BUSINESS
ECHO
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Firm builds a bright future
Start Survive Thrive
Licence to thrill the UK’s licorice lovers
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LIVERPOOL law firm Weightmans has been recognised for its commitment to workplace equality in the 2010 Diversity League Table. The report, by the Black Solicitors Network, looks at law firms’ efforts to address gender, ethnicity and disability challenges by analysing the background of all associates, partners, paralegals and trainees. Weightmans’ head of HR and development, Sam Airey, said the firm has entered the league table since it began in 2005. Of the 48 law firms in the survey Weightmans were ranked eighth.
PENSIONS ● specialist Barnett Waddingham is staging a
PLEA: The FSB claims George Osborne’s VAT rise could damage small firms
VAT RISE A THREAT TO SMES, SAYS FSB by NEIL HODGSON Industry Reporter
THE Merseyside head of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is calling on Chancellor George Osborne to reverse the VAT rise as soon as possible. Yesterday the rate of VAT in the UK was raised from 17.5% to 20%. The FSB claims this could have a severe impact on small firms across the UK, many of whom are already struggling. A study published yesterday by the organisation revealed that 70% of small firms expect the VAT rise – from 17.5% to 20% – to have a negative impact on their business. The FSB Voice of Small Business panel survey shows a further 52%
Business group urges Chancellor to reverse policy
expect to increase prices, 45% expect a fall in turnover, and 36% expect a loss of customers as a result. The FSB is urging the Chancellor to review the increase once the deficit has been significantly reduced. John Allan, the FSBs’ regional chairman for Merseyside, West Cheshire & Wigan, said: “Small businesses have had a tough time in
2010, especially towards the end of the year, when it should have been a very busy. “If the Government truly believes that the private sector is going to strengthen the recovery we need to see action. Increasing the threshold at which companies have to register for VAT will put almost £900m back in the pockets of small businesses. “Without this small firms will struggle to bounce back as the spending cuts start to bite.” The FSB has been calling on the Government to help alleviate the stresses and strains on hard hit firms’ cashflow by increasing the threshold at which they begin to pay VAT, from the current rate of £70,000 to £90,000. This has the potential to create up to 35,000 jobs and help small businesses when they need it most.
Frank McKenna, chairman of lobby group Downtown Liverpool in Business, also expressed concern. He said: “No one quite knows how the VAT rise will impact on businesses in Liverpool. “I don’t think people fully appreciate the negative impact it could have on the retail sector.” However, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce chief executive, Jack Stopforth, was more optimistic that Liverpool businesses can cope with the VAT rise. He said: “I think people have been adjusting their spending patterns anyway since 2008 so maybe this won’t have has much affect on spending as we fear. Also I think there is still a novelty effect of the quality of the offer available at Liverpool One and there is some hope the momentum will be maintained.”
free morning seminar at its Port of Liverpool Building office on January 27, offering guidance on the government’s autoenrolment proposals. For details email seminars@ barnett-waddingham.co. uk
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HILARY Stewart, from Wallasey, has been named “Super Gran – Super Caregiver” by her employers, Home Instead Senior Care who provide care for the elderly in their own homes. Hilary, 66, joined the Wirral office of Home Instead as a caregiver after retiring from the civil service. She combines caring for her own family with her Home Instead clients six days a week as well as being a foster parent for the past 13 years.
CHRIS Trinnick, ● former Lancashire County Council chief
executive, has been appointed chair of Ormskirk-based Edge Hill University’s board of governors. He will oversee the educational character and mission of the university, which offers business studies courses, with specific responsibility for financial probity and effective use of resources. He joins as vice-chair until December 2011, when current chair Michael Pinfold stands down.
2 NEWS
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
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BUSINESS STEADY JOB GROWTH IN REGION FOR Q1 2011
EMPLOYMENT prospects in the north west are at their strongest since the first quarter of 2008, a new survey claims. Although the national hiring trend for the first quarter of 2011 is expected to be flat, employers throughout the region have indicated “mild headcount growth” this quarter, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey. A net employment outlook for the north west in the current quarter of +6% compares with -5% in the same quarter last year. The survey shows the strongest hiring intentions in the south west at +13%, while Scotland produced the most gloomy prediction of -12%. Nationally, the utilities and finance and business services sectors produced the best prospects for job growth with a +8% outlook for the first quarter of 2011. Hotels and retail are expected to fare the worst over the next three months with a -5% score in hiring intentions. The survey was compiled from the responses of a representative sample of 2,100 employers across the UK who were asked how they expected total employment at their location to change in the three months to the end of March this year.
BOOT CAMP AID FOR NEW FIRMS
BUSINESS coaching organisation Striding Out is running a free two-day New Year Business Boot Camp for new ventures. The Hanover Street events, on January10 and 12 are open to 1830-year-old Liverpool residents who have just started a business or are about to set up and launch a venture. To register for the events, or for more information about how to overcome challenges facing new businesses, call 0151-285 3937.
SMALL
BUSINESS of the Week
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RIVERS on the East Lancashire Road can see an unassuming building among a run of unremarkable buildings as they speed past Haydock Industrial Estate. But inside, there is a team at work that spends its time making sure the exterior of other buildings are as eye-catching as possible. Liverpool One, Garston Hospital and St Helens Central station have all benefited from the Longworth touch, which has its roots in a 140-year-old company. A Longworth & Sons, which was founded in 1867, was a heating and ventilation company which involved the firm in working with lead, which developed into cladding and roofing products. Then about 10 years ago a buy-out of the roofing and cladding operation was led by Paul Smith, who remains managing director. The separate company, which stayed in Sale before moving to St Helens two years ago, has just completed a rebranding which reflects its evolution over the last decade. Starting as Longworth Metal Roofing, it set up a sister operation, Longworth Special Construction, which looked after the products such as frameworks, brackets and rails, which supported the external materials. Estimating director Steven Jones has been with the company since he left school 13 years ago. He said: “We were concentrating on metal roofing and cladding, then we introduced timber cladding. “For the last couple of years we have been doing more. Hence the recent rebrand, the roofing is still the main part of our business but we do more than that.” “We also thought ‘why have we got two divisions in one company?’, so we have gone back to just Longworth.” Its new name, Longworth Building Envelope Solutions, reflects the full range of its services, which include the design, installation and project management of its building exterior work. “More recently we have been talking on the full external,” he said. “We will do timber cladding, rain screens, gutter systems. Everything really. “We are not just doing metal roofing, we will do everything on the external.” This expanded service has led to strong sales growth despite the downturn which badly affected – and continues to affect – many companies, big and small, within the construction sector.
Building firm works hard to push the envelope Alex Turner finds out how a Haydock firm is building for the future “The enquiries haven’t dried up at all,” said Steven. “The actual placing of the orders did slow down last year but we still increased turnover – and we’ll do £6.2m-£6.3m this year. “We have had growth for the last few years so we need to just steady the ship, and hopefully push the turnover
up to £7-8m. Because we are getting bigger as a company we are taking on bigger contracts all the time. “Now we are getting £1m-plus jobs when previously a £200,000 job was big for us.” Longworth has just completed its biggest job to date, at Bury retail and
leisure complex, The Rock. They were on site for more than a year and it resulted in about £4m of work. It has also recently finished Garston Hospital, a stainless steel mirrored finish which has provoked mixed reactions (Liberal Democrat councillor Paula Keaveney blogged recently about potential problems for motorists from reflected sunlight) but which Steven describes as “really good from an architectural point of view”. But the quibbling hasn’t deterred Longworth, which is hoping to be selected for another job – this time for a school – that would have the same finish. The education sector has been good for the firm in the last couple of years.
Co-op’s year-long support pledge for new enterprise THE Co-operative Group is stepping up its backing of member-owned enterprises by supporting a new co-operative business every day in 2011. The group announced a 50% increase in funding for The Co-operative Enterprise Hub – which was piloted in the north west – to £7.5m, and has set a target of nurturing more
than 350 enterprises during the year to create and grow sustainable community-based co-operatives. The hub is a business support service dedicated to the creation and growth of member-owned enterprises across England and Wales. From pubs to grocers and cafes to childcare the
co-operative model is seeing renewed interest from a public concerned for environment, ethical trading, accountability and sustainability. Group chief executive Peter Marks said: “With flaws exposed in traditional business models, more and more people are recognising
there is an alternative which enables them to take a lead and have a say in the running of businesses and services important to their lives. “The co-operative model offers an alternative way to do business and provides a robust approach to enterprise that can help to restore a lost sense of community cohesion
and can contribute to the re-building of a more balanced and sustainable UK economy.” The hub operates through a central website with a network of regional specialists providing dedicated advice, training and guidance. Visit www.co-operative.coop/ enterprisehub or email enterprise@co-operative.coop
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Wednesday, January 5, 2011
NEWS 3
VALET HOPES TO CLEAN UP IN 2011
BRIGHT FUTURE: Steven Jones, left, director of Longworth Building Envelope Solutions, with some of the company’s steel cladding
Picture: ANDREW TEEBAY
Do you want to be our Business of the Week? Contact Neil Hodgson 0151 472 2451 or email neil.hodgson @liverpool.com
Despite not winning “as many as we would have liked” under Building Schools for the Future programmes, they have been kept busy, with £1m’s worth of work at Stockport College among the highlights. Steven describes a typical job for the company as being “a couple of different products, spending 16 to 20 weeks on site, and worth about £300,000-£400,000. “The planning takes two to three months. “We cover all over the UK, mainly it’s Liverpool and Manchester, then probably Yorkshire, but we have done jobs all over the UK and Ireland.” The immediate future looks positive for Longworth and it is looking to add more staff to its recently-refurbished offices. Steven said: “We are approaching that point at the moment where the order book is practically full. From February to May we are extremely busy. “We want to give a quality service. We are at the point now where we will have to consider whether we take any more work on.”
AN ANFIELD car valeting firm is anticipating a strong first full year after launching last May. Former Breckfield School pupil Craig Dures used his savings from stints as a car valeter, labourer and bricklayer to set up Grime 2 Shine, buying equipment including a van, jet wash, water tank cleaning products and marketing materials. He has secured work with car dealerships including Anfield-based Georgesons and is expanding into drive way and path washing. “I did have experience of car valeting before but launching my own business was a massive step,” he said. “But I was quickly given a tremendous boost after winning a deal to valet the cars which appeared in the Pageant of Power motor show.” He said been assisted by business support agency Blue Orchid, which offered him help and advice in key areas including finance, marketing, tax and business plans. “I could not have set up in business without the help and support from my Blue Orchid business adviser,” he said. “I was able to call my Blue Orchid advisor at any point and she would relay things to me in terms I could understand.”
SUPPLIERS IN CALL FOR CASH
BUY-OUT: Paul Smith, managing director of Longworth Building Envelope Solutions
MORE than a quarter of northern businesses are being asked to pay upfront for goods and services as suppliers try to safeguard against bad debts. In a survey by insolvency trade body R3, 26% of respondents said their suppliers had been demanding payment in advance. This compares with15% in other regions. Matt Dunham, north west chair of R3 and a partner at Grant Thornton in Liverpool, said: “Suppliers are going back to basics, taking control of their cashflow and running the business as tightly as possible.”
4 NEWS
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
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BUSINESS
BIG Licorice fuels JMU I graduate in a hurry to enjoy sweet success INTERVIEW Alex Turner talks
to Lisa Gawthorne, licorice lover and managing director of Bravura Foods
T SOUNDS like a cryptic Christmas quiz question: what links Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun, James Bond villain Jaws and former Liverpool FC defender Sami Hyypia? Liverpool John Moores University graduate Lisa Gawthorne is hoping that the answer to that question – licorice – will also provide the answer to her entrepreneurial yearnings. She has created Bravura Foods, which yesterday took over the UK and Ireland distribution of Panda licorice, the second-biggest licorice product in the country, behind Bassett’s. “We are trying to get people away from thinking it’s what grandad used to eat,” said Lisa. It is helped by celebrity endorsements. Along with the support of Finnish sports stars Hyypia and racing driver Mika Hakkinen, celebrity icons Madonna, Brad Pitt and Anne Hathaway are all said to be fans of licorice. Licorice is no stranger to Hollywood glamour and has already had its own cameo roles in the movies – the shoe that Charlie Chaplin ate in the silent movie The Tramp was made of licorice, as was the cable car line that Jaws sunk his teeth into in the James Bond movie, Moonraker. It was even buried in Tutankhamun’s tomb because it was thought it would ward off spirits. With the start of the distribution contract, Lisa is now running a firm that will turn over £3.5m this year. She admitted “it’s quite scary” but is relishing the challenge that lies ahead. “I always had it within my mind that I wanted to get my own business by the time I was 30,” she said. “I have made it with a few months to go.” Lisa started in the food sector during her business studies degree, when she spent a year working at Leaf UK in Southport on Chewits, before entering employment with Vimto owner Nichols, then Burton’s Foods. She has spent the last four years working on the Panda licorice range, first with UK distributors Cedar Health and then as international marketing manager for the Finnish manufacturer, Oy Panda. It was during this time they approached Lisa about taking over the UK distribution of the range, which led to the creation of Bravura Foods in partnership with UK sales director Karl Morris. “I am a vegan, Karl is a vegetarian”, she said. “I have
ENTHUSIASTIC: Lisa Gawthorne is excited about the potential for licorice always worked on brands that suit that. “It makes sense to do something you are passionate about. Passion is a pre-requisite for Panda. “I absolutely love this product – you have to be a crusader for it.” One way Lisa does this is through her running, and she won the Liverpool 5km race last year with licorice as her pre and post-race
fuel. Panda licorice is made from just four ingredients – molasses syrup, wheat flour, licorice extract and aniseed oil – and Lisa makes much of it having no artificial ingredients. It is also fat free, and is described as “a guilt free and great tasting treat”. “The health food stores, including Holland & Barrett and Julian Graves, have been a massive part of
‘We chose not to have an office to keep costs to a minimum’
our growth,” said Lisa. Licorice is also very popular with slimmers and we do a lot of work with Weight Watchers and Slimmers World.” At launch, Bravura has six staff, including Lisa and Karl. It also has a finance manager and three account managers across the country. “We chose not to have an office to keep the costs to a minimum,” said Lisa. “We looked at serviced offices but we would rather run it as lean as possible. “We have invested in our IT system and we still meet regularly.” Bravura plans to grow in two
areas – expanding the range of licorice products and its distribution, and also introducing other, complementary, products. “The former distributor, BBI Healthcare, is very medically-oriented,” said Lisa. “We definitely want to expand the range further, into the chocolate products, and really break through into new areas, into convenience stores and forecourts, as well as Asda, which we haven’t got into yet. “We have got a brown bag project launching this year. It’s an extremely soft licorice. We have tested it at Botanical Gardens,
★★★★
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
NEWS 5
CAUTION ON PROSPECTS FOR SALES
FINNISH FAN: Sami Hyypia is a known fan of Panda licorice, which is made in his home country, Finland Photo: JASON ROBERTS / jr240509liverpool-13.jpg
FIRMS across Britain are concerned about their prospects for the coming months and plan to freeze investment and raise prices in the face of continuing economic uncertainty, a report by Lloyds TSB said today. Business confidence has slipped back for the first time in 18 months, according to Lloyds TSB Commercial’s Business in Britain report, driven by an increase in the number of firms concerned that sales and profits might fall this year. But firms are confident in export markets as a source of future growth, the twice-yearly report added. The Business in Britain Confidence Index, which tracks 1,800 firms’ views on sales, order books and profits for the next six months, has slipped to a balance of 12% – from 18% in the last survey. This balance is 10% below the average of 22%, over the survey’s 16-year history. John Maltby, managing director of Lloyds TSB Commercial, said that in the face of weakening prospects businesses were toeing a cautious line in terms of investment,
REGENERATION FIRM EXPANDS
Southport, and Chester Zoo – the consumer has really led us – and we see that as the one that will get us into forecourts and convenience stores. “I feel that we are at the tip of the iceberg. “People do have latent awareness because it’s been around in the UK for 25 years.” She is also excited about the possibilities offered by bringing other products to the UK market. “We have big plans, looking ahead to bring a lot of innovative and healthy products to the market in the UK,” she said.
“Both myself and Karl have personal interests in vegan and vegetarian products so we’ll be hoping to work with brands which fit our ethical bill. We are already talking to a company that manufactures dairy-free products, perfect for lactose-intolerant people. “At the end of this month we are going to ISM, a confectionery trade fair in Germany, where we will be looking at gelatine-free products. “We would do all of the distribution, sales and marketing. This could be the beginning of an FMCG [fast-moving consumer goods] network.”
WIDE RANGE: Some of the Panda products sold by Lisa Gawthorne’s Merseyside company Bravura Foods
COMMUNITY regeneration specialist Run Services has made two new appointments. The firm, which has offices in Liverpool and Salford working on key public and private sector building projects, has welcomed Nigel Ward and Steve Clark as design director and contracts manager, respectively. Run Services opened its Liverpool office following an increase in contracts. Its recent projects include the regeneration of Liverpool’s Lime Street train station and University Hospital Aintree, as well as the building of the Sustainable Student Village in Bradford.
6 NEWS
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
★★★★
BUSINESS
SOWING THE
Tony McDonough looks at the changes taking place in the Merseyside garden centre sector
FOCUS S . . . on garden centres
ALLY CORNELISSEN’S family has been in the garden centre business for almost a century – spanning three generations. In fact, the director of the EH Williams Group claims it is a pioneer in the sector, being among the first to establish the modern-day retail garden centres. EH Williams operates two businesses – Gateacre Garden Centre in south Liverpool and Burleydam in Wirral. Its original site was the Gateacre one and until the 1960s it was a nursery, selling plants on a seasonal basis. “That was there from around 1913 – during my grandfather’s time,” said Sally. “Up until the 1960s plants would be grown outside and would only be sold at certain points in the year. “My family was one of the first to start growing plants in pots that could be sold all year round and was one of the first to start trading as the sort of garden centre we have today.” In 1989, Sally and her husband, Adrian, added Burleydam in Wirral to the business and now they source plants and products from all over the world. They employ more than 110 full-time and part-time staff across both sites. Sally added: “There was a time when we would lay people off during the winter but now we keep things going all year round. “Spring and Easter are the best times for us and we normally do very well in December.” However, the atrocious weather in the run-up to Christmas did not do the business any favours. “The weather has not been brilliant for us,” said Sally. “In particular, a lot of our regular elderly customers have not come out in this weather.” Gateacre Garden Centre now faces one of its biggest-ever commercial challenges over the next 12 months. National garden centre chain Dobbies – owned by supermarket giant Tesco – has recently won planning permission to build a huge £8m Garden World in Speke. It will be built on an 8.78-acre gateway site off Speke Boulevard, on the approach road to Liverpool John Lennon Airport. It will sell a full range of garden
HISTORY: Gateacre Garden Centre in Acrefield Road is one of two Merseyside outlets run by EH Williams, which has been operating in the sector for a century. The firm’s other site is Burleydam in Wirral which was acquired in 1989 products as well as offering dining and leisure facilities. Sally acknowledges the threat posed by the development to the Gateacre site but believes they can compete on both price and quality of service. She said: “We are obviously concerned about the effects the Dobbies will have on trade. “They are going to occupy a very big site and will have more facilities. “I think for some people there will be a novelty factor and they will want to go and have a look. “We didn’t really have any right to object to the centre. “We have had south Liverpool more or less to ourselves for the past 50 years and we actually welcome the competition. “I think some people have a perception that we are quite expensive and I think when the Dobbies opens people will realise how reasonable our prices are and how good the service we provide is. “Although Dobbies will no doubt have loss leaders we think their prices will be generally higher than
ours. The garden centre sector has become tougher over the past few years. We have seen the likes of B&Q and the big supermarkets come in a lot more. “But, again, I don’t think they can beat us on the level of service we provide. “Gardening is a very technical business and I think people who come to both Gateacre Garden Centre and Burleydam appreciate the expertise and know-how of our staff. “We do have a very loyal customer base.” Lee Davies is a little more reluctant to be drawn on the threat of the new Dobbies to the Merseyside garden centre sector. Lee is managing director of the 190-year-old Knowsley firm Beesley & Fildes. Its core business is as a builders, plumbing and timber merchant, while it also operates a kitchen and bathroom showroom. However, in 2006 the firm bought Whitakers Garden Centre, in Prescot. All Lee will say about the Dobbies
scheme is that “it probably won’t help” but, like Sally Cornelissen, is upbeat about the prospects of Whitakers. He said: “We invested heavily – about £1.5m-plus. Its turnover has quadrupled in that time, but we are still looking to get our return on investment. “It’s understanding a different business. We are reliant on recruiting the right people and we have got a good manager there. “The garden centre links to the builders’ merchants in a landscaping sense, but gift shops and the bistro are new to us. “A garden centre has to be a destination. What can we offer there so a family can go and spend some time there? We are looking at a variety of things and we have got a lot of land. “People tend to spend time at a garden centre and we want them to bring their family so we need to keep the whole family entertained. “We do have planning permission for a couple more buildings there, it’s a prime location just off the M57.”
Aiming to go green DOBBIES is aiming to create an “environmentally friendly” Garden World in Speke which it hopes to have completed this year or next. The development, creating around 120 jobs, would be built from sustainablysourced timber and other natural construction materials and would include a range of environmentallyfriendly features including energy-efficient lighting systems and extensive rainwater recycling. The job opportunities will be supported by formal in-house training programmes, so that 50% of staff will have specific horticultural expertise.
SEEDS
UPBEAT: Lee Davies is optimistic about the future prospects of Whitakers in Prescot
The scheme will be built on a 8.78 acre site near Speke Boulevard. The company has already purchased the land from Peel Land and Property. Garden World will offer more than 10,000 plants,
PLANS: shrubs and trees and include extensive outdoor areas and a specialist aquatics department within a landscaped environment. The centre will also house a Farm Foodhall offering locally-grown produce, as well
as an on-site restaurant with freshly-prepared meals and home baking. Stuart Wright, director of property at Dobbies, said: “We want to help boost the local economy in a sustainable way.”
NEWS 7
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
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MONEY MATTERS THE auction market showed “encouraging growth” during November with the number of homes going under the hammer jumping by 12%, research has indicated. A total of 1,838 residential properties were offered at auction during the month, 12% more than in November 2009, according to the National Association of Valuers and Auctioneers (NAVA) and property information firm EI Group. Around 59%, or 1,078, of these properties were successfully sold – an 8% increase on the previous November. The latest figures build on a strong performance for the auction market seen during September and October, which are traditionally its busiest months of the year. Around 3,454 residential properties went under the hammer in September, nearly 25% more than in the same month of the previous year, while 2,716 homes were auctioned during October, up 18% on 12 months earlier. Both months also saw year-on-year increases in the
proportion of residential properties that were sold. The group said the market was showing “encouraging growth” through the year-on-year increases, adding that its seasonal nature meant month-on-month comparisons tended to be misleading. The figures bode well for the housing market, as what is happening at property auctions is often seen as a
with NICKY BURRIDGE, personal finance correspondent
leading indicator for the housing market as a whole. The data comes as the Bank of England said the number of mortgages approved for house purchase rose for the first time in seven months during November, increasing to 48,019 loans, although the figure remains well down on the 70,000 to 80,000 approvals a month that economists consider to be consistent with a stable housing market. But while the residential auction market has picked up in recent months, the commercial one has shown a decline. Only 174 commercial properties were sold at auction during November, down from 228 in the same month of 2009, although the value of the properties sold was up year-on-year. However, the number of commercial properties offered at auction rose by 9% in October, while there was a 5% increase in the number of the properties sold in September, compared with the same month of the previous year.
8 NEWS
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
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Business to Business
BUSINESS
CREATIVE ROUTES HAILED A SUCCESS
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Industry Reporter THE team behind a scheme to help some of Knowsley’s most vulnerable teenagers into employment or training says it has achieved a 100% success rate. Creative Routes to Employment works with 16-20-year-olds not in education, employment or training (NEET) and who face a barrier to finding a job, such as a learning difficulty. The project, launched by Knowsley council leader Cllr Ron Round, is financed by the Working Neighbourhoods Fund and run by the Kirkby-based Knowsley Enterprise Academy, part of
Knowsley sets teens on road to opportunity Knowsley Development Trust. Enterprise Academy Manager Sue Temple-Fielding said: “The project has been a success because it’s not a one-size-fits-all initiative. “We customise the programme to the learners’ individual skills and preferences, charting a different way forward for each young person.” The Creative Routes project
work towards accreditation to suit their needs, such as passing a driving test or obtaining a forklift truck licence. Of the eight learners on the first Creative Routes course, two have moved on to apprenticeships, two are employed as warehouse assistants, one has taken up an admin role, one is working in a garage and two have enrolled on sport-related college courses. “I’m absolutely delighted at what this group has achieved,” said Sue Temple-Fielding. “They all faced significant barriers to employment and training, but now, thanks to their effort and commitment, they can look forward to the world of work with much more confidence.”
Intrinsic deal enhances cloud expertise HAYDOCK-based communications specialist Intrinsic Technology has bought Dataplex Systems for an undisclosed sum. Dataplex has offices in Manchester and Oxford and its acquisition will produce an extra £10m of turnover for Intrinsic. Intrinsic achieved a 35%
increase in sales of £28m in the 12 months to November 30, and a 117% increase in operating profits of £2.5m. The company cited its “service-led, shared risk approach to solution deployment” as a key factor in its growth. Intrinsic indicated towards the end of last
year that it was seeking to complement its strong organic growth with a series of acquisitions to strengthen its cloud computing proposition. Managing director Mike Mason said: “Acquisitive growth is a key step in our growth strategy and Dataplex is an excellent fit. This investment will
both strengthen our market position in the UK and create operational synergies. “The collective skills of our employees will drive innovation and enhance value for our clients, and effectively completes our enterprise data centre proposition. “There is market
appetite for ‘private cloud’ solutions where companies retain core applications and storage infrastructure, ensuring corporate data is safe and secure. “We can realise significant growth in this market and we’re now in a prime position to deliver on this promise.”
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Taxis/Cab & Plate
LITHERLAND Lock up shop, busy parade £350pcm 07587 130170 or 07813 841552
TXI CITY NIGHT COLLAR L16. 077151 72487
Business Wanted includes a range of confidencebuilding, problem-solving and communication-based activities. Students also visit local businesses to find out what they do and to learn about the skills and qualities companies are looking for when recruiting staff. They are then found work experience opportunities in the sectors that particularly interest them, or they can do taster courses with colleges or training providers. The programme also encourages students to use their new skills in a practical way, such as raising funds for charity. Help with literacy and numeracy and other support is also available. When they are ready learners
Building Trade
L13 Workshop & Yard to let. Various uses, all utilities £100pw 0151 259 2729 or 0771 9352556
KNOWSLEY IND EST UNIT 5,000 sqft, £10,000 pa 07813 841552
by NEIL HODGSON
ACCOUNTS/TAX tradesmen from £170. 0151 287 7725
x2 BARBERS SHOPS TO LET Prime locations in Crosby/ Waterloo. Equipped with barbers chairs/ Mirrors/ Stations etc. Rent £650pcm Call: 0151 920 9999/ 07900 424 441
KNOWSLEY IND EST OFFICE s/c 1st flr, brand new decor £600pcm 07587 130170
WINNERS: Knowsley Development Trust chief executive Steve Dumbell pictured with the successful students on the first course
Business Services
W A N T E D Window Cleaning round in Liverpool. Cash waiting 07891 143346
NIGHT COLLAR TX4 auto, c/o Tuebrook 07885 090751 PRIVATE/H £140pw 1st wk 1/ 2 price Inc ins. 07523 976108 CITY DAYS,NIGHTS OR L COLLAR TEL: 07789 884399 NIGHT COLLAR W TX1, c/o Anfield 07865 974716 CITY LONG COLLAR avail also 4 wks hol relief 07769 708311 CITY CAB & PLATE 07739 186294/ 07510 741993