligible, please contact us at: ChargeProject@SPEnergyNetworks.co.uk.
• Means you can install more chargepoints • Enables a cheaper and faster connection to our network • Lets you offer a more flexible charging service to customers
Charge Project Timeline
June 2020
SITE TRIALS Your site would need to be operational over this period
June 2022
HEALTH & WELLBEING
A new state of the art cancer facility is set to open in Paddington Village, offering pioneering cancer treatments and screening services.
New state of the art cancer clinic to cement Liverpool’s reputation as a major life sciences hub
The Rutherford Cancer Centre North West is part of a network of advanced cancer centres across the UK offering conventional as well as pioneering treatments such as high energy proton beam therapy. The new centre will cement Liverpool’s reputation as a major life sciences hub in the UK and will be located opposite the Royal College of Physicians in the Knowledge Quarter.
delighted to be able to open a Rutherford Cancer Centre in the heart of Liverpool. This will be the fourth centre in our network and it demonstrates the strength of Liverpool as a city and its reputation as a life sciences hub. It is a particularly proud moment for me as someone born and raised in Liverpool to see this centre come to fruition.
The first Rutherford Cancer Centre in South Wales brought Proton beam therapy to the UK for the first time, which is a type of radiotherapy that delivers heavily charged protons in a more targeted manner to reduce damage to peripheral tissue and organs.
“We are living in very challenging times due to this pandemic and the North West has been very badly hit. It is important to remember however that cancer services in general have also been terribly hit by this virus. Referrals and diagnosis have plummeted, and many patients have seen their treatments delayed. Opening this centre in Liverpool is a strong statement of intent that we are prepared to face the huge challenges that lie ahead in cancer care.
The network now boasts four centres in Wales, Reading, Northumberland and Liverpool and hope to play a key role in the re-starting of cancer services which were badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Mike Moran, CEO and co-founder of Rutherford Health which oversees all Rutherford Cancer Centres, said: “We are
government and to NHS trusts to deal with the huge backlog of cancer cases. The new centre will play a crucial role in helping us with that process.” The Liverpool centre will also boast the first MR Linac system by Elekta in the UK. The MR Linac is a technology that can precisely locate tumours and accurately target them with radiation beams in real time using MR imaging. The technology will be the very first in Liverpool and the first across the Rutherford Network and is considered a vital service offering for UK cancer care nationally.
“Our centres have played a key role in keeping cancer services running throughout the pandemic and we have made our services available to the
Do you have a spare room available for this Summer 2020? Re Opening on 7th of September 2020 We are recruiting homestay hosts available from June until the end of August. Liverpool School of English is the largest and longest established language school in Liverpool. Since 1999, we have provided expert English language training in a stimulating and supportive environment. If you can provide a bedroom, meals and a warm, friendly and caring homestay, contact us today!
We pay up to £155 per week
Guaranteed income for your commitment. You can find more information on our website: www.lse.uk.net/accommodation/become-a-host-family Terms apply.
www.lse.uk.net 14
0151 706 0730
info@lse.uk.net
Liverpool School of English, 50-54 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool, L3 5SD
RESTART RECOVER RENEW
Liverpool Chamber partners with Mediatelegal to offer low cost dispute resolution service The Covid-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the revenue streams of many businesses across Merseyside. Commercial and employment disputes are likely to increase dramatically before the UK finds itself clear of the Covid-19 pandemic.
alone cost smaller businesses in England and Wales a staggering £11.6 billion. Under the most recent national mediation audit, mediation had an 89% success rate.
A 2016 report by the Federation of Small Businesses found that commercial disputes
Paul Cherpeau, CEO of Liverpool Chamber, is delighted to be partnering with
Mediation is quicker, cheaper, and more flexible than litigation. It is completely confidential, so businesses can protect reputations while working together to resolve otherwise difficult disputes.
Chamber Mediation Scheme In response to the ongoing pandemic Mediatelegal and Liverpool Chamber have launched a bespoke low cost mediation scheme. Under the scheme Chamber members will have access to the service designed to help local businesses reduce the cost of disputes during these difficult times, and in some cases they will be able to mediate certain disputes entirely for free.
Mediatelegal, “As we enter the restart and recovery stage post Covid-19, the service offered by Mediatelegal is exactly the kind of practical and cost effective support that we know our members will value and we look forward to working with the team”. To access the scheme, members simply need to contact Mediatelegal on 0151 363 3972 or help@mediatelegal.co.uk. Any business which is a current member of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce will automatically be entitled to access the Chamber Mediation scheme. Mediatelegal are one of a select group of Civil Mediation Council Registered Mediation Providers.
Employee engagement and wellbeing is vital to business success At The Sovini Group we understand that positive employee engagement and wellbeing is vital to the success of a business, it’s one of the reasons we have been voted the UK’s Best Workplace™ for the third year by Great Places to Work. Now more than ever it is necessary to ensure our Sovini family feel engaged in workplace culture and to open up conversations around mental health and wellbeing. Our employee app, ‘Our Space’, has been pivotal in ensuring we stay connected during this difficult time when the majority of our workforce are working from home. We have implemented a bespoke health & wellbeing plan to deliver virtual sessions
which are available to all including ‘Fitness Friday’ – weekly fitness sessions delivered by qualified personal trainers - and mental health support sessions focusing on subjects such as ‘sleep’ and ‘kindness’.
Council for Voluntary Service (CVS). We have donated almost £4000 to their COVID-19 fundraising appeal in membership fees from our in-house gym which remains closed due to coronavirus.
We have recently launched an employee recognition programme – ‘Sovini Superheroes’ – which rewards employees who have gone above and beyond to support their local community during the coronavirus pandemic. From volunteering in local hospitals to delivering food packages to vulnerable people in the local area, our employees truly are superheroes!
Through our partnership with Sefton CVS we have been able to provide funding to Reverend Ravi Sangra for a bicycle allowing him to deliver vital supplies to isolated older people in Sefton and made over £20,000 worth of food and personal care item donations to local charities, including the NHS, to support them through this difficult time.
As an organisation we are committed to investing in the communities we serve and are proudly working in partnership with Sefton4Good, a charity initiative from Sefton
Our Group member Sovini Trade Supplies have donated essential PPE equipment to local care homes including Park Haven Trust and Care Connect to support key workers providing vital services for local residents. Roy Williams, Group CEO said: “These are challenging times for all businesses and I am incredibly proud of the way our organisation pulls together to ensure we continue to deliver the highest level of service for all our customers. Our employees continue to go above and beyond during this time supporting each other, our customers and the local community. That’s what the Sovini family is all about.”
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BUSINESS GROWTH PROGRAMME
Supporting businesses to grow through COVID-19 and beyond.
W
TH
The term “New Normal� seems to be more common place yet the reasons behind it are the stuff of Hollywood movies. Managing your business at the moment maybe really scary, trying to make it work in our new normal is daunting, challenging and requires more support than ever.
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BUSINESS GROWTH PROGRAMME
The Business Growth Programme from Liverpool Chamber is designed to build confidence, create new opportunities and help you navigate through these truly unique times. Fully funded through ERDF, we are able to deliver high quality sessions, webinars and events at no cost to you and is available to members and non-members of Liverpool Chamber. *Businesses are subject to eligibility. “How can I organise and motivate myself and my team through these uncertain times?”
Alongside all this you will be given one to one support from our team who will guide you through the paperwork, signpost you to additional help and/or funding and be on hand to answer any growth related questions. Everything you need to help you reach your business goals. The Business Growth Programme funding is subject to 12 hours of participation so we have created bite sized sessions which are just an hour long and completed within 5 weeks. The programme is here to boost your business, not take you away from it!
Working from home, remote team management and declining sales are real time challenges. All sessions on this programme are delivered by Chamber members who have gone through similar situations to yourself and are now experts in their field. They have the skills and personal experience to guide through these and a whole host of obstacles that have been thrown at the business world in 2020. They will help you redefine your people and self-management skills so you can delegate effectively and empower yourself and your team.
There are two options for businesses to access this support which will be discussed and decided on during your initial conversation. No two businesses are the same and we don’t treat them as such.
“Do people still want what we have to offer?” “How do we attract them?”
Gary has enjoyed a successful career in the corporate world operating at Board and senior management level in Operations and Commercial positions and is responsible for many successful product launches. Since setting up his own business his company has delivered successful programmes into hundreds of businesses delivering profitable growth and jobs created in a sustainable manner.
Are you asking yourself this on a daily basis? The Business Growth Programme will help you identify your target market and fully understand their needs so you can ensure that what you have on offer is exactly what they want and most importantly what they need! With initiative marketing assessment of your business, the programme will help you find new ways to find and attract your ideal customers with ease. “Do we have sufficient reserves to see the business through?” This programme is more than just events and webinars. There are practical sessions with specially designed tools to help you carry out real time financial modelling to ensure your plans make sense and help you maintain a healthy cashflow.
Liverpool Chamber
Option 1 – Dedicated workshops delivered by Gary Halpin of Flourish 12 workshops delivered twice a week over a five week period so not to take you away from your business for longer than necessary.
would have no hesitation to recommend it to others.” — Diane Cannon “Gary Halpin from Flourish provided an easy to follow course with practical examples that could be immediately transported into my own business. The course has had an instant impact and will undoubtedly benefit my business in the long run.”— Chris Pearson Option 2 – Personal invitations to a selection of webinars delivered by Chamber Members We understand that there may be a number of areas you would like to explore to support the growth of your business. To meet that need we have a suite of webinars and events both live and prerecorded that cover topics such as digital skills, change management and social media marketing. These sessions are delivered by experts in their field and have been hand selected to give you a range of options. Again thanks to the ERDF funding, these sessions are at no cost to you. To find out more and to check your eligibility visit http:/ /eepurl.com/gZXHCb
Gary will take you through each of your challenges and help you find the right solution so your business is stronger and your feel more confident. “The structure of the workshop works really well, Gary’s business acumen is great and he has extensive knowledge of different sectors which is very useful. I recommended the workshop to one of my business colleagues after week one and I
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BATHGATE BUSINESS FINANCE
Independent CBILS Funding for Your Business Have you struggled to get funding to support your business through the COVID-19 crisis via traditional routes? Independent CBILS intermediaries, Bathgate Business Finance provide alternatives. Since the beginning of May, Bathgate Business Finance has written £3.4 million worth of deals on the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), many of those for businesses that could not secure finance through traditional means. On average, the process from application to receipt of funds is less than two weeks. If you think you will not be able to secure finance for your business, or that the funds will not arrive as urgently as you need them. Contact us today, we may be able to help. We are an approved intermediary for a number of independent CBILS funders and we are able to help eligible SMEs navigate the relevant loan application processes quickly and efficiently, and by completing the applications on your behalf, we are giving it the best possible opportunity to succeed. We are able to apply for CBILS loans from £50k to £5m and currently our acceptance and conversion rate for CBILS applications is 62 percent - 10 percent higher than the national average.
In the past seven weeks we have secured funding for 25 businesses across the region, from a variety of sectors, these include:
can advise you on, including CBILSbacked Asset Finance and CBILS-backed Invoice Discounting.
Business
Amount Product
Turnaround
Status
Software Company
£199k
CBILS Loan
Two weeks
Fully paid
Accountant
£89k
CBILS Loan
One week
Fully paid
Manufacturer
£250k
CBILS Loan
Eight days
Fully paid
Two weeks
Signed
Construction Company £450k CBILS Loan & Asset Refinance Hospitality Company
£250k
CBILS Loan
One week
Fully paid
CAD Company
£250k
CBILS Loan
Five Days to approval
Pending payout
Am I eligible for support? To be eligible for the CBILS loan, your business must be UK-based with a turnover of less than £45 million, with more than 50 per cent of that coming from trading activity, rather than investments. As well as having been adversely affected by the coronavirus, the loan should primarily be taken for business purposes and activity in the UK. If you are not eligible for a CBILS loan, there are still other options that our team
CBILS Benefits • • • • • • • •
Image taken prior to COVID-19 outbreak
Borrow from £50k - £5m Loan period from 12 months - 5 years No repayments periods starting from 6 months to 12 months Low rates available No personal guarantee up to £250k No admin fee Most decisions within 24 hours Selective Invoice Discounting - no fees for the first 12 months
“Our acceptance and conversion rate for CBILS applications is 62 percent - 10 percent higher than the national average.” Requirements • • • •
Last two years’ accounts Last six months’ bank statements Basic finance application form GDPR consent forms
Helping you find the right business finance, when you need it most. Contact:
Paul Trickett paul@bathgatebf.co.uk or 07469 140180 18
| 0151 625 7323 | Bathgatebf.co.uk
RESTART RECOVER RENEW
Re-imagine, re-focus & restart It’s work, but not like you knew it... As business owners, how do we begin to think about re-starting as we cautiously emerge from lockdown? Over a period of 12 weeks, we were forced to abandon so many of our ‘normal’ rules of operation. Organisations that had a five-year-plan in progress to make remote working possible made that change overnight. We found innovative ways to host meetings and planning sessions. We learned how to continue growing businesses from our kitchen tables, toy rooms and sofas. In short, we re-imagined the way everything could work. And as we were all forced to stand still, it was technology that kept the world ticking over. That’s why there’s never been a more important time to re-focus and invest in your digital strategy. Lockdown forced you to re-imagine what a new working life could look like. It’s technology that will allow you to implement that vision as you ‘restart’ in this brave new world.
Why Re-Focus? To make the most of re-starting your business, you need to test it to see where improvements can be made. This could be in processes and procedures, how you communicate with your clients, or even how, when and where your team works. It’s a bit like taking an eye test. When your vision is slightly out of focus, everything is fuzzy and your eyes just aren’t working quite as well as they should be. But then your optician makes a tiny tweak, changes a lens and - hey presto! - everything becomes clear again.
Liverpool Chamber
When we talk about re-setting or restarting a business, you first need to do the same. You need to re-focus and to do that, you can benefit from a fresh pair of eyes. Having someone external come in and help you look at what your business does well, what value you deliver for your clients and the role that technology plays in all of that, can give you that moment of clarity.
towards a new destination, or restarting your journey to an existing business goal.
4. Futureproof Flexibility Some tech solutions are good for right now, but what about in one or five years’ time? What if the world experiences another seismic shift? Will the tech you have invested in allow you to pivot, react and even survive? Addressing these key areas will allow you and your business to put a marker in the sand. It will allow us to help define your objectives and plot a course to your intended destination, a roadmap to a place where your investment will be tangibly demonstrated. If you’d like to review your digital strategy or would like to map out a new one, why not get in touch at hello@mashbo.com or visit Mashbo.com
Then you can identify where digital and tech can take up some of your heavy lifting to deliver benefits for you, your staff and your customers. That’s exactly what the Mashbo team does with its robust planning and scoping process, looking at four key areas:
1. Digital Declutter What systems and processes did you find you could live without? What expensive platforms were suddenly rendered defunct, when your workforce went remote? What labour-intensive tasks could tech be doing for your team?
2. Strategy Review After moving your employees to remote working in a matter of days, or pivoting your product online, even in a roughand-ready way, do you still think those ambitious tech goals you had in your five-year or ten-year plan are still out of reach? Does your digital strategy still fit the business that has emerged from lockdown, or is it time to tear it up and start again?
3. Define Objectives Tech should never be built for tech’s sake. It should serve a particular objective that helps your business to move forward, whether you’re re-setting and heading
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RESTART RECOVER RENEW
Liverpool has set out an unprecedented £1.4bn plan to help boost the nation’s economic recovery and preparations for a post-Brexit economy. The city has submitted a 178-page report to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor outlining how the city aims to prevent a socio-economic crisis deeper than the 1980s recession, with a multi-layered programme which if delivered, will create 25,600 jobs, provide an additional 12,000 construction jobs and more than 9,700 apprenticeships. Commissioned by the Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson, this fully costed post-Covid recovery strategy sets out a five-year vision that also underlines Liverpool’s key strategic role as a global gateway in postBrexit Britain. Co-signed by the Metro Mayor of Liverpool City Region, the Liverpool Economic Recovery Plan (LERP) also has the backing of 72 leading figures from the city’s commercial, legal, financial and cultural sectors including Liverpool FC Chief Executive Peter Moore, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool Professor Dame Janet Beer and John Cummins of the fund Legal & General. The LERP report focuses on four key themes – Innovation, Housing, Employment and Creative & Visitor – with the goal of delivering hundreds of millions of pounds of investment to the city and wider region across key sectors in the knowledge economy, construction industry and cultural community providing jobs and supporting people in accessing lifelong careers in the areas which will drive the UK economy in future decades. Liverpool, which has been resurrecting its economic base for the past 20 years
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following its dramatic collapse for the preceding 40 years, has been heavily impacted by Covid-19 and Liverpool City Council has moved quickly at the outset of the pandemic to set out a strategy (initially called Project Greyhound) which ensures recent momentum is not lost. Before Covid-19 struck Liverpool was averaging £1bn a year in regeneration investment and was steadily establishing itself as a world leading destination for medical research, digital health and life sciences. Its three universities annually educates 70,000 students and the visitor economy of the former European Capital of Culture (2008) has grown to more than £3bn a year. In a letter to the Prime Minister introducing the plan, Mayor Joe Anderson and Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram jointly set out how the vision aims to underpin this recent growth and address the risk of mass unemployment when the Government’s emergency employment and business support measures are phased out from this Autumn. The LERP report has identified more than 25 shovel ready projects – most of which could begin before the end of 2020.
Totalling £1.4bn these projects include a new cruise terminal, an energy efficiency retrofitting project to benefit 4,000 homes, a new film and TV studio at the former Littlewoods Building, and ‘Upper Central, a £450m, 56 acre brownfield development for supporting new digital, tech and creative companies as part the next phase of the city’s Knowledge Quarter. The recovery plan, which was co-authored by independent economic consultants Metro Dynamics, is requesting £200m of central government funding for physical construction and more than £267m for apprenticeship and skills training programmes. Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “The Covid-19 lockdown has left cities like Liverpool in a state of economic paralysis and the option of doing two things – wait for events to unfold or take action. Liverpool has acted. This recovery plan is a blueprint for a new Liverpool. with the public and private sector united in its vision. It has been forged by ambition and a confidence to attract investment in our infrastructure to allow businesses to grow and to create new skills, new homes and new jobs.”
RESTART RECOVER RENEW
Working together to respond, rebound, and reinvent through the phases of the COVID-19 pandemic By Paul Buxton, Vice President North & Utilities, CGI UK Organisations of every size across all sectors have faced drastic workforce changes since the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe earlier this year. Governments worldwide have enacted strict physical distancing requirements affecting just about every facet of life, and organisations have had to rapidly adjust to new ways of working. In April 2020, CGI launched a global campaign to help our clients, communities and members respond to the unprecedented challenges brought about by the pandemic, rebound effectively, and reinvent ways of working. Globally, CGI teams have been rapidly mobilising resources and systems to help support the vital workings of society, all while keeping our 78,000 employees safe. Our campaign focuses on three important phases:
RESPOND
Addressing the immediate needs of operating during the crisis Helping with the urgent work required to mobilise resources and systems to respond to the crisis and continue to support the vital workings of society Remote Working We have enabled rapid transition to remote working for thousands of our clients and members, through increased bandwidth, remote security, and rapid rollouts of collaboration software. In the UK, we secured remote connections for 98% of our 6,000 members within days of the lockdown beginning, including transitioning our Service Desk with no disruption to service. We also deployed an new collaboration tool in just over a month. In the Asia Pacific, we have mobilised our 15,000 Global Delivery professionals, ensuring the remote provision of seamless offshore global delivery to help our clients sustain critical services even as our own operations transitioned to the new working model. Cyber Security CGI has provided a rapid response to heightened cyber security risks, with our security experts worldwide volunteering time and expertise to better protect people, businesses and communities against cyber threats . To help our clients identify the threats organisations are currently experiencing , we have published two downloadable guides: COVID-19 and Cyber Security: A Quick Reference Guide for
Liverpool Chamber
Business and Security Leaders and Cyber Security Hygiene During COVID-19: A Dos and Don’ts Guide to Share With Your Employees. Remote Learning We have established remote connections and virtual learning environments for children in over 1,700 schools across Europe. In the UK, we converted our successful STEM Camp Programme into virtual STEM from Home education packs for children, focusing on science, technology, engineering and maths activities to support our members and clients in balancing remote working and home schooling.
REBOUND
Meeting the tactical challenges associated with emerging from the crisis Focusing on reopening the economy and society, from finding capacity to meet surges in demand, to facing new business realities Travel permits for key workers To adapt to travel restrictions, CGI has developed a mobile app to enable the UK government to manage work statuses and travel permits, identifying key workers and rapidly authorising their travel. Alleviating payment burden on customers In partnership with Fintech company, Ordo, we have developed a new payment method, which allows service providers and retailers to offer discretionary flexible payment terms to customers, rapidly alleviating payment burden while maintaining cash flow. Supporting COVID-19 treatment research By designing and developing a new digital platform to help the Montreal Heart Institute find a potential treatment for COVID-19, CGI
helped them not only respond quickly to the pandemic, but also rebound with a state-ofthe-art digital platform for managing and conducting clinical studies more effectively in the future. Improving patient and physician care CGI is helping a Swedish hospital improve patient and physician care and ‘flatten the curve’ by reducing healthcare staff’s administration tasks, enabling them to focus on higher value work. Use of Intelligent Automation has helped them respond to the immediate crisis, while reinventing processes to support a “new normal”.
REINVENT
Reengineering operating models to enable new ways of interaction Moving beyond the short-term reopening and addressing the structural impacts to industries with new business models and practices. Continue to invest in a Digital Strategy CGI has shared some practical approaches to help transportation and logistics organisations prepare for recovery and beyond by advancing digitisation and reducing costs. This includes use of advanced analytics and machine learning to increase revenues and help predict demand and capacity. Embracing the opportunities of 5G 5G is the enabler that can drive the economy post epidemic, allowing faster and better responses to future crisis through advanced technology. As a systems integrator, CGI supports the collaborative planning and implementation effort that is crucial to the success of these initiatives. Find out more about CGI’s Respond. Rebound. Reinvent campaign at www.cgi-group.co.uk/respondrebound-reinvent or email Paul Buxton at enquiry.uk@cgi.com to discuss any of the initiatives above.
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INNOVATION
Innovating to survive:
Baltic Creative businesses adapt
Baltic Creative Community Interest Company (CIC) recently shined the spotlight on the reality facing its tenants in survey which revealed the struggles being faced by some of Liverpool’s digital and creative businesses. Like the majority of sectors, digital and creative businesses are having to adapt to a new way of working in order to maintain a level of trade throughout the lockdown. The survey of 47 tenants revealed that nearly 80% have seen their incomes negatively impacted since lockdown began, with 20% having received no income since March 2020, but many of these businesses are taking brave steps to innovate and survive. By the end of April, 55% of Baltic Creative’s tenants had already diversified their product and service offerings in order to survive, with the majority of employees now successfully working from home. One company that has moved to remote working is long-standing tenant, As Creatives which normally takes its creative education workshops into schools, but
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has now launched a new online portal, As Creatives Connect, to help children to learn in a fun way from home. Two of Baltic Creative’s café partners, Chapters of Us and The Baltic Roastery have also diversified their offerings. No longer able to trade from its usual space, the team at Chapters of Us has set up a new online ordering service with options including brunch boxes and cocktail making kits available for home delivery. While The Baltic Roastery has been continually roasting coffee and has seen its online sale of its signature beans explode. Further positives from the survey also showed that over 95% of the businesses have not had to make any redundancies, with 45% taking advantage of the government’s coronavirus job retention scheme.
Tenant at Baltic Creative’s Northern Lights scheme, Nathan Connolly, publishing director at Dead Ink Books, said: “Throughout all of this, where there has been a lot of uncertainty, Baltic Creative has been exceptional in communicating clearly and offering support where they can. “They have really been a constant and that has helped us get through this period when we’ve faced so much confusion from elsewhere. We know this situation must have been really hard for Baltic Creative too, and we’re greatly appreciative to them for thinking of the tenants throughout and doing what they can to help.” Creative and digital businesses can find additional support and resources for navigating the COVID-19 crisis via the Baltic Creative website.
Willowbrook – an Outstanding beacon in the community Willowbrook hospice has been a constant and comforting presence for people in the St Helens and Knowsley areas diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. Judged as ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission in February 2020, Willowbrook has provided specialist palliative care in the area since 1997. The Hospice Care movement – founded in 1967 by Dame Cicely Saunders – is still relatively young but has grown to provide, in the words of Willowbrook’s own aims ‘The Best Care, delivered with compassion for our Community’.
Every 24 hours, it costs Willowbrook £790 to care for each patient. 27% of this comes from the government in the form of grants from the NHS but the rest comes from our charitable efforts in fundraising and through our retail outlets, a significant challenge in an area of high deprivation. 80% of all money raised is spent directly on patient services, a high percentage in comparison to some charities. Managed day-to-day by an Executive Management team, not only does the Hospice provide care it also helps train the NHS staff of the future. For example, in 2019/20, we supported 73 medical and 47 nursing students through delivering 275 education sessions for staff in local primary care and care homes. So we are also playing our part in preparing tomorrow’s doctors and nurses. In March 2020, Willowbrook was heading for one of its most successful years ever when with little warning, we had to shut down in response to the Government’s
guidance on the Covid-19 pandemic. Overnight, to safeguard the Hospice’s finances, fundraising and retail staff were furloughed, outpatient appointments cancelled and inpatient visits stopped. Four months on, Willowbrook is now reopening and restarting its income generating channels and developing online support for our outpatients. Not the best time to start a new job but Stephen Carroll stepped into his new role as Corporate Business Manager at the end of March just a few days after lockdown started. What are his plans to help get Willowbrook back to where it should be? Stephen – a veteran of 35 years in change and lean management – is also the co-founder of the ‘Old School House’ community project in Huyton. Together with a small team, he successfully achieved significant funding to refurbish an old school building and turn it into a vibrant community hub for the residents of Huyton. By implementing this wealth of experience, Stephen plans to establish links with the business community who are best placed to help support Willowbrook Hospice back to good health. Alongside implementing best practices in the workplace and developing the already strong relationships Willowbrook has with its volunteers, the intention is to also find ways for businesses to apply their social responsibility programmes and thus help Willowbrook recover. Stephen says, “I have had really good interaction and feedback from local business and they have been very respectful in recognising the positive impact of Willowbrook. It would be great for me to reach out to the wider community now and devise ways to enable these hugely supportive companies to support and help develop Willowbrook Hospice and all its outstanding work.”
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Executive Management Team. Left to right – Chris Haywood (Clinical Director) Paula Powell (Medical Director) Alun Owen (Corporate Director)
Hospice Grounds Stephen Carroll Corporate Business Manager
s EM Outstanding – Banner held on the left by Trustee, elected Councillor and Mayor of Knowsley Frank Walsh along with other Trustees and Staff
If you think you can help Stephen in this crucial work to rebuild and grow Willowbrook, please contact him at stephenc@willowbrookhospice.org.uk or on 01744 453798 ext 3801
Employment Training for Merseyside
Digital training with Acas Courses available now, delivered via Zoom: Mental Health Homeworking Discipline and Grievance Redundancy and Restructuring Varying an Employment Contract Employment aw pdate Transition !rom ockdown
Recent feedback for
Acas North West digital training:
"I wanted to pass on my thanks for your session. It was very informative. The interaction was great and it helped being able to hear from people in other areas." HR officer, UK central government department
Acas, the workplace experts, provide a range of training opportunities across the North West. We can also come to your workplace and deliver bespoke training tailored to your needs.
Booking info: www.acas.org.uk/northwest Tel: 0300 123 1150 Email: events@acas.org.uk Twitter: @ cas
n n n n
Cleaning Services 24 hour key holding and emergency call out Weekly fire alarm testing CCTV installation
Please visit our website for more details; acmfacilitiesmanagement.co.uk or call us directly and speak to a member of our team on 0778 559 5866 Suite 48, Oriel Chambers, Water Street, Liverpool L2 8TD T: 0778 559 5866 | E: acmcaretaking@outlook.com
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FINANCE
Responsible investment beyond the coronavirus How the investment community can help advance the environmental gains that have come out of COVID-19 The consequences of the coronavirus pandemic will clearly be profound, wideranging and long-lasting. So, it’s no surprise that any sources of optimism to be found as the crisis unfolds are quickly seized upon. Perhaps the most significant so far has come in the form of the immediate effects on the environment. Greenhouse gas emissions have fallen, while data from NASA suggests that air quality has improved dramatically as countries around the world have taken steps to restrict activity and travel. Indeed, this could be an opportunity for organisations to rethink how they do business – and question whether they need to return to a form of normality in which, for example, employees are flown to meetings that could otherwise be held using video conferencing facilities.
A more realistic rate of change Unfortunately, however, the environmental positives are likely to be temporary. Indeed, there is now a risk of efforts to address climate change becoming a lesser priority as governments focus on dealing with the economic implications of the crisis. This is why the investment industry has an important role to play in maintaining the momentum that has gathered in recent weeks and months. The biggest crisis now is clearly COVID-19, but the biggest crisis of the 2020s is still climate change, and we need to ensure that once we’re on the other side of the coronavirus pandemic that governments keep focusing on that. But the environmental gains from the pandemic have clearly been made alongside painful social, economic and
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health consequences. In other words, the current rate of improvement is unsustainable. If we’re taking climate change seriously, we would rather see a smooth transition at a rate less dramatic than we’re seeing at the moment. We don’t want to be in a position of having to bring a halt to everything, as we are now, in order to have that environmental impact.
We can invest for change Responsible investing isn’t just about the environment, of course. The crisis has also shone the spotlight on corporate behaviours – both good and bad – and helped illustrate why businesses cannot simply be about making profits. If they are going to be successful, they need to think about their wider stakeholders. Companies that have put measures in place for employees, for example, will come out of this with higher employee satisfaction and community spirit – and that contributes to their long-term success. The importance of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) factors in investment decisions has only become clearer as the crisis has unfolded. Investors increasingly seek information about sustainability and responsible investing, with growing awareness of the broader long-term aspects of successful and effective investing. Anyone who wants to explore their responsible investing options should speak with a financial adviser. To receive a complimentary guide covering wealth management, retirement planning or Inheritance Tax planning, contact AJ Barnes Financial Planning on 07792598040 or email alex.barnes@sjpp.co.uk
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Bringing solutions to the pandemic challenges Trevor Charsley, Senior Markets Advisor at AFEX, July 2020 Sometimes being in business can be very daunting, especially at this moment. The pandemic has hit the UK particularly hard under two different aspects: the number of deaths and the economic downturn. The question that many businesses are asking is this: Will the economic recovery be swift, or long and drawn out? The answer will help them prepare for the future. While it is, of course, impossible to predict what is yet to come, we can hopefully point you in the right direction. June’s economic release show UK GDP falling by 20.4% in May, with unemployment at only 3.9% (so far). The government, however, may be supporting as much as a third of the UK workforce with its furlough scheme, due to end in October. According to a recent study from Oxford Economics, 400,000 jobs may be lost in the creative industries due to the pandemic. HSBC is openly discussing cutting 35,000 banking jobs. This doesn’t suggest that unemployment or the economy will bounce back quickly.
The Bank of England projected a 14% fall in GDP for 2020, accompanied by an unemployment rate of 9%, with return to growth in 2022. The Bank’s predictions assume a trade deal will be struck between the UK and EU before the Brexit deadline. The UK government is pushing for a deal to be concluded by July, while the EU is suggesting October—but we have no idea what the agreement will look like. If a deal is agreed, businesses will have two months to react to the new terms, a very challenging timeframe to properly prepare and adapt.
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Import and export businesses have the added task of managing increased currency volatility. Over 10 days in March, GBP/USD fell sharply by 14% and GBP/ EUR by 9%. Businesses who had a flexible hedging policy in place were able to deal with this volatility. Those who didn’t, probably received an unwelcome shock.
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All taken together, we can conclude that the UK economy will take its time to recover. The ECB has suggested that the Eurozone GDP could fall by between 5% in its most positive scenario, and 12% in its worst-case scenario. The EU, however, is currently negotiating a euro 750 billion stimulus package, some of which will be distributed as grants. This is good news for the euro. But now the question is: Are the central banks telling us the likely direction of GBP/EUR? To find out more, please visit www.afex. com or contact Trevor Charsley on +44 (0)207 004 3866 | tcharsley@afex.com
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Trevor Charsley, Senior Markets Advisor at AFEX Bringing 25 years of FX sales and trading experience to bear on his market study, analysis and commentary. Trevor provides incisive market analysis and perspective, leavened by his wry humour and ever-present optimism, to AFEX clients and to the broader market through his weekly blog and videos. A sought-after speaker and successful currency forecaster on Bloomberg, Trevor is often quoted in the UK business press.
Foreign exchange options and other derivative products are not suitable for everyone and you should ensure you fully understand the risks involved before purchasing these products. This has been prepared solely for informational purposes and does not in any way create any binding obligations on any party. The information provided here should not be construed as providing advice or recommendations of any kind. You should use your independent judgment and consult with your own independent advisors in evaluating whether to enter into a transaction. No representations, warranties or conditions of any kind, express or implied, are made in this document. Associated Foreign Exchange Limited, which trades as AFEX, is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Payment Services Regulations 2017. AFEX Markets Plc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority as an investment firm.
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Photo Credit: Andy Teebay/Liverpool Echo
Infectious disease experts looking to the business community to help prevent future pandemics.
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), the first of its kind in the world, is returning to its roots in partnering with businesses to tackle global health threats, as the focus on the COVID-19 pandemic begins to shift from emergency response to longterm resilience. For almost 125 years, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine has worked across the world in some of the world; discovering how diseases are spread, developing new treatments and interventions, and delivering impactful solutions to improve health. As recent events have shown, global pandemics do not respect geographical boundaries, and a globally focused effort is needed to combat them. LSTM has worked for decades in the most fragile health systems and its work has never been so important. Throughout the pandemic, many of LSTM’s staff and facilities have been refocused on supporting frontline response efforts, including treating patients across the city’s hospitals. A dedicated research fund has been established in partnership with the University of Liverpool, focussed on finding new solutions, treatments, and vaccines.
More recently, LSTM was recently selected as a site for the Oxford vaccine trial; a decision which indicates the esteem in which LSTM’s respiratory and clinical trials expertise is held. As the UK moves out of the immediate crisis and we start to see the number of deaths and new cases fall, people may feel that the danger has largely passed. However, the World Health Organization lists many diseases which have the potential to cause public health emergencies, but for which there are currently no effective drugs and/ or vaccines. LSTM is uniquely placed to play a leading role to continue researching new solutions now and understanding how to prevent similar devastating outbreaks in the future. In April, LSTM launched the COVID-19 Response and Resilience Fund, to support
COVID-19 research efforts and supporting colleagues working at the front line in Malawi, one of the world’s poorest countries. LSTM’s very foundation was through the collective support of the city’s industrialists and it is now looking to the North West business community to join the COVID Funders’ Circle and kick-start the second round of fundraising. Professor David Lalloo, LSTM Director said, “Over the last few months, I have worked alongside many of our clinically trained staff treating COVID patients in Liverpool’s hospitals and have seen first-hand the devastating effects of this disease.” “I am proud that LSTM has been able to support local efforts at the front line as well as driving forward the science which will have far-reaching impact in the global COVID efforts and in creating more resilient health systems in the future.” LSTM is seeking up to ten founding partners to support this critical next stage of research as part of the exclusive COVID Funders’ Circle. For more information about joining LSTM in the fight against COVID-19 and future pandemics, please contact Karen Brady, Director of Fundraising: Karen.Brady@ lstmed.ac.uk or call +44 7714 481656.
LSTM: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) is the world’s oldest centre of excellence in tropical medicine and international public health. It has been engaged in the fight against infectious, debilitating and disabling diseases since 1898 and continues that tradition today with a research portfolio over £320 million and a teaching programme attracting students from over 65 countries. For further information please visit www.lstmed.ac.uk/covid-19
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MEDICASH LAUNCHES SKIN CANCER DETECTION APP Leading Liverpool-based cash plan provider Medicash has launched a skin cancer detection app in partnership with SkinVision. Available free of charge to all new and existing policyholders on a company paid health cash plan, the SkinVision app can detect 95% of skin cancer. The SkinVision app is certified by the British Standards Institute (BSI) and across the globe it has nearly 1.3 million users. To date 3.5 million moles and skin spots have been analysed and over 40,000 skin cancers found, proving that this app really can save lives.
On average 1 in 5 people will develop skin cancer at some point in their lifetime, with UV exposure being the biggest cause of this type of cancer. Just one case of severe sunburn heavily increases your chances of getting skin cancer in the future. Users will have access to an unlimited number of tests worth over £45 per year. The SkinVision app also allows users to store photos to keep track of changes over time, helping both them and their doctor to monitor changes in the long term. Sue Weir, chief executive of Medicash said: “We are offering our policyholders a simple and effective way to check their skin for skin cancer. This app provides an instant risk assessment and advice on what you should do next, including seeing a doctor, if needed. “It is invaluable at a time when many are worried about seeing their GP or wasting the NHS’s time. With the launch of this app we hope to detect more skin cancers at an early stage when they are most treatable.”
The timing of the launch is particularly important when Cancer referrals have dropped by up to 80% in some areas as individuals are put off from consulting with a GP over symptoms they would have done prior to ‘lockdown’.¹ Shellie Campbell Birch, a current user of the SkinVision app said: “SkinVision helped me to realise that nobody is too busy to look after their health, using this app takes seconds, so there’s no excuse. “I downloaded the app, and my husband took a photo of the spot on my back. Within 30 seconds, it came back with a ‘high risk’ assessment. I called my doctor after reading the message and scheduled an appointment the next day.” Erik de Heus, chief executive of SkinVision said: “We are thrilled to work with Medicash to support their corporate members across the UK with the early detection of skin cancer. Digital technology is quickly transforming the approach to healthcare as we know it. “Our service can provide users with the technology to quickly and accurately assess their skin spots from the comfort of home, giving them the chance to seek care and treatment in time, if needed. We’re very excited to see how the partnership will evolve.”
‘Back to Business’ COVID-19 Staff Screening Programme from Randox Health As we move towards a new ‘normal’ and businesses begin the process of reopening, many organisations will be wondering how to ensure a safe and reassuring work environment for their staff. Thanks to an innovative COVID-19 testing service, available from Liverpool Chamber member Randox Health, employers can facilitate a timely and efficient return to work by confirming their workforce as ‘COVID-safe.’ The staff screening programme will allow companies to demonstrate their commitment to their staff, and help a wide variety of industries get back to business by ensuring the highest level of safety. David Hallendorff, Business Relations Manager at Randox Health commented; “Collectively we are all working towards a timely return to a more normal society, which will see companies reopening and people returning to work.
Randox, a partner of the UK Government’s national COVID-19 testing programme, is offering two types of testing to members of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce - PCR (diagnostic) testing that is performed on a throat/nasal sample taken with a home swab collection, and antibody testing, performed on a patient blood sample taken by the Randox Health team. Whilst antibody tests give an indication that an individual has been previously infected with COVID-19, they do not confirm current presence of the virus, and as such, a combination of diagnostic and antibody testing is recommended to determine a complete overview of a patient’s COVID-19 status.
“To facilitate this recovery of the economy, without compromising the health of workers or of the wider general public, workplaces have a responsibility to provide a safe working environment.
David added; “We are delighted now to be able to offer antibody testing, which, in conjunction with the diagnostic test being used in the Government’s national testing programme, forms our ‘Back to Business’ programme, for organisations to address their own particular testing needs.
“It is great to see so many companies putting the health of their staff as a priority and taking a proactive approach to testing.”
“Randox is fully committed to supporting the national effort to fight COVID-19 by testing at scale, and we continue to work alongside
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the government and ramp up our testing capabilities, as we know that this is the most effective way to save lives and ensure a timely return to a more normal society.” Paul Cherpeau, Chief Executive of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce concluded; “We are delighted to have Randox, which has such vast experience in the diagnostics industry and has subsequently been able to respond so quickly to the COVID-19 outbreak, as one of our Chamber members. “That this pioneering testing technology is available from a company based in Liverpool presents an exceptional opportunity for workplaces here to easily implement a staff screening programme, and at the same time demonstrate a high standard of duty of care.” www.randoxhealth.com
What have we learnt from Covid-19? The impact of Covid-19 on businesses across the city has been substantial, whatever the size or sector. We asked Liverpool Chamber members for some personal reflections on how it has changed both their business and their own perceptions. At Morecrofts we have been fortunate to be able to keep providing our services throughout lockdown, albeit in an altered state. The majority of our team have been working remotely and I will forever be grateful for our technology upgrade in January which enabled this transition to work as seamlessly as possible. We have introduced virtual meetings with clients, and others, and many of our solicitors have been attending court from their homes. Like everyone else, we are now all Zoom and Teams experts. There have been multiple challenges along the way, and we have been faced with daily conundrums to solve, but have discovered there is very little that cannot be done remotely, with a little imagination. I am a natural optimist and always try to take the positives from every situation. I know that this has been an extremely difficult time for many people in different ways. I think we have learnt many valuable lessons, personally as well as workwise, from this whole experience. We have learnt to use our technology in ways we might not have done before, and to its full capacity. We have learnt to operate more efficiently – something I have been promoting for years! The dictum that you need to create urgency and chaos to accelerate change, has certainly proved true. Emerging from lockdown has taken far more planning, although of course we have had the luxury of time, rather than having to react to a crisis. For us, those who can work
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remotely are still doing so. Our offices are open by appointment only as we continue to prioritise the welfare of our staff and their families. Our people are our main asset, and they need looking after. We recognise that many of them will have caring and other responsibilities, and that some will feel unsafe working in an office environment and travelling on public transport, so we want to facilitate their working remotely and flexibly for as long as they need. If they decide that is the way they would like to work permanently, and that is workable for the business, we will look to support that. It has been fascinating to see how different personalities have reacted to the situation. It has been brilliant to see some real leadership qualities emerge throughout the team, sometimes in unexpected places. I am so incredibly proud of our people and the way they have dealt with the whole situation. One of the first things we did was set up a whole firm WhatsApp group and It has been brilliant to see people who don’t normally meet from one Christmas to the next, chatting on there. I believe that these new relationships and strengths, coupled with our fresh understanding of technology, enhanced problem-solving skills and newly-discovered personal
attributes will stand us in very good stead to emerge strongly from lockdown and face the future with increased confidence. Contact for Proof: Michelle Cameron Michelle.Cameron@liverpoolchamber.org.uk Alison Lobb is the Chair of Liverpool Chamber’s Business Policy Committee
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“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” That is how many of us will, I am sure, look back on the impact that the coronavirus has had on all our lives. Everything seemed to happen so quickly that at the beginning it felt quite surreal but it soon became clear that this was a situation that required a very different kind of response unlike anything I have ever experienced before. For the first time in my career we were advising people not to use public transport except for essential travel – something I had never envisaged! Our first priority was the safety of our team and we needed to work quickly with staff and the trade unions to ensure those who
Mark Lawler MD of Baltic Creative CIC “There’s no shying away from the fact that it is a remarkably difficult time for Baltic Creative and our tenants. In March, I had prepared for our board meeting a forecast and budgets for 2020/2021 and as the crisis hit later that month, the business changed overnight. “As we look ahead, our main priority is to ensure peoples’ jobs are protected – both our own employees’ and those of our tenants, as well as protecting the service we provide for them. We still have challenging times ahead, but we are confident that the creative and digital sector will continue to prosper through and out of the crisis. As such, we are still very much committed to our growth plans moving into other parts of the Liverpool City Region and helping to facilitate new, high value jobs for the sector.
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were in a vulnerable category were able to self isolate but that we were also able to run a service for key workers dependent on the bus to get to work. It would normally take us between 8 to 10 weeks to complete a service change and we did this one in a week. This was just one example of the fantastic cooperation we had from staff and the trade unions which has continued throughout this period. That co-operation extended to the actions we took to make sure staff could be confident that the workplace was safe and secure, particularly when the infection rates were so high at the peak in April. Communication and co-operation continues to be key as we ramp up our services to meet increased demand whilst maintaining high standards of safety for our employees and our customers.
work our staff have done to support the local community, really rising to the challenge. There are so many examples of our staff serving their community, from delivering large quantities of food parcels, to shopping for the vulnerable or simply providing tea/coffee in the workplace. Like everyone I am looking forward to some kind of normality, although there will be key lessons to take away from this experience including, I hope, better use of technology to reduce the number of meetings I need to attend, although I have to admit, I have really missed the interaction of dealing with people from outside of the business.
Adversity often brings out another side in people and I am really proud of the
As a Company, we need to continue to work with the government and local authorities to look at how we can increase passenger numbers in a safe and sustainable way, supporting a low carbon economy and providing a service which fully meets the needs of our passengers across the Liverpool city region. This experience has demonstrated how effective a strong partnership can be – and that is something we can all learn from.
“Over the past few months, we have been working closely with tenants so that we can adapt to a new way of working. For tenants who need to downsize, what we’re looking at is a ‘single day’ offer. It will be a space which the tenants own, branded with their logo, and fitted out with all the technology and amenities, but the tenant will pay for just a single day. We’re having some really positive conversations about this and will hopefully launch in August 2020.
deserve to be looked after with better wages and terms and conditions. If you can’t be impressed by what these key workers have done, then I’m not sure what would impress you. Our business model at Baltic Creative is a community interest company and we exist to support the growth of the creative digital community in the Liverpool City Region. I just hope we cherish our communities more as we come out of the crisis.”
“We also understand that it can be challenging for tenants who are continuing to work from home. Baltic Creative launched a new health and wellbeing programme in November 2019, originally, this support was being delivered in person across our estate. Of course, since lockdown we have taken some of the activity online, including free Pilates classes, health and wellbeing sessions – my favourite to date being the ‘chocolate mindfulness’ session. You can’t beat some meditation with a nice cup of coffee and your favourite chocolate bar. “As we slowly ease out of lockdown, I hope when we look back on this period that people remember the efforts that were made to help. I think of the NHS staff, key workers, delivery drivers, staff at my local shops – people continuing to work through the crisis and putting themselves at risk for the welfare of others. These people
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Adam Mokhtar, Co-Director, ArchiPhonic “When lockdown was first announced, we immediately felt the benefits of being a relatively young company that had been established using technology that has always given the whole team the ability to work not just remotely, but also collaboratively. “Using collaborative project management software, email, phone calls,video conferencing facilities and screen sharing facilities that we have put in place over the past seven years, we switched seamlessly from office-based working to home working overnight, without any disruption to our clients. Our team remained supported and productive. “We have always been flexible in terms of our working practices. However, this has pushed that idea much further than we thought and demonstrated that the practices we have been using for the past few years work in the most extreme of circumstances. The benefit
of this investment has highlighted the importance of continuing to future proof our systems to ensure the business can continue to run anywhere and in any scenario - even when you don’t need it to.
“The change in pace also allowed the whole team to reflect on what it means to be ArchiPhonic and what it is that we offer to our clients. It was a welcome opportunity
As the UK’s only pro-social construction procurement framework, I felt a range of emotions including fear, panic and vulnerability when the pandemic began to sweep across the UK. Setting aside my emotions I felt it was important that CIF did whatever we could to support the NHS and our first step was to notify NHS Trusts that any work relating to Covid19 would be free; our second step was to mobilise support by effectively ‘lending’ our administration team to NHS partners.
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“As we emerge back into a new kind of normal, we’re optimistic, despite the challenges the city’s economy is facing. That’s largely because of what we’ve learned in lockdown - that flexibility, fluidity and good communication with staff and clients will carry you through a crisis.”
“The one key change we have made is to introduce two daily 10-minute meetings at the beginning and end of the day - rather than having just one at the start of the day - to further improve our communications internally and ensure we hit our promised deadlines. It has elevated our accountability as a team and helped us to become even more efficient, with the morning one being an opportunity to review the previous day and discuss any issues and the evening one to share successes and plan ahead to the next day.
Sara Lawton, Managing Director, Construction Impact Framework
Construction Impact Framework (CIF) is a ‘pro-social businesses’- a business that competes in the private sector but exists to provide social benefit to people and places by investing profits into community projects and initiatives.
that has really let us refine our offer and find ways to better support our clients, as their needs have also changed and been shaped by the impact of the pandemic.
I then started to look at how we could help communities by releasing monies into community initiatives and we were able to release funding to: Centre 56, a specialist nursery supporting children from households with domestic violence; we bought food from community businesses to ‘pay forward’ as a thank you to our emergency services and made cash donations to the ‘LCR Cares’ fund, the Big Help Project and Walton’s Community Shop. I look back with pride that we responded in a way that focused on others, at a time when we found ourselves out of sorts, working
remotely and missing the small things like sharing ideas or laughing over lunch. As a business reliant on public-sector spend we have ‘made it through’ recent months but our future is unpredictable. A reduction in publicspending could spark a price war, affecting the framework industry along its supply chain, impacting on future sustainability. This means now more than ever we are reliant on the public-sector understanding the real value we bring. As a business we have directly supported over 5000 people. Amongst all the chaos and the anxiety it is even more important that we focus on those who most need our support and I am delighted that we have been able to press ahead with the launch of a Community Interest Company called ‘Thrive’. This is a safe, digitally connected interactive careers hub dedicated to key workers and looked after young people. A vital component of Thrive is the interactive careers hub and we are currently looking for LCR employers to provide opportunities for this cohort of young people and help us to devise bespoke route-ways to work for our most vulnerable young people who are at risk of being left behind, even more so as a result of Covid-19. If you are an employer who would like to find out more on how you can support our careers hub please email info@ ciframework.co.uk
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MSIF focussed on supporting Covid 19 impacted SMEs in the North West Liverpool-based funding provider MSIF has announced that they are further supporting and expanding their offering to SMEs across the North West impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. As an accredited lender of the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), MSIF has, through its Merseyside Loan & Equity Fund (MLEF), made £1million of its own capital available to support businesses under the scheme with loans of up to £250,000. Having recently completed its first investments, further applications are now being welcomed with such support being in addition to MSIF’s flexible funding options for debt, equity and start-up finance.
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In addition to this, MSIF and GC Business Finance can offer CBILS backed loans from their £10million Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF) Microfinance Fund across the whole of the North West for SMEs looking to fill the funding gap, for both growth and development projects. Loans from £25,000 to £100,000 are available with CBILS backed loans from £50,001 subject to eligibility to businesses impacted by COVID. With the expanded offering on CBILS backed funding, MSIF aims to encourage further resilience for manufacturing, tech, digital, creative and life sciences sectors in particular. Paul Humphray, Investment Director commented; “Covid-19 has dramatically changed the market as we know it and MSIF wants to do everything it can to support those businesses that had real potential prior to the pandemic, and may now need funding to help in their recovery. “It’s a time of significant change and we need to adapt and make our services
available to SMEs who need it most. We are pleased to see the positive impact the CBILS has made to businesses across the North West, now we want to help fill the gap in funding to ensure resumption of growth for a strong and thriving economy.” Janice Mears, Head of Business Growth at Growth Platform said: “We need to ensure businesses across the city region are fully supported so that they can continue to operate and help our city region recover from the far-reaching impact of COVID-19. The services available from MSIF are invaluable in supporting our businesses and I would encourage any business seeking funding for recovery or growth to get in touch with them or alternatively visit the Growth Platform web site where we have brought together all vital and relevant business support and advice under one platform.” If you operate your own business and are looking to achieve funding, please contact info@msif.co.uk or visit www.msif.co.uk for further information
Major new cancer hospital
opens in Liverpool
We’ll be
A major new hospital that will transform cancer care has opened in the heart of Liverpool. The 11-storey Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool (CCC-L) will deliver highly-specialist care including pioneering immunotherapy and the most advanced forms of radiotherapy to the 2.4 million people in Cheshire and Merseyside, and those in surrounding areas.
here...
The spectacular new hospital is part of a £162m investment in expanding and transforming cancer services across Cheshire and Merseyside, a region where people are more likely to develop the disease than almost anywhere else in the country. This expansion of services for The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust will ensure the NHS is well placed to meet the rising incidence of cancer as people live longer. In the immediate term, it will also support the NHS in resuming normal clinical activity post-COVID-19 by providing protected facilities for people with cancer – many of whom are particularly at risk if they catch the virus – as well as releasing capacity in other hospitals in the region. Its 110 fully-single en-suite bedrooms will provide inpatients with total privacy as well as reducing any risk of infections. The hospital also has special isolation facilities for patients whose immune systems mean they are particularly vulnerable to infection. The inpatient blood cancer unit will open later this year. Dr Liz Bishop, Chief Executive of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre said: “Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool is the culmination of an eight-year project for transforming cancer care in a region with one of the highest rates of cancer in the country. It brings state-of-the-art facilities, novel treatments and research together to improve outcomes and save lives in Cheshire and Merseyside at a time when one in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime.” The new hospital brings pioneering cancer treatment closer to communities that are among the most disadvantaged and most at risk of developing the disease. It means significantly shorter journey times for the majority of patients, including those from Knowsley which has the second highest incidence of cancer in England. At a regional
level, cancer incidence in Cheshire and Merseyside is the third highest in England while deaths from cancer are 76 per cent above the European average. The new hospital’s location in the city’s Knowledge Quarter is in close proximity to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and the University of Liverpool and will be advantageous to both patients and the overall vision for cancer care in the region. Patients will benefit from quicker and easier access to specialist acute medical care in the Royal. Research will be enhanced thanks to CCC-L’s work with the University of Liverpool and will attract topflight academics to the city, interested in developing news ways to treat cancer. Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram said: “The opening of this crucial facility will be of huge benefit to the people of the city region. This is especially good news in these current testing times when NHS resources have been so stretched dealing with coronavirus. It adds to our city region’s strengths in health and life sciences and is yet another world-leading asset for the growing Knowledge Quarter.” The building has been specially designed to enhance wellbeing, healing and recovery through a close connection to nature and a sense of light and space, despite its city-centre location. There is a Winter Garden on the lowest
floor, adjacent to the Radiotherapy department. The inpatient wards and Chemotherapy suite boast spectacular views across the city and across to the Wirral peninsula, with outdoor terraces where patients can enjoy fresh air. Artwork will further bring the outside in, by using tree and plant motifs on every floor. Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “The opening of the new Clatterbridge Cancer Centre is fantastic news for Liverpool and the region, and for everyone who will receive world class treatment there. The building, the research and the care that will take place there is a tremendous boost to the city’s position as a world leader in medicine – and further underlines the growing international reputation of our multi-billion pound Knowledge Quarter, with the nearby Paddington Village also quickly taking shape.” The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity has been pivotal in bringing the vision of the new hospital to life with its £15million fundraising appeal to support the Trust’s vital work. Katrina Bury, Head of Charity, said: “We’re delighted that the support of our donors has meant the doors to our new hospital can open. But the hard work is only just beginning. “The pandemic has hit our fundraising efforts hard and we’re still in need of support from the local business community to ensure people with cancer from across the region continue to receive the very best care.”
For more information on the new Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool and how you can support cancer patients in our region, visit www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk
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Moving Online is Key to Helping Companies Thrive Rodolphe Soulard Team Leader Enterprise Europe Network North West info@eenw.org | www.eenw.org
Some organisations are undoubtedly faring better than others under the challenging business landscape, and one thing that many of the high performers seem to have in common is that they all have a strong online presence… Or they’ve created one as part of their crisis response. Moving online is emerging as key to helping companies thrive under the ‘new normal’. If your business has not already done so, now is the time to take measures to fully integrate digital activity into your overall business innovation strategy. Getting Started The first step is to identify the platforms, channels and tools that will create the foundation for generating an online presence to attract and retain customers. There are three areas to focus on initially: brand awareness, online ordering and building trust. • Brand Awareness Just under half of all buyers follow brands on social media, which makes networks such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter natural starting points for boosting online business visibility. It’s essential to profile your customers to understand their behaviours, what they like, how they shop and what they need. You need to be present where your potential customers are. If they’re not on Instagram, then this platform isn’t a priority. • Online Ordering When buyers can’t get to you, you can get to them. Third party ecommerce websites like WooCommerce and Shopify,
and digital marketplaces like Amazon, can help. You don’t need to have a big warehouse storing your goods. Fulfilment centers can do this for you. • Building Trust While third party websites are good for sales, it is beneficial to build and manage your own website to build trust. Whilst “9 out of 10 consumers price check a product on Amazon”, most buyers will also check the companies’ website before buying to ensure they can trust the brand.
Internationalisation Opportunities Once the initial factors facilitating a move online have been addressed, businesses can look into opportunities for internationalisation. This can open up doors to new innovation, with opportunities to co-design and develop products and services tailored to new markets. Increased revenue generated by these activities can power new developments and help business to thrive. However, it’s important to remember that there are a number of challenges to cross border sales that must be taken into account to achieve success.
Challenges of Internationalisation Danny Manu, Founder of Mymanu Brand that develop consumer electronics and social, translation App, notes that he “encountered challenges when starting selling overseas as consumer behaviours and expectations defer from one market to another, the way of engaging in social media is also different. However, with “helpful with advice on website UX/CRO, International SEO, marketplaces”, they’re selling products across the USA, Germany, Spain, Italy and China. Challenges exist, but they can be overcome. Some possible challenges to be aware of include: • Cultural Differences Acceptable business practices in the UK may not always be acceptable amongst other cultures, and cultural differences in behaviours can also introduce complexities such as alternative use of what are typically
considered to be standard products. Businesses need to ensure that they are representing themselves, and their products, effectively. • Language Differences Languages challenges in international business aren’t limited only to natural languages. It’s also important to consider aspects such as dialect, localisations, and colloquialisms. Within the United Kingdom itself there can be notable differences between regions, so it’s vital to ensure that the ‘language’ you’re speaking in is resonating with audiences. • Behavioural Differences The buying journey - and what customers expect from brands - may not always be the same in different countries. Variations in local consumer preferences mean that what a UK audience requires from the businesses they buy from may not be the same as international audiences. Buyers in some countries may want to know and see all the technical specs of a products, others may be more concerned about the environmental impact or health benefits your products may also have.
Thriving, Not Surviving “While there are a number of challenges that must be addressed, the benefits of diversifying sales are well worth the obstacles that can be introduced by moving online and reaching out to global audiences” says Rodolphe Soulard, Team Leader at Enterprise Europe Network. ”And the good news is that these obstacles don’t have to be tricky to navigate… international market research can help.” Our network of international partners can deliver personalised insights into new markets, working to identify the most promising opportunities while simultaneously helping businesses to create strong global innovation strategies through a deeper understanding of cultures, legal systems, customs, and other areas that could affect market entry. Visit our website www.eenw.org or email info@eenw.org for more information on how we can support your business. www.msif.co.uk for further information
HEALTH & WELLBEING
Jake Mills, CEO, Chasing the Stigma Right now, across the Liverpool City Region, business owners are faced with many new challenges. Social distancing, creating COVID-secure workplaces and bringing people out of furlough are new concepts we all have to get to grips with. In this struggle to restart the economy, it’s easy to overlook the impact of returning to work on employee mental health. A survey last month revealed that 65 percent of people are anxious about returning to the office* and Chasing the Stigma team has seen this reflected in feedback from the businesses that have already received its Ambassadors of Hope mental health training. If you are wondering where to start, we advise three simple actions:
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1. Acknowledge that things are not ‘normal’ We are living through one of the most traumatic periods in recent memory. People are grappling with bereavement, fear and uncertainty. Acknowledge this in your workplace and be open about your own struggles to create an environment where mental health issues can be discussed without shame or stigma. Apply the same understanding and kindness as you did during lockdown. 2. Signpost to help You are not expected to be a mental health expert, but you can signpost people to help. The Hub of Hope is the UK’s most comprehensive mental health support app, available on desktop, Apple and Andriod. It is free to use and provides access to more than 1,200 local, grassroots and national services, as well as a talk now
Goal Objective Purpose Destination
Put Mental Health at the Heart of your Restart
or text now facilities for those who need immediate help. Why not share with staff or download the app onto all work mobile phones? 3. Invest in mental health training
Our 20-minute Ambassador of Hope original training session focuses on how to talk about mental health and illness, how to effectively find help and signpost using the Hub of Hope and what to do in a mental health emergency. For businesses that require additional support, such as guidance around procedures and policies or specific training needs, we have our ‘plus’ and ‘consultancy’ packages. For more information contact Abi@chasingthestigma.co.uk or visit www.chasingthestigma.co.uk *Survey by Bupa Health Clinics
Need Help Now? www.hubofhope.co.uk
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Security operative past, present & the modern security threats Private security has existed for centuries, although often considered to be a modern phenomenon. The Praetorian Guards were the first recorded bodyguards around 275Bc and the first recorded private investigators/ private detectives were officially recognised in Paris during the 1800s. In more modern times private security has been regarded as shadowy business. It is often the perception that security guards are often large muscular tattooed men, wearing black working at pubs and clubs, often referred to as ‘bouncers’, giving the industry a bad reputation. In the early 2000s the UK introduced the Security Industry Authority with the intention to remove all the undesirables from the industry. This meant that companies had to adapt fast. A certain level of training and criminal background checks were required to be granted a licence to work. This in turn allowed for decades of damage to be fixed. Over the past decade Valor Risk Management has been forging a path for itself, supporting clients, general public and emergency services. We are wanting
CONTACT INFORMATION:
to change the face and stigma around the security industry, whilst providing a professional and efficient service to all clients. Doing this at a cost effective price. With the security industry having many branches and potential avenues for companies to turn down, as a company Valor Risk Management has focused on • Private investigation. • Close protection/ body guarding services. • Residential security • Venue/ site security • Technical surveillance counter measures, commonly referred to as ‘bug sweeping’ • Physical and cyber penetration tests. • Risk and threat management. • CCTV monitoring and key holding • Counter terrorisms support and infrastructure. • Coronavirus prevention and control
The above points possibly are not new to a lot of readers, however coronaviruses prevention and control in new to all of us. In January 2020, we began to hear about a new virus which was rapidly spreading across china and making its was across the world. As a company we knew we had to act, so all out operative’s where trained in coronavirus prevention and control. Having spent last 4 months supporting business and local authorities enforcing social distancing measures as-well as planning and executing these plans to now loosen the lockdown rules allowing business to open whist staying ‘Covid secure’. Priding ourselves on ensuring the safety of both our clients and the public, we provided a professional and diverse approach to the modern world and modern security. Having the ability to go from a covert working to overt method very fast we show we are willing to use force to ensure safety of our clients and the public, whilst hopefully never having to use force.
Liverpool office: Tel; 01513290505 | Email; enquiries@valorriskmanagement.co.uk Manchester office: Tel; 01615051469 | Email; enquiries@valorriskmanagement.co.uk
Safely Opening the Gates for Good We are preparing to re-open Strawberry Field as soon as guidelines allow, for limited numbers of visitors who can get to us safely. We are excited to welcome you back and we will be making some changes so that we can all remain safe during your visit. Look out for updates on our website and across social media channels as we announce them. You can also sign up to our newsletter via our website for the latest news, www.strawberryfieldliverpool.com We can't wait to welcome you back again soon! For more information on our opening, to purchase tickets, or to see how else you can get involved, visit: www.strawberryfieldliverpool.com #StrawberryFieldStaycation #GatesOpenForGood
/StrawberryFieldLiverpool @strawberryfield @strawberryfieldliverpooluk
The Salvation Army is a Church and registered Charity in England (214779), Wales (214779), Scotland (SC009359) and the Republic of Ireland (CHY6399)
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Ready for business? I am ready to help! By Ben Beetham, Director of Partnerships at Inspired Energy It’s been twelve working weeks since lockdown measures were introduced across the UK and thousands of businesses have been desperately looking into the most effective way to cutting costs, in order to survive the Coronavirus crisis. Now, as many begin to reopen for business, there is some key information I’d like to share with you. Managing costs is important for any business, but during a crisis, resilience is key to your recovery. Utility bills make up a large proportion of a business’ overheads, so when it comes to your financial health check, managing your business energy costs is a critical part of this. Review Your Energy Contracts A good energy procurement strategy means more than just renewing your gas and electricity contracts at their end dates - it’s always worth reviewing your current contracts to see where you could be paying less. Are you on the right tariff for your business needs? Have you missed a renewal date, leaving you stuck with a poor value default rate? At Inspired Energy plc, we can perform a free, no-obligation energy assessment to confirm whether your utilities are performing well and unearth any cost-saving opportunities. Plus, we can set up renewal reminders to ensure you avoid those pesky rollover rates! Be mindful of consumption Did you leave the lights on over closure? If you did, chances are that this will have gone unnoticed, but it will have undoubtedly cost you money. Improve the way you use energy with a business smart meter, which can help you to monitor and reduce your energy consumption - after all
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you can’t manage what you can’t measure. We work with suppliers who offer free smart meters and can arrange this on your behalf. Take advantage of current market lows Energy prices fluctuate daily and can be affected by a whole host of factors, including demand, weather conditions and political factors. Due to the current market, wholesale energy costs are extremely low – in fact, prices have only been this low once in the last 10 years, meaning that now is the perfect time for smart business owners to act quickly and secure a better tariff. To give your business utilities a refresh, get in touch with Inspired Energy plc. Call 01772 689 250, email partnerships@inspiredenergy.co.uk or visit www.inspired-referral.co.uk
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Plan ahead and Keep informed
While we all continue to adjust to our changed world, TransPennine Express (TPE) have worked hard to keep services running for the essential workers who are the backbone of the nation’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. Now, as the nation prepares to enter the next phase of response, we will again step up in support.
Responding to the government’s request TransPennine Express has been working on an amended timetable that will come into effect from Monday 6th July. This will see an increase in capacity, from currently 70% to approximately 85% of services that we would normally operate. The number of customers travelling on our services remains low but as restrictions lift, we expect to see demand increase and are therefore working to ensure the capacity is there for those that need it. In order to assist our customers and help to keep everyone safe, social distancing measures and guidance as well as additional cleaning on our trains and in stations continues. At our stations, there is additional information and signage to help customers space themselves out at ticket offices and on platforms. Some stations have introduced one-way systems for entering and exiting the station to aid social distancing and we have also introduced five steps to help customers in planning their journeys;
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1. If you are travelling by train, avoid the peak periods if possible
red and green seat markers on the trains to identify where they can sit.
2. Allow extra time to make and complete your journey
We continue to support the Government advice and advise customers to only travel on our trains if they have no alternative way of travelling. For the latest up to date information, providing all the information you need including details around timetable changes, visit https:/ /www.tpexpress.co.uk/ travel-updates/corona-virus-travel-info.
3. Buy your ticket in advance online and use electronic tickets, mobile tickets and SMART cards if available or use a ticket machine/ contactless at the station 4. Bring a face covering and wear it while on board and at stations and keep your distance from others wherever possible unless exempt 5. Carry hand sanitiser and use it before, during and after your journey as required or wash your hands
Although it is now mandatory for all customers to wear face coverings on public transport, there are some exemptions to this rule if people have a hidden disability. Along with other train operators and transport companies, we are encouraging those customers who are exempt to wear a Sunflower Lanyard.
Current demand for train services remains low, however social distancing on-board our services has reduced the number of seats for customers to a maximum of 20 seats per carriage. To help guide customers on board our services, we have introduced
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Hugh Baird University Centre Provides Vital Equipment for the NHS Staff and students at the Hugh Baird University Centre have recently been supporting frontline staff in the NHS by creating Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Using the College’s 3D printer, Engineering lecturer Kevin Donnelly was able to print and construct fit-for-purpose full-face visors. Students working from home were also able to contribute by using their skills to submit designs which Kevin could then experiment and adapt for use. The project was prompted by a recognition of the lack of PPE equipment across the Liverpool City Region which resulted in reports of NHS and care staff having to make improvised masks to protect themselves whilst continuing to provide services to those in their care. After 25 prototype visors were trialed at doctor’s surgeries and Whiston Hospital, Kevin and his students were able to deliver a total of 200 visors which have now been distributed to local pharmacies and hospitals across the region. On the contribution the College was able to make in supporting frontline workers
during the pandemic, Kevin said “We are supporting the local community in a variety of ways during this very difficult time and this made me think how my engineering students could contribute and do their bit. Given the circumstances with social distancing, students were delighted to get involved in the design process of these visors. It has been a pleasure for all of us to be able to give back to our NHS staff who are doing a truly amazing job.” Rachael Hennigan, Principal and Chief Executive at Hugh Baird College said, “I am blown away by the hard work of all our staff and students during this challenging time and this is a great example of how we can all come together for the good of the community whilst delivering a first-class learning experience.” University Centre Places still available for September 2020. Visit our website to find out more about our degree level courses hughbaird.ac.uk. We are also delivering free online courses for furloughed staff and those looking to refresh their skills. For further details on how we can support you as well as all other partnership enquiries please contact the Business Development Centre on 0151 353 4444 or email enquiries-bdc@hughbaird.ac.uk
Back to Business! How a Business Video can prepare your clients for your re-opening Having operated at a limited capacity or outside of their usual premises for a prolonged period, businesses are now, for the first time, gazing upon the reality of a post-quarantine marketplace. Re-opening in a safe and secure manner is a priority, and keeping customers informed of the ways in which you aim to ensure this is key. One ideal solution could well be through a ‘Back to Business Video’. The inclusion of engaging video content in your marketing strategy has been shown to increase activity on your website, boost customer engagement, and establish a more personable relationship with your audience. But why choose a business video to share your message? Videos boost engagement Businesses who practice marketing through video content are statistically proven to see more favourable results than those which don’t; allowing users to learn about
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your services easily and in an entertaining manner. Videos use 3 main elements. Audio – Music/Speaking, Visuals – Cutaways, Montages/Interviews. They can also use digital graphics such as on-screen text and animations. It’s through the combination of these services that a perfectly-balanced, entertaining and informative promotional campaign can be established. More Traffic Only 24% of brands are using online video to market to consumers; leaving significant room in the market to establish yourself and stand apart from the majority. Videos can also be posted to any social media platform, granting them extensive reach which can stretch far beyond your web viewers. Video is fast becoming the preferred way of consuming content online with 78% of people watching videos online every week and 55% every single day. ‘Back to Business Videos’ can be recorded using social distancing measures The hi-impact team have put a variety of additional measures in place to ensure the safety of you and your staff. Successfully abiding by social distancing rules, whilst
maintaining our usual high standard of service, we are available, at your convenience to provide excellent video content. From talking heads, to explainer, to shots of your physical space we have you covered. **hi-impact are currently offering ‘Back to Business’ videos as well as other adapted services, from as little as £350. Email georgiaflynn@hi-impact.co.uk for more information or visit https:/ /media.hi-impact. co.uk/adapted-services/ and we will be more than happy to help**
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Liverpool John Moores University Recovery, Rebuild, Renewal LJMU’s Careers, Employability and Enterprise team had to quickly adapt to the sudden change in the way it could support students and graduates with their career goals and opportunities to take part in work based learning with employers, when the UK went into lockdown. Work based learning in particular was a challenge as students have not been able to spend time working on projects in an employer’s premises but thanks to the support of host employers and the adaptability of the students, beneficial results have still been achieved through remote working on projects. PARTIA is part of Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, promoting art within the hospital environment for health and wellbeing. Within weeks of starting a new internship project, lockdown happened, presenting challenges for the students who had to work remotely. PARTIA’S Arts Coordinator, Paula O’Malley, helped the student navigate their way around the complexities of working remotely when NHS
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technology is configured for confidentiality and security. As well as working on individual briefs, the students responded to a confidential and subject sensitive brief from the Trust’s Executive Team. With a timescale of just 10 days from contract to completion, the students delivered ‘The Rainbow Corridor’, a specially decorated route used when transferring patients recovering from the Coronavirus. The Corridor project was executed on time and on budget and is an enduring legacy of the student internships and was highly praised by the Executive Team. Another local organisation that LJMU students have worked with before and during lockdown is Mindless Mag, an early stage digital start-up specialising in responsible fashion and digital storytelling. Founder, Laurie Stewart, has been able to access highly-skilled student talent through the LJMU funded internship programme. Liverpool Business School students have been able to apply learning from their academic programmes to
provide social media, digital marketing expertise and insights into Mindless Mag’s target market and they have gained knowledge and experience from working online with Laurie, a highly experienced international supply chain fashion and digital transformation professional. LJMU welcomes the opportunity to discuss projects that can be worked on remotely and can help your organisation to navigate the changing economy as lockdown restrictions start to ease by bringing fresh ideas as well as providing valuable learning opportunities for students. For more information, please email employerengagement@ljmu.ac.uk
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Report from The Covid Frontline On Monday 10th May, the Office of National Statistics published the sobering news that security officers have one of the highest death rates from Covid19 – 45.7 deaths per 100,000 people. At Liverpool Chamber members - GSTS, a major employer of security officers, this was extremely worrying news. Dave Potts CEO explains, ‘As an organisation we had been doing everything we possibly could to protect the wellbeing of our people during the pandemic. This news was a shock to us and more so, for those officers on our NHS contracts having to deal directly with Covid19 patients’. Specialising in the healthcare sector GSTS supplies over 50 officers to two major South Manchester hospitals. As well as responding to day to day security and safety, GSTS officers assist clinicians in dealing with patients who may have challenging personal or mental health issues or do not have the capacity to make decisions for themselves. As a last resort officers may have to restrain patients for their own safety or the safety of hospital staff. During the pandemic demand for GSTS services has risen by 180%.
The added complication of persons who may have been infected by Covid19 has meant that GSTS officers have had to draw upon every ounce of their training. Dave explains, ‘We are extremely proud to be the only security company in the country who has an accredited Enhanced Supervision training course. This is accredited by Liverpool based Open Awards. This course is delivered by our specialist training team comprising mental health professionals and crisis and conflict resolution experts. We also train a version of the National Police Decision Making Model. All in all, we consider our officers to be the best equipped in the UK’.
implications of extra PPE and the time taken to ensure that PPE is worn correctly. This can impact how we deal with a patient but can also allow for extra planning and thinking time to assess the situation’. Jack is appreciative of his training, ‘The deescalation techniques that we have learnt have ensured that 9 out of 10 situations can be solved without the need of “a hands-on approach”. We use techniques approved by the NHS ensuring that patient safety is paramount. Without these, along with effective use of the Decision-Making Model this uncertain time would have been a lot more stressful for all officers, patients, and hospital staff. Knowing we have the right training to effectively carry out our role has been a major factor in keeping everyone safe’.
Jack Ford one of GSTS’s Supervisors in Manchester explains what it’s like to be on the Covid19 frontline, ‘At the start of the pandemic I ensured I was first to deal with any patient that was Covid19 or query Covid19. I didn’t want to put any officer in immediate danger. There were the
UK’s biggest vaccine manufacturer announces partnership The UK’s biggest vaccine manufacturer has announced a significant global partnership between its parent company CSL, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the University of Queensland to develop and manufacture a candidate COVID-19 vaccine. Seqirus, whose manufacturing site in Liverpool is the biggest in the UK and one of the largest in Europe, has offered its UK-manufactured adjuvant technology in the development and manufacturing of the COVID-19 vaccine. The adjuvant - called MF59 - is produced at the Seqirus manufacturing facility in Liverpool. Adjuvants are used in vaccines to improve immune response, and to reduce the amount of antigen needed for each vaccine, enabling more doses to be manufactured more rapidly. Professor Andrew Cuthbertson, CSL’s Chief Scientific Officer, said: “We are very pleased to be able to provide our scientific expertise and platform technologies to make a strong contribution to this critical joint effort with CEPI, the University of Queensland and others. The devastating
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toll COVID-19 has inflicted on the world is being countered by an extraordinary effort from scientists who have crossed borders and boundaries to collaborate, pool together their resources and make progress at a rate not seen before.” CSL (ASX:CSL) is a leading global biotechnology company with a portfolio of life-saving medicines, including those that treat haemophilia and immune deficiencies, as well as vaccines to protect communities from seasonal influenza and global influenza pandemic threats. CSL, including our two businesses, CSL Behring and Seqirus, provides life-saving products to more than 60 countries and employs over 25,000 people. For more information about CSL Limited, visit www.csl.com
INTERNATIONAL
Staying Afloat by, Fred Tumas Finding solutions seems to be the way of the world but finding them fast has become a way of life. Adapting and reacting to the current stasis in our personal and professional lives because of the pandemic has made us realise that we are all in the same boat. At boomerang carnets UK, we help our customers find solutions to grow their businesses internationally. One solution we use is the ATA Carnet, an internationally accepted customs document for temporary exports. The ATA Carnet allows goods to temporarily enter foreign countries importduty and -tax free. In the initial leg of the stay at home order, our carnet specialists made 600 calls to our top 2019 carnet customers and 978 calls to new customers. We also reach out weekly to customers who have returned their carnet document to ask if they need further assistance and to convey our sincere appreciation for their business. Many customers responded with agility and speed, in life-affirming ways, to the crisis.
Most notably, a manufacturer of medical devices renewed their carnet enabling them to travel another 20 times with a highly specialised and engineered toolbox for repair of life-saving devices in the field. Trips to repair onsite have been crucial to outcomes. The life-saving devices provide essential, accurate readings, enabling frontline medical professionals to save more lives. Though boomerang carnets® has been affected by international travel dramatically coming to a standstill, it has been imperative we remain available to customers and maintain normal business hours while transitioning staff to work from home. News crews have needed to leave for a location in hours, lost cargo shipments need to be found
and, all the snags or difficulties of returning freight due to the shutdown require swift attention at all hours of the day. In response to our customers’ needs, we created a webinar series “Leading Through Crisis”. It is important to maintain focus on recovery and new strategies for growth. The series addresses what we are all going through having been suddenly cut off from anything familiar. To give back, we began offering business consultations that provide a practical roadmap forward, unique to each business’ needs. The webinars and the consultation are complimentary. They are our way of giving back to our customers at this crucial moment in time.
Financial Support for business travel for SMEs in Liverpool City Region If your business is now in a position to start planning for export growth do consider the opportunity to claim back some of the cost of those plans via the Chamber Liverpool Chamber
You can claim up to 35% towards costs such as transport/travel, Accommodation, exhibition stand costs and marketing. A minimum spend of £3,000 and maximum spend of £10,000 is expected.
Next Steps • Contact export@liverpoolchamber.org.uk for us to review your company’s eligibility for the programme • Set a date for a socially distanced meeting via zoom for a business review and registration • Agree on Export Growth plan and its estimated budget for a period for your next business trip.
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Restart and Recovery: Liverpool Chamber’s International Members share their thoughts on the road ahead International trade is crucial for the recovery of the economy with the recent crisis placing strain on economies across the world. This is a complex situation, with global and domestic consumption shrinking and supply chains disrupted, but British companies are planning ahead, developing continuity and contingency plans to support business growth as well as seeking assurances from the Government to help to mitigate the economic impact of Covid-19. You can read more from Chamber members Brunswick International and Tithebarn Ltd below as well as the latest government updates. For more information on how Liverpool Chamber can support you please contact export@liverpoolchamber.org.uk Brunswick International: Thriving in testing times At a time when a lot of businesses were drawing back from extension plans, Brunswick International opened a new Customs Bond Facility, moving from their flagship site in Sandhills Lane, where they have been based for over 20 years, to their new state of the art premises on Triumph Business Park. Steve Crane, Managing Director, explained “Despite the challenges, we have been able to protect staff and continue to service our customers. It has been a real team effort with all the company’s directors actively involved to make sure that the guidance around social distancing has been observed and the team have had the IT and managerial support needed to work from home which is a new development for us”.
Brunswick are now be able to return to their new premises with a full staff complement and have also opened a new 50,000 sq.ft warehouse, fully racked, secure and ready for operations. It is a temperature controlled facility, and they have also been granted a Customs Bond facility, which will allow businesses to store their goods with the advantage of delaying the payment of custom duties until the goods are released. The site externally can house a further 15,000 sq ft of cargo. Brunswick have welcomed the ongoing support from Liverpool Chamber who have been in regular contact to make sure they were aware of any funding opportunities as well as more general information and guidance. With things beginning to get back to some normality, Brunswick International is now turning its focus back to getting themselves fully prepared for the new post Brexit challenges in 2021. Steve explains: “It is important that we don’t forget that there will be potentially be enormous changes around international trade in 2021 and whilst these are still to be confirmed, we have already put in place new systems and trained staff so we are fully prepared once the transition period is over. We are already working with our clients to help them prepare but we are also mindful that many will also need time to recover from the impact of Covid-19. The next 6 months are critical to all companies to give them time to recover and hopefully get back to where they were before the pandemic struck. Working closely with the Chamber at this time is so important to us as they can provide access to expertise from different sectors as well as government departments to provide us with the confidence and knowledge to move forward.”
INTERNATIONAL
smell them and even lick them too; none of which can be achieved through a long distant digital call! Here too they can talk with other likeminded businesses from across the world who have used the blocks under wide ranging climate conditions and farming systems. They can exchange ideas, experiences and their own success stories. For Tithebarn it is a chance to tell our story, to make new contacts, to meet up with existing clients and boost the confidences shared. For example, VIV is held biannually in Bangkok. This significant agricultural event attracts visitors not just from S.E. Asia but from as far afield as South America to Australia. We have gained significant business at such events and provided much needed work for the factory and the people we employ locally.
Tithebarn Ltd: The Show Must Go On Denis Sowler, Export Sales Director at Tithebarn Ltd, highlights some of the challenges facing our exporters in marketing their products overseas. “With businesses now having the ability to make “face to face” contact via zoom and other forms of instant communication, there are many pundits predicting the end of trade shows and the need for people to gather in large numbers. At this time of restricted travel and increased health and spatial awareness you can understand why people are being so cautious. However it is only by attending such exhibitions that you can really raise awareness of the benefits and unique selling points of your product or service to potential buyers. Tithebarn have been displaying their award winning livestock mineral blocks around the world for many years. Their slogan for the Rockies is “pressed harder to last longer”. It is only by physically seeing and touching these rock hard compressed blocks that people can truly observe just how hard they actually are and be instantly impressed as to how small the compression process has made them. At the show-stand they can touch them,
Shows are expensive. The DIT Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP) is a great resource, typically providing £2500 towards the costs and I would highly recommend. Now at this time more than any other, when we are trying to recover from the effects of the coronavirus and are also seeking new exciting markets following Brexit, is the need to get face to face, meet people, extol the virtue of our products and make Britain a great place to do business. This scheme however only allows for a maximum of six claims per company and unfortunately Tithebarn has long since used its available grants. Surely now is the time for the government to urgently reconsider the parameters of the scheme to get as many potential exporters out there selling their goods. You have to put hooks into the water to catch fish. Let’s hope the Government will encourage us all with a little extra funding to make the leap of faith to grow our export capacity.”
UK Global Tariff backs UK businesses and consumers
The new tariff is tailored to the needs of the UK economy, making it easier and cheaper for businesses to import goods from overseas. It will scrap red tape and other unnecessary barriers to trade, reduce cost pressures and increase choice for consumers and back UK industries to compete on the global stage. The Government is maintaining tariffs on a number of products backing UK industries such as agriculture, automotive and fishing. It also aims to promote a sustainable economy by cutting tariffs on over 100 products to back renewable energy, energy efficiency, carbon capture, and the circular economy. For more information visit the government website: https:/ /www.gov.uk/ government/news/uk-global-tariffbacks-uk-businesses-and-consumers
HMRC Extends Customs Grant Funding Deadline From 1 January 2021, the way businesses trade will change, and they’ll need to prepare for life outside the EU, including new customs arrangements. Businesses are therefore encouraged to claim remaining funding available to support recruitment and improved IT capability as well as training courses to help traders submit customs declarations. Liverpool Chamber is on hand to support business through training to help you to accurately complete export and import Customs Declarations. The courses cover a range of topics including what they are, why they are needed and what information is involved. They include practical practice exercises to help you to complete export and import customs entries and avoid common errors. The next standard courses are on 28 October and 19 November 2020 and bespoke courses are also available. Contact export@liverpoolchamber.org.uk for further information on the courses and on how to apply for the grant.
The Government has announced the UK’s new MFN tariff regime. The UK Global Tariff (UKGT) will replace the EU’s Common External Tariff on 1 January 2021 at the end of the transition period and it is important for businesses to familiarise themselves with the new tariff regime ahead of this date.
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Foursquare Group offers ‘pay what you can’ deal Foursquare Group, which provides compliance and training services for independent businesses, has launched a ‘Pay What You Can’ COVID-Safe package to help hospitality and retail businesses reopen following lockdown. The initiative, which simplifies the new health and safety measures businesses need to implement, was created to kickstart the independent hospitality and retail industry following the devastating effects of COVID-19. Its pack comprises guidance and templates which all businesses can use to carry out risk assessments and plan their safe and successful reopening.
to independently verify that each business is ready to reopen. Businesses taking part in the scheme will receive a COVID-Safe certificate to display on their websites and window fronts, which will boost consumer confidence and contribute to a faster industry re-start.
It has been carefully designed to meet new and existing compliance requirements so that businesses can safely return to operating as soon as possible.
The business, based in Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock, says its ‘Pay What You Can’ pricing model for this initiative is the first of its kind in the UK and makes this support accessible to as many businesses as possible at a time when they need it most.
Also included in the pack is a face-to-face audit by a Foursquare safety professional
A suggested price is provided by Foursquare Group for the pack, but the actual price
paid is decided entirely by those businesses who use it. This is based on how much they feel is affordable for them. A range of independents have already taken advantage of Foursquare’s offer, including Duke Street Food and Drink Market, Bold Street Coffee, Maray, Leaf, Bacaro, Free State Kitchen, floatation therapy centre Float Planet, The Brain Charity café, Ropes and Twines and So Salsa. Liam Jones, Foursquare Group’s founder and chief executive, said: “I started Foursquare Group back in January 2019 and since then we’ve been on a mission to make compliance as simple and costeffective for independents as possible.”
Merseytravel has asked passengers to ‘ReThink Travel’ As more people start to travel, the ongoing requirement for social distancing means that space on public transport is greatly reduced. To help people travel safely and to take pressure of the public transport system, Merseytravel has launched a public information campaign - ReThink Travel. The campaign asks people to think carefully about whether they need to travel and, if so, when they travel and by what means. Many of us have turned to walking and cycling during lockdown and Merseytravel is encouraging people to keep doing this. Not only does walking and cycling help ease the pressure on transport services, it
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also helps reduce congestion, improve air quality, and has a positive impact on our physical and mental health. If you can work from home, then please continue to do so. However, if you do need to travel then please plan your journeys and take into account factors including social distancing and longer journey times. Please visit the Re Think Travel campaign on the Merseytravel website for important information about rail, bus, ferry and tunnel services and key journey planning advice.
RESTART RECOVER RENEW
SP Energy Networks supercharges Liverpool charity with emergency fund to help unpaid carers and their families Local Solutions in Liverpool has benefited from support from electricity distributor SP Energy Networks to support an emergency fund for unpaid carers and their families who have been affected by Covid-19. Local Solutions is among nine charities across the UK receiving funding to boost support for vulnerable people on the Priority Services Register. Funding from SP Energy Networks will help the charities deliver key services such as remote emotional wellbeing support, financial advice and medicine deliveries. Local Solutions in Liverpool has received £5,896 to help 175 unpaid carers and their families with living costs, unexpected expenses and travel – through a new emergency fund for those affected by Covid-19 in the Liverpool City Region and North Wales. The funding announcement follows SP Energy Networks and its parent company ScottishPower signing up to the C-19 Business Pledge. As well as keeping the lights on for 3.5 million households, SP Energy Networks has committed to help customers, employees and the communities it serves through recovery from Covid-19.
Guy Jefferson, Customer Service Director SP Energy Networks, said: “Alongside our crucial work to keep the lights on and the power flowing, we’re committed to supporting people in our communities throughout the recovery from Covid-19. Helping these important charities ensure that our most vulnerable customers in Liverpool have the help they need. “If you’ve received a letter from the NHS advising you that you are ‘at risk’ from Covid-19 then I’d really encourage you to sign up for SP Energy Networks’ Priority Services Register so you can access these additional services.” Steve Hawkins, Chief Executive of Local Solutions, said: “We work with people across the Liverpool Region and North Wales to improve people’s lives who face disadvantage. SP Energy Networks’ support will help 175 carers and their families through Liverpool Carers Centre’s
health and wellbeing service on Zoom, as well as enabling us to support carers in crisis during this difficult period. Unpaid carers continue to be our unsung heroes, caring for family members, often for many hours a day.” People who have received a letter from the NHS advising them that they are ‘at risk’ and should take additional measures to protect themselves from Covid-19 are being advised to sign up for SP Energy Networks’ Priority Services Register. This provides free additional services to customers in vulnerable circumstances if there is an unexpected power cut. They should sign up at spenergynetworks.co.uk or text PSR to 61999. More information about how SP Energy Networks is responding to Covid-19 is available at www.spenergynetworks. co.uk/covid.
Planning a recovery strategy post covid-19 Founded by Maria McDonnell in 1999 The Liverpool School of English employs 50 people full time year round with an additional 150 staff during the Summer School in June, July and August. The student cohort of 250 to 400 adult students per week all year round, as well as an international junior summer school which attracts 2200 students in July and August, draws students mainly from Asia, Middle East and Europe and has provided a significant boost to the local economy over the last 21 years. LSE has played a key role in Liverpool being voted the best city to visit in Europe by international students more than once in the last 5 years, organising weekend excursions, cultural visits, and a social programme that includes visits to restaurants, theatres, sporting facilities and evening activities. Students stay in local residences and homestay hosts who provide
Liverpool Chamber
accommodation and support for over 200 students contributing to the local economy. The impact of Covid-19 has threatened the future of LSE and similar organisations with courses coming to an abrupt end and students having to return to their own countries. However The Liverpool School of English has not closed its doors and is adapting to the new “normal”, delivering online courses for all students until it is safe and regulations allow them to return to face to face teaching. In partnership with English UK they have implemented ‘Staying COVID 19 Secure’. This includes the installation of a thermal imaging camera to temperature check all
students, staff and visitors. Other measures in place include individual desks, social distancing stickers for the floor and the doors, hand sanitising stations through the school, staggering starting times and breaks and PPE equipment to name a few. Maria McDonnell, School Director, says: “The furlough scheme has helped the school to keep valued staff but the delays in the decision making around other funding schemes have caused us real problems. Courses have been cancelled and refunds given and the introduction of a 14 day quarantine period for people arriving into the U.K. has resulted in many students choosing alternatives places to study English like Ireland or Malta. Despite what is still a relatively bleak outlook in the short term, I am still hopeful that students will return to study, travel, and work and enjoy all that this great city has to offer.”
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RESTART RECOVER RENEW
A time of change, redirection and opportunity ArchiPhonic reveals brand refresh and new website as lockdown eases. Liverpool-based architectural design company, ArchiPhonic, has revealed a refreshed brand and new website. The new look visual identity and website was completed during lockdown by citybased brand and creative studio, In Good Company, and focused on modernising the firm’s existing brand and aligning it with new business objectives. Speaking of the rebrand, co-director, Adam Mokhtar, said: “As for many businesses the past few months have been a period of change and redirection. Although it has been a challenging time, it has presented us with an opportunity to look at our company structure and delivery and ensure that our visual identity aligns with our business objectives.” The rebrand comes as the architectural design firm shifts from residential projects for private clients, into the commercial market, with a particular focus on working with commercial developers in the Liverpool City Region on residential projects. Adam continued: “During lockdown, we have seen many of our clients taking a change in direction or using this new climate as a point of opportunity. We have taken time to refine our processes and delivery to best support these changes. “As a result we have become even more efficient and used that to our advantage, taking 14 new projects in and around the Liverpool City Region, in a variety of different sectors, from residential to mixed-use. These new projects include an autonomous new-build, three-bedroom house in rural agricultural landscape, a replacement dwelling with associated holiday lets and stables, and the conversion of an existing building into ground floor retail with flats above.
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“We have not only had time to explore new sectors, but also focus on doing more of what we do best, which is adding value to schemes,” said Adam. “Whether that is working with clients from the start of a project, or being brought in specifically to see if we can improve the quality and yield of a scheme.” Speaking of his outlook for the business and the city’s economy post-lockdown, Adam remains optimistic. “We are already seeing a bottleneck of requirements from the property industry as a whole, which is great news for Liverpool’s architecture, design and construction firms,” he said. “Those of us that deliver excellent service should be able to benefit from those opportunities.
“There will always be challenges, but the continued and forever optimistic nature of Liverpool’s business community means that we will prosper and push forward in the face of adversity, just as we always have.” To find out more about ArchiPhonic visit: archiphonic.co.uk
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.
Connect Support Thrive.
Paul Cherpeau Chief Executive
Jon Cranston Director of Finance & Operations
Lee Stanley Head of Business Development
Elena Enciso International Trade Manager
Julie Sankey International Trade Executive
Ian Bulmer Programmes & Policy Manager
Sarah Woolley Export Documentation Manager
Helen Gibbons Accounts Manager
Michelle Cameron Senior Policy & Communications Advisor
Melissa Healy Office Manager
Anthea Thomas Business Recovery and Growth Manager
Nathan Taylor Administration Assistant
paul.cherpeau@liverpoolchamber.org.uk
julie.sankey@liverpoolchamber.org.uk
Heather Whitaker Export Documentation Analyst
heather.whitaker@liverpoolchamber.org.uk
Richard Smith Business Engagement Manager
richard.smith@liverpoolchamber.org.uk
jon.cranston@liverpoolchamber.org.uk
ian.bulmer@liverpoolchamber.org.uk
Lisa Noon Export Documentation Assistant lisa.noon@liverpoolchamber.org.uk
Conor Williams Business Policy & Engagement Executive
lee.stanley@liverpoolchamber.org.uk
sarah.woolley@liverpoolchamber.org.uk
michelle.cameron@liverpoolchamber.org.uk
anthea.thomas@liverpoolchamber.org.uk
elena.enciso@liverpoolchamber.org.uk
helen.gibbons@liverpoolchamber.org.uk
melissa.healy@liverpoolchamber.org.uk
nathan.taylor@liverpoolchamber.org.uk
conor.williams@liverpoolchamber.org.uk
Tel: 0151 227 1234 Email: membership@liverpoolchamber.org.uk export@liverpoolchamber.org.uk www.liverpoolchamber.org.uk | @LpoolChamber
Liverpool Chamber
Laura Edwards Events Manager
laura.edwards @liverpoolchamber.org.uk
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5 MINUTES WITH...
Five things I have learnt during the Coronavirus pandemic. You need a great team around you.
You have to be flexible and prepared to adapt.
The diversity of the services we offer in the Chamber has meant that some of the team have had to come into the office since the beginning of the lockdown, providing export documentation to enable businesses to continue to operate. Whilst we did everything we could to provide a safe working environment it was not an easy decision and I know the businesses we work with have also valued the commitment shown by those staff despite their own concerns.
It might sound obvious but it isn’t always easy to achieve and often requires some tough decisions. We have heard of some great examples through our membership and we are also looking at our own business model in the Chamber to identify how we can better support businesses in a constantly changing environment. Our Business Restart and Recovery programme is just one of the ways we can provide more tailored support.
Home working has so many advantages but face to face interaction is something you can’t replace. The rapid rise in the use of technology has taken most people by surprise with people of all ages embracing apps like Zoom to stay in touch on a personal and professional level. I am really proud of the way my team has adapted but I know it hasn’t always been easy working in isolation or for those home schooling (including myself!). I am also concerned that we will lose the vibrancy of our commercial centres, including our cafes, restaurants and bars, if workers don’t return to the office when it is safe to do so. The positives of course are that we are all spending less time travelling to meetings, they aren’t so London and SE centric and they tend to be much shorter than usual. Not sure everyone understands the “new etiquette” however – the mute facility seems to be the one that causes most problems!
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You don’t need to do it on your own. Being part of the national British Chambers of Commerce has made me realise just how much I value being part of that wider network. It really does provide a credible voice for business across Whitehall and at the highest levels, where it has influenced policy decisions, resulting in much better outcomes for business. We have provided valuable insight and evidence to our colleagues thanks to the contribution of our members.
Sustainable recovery takes time. Sadly some businesses don’t have the luxury of time and we will continue to lobby government to provide support. Despite the many issues we are still all facing on a daily basis however, we need to be thinking about the longer term and how we can rebuild our economy in a more sustainable and resilient way, building on the lessons learnt and not just relying on sticking plaster quick fixes. It will be challenging and there will be setbacks but it will be worth it in the end – just ask Jürgen Klopp!
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ALL-ELECTRIC I-PACE
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