Post Business Magazine - January 2013 by Liverpool Post & Echo

M O N T H LY R E G I O N A L B U S I N E S S M A G A Z I N E

POST

BUSINESS

Did the tills ring this Christmas? Six-page special on festive retail sales

w w w . l d p b u s i n e s s . c o . u k February 2013

Sweet success Global growth stories from Vimto owners

● City strategy: Liverpool city centre’s blueprint for the future ● Child’s play: Finance for kids ● Top tips: Export made easy

UNRIVALLED SERVICE UNEQUALLED CALIBRE Described by our clients as ‘knowledgeable’, ‘thorough’ and ‘proactive’*, we provide an international, national and regional perspective to the commercial and public sector markets. Grow, develop and protect your organisation with tailored legal excellence from the experts at Hill Dickinson. Contact Bill Doherty via email: bill.doherty@hilldickinson.com

*Survey conducted by Ci Research

INSIDE 4

NEWS

Lord Mayor of the City of London to promote Liverpool

POST

BUSINESS

BIG FEATURE

LIVERPOOL POST EDITOR Mark Thomas 0151 227 2000

BUSINESS WRITERS Bill Gleeson 0151 472 2319

mark.thomas@liverpool.com

How did Liverpool city region’s retailers fare during Christmas?

bill.gleeson@liverpool.com

PROFESSIONAL SECTORS

Tony McDonough 0151 330 4918

Essential advice for the children of high net worth individuals

tony.mcdonough @liverpool.com

Alistair Houghton 0151 472 2449

BIG INTERVIEW

alistair.houghton @liverpool.com

John Nichols and Brendan Hynes – the men behind Vimto

Neil Hodgson 0151 472 2451

21 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

What Liverpool city centre will look like in the years to come

neil.hodgson @liverpool.com

HEAD OF IMAGES Barrie Mills

barrie.mills@liverpool.com

MARKETING EXECUTIVE Rachel Street 0151 227 2000

HOW GREEN IS YOUR BUSINESS?

Wirral recycling firm set for rapid growth after cash injection

rachel.street@trinitymirror.com

ADVERTISEMENT DIRECTOR Debbie McGraw

29 INTERNATIONAL TRADE

ADVERTISEMENT SALES Neil Johnson 0151 472 2705

Top tips for businesses looking to expand across the globe

neil.johnson@trinitymirror.com

KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY

Jaguar Land Rover continues to go from strength to strength

Diana Griffiths

0151 472 2311

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

Brunswick Business Park – out of town but not too far away

diana.griffiths@ trinitymirror.com

35 BUSINESS LUNCH

Franklins Deli, in Liverpool

PHOTOGRAPHY Trinity Mirror PUBLISHED BY Trinity Mirror NW2, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L69 3EB.

THE LIST

Key dates for your diary

TELEPHONE 0151 227 2000

FAX 0151 330 4942

THE NETWORKER

Alistair Houghton’s quiet month

Post Business is printed monthly and distributed with the Liverpool Post. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the publisher.

38 SOCIAL DIARY

Carolyn Hughes out on the town

YOUR POST Business magazine is changing – to bring you better and more comprehensive coverage of the business world in our city region than ever before. This is the final edition of the monthly magazine. Starting next week, we are launching a new, weekly 24-page business pull-out, which will include all the best elements of our monthly publication. Our new POST Business section will be crammed with news, interviews, comment and information, keeping you abreast of all the major developments affecting our thriving business community. We will continue to bring you detailed analysis and the views of

MARK THOMAS key players, large and small, taking you behind the headlines to provide the most comprehensive coverage of the business scene. And now this unrivalled coverage will be yours every week. Want to know what is happening in the commercial property world, which business sectors are bucking the economic trends, who is on the move, or which small businesses, old and new, are

thriving and expanding? POST Business will be your indispensable first port of call. Business advice will remain a cornerstone, whether it is our indepth coverage of wealth management, or tips from the experts on everything from company and employment law to raising finance. And we won’t be forgetting the social side of business, so important in developing contacts and rooting out opportunities. So the Networker pages will stay, in a great new format, keeping

you clued in on where to do lunch, what events are coming up, who threw the best parties, and all the latest trends in business style and gadgets. In your new POST Business, you will find many of your favourite features and guest columnists, but watch out, too, for some exciting new features which we think will add more depth to our coverage. The Bottom Line will provide fascinating analysis each week of the financial performance of one of our key local businesses. On the lighter side, our Style page will give you the lowdown on the latest

trends in everything from business gadgets to office wear, and we will also be taking a moment to share your memories of the history of our city region’s great businesses. Underpinning everything, as ever, will be the in-depth local expertise and knowledge of our brilliant team of business journalists. To stay ahead, you need to know what is happening in our business community. Our team have their fingers on the pulse. Read them in our great new POST Business, free in the Liverpool Post every Thursday, and you will, too.

MARK THOMAS 3

NEWS

Listen making right connections with jobless

Travis Scholes and Elaine Kevan

A CALL centre supporting UK charities has been launched in Liverpool’s Cotton Exchange, creating 30 jobs for young people and long-term jobless. Listen is part of Lean, a fundraising group working with charities and members of the public wishing to donate to good causes. With 10 charities already using Listen’s services, it is on track to have 75 full-time employees by March. The company is working in partnership with Elmfield Training, which aims to help

people who have been out of work for some time, or are looking for their first job. Listen’s managing director, Travis Scholes, said: “We are so proud to be creating jobs in Liverpool. “Our youngest employee is 18 years old and our eldest, Elaine Kevan, is 50 this month. “She hadn’t worked for 30 years and in the few weeks she has been with Listen she has blossomed and is proving a fantastic role model for our younger team members.”

London Lord Mayor to promote city’s IFB

From left: Guy Wallis, Alderman Jeffrey Evans, Alderman Roger Gifford and John Hall HE Lord Mayor of London is to be an ambassador for the International Festival of Business (IFB), the global gathering taking place in Liverpool next year. The Rt Hon the Lord Mayor Roger Gifford, whose role involves promoting the UK abroad and who is also the head of the City of London Corporation, made the offer following a trip to the city organised by Professional Liverpool and Liverpool Vision, the city’s economic development company. His visit came a week after the Prime Minister, David Cameron, gave his full support to the Festival when he spoke alongside Liverpool

T 4

Mayor Joe Anderson at a business briefing in Liverpool. “The International Festival of Business is a powerful and inspiring idea, and one which will build on all the good work that has been done to transform Liverpool in recent years,” said Mr Gifford. “I’m delighted to offer my services to help promote the event around the globe.” Professional Liverpool chief executive, John Hall, said: “It is an indication of the improving profile of the city that the Lord Mayor chose Liverpool as one of his very few UK regional visits this year. “We’re delighted by his support.” Max Steinberg, chief executive of regeneration agency Liverpool

Vision, which is delivering the IFB, said: “The Lord Mayor’s offer is highly significant and reflects the increased co-operation between our two cities and how closely Liverpool in London works with his team.” The Lord Mayor’s Liverpool visit included detailed briefings about the Atlantic Gateway scheme and the development of Liverpool’s new SuperPort, plus a stop at the Cammell Laird shipyard and the office of Mersey Maritime. He was also briefed by representatives of the financial and professional community at a lunch at legal firm DWF’s offices, hosted by the firm’s co-founder, Guy Wallis.

QUALITY

LEGAL

Elkan Abrahamson, of Broudie Jackson Canter – The Justice Partnership

Hillsborough – where do we go from here? IS THERE any one incident that has affected the community in our city and beyond more than Hillsborough and its aftermath? The terrible loss of life and the injustice of the accusation that fans were the cause, rather than the victims, of the disaster have reverberated through our community these past 23 years. The stench of cover-up was palpable here on Merseyside while misunderstood elsewhere. Finally, now the High Court has quashed the Hillsborough Inquests, what are the implications? Firstly, there is going to be a new inquest. We are acting for a number of the families and we are all very keen to get evidence from witnesses who were at the ground and, in particular, witnesses who feel that they were persuaded to put things in or leave things out of their statements by police officers. Some witnesses may have been approached by officers of West Midlands Police asking/ persuading them to amend their statements and we need as much evidence as we can gather of this. We are also, of course, looking for people who are able to give a statement as to what happened at Hillsborough. But a fresh inquest is only the start. There are IPCC (Independent Police Complaints Commission) investigations into the conduct of Officers. There is a separate police investigation into possible criminal conduct by others. Both those investigations are going to be based at offices in Warrington. It is important that they are carried out properly, fully and fairly and we are trying to ensure that there is some form of independent oversight of the investigations. Again, the more witnesses who give statements to us or other solicitors, the more the likelihood is that we will be able to ensure that the IPCC

and criminal investigations are not conducted under a shroud of secrecy. There is also the possibility of claims for compensation in civil proceedings. People may be able to take actions, against the police, in particular, under a number of circumstances. There may be those who were at the ground, took proceedings at the time, but now find that their symptoms are continuing, even though the original proceedings concluded on the basis that the symptoms would resolve within a few years. For some people, this is a result of misinformation spread about Liverpool fans at Hillsborough. There are also fans that did not take proceedings at the time but who may now feel that they want to take proceedings. The legal issues in such cases would be complex and one of the questions would be whether the police were acting unlawfully – the law calls this misfeasance. There will also be families for whom, sadly, the proceedings which they took at the time were based on a false premise that their loved one died at a certain time or that nothing could have been done to save them. They may have different claims, possibly against different defendants, including one or more police forces. Thus, there is the prospect of prolonged and complicated litigation. We have the truth from the Hillsborough Panel – now it is time for justice. The full story still needs to be told and it is important that people come forward to tell it. If you require any advice about any issue relating to Hillsborough or can provide any relevant information, please contact Elkan Abrahamson at Broudie Jackson Canter – The Justice Partnership on 0151 227 1429 or email: eabrahamson @jacksoncanter.co.uk

‘After the quashing of Hillsborough inquests, what are the implications?’

■ IN ASSOCIATION with Broudie Jackson Canter – The Justice Partnership

In Business for your Business

postbusiness po stb us ine ss Exciting news aboutour business Eureka moment coverage

Launches next Thursday: Free in The Liverpool Post Yourguideto thesmartest phones

MERSEY PROPERTY FOCUS

Style14

P 16 -17

thisweek Glassceiling shattered?

Women in business 15

Smallis beautiful

SMEguide9

Gaming goes upalevel

Creative and Digital 10-11

Roomfor expansion?

Science park experiment is an economic success

P12 &13

Focuson hotels 18-19

■ Great new weekly business pull-out

■ Packed with news, views & analysis

■ Taking you to the heart of Mersey business 5

C E N T U RY B U I L D I N G B RU N S W I C K B U S I N E S S PA R K TOWER STREET LIVERPOOL L3 4BJ

STYLISH NEW OFFICES TO LET Available in suites from 757 sq ft (70.31 sq m) or as a whole up to 27,151 sq ft (2,522.4 sq m) • • • •

Raised floors Air-conditioning LG7 lighting Kitchen facilities

• Shower facilities • Ample car parking • Excellent transport links close by • 2 miles south of the city centre

• Telecoms pre installed

Other accommodation available at Century Building: OFFICES from 644 sq ft to 5,038 sq ft (59.8 sq m to 468 sq m) WAREHOUSE/INDUSTRIAL UNITS from 1,185 sq ft to 9,860 sq ft (110 sq m to 916 sq m)

jonswain@masonpartners.com

mark.worthington@cbre.com neil.kirkham@cbre.com

THE BIG FEATURE

Top of the shops?

BY TONY MCDONOUGH

▲ ▲

Christmas 2012 was seen as make-or-break for UK retailers as the economy remained in the doldrums. So how did shops in the Liverpool city region fare during the festive period?

THE BIG FEATURE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 T IS likely that 2008 will be seen to have been a landmark year for Liverpool city centre – not, as some may think, just because of the European Capital of Culture accolade but because of something even bigger – Liverpool One. Prior to the opening of Grosvenor’s £1bn retail and leisure development, Liverpool’s retail offer was pretty much indistinguishable from many other cities and large towns across the UK. It certainly wasn’t a retail destination for shoppers in the wider North West. For that special shop, people would flock to Manchester or the Trafford Centre. That has all changed now and, as you will see on the following pages, the scheme is defying the general economic gloom to maintain its momentum five years on. The general consensus is that Liverpool One has not benefited in isolation, but has been beneficial for the wider retail core. It was certainly seen as a masterstroke that the development was incorporated into the fabric of the city, rather than being built as a standalone shopping mall. Outside of Liverpool One, the retail core is overseen by the Liverpool City Central Business Improvement District (BID), which has 651 businesses as members based in and around Lord Street, Church Street, Whitechapel, Parker Street, Bold Street and Williamson Square. Liverpool One saw rises in footfall and sales during the 2012 Christmas trading period, while the BID area did not. During December, sales (based on an anonymous sample of 20 retailers) were 4% down on 2011 compared to a 0.3% rise across the UK. Footfall was down 4.9% during the month. Nationally, there was a 0.5% fall. During the key 9am to 5pm trading period, the footfall figure improves a little with a year-onyear fall of 4.1%. In that time slot, the BID area saw weekly average footfall of 1.45m, with a total for December of more than 7.2m. However, the figures perhaps don’t tell the full story. They compared against what turned out to be a very strong festive period in 2011 and are the secondbest figures since 2005. And, placed in the context of the events in the retail world in January – big names including HMV, Jessops and Blockbuster have all collapsed – it could be viewed as a robust performance. Online trading continues to put the high street under pressure. The British Retail Consortium said online sales surged 18% in December trading, as shoppers with smartphones and tablets benefited from more sophisticated websites and click and collect services. Certainly the chief executive of the BID, Ged Gibbons, is remaining upbeat. “2011 had been an extremely strong year for us,” he said, adding that he believed footfall remained “buoyant” against the backdrop of the wider economy. The BID and Liverpool One also have very different systems for monitoring footfall, so a com-

Liverpool’s Church Street during the Christmas shopping period; inset, top, Ged Gibbons; and, bottom, Ian Ward parison between the two is not necessarily like-for-like. And Mr Gibbons is full of praise for the overall positive impact Liverpool One has had on the city. The two are partners, not rivals, he insists – a point also made by Liverpool One estate director Chris Bliss. Liverpool One has retail giants John Lewis and Debenhams on its patch but BID can boast the likes of Marks & Spencer, Primark, Topshop and Next. It is understood that Primark’s Liverpool outlet is one of the bestperforming stores in the chain’s European portfolio. Mr Gibbons claimed most retailers in the BID area had resisted the temptation to panic by holding traditional January sales much earlier. He said: “I had a lot of people asking me ‘would retailers start their sales well before Christmas?’ But certainly, in Liverpool, most of the stores held firm and didn’t look at stock clearance until after Christmas. “I think that is a fair barometer in terms of their performance. “Our footfall counters are strategically placed throughout the area and I think it remained

buoyant. Liverpool One has counters on individual units and I understand during Christmas week they were up on footfall and sales. “Central Station reopened after a six-month refurbishment in October, and that is absolutely vital to the lifeblood of the city centre and has allowed people to get back to habit. “We had had to endure the sixmonth closure and that coming back was a big injection for the city centre. You could see Bold Street, for example, starting to breathe again.” BID is working with Merseytravel to to make a proper assessment of the impact of that closure on the surrounding area. Allied to that, there is a concern about the top end of Church Street, around the junction with Bold Street, where there are a number of vacant retail units. “Ironically, that stretch where those units are is one of the busiest thoroughfares in the city centre and if I was a retailer looking for a prime site I would be thinking there. This supports the notion that the axis is tilting towards the river. “Central Station is still the

busiest local railway station in the country, and we need to make sure that we put events around there and that is what we did at Christmas. “We had events and physical attractions, like the big wheel, down there. It is something that appears in people’s eyelines from a distance away and that draws people in.” One of the biggest single entities within the BID area is St John’s shopping centre, an indoor mall that largely caters for the value end of the retail sector. It reported that the final full week before Christmas was its busiest in terms of footfall since 2007. In the week beginning December 17, the centre recorded 455,655 shoppers – an 11% increase on the same week in 2011. In total, more than 1.4m people visited St John’s in December, an increase from 1.3m in 2011. The rise in December marks the end to a successful year for the shopping centre, which saw total footfall across the year increase by 2.2%. Centre director Ian Ward, who also recently became chair of the BID, said: “The week before

Christmas was very busy on the malls and there was a great festive buzz in the centre. “Recording our busiest week in five years was a great end to the year which saw footfall regularly up on the figures we recorded in 2011, and shows that consumer confidence is continuing to improve in Liverpool. “We can attribute some of this to our mix of retailers, which means that we can offer customers a wide range of products from food and fashion to homeware providing a one-stop shopping destination.” People shopping in Church Street and Lord Street over Christmas, and at other times of the year, will have been well aware of the number of street traders present. Go back over a decade and there was a very long and drawn-out battle between the traditional Liverpool street traders and the city council, who wanted to remove them. Mr Gibbons acknowledges this contradiction and points out that the current traders that appear there aren’t defined by the council as street traders, but collectively as a “specialist Continental

THE BIG FEATURE

City region retailers weather the storm Festive footfall was broadly in line with 2011

Main picture: JASON ROBERTS market”. He added: “It is about making sure there is a quality threshold. “The markets are not organised by the BID and what we would say is that, if we are aspiring to be similar to somewhere like Manchester, then we have to copy what they are doing in terms of Continental Markets. “That is where I think there is room for improvement.” The BID was established in November, 2005, following a vote taken by all the shops and businesses in the area, although it initially excluded traders in Bold Street. Its main aims then, as now, were to create a “safer, cleaner, more prosperous and vibrant city centre”. This means improving the cleanliness and general environment of the streets, as well as organising outdoor events and promotions. Each business pays a levy on top of their business rate to fund the organisation. When the BID came up for renewal in 2008, traders in Bold Street were by then keen to become a part of the project and the vote went in favour of extending it for a further five years.

The BID is coming up for renewal again this year, which means Mr Gibbons and his team are now in full-on election mode. “Our key priority for 2013 is to win the vote in June and keep the BID going,” he said. “Our battle plan started in September last year – it is like running a political election campaign. “It brings in everything – our business plan, annual review, the BID surgeries we hold. “We are creating what we are calling a war cabinet, which is 15 key players from different parts of the BID all coming together. “We are going out to all the members and saying that for the past five years we have concentrated on clean, green, safe and animated, and we think it is not bust so there is no need to fix it – ‘what do you think?’ “We want to continue what we have done but then develop it – become more strategically involved. “Now is about the time we consolidate the basics and get more involved in the bigger city stuff as a lobbying group, in partnership with the commercial district BID.”

AROUND the Liverpool city region, other key retail locations reported a resilient Christmas performance against the backdrop of a struggling economy. Birkenhead’s main shopping centre, The Grange and Pyramids, reported footfall of around 1.6m for December, which commercial director Derek Millar said was “more or less on a par with 2011”. Mr Millar added: “Overall, we have had a very busy Christmas period and the feedback I have had from our retailers so far has been really positive. “Our busiest week in December was the week commencing the 17th, when close to 500,000 people came to do their Christmas shopping with us. “While a number of shopping centres across the UK are struggling, we are holding our own and the outlook for 2013 is positive.” Bootle Strand shopping centre reported that footfall figures in December were “broadly in line” with their 2011 results. Deputy centre manager Alan Wright said: “Most of ur retailers told us they had higher sales than last year and a number of the larger stores said they had a very good Christmas.” Mr Wright doesn’t believe somewhere like Liverpool One has a detrimental effect on the Strand. He added: “We are very much a neighbourhood centre where people will use us Monday to Friday and perhaps go to somewhere like Liverpool One on a Saturday.” Along with Sefton Council, traders in Southport launched their Art of Christmas campaign to drive festive footfall to the town. It sought to highlight the “unique” shops and attractions on offer locally. Yvonne Burns, manager of

While a number of shopping centres across the UK are struggling, we are holding our own – Grange and Pyramids commercial director Derek Millar Southport’s Wayfarers Shopping Arcade said: “Although 2012 was a challenging time for retailers throughout the country, trade in Wayfarers was much in line with Christmas 2011. “Post-Christmas discounts offered during the sales period helped to boost figures and those retailers with an on-line presence also fared well overall.” Festive trade in St Helens also seemed to be steady. A spokesman for St Helens Council said: “Overall, the feeling seems to be that retailers in St Helens didn't do too badly over Christmas. “There seems to be a perception that while footfall may have been down slightly, many retailers actually reported increased sales compared with last year. “The council has actively

tried to support the town centre over the last year or so with a regular programme of events aimed at bringing people in. “For example, our Christmas lights switch-on event last year attracted over 6,000 people and one retailer claimed it was their busiest-ever day. We’ve also been running the Love St Helens campaign, which promotes the town centre and its retailers.” Liverpool’s up-market Metquarter shopping mall said it experienced “increased footfall and a strong sales performance during the Christmas period”. Centre manager, Jennina O'Neill, added: “The addition of several exciting new retailers, such as Carluccio’s, has given customers an increased variety of shopping experiences to explore.”

Boxing Day record for Cheshire Oaks THE McArthurGlen Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet, near Ellesmere Port, said its retailers reported double-digit growth for the December 17 to 30 period. In particular, it

reported its highest-ever single day of trading on Boxing Day, with discounts being offered on high street and designer brands of up to 60%. Cheshire Oaks

also said it recorded record visitor numbers for December 27 and 28. Manager Brian Handley said: “Christmas has exceeded our expectations, with record trading.

“We had 16 new stores open in 2012, which helped attract more shoppers than ever to the unrivalled shopping experience of designer and high street brands.”

THE BIG FEATURE

L1 stays ahead of the game

Christmas sales and footfall soar at Liverpool city centre’s prestige retail development ON THE day music chain HMV collapsed into administration, there was a TV discussion on the future of the retail sector. One analyst insisted that the British high street was “evolving, not declining” and the success of Liverpool One certainly seems to demonstrate that, if you provide the right offer, people will come. Given the desperate state of the wider economy you might describe the development’s festive sales and footfall performance as remarkable. During the seven-week Christmas trading period, the development saw footfall rise 3.3% to more than 6m with sales up 7.4%. For just December, footfall rose 2.6% and sales were up 5.4%. For the whole of 2012, footfall was up 1% and sales up 5%. Saturday, December 1, was the busiest in the five-year history of

the £1bn scheme. On that day, 172,000 people visited Liverpool One – a 13% rise on the same Saturday in 2011. These figures appear significantly better than those for the BID seen on previous pages but Liverpool One estate director, Chris Bliss, pointed out that its footfall detection system was more comprehensive than in the BID area so a like-for-like comparison was not necessarily fair. He said: “It was an exceptional Christmas period for us. “The back end of November was a little bit slow but once we hit December we saw some amazing statistics. “We had our busiest day ever and our busiest weekend ever. “It is very difficult to compare our footfall with the BID area, because the nature of the environment is very different.

“We like to talk about Liverpool’s retail performance as a whole. “I think we have done well for a whole host of reasons. We have a very strong retail offer. “Harvey Nichols Beauty Bazaar joining us recently is a good example of that and we had 20 new retail stores last year. “We keep our retailing fresh and we are always striving to find new initiatives. “Five years ago, I think Harvey Nichols might have said ‘never Liverpool’ but five years down the line that has changed. “Now they have opened their first Beauty Bazaar in the UK. That says an awful lot about the offer that Liverpool now has. “As the Liverpool One team, we work extremely hard on the overall experience so when you are out and about we look at the

customer service experience people are getting from the retail outlets and from our own staff. “We look at ways in which we entertain you in between your shopping experience, and put alongside that the number of people that come here to eat or go to the cinema. “It is a product that is a much more overall pleasant experience rather than just a trudge.” This backs up the view of the analyst quoted at the top of this article – that shops alone are no longer enough. It is now necessary to create an “experience” to persuade people to come in large numbers. There is no doubt the retail tenants at Liverpool One were pleased to be there. Mr Bliss added: “The general feeling from the retailers was that they had done very well. Cert-

ainly we saw that electrical did particularly well, as did footwear and also beauty. “Beauty always sells very well in Liverpool. Liverpool shoppers will spend four or five times more on beauty products than the national average. “Hence why Harvey Nichols chose Liverpool.” Liverpool One says 100% of its retail space is either let or under offer – another significant achievement in this climate. And Mr Bliss says he and his team take a very proactive approach with their tenants. “We do offer incentives for tenants, but those incentives are always built around a business case,” he said. “We analyse sales data. We have a whole team here that is in constant dialogue with out occupiers in terms of how well

THE BIG FEATURE

First-class service the key to success, says jeweller

High-end retailer opens up in time to reap benefits of Christmas trade

Liverpool One saw healthy rises in both sales and footfall during the Christmas trading period. Estate director Chris Bliss, inset, top left, says the proactive approach it takes with its tenants is one of the keys to its success

they are doing. We have also got our asset managers, who will look at that data to see whether we feel that data supports the rental levels that retailers need to pay. “Where we see sales increasing, then we are happy, but if they are weak and are weakening we will plot this against their occupational costs – rent, service charge, business rates. “By plotting that expenditure against income, if we can see it falling then we will be having a conversation with them sooner rather than later. “Sometimes that conversation is very simple – is the store laid out properly? Does the staff have the right training? “Then we might talk about whether they are in the right location. “You can then have a transition period ahead of any change.”

In terms of footfall, Christmas was a little quieter than we expected – Matt Case, general manager and 50% owner of Russell & Case, which employs four people in Hanover Street Picture: GAVIN TRAFFORD IT TAKES a lot of faith in the products you are selling to launch a high-end retail business in the teeth of a double-dip recession. Matt Case has that self-belief and, since opening his up-market jewellery store in Liverpool city centre, in November, he is seeing his faith vindicated. Mr Case, who has worked in jewellery retail for 10 years, opened Russell & Case, in Hanover Street, with a VIP party. Since then, it has enjoyed encouraging

early trade selling “unique fine jewellery” to well-heeled customers. “In terms of footfall, Christmas was a little quieter than we expected but the clients that have come in are spending more than we expected,” said Mr Case, who is general manager and 50% owner of the business. “But footfall is not such a big issue for us because we are selling items that are quite expensive. “What we aimed to do was cover our

costs for what is traditionally a quiet trading period in January – and we have more than done that.” Before opening the store, Mr Case did extensive market research, visiting hundreds of high-end jewellers across the UK. He added: “I was not impressed by what I found and became very frustrated at the poor levels of customer service that I found. That’s how I knew I could do it much better.”

Festive shoppers flocked to Liverpool’s John Lewis ALONG with Debenhams, John Lewis is the flagship retailer in Liverpool One. The store saw healthy year-on-year growth each week during December. In the first week of the month, sales were up 9.6%; in the second, that fell to 4.1% and in the week to December 22 it was back up to 10%. For the week to December 29, the outlet reported what seems like a phenomenal rise in sales of

28.8%. However, this figure was skewed by the fact that it included two trading days prior to Christmas Day, whereas the equivalent week in 2011 started on Christmas Day. Nonetheless, the store clearly proved to be a hit with Christmas shoppers. The store is managed by Yorkshireman Dan Cooke, right, who took on the job in early 2011. It employs more than 600 people and is one of the

best-performing outlets in the John Lewis group, which is owned by its staff, who are known as partners. In an interview with Post Business before Christmas, Mr Cooke talked about how important the views of the partners where in the operation of the store. He said: “I get them involved in the conversation. I need that input from partners – 600 heads are better than one.”

THE BIG FEATURE

Bold Street traders flying the flag for independents

Liverpool thoroughfare keeps its ‘quirkiness’ despite the tough retail environment IT WAS once said of Bold Street, in Liverpool, that if a fox were to be spotted running along the pavement then within two minutes someone would have turned it into a coat – such is the thoroughfare’s reputation for specialist and unusual shops. However, that reputation is not as deserved as it used to be. These days, although Bold Street does retain some of its old character, the quirkier traders have increasingly been crowded out by chain stores and coffee shops. Walk up the road from Church Street and within a couple of minutes you will have passed Argos, Holland & Barrett, Body Shop, Costa Coffee and, of course, Starbucks. Bold Street traders have faced significant challenges in the past few years. As if the vicious economic downturn wasn’t enough, they have also seen the retail centre of gravity shift farther away, with the opening of Liverpool One in 2008. And, for much of last year, the temporary closure of Liverpool Central station for refurbishment impacted significantly on footfall. Some traders claim that, since the station reopened in October, the same level of footfall has not returned. So it would have been with some level of trepidation that businesses in Bold Street approached the normally lucrative festive season. Rennies Arts & Crafts has been located in Bold Street for about 30 years, and owner Steven Rennie described Christmas trading as “OK”. “It was up and down from day to day really,” he said. “We had a couple of very wet spells during December and that also affects footfall along here. “This year, we put a model railway in the window and that seemed to bring quite a few in.” Rennies sells original paintings and arts materials. Mr Rennie said sales for the former were up slightly and the latter down a little. “Bold Street doesn’t get the same footfall that it used to, but it still retains a lot of character,” he added. “I don’t think we saw the same level of footfall coming back after Central Station re-opened and I think the council could lower the rates a bit – that would be a big help.” June Watts, manager of nearby jewellers, FA Welch, who echoed Mr Rennie’s claims about the impact of the station closure, said: “When it was closed, many people

Shopkeepers are determined to retain Bold Street’s unique character; insets, from top, Steven Rennie, Claudia Free and Neville Boyars

started using Lime Street underground instead, which meant they would bypass Bold Street altogether. The closure was a nightmare. “People get used to the same routine and I think some have carried on using Lime Street, even after Central has re-opened. “We did ask the council for a rates reduction because of it, but we got nowhere.” Ms Watts, perhaps reflecting the low expectations of many, said trading during the festive period has been “reasonable”. “It was what we expected,” she added. “As well as selling to passing trade, we are also a destination shop for bespoke jewellery and repairs and I think that is what keeps us going. I think we need to get more of the quirkiness back into Bold Street.”

Claudia Free is a member of the family that runs vintage clothing store, Pop Boutique. Its Bold Street outlet is one of six it operates around the country. It opened just before Christmas, 2011, and Ms Free said trading had been a “little down” on last year. She added: “I think people are definitely more price-sensitive now and are prepared to haggle more to get the price they want.” Over the next year or two, the area at the back of Bold Street, towards Renshaw Street, is set to be transformed by the £160m Central Village scheme which will include hotels, restaurants, offices and a cinema. Neville Boyars is among those traders who hopes the scheme will breathe a new lease of life into the Bold Street area.

Mr Boyars, who owns Smiffy’s, a shop specialising in fancy dress costumes and many other products for parties, said: “Trading has been difficult – the recession has really hit us. “At Christmas, we were probably down a bit on last year, although our busiest period is actually Hallowe’en. “The closure of Central Station had a huge impact on Bold Street, and it has not really picked up to the same level since so we have asked for a rates reduction. “I think we all hope that Central Village will have a positive impact and bring more people back to Bold Street.” One trader that did have a good Christmas was up-market gift and homewares retailer, Utility. Owner Dick Mawdsley operates three Liverpool outlets – two in

Bold Street and one at Liverpool One. He said: “Christmas was really strong for us. We were about 15% up at Liverpool One and also saw a rise in Bold Street. “I think if you innovate and try to do something different, you can do well. “We brought in a new range of Christmas cards this year and during the festive period we sold 10,000 of them. “You have to be bold in what you sell and how you present it. I think some of the other shops could try a bit harder on that. “I think Central Village is going to have a massive impact on this area. “There is going to be a big car park in Renshaw Street, which will be a big help, as car parking is a problem around Bold Street.”

INVESTMENT ADVICE MADE FOR YOU

At Charles Stanley Liverpool we have a different approach to investment services. Rather than slotting you into someone else’s ﬁnancial model, we custom build a service around you.

Discretionary and Advisory investment management

For further information please contact Derek Gawne on the details below:

Spencer Hart Attending to the tiny details

Advisory and Executiononly share dealing Charity and Trust Services ISA and Junior ISAs SIPPs No minimum portfolio Local management

Spencer Hart’s mission is to put an understated elegance back into men’s tailoring.

20 Chapel Street, Liverpool, L3 9AG 0151 255 2680

Their ethos is simply ‘less is more’ - pairing a crisp white shirt in ﬁnest Egyptian cotton with a handmade dark tie and razor-sharp beautifully cut suit.

www.charles-stanley.co.uk/liverpool

Think Steve McQueen, a young Sean Connery, Frank Sinatra and The Rat Pack.

Please remember the value of investments may fall as well as rise and your capital is not guaranteed.

What could be more distinctive? Like Charles Stanley they also understand that two details help to set you apart: Having a clear vision and attending to the tiny details.

Charles Stanley & Co. Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registered ofﬁce 25 Luke St, London, EC2A 4AR. Registered in England No. 1903304

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

PROFESSIONAL SECTORS

ASK THE

EXPERT

With Peter Mooney, head of employment law at ELAS

AS A RESULT of a recent inheritance, I am currently looking to invest in starting a business. Having looked at the market, I have come to the conclusion that it is far too risky to begin something from scratch. I am now considering investing in a franchise, but I have heard that the amount of support I might receive will vary greatly depending on the company I choose. If I do go down the franchise route, what type of relationship can I expect with the franchisee, and what are the most common pitfalls to be aware of in running this type of business model?

FRANCHISING is a double-edged sword. A company that successfully franchises its business has the potential for fantastic growth, but it also risks tarnishing its brand, should a licence fall into the hands of someone unsuitable or unable to maintain the standards expected by the franchisor and its customers. Similarly, a franchisee has a chance to operate a tried and tested business model which, effectively managed, can result in a very profitable enterprise. However, should things go wrong, they can quickly find themselves on their own; a good franchisor will provide a lot of assistance to its licensees, but there is no legal requirement to do so. The key for any franchise is to maintain corporate consistency, which means making sure the standards and expectations associated with the brand are maintained at all times, and the obligations and legal

requirements on both sides are outlined in a signed franchise agreement. This protects franchisors in terms of what intellectual property each franchisee is permitted to use, such as trademarks, and it dictates aspects such as the fees, territory, licence term and any restrictions placed on the franchisee during the period of ownership. The agreement also outlines the support received by the franchisee, which can come in the form of a marketing plan, administrative guidance or training to ensure consistent service to customers. However, while this certainly goes some way to helping franchisees meet some of the standards required by the brand owners, it is far rarer for these agreements to include assistance in managing the difficulties inherent in the running of any business, such as payroll issues, health and safety or hiring, firing and disciplining staff. Quite often, it can be these stumbling blocks that prove the most difficult for new franchise businesses, as many first-time licensees will have little experience in HR or employment law. These issues can range from writing a health and safety policy for staff to putting the right workplace facilities and insurance in place, as well as ensuring staff are fully trained and employed under the right contract. Both sides are taking a chance on the success of a franchise. ● FOR more information on how to effectively manage the risks from either side, call the ELAS experts on 08450 50 40 60.

‘Successful franchising offers the potential for fantastic growth’

■ IN ASSOCIATION with ELAS

Managing cash

From children’s pocket money to instilling the basics AN OVERWHELMING majority of parents believe that financial education should be added to the school curriculum. In a recent study by Virgin Money, it was claimed that 87% of parents quizzed supported some form of introduction to money management skills for their children. They believe this starts with pocket money, and many adults use weekly pocket money as the basis for teaching youngsters the value of cash and how to manage it sensibly. It showed 5% of two-year-olds receive pocket money and, by the age of ten, 86% get money from their parents. Adults who responded to the survey said the key reasons for giving a weekly treat were learning about money management at a young age, learning the value of money, learning about earning money as a reward, learning about spending and budgeting, and learning about saving, using short and long-term goals. Simon Hall, Virgin Money spokesman, said: “Receiving, spending and saving pocket money is often the first way for children to learn the basics of managing money – a skill they’ll need for life. “What is fascinating from this research is the clear acknowledgement from parents across the country that financial education is important enough to be included in the school curriculum. “Regardless of the amount, giving pocket money to children as young as four or five can help them to begin learning about money management and the value of money. Pocket money also helps teach children about having to make choices and waiting while they save up for things they want.” Financial management on the school timetable is a sensible and praiseworthy course, but keeping a grip on finances and financial decisions in the adult world presents far more challenges, and wealth managers at private bank Coutts offer a range of services to help the siblings of clients who stand to inherit substantial sums or business operations, do just that. John Price, a wealth manager with the Liverpool office of Coutts, said their courses were proving more and more popular. One, Finance 101, offers an understanding of the basics of personal finance, while Future Leader is aimed at the children of ultra high net worth (UHNW) clients – customers who invest more than £10m with Coutts or have a total net worth of £30m or above. Mr Price said: “We probably have about 30 or 40 of them in Liverpool.”

Coutts wealth manager John Price says the bank can help prepare children of ultra high net worth clients to meet the responsibilities associated with successful businesses

Finance 101 is aimed at 18-30year-olds, is run twice a year and is free to attend. Coutts specialists will guide participants through a range of topics, including borrowing, investments and planning for the future. The day, run from the bank’s London offices, involves interactive sessions at the London Stock Exchange and allows participants to meet a new network of peers, and improve their understanding of topics such as trusts, pensions, tax, estate planning, investing, markets, wills and protection. Mr Price said three or four

children of the bank’s Liverpool clients would normally attend these regular sessions. Future Leader drills much deeper and requires an application and interview process to attend the course, which lasts for six days and is staged in a variety of international locations. It not only offers the kind of skills allowing attendees to fit seamlessly into a large-scale successful business, but it can also instil the necessary qualities for the captains of industry of the future. Mr Price said: “We understand the responsibilities that come with wealth.”

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

PROFESSIONAL SECTORS

is a valuable lesson for life

of how to handle wealth responsibly, there is a need for a better and widespread education

The course is open to a select group of 21-25-year-olds, and aims to inspire and motivate them through a range of exceptional experiences in entrepreneurship, personal development, finance and social impact. In association with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, which is globally recognised for intellectual leadership and business education, a bespoke faculty of MBA professors deliver stimulating seminars, in addition to Coutts’ Next Generation advisers, leading philanthropists and successful entrepreneurs. Delegates are also presented

with valuable opportunities to build their confidence and personal networks with exclusive access to specialist experts, insightful speakers and a new international peer group. Coutts is keen to mix business with pleasure, however, and builds in an element of fun and interactive exercises, followed by a lively programme of evening entertainment throughout the week-long experience. In the past, the bank has also run Next Generation in the Family Business forums, which typically involve various roles associated with family business and succession planning.

Assets and Responsibilities, aimed at the 18-23-year age group, previously ran for two days in London, involving about 40 people each year, and served as the start of formalising the programmes for the next generation. Another opportunity for the next generation of clients or business leaders includes regular alumni networks for participants who have attended the bank’s programmes to get together and meet other peers from previous years and programmes. All these events are open to the children of Coutts’ UK clients, but the bank is keenly aware of newly emerging economies and it said

its plans for the next 12 months will involve a local programme in Asia: “We are exploring what our markets need from a next generation perspective and are planning to launch more in 2013.” Mr Price said these courses could be staged in either London or Asia, adding: “We have massive growth plans for Asia and the Middle East.” He added: “There is a lot of ultra high net worth individuals there. “Because this is quite new for them, they are very concerned about their offspring having the wherewithal to manage their wealth.”

Simon Hall, of Virgin Money

THE BIG INTERVIEW

With vim and vigour BY ALISTAIR HOUGHTON

Nichols chairman John Nichols, left, and chief executive Brendan Hynes, with some of the company’s products Picture: GARETH JONES

▲ ▲

John Nichols and Brendan Hynes, of Nichols, on how century-old Northern favourite Vimto has gone global

THE BIG INTERVIEW . . . JOHN NICHOLS & BRENDAN HYNES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 HEN I raise the question of Vimto’s secret recipe, there’s just a hint of steel in John Nichols’s jovial response. Vimto, first made in 1908 by Mr Nichols’s grandfather, has long been one of the North’s most famous brands. But, unknown to many in Merseyside, it is just as famous around the world. The fruity drink is the musthave treat in the Middle East during Ramadan evenings, but it is available all year round from the Arctic Circle to the Cape of Good Hope. Today, Nichols plc, the Newtonle-Willows-based company founded by Mr Nichols’s grandfather, John Noel Nichols, sells a portfolio of drinks including Sunkist and the new Levi Roots range. But it remains best known for Vimto cordial and all the brands and products that have since sprung from John Noel Nichols’s original 1908 recipe. From double-strength cordial in Saudi Arabia to the sweets on sale in any corner shop, Vimto’s fruity brand keeps growing and growing, driven in recent years by international success. Mr Nichols and group chief executive Brendan Hynes like to call Nichols a “sales and marketing business”. That reflects not only the fact that global manufacturing has long been out-sourced, but also the fact that Nichols has to work massively hard to promote the Vimto brand in the face of competition from the giants of the global soft drinks sector. Mr Nichols, who joined the family firm 40 years ago, sees the company as “custodian” of the Vimto brand, not just its owner. And that’s why he’s so cautious when pushed about its secret recipe. “We’d tell you, but we’d have to kill you,” he said with a half-smile that suggests he’s only halfjoking. “We make a spice blend that goes into each batch. We make that about 13 times a year. That’s the secret part. That’s then sent to the premises of the people who co-pack for us. “Yes, we always had the product at home. And I drank it myself to test it, and I still do. We still have to test it to make sure it’s being kept the same. “One thing we’ve always been proud of is that the basic flavour of Vimto has always been the same. The kind of juice has changed, for example, and the sweeteners. But the flavour you identify with Vimto is over 100 years old.” Last year, Nichols was honoured in the International Trade category of the Queen’s Awards for its success at selling Vimto in dozens of countries. Mr Hynes said: “For the last few number of years, when the market in the UK has been pretty flat, we have always outperformed the market. That’s what we intend to keep doing. “But the beauty of our business is the support it enjoys from overseas. “There’s no other soft drink businesses of our size that have anything like our international footprint. That gives us a certain robustness that we might not have if we were 100% UK-centred. “The growth potential in some

of the countries we sell to is significant. There are tremendous opportunities in some of those emerging economies. That’s a unique position to be in.” T COMES as a surprise to many people that Vimto is a Merseyside brand. The drink was first made in central Manchester – there’s a monument to prove it, which you can spot from the train line between Oxford Road and Piccadilly – and has long been associated with that city. But the Nichols head office, overlooking the M6, is just about inside the St Helens borough boundary – though Jessica Ennis could probably throw a javelin and hit Greater Manchester. John Noel Nichols’s blend of fruit and spices was originally known as “Vim Tonic”, but that was soon shortened to the familiar Vimto. Many other historic British brands, such as Colman’s

mustard, are keen to use their heritage in their marketing campaigns. Vimto’s core customers, however, are children and teenagers – so Nichols has to take a different approach. “We have a whole museum of stuff,” said Mr Nichols. “The archive is huge. But we don’t tend to major on it because it’s not what the kids today want. “They want to know that it’s been around for a long time. But they don’t want an old product. They want a new image.” At the same time, Vimto’s heritage appeals to parents and grandparents. Vimto, Mr Hynes added, had to keep adapting to stay “relevant” to its young audience while retaining a broader appeal. “A couple of years ago, we launched a product with a sports

cap,” he said. “Sales of that have increased significantly year on year. “The product is exactly the same, but the look is different. “As a consumer ages, that consumer becomes a parent, then they have grandchildren. Hence, in our marketing, we have to connect with the grandparents and parents who are traditional Vimto fans, but also keep it relevant to their children.” For Hynes and Nichols, Vimto – which was already available in fizzy form as early as 1920 – has always been an innovative brand. Mr Nichols said: “We were one of the first people to put a soft drink in a can. That was in the mid-60s, when you needed an opener to open the can.

‘We sell more than Coke in Sierra Leone’

“We didn’t make it easy, did we?” he added with a smile. Luckily, ring pulls made canned Vimto accessible – and many more drinks and brand extensions have followed. Diet Vimto, now Vimto No Added Sugar, was launched 20 years ago. And, more recently, Vimto has expanded its range of ready-to-drink still variants, including those with “sports caps”. Mr Hynes said: “The range now reflects the fact that a lot of drinks are consumed on the go. “The pack sizes reflect that. 500ml bottles didn’t exist if you go back eight or nine years. “We are taking Vimto products to areas where modern consumers are. “A lot of the growth we’re seeing is products that are relatively new pack sizes.” Cordials account for half of Vimto’s UK sales, with carbonated products accounting for 40% and the growing ready-to-drink ranges

THE BIG INTERVIEW . . . JOHN NICHOLS & BRENDAN HYNES out, people will buy it and repeat buy it.” That’s where Vimto’s often striking advertising campaigns come in. The brand has moved a long way from its early adverts saying it “eliminates that out-of-sorts feeling”. Its slogans in recent years range from “Shlurple the purple” to the current “Seriously mixed up fruit”, accompanying adverts starring giant cartoon fruit getting squelched into Vimto. Its earlier “Dad’s Pants” advert commercial starred a schoolboy who took his father’s enormous underpants to a swimming lesson instead of his own trunks. “We are a sales and marketing business,” said Mr Hynes. “Our job is to market the brands. It’s about how we connect with the modern consumer.” When it comes to Vimto’s core young consumer base, that now means investing more multimedia campaigns online and on mobile phones. Mr Hynes said: “We spend more than pretty much all our competitors, as a percentage, on sales and marketing. “One, we are growing the brand by tackling the low penetration in some parts of the country. “Two, because we have to punch above our weight as we compete with global brands and bigger companies, we spend about 14% of our UK turnover on sales and marketing. That’s what has driven our success and growth.” ACK in 1919, the Vimto brand was registered in the British colony of Guyana, South America. Overseas sales have formed a key part of Nichols’s business ever since. Mr Nichols said: “Historically, we sell to most Commonwealth countries. There’s a huge similarity between the map that’s shaded pink for Vimto and pink for the Commonwealth. “We do sell more than Coke in Sierra Leone, because we’ve always been there.” But Vimto has proved particularly popular in the Middle East where, during the month of Ramadan, it is drunk as an energy drink by Muslims at the end of their daily fasts. Nichols has a long-standing and mutually beneficial relationship with Saudi group Aujan Industries, which today makes the product and sells it throughout the region. “We’ve been trading with our big customer in Saudi Arabia, and all around the Middle East, since 1925,” said Mr Nichols. “They were merchants – they sold cigarettes, biscuits, soft drinks, etc. Then, in the 1970s, the Vimto brand had grown considerably, and they decided that they were going to become a soft drink manufacturer. “They opened a factory in Saudi Arabia, principally for Vimto cordial, and that was when the growth of the product at Ramadan really started.” When Vimto cordial was first shipped to the Middle East, it was made twice the strength to reduce shipping costs. So when Aujan began making Vimto, it kept it double the UK strength. Mr Nichols added: “It’s always on the shelf, in the same way that you can always find Christmas

making up the balance. “The still drinks market has grown considerably,” said Mr Nichols. Nichols has also tried new Vimto flavours alongside its classic grape, raspberry and blackcurrant variety. Cherry Vimto is now a key member of the Vimto family, while a strawberry cordial was recently put on sale in Asda stores. “Part of our role in the soft drink category is to bring something new,” said Mr Hynes. But, Mr Nichols added, some variations simply don’t work as consumers have certain expectations for Vimto, Mr Nichols said: “Some interesting research we’ve done shows the consumer thinks the extensions to Vimto are fine, provided that they’re red. They’ve still got this ‘Vimto colour’. “We did Vimto orange and apple, and they didn’t really work. “It’s almost as though people who know the brand just expect

it’s going to be a red-type taste. They need a red taste for a red drink.” ICHOLS has also licensed a number of other Vimto products, from ice cream to bonbons and “fizzy rip roll” sweets. Vimto introduced its first lollipop 20 years ago. “We were early movers in this area,” said Mr Hynes. “Other people have moved in, but we were pioneers. “Confectionery is going particularly well for us at the moment. “People are still treating their kids. “They’re impulse buys, and people know they’re going to be quality. It also introduces young consumers to the taste. “In terms of sweets and confectionery, we shifted something like 40m units last year. “That Vimto brand is out there in shops.

“It’s a fantastic marketing exercise for us.” All the above shows new product development is vital to Nichols. The company’s boosting of the Vimto brand has helped it win a reputation for innovation that has, in turn, helped it to win contracts with other companies, including WeightWatchers. Mr Hynes said that while there are some growth sectors – including energy drinks and diet colas – the UK soft drinks market is broadly flat, thanks in part to the ongoing economic downturn. Mr Hynes added: “The squash category has benefited from the move to value. It’s a relatively cheap drink per serving. That’s half of our business in the UK market.” The slow market makes innovation even more crucial, as Nichols can only grow if it develops new products and brands. Being innovative also helps Nichols compete with other companies who are resorting to

deep discounting to keep their products flying off the shelves. Mr Hynes said: “We will have been working on anything that goes to the market for a year or 18 months. We had been working on WeightWatchers for two years.” Vimto fans, Mr Nichols believes, stay fans for life. The key for Nichols is getting more people, particularly outside Vimto’s northern heartland, to try it in the first place. Mr Nichols said: “If you go to a supermarket in Surrey, there’ll be two bottles on a shelf. Here there’ll be 102. “We’ve got bigger displays than Ribena in the north of England. That changes as you go farther south.” That regional divide means, Mr Hynes points out, there is still room for the Vimto brand to grow elsewhere in the UK. “While we are starting low in the South, the rate of growth is significant in those areas,” he said. “If we can roll the product

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

THE BIG INTERVIEW . . . JOHN NICHOLS & BRENDAN HYNES

LEGALLY

SPEAKING

With Fiona Parry, Partner at Hill Dickinson

AS LIVERPOOL is re-establishing itself as a major player in the International Trade Arena – how could my business benefit from this?

SINCE the glory days of the docks, when Liverpool was seen by many as the gateway to international trade and maritime activity, Merseyside has continually transformed itself to keep pace with this ever-changing area. Merseyside is once again positioning itself to stand at the forefront of international trade. The Peel International Trade Centre (ITC) will stand as a signal of Merseyside’s intent to once more become the hub of activity for international trade, ensuring international trade in the region continues to flourish. Based in the Wirral Waters development, the ITC will provide a base for over 1,000 companies from countries across the world, including China, India and Japan. These companies will be able to manufacture, market and sell their goods to the UK and Irish markets targeting a range of specialist sectors. UK-based businesses that have aspirations trading internationally, or who are already involved in this area, should be looking at the ITC as a way in which they can expand and exploit the growing market opportunities in Merseyside and globally which will undoubtedly follow from the development. However, trading with foreign-based companies can, for the unaware, present difficulties and the need for sound advice before entering into international trade contracts is essential. The legal regime surrounding international trade is complex and encompasses a diverse body of international conventions governing the division of risk in the

carriage of goods and limitation of liability for loss and damage. An understanding of all these conventions, and how they impact on contractual arrangements and apply to legal jurisdictions, is required to both safeguard and thrive in this area. The legal regime, however, cannot and should not be a stand-alone consideration, and a commercial approach to the international trade arena is paramount in order to get the most from the opportunities which present themselves. The mechanisms of logistics, international carriage and the financing of international sales are vital. Only when armed with the above expertise can the primary questions be answered when considering trading internationally: How do I get goods to market? At what cost? What are the risks? How and when will I be paid? What do I do if things go wrong? The British Chamber of Commerce recently reported that exports to the EU are decreasing year on year, but exports to the rest of the world are increasing. The ITC is, therefore, perhaps even more significant given this shift towards non-EU trade. The addition of the ITC will ensure Merseyside continues its great tradition of being at the forefront of international trade and commerce. Finally, with the International Festival of Business to be held in Liverpool in June and July next year, this only serves to highlight Merseyside’s importance and relevance to the International Trade Arena. With 250,000 visitors expected and £100m of anticipated investment, the festival will be a “showcase for UK business” and enable businesses to explore new networks and forge new relationships.

‘Merseyside is once again at the forefront of international trade’

Email: fiona.parry @hilldickinson.com ■ IN ASSOCIATION with Hill Dickinson

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 pudding on the shelf here. But you don’t necessarily get the whole display all year round. “About 80% of our cordial is sold over Ramadan.” After the Middle East, Vimto’s biggest market is Africa. Some countries have their own bottlers, while others rely on shipments from the Middle East. Mr Hynes said: “We grew Africa 50% the year before last, 24% last year. That compares to the UK, that’s flat. We have the benefit of cumulative investment in Africa over 70 years.” Vimto is also on sale in Europe, North America, Australia, Pakistan and Malaysia. The drink is on sale in China, though progress has been slow. Mr Hynes added: “We’re trying to talk to the right partner to see if there’s an opportunity to scale it.” IMTO’S recipes may have remained unchanged, but the Nichols group has seen many changes as it has grown over the years. By the 1990s, the company had three plants – one in Wythenshawe, one in Southampton and a bottling plant in Haydock. In 1998, Nichols decided to centralise all its operations in one newly-built plant in Golborne. But the move was, Mr Nichols says now, made too early. “It didn’t really work for us because our volumes weren’t nearly big enough,” he said. “They would be now. “The overheads were too much. We decided we’d be better getting Vimto contract-packed by other people. “We knew quite a lot about doing that, because that’s what happened for us around the world. “There was no reason we couldn’t do it in the UK as well.” In 1986, Nichols bought Independent Vending Supplies and grew it into Nichols Foods. That was, in turn, sold to its management team in 2004, allowing Nichols to focus on drinks. That same year, Nichols moved from the main London Stock Market to the smaller Alternative Investment Market. Nichols moved its head office team to Newton-le-Willows some

John Nichols receives a Queen's Award from Dame Lorna Muirhead, Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, last year

Vimto, above, is hugely popular in the Middle East; right, a vintage Vimto advert eight years ago. Since then, it has acquired soft drink dispensing businesses Beacon Drinks and Cariel, as well as packaging specialist Dayla Liquid Packaging. Today the group employs some 180 people directly, with half of them based in Merseyside and half spread around the country. When I spoke to Mr Nichols and Mr Hynes before Christmas, Mr Nichols was bullish about his company’s growth prospects. And this month, in a statement to the Stock Market, Nichols said sales for 2012 stood at £108m, up 9% on the previous year. UK sales rose 10% on 2011, even though the UK soft drinks market rose in value by just 3.2%. Export sales, meanwhile, rose 8%.

The group, which will issue its full results in March, said it expected profits to be “significantly ahead” of 2011, when it reported a pre-tax profit before exceptional items of £15.1m. The Nichols group is striding ahead and looking to the future. But Mr Nichols could not resist one final, proud look back. “My grandfather died when I was about 15, but I knew him reasonably well,” he recalled. “He’d be very proud of what’s happened over the last 50 years, certainly. “I guess I’m more of a custodian of the brand, really. “There aren’t many brands I can see in the UK that are more than 100 years old and still growing.”

TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN BOOSTS GROUP’S DRINKS PORTFOLIO VIMTO may be its flagship drink, but Nichols today produces a portfolio of some of the most famous brands in Britain. In late 2011, Nichols announced it had secured the exclusive rights to produce a range of low calorie soft drinks under the WeightWatchers brand in the UK and Ireland. Nichols chief executive, Brendan Hynes, said: “WeightWatchers is the 14th largest brand in the US, but they didn’t have a drinks offering here.

“The target consumers are completely different to our existing ones. They tend to be 35-50, female and mainly looking to lose weight.” Also in 2011, Nichols developed a range of Caribbean drinks branded with the name of Levi Roots, who shot to fame after appearing on TV show Dragons’ Den to win investment for his Reggae Reggae Sauce. Mr Hynes said: “He was looking to launch a drink, and was talking to a number of people, of whom we were one. With our

sales and marketing capacity, we were the perfect partner for him. “In the soft drink market, the volumes are about flat this year. “But if you look at the Caribbean sub-sector, that’s probably grown by 60% or 70%. “There are growing sub-sectors in the soft drink market, if you can find them and produce something that meets their requirements.” The group owns the rights to the Sunkist brand in the UK, and has launched new flavours along-

Levi Roots side the traditional orange. And, in 2005, it took over the Panda brand. It no longer makes the fizzy Panda pops, instead focusing on still juice drinks with no artificial flavourings.

ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT

The plateau and streets around St George’s Hall are to be redesigned to make them more pedestrian and bus-friendly

Picture: TIM GLEESON

Have we reached a plateau?

Could a lack of funding delay plans to develop Liverpool city centre? Bill Gleeson reports ORE than 10 years on from the launch of the last grand strategic economic framework for Liverpool city centre, the city’s economic planners have published an updated version that covers the next 15 years. The earlier plan, published in 2001, was called a Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF), while the latest one, published

just before Christmas, is dubbed a Strategic Investment Framework (SIF). The purpose behind both plans is to co-ordinate available resources from the public and private sectors into a coherent plan of action for the regeneration and growth of Liverpool city centre. Nevertheless, there are some significant differences between the two frameworks. The principal difference is that public and private money was plentiful 10 years ago, whereas today it is scarce. The European Union, which funded billions of

pounds of economic and social development in Merseyside through its Objective 1 programme, has switched its spending priorities to eastern Europe. That’s not to say this area doesn’t receive some funding, but it is at a lower level than it was previously. At the same time, due to austerity measures, the British government’s funding of regional economic development is also thin on the ground. Furthermore, the property crash means private investment cash isn’t abundant either. This context of reduced funding

is the reason why the SIF covers a longer period of time than the SRF. While nothing much is expected to happen in the next few years, it remains possible that money will become more readily available once the current period of austerity is over and a return to economic growth encourages the private sector to start investing again. For the same reason, the SIF hasn’t attached time- scales to its investment plans. The key elements of the SIF include further development of the waterfront, an improvement to the quality of the city’s retail

space and further investment in the city’s knowledge quarter. Development of the waterfront is a common theme in both the 2012 and 2001 documents. The former Kings Dock, just south of the Albert Dock, had lain economically idle for decades. An initial plan to rehouse Everton Football Club there didn’t get off the drawing board, but by 2008 an alternative scheme to develop the city’s now successful Arena and Convention Centre was completed and opened for business. Since then, it has made a major

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LIVERPOOL CITY CENTRE

A priority identified by the Strategic Investment Framework is to upgrade the shopping streets between Williamson Square and Whitechapel, including Richmond Street Picture: GAVIN TRAFFORD

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 contribution to the city’s economy, attracting considerable visitor numbers and investment in hotels and other facilities. However, plans for more than 1,000 residential units to fill still empty land to the south of the Arena and Convention Centre have not been fulfilled and, in the face of a now much weaker property market, have been dropped all together. Instead, the SIF has earmarked the area for an extension to the Arena complex in the form of a £40m exhibition centre to be funded by Liverpool City Council. It is also hoped that private sector investors will develop other parts of the Kings Dock site for leisure and sports activities. The 2001 plan included the development of Liverpool One. Now that has been completed, the city

probably has as many shops as it needs. However, the new plan looks to upgrade the quality of some of the streets and shops in parts of the traditional retail core, particularly around Williamson Square and Richmond Street through to Whitechapel. This area is seen as a key pedestrian route linking Lime Street station to Liverpool One. Plans for the city’s knowledge quarter were largely missing from the 2001 plan. Based around the city centre’s university buildings, the new plan envisages considerable investment in new business premises, particularly for science and technology-based firms. The proposed Bioinnovation Centre, to be located between the University of Liverpool and the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital, is expected to be the next phase of that development. According to the SIF, the city’s

existing knowledge quarter generates £1bn of economic output. It has been designated as a Mayoral Development Zone by the city’s elected Mayor Joe Anderson, to exploit its economic potential. In the coming years, there will be further expansion of the universities’ Liverpool Science Park between Brownlow Hill and Mount Pleasant and development of a 2m sq ft Biocampus close to the new teaching hospital. Since the publication of the earlier plan, there have been a number of significant commercial office schemes developed in the city centre, including around St Paul’s Square, Princes Dock, 20 Chapel Street and the new court building at Tithebarn Street. Plans to develop the commercial district into Pall Mall, including the redevelopment of land currently used as an NCP car park, were put on hold following

the downturn in 2008, but this remains an ambition of the city’s planners. The SIF envisages a range of measures in the vicinity of St George’s Hall and Plateau, to make the area more attractive to pedestrians. Proposals include an extension of St George’s Plateau to the front of the hall, a reworking of St John’s Gardens at the rear of the hall and a complete reworking of the junction at Lime Street and Roe Street to reduce bus congestion in the area. The SIF covers residential development in the city centre and around its fringes. The hope is to attract more people to live in the city centre by developing more identifiable and defined communities with their own particular characteristics. The Georgian Quarter around Canning Street, for example, is

identified as a place that offers large luxury homes suitable for families. Much of the city’s economic infrastructure, including transport, telecommunications and digital utilities, has also been earmarked for an overhaul, alongside improved connections for pedestrians and cyclists between the city centre neighbourhoods. Liverpool’s underground travel facilities are also to be assessed further, with proposals for an expansion of this network towards Liverpool Waters and a new station at St James Street, south of Chinatown. Jenny Douglas, head of area priorities at Liverpool Vision, accepts that scarce funding could frustrate or delay some of the plans contained in the 2012 SIF. Ms Douglas said: “With the document in 2001, there was more

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LIVERPOOL CITY CENTRE An artist’s impression of the planned exhibition centre extension to the Arena and Convention Centre, on Liverpool’s waterfront

An artist’s impression of the proposed Bio-innovation Centre, in Liverpool’s knowledge quarter

money around and the economy was in a different place, but at that point in time there wasn’t a co-ordinated way of accessing public funding. When that plan was published, we were not sure how we were going to fund it. It took us some time to galvanise funding streams. “We had to come up with the concept and strategy first, and the funding followed that clear sense of direction. “It’s exactly the same approach here (in 2012), but the economic climate is different. “The starting point is to look at what needs to happen to continue economic growth in the city centre. “We wanted to be ambitious and realistic, so we didn’t want to be constrained by the condition of the UK economy, but we didn’t want to be so ambitious that people looked at it and thought

that this is just not going to be achieved.” Indeed, a sense of realism underpins the decision to extend the time period covered by the plan to 15 years. Ms Douglas said this was “recognition of the fact that some of the larger projects are going to need some time to be thought through and we cannot hit the ground running.” She added: “The St George’s Quarter project requires a lot of public funding and that’s not going to happen over the next couple of years. “We have to be as focused as we were in 2001, to use the plan to bring in pubic and private investment.” While it is true that there is a lot less funding available than a decade ago, that doesn’t mean there is none at all. One relatively new pot of cash that can be tapped is the Mayor’s City Deal funding.

Nor is the City Deal the only source of cash on the horizon. Ms Douglas said: “We need to have a conversation with potential funding streams and be ready when they are announced to see if there are opportunities. “There are funding streams out there for transport infrastructure. “These announcements keep getting made as government announces new forms of funding to stimulate the economy and we need to be ready to promote these projects as part of a bidding process.” She believes that public funding will be less important this time round. “The private sector will deliver a very large part of the strategic framework,” she said. “We wanted to give investors confidence. The SRF has been largely delivered, so we wanted another framework that provided

that sense of direction to give people the confidence to invest, whether that be setting up a business in the city centre or buying an apartment or investing in a major project.” Examples of private funding include investment by biotechnology and life sciences businesses based in the knowledge quarter. St Johns Shopping Centre owner Infrared plans to upgrade its building. Further investment by Peel in Princes Dock and farther northwards in the proposed Liverpool Waters scheme is also anticipated during the next 15 years. Ms Douglas said: “They are the projects about which we have a realistic expectation we will be able to deliver in that period.” Retail property investment will not form as large a part of the next plan as it did in 2001. With the completion of Liverpool One, the city now has a sufficient quantity of shops. However, there may be scope to improve the quality of some nooks and crannies of the main retail area, including the area around Williamson Square. Ms Douglas said that private investors might choose to follow the example of Forever 21, an American retailer redeveloping a building on the junction of Church Street and Whitechapel and, once retail has picked up again, invest in retail property themselves. She said: “We don’t know how or when that will happen, but we think it is realistic to assume that sort of investment will take place in 15 years.” Former Liverpool Vision chief executive Jim Gill was responsible for delivering SRF. This included Liverpool One, the Arena and Convention Centre, and the museum and other developments at Mann Island. It also included the “Big Dig”, the multi-million pound reworking of the city’s public realm, which included new paving and road surfaces and street furniture and was part of the City Centre Movement Strategy. Mr Gill points to one big difference between the latest strategy and its predecessor: the

latest document contains no reference to trams. Mr Gill said: “That City Centre Movement Strategy in the SRF was hijacked by the big idea of the tram. “The apparently bitty way some of it was delivered was a reflection of the expectation of a tram. “The current expectation is there won’t be a tram. That puts more emphasis on buses and overground and underground rail networks. “Buses move most people into the city, but in terms of safety and the environment, buses are a big issue.” One proposal that was contained in both the SRF of 2001 and the SIF is the demolition of the Churchill Way flyovers. Mr Gill said: “I can see the value in opening up that side of the city to Hunter Street and other places, but if you take them down you have a traffic problem to address. We tried to pull down the flyovers, but it wasn’t one of the major priorities. It ran into opposition about how you would deal with buses coming into the city centre. “This investment framework is welcome. It’s a recognition of the way in which the city centre is a huge part of the economy for the wider area.” As for the changing times we are in, Mr Gill said: “There are big differences between now and then. Back then, the city centre didn’t work. There was no decent retail offer and no modern office space and there was a big separation between the Albert Dock and the waterfront generally and the rest of the fabric of the city centre. “It was a mess. What has happened since then has been a big shift, so the starting point is different. “The SIF helpfully picks up on the knowledge quarter. That was a strange omission from the first document. It’s important to link the universities into the city centre properly.” Mr Gill acknowledges that cuts to public spending and weak economic conditions today

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LIVERPOOL CITY CENTRE

Jim Gill, inset, above, says the issue of demolishing the flyovers at the top of Dale Street and Hunter Street is still something to be considered CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23 contrast sharply with the context in which he worked. He said: “In 2001, we were at the start of a period of growth. You couldn’t say that now. “Perhaps some of the proposals looked difficult then because Liverpool didn’t have a track record of delivering things, but it does now. “Liverpool One had a rationale of its own, anyway. “There was an obvious shortfall in Liverpool’s retail offering and it was clearly a commercial opportunity. “What the SRF did for Grosvenor was give them confidence that things would happen around it. “The SIF has the same potential. It’s just much more difficult right now to give the same con-

fidence about the public sector’s ability to make things happen. So it’s going to be that much harder, though there is a sense of movement in the right direction.” While many of the objectives set out in the SRF were achieved, they weren’t always without some setbacks along the way. Architect Will Alsop’s Cloud museum for Mann Island was abandoned, as was a plan to relocate Everton Football Club to the Kings Dock, though both of the schemes found replacements to take their place in the form of the new Museum of Liverpool and the Arena and Convention Centre. Nevertheless, the original plan for the Kings Dock also included more than 1,000 residential units to be developed by housebuilder David McLean, but this was never completed. Mr Gill agreed that the plan to switch away from residential at

Kings Dock to other leisure and sports uses was a good one. Mr Gill added: “The plans for The Strand are going to be really difficult because they are expensive. It’s difficult to see how you resource them.” About the idea of making St George’s Plateau more accessible to pedestrians, Mr Gill said: “That’s a great idea, but it’s a traffic management problem as much as a physical issue. “I think the SIF is a sensible document and it’s timely because the old one needed refreshing. “It’s important we recognise the crucial importance of the city centre.” However, Mr Gill argues that there is a need to demonstrate how development in the city centre can have economic benefits in other parts of the city. Dominic Wilkinson, senior lecturer in architecture at Liverpool

John Moores University and president of the Liverpool Architectural Society, believes there are many challenges to making Liverpool city centre a better place to live and work in. He said: “If you look at the various indices about which cities are the most liveable in the world, it’s places like Vienna and Vancouver that come top and Liverpool doesn’t make it onto the list. “There is nothing in the SIF anybody would disagree with, but there is no money to back it up. It’s full of great intentions, but very little of it will actually happen, especially in the current climate. “We don’t have Objective 1 money. The big pushes like Grosvenor have been done and implemented. Liverpool Waters is the next big project but it’s much more about the next 20 to 30 years.

Picture: TIM GLEESON

It is too early to say whether it will happen or what way it will happen.” The cities that do feature in the liveability indices of periodicals like The Economist tend to have good settings and to be considerably wealthier than Liverpool. They also tend to have growing populations. Mr Wilkinson said: “Liverpool has a potentially great physical environment, but the economic stuff is largely out of its hands. “One thing they could do is continue the relationship with Shanghai. “I don't think there are major alterations needed to the overall character of Liverpool, but one of the problems we have is there are not enough people. It has a population of 450,000 but it was built for 900,000, so it’s only half full. There aren’t enough people in the city centre.”

ESCORTED HOLIDAYS

USA & Canada

Flying direct from Manchester Airport 5H Alaska Cruise & the Canadian Rockies A cruise into some of the world’s most spectacular waters is combined with a journey through the Rockies natural paradise and the beautiful city of Vancouver, on this marvellous holiday

Departs 9 May & 5 September 2013

16 days from £2140.00

The Best of Canada Glittering Toronto, breath-taking Niagara, Ottawa, montreal and quebec, and a journey through the awesome Rocky mountains to beautiful Vancouver at the edge of the Pacific – truly a wonderful tour!

Departs 18 Jun, 10 Sep & 15 Oct 2013

8 days from

Four-star Canada’s Maple Leaf Trail

£999.00

13 days from £1649.00

The Canadian Rockies This wonderful escorted tour of Western Canada includes a spectacular journey through the Rockies from glorious Banff, visits to Jasper and famous Whistler, and a three-night stay in sparkling Vancouver.

Departs 2 May & 3 October 2013

11 days from £1279.00

Departs May, September, October 2013 Exciting cities – Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, Québec – breathtaking scenery, wide open spaces and ‘big skies’, and one of the world’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders, ensure the popularity of this wonderful holiday,

Price includes ● ●

● ● ● ●

Return transatlantic flights driect from manchester airport to Toronto Six nights’ four-star accommodation at comfortable touring hotels in Toronto (3 nights)

●

and montréal (3 nights) A full day visit to the spectacular Niagara Falls A full day visit to québec City Scenic drive on the ‘maple Leaf Trail’ from Toronto to montréal and québec, via Ottawa Comfortable coach travel throughout The services of a Tour manager

New England & Niagara This wonderful tour combines the exquisite Fall scenery of America’s Northeast with the equally breathtaking sight of one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. With opportunities to discover the great city of Boston and to visit historic Plimoth Plantation, this is a marvellous value tour to savour and enjoy.

Departs 3, 9 & 17 October 2013

8 days from £999.00

Elvis Presley’s Memphis, New Orleans & Nashville Join us for an unforgettable journey through America’s musical heartland, from the extraordinary ‘Big easy’, the birthplace of the ‘King’ and his beloved hometown, to the undisputed capital of Country music.

Departs Apr, May, Oct & Nov 2013

8 days from

£989.00 Washington, New York & Niagara Falls Departs 15 May, 18 June, 12 September, 10 & 17 October 2013 This hugely popular holiday features one of the world’s greatest natural wonders, the plunging Falls at Niagara, the heart of historic America where you’ll visit Washington and Philadelphia, US capitals present and past - and all the breath-taking, mesmerising magic of New York - ‘the City that Never Sleeps’.

Price includes ●

Fly direct to Toronto from manchester and travel south to historic Harrisburg

● ● ● ● ● ● ●

explore all-powerful Washington, dC, Philadelphia and glittering New York Journey through beautiful up-state New York Gaze in awe at mighty Niagara Return flights from manchester airport Six nights’ hotel accommodation Comfortable coach travel Tour manager services

www.newmarket.travel/lpe

9 days from £999.00

For your FREE brochures, complete this coupon & send to:

LPE

Newmarket Promotions Ltd, FREEPOST KT2720, Worcester Park, KT4 8BR (NO STAmP RequiRed)

Tick brochure(s) required: Canada’s Maple Leaf Trail - AYM Washington New York & Niagara - NIO Alaska Cruise & Canadian Rockies - APP Best of Canada - UCD Canadian Rockies - QMB New England in the Fall - NPR New Orleans & Nashville - AXK Name Address

Postcode

Tel

0151 559 1590 quoting code LPE

These holidays are organised & operated by Newmarket Air Holidays Ltd. ABTA V7812. ATOL protected 2325. Subject to availability. Single supplements apply. Calls cost 4p per minute.

HOW GREEN IS YOUR BUSINESS?

The launch of the BikeRight! Choose Freedom campaign at Liverpool's Pier Head last September

BikeRight! programme reaches out

More bicycle storage facilities to be introduced to cut pollution levels and improve health KIRKDALE-BASED cycle training organisation BikeRight! is to unveil a number of new cycle storage facilities across Everton and Kirkdale, funded as part of an ongoing drive to change the way in which local employees travel to and from work. BikeRight! has been working with local employers and institutions to offer staff a viable alternative to commuting by car by encouraging cycling or walking. Cycle stands are being installed at Benson Signs, DBH Business Centre, Everton Sports Centre, The Rotunda College and Liverpool Community College, as well as West Everton Community Council, Shrewsbury House and Eldonian Village Hall.

Launch events at Benson Signs, DBH Business Centre and Eldonian Village Hall will be attended by local councillor Joe Hanson, Riverside MP and chair of the Commons Transport Select Committee Louise Ellman, and Liverpool Council cabinet member for regeneration, Cllr Malcolm Kennedy. The cycle stands have been installed as part of the successful Choose Freedom project, a Liverpool Council scheme funded by the Department for Transport through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund and delivered by BikeRight! Jo Somerset, BikeRight! director, said: “We feel that we are making really good progress with

the Choose Freedom project in installing the first eight stands across Everton and Kirkdale. “The aim of the project is to open up employment opportunities for local people, save them money on their commute and, of course, offer greener and healthier modes of transport. “In addition to these cycle stands, we are setting up Choose Freedom bike maintenance training sessions, community events and travel surgeries at Everton Job Centre and local Job Clubs.” Liverpool Council’s cabinet member for transport, Cllr Tim Moore, said: “This is a fantastic initiative which hopefully encourages hundreds more people

to get on their bikes for their journey to work. “Recent figures from our Local Transport Plan show that cycling is on the up in this city – so we know that there’s an appetite for it. “The new cycle stands will help further widen the appeal and accessibility of cycling in North Liverpool.” He added: “I’m delighted BikeRight! is launching this new scheme. “It will give employees an alternative to commuting by car, and it will support our aims to reduce congestion, cut down on carbon emissions and drive up the health and fitness of local people.” Chris Benson, managing

director of Benson Signs, said: “We are keen to be part of any initiative that is of benefit to our staff and the environment. “BikeRight! approached us as a key local employer with a strong interest in environmental issues with a view to helping us encourage more of our employees to cycle or walk to work. “It’s early days for the programme but it dovetails nicely with our existing ‘tax-free cycle to work scheme’, where staff can buy tax-free bicycles to commute. “It’s just one of a number of initiatives that we have undertaken to improve the health and wellbeing of staff and the environmental credentials of the business.”

Bee firm buzzing after achieving top accolade

A CHESHIRE entrepreneur who makes nest boxes for native British bees is to have his research recognised in a new publication. George Pilkington, who runs Nurturing Nature, in Warrington, late last year won a Green Apple Environment Award for his two years of painstaking research into bees and into the development of bee nest boxes.

The boxes provide a safe environment for the bees and allow people to observe them for educational purposes. As a result, Mr Pilkington’s study will now be included in The Green Book, the leading international work of reference on environmental best practice, so that others around the world can follow their example and learn from their

experience. The book is expected to be published in the spring. Mr Pilkington said: “The Solitary Bee Boxes have two unique viewing panels letting you safely follow the life cycle of the bees with minimal disturbance – ideal for schools, homes, nature reserves and environment centres. “When people think of bees, they think of

honeybees, but there are over 250 species of wild bee which are absolutely essential to the pollination of our flowers, fruit and vegetables. “They are declining, as well as their natural habitats. “Providing them with safe and comfortable places in which they can raise their offspring means we can better help them to help us.”

George Pilkington picks up his award

HOW GREEN IS YOUR BUSINESS?

Ultromex gears for growth North West Fund cash injection puts Wirral firm on the path to recycling success

Jonathan Quinn, founder of Birkenhead-based Ultromex, has high hopes for turnover growth after his second processing plant opens in Ellesmere Port Picture: COLIN LANE A WIRRAL recycling firm aims to grow turnover more than ten-fold over the next three years after receiving a cash boost from The North West Fund. Birkenhead-based Ultromex was founded by Jonathan Quinn in 2010 and specialises in extracting and recovering high-value metals from electronics and industrial waste products. It operates a recycling centre in Bromborough employing six staff and is building a second site in Ellesmere Port, capable of processing 8,000 tonnes of materials per annum, which should be operational by May this year, creating 10 more jobs. Mr Quinn was a pipe fitter and welder working on chemical plants who progressed to project management before developing his recovery process which involves five patents and uses environmentally safe chemicals in a low-energy process. He said his system will reduce landfill and cut the carbon footprint by reducing the need to

export materials to Asia or the USA for recycling. He added: “There’s no loss of any precious or base metals in our process. For printed circuit boards, there’s no waste whatsoever. We get 10 different products and all these products are sold on.” Mr Quinn said about 80% of all the products recovered were sold locally, with the rest sold in the UK: “So we are still contributing to the carbon footprint by cutting transport costs.” He said turnover is currently in the region of £700,000, but he hopes to expand that to £10m by 2016, helped by another venture he has set up focused on plastic recycling, Stopwaste and Wirral Fibres and Plastics, which will also reduce landfill levels. Ultromex is planning for the next stage of expansion after receiving £550,000 in funding from The North West Fund for Energy and Environmental, which is managed by CT Investment Partners. It will help it commercialise its

processes for the recovery of metals from printed circuit boards and lead from leaded glass. Mr Quinn said: “Working with The North West Fund for Energy and Environmental will enable us to develop our technologies even further. “Our products are focused on the specialised processes and refining segments of the market. “They allow businesses to recover more metals at lower operating costs while, simultaneously increasing their energy efficiency and lowering their carbon emissions.” Adam Workman, a partner at CT Investment Partners and manager of The North West Fund for Energy and Environmental, said: “Metal recycling is a worldwide industry with more than 400million tonnes of metals worth £200bn every year.

“Ultromex is a fantastic investment opportunity. The market for recycled metals has shown steady growth over the past 15 years and we expect this trend to continue further in the coming years.” Mr Workman will join the board of Ultromex as a non-executive director with immediate effect. CT Investment Partners also advises the Carbon Trust on its venture capital activities and is one of the most experienced investors in this sector. As a fund manager for The North West Fund, its role involves identifying appropriate investment opportunities, conducting due diligence, negotiating and structuring transactions, and monitoring and managing investments until exit. The North West Fund is an

‘There’s no loss of any precious or base metals inourprocess’

evergreen investment fund established to provide debt and equity funding, from £50,000 to £2m, to small- and medium-sized enterprises based in, or relocating to, the north west of England. It addresses an identified gap in the lending, venture capital and private equity markets and is one of the largest public sector funds of its kind in Europe and the largest in the UK, financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the European Investment Bank under the European Commission’s Joint European Resources for Micro to Medium Enterprises Initiative. The North West Fund is the umbrella name for the six funds that are available to businesses in the form of debt, equity and quasi-equity managed by six fund managers. A total of £155m has been allocated to the six fund managers covering development capital, business loans, venture capital, biomedical, energy and environmental and digital and creative.

Wealth & Investment. Better placed We now have 15 locations nationwide With more than 150 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience of serving clients by investing their money wisely, Investec Wealth & Investment have the knowledge and expertise you need regarding your investments, pensions or other financial matters. Our recently expanded network, incorporating the added strength of Williams de BroĂŤ, means that we now have 15 offices from Edinburgh to Exeter, including right here in Liverpool. To see how we could be of service to you please visit our website for details. Please bear in mind that the value of investments and the income derived from them can go down as well as up and that you may not get back the amount that you have put in. Please visit our website, call David Owen on 0151 227 2030 or email david.owen@investec.co.uk investecwin.co.uk

Individuals

International

Financial Advisers

Charities

Court of Protection

Member firm of the London Stock Exchange. Member of NYSE Liffe. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Investec Wealth & Investment Limited is registered in England. Registered No. 2122340. Registered Office: 2 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7QP. Offices at: Bath Belfast Birmingham Bournemouth Cheltenham Edinburgh Exeter Glasgow Guildford Leeds Liverpool London Manchester Reigate Sheffield

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Tim Slack, who set up Appreciating People six years ago, is now embarking on an international sales drive for the firm’s ‘unique’ support materials Picture: JAMES MALONEY

Appreciating People is spreading the positive word with worldwide push

New pack promoting organisational change offers potential for Appreciative Living expert A LIVERPOOL firm is developing a global sales network for its organisational development product. Appreciating People is a leading practitioner of Appreciative Inquiry, a philosophy developed in America which accentuates the positives of a business or organisation to improve services and performance. Tim Slack, who set up Appreciating People six years ago, said: “Instead of looking at an organisation’s problems, Appreciative Inquiry (AI) looks at its strengths and then develops a way to go forward. “It is not about problemsolving, it is strengths-based and generates change and increases

the bottom line. It is more about not being hierarchical and being more democratic.” He said their system involves everyone from the top down: “The guys on the front line know more than the people at the top most of the time.” Although AI is widely practised, the firm’s product AI Essentials – a pack of 21 cards which provide an understanding of the principles and practice of AI and are suitable for AI practitioners, HR and organisational development professionals – is the first of its kind to be developed and, Mr Slack says, has great potential both in the UK and around the world.

“It translates very well and we are looking at developing it in different languages. “The market for us is our materials. “One US colleague said they are incredibly elegant.” Appreciating People already works with the likes of Alder Hey children’s hospital, Liverpool Vision, and Westminster Council, and is running the first AI professional development course in the UK at Liverpool Hope University. It has also established a number of overseas contacts, and last November the team travelled to Prague to work with European organisational development colleagues to assist people

returning to the labour market, and has also previously travelled as far afield as Nepal. Mr Slack said: “Last year, we ran an Appreciative Living residential course with participants from the USA, France and Finland. “As part of the AI training courses, we published in April our first Appreciative Inquiry resource. Food For Thought, an appreciative journal workbook, and at the World AI conference in Belgium 100 copies were sold and we now have agents in the USA, the Czech Republic and are in discussions with Australia and Holland.” Mr Slack added: “AI Essentials is the next stage and at the pre-

launch stage we have orders from the USA and the pre-publication interest includes Egypt, Holland and Denmark. “There is nothing like this resource in the Appreciative Inquiry world. “Our intentions are to both market and sell more copies and take our training courses into both European and other markets.” He said the company is working closely with the Governmentbacked UK Trade and Investment to maximise the potential of developing more overseas markets. Appreciating People is officially launching its new product early this evening at Unit 51, Baltic Creative, in Jamaica Street.

KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY

From left: Phil Popham; Carl Peter-Foster, CEO, Tata Motors; Gerry McGovern; and JLR CEO Dr Ralf Speth, at the Evoque’s Paris Car Show debut

Tata reaps the rewards for

Soaring car sales at home and abroad have vindicated the decision by Indian conglomerate TATA, the Indian owner of luxury car brand Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), is reaping the rewards of its multi-million pound investment in the brands and, more importantly, its research and development programme, after announcing record UK and global sales figures, together with further job creation across its Merseyside and Midlands operations. The Indian conglomerate paid motor giant Ford £1.15bn for loss-making JLR in March, 2008. It saw the potential in what many believed was a lost cause and, even after a less than lukewarm response for funding from the Labour Government at the height of the economic down-

turn, it persevered by ploughing in more investment when the future of the world’s car industry appeared perilous at best. And, since holding their nerve, Tata’s faith has been rewarded, leading to a new lease of life for its Halewood plant, which makes the super successful Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Freelander 2 models. After recruiting a further 1,500 new staff, taking the Knowsley site’s workforce to 4,500, Halewood also began the first round-theclock production operation in its 50-year history to keep pace with worldwide orders for the Evoque. The first indications of the car’s success were revealed earlier this month when JLR released its

annual UK sales figures for 2012 that showed a 19.17% jump to a total of 68,586 vehicles which, the company acknowledged, had been driven by the outstanding success of the Evoque after the first full year of its production. The Land Rover brand sold a total of 54,480 vehicles in the UK, up almost 25% on the previous year and taking a 27% share of its market segment. The 18,119 Evoques sold in the UK made it Land Rover’s biggestselling product in this market.

UK registrations for Jaguar vehicles increased by 2.4% to 14,105 units, despite increasingly competitive market conditions. JLR UK managing director, Jeremy Hicks, hailed the UK figures, saying: “2012 was a successful year for Jaguar and Land Rover in the UK, despite an increasingly competitive market. “We look forward to building on this performance in 2013 with the introduction of more new products. “Our product portfolio is

‘Product portfolio is getting stronger each year’

becoming stronger each year as we respond to the needs of the market and introduce additional derivatives and engine options as well as all-new vehicles.” He added: “This is certainly an exciting time to be leading the Jaguar and Land Rover brands in our home market.” Then, a week later, the scale of the progress JLR has made in its international markets became apparent with its best-ever worldwide sales – again led by an unquenchable demand for Halewood’s Range Rover Evoque. The luxury car maker announced that it had sold 357,773 vehicles – a 30% increase across its 177 worldwide markets – during 2012.

KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY

Halewood car workers busy assembling a Range Rover Evoque on the Knowsley factory’s production line, which also produces the successful Land Rover Freelander 2

investment in JLR’s future

to turn round the former loss-making Ford luxury motor division by funding future products The company’s figures also showed that China was now JLR’s biggest market, after a 71% increase in sales there – again helped by the appeal of the Evoque. Late last year, JLR signed a joint venture deal with Chinese car maker Chery, with the aim of building a new production plant near Shanghai to feed the burgeoning appetite for the company’s iconic models. JLR’s global figures also showed that its Land Rover brand had sold more cars in 2012 than ever before – up 36% – while sales of Jaguar models showed a 6% improvement. But the worldwide success of the Evoque was evident when the

company revealed that, of Halewood’s total production of 108,598 models during 2012, it had exported 90,479 of them to its rapidly expanding overseas markets. And the growth of those markets was illustrated by figures that showed that the voracious appetite of China’s rapidly expanding middle classes had rocketed their country to the top of JLR’s markets with 71,940 sales, up 71%, followed by the UK (68,333 sales, up by 19%) and the US (55,675, up 11%). There was a 43% increase in sales for Russia, up to 20,549 vehicles, and a 41% jump in German sales to 16,722 vehicles. Speaking about the record sales figures at the North American

International Motor Show in Detroit, Phil Popham, JLR’s director of group sales operations, said: “2012 has been a strong year for Jaguar Land Rover with record- breaking sales performance globally. “All of our key markets saw strong progress, with demand for our premium vehicles setting new records in a very competitive environment. “Looking ahead to 2013, we are continuing to invest in our business to support our ambitious plans for

growth and we will be introducing eight new or refreshed products throughout the year.” Land Rover’s global brand director John Edwards added: “Our updated model line-up and the debut of the new Range Rover have created a real buzz around the brand with customers clearly delighted with our offerings.” The car maker has since followed up on its encouraging sales figures with news of further investments in its workforce. Last week, it confirmed the

‘The new Range Rover has created a real buzz’

creation of a further 800 jobs in its West Midlands operations for its Solihull plant, which already employs 6,000 people producing the Range Rover Discovery and Defender models. Then, the firm revealed that it was taking steps to strengthen its workforce of the future by creating positions for 150 more apprentices in addition to the 300 already employed over the past two years. It said a number of the new recruits would be based at its Halewood operation during the course of their four year training programme. A six-year advanced scheme involves a mix of university and work experience.

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY North West Industrial Estates has spent £1m on the refurbishment of Merchants Place, at Brunswick Business Park; inset, Century Building

Waterfront location that is

Brunswick Business Park offers potential occupants a range of high-quality office space in BRUNSWICK Business Park is probably classed as an out-of-town business park – but only just. The park is located on Liverpool’s waterfront, around two miles south of the city centre. In recent years, it has become a thriving business hub with wellknown Liverpool business names including the Charities Trust, FRC Group and law firm Silverbeck Rymer among its long-term tenants. There are more than 50 firms

and organisations located there, employing around 750 people. Merseyside Police also occupies 40,000 sq ft of office space. The biggest property owner on the park is North West Industrial Estates (NWIE). NWIE’s two properties on the site, where the above occupiers are located, are Century Building and Dempster Building, each offering around 200,000 sq ft of space. Within Century Building is Merchants Place, a recently-

refurbished office facility. The space was vacated about 18 months ago by previous tenant, banking giant Abbey, which occupied around 20,000 sq ft. NWIE has now invested more than £1m on the revamp and is offering suites from 750 sq ft up to 12,000 sq ft, with Merchants offering a total floor space of 26,000 sq ft. Joint agents for NWIE’s Brunswick properties are Mason Partners and CBRE.

Mason Partners’ Jon Swain said: “This is high-quality office space that has only just come onto the market and the space is available in various suites.” Both Century and Dempster buildings are period properties originally used as part of Liverpool’s dock complex. They were brought back into commercial use in the 1980s by the Merseyside Development Corporation, which was also the prime mover behind the

refurbishment of Liverpool’s Albert Dock. Currently, Century Building is 75% let while Dempster Building enjoys full occupancy. Andy Kelly, of Mason & Partners, who manages the properties, said: “That is a very good occupancy rate indeed in the current climate.” Mr Swain acknowledged that the commercial market was as tough as it had been for some years. Last week, it was reported

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

The refurbished reception area at Merchants Place, in Brunswick Business Park

thriving in a tough market

an out-of-town site located just a few minutes’ drive away from Liverpool city centre that office lettings in Liverpool city centre during 2012 were at their lowest level for 15 years. Given the economic climate, many firms are delaying seeking new accommodation, even if they have a desire to relocate. However, Mr Swain said there were still opportunities in the market if the space on offer was of the right quality and in the right location. “There is no doubt we are competing in a tough market, but

historically Brunswick has always been a well-occupied estate,” he said. “You would describe it as an out-of-town business park but it is very close to Liverpool city centre. “There is ample space for car parking, there is a bus route and Brunswick station, on Merseyrail’s Northern Line, is just across the road. “What we are marketing here is a 24-hour serviced environment in a great location right next to the

river with a coffee shop and children’s play facilities. The number of serious enquiries in the market is fairly limited at the moment, so you have to work hard to compete. “However, in the medium term, we are very confident about the attractiveness of Brunswick to potential occupiers. “It has been managed very well and invested in by our client.” Accommodation in Merchants Place is available for between £12.50 and £13.50 per sq ft and

other space elsewhere in Century Building is available for around £9.50 per sq ft. Service charges are between £1 and £2 per sq ft and there are also workshop units available from around £4 per sq ft. “It offers a good overall occupancy cost,” added Mr Swain. Mr Kelly said there was a high level of satisfaction among current tenants. “Quite a few of the tenants have been here since 1999,” he said.

“Some have even expanded and people are very happy working here..” NWIE also has outline planning permission for a 55,000 sq ft office building on the site called One Brunswick Place, adjacent to Century Building, but the current climate means that scheme won’t be built speculatively. “The terms that people would want means it would not be economical to build at present,” said Mr Swain.

LUXURY DAY TRIPS

Treat yourself to a luxury day trip!

Day trips from

£235

The Golden Age of Travel: Luxurious Train Journeys Departing from Liverpool, Manchester & London Victoria

Step aboard the luxurious Northern Belle or British Pullman, sister train to the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and enjoy sumptuous cuisine and the finest champagne as you sweep through the glorious British landscape. Your journey begins as you are welcomed by your steward, and shown to your own seat. On board you will find beautifully laid tables with starched table cloths, along with uniquely branded silverware, with emphasis on the elegant and comfortable carriages. Fine dining is a highlight of every journey, our Executive Head Chef and team go to great lengths to source the very best produce, creating regional menus that change each season.

A celebration like no other.

Dates

Journey

3 14 Thu Feb Valentine’s Day Lunch 14 Thu 09 Sat 09 Sat 10 Sun 10 Sun 20 Sat 22 Wed 25 Sat 20 Thu 21 Fri 22 Sat 05 Fri 05 Fri 12 Fri 23 Fri 30 Sat

Feb mar mar mar mar Apr may may Jun Jun Jun Jul Jul Jul Aug Aug

30 Sat Aug

3 = Steam Hauled Journey

Name

29 Fri 29 Sat 31 Tue 14 Sat 18 Wed 13 Fri 28 Sat 28 Sat 12 Sat

Address

12 Sat Oct

For your Luxurious Rail Journeys brochure, complete this coupon and send to: Newmarket Promotions Ltd, FREEPOST KT2720, Worcester Park, KT4 8BR (NO STAmP REquiRED)

Postcode Tel Email

LPE

29 Fri 30 Sat 25 Fri 25 Fri 20 Fri 31 Tue

Nov Nov Dec Sep Dec Sep Sep Sep Oct Nov Nov Oct Oct Dec Dec

www.newmarket.travel/lpe17958 Jan 2013

Departure Stations Train

London Victoria Valentine’s Day Dinner manchester Mother’s Day Lunch Liverpool, manchester Spirit of Travel with Lunch Liverpool, manchester Mother’s Day Lunch Liverpool Spirit of Travel with Lunch Liverpool RHS Cardiff Flower Show Liverpool RHS Chelsea Flower Show manchester Muncaster Castle & Gardens manchester Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot manchester Royal Ascot manchester Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Liverpool Castle Howard manchester Whitby & The Abbey manchester London: Sightseeing & River Cruise manchester Edinburgh Royal Yacht Britannia Liverpool Bletchley Park & Museum Liverpool Warner Bros. Studio Tour London Liverpool The Making of Harry Potter Edinburgh Royal Yacht Britannia Liverpool Holyroodhouse Royal Palace Liverpool New Year’s Eve Dinner Liverpool Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Liverpool Christmas Lunch Liverpool Loch Lomond & The Trossachs manchester Castle Howard manchester Whitby & The Abbey manchester Bletchley Park & Museum manchester Warner Bros.Studio Tour London manchester The Making of Harry Potter Edinburgh Royal Yacht Britannia manchester Holyroodhouse Royal Palace manchester Edinburgh Royal Yacht Britannia manchester Holyroodhouse Royal Palace manchester Christmas Lunch manchester New Year’s Eve Dinner manchester

British Pullman Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle

Price

£415 £250 £235 £235 £235 £235 £360 £395 £340 £520 £520 £340 £340 £340 £340 £340 £340

Northern Belle £340 Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle

£340 £340 £340 £340 £250 £340 £340 £340 £340

Price includes ● Return British Pullman or Northern Bell luxury rail travel from your chosen station ● At least one unforgettable meal served to you in your armchair seat, this will be brunch, lunch, afternoon tea or dinner depending on the itinerary booked ● Guided tours, entrances and coach transfers as described in your chosen itinerary ● Drinks; meals on board the British Pullman and the Northern Belle are accompanied by cocktails and fine wines selected by the trains’ experience sommeliers. Brunch is served with a Bellini. Lunch and dinner are preceded with a glass of champagne and accompanied by half a bottle of wine per person. Afternoon tea is accompanied by a Bellini and a glass of English sparkling pink wine.

Northern Belle £340 Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle Northern Belle

£340 £340 £340 £340 £250 £340

0151 559 1590 quoting code LPE

These holidays are organised by Newmarket Promotions Ltd. ABTA V787X. Subject to availability. Calls cost 4p per minute.

THE NETWORKER

BUSINESS LUNCH Tony McDonough meets Sean McGuire, founder of Ambitious Minds, at Liverpool’s Franklins Deli N THE gentrified surroundings of St Paul’s Square, in Liverpool, it is hard to imagine that you are just yards from what used to be home to the Friday night frenzy that was women’s wrestling. Back in the 1970s, the old Liverpool Stadium stood close by where the likes of former British Ladies’ champion, Mitzi Mueller, did battle on the canvas. However, looking out from this month’s lunch venue, Franklins Deli, it now seems like another world. It is a point not lost on this month’s Business Lunch guest, Sean McGuire. The former chief executive of St Helens rugby league club now runs his own business – a specialist educational consultancy, Ambitious Minds. He has lived and worked in London and says he was amazed on his return to see how much the city had been transformed over the past decade. However, he observes that Liverpool is still, to borrow Charles Dickens’s book title, a tale of two cities. “When Central Station was closed for six months last year, people who would normally get off the train there were having to instead get off at Moorfields,” he said. “And I was amazed at the number of people, many of whom had lived in Liverpool all their lives, who were having to ask for directions as they had absolutely no idea where they were. “They had come into town to go to Church Street, or St John’s Market, and found themselves in this street they’d never been in before, full of people in suits. “I think if you go to places like Manchester or Newcastle, it is not really like that. In some ways, Liverpool is still a divided city and I think that is a shame.” Sean’s infectious enthusiasm for being a force for positive change is reflected in the ethos of Ambitious Minds. It works with schools, colleges and universities to help young people get to grips with the essential skills they will need when they leave school or college – not the English, the maths and the history, but the life skills that will allow them to live independently. It began with a board game that helped young people develop their financial management skills and has now

evolved into offering more general life skills. The company is now working with more than 20 schools across the UK and in Ireland. Sean explained: “We deliver a variety of services to the education sector. “We started by developing a financial literacy product called Keep the Cash, which is an interactive board game designed to teach young adults about finance. “In the course of doing that and as we have rolled it out, what we have realised is that financial literacy on its own is not enough. “What they desperately need is a set of life skills that will equip them to lead independent selfsustaining adult lives. “So Keep the Cash is now at the centre of a life skills proposition that we sell and deliver into schools and colleges. “We want to increase the channels that we use between Ambitious Minds and young adults so we are looking to digitise the game to make it more widely available. “What schools don’t equip people for is that moment when they leave and step out into the world for the first time. “They need a robust set of life skills, particularly with the length and depth of the recession that we are in at the moment. “It doesn’t matter whether you are a 16-year-old leaving a school on a tough estate or a 23-year-old Oxford graduate. “You still have to find somewhere to live, pay for it and have a cashflow that can sustain your lifestyle – these are universal skills.” Franklins Deli is a good example of the kind of hybrid eating establishment that has become more common in Liverpool’s central business district. A bit more than a coffee and a sandwich shop – but not quite a restaurant – and aimed at professionals

Franklins Deli, in St Paul’s Square, is in the heart of Liverpool’s commercial district working nearby who want a light lunch in pleasant surroundings. Franklins certainly fits that bill. It offers a variety of light snacks and sandwiches made with fresh ingredients. Sean very much enjoyed his dish of slices of roast beef with potato wedges and salad. My freshly cooked chicken, crispy bacon and salad wholemeal roll was also filling a delicious. Washed down with tea and coffee and all for under a tenner – it was great value. I had just one gripe and this is a bit of a hobby horse of mine. One of the small joys of the bleak midwinter is to walk into a well-heated pub, restaurant or coffee shop. Unfortunately, Franklins wasn’t such a place. It wasn’t freezing – there was clearly some form of heating in there. But it was distinctly chilly and I didn’t really feel I

Sean McGuire

wanted to throw off my jacket and relax. That said, the overall experience was positive, with friendly, efficient service and great food. Just a tweak of the thermostat and it could be almost perfect. Ambitious Minds is the name of the business and Sean has in mind ambitions for the growth of the company. One of those plans is to help schools and educational establishments with their communications strategies. He said: “Because we have had to learn the techniques of how we promote the business, we have now developed a service for schools where we manage their communications and PR. “That has been assisted hugely by the fact that we are educational specialists. We are not PR generalists. “What we are offering is a service that will help them communicate all the things that are going on in their schools. “Schools are incredibly lively

and dynamic institutions with so many things going on – you are talking about places that can have as many as 1,500 students. “Pupils, teachers, support staff, parents – there is a whole list of people who are very interested in what is going on in that school. “That covers everything from its academic, sporting and cultural life. “We are working with schools to develop ways in which those things can be communicated very effectively to everyone who wishes to know about it. “We are getting them to think about their communications on a much broader basis.”

DETAILS Franklins Deli No 1, St Paul’s Square Liverpool L3 9SJ Tel: 0151 227 5976 web address www.franklinsdeli.com

THE NETWORKER

THE BUSINESS LIST Tuesday, January 29

BUSINESS owners in the region can discover ways to maximise the value of their company at an event staged by corporate law firm O’Connors, corporate finance specialist Dow Schofield Watts and The Leadership Team. They are hosting ‘Maximising the Value of Your Business’ at Sci-Tech Daresbury, Cheshire, and the event is limited to 50 business owners. Bosses will hear about different divestment strategies and business valuation techniques as well as gaining advice from other owners’ experiences and tips on the common pitfalls to avoid when looking to sell a business. There will also be a discussion around how to develop the next generation of managers in a business. It starts at 8.30am, with breakfast served from 8.15am, and will finish by 10.30am. ● FOR more information, or to register for this free event, visit www.theleadershipteam.co.uk

MONDAY & TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18-19/ KICK OFF IN BUSINESS

Thursday, January 31 LIVERPOOL Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with UKTI, is hosting a series of international lunches with a specific market focus to give an overview of the opportunities available and to address any key issues in the market. This lunch takes place at the city’s Crowne Plaza Hotel and will focus on trading with Africa. While the majority of exporters focus on EU markets, less than 25% export to Africa and the Middle East. Foreign direct investment into Africa has more than doubled in the past decade and with forecasts for 2013 indicating that GDP growth in many African nations will be upwards of 5%, there is plenty of opportunity for businesses to expand. The event starts at 11am and includes presentations and case studies from firms already trading in Africa. This event is free to attend for small firms, but limited to one delegate per company.

Liverpool FC’s Anfield stadium will host a two-day event aimed at encouraging more entrepreneurs in communities LIVERPOOL FC is one of eight football clubs hosting a series of events around the country to encourage more people in local communities to start their own venture. Kick Off in Business is supported by Royal

Bank of Scotland and The Football League Trust and is presented by enterprise support expert Ken Horn. Events include a quick-start guide to start-ups, tips from award-winning advisers and guidance

● MORE information is available from http://www.liverpool chamber. org.uk/eventitem. aspx/show/ 486

on establishing a business, business skills, generating enquiries, finance and taxation and planning and mapping the development of a business. Mr Horn said: “There is very little in the way

Thursday, February 7 EXPORTING Works is a breakfast networking event by Liverpool Chamber of Commerce to provide help for firms looking to export. Held at Liverpool FC’s Anfield stadium, experienced chamber members, including Bootle Containers boss Mike Moran, right, will pass on tips and experience at this free event which starts at 8.30am and closes at 10.15am and is limited to one delegate per company. ● FOR more information, visit www.liverpoolchamber.org.uk/ eventitem.aspx/show/443

Friday, February 8 Venue – Liverpool’s Crowne Plaza Hotel

of field-based start-up support available. “Local people and economies need a reliable source of qualified and accredited business start-up and enterprise advice. This exciting alliance will help

CELEBRATE the Year of the Snake and find out what

Mike Moran opportunities are available in China in 2013 over lunch with Liverpool Chamber of Commerce and the Government-

provide that muchneeded help.” ● FOR information or to book, call 0808 129 4419, or visit www. events.businesslink. gov.uk/events/free-kickoff-in-businessquickstart-guide-tostart-up

backed UKTI. With the ongoing uncertainty surrounding European markets continued growth in China is still offering opportunities for UK companies to expand operations in the region. Over lunch at the Chung Ku restaurant, in Columbus Quay, information will be available on how to do business in China and the current situation in the market. An overview on China will be presented by Philomena Chen, of UKTI, at 12 noon, followed by a presentation on conducting business in China, and then a networking lunch at 1pm. ● FOR more information, please visit http://www.liverpool chamber.org.uk/eventitem. aspx/show/460

THE NETWORKER

ALISTAIR HOUGHTON . . . in which we follow in the footsteps of Bing Crosby and Brian Wilson as we hunt January networking nirvana HERE are two songs, it occurred to me, as I was pondering my January networking, about being “Busy Doing Nothing”. There’s the one sung by Bing Crosby and friends in the 1949 musical movie, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court – you know, where they’d like to be unhappy but they just don’t have the time. And then there’s Brian Wilson’s charming bossa nova-esque ditty on the Beach Boys’ understated, almost chilled Friends album. Wilson, still in slow decompression from his failure to finish the superambitious Smile album, penned the song at his LA home, perhaps at the famous piano in a sandbox. It describes a journey around LA – and, if you landed back in 1968 at the exact point where Wilson starts his sung journey, you’d end up at his house. Interesting, eh? Well, these are the kinds of things that your networker has the time to think about in early January in the annual post-Christmas networking hiatus.

FTER my last bulletin to you all in mid-November, I had, as is still usual even in these tough times, a feast of festive social events that I’ll

charitably describe as networking. Take Shop Direct’s huge charity ball at the Echo Arena, for example, which successfully wooed its guests into donating tens of thousands of pounds to great causes before boogieing the night away to special guest stars Kool and the Gang. At one point, mildly surreally, actor Lynda Bellingham stormed onstage to angrily berate the crowd for talking during the introduction to the Shop Direct Foundation’s promotional video. And then, just to finish the night off in style, group operations director Keith Basnett did the full Gangnam Style dance, horse whinnying and all, in exchange for yet more donations. Then there was the launch of Home Canteen, in Beetham Plaza, with hot-pot in boxes all round (macaroni cheese for the veggies) and a birthday cake for Merseyside Special Investment Fund. And then there was the Freelance Showcase in the Baltic Triangle, where a lucky audience of creative types got to listen to me talking at length about how to get their stories in the papers. All the papers I used as props had stories by me on their front pages, which was a happy coincidence. So, yes, late November and December were great. But then January hits with the bang of fireworks, and the long drawn-out whimper of the trudge back to work, and all networking

momentum seems to disappear. There are plenty of breakfast seminars out there, which are doubtless good for the soul. But you’re as likely to see a nighttime networking festival as you are to see a Yeti chasing a cheetah down William Jessop Way. Maybe it’s New Year’s resolutions, and people are watching their waistbands. Or they may be taking part in a charity “drinkfree January” event, which is fair enough. UT I miss those late-night networking dos. So, I’m sure, do you. And so here’s my idea – why not make your own networking event and support some of the region’s finest small firms at the same time? In other words, why not go to the pub? Seriously. Take a colleague, or a client, or someone you haven’t done business with for a wee while, and take them to a great pub or bar. That’s something this area abounds in. My recommendations? In Liverpool’s business district, there’s The Lion or Rigby’s. Towards the cathedrals, there’s The Little Grapes, The Caledonia, or the Belvedere – a great pub for meetings, I find. In Wirral, overlook the water at The Magazine. In St Helens, head uphill to the Turk’s Head. In Southport, scan the beer wall at the Inn Beer Shop. Don’t forget to try local ales – every pub stocking local beers is, in effect, hosting a mini-trade fair for local SMEs. The Richmond, in Liverpool’s Williamson Street, for instance, holds regular Meet the Brewer sessions. But, you say rightly, what about those who are having a dry January, or just don’t want to drink? Well, that’s where Liverpool’s own dry bar, The Brink, comes in. It’s chock-full of tasty cordials and alcohol-free cocktails – and proceeds go to a good cause.

T’S NOT about the booze, it’s about the scale. Great big networking shindigs are all very well, and they’re a great way of getting introductions. But in business, as in life, you have to build relationships. Doing the “handing over business cards” hot-step, while bellowing over the noise of everyone else doing the same, is just the start. There are all kinds of ways you can build those bridges that could help you win business, or simply be better at your job. But there’s always a place for just sitting down, whether over a pint of Cains or a glass of cola, and talking. So, if you’re going to follow in the footsteps of Bing Crosby, William Bendix, and Sir Cedric Hardwicke and be busy doing nothing, then why shouldn’t you do it in company and call it networking?

I You never know who you’ll do business with at your local

SOCIAL DIARY THE NETWORKER

Jilly Jones, Sue Griffiths and Kathryn Hodson, at Hugh and Cathy Frost’s Beetham Tower fundraising evening, in aid of Angus Woods’s Siberian charity trek

CAROLYN HUGHES HUGH and Cathy Frost hosted a fundraising evening at their Beetham Tower penthouse on Saturday night to raise money for Angus Woods, who plans to trek 380 miles across the world’s largest frozen lake, in Siberia, to raise funds for Claire House. It will take him three weeks and he is hoping to ski, skate and walk across it. Hugh and Cathy provided food for the evening from Panoramic 34 and the evening was hosted by Radio City presenter Pete Price. ■ THE House Beauty Spa Winter Wonderland Ball, at The Palm House, raised an amazing £38,600 for The Whitechapel Centre,

Langsdale Street, Liverpool, which was set up in 1975 to address the growing numbers of homeless people around the inner city. A performance from Kym Marsh's daughter, Emily, brought a standing ovation from the guests. ■ THE House Beauty Spa Book Club held its latest sell-out event at Caveau, in Woolton. Guests enjoyed a two-course dinner, after which Gillian Flynn, paying her first visit to Liverpool, read excerpts from her latest best-selling book, Gone Girl. The US author took questions from guests and Aromatherapy Associates provided luxury goody bags for all who attended.

Catherine Price; Christine Cartwright, of Impact Models; Tracey Torrible; and Joanne Watkinson, of my-wardrobe.com, at the House Beauty Spa Book Club event

Ex-Reds star Jan Molby with Cathy Frost, at the penthouse fundraising event in Beetham Tower

Gillian Kearney and Andrea Bell at the Beetham Tower fundraiser

Kym Marsh with her daughter, Emily, at the House Beauty Spa Winter Wonderland Ball

Author Gillian Flynn at Caveau, Woolton, with Margaret Harry, owner of the House Beauty Spa

Lesley Martin-Wright, Carol Sigmond and Sue Poole, at the House Beauty Spa Book Club’s sell-out event in Caveau, Woolton

You can’t recycle again & again & again & again & again & again & again & again & again & again & again & again & again & again & again & again & again & again & without adding some new fibre Recycling goes from strength to strength, with 78.9% of the raw materials in newspapers now coming from recovered paper. Paper cannot be recycled indefinitely, new fibres have to be introduced. Recycle your newspapers and you’re reducing landfill and make responsible use of forest fibres. To find out more about recycling newspapers contact: The Newsprint & Newspaper Industry Environmental Action Group (NNIEAG) on 01793 889637 or www.nnieag.org.uk Issued by the Newsprint & Newspaper Industry Environmental Action Group NEWSPAPERS SUPPORT RECYCLING