BUSINESS
ECHO
★★★★
Entrepreneur takes a taxi to Mumbai PAGES2&3
Start Survive Thrive
From barman to top city hotelier PAGES4&5
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LIVERPOOL Chamber of Commerce is hosting a free seminar on issues surrounding corporate manslaughter as part of its regular ‘Sixty Really Useful Minutes’ events. The morning presentation takes place on September 24, between 9am and 10am at its Old Hall Street offices where David Skews, chief executive of EDP Health and Safety will deliver his international workshop on corporate manslaughter and explain how health and safety can put more value in both the business and the profit and loss account. Book online at Liverpool chamber.org.uk
Revival goes with a Bing THE designers who revived the Slazenger clothing brand are hoping for the same success with fellow fashion icon Dunlop. Liverpool-based Microbrands One, led by Chris Lee, will next year revive the Dunlop clothing brand. It is already producing replicas of famous Slazenger clothes, including the V-neck jumper worn by Sean Connery in the James Bond film Goldfinger. In November it will release a replica of the cardigan Bing Crosby wore in the video to his Christmas duet with David Bowie, Little Drummer Boy. Its Slazenger Heritage clothes are sold in stores from House of Fraser to Royal Liverpool Golf Club’s shop.
THE second ● meeting of the Liverpool Chinese
BACK IN STYLE: Microbrands One, founded by Chris Lee, above, launched the Slazenger Heritage clothing brand
FSB STAGES £1.5M SHOWPIECE IN CITY EXCLUSIVE
By NEIL HODGSON Industry Reporter
MORE than 800 entrepreneurs from around the country will descend on Liverpool next March when lobby group the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) stages its annual conference at the BT Convention Centre. It is the first time the conference has returned to Liverpool in 20 years and is expected to boost the city’s economy by £1.5m during the three-day event, from March 17-19. Organisers are expecting speakers of
Conference will attract more than 800 delegates
the same calibre at those at this year’s conference in Aberdeen which heard Conservative Chancellor George Osborne and former Labour Business Secretary Lord Mandelson address members. And the 2011 FSB annual conference
will be the first to invite non-members to the opening day presentations to learn more about the organisation’s support services and networking opportunities. The conference will vote on FSB policy issues, hear from leading politicians, motivational and celebrity speakers, stage a black-tie ball, an ‘Aintree Ladies Day’ themed dinner and stage a Question Time panel featuring local and national business figures. Exhibitors backing the event so far include Visa, Dell, the Cooperative Bank and Towergate Insurance. FSB regional organiser for the Merseyside region, Neil Dutton, said the conference was last held here in what is now The Liner Hotel on Lord
Nelson Street and since then FSB membership and influence has grown. He said: “It is fantastic news that conference is coming to Liverpool and it will be great to welcome so many FSB members to the city. “The networking event will give non-members a chance to learn more about the FSB and make new contacts. “We are keen to show Liverpool off and are encouraging those who attend to make sure they find time to get into the city and see how much has changed. “It’s the showpiece of the FSB year and by being at a world-class convention centre it’s going to be even more memorable in 2011.”
Business Network will take place on September 21, from 6.30pm, at the China Palace in Liverpool’s Berry Street. The network, part of the Liverpool Chinese Business Association, aims to encourage links between Chinese and non-Chinese businesses in the city. The event will include a short presentation by Kirwans Solicitors on how to protect your business ideas. Anyone wishing to attend should contact Colin Ling at colin.ling@ lcba.net or on 07917 068023.
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LIVERPOOL firm Contact and Intelipac from Warrington are among six north west firms in the regional finals of a bid by HSBC bank to find the most innovative young firms in the UK. They will take part in a ‘thought exchange’ in China on September 20 before two companies will be shortlisted to progress to the final in Hong Kong.
WIRRAL employment law ● specialist Peninsula is
hosting a free legislation update seminar on September 17, from 9.30am at Liverpool FC’s Anfield stadium. To book please call 0161-834 2771.
2 NEWS
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
★★★★
BUSINESS HALEWOOD GIVES HOPE FOR 120 TRAINEES
FORTY new trainees have started work at Halewood’s Land Rover plant – the first of 120 to begin work there over the next two months. Six month placements have been created through funding secured by Knowsley council through the Future Jobs Fund, in partnership with the council, Jaguar Land Rover and the social enterprise Create. The trainees will join production teams across the plant where they will gain invaluable experience of manufacturing processes and work towards an NVQ Level 2 qualification in manufacturing processes. When the programme is completed they will be able to apply for agency positions at the plant. Two weeks prior to starting they also took part in training and various activities as part of a neighbourhood improvement programme, including working with local schools, churches and charities to maintain, improve and repair buildings and other public spaces. Halewood’s operations director Michael Straughan said the 120 trainees will help launch the new Range Rover Evoque next year, which is a “hugely important model for the plant and the company”.
SOCIAL MEDIA WORKSHOP
A SECOND free social media workshop is being staged by Speke-based internet consultants Choice Online after the success of the inaugural event last month. The latest workshop will take place at the Clearer Thoughts Training Centre in Netherton on September 22, jointly sponsored by Choice Online and Clearer Thoughts. Go to www. choiceonlineltd.co.uk/ social_media.html for further details.
SMALL
BUSINESS of the Week
I
T’S like selling ice to the Eskimos or sand to the Arabs,” says Southport businessman Roger Khanijau. He has secured the rights to operate battery-powered rickshaws he has designed at Delhi’s Commonwealth Games next month. Thousands of the environmentally-friendly rickshaws will hit the streets of the capital city from October 3. His Eco Tourist Cabs business has franchised the design to Indian company E-Ricks, with plans to set up similar operations in other major cities such as Mumbai and Calcutta, capitalising on the Indian government’s drive to drastically cut the huge number of unlicensed and polluting old rickshaws. Roger, 39, said Southport pier provided his ‘Eureka’ moment in 2003. “We needed to get stock and supplies to the end of the pier, so I came up with an old cycle rickshaw. “But I went back to the drawing board and luckily came into contact with a friend of the family, Naresh Kathuria, who is involved in one of India’s largest automotive supply companies, Venus Group.” Mr Kathuria has overseen production of the improved motorised rickshaws in Delhi after a Liverpool trial two years ago and with the assistance of the UK Trade and Investment agency.
Roger shipped over four of his new battery-powered designs for the 2008 Mathew Street Festival.
“We started to build in fibreglass, then moved to polyethylene, which is totally recyclable. “We had our first prototype model in March 2006 after I remortgaged my house and sold my Lamborghini Spider to invest in the business, because this is my baby, it has been a passion,” he said. The four battery-powered rickshaws ferried tourists around the Albert Dock and ECHO Arena sites during the festival. Roger said: “We had a great response, especially from the police at the Mathew Street Festival asking us to give them a lift.” But he said the British climate, particularly typical bank holiday weekends, didn’t lend itself to a major investment in rickshaws. He added: “If we had better weather we would have built more of these for the UK market.”
So his attention turned to the Commonwealth Games which had just been awarded to India. He said: “That was the big news in India – like the UK getting the 2012 Olympics –
How green rickshaws are now taking me to Mumbai Neil Hodgson talks to the Mersey man selling cheap transport to India turning a third world country into a place fit enough for the Commonwealth to see. It’s a very big thing.”
And he said he was pushing at an open door with the Indian government keen to limit old-fashioned rickshaws and improve tourist-related services. “The government has 100,000 rickshaw licenses in Delhi but there are half a million unlicensed rickshaws,” Roger said. He explained that the latest model,
which will transport tourists, athletes and VIPs around the Games, also has a global positioning system (GPS) which has an added benefit to its obvious function: it’s possible to track and locate rickshaws if they are stolen. Roger stipulates that all his rickshaw drivers have to be literate and have to be paid at least the minimum wage. “A lot of the drivers will be university students,” he said. Mr Kathuria’s Delhi production site
aims to build 4,000 eco-friendly rickshaws in time for the Games, but Roger’s plans extend far beyond the closing ceremony. He said: “I have franchised the system to E-Ricks for the northern states, but would look at doing something similar for Mumbai, Calcutta and many of the metropolitan cities. “They are ideal for tourist sites where there are no carbon emissions allowed, like the India Gate or the Taj Mahal.”
He is also looking closer to home.
“I had interest from Peter Jones from Dragons’ Den for his Tycoon TV series and I am talking to Wirral council about putting the rickshaws in New Brighton, around the lake, and to and from Hilbre Island,” he said. “I believe we have a really good scope here on Merseyside.” He believes shopping centres, like
Bosses asked to shape food and drink sector training EMPLOYERS working in the north west food and drink industry can help shape a shake-up in the sector’s training programme in a bid to attract more young entrants. Improve, the food and drink sector skills council, has secured government backing to develop a Food and Drink
Sector Routeway Training Programme to tackle a shortage of school-leavers. It will be funded through the government’s Young Person’s Guarantee, run by the Department for Work and Pensions, which offers training and employment opportunities to 18- to 24-yearolds who have been
unemployed for six months or more. And Improve is inviting employers to join a steering group which will oversee the programme’s development to ensure it is relevant to the needs of the industry. Justine Fosh, director of skills solutions for Improve and the National Skills
Academy for Food and Drink Manufacturing, said: “Food and drink is one industry where there are still plenty of employment opportunities, especially for young people. The industry needs more young people coming into it because its workforce is ageing and we are anticipating a high demand
for new recruits to replace those who retire or otherwise leave the industry over the coming years – something in the region 15,000 job places in the north west alone by 2017.” If you would like to get involved e-mail L.Pattison@ foodanddrink.nsacademy. co.uk or for information go to www.improve-skills.co.uk
★★★★
NEWS 3
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
AGENCIES ‘SHOULD BE REGULATED’
ON TRIAL: The ecotourist rickshaws in use during the 2008 Mathew Street Festival GREEN MAN: Roger Khanijau, of Southport-based Eco Tourist Cabs
Picture: COLIN LANE
Do you want to be our Business of the Week? Contact Neil Hodgson 0151 472 2451 or email neil.hodgson @liverpool.com
Liverpool One, could also offer opportunities. “My mum is not great on her feet and I thought it would be good to have something to ferry people around places like Liverpool One and other shopping centres,” he said. “I am also looking at the 2012 London Olympics.” He attributes his drive to his parents, explaining: “My dad came over here in the 1970s and was a businessman and my mum is a great artist.” The family first made its mark on the Merseyside business scene with three shops selling their own branded ice cream in the 1970s. Today, Roger runs the remaining shop in West Kirby, which was popular with former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez and his family.
THE coalition Government needs to clamp down on “cowboy” letting agents, a Merseyside sector leader says. Richard Globe, the general secretary of the Merseyside and Wirral Property Landlords Action Group, claims rogue agents and landlords are dragging down the reputation of the residential letting industry. The previous Labour government commissioned the Rugg Report, which recommended letting agents should be regulated. However, the coalition Government is ignoring the study and has said it may eventually do its own, but Mr Globe says action is needed sooner. He told ECHO Business: “The Young Group recently surveyed some 86% of private rented sector landlords across the country. Each one expressed the opinion that there were too many un-regulated letting agents.”
Have you got what it takes to be successful? Prestigious MSc Programmes in Corporate Governance Commencing October 2010
You have achieved a lot but the professional in you knows you have to take the extra step to attain excellence.As the world evolves, business decision makers need the tools and skills to analyse, and find effective solutions to, a range of complex issues. The European Centre for Corporate Governance (ECCG) offers flexible, one year Masters level programmes in Corporate Governance, Risk and Crisis Management, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Management Consultancy.There is also the potential to undertake PhD studies in these areas. Only 30 days attendance at University is required on the taught part of the course. There are no examinations, assessment is by coursework. Whether you are running your own business, managing a department or working your way up the corporate ladder, our programmes and expertise are invaluable. If you have some relevant management experience and a good first degree or other relevant qualifications then these programmes can help you to fulfill your career aspirations.We also invite applications from exceptional people who may have a non-standard background. Experienced MBA graduates can also apply for our fast track route (normally 7-8 months). ECCG has an established reputation for excellence in corporate governance, leadership and management education. Our degrees are recognised by the National Foundation for Business Excellence who sponsor an annual award for the best performer.
The next induction day is 4th October 2010. For details on how our MSc programmes can best meet your needs please contact the Programme Administration team on telephone: 0151 231 3999 or email: blwadmissions@ljmu.ac.uk
4 NEWS
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
★★★★
BUSINESS
BIG I’m totally self-made. S I have never had a penny given to me INTERVIEW Bill Gleeson talks to cocktail waiter turned city centre hotelier Simon Matthews-Williams
IMON Matthews-Williams has come a long way since he began his career as a cocktail waiter. The Jaguar-driving businessman is probably the biggest individual winner from the city’s hotel boom. He started his hotels business 15 years ago with a Holiday Inn franchise adjacent to Ellesmere Port's boat museum. He has since started and sold one hotel company and still operates another. Hotels he has owned include Liverpool’s Crowne Plaza. Through his Sanguine Hospitality Management Company, he now operates or owns a Days Inn in Chester, a Marco Pierre White restaurant with guest house at Aughton, an events venue in Aughton called West Tower, a Doubletree by Hilton in Chester as well as a small cluster of similar venues around Bristol. Simon’s latest ventures are taking shape in the heart of Liverpool’s business district in the form of the £15m Indigo hotel at Chapel Street and a three-star Days Inn in James Street. Both are due to open next year, complete with a Marco Pierre White restaurant at the Indigo. "I am totally self-made. I have never had a penny given to me,” says Simon. In the early days, he took a chance on the Liverpool hotel market long before many of the big names spotted the opportunity. He saw the city was under-served in the four-star market. As well as the Crowne Plaza, Simon’s first company operated the Holiday Inn on Lime Street and Holiday Inn Express at Albert Dock before selling out to an Irish co-investor. A major landmark in his career as a hotelier occurred 10-years ago when he bought the remaining 70 years of a lease on the Holiday Inn at Lime Street. He recalls: “It first opened in 1972 and it remained a time capsule until we did it up. “Some of the original carpets were still there. "Despite the lack of investment, when we closed it down we had to out-book £500,000 worth of business. "Most people would have tried to refurbish bit by bit, but that's not our style. We closed it at the end of January and re-opened in November. Now that's quick. "One of the stats I am fond of is that we took out 327 eight-tonne skips of rubble and waste. We ripped everything out apart from the external walls. The lifts, electrics, the internal walls are all new," he said. The Centre Island hotel in Ellesmere Port was opened in 1995 with the assistance of £1.8m of
European grant and £2.6m of bank borrowings. “But there was still a shortfall. The builder David McLean filled the gap with £600,000 in return for 75% of the equity. It was my first step on the ladder. I bought them out two years after opening. “McLean took a risk on me, but
they had profit out of the construction work and a profit on exit from the hotel business," he said. As a young man, Simon obtained a diploma in business studies from a sixth form college in Andover. He then worked for hotel groups Stakis and Trust House Forte.
‘Everybody said I was mad to build a hotel in Ellesmere Port’
He said: "I did part-time bar work while I was studying. That's when the love affair with hotels began. The big attraction is the excitement. No one day is similar to the next. You deal with people from all walks of life. It is not possible to be bored in this industry." Four principles have guided Simon’s business strategy. He explains: "First, find a good location that needs a hotel. "Second, buy the land at a reasonable price. Local authority land tends to be cheap. They want to see something happen on it.
"Third, if there is a grant, all the better. "Fourth, obtain an international franchise. "Everybody said I was mad to build a hotel in Ellesmere Port. But look, you have Shell, Vauxhall and Unilever close by. They are three big players on the doorstep. "Ellesmere Port is seven miles from Chester, so we have weekend business from people visiting Chester. There is no international hotel chain in Chester. We have had Japanese tourists stay with us in Ellesmere Port. With a franchise,
★★★★
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
NEWS 5
GRADUATE ENTERPRISE SUPPORT
YOUR HOST: Hotelier Simon MatthewsWilliams
COMING SOON: An artist's impression of the £15m Hotel Indigo in Chapel Street in Liverpool city centre
AN ENTERPRISE centre is opening in Liverpool this month to support the brightest and best graduates starting out in business. The Graduate Enterprise Centre – a joint venture between Liverpool Science Park, Liverpool Vision, Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Liverpool – is the first of its kind in the Liverpool region. The 1,500 sq ft 24-hour facility boasts all of the necessary ingredients to build a business including hot desks with high speed broadband internet access, a registered office address, communal facilities and meeting space. It is exclusively for new and recent graduates working within science and knowledge-based sectors, which include the creative industries, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, ICT and software development. It is based in Liverpool Science Park, which was established in 2006 as a special purpose vehicle to support and drive forward Liverpool’s Knowledge Economy. The Graduate Enterprise Centre has been created within the ground floor of Innovation Centre 1.
TV AD FEATURES TECH COMPANY
you know what you are getting. Some people think that's boring, but others like the security that they will be looked after when they travel the world. You can't get that with a standalone hotel. You go to New York and say Grosvenor in Chester, people won't recognise it. You say Holiday Inn and they know what to expect. "Everything is brand driven these days. You go into a bar and ask for a dry Martini, but what you mean is Vermouth. But who says Vermouth? Branding is part of everyday life. "Liverpool desperately needed
internationally recognised hotels. With Holiday Inn and Marriott it now has that." Sanguine currently manages hotels generating £30m turnover. Simon says he wants to grow the number of rooms under Sanguine’s management from 500 today to 2,000. “That turnover figure will triple in two to three years to closer to £100m,” he said. “The ambition is to build a portfolio of internationally branded hotels in key locations – and Liverpool is one such key location.”
FLASHBACK: Simon back when he was managing director of the Crowne Plaza hotel on Liverpool waterfront
UNITRON UK, the Warrington-based specialist in technologically advanced hearing instruments, has had one of its products featured in the latest TV campaign for the Apple iPhone 4. Its 360+ hearing aid is worn by an actor talking to his girlfriend using sign language via the video-call function on the phone. The ‘Face Time TV’ ad shows how technology can make living with a disability easier and Unitron UK director Chris Auty said: “We’re really thrilled to see the 360+ in the ad and know it’s on screens and the web. It’s great for people with deafness and hearing problems to see the product on TV. “
6 NEWS
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
★★★★
BUSINESS
ALIFEBEHIND
Alistair Houghton on the future of the Great British Pub
FOCUS I . . . on Pubs
T MAY seem like a strange time to be opening a new bar, but Carolyn Russell and Dave Parry believe the market for great beer is as strong as ever. The great British pub has gone through a torrid time of late. Many have shut as the market for beer declines and more people drink at home. But in Liverpool, great boozers such as the Ship and Mitre in Dale Street and the Baltic Fleet in Wapping are trying to stem that decline by focusing on offering a wide range of beer – and, in the case of the Baltic Fleet, brewing that beer themselves.
In July, beer lovers Carolyn and Dave opened the Bier Keller in Stanley Street in Liverpool city centre. They know it’s a risky business to go into, but they are confident that their range of bottled beers and real ales will attract the beer aficionados who stalk the Dale Street area.
Dave, 25, of Old Swan said: “When we did the research for the business, we read that a lot of pubs were closing. But when it comes to quality beers, there seems to be growth in that market.” Carolyn, 23, from Cheshire, said: “When we looked at the drinks market there were two things that seemed to be doing well – real ale and continental beers. They’re the two things we’re really keen on.” Beer consumption has been falling for the past 30 years, while many people who do drink beer are choosing to do it at home. Figures from the British Beer and Pubs Association (BBPA) showed that the proportion of beer being sold in pubs and bars fell from over 90% in 1975 to just 56% in 2007. There was some good news last month from the BBPA, whose quarterly Beer Barometer showed beer had enjoyed the first like-for-like quarterly increase in sales for four years. Beer sales in the second quarter were up by 2.9% on last year. Beer sales in pubs, however, were down 6.3% on 2009. The BBPA is calling for a “sustained freeze in beer tax in order to help community pubs”. Real ale lovers – led by the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) – insist that real beer is best enjoyed in pubs. But the BBPA’s most recent figures on pub closures still make a
WHAT’S YOURS? Carolyn Russell and Dave Parry (left) co-owners of the Bier Keller in Liverpool pictured with a sample of what they have to offer sobering read. Pub closures in the second half of 2009 were running at 39 a week – down on the first half, but still a sign that pubs across the UK are suffering. The BBPA says there are now 52,500 pubs in Britain – well down on the 58,600 pubs operating when the Licensing Act came into force in 2005. Dave spent three years working for Isle of Man brewery Okells at its Bear and Billet pub in Chester before moving to become assistant manager at the Augustus John, the real ale pub on the University of Liverpool’s campus. There he met Carolyn, who worked behind the bar, and after two years at the “AJ” they decided it
was time to open their own pub. Instead of opening a traditional British pub, they decided to take inspiration from their world travels. And it was the bars of Germany – particularly the “bierkeller” cellar bars of Bremen – that caught their eye. Dave, whose favourite beer is a Brooklyn chocolate stout, said: “We’d travelled around a bit and found different places we liked across the world. “There were things we liked, and things we didn’t. “We went to Germany in January and saw some fantastic pubs. We felt Liverpool was missing something like this.” Carolyn said: “We had a look at a couple of
different places across the city. “We wanted to have a Bierkeller-style pub, so we really wanted something that was underground. “We came to see this place, which was a nightclub previously, and we saw it had great potential.” Dave added: “We also like this area because it’s near Rigby’s and the Ship and Mitre.”
They started work on the pub in mid-June and it opened on July 23.
Carolyn said: “We’ve been working for 14 hours a day for six weeks.” Rather than being the brick-lined cellar you might expect, the bar’s walls are painted bright white. Carolyn said: “We haven’t got much natural light so we needed to do something to brighten it up. Also, a lot of the bierkellers we visited in Germany were white. It’s traditional. “But a lot of people have said they expect it to be dark.” The Bier Keller sells some food, including continental meat platters, but its focus is on beer.
‘A shining example’ THE DISPENSARY in Renshaw Street was named Pub of the Year 2010 by Merseyside Camra. The pub, owned by husband and wife team Pauline Keady-Williams and Dave Williams, was honoured for the quality of its beer and the quality of service it provides. Dave and Pauline had never run a pub before they took over The Dispensary in 2004. Pauline brought experience of the retail trade, having turned around a struggling Thorntons chocolate shop, while Dave decided to apply some of the management techniques he learned working at Jaguar
BARS
ALE FELLOWS: CAMRA award-winners Dave Williams and Pauline Keady-Williams of The Dispensary, pictured below
NEWS 7
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
★★★★
YOU
and Your
Small businesses often need to raise money, either to launch a new venture or allow an existing one to grow. This is extremely difficult in today’s economic climate. Banks have become more tight-fisted with their money. However, there are still ways your business can strengthen its chances of getting the cash you need. A clear business plan is essential. Lenders need to know exactly what you plan to do with their money and when, or if, they can expect to see it again. The plan must include a cashflow forecast to demonstrate how and when you will pay the loan back. Make sure it’s realistic. Banks are often sceptical of over-optimistic forecasts, so err on the side of caution. If you need help, you could have your forecasts checked by a business advisor or accountant before showing it to the bank. Since raising money from banks is difficult at the moment, any discrepancies or inaccurate financial information are likely to cause a big problem.
MONEY
Even if you use an accountant to write your plan, lenders will still want to see you personally understand what the numbers mean and how they were calculated. Make sure you are prepared to answer questions about how you have arrived at your projections. Once you have got your initial funding, there could still be additional costs to cope with. These could
include, for example, rising interest rates and bank fees on your loan. In order to negotiate a favourable rate of interest, it is useful for businesses to look at other ways of financing themselves. For example, invoice discounting allows you to improve your bank balance because your lender will give you money secured against your sales invoices earlier than a customer is likely to pay them. Banks are often happier to lend on these terms rather than tradtional loans or overdraft applications as they feel their money is safer. It should be remembered that banks are not the only source of new investment. For example, angel investors are an alternative. They provide financial backing in exchange for a stake in the shares of your business, a bit like Dragon’s Den on the televison. The key steps to success are to have a good quality product with potential growth prospects and a robust business plan.
Have your say on transport We want to hear your views on the future of transport in Merseyside.
As part of preparations for the area’s Third Local Transport Plan, Merseyside Transport Partnership wants as many people and businesses as possible to be involved in planning for the future. Land Rover in Halewood. Their focus on attention to detail and customer service has seen the pub grow in popularity, culminating in this year’s award. Camra Liverpool branch chairman Geoff Edwards said:
“Part of the pub’s success is that it is very much a local in the city centre, with its compact, two-level room creating a traditional and friendly pub atmosphere, set off by a range of historical display items, photographs
and posters. The progress that Dave and Pauline have made at the Dispensary shows exactly what can be achieved with dedication. It’s a shining example of how a street-corner local can survive in challenging times.”
Visit www.transportmerseyside.org or call 0151 330 1294 before 30th November 2010.
8 NEWS
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
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Business to Business
BUSINESS
MENTORS POINT THE WAY AHEAD
Commercial Premises T J THOMAS 0151 708 6544 ERSKINE ST close to City centre Business units, 850 − 950 sqft. With or without int Office Space £106 − £125pw + vat
T O L E T Orrel Park. Large corner shop busy location. Was barber shop 20 yrs. Suit any business. 07711 819 835 DOUBLE FRONTED SHOP South L’pool. Electric shutters, nicely refurbished (ideal pound store). 07785 562496 RAINFORD St Helens WA11 8HP. Industrial Units to let 600 & 1,200sqft fr £75pw Tel: 07841 915503
WORKSHOP To Let Rainhill, 630sqft £75pw 0161 980 1912 SMALL WORKSHOP UNIT To let. Very secure, Bootle area. 07785 562496 SHOP UNIT TO LET Stanley Rd, electric shutters. Call for info 07785 562496 PRESCOT YARD/CELLAR OFFICE For rent. Ideal for small builder £50pw. 07710 815649
Industry Reporter A FREE mentoring scheme aimed exclusively at small firms has been hailed a success a year after its launch. Regeneration body the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) introduced the Business Mentoring programme for individuals last September and added group mentoring in March. It helps small firms develop their leadership and management skills and is free to firms which have been trading for at least one year with a turnover of less than £2m. So far more than 1,100 individuals have registered for
the programme, over 500 have been matched with a one- to-one mentor and 150 have started group mentoring, with the rest undergoing induction or allocation to a mentor or group. And almost 400 high-calibre business mentors, including current and former leaders of some of the best known companies in the northwest, have signed up to the programme. Terrie Johnson, of Wirral-based Fruit to Suit, said:
DNA test firm secures £100,000 loan A COMPANY which provides drug, alcohol and DNA testing services, has secured a £100,000 Enterprise Finance Guarantee loan to support its expansion plans. Warrington-based Alpha Biolaboratories is targeting growth in other parts of the country
having established a network of clients throughout North of England. Alpha, which is just one of seven DNA testing labs in the UK, is confident of growing its £1m turnover as awareness and demand for its services increases. Formed in 2004, by biochemist David
Thomas and Registered Nurse Will Thomas, Alpha Biolabs undertakes drug and DNA analysis on behalf of law firms, civil courts, local authorities, public and private sector organisations. The results can be used to determine a wide range of issues from
resolving paternity disputes to establishing a person’s genetic heritage for immigration purposes. Earlier this year the company, which employs 18 staff, relocated to new office and laboratory facilities at Carina Park in Warrington. The EFG loan was
secured with NatWest in Liverpool. Alpha managing director David Thoams said: “Having established a client base in the North West and North East of England our strategy is to grow the business by raising awareness in other areas, particularly the Midlands.”
INVESTMENT PROPERTY For sale. Due to retirement of landlord. Large detached freehold property. Comprises of 12 self contained flats. Ranging from studio to 3 bed. Building stands on large plot of land. Situated in S’port town centre. 3 mins from train station. Part of land used as private car park. Good plot for redevelopment. Property always occupied very good rental income. £549,000 ono. 01704 546657
D A V Y L I V E R T A X I S Have company cars available. Contact Alan on 0151 708 7080 or 0779 5417333 for more details.
BAG & ACCESSORY SHOP CCTV, alarmed, roller shutters, very secure, nicely fitted out. £3k of stock, all goodwill £4,500 ono, good lease, South Liverpool 07785 562496
BLUE LINE TAXISNew drivers wanted urgently. Earn £500 − £800pw. Tel 0151 709 0101
WINDOWS, DOORS, CONSERVATORIES. 70MM X 70MM Duraflex Sculptured Suite 5 Day Turnaround Tel 0151 546 5577 Fax 0151 546 5588 ACCREDITED WITH BS7412 & BS7950
provided unexpected spin-offs, with participants networking and creating potential joint ventures with complementary businesses. One member, who runs a letting agency, said: “I wouldn’t have believed that I could learn management techniques from a hairdresser.” NWDA director of skills and employment Lis Smith, said: “In just a short time the Business Mentoring programme has started to develop the next generation of leaders in the region, nurturing, guiding and developing talent in small businesses across the north west.” ● For further details contact 0845 00 66 888 or visit www.businesslinknw. co.uk mentoring
Business Opportunities
Business For Sale
UPVC
“After initial meetings I have already seen the benefits to myself and my business. “Setting up and running your own business can be a very lonely and frustrating experience. It’s fantastic to be able to talk with someone who does understand, as they have already been through the problems and issues themselves.” Liz Howard, from the Sensory Toy Warehouse in Wallasey, added: “My mentor helps me to focus. She acts as a sounding board for all my ideas.” Since undergoing mentoring Liz has employed two more members of staff and expanded her sensory toy business into global markets. More than 20 mentoring groups have now been set up which have
BEAUTY ROOM For rent Old Swan 07988 417412 or 07738 233289
Taxis/Cab & Plate
FRAMELINE TRADE SUPPLY
Fledgling firms tap into wealth of experience
Aigburth Shop with PP for hot takeaway food & SC flat above. Aigburth Rd, Next to Light of Bengal Restrnt. Shop £200pw flat £150pw. 07938877632
OFFICE TO LET Easy in, easy out terms. fr £40pw fully inclusive. 07785 562496
Building Trade
by NEIL HODGSON
Business For Rent
BUSY SALON L13, Chair for rent. 0151 228 0798 eves
UNISEX SALON strong client base low rent main rd Crosby £9500ono. 07874 220951
Picture posed by models
UNITS TO LET Bootle Area 5,000−15,000 sqft. Flexible terms 0151 486 0004
L4/L21 UNITS−OFFICES from £45pw alarm, Secure yard s/c elec inc 0792O 461551
CITY CENTRE SANDWICH BAR Busy location. Low rates / rent. Fixtures & fittings. £19,000 ono. 07950 102 762
THAT’S THE WAY TO DO IT: Mentoring helps bring on young companies
Industrial Property
KITCHEN & BEDROOM FITTINGS from a hinge to a full kitchen/bedroom. 3D plans now available. Showroom & Trade Counter at 3 Rockley Street, Kirkdale, L4 0151−207 0008. www.brosna.co.uk
Accountancy / Bookkeeping COMPANY VAT & tax arrears we can help 0151 428 0015
NIGHT COLLAR avail TX4 07 plate, c/o Walton. 1st 2 wks 1/2 price. £220pw. 07511 446594 P R I V A T E H I R E Liverpool plate. Rent £140pw 1st wk 1/2 price. 07523 976108 KNOWSLEY CAB/PLATE S Reg TX1, 5 months test £15,000. T: 07852 191148 C I T Y L O N G C O L L A R TX1 excellent cab. 1 owner. Over 35. 07533 398829 CITY CAB & PLATE For Sale. Finance arranged. 0151 709 5009 NIGHT COLLAR Very good rates 07958 021347 CITY DAYS,NIGHTS OR L COLLAR TEL: 07789 884399 ALL COLLARS AVAILABLE 07873 200893 DAY COLLAR WANTED TX2 Kirby or Fazak 0788 0722845 LONG COLLAR Avail £275pw nice 03 cab 07912 627277 CITY DAYS Nights & Long collar with c/o 07715 172487. NIGHT COLLAR Walton Day Collar Dovecot 07889 368241 BLACKCABSALES.COM City Cabs & Plates. 07500 444600
Loans 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
readertravelholidays.com
from
£8 for 9.00
2 da ys
Ludlow Medieval
Christmas Fayre
27 November 2010
Price includes:
• Coach travel throughout • One night’s bed and English breakfast accommodation at a good hotel in the Midlands area • Admission to Ludlow Castle and the Medieval Christmas Fayre • A visit to Stratford-upon-Avon • The services of a Tour Manager
book online: www.newmarket.travel/lpe11846 For further information and a FREE brochure
Call: 0151 227 5987
To make a booking
Call: 0844 391 2170 quoting code LPE BROUGHT TO YOU BY: TRINITY MIRROR NORTH WEST & NORTH WALES IN CONJUNCTION WITH: NEWMARKET PROMOTIONS LTD. ABTA V787X. 0844 CALLS COST 4p PER MIN.