BUSINESS
ECHO
★★★★
Battling against city’s burglars PAGES2&3
Start Survive Thrive
Bright future in green energy PAGES4&5
●
A SOUTHPORT car dealership has been named as one of the UK’s top Volkswagen retailers. Corkills Volkswagen in Fylde Road was given “Retailer Excellence” status at the Volkswagen Service Quality Awards. It was only one of eight UK retailers to win the honour at the gala event at the Wolfsburg Auto Museum, Germany.
Opus hails success of first event A LIVERPOOL events organiser has hailed the success of his first star-studded offering. Opus Events was set up in October by Lee McPartland who previously established his reputation in the sector during several years at NW Corporate. It’s a Question of Sporting Class, held at the Hilton Liverpool, raised £24,000 raised for various local charities. Team captains John Parrott and Neil Ruddock were joined by Chris Kamara, Steve Collins and Martin Offiah with surprise panel guest Steven Gerrard, who stepped in to replace injured Jamie Carragher. Lee said: “Obviously this was a hugely important night for Opus and I’m now pleased to say it was a massive success.”
TOOL rental firm ● Speedy Hire has won its second
consecutive Green Apple award in recognition of its environmental performance. The Newton-le-Willows company was honoured for its “Getting Greener from the Ground Up” initiative to reduce the amount of energy used by its tools. It launched a colour-coded labelling system to provide information on the energy efficiency of tools and equipment.
● WORLD OF SPORT: Lee McPartland, front centre, is joined by sports stars including Liverpool FC’s Steven Gerrard, right
HOPES DASHED AT BUST SEEUS2SAVE EXCLUSIVE
By ALEX TURNER Business Reporter
KNOWSLEY call centre firm Anthony Donald Evans (ADE) has collapsed just a year after claiming a £500,000 investment was going into the business. The firm, which traded online at seeus2save.com, had moved into Deacon Park in Kirkby towards the end of 2009. Owner Tony Evans, then aged 26, had ambitious growth plans and had planned to increase his 100-strong workforce to 150 within months.
Insurance firm collapses and stops trading
However it had just 10 staff when it stopped trading on November 23. About 40 people had been laid off in October. Mark Getliffe and Diane Hill, partners at Manchester-based accountants CLB Coopers, were
appointed joint administrators on November 24. ADE operated a price comparison website seeus2save.com and an insurance brokers. However the company is understood to have been the subject of customer complaints to the insurance companies as well as receiving adverse publicity on online forums and blogs in relation to its terms and conditions. Mr Getliffe said: “Doing insurance business via the web imposes a high degree of care and disclosure on both the insurance broker and the insured. “It is a highly emotional area as we all need motor insurance and we all seem to want the best deal we can get. “Contracts of insurance require a high level of accurate disclosure which
is sometimes missed by people doing business via the web and the web purchaser not properly reading the terms and conditions before proceeding to the checkout page. “Anthony Donald Evans Limited set itself an aggressive policy of writing insurance business at a low cost but with higher charges if the policyholder did not validate the information they needed to after the cover note was issued. “The complaints we have reviewed so far relate to how it conducted this web based insurance business and what the customers thought of the way in which their transaction had been dealt with. We are working through matters with the relevant parties.”
SPEKE-BASED regeneration specialist Bramall Construction has promoted construction director Steve Parrington to the role of area director. Steve will still be responsible for major refurbishment projects in Merseyside and North Wales but will also lead the development of newbuild housing across the North West and Wales.
LAW firm Brown ● Turner Ross has recruited Paul Johnson as its practice manager. Mr Johnson joins the firm from Paul Crowley & Co, where he headed up the family law team, and plans to develop Brown Turner Ross’s family law team in Liverpool.
●
A BOOTLE call centre run by landlord One Vision Housing has won a national award. The centre won the Customer Service Contact Centre of the Year at a ceremony in London against competition from global names such as American Express and P&O Ferries. It was the only landlord among the eight finalists.
2 NEWS
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
★★★★
BUSINESS GENEROUS JLR STAFF DONATE TO CHARITIES
EMPLOYEES at Halewood’s Jaguar Land Rover plant have made donations to 11 north west charities to help them during the festive season. The charity fund at the plant, which employs around 2,000 staff, has donated £1,000 each to eleven charities nominated by Halewood employees. They are Stick n Step, Down Syndrome Liverpool, Friends of Beechley Stables, Wish CDG (Whiston & St Helens Children's Diabetes Group), St. Rocco’s Hospice, Warrington, Kids In Need and Distress, Alzheimer’s Society Liverpool, The Maisy Rose Project, Halton Haven Hospice, Missionaries of Charity (Liverpool) and Barnardo’s South City in Garston. The plant's charity committee raised the money at a dinner dance held at the Crowne Plaza Liverpool in October which attracted more than 420 employees and suppliers and raised £17,000. The remaining funds will be used to provide smaller donations to charities nominated by employees in 2011. Operations director Michael Straughan said: “Our dinner dance was a huge success and I’d like to thank all of our suppliers who attended the event for their generosity. We are pleased to donate £11,000 to so many worthwhile local charities.”
BALAJI BUYS MERSEY HOTEL
PROPERTY firm Christie & Co has sold the freehold of the Park Inn Hotel in St Helens on behalf of its administrators. Balaji Hotels paid an undisclosed sum for the hotel, which had an asking price of £4m. The Park Inn, in Linkway West, has 84 bedrooms, a bar, restaurant and five function rooms. Christie director Martin Davis said: “This substantial sale is further proof that the regional UK hotel market is functioning.”
SMALL
BUSINESS of the Week
A
N OPPORTUNIST burglar inadvertently inspired a one-man security whirlwind when he tried to break into Peter McRae’s Orrell Park home in 1994. The close call got the self-employed joiner thinking about the household security of his, and his neighbours’ homes which resulted in the introduction of alleygating throughout the UK and Peter’s latest wall-top alarm product. His home was one of 130 terraced properties all backing onto an alley and he said: “I thought, this is dreamland for a burglar, so I approached everyone and asked if they would be interested in alleygates. “Everyone said yes.” But the local authority said no, citing issues such as public access and refuse collections. “So I went to other communities and residents’ associations, who were all behind me,” added Peter. His lobbying resulted in a call from the Safer Merseyside Partnership and funding for a year-long pilot scheme in Smithdown Road was secured in 1998. In a year burglaries were reduced by 80%, prompting a visit from the then Home Secretary Jack Straw and a national roll-out programme. Peter handed over the project to Liverpool social enterprise Local Solutions which provided jobs for long-term unemployed, and even ex-offenders, making and installing the gates. “A lot of them went on to get permanent jobs,” said Peter. Another benefit from the alleygating scheme was the huge improvement in social conditions: “Dogs weren’t getting in to alleys to rip open bin bags and wind-blown litter was cut significantly. Before then alleys were a complete mess.” However, he admitted that their solution had also raised a problem for some householders. “When we were installing alleygates people living at the end of the terrace complained that it could result in burglars climbing over their walls to get access.” This set Peter, and his oil rigger brother John, thinking. The result is The Wall Top Alarm Company which has evolved since 2004 as the brothers sought the best solution to thwarting the burglar. Their system is concealed in a wall-top coping stone that is activated by the pressure of someone trying to climb over the wall. It can be programmed to allow for the weight of cats and dogs, snow load or high winds. Once intrusion is detected the system can notify householders, or businesses, of attempted entry through
Peter pits his wits against Liverpool’s burglars Neil Hodgson talks to the man who is working to keep out the thieves an audible alarm or a recorded message, or by auto-dialling a nominated phone number. It can also switch on security lighting or CCTV to record real-time images. Peter said: “Once a burglar jumps up on top of the wall and is over they’re out of sight and can do what they want. Our system is ideal across the board, from terraced properties to footballers’ houses. “There’s nothing like this on the market at the moment, and that gave us heart to carry on. “Now we think we have nailed it
and it is ready to go into the market and create jobs.” The brothers have already finalised patents covering the UK, Europe, the US and Canada. Peter said: “We are now full time on this, it has become our lives.” He likened the new project to alleygating, adding: “There was no money available, then a new government came in and there were new funds available because it pressed so many buttons. “With this, Lord Heseltine came to Liverpool a few weeks ago and launched the regional growth fund,
which is ideal for someone like us with a product ready to go and ready to create employment.” The brothers have set up base on Bootle’s Farriers Way industrial estate and are in talks with social landlords, who are assessing the wall top alarm for their properties. A pilot project is already being monitored and Peter said the alarm’s worth has already been proven: “One woman was notified by phone at the shops that someone was trying to scale her back wall. “Another householder was sitting in his living room when the alarm went off and he chased someone down the road. Both people said those incidents have made them feel much safer.” Installation for an average terraced house would cost between £800 and £1,000, but Peter said the savings far outweigh the outlay. Both residents involved in the pilot feel safer and one avoided a possible violent confrontation with a burglar. Recent figures estimate that the
Small firms criticise their power and water suppliers SMALL firms are disappointed at the level of services offered by their utilities providers, a poll from the Forum of Private Business has shown. A third (33%) of business owners surveyed by the Cheshire-based Forum
describe standards of customer service as poor or very poor. Many were concerned about contractual issues – including the practice of rolling businesses over on to often more expensive contracts with little warning.
Just 11% of those polled believe utilities contracts are easy to understand, while 35% think it is difficult to switch suppliers and 40% feel that contractual terms and conditions are poor or very poor. Almost half of all respondents are concerned
that utilities costs are too steep. The forum’s chief executive Phil Orford said: “There must be better protection to stop the erosion of service provided by utilities companies to commercial customers. “Ofgem does not have the
necessary powers to protect all small businesses and, unless we establish proper levels of service and transparency which allow them to make informed choices, they will continue to suffer at the hands of utilities providers.”
★★★★
NEWS 3
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
MORE FIRMS JOIN AERO ALLIANCE
THE North West Aerospace Alliance (NWAA) has signed up 12 new members to take its numbers to more than 360. The additional members include companies from Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire and Cumbria. A number of companies have also signed up from areas further afield including Staffordshire, Essex and Northumberland, to swell the NWAA’s ranks to 360. The NWAA is one of the leading cluster organisations for the aerospace sector in the UK and Europe. The North West sector contributes more than £6bn to the UK economy, it claims. Lisa Hodgson, membership liaison manager, said: “This has clearly been a mixed year for the aerospace sector, but those companies in the supply chain remain keen to keep the region healthy.”
readertravelholidays.com
SAFETY FIRST: Peter McRae demonstrates his alarm that can be fitted to the tops of walls
Picture: GAVIN TRAFFORD
Do you want to be our Business of the Week? Contact Neil Hodgson 0151 472 2451 or email neil.hodgson @liverpool.com
average cost of a reported burglary, including police time, court costs and resources, as well as damage, is now about £4,000. A wall top alarm could also protect householders or property owners from potentially expensive liability for injuries caused by conventional deterrents, such as wall-top mounted broken glass or razor wire. The Occupiers Liability Act 1984 places responsibility for the safety of visitors to a property with the occupants of that property – whether the visitors are there in a legal capacity or not. Peter said a neighbourhood populated by walls bristling with broken glass and razor wire also produces a siege mentality in its citizens. So far the brothers have invested more than £100,000 of their own funds, with no borrowings, into their plan. Once it is up and running they believe they could take on nearly 10 staff. They believe social enterprises could quality for funding to install the alarm in deprived and vulnerable areas and the home security industry could act as a partner in developing a national network. Peter added: “It is exciting enough, but then it became really exciting when we realised it can go anywhere in the world. We have already had enquiries from the US, Africa and Australia – we see this as being the central hub of a distribution network.”
Fro m
Madeira
£59 9 n
for 7
igh ts
Special Offer!
Departures every Monday between 3rd Jan - 21st Feb A short flight is all it takes to transport you away to the sub-tropical haven of botanical beauty that is Madeira island. Set within 5,000 square metres of garden on the ocean front overlooking the bay of Ponta da Cruz, the popular Pestana Grand Hotel provides an extensive range of facilities and is the ideal choice whether you want rest and relaxation or a base to explore from. The price includes: • Return flights from Manchester Airport • Return transfers from Funchal airport to your 5* accommodation at the Pestana Grand Hotel • FREE upgrade to half board • FREE upgrade to side sea view room • All applicable taxes SAVE up to £469 per couple From £599 price applicable on 17th January departure only. All other dates at £609 Offer subject to availability. Prices based on two adults sharing, single supplements do apply. All bookings are subject to a 2% credit card charge. All offers are correct at time of publishing. All holidays are ATOL protected
For further information and a FREE brochure
Call: 0151 227 5987
BURGLARS: Peter aims to deter would-be thieves with his device
BROUGHT TO YOU BY: TRINITY MIRROR NORTH WEST AND NORTH WALES IN CONJUNCTION WITH ATLANTIC HOLIDAYS ABTA V3671
4 NEWS
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
★★★★
BUSINESS
BIG
CHANGING MAN: David Hunt has gone from being a corporate headhunter to a green energy specialist
Boo bus ben from win cha
INTERVIEW
Tony McDonough talks to David Hunt, director of green energy installation firm, Eco Environments
E
CO ENVIRONMENTS has been around for just over three years and yet is regarded as something of a veteran in the renewable energy sector. It is an indication, says director David Hunt, of just how far behind Europe the UK is when it comes to green energy. Eco Environments is a rapidly expanding installer of renewable energy systems. David, along with his fellow directors Mike Clarke and Mark Buchanan, has just opened the company’s fifth office in Darlington, adding to its existing bases in Merseyside, Manchester, Penrith and Tamworth. The firm offers free consultations to both domestic and business clients and then will install systems to individual requirements. It will supply and install wind turbines, solar panels, heat pumps and energy-efficient lighting. In its first year the company turned over £100,000 and this year that figure is projected to be £1.8m. “We aim to double that again in the next financial year,” said David. “Even though we are just three years old we are one of the oldest companies in our sector. “There are a lot of companies out there now who will install renewable energy systems but many of them will only specialise in one area. “Our USP is that we are accredited across four technologies which means we will genuinely recommend the best solution for each property.” David grew up in Ealing in London. He left school at 16 and spent several years working in the head office of electrical retailer Dixons. When he was 22, he joined a London-based recruitment agency which specialised in placing people in sales and marketing positions. In 1995 he set up a new division of the company in Liverpool. After successfully expanding the operation, he later left to work as a headhunter for electronics giant, Marconi. He said: “I was living in Merseyside but working across central and eastern Europe and the Middle East on behalf of the company. “It had its good points but eventually the novelty of travelling began to wear off. Every plane and hotel was starting to look the same. “I remember going to Brussels one time. I was there for three days and never saw a single street. That’s when I realised it was time for a change.” David spent 18 months fundraising for Barnardo’s in
Liverpool, establishing contacts with major corporates in the city. He then decided to set up his own headhunting business. He added: “I suppose I got to a point where I didn’t want to work for other people any more – I wanted to create something for myself.
“I had some interesting placements. I once recruited a finance director for the Falkland Islands.” David sold the business in 2006 and began helping out Mike Clarke, who then was running an electrical contracting business, with business development.
‘I got to a point where I wanted to create something for myself’
He said: “We got talking about renewable energy and I spent a few months doing some research. “I realised how far behind places like Germany we were and I saw a huge opportunity.” David saw that the Government was now taking renewable energy more seriously and identified opportunities from new legislation that would demand much more stringent environment standards from new buildings. “We set up Eco Environments in December 2007 and we expected it to be slow at first,” he said.
“Then we hit a recession but we have still managed to grow.” The firm has particularly benefited from the introduction of feed-in tariffs earlier this year. Under the Government scheme, both domestic dwellings and businesses are paid for every kilowatt hour (kwh) of electricity they generate, whether they use it or not. David said: “This means that people are now having wind or solar systems installed, not just because of the green energy benefits, but also because they
★★★★
otle siness nefits m the nds of ange are good investments. You can get 20% back from wind and you won’t find that kind of investment return anywhere else at the moment.” Since the coalition Government has taken power some critics have said it is being slow to deliver on its carbon-cutting promises. “To be fair they have not tried to reverse any of the policies of the previous Government,” said David. “However, perhaps they haven’t been quite clear enough with their own message and that has caused uncertainty among investors.
“We still lag behind Europe, particularly in terms of the funding of projects. “If you go to a bank in Germany and ask for a loan to install solar panels, they will be quick to recognise the opportunity. “UK banks don’t really seem to be doing that yet. However, that doesn’t seen to be stopping Eco Environments. “We have a very clear business plan which will see us establish ourselves as the leading business of its kind in the north of England and then across the UK,” said David.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
NEWS 5
MERSEYSIDE ADVISORS EXPANDING
MONEY-SPINNER: Installing a wind turbine is not only good for the planet but will also offer you a possible 20% return on your investment
SOUTHPORT financial advisory firm Ludlow has opened an office in Lytham. The company, whose head office is in Lord Street, is installing a team of six at the new office with the aim of doubling that number in the next few months. Ludlow, which was founded in 1993, also has offices in Longridge and Blackburn. Run by managing director Sid Ludlow and fellow directors Ian Hemingway and David Hardman, the firm has clients in Merseyside, Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria. It provides financial planning and advice on investments, pensions, retirement and protection. It also has a dedicated mortgage service. Ludlow has grown significantly in the past couple of years through a number of acquisitions and mergers and the 27-strong team now manages more than £230m of funds for clients. Sid Ludlow said: “We are hugely excited about the opening of our office in Lytham which is part of our strategy to become the leading firm of independent financial advisors on the Fylde coast.”
APPRENTICES RAISING CASH
GREEN TEAM: David, right, with his fellow Eco Environments directors, Mike Clarke, left, and Mark Buchanan
WIRRAL shipyard Cammell Laird has raised almost £30,000 for Merseyside youth charity Fairbridge in its annual Zero to Hero challenge. The cash has been raised by Cammell Laird apprentices selling advertising space in a calendar featuring striking pictures around the business’ premises. Cammell Laird is one of the eight Merseyside businesses taking part in the challenge along with Bibby Financial Services, Barclays, Deloitte, RBS, Brabners Chaffe Street, Coutts and Addleshaw Goddard. Each team is given £500 and asked to use their entrepreneurial skills to turn it into at least £5,000.
6 NEWS
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
★★★★
BUSINESS
THEFUTUREIS
Alex Turner talks to health and fitness firms looking to set the pace in the city
FOCUS . . . on fitness
S
ETTING up a business can be a bruising experience, but Lyndsey Rice hopes she continues to be confronted by bumps, twists and growing pains – not to mention sprains and strains and pulls and tears. Lyndsey set up Elite Physiotherapy in Liverpool in the summer after getting the opportunity to run her own clinic alongside personal trainers Elite Fitness Consultants. Although it was her first job since completing a degree in physiotherapy at the University of Liverpool, Lyndsey had previously spent four years working in the NHS as a physiotherapy assistant. “I had been looking forward to going back to the NHS but as a qualified member of staff,” she said. But cuts in spending were taking effect at the same time as thousands of graduates were finishing degrees they had started when the number of physiotherapy jobs within the NHS was increasing. “I saw an advert for Elite who were looking for someone to run the rehab side of the personal trainer business,” said Lyndsey. “Elite have a lot of trainers in gyms across the city. “Because they are training people, they can refer people to me – although I provide rehab to anyone. “Our sector is very public sector-focused so it’s nice to do something in the private sector. “As a profession and a course, we’re geared towards the NHS. It has been a very steep learning curve as my degree didn’t have a business side to it. “I am very lucky I have a lot of mentors.” Lyndsey is also the physio for basketball side Mersey Tigers – “it’s really exciting working with elite athletes,” she said, “hard work, but in a nice way” – but as a start-up, she is focused on establishing a client base at her Knight Street clinic. She said: “It’s very difficult because there are that many private physios. “At the moment, because we are so new, I am trying to focus on building the business, building some of the foundations for it. I am really just letting people know who I am and that the clinic is here and open. “We are getting a lot of people
CREATING SYNERGIES: The Lord Street fitness studio is just one part of the health and wellbeing service on offer at Synergy
coming through the doors but as a young business we can always build on that.” At the other end of the city centre, in Lord Street, Simon Whitnall’s challenge starts with getting people to understand what his business, Synergy Fitness Studios, offers. “A lot of people who walk in off the street ask how much is the membership,” he said. “But we don’t sell memberships, we sell results.” “We set up as a multi-disciplinary studio. Most health professionals, they are usually on their own or in huge gyms. “Synergy is a one-stop-shop for healthy living. “There are eight people who work with us from personal trainers to nutritionists to massage therapists.” Simon is looking forward to a busy start to 2011 as people look to adopt a healthier lifestyle as part of their new year’s resolutions. “January is a busy time, although
because of the snow February was even busier this year,” he said. “It’s the time when people are thinking about their health and what they want to achieve. “People understand they need to be healthier to achieve what they want in their life.” Synergy’s approach means that the traditional gym-based approach to getting fit is just one option for them to utilise. Simon said: “There’s not really anything offered to people that looks after their health and well-being. “People have goals, so they may want to have more energy, or to lose fat – they don’t want to just run on a treadmill for an hour. “A lot of the people who come and see us, they might not even see a personal trainer, they might just see the nutritionist. “They get to their goals but they mightn’t go on a treadmill.”
SEEING RESULTS: Simon Whitnall
HEALTHY
ASK THE
EXPERT With KAREN TATE, Business Start Up Advisor at Stepclever
W
HEN starting up in business, you can often feel lonely, especially when trying to get to grips with everything you need to know. Stepclever have devised a series of workshops and forums especially designed with this in mind, and here we tell you about some of the events coming up. ● Getting into construction? We have a construction-specific event on Friday, December 17, at Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre (12 noon – 2pm) with presentations by One Vision Housing and their new maintenance company, together with Triangle Builders and A W Electrical. Places will be in demand, so if you are a construction company this is an event not to be missed.
HANDS ON: Lyndsey Rice has hit the ground running after setting up her own clinic
Loveless dieting ABOUT 14m of us will start diets in the new year, but the average dieter will have already quit by the second weekend in February. That’s according to new research which shows a third of us will embark on the traditional New Year’s resolution diet, with that figure climbing to over 40% of women. However the average person only manages to stay on a diet for 43 days which means by February the 12th, two days before Valentine’s Day, we’ll be ready to return to our usual way of eating. The research by M&S also found that the average person has been on five diets
● Need help with applying for Public Sector contracts in Sefton, Liverpool and across the North West Region through The Chest? Then our Procurement workshop has been designed to give you that knowledge. The workshop will be held on Wednesday, January 12, (8.30am – 11.30am) at Bootle Cricket Club. ● Want to reach your customers more easily? Our Marketing workshop on Friday, January 14, (9am– 12 noon) will help you achieve that goal. An interactive three-hour session covering various elements of the marketing process to result in more business and increased profits.
RESOLUTION: Some 14m people will start a diet in the New Year
in their lifetime. And far from being derailed by our partners, families, friends and co-workers it seems most of us know we only have ourselves to blame for breaking our diets. Three quarters of us admit
we are most likely to sabotage our efforts ourselves, with 60% of us saying we cheat by having treats when we’re on a diet. A quarter of us admit we are very inconsistent when it comes to diet over the
NEWS 7
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
★★★★
course of the year. Encouragingly the top reason why people are inspired to go on diets is the desire to be healthier, which comes in ahead of seeing photos of ourselves, or not fitting into favourite outfits.
● Want to know how to identify both public and private sector opportunities for your new business? Come along to our ‘How To’ workshop on Wednesday, January 19, (9am –11am). ● Do you know how to identify potential “stressors” within
your business and workplace? We are holding an interactive seminar to help you come up with possible solutions, on Wednesday, January 26, (10am – 12 noon) ● “How to make your business web wise?” is a popular question when starting up. The next session is on Wednesday, February 2 (8.30am – 9.30am) ● Are you in the maritime sector? If you are then this forum is for you. Come along on Thursday, February 10 (12 noon – 2pm) to find out how Stepclever can help you. ● Want to know how to avoid disputes in the construction industry? If you want to know what to do when difficult situations arise during a project, and what happens during a construction dispute then this is for you. It is on Wednesday, February 16 (8.30am – 9.30am) ● A Construction Forum not to be missed will be held on Thursday, February 24 (12 noon – 2pm). Come along and find out more about the plans for a £300m biomass and what opportunities there could be for you. ● You may hate the thought of data, but do you realise that there are hidden financial rewards if you spend a bit of time? Come along for an introduction to business process modelling and monitoring in a relaxed and dynamic way on Wednesday, March 9, (9am – 11.30am) To find out more about what Stepclever can offer you, or to book your place on any of the above, please contact Jean Hartley on 0151 934 3414 or email jean.hartley@ stepclever.co.uk or visit stepclever.co.uk
8 NEWS
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
★★★★
Business to Business
BUSINESS
Loans
AGENTS SLAM PLAN TO SCRAP RATES RELIEF by TONY McDONOUGH
Deputy Business Editor MERSEYSIDE’S commercial property sector has condemned the Government’s “astonishing” decision to scrap rates relief for empty properties with a rateable value under £18,000. Following the introduction of 100% empty rate charges in April, 2008, the Labour Government gave relief in 2009 to empty properties with a rateable value (RV) of below £15,000. This relief was carried forward into 2010/11, following the rating revaluation, but only where the new assessment was less than £18,000. Now even that is to go, as the cashstrapped coalition Government seeks to raise an estimated £400m a year in extra taxes from the commercial property sector. The threshold for exemption will drop to a rateable value of £2,600 from April 1, 2011. The protests are being led by the British Property Federation. Chief executive Liz Peace said: “If the Government is pinning its hopes on a private sector-led economic recovery, then this is a damaging and retrograde step. Empty rates is a tax on hardship at the worst possible time. “The majority of the properties affected by this announcement will be in areas that are already economically disadvantaged, and so this will be a further blow.” That view was backed by commercial property agents in Merseyside who claim the move is short-sighted and will result in a fall in investment and development in the sector. Andrew Owen, of Liverpool-based Mason Owen, told LDP Business: “The long-term impact far outweighs any short-term gain that is achieved by this tax and it is extraordinary, given the weight of public opinion and quite frankly common sense, that the Government has sought to further penalise landlords of under-performing buildings by reducing the threshold for exemption even further. “At a time when landlords are experiencing high vacancy levels which are only likely to increase due to the planned public sector cuts, it is astonishing that the Government has persisted with this tax which will only serve to curtail future investment and growth and send many into bankruptcy.”
Commercial Premises T J THOMAS 0151 708 6544 ERSKINE ST close to City centre Business units, 850sqft With int Office Space £106 + vat. Modern Ind unit, Knowsley Business Pk 2600sqft £13k p.a. www.tjthomas.co.uk
Business For Rent HAIRDRESSERS FOR RENT Seaforth Area £150pw 07780 009537
Business Opportunities IRISH TURF FOR SALE Available in bulk. 2 tonne bags & 25kg bags. Agents Wanted. Large Quantities available. For more details. email: aidan@hartepeat.com Aidan 00353 872827504 B A R B E R C H A I R for rent established business in busy Maghull area 07779 143966
Taxis/Cab & Plate E2A CABS DRIVERS WANTED Settles from £10pw. Join a Liverpool owned HACKNEY ONLY taxi co. Call 0151 229 1066
P/H Lpool cab £140pw 1st wk 1/2 price. 07523 976108 PRIVATE HIRE Delta Cabs avail on L/C. 07776 222288
Building Trade FRAMELINE TRADE SUPPLY COMPOSITE DOORS UPVC
WINDOWS, DOORS, CONSERVATORIES. 5 Day Turnaround Tel 0151 546 5577 Fax 0151 546 5588 ACCREDITED WITH BS7412 & BS7950
IMPACT: Andrew Owen, of Liverpool’s Mason Owen
Plan called ‘tax on hardship at the worst time’ Martin Howard, a partner at Knight Frank, in Liverpool, raised the spectre of owners having to consider demolishing their own properties. “While we are all aware of the economic turmoil currently being experienced in the UK at the present time, the latest Government announcement to remove the relief on
WARNING: Martin Howard, partner at Knight Frank
vacant commercial premises is seen as a retrograde step within the industry and will do little to stimulate development of commercial premises,” he said. “Already hit with reduced rental levels within the commercial property sector, we are likely to see another round of demolition of this country’s building asset base as hard-pressed owners seek to remove the heavy burden of business rates.” Jason Wadeson, from Wirral-based Smith & Sons, warns of a possible impact on the already hard-pressed retail sector. He said: “The temporary empty rate threshold currently set at £18,000 will cease to exist on the March 31, 2011, therefore, from April 1, 2011, the RV
threshold will revert back to £2,600. “This could have a significant impact on clients who have properties with RVs up to £18,000. “In all likelihood, landlords will be more willing to look favourably upon soft deals involving properties with RV’s £2,600 to £18,000 – with a view to mitigate their own position. “Main areas of concern are likely to be secondary shopping centres, many of which in the North West are already struggling. “This change is also likely to have an adverse affect on the disposal value of property. Some sources are suggesting the £18,000 RV threshold has been scrapped – in truth, it has always had a limited shelf life, but has not been renewed as had been hoped.”
Late-paying customers ‘cost firms £117m a year’ BUSINESSES in the North West could be losing as much as £117m a year chasing late-paying customers, according to new research from Bibby Financial Services. The nationwide poll of business owners and managers showed firms in the region spent more than 1m days a year chasing customers for payments – which Bibby
CASH LOANS Secured against your car. Loans for any purpose. 0 1 5 1 2 2 0 4 4 8 8 www.mobilemoney.co.uk
says equates to an annual cost of £738 per firm. Bibby – part of Liverpool’s Bibby Line Group – warned that if the Government went ahead with plans to increase its payment terms then businesses could be hard hit. The previous Government cut the payment term to five days. Dave Golding, Bibby
Financial Services spokesperson for the North West, said: “Our research demonstrates that late payment continues to be one of the biggest challenges faced by the region’s small and medium-sized businesses. Firms cannot keep stalling payment and expect it to have no consequence because a delay in collecting in
outstanding monies will have an effect on any business regardless of its size. This will only get harder if the Government’s payment terms are extended to 30 days. “However, there are some solutions to help deal with the late payment issue and free up cash flow. Companies must ensure they are in control of their finances and
look at all cash flow options. “If they cannot afford to employ an internal or external credit control function then they could consider factoring, which not only frees up cash flow but takes away the burden of chasing late payment and allows owners and managers to focus on other core aspects of their businesses.”
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS Appears every day in your
0151 472 2377 It pays to advertise in
Classified