BUSINESS
ECHO
★★★★
Global hopes for cookery website PAGES2-3
Start Survive Thrive
Plant hire firm digs for victory PAGES4-5
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PERHAPS pertinent to the current furore over the views of Sky Sports presenters Richard Keys and Andy Gray on female football officials, Victoria Brown, director of HR and employment law company High Performance Consultancy, will discuss the “glass ceiling” at a free Mums in Business event hosted by law firm Kirwans on February 6, at Liverpool’s Hard Days Night Hotel, from 12 noon. To book a place call Alison Scragg on 0151-703 1911 or email mib@kirwanssolicitors. co.uk
BUILDING on the ● success of its seminars last year,
MAKING WAVES: Marine Specialised Technology directors Philip Hilbert, left and Ben Kerfoot, right, with Ian McGee from Natwest
MERSEY FIRM WINS £17M BOAT ORDER by TONY McDONOUGH
Deputy Business Editor A LIVERPOOL specialist boat builder has won a contract worth more than £17m to supply 48 vessels to the Dutch navy. Marine Specialised Technology (MST) manufactures high-speed, rigid inflatable boats. The firm, based in Brunswick Business Park, will supply the vessels, known as FRISC (fast raiding, interception and special forces crafts) over the next two years. The order consists of three different types of FRISC design comprising a
Dutch navy orders special forces craft
boarding craft, a raiding craft and a support craft. Each craft is capable of travelling at more than 40 knots. To help MST fulfil the contract, NatWest commercial banking in Liverpool provided the company with a
£2.75m funding package, which included an Enterprise Finance Guarantee loan and international trade finance. Established in 2002, MST has developed into a major international manufacturer and supplier of rigid inflatable boats. Sales director Phillip Hilbert said: “The contract is the result of winning an international competitive tender and involved 18 months of hard work culminating in physical testing of our products. “The contract is great news for everyone connected with the company. “Our approach is to provide a bespoke product which matches the specific customer’s needs and we are
confident this will help secure additional orders.” MST’s clients include military and naval users, coastguard agencies, water police, fishery protection, fire and rescue and environment agencies. It supplies its crafts to clients in Europe, the Middle East, Far East and Pacific. The company has 50 employees and a turnover of more than £4m – a figure its directors are confident of increasing as the new contract progresses. Ian McGee, relationship director at NatWest, said: “MST is a great example of a business which exports a quality, niche product. “We are very happy to support them.”
Brabners Chaffe Street is hosting a series of free workshops for in-house lawyers focusing on particular areas of business law. The first, on the Consumer Credit Act, takes place at its office in Liverpool’s Exchange Flags on February 22, between 8-10am. The office is also staging a free briefing for headteachers, deputy heads, governors and senior management teams of Merseyside schools following the government’s invitation to all schools in England to apply for academy status, on January 25 from 4-6pm. To confirm a free place, email bcsnewsandevents @brabnerscs.com
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LIVERPOOL Hoteliers Association chair and manager of the city’s Crowne Plaza, Stephen Roberts, is urging the region’s hotels to support the Alder Hey Imagine Appeal by encouraging guests to add a voluntary £1 donation to their bill during this year’s Aintree Grand National horse racing festival between April 7-9.
BIRKENHEAD ● recruitment business Scantec
Personnel has appointed Christian Sannwald as a recruitment consultant in its Fast Moving Consumer Goods arm.
2 NEWS
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
★★★★
BUSINESS VOLUNTEERS CALL FOR GIVE AND GAIN DAY
THE Liverpool arm of Business in the Community (BITC) is urging firms to support this year’s Give & Gain Day on June 24 when staff volunteer a couple of hours during their working day to support local communities. Last year 221 organisations and 6,803 employees in the UK participated. This year BITC aims to involve 10,000 staff and regional director Raksha Pattni said: “We want companies, big and small, to offer their employees the chance to volunteer. “We know from experience and research that so much can be gained for both the employer and the volunteer. It is easy and it is fun.” Go to www. giveandgainday.org.uk
The stars of the kitchen are heading to a screen near you
LIVERPOOL WATERS
THE REBIRTH OF A TRULY GLOBAL CITY
THE PEEL TEAM INVITE YOU TO AN OPEN PRESENTATION ON LIVERPOOL WATERS Monday 31st January from 6-9pm & Monday 7th February from 6-9pm
Venue: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Liverpool (Princes Dock) To be held in the Princes Suite with capacity for 500 people. www.cpliverpool.com
Liverpool Waters needs your support! Director of Peel, Lindsey Ashworth will be giving the presentation where new artists impressions will be revealed. The audience will be invited to ask questions and to complete a questionnaire to give their views, all of which will ultimately be given to Liverpool City Council to be considered as part of the decision making process. Entrance is free and seats will be taken on a first come first served basis (no advanced booking) and free parking provided on the same basis signposted off William Jessop Way For any information contact npeck@peel.co.uk www.liverpoolwaters.co.uk
A
LIVERPOOL-based website hosting a mouth-watering array of cookery videos was a business born out of necessity, if not desperation. Omar Saeed’s mum and sister are both excellent cooks. However, he freely admits that it seems the family culinary gene ends there. In 2006 Omar, 26, was on an internship at media giant Reuters’ Canary Wharf offices in London as part of his Liverpool John Moores University web development course. It was the first time he had been away from his Ainsdale home for such a long time and he admitted: “I thought I would be living on takeouts. “I couldn’t read a cookery book – one tsp of this or that didn’t mean anything. “My mum and sister are great cooks and I thought if they videoed something for me to do I would be ok. Then I thought there had to be more people in the same situation as me, getting a new job or moving away.”
Neil Hodgson talks to two young entrepreneurs with a recipe for success
SMALL
Paul, 29, had recently sold his kitchen equipment import business and was casting around for something new. He had taken space in Exchange Flags’ Horton House to immerse himself in an office environment after the birth of his son and was working on setting up another business when he and Omar met over a coffee. “We got talking. I wanted Omar to do something for me
BUSINESS of the Week
He nurtured that notion until a chance meeting with Paul Finnegan finally led to the realisation of his vision with the creation of eatthechef.com in November 2009.
Company failure rate slowing
COMPANY failures declined year-on-year, according to new figures from business information provider Experian. It said 1.04% of UK businesses failed in 2010, compared with 1.25% in 2009, the first annual drop for two years. The total number of
insolvencies decreased from 24,209 in 2009 to 19,946 in 2010 – an 18% drop. In comparison, the 2,382 total of insolvencies across the north west beat the national average decline, showing a decrease in failures of 20%, despite a north-south divide where southern firms fared better.
March 2010 saw the greatest number of insolvencies for the year when 0.11% of the total business population failed. However, from March onwards the failure rate saw a general improvement, hitting an annual low of 0.07% in August and again in November.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
★★★★
NEWS 3
FSB SAYS COME AND NETWORK
Do you want to be our Business of the Week? Contact Neil Hodgson 0151 472 2451 or email neil.hodgson @liverpool.com
COOKING UP A STORM: Omar Saeed, left, and Paul Finnegan from eatthechef.com
INTERNATIONAL HOPES: Omar Saeed wants eatthechef.com to go global to get back into bathrooms and he showed me his idea for eatthechef and that was the end of the bathrooms idea.” The site is the first in the UK dedicated to sharing home cookery videos uploaded by members of the public, creating an on-demand library of step-by-step cooking demonstrations to guide even the most reluctant chef through every stage of cooking a meal. The pair approached Wallasey chef Simon Rimmer, of TV’s Something for the Weekend fame, with their idea and he immediately agreed to put his name to the site and upload his own cookery demonstrations. Paul said: “We think there were two things going for Simon. He’s a man on the street instead of a pretentious chef who would probably say, ‘you’ll never cook like me but have a go’, and he’s a Scouser.” Cookery demos on the site
range from the functional to the slick. Paul said: “One girl did a ‘how not to make a cheese toastie’, but one contributor, Jodrell, from Oxford, could get a show of his own from this. He does things like chicken livers for breakfast.” Omar added: “He has multiple cameras, which is impressive for a home chef.” The home chefs also have their own profiles on the site and Paul said: “We want to be the social media for food.” It has already attracted the attention of some major players in the food industry. Bolton baker Warburtons, herbs and spices manufacturer Schwartz and appliance manufacturer Breville are all working with eatthechef. Paul explained: “They have identified we have a great tool for them and real people.” Warburtons is launching two new products through the site next month and Paul said:
“They will launch a product and people can interact on the site. It is an opportunity for them to put their product out there and see what people do with it. They might get hundreds of different recipes that they didn’t think of. It’s a great resource for them with all the recipe ideas. It’s almost viral.” They said the site generates most of its traffic at lunchtime or evenings when people pick food up on the way home. Paul said: “There’s a lot more people saying ‘what should we do tonight’ instead of doing a weekly shop.” Having marked its first anniversary the site is now firmly established, but getting started proved frustrating. Paul said: “We approached a few banks and their attitude
SUPPORT: TV chef Simon Rimmer
was laughable. “Ok, the country was on its backside, but we are in our 20s, trying to get a business going and had a history of trading. But it got worse when they found out it was an internet business and it involved a celebrity. “We were surprised and disappointed. We had a revenue model from day one and want to run a tight ship because we want to make a profit.” Luckily, three private investors they approached immediately saw the potential and backed the business to the tune of £250,000: “They thought if we got it right and got it round the world it could be huge.”
Omar, Paul and Simon and three more staff at their Exchange Flags base have driven eatthechef.com to about 60,000 hits a month. They hope to expand their reach by including their logo and recipes on Warburtons’, Breville’s and Schwartz’s packaging. “When the brands put us out there we think it will really take off,” said Paul. He believes it could also be a two-way process: “If the brands think the best platform is us and not TV advertising, the future is very bright.” Even in the first quarter of their second year they believe they are close to doubling their first year’s turnover. And the site is now attracting international attention. Omar said: “We have had two recipes uploaded from Chile. I would love someone from China to cook a proper Chinese dish.” Later this year the pair will head to America to test the market and they have just launched a nationwide cookery competition featuring 280 schools. Paul said: “Schools can win £10,000 of cooking equipment, it will hopefully teach kids about internet security and might get them thinking about the food industry as a great career.”
THE Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is inviting non-members to join in a networking opportunity that will kick off the small firms’ lobby group’s 2011 national conference in Liverpool this March. The conference, running from March 17-19 at Kings Dock’s BT Convention Centre, involves hundreds of small business owners from across the UK and will feature debates, seminars and speeches from key political figures to be announced shortly. On the afternoon of March 17, the conference will stage two networking sessions that will run twice during the afternoon, at 1pm and 3pm. Booking is necessary. Regional FSB organiser Neil Dutton said: “We will be getting conference off to a great start with these sessions. Conference hasn’t been in Liverpool for 20 years, so it’s fantastic to have a chance to show the city off to our colleagues from across the country, and the networking sessions will be a great opportunity for members and non-members alike to make new contacts.” Booking details can be found at www. fsb.org.uk/ merseysidewcw
INVITATION TO EXPORT EVENT
THE regional branch of the Institute of Export and International Trade is staging its next free quarterly event at the Innospec Manufacturing Park in Ellesmere Port on February 9. Chemical additive company Innospec exports about 80% of its UK production to 120 countries and will offer an insight into their working practices and how they managed to crack the Chinese market. Further details are available from Anthony Pierce on 01772 458631 or Piercea@export.org
4 NEWS
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
★★★★
BUSINESS
BIG Digging deep to get I success at growing plant hire company INTERVIEW Alex Turner talks to Graham Jones, managing director of Haydock-based Plant Hire UK
T WAS an inauspicious start for Graham Jones’s career in construction. But it wasn’t because he joined at the start of the recession that scarred the early 1990s, but because he held his stag do the weekend before he started his new job. “I didn’t turn up for my first two days,” said Graham. “When I did go in, my boss said ‘you had better be worth it’. “He gave me a chance and I just took it from there.” Fast forward 20 years and there’s no doubt that Graham did seize his chance. He is the founder of Plant Hire UK, which today employs 17 people. He set up the company, along with his business partner Wayne Illidge, in August 2005 after they left a similar company in the West Midlands which they had been running together. They kept the same roles – Graham is the sales-focused managing director while Wayne is the financial director – and started again in Newton-le-Willows. “Wayne couldn’t start for six months so to begin with there was me, an office girl, a driver, a second-hand wagon and a van,” said Graham. “The finance companies – JCB finance, Volvo finance, Terex finance – they all gave us unbelievable amounts of credit due to our reputation. “It was a breath of fresh air for me, it was a new challenge.” Plant Hire UK got off to a flying start, with Graham able to call on his contacts and customers to grow the business quickly through the start-up phase. Graham said: “We just blew it out big time. We had two fantastic years to start with and a good third year. At the end of 2007 it started to go dippy. “After three years the recession came. We had roughly 900 machines, we downsized to about 600 machines and we still decided to move to bigger premises. “We just outgrew the place in Newton-le-Willows that we had started in, it was time to look elsewhere. “Since we have been here in Haydock we have had half the yard concreted, the workshop roofed and we are putting in planning permission to have the office expanded.” Developments are not just focused on the company’s headquarters, with investment and expansion at the forefront of Graham’s plans. Plant Hire UK invested £10m in machinery last year, including a major statement of intent that saw the firm buy 250 JCB loadalls.
GROWTH PLANS: Graham Jones sees a bright future for Plant Hire UK
That brought the number the company had bought in its five-year life to 500. “We have used JCB telehandlers since we started because they are high quality, easy to operate, reliable and the back-up and parts availability are second to none,” Graham added. “The ongoing update of our fleet is part of our commitment to provide customers with the latest and safest equipment in excellent
condition. Customers like the brand and our engineers know the products well. “The sheer volume and variety of equipment we have taken from JCB reflects our continued and ambitious growth.” Geographic expansion is also being looked at, with several areas heading towards a critical mass where having a depot will make sense for Graham. Graham said: “We are investing
‘If we hear of a company up for sale, we would look at a bid’
in new equipment. We are looking to expand the business, open satellite depots. If we hear of a company up for sale, we would look at a takeover. “There are funds for future investment and we are looking to expand our business in Birmingham and other areas.” Graham’s sales background – he was an area sales manager for a tyre fitter before he moved into plant hire – means a focus on the customer’s needs is ingrained, which filters all the way through the company. He believes that this, combined with the machinery, is a winning combination for the firm. “The good thing about our
machines is we don’t have a machine older than 27 months,” he said. “All our machines comply with the latest health and safety rules. “The latest excavators are fully automatic with rapid valves and quick hitches. We have immobilisers because vehicles are getting stolen, left, right and centre. “Going forward we can comply with whatever our customers want. All our machines are top-branded makes. “We focus on making a small margin. We have regular, committed customers because of our service – we thrive on our service – and the quality machinery.”
★★★★
NEWS 5
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
ASK THE
EXPERT With KAREN TATE, Business Start Up Advisor at Stepclever
NOW that 2011 is here, ever wondered what it would be like to set up on your own? Make a new years resolution to explore your idea further! When starting up in business, you can often feel lonely, especially when trying to get to grips with everything you need to know. But Stepclever are on hand to help you every step of the way. A good place to start exploring is online. Stepclever.co.uk has a wide range of key information and points of contact to help you with various aspects of starting up your business. For those of you who are not quite sure, we have a “Thinking about it” section which helps focus your mind and gives you a 3-step guide
on what you need to consider, before taking the next leap. Our ‘Ready to start” section identifies different aspects of going self employed and what you need to do next once you’ve secured you business idea in your mind. You can go one step further and register on the site. By registering with us, you will be accessing a wide range of additional services and benefits including: ● Downloadable resources ● Useful factsheets ● Online forums ● Receiving our regular e-newsletters ● Receiving updates in events and training ● Receiving notifications on new serves and funding opportunities ● …and much more.
BUSINESS PLAN: Wayne Illidge, above, started Plant Hire UK with Graham Jones
NEW!
FOR those who of you who don’t have the time to meet up with one of our business advisors just yet, why not drop us a line on our newly launched Stepclever Facebook and Twitter pages. We have a LIVE online business surgery every Wednesday between 12 and 1pm, where you can get online answers to your questions – not matter how big or small. You can also get all of
ORDER ORDER: Plant Hire UK bought 250 JCB loadalls last year as part of its expansion plans
the latest business news and updates as it happens and interact with other like-minded people in your area. So why wait? Starting a new business is exciting and rewarding, but it is also full of challenges. Stepclever has a range of services to help you on your way from turning an idea into a real life business. To find out more visit us at Stepclever.co.uk or call 0151 934 4672 .
www.stepclever.co.uk
6 NEWS
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
★★★★
BUSINESS
CALLFORTAX
Dr Richard Wilson, of video games trade body TIGA, says the industry needs tax breaks
FOCUS . . . on video games
W
HILE the German economy has pulled itself out of recession through an export led recovery, the UK’s recovery is more uncertain and unsteady. Despite a 25% devaluation of sterling since 2008, the UK continues to run a trade deficit. We are struggling in the battle for inward investment: the UK has slipped from second to fifth place in the world for inward investment flows. Unemployment has risen to 2.5m, and this is before the Coalition’s main austerity measures begin to bite. Of course we need to get our deficit under control – but we also need a serious strategy for growth. In particular, we need to back industries with growth potential where the UK has a competitive advantage. Video games development is one such sector. Games development contributes approximately £1bn to UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs 9,000 highly skilled development staff. The sector is export oriented: 95% of UK video games are exported. The industry is R&D intensive: two-fifths of studios have a budget earmarked for R&D purposes. Game development is also low carbon in output. Crucially, the video game sector offers opportunities for growth and high value, high technology job creation for Liverpool. Estimates from PWC suggest that the global market for video games will grow from $52.5bn in 2009 to $86.8bn in 2014. Liverpool should be in a strong position to win a share of this growing market. According to Experian statistics 12,866 people are employed in the North West gaming and animation industries. There are already 35 games businesses in the North West, including Liverpool based Citrus Suite, Playbox and Sony. Liverpool has previously been
RACE FOR SUPPORT: A scene from video game WipEout HD Fury, which was developed by Sony in Liverpool responsible for extremely successful chart-topping console games such as Project Gotham Racing Series and The Club. The city should be well placed to continue this tradition of creating top-selling games. Yet the Liverpool video games industry will not fulfil its potential and the UK will not win a significant share of the growing global video games market if the coalition Government continues to neglect this dynamic sector. Our key competitors, including Australia, Canada, France, South Korea, Singapore and the US all provide national or regional tax breaks for games production or other significant financial incentives. The UK does not. As a result, investment and employment in the UK development sector is shrinking. Over the last two years the UK video games development sector has suffered from a 9% fall in employment and annual investment has fallen from £458m to £417m.
TIGA, the trade association representing the UK video games industry, has campaigned for the introduction of a Video Games Tax Relief to enable the industry to compete on a level playing field. Labour introduced the tax break in the March 2010 Budget but then the coalition Government rejected the measure in the June 2010 Budget. This was a foolish decision. New research published by TIGA shows that over five years, Games Tax Relief would create or safeguard 9,519 direct and indirect jobs (including 3,366 jobs in the games industry), £431m investment in development expenditure, £393m in tax receipts to HM Treasury, at a cost of £194m in tax relief. In other words, Games Tax Relief more than pays for itself. Without Games Tax Relief, high skilled jobs and investment will be in jeopardy as local developers compete on an unfair playing field. The coalition Government has already accepted the principle of sector specific tax breaks. It
continues to operate the £100m a year Film Tax Credit. If a tax break is good for the film industry why does it not provide one for video games? The Government’s inconsistency makes no economic sense. Politicians have a simple choice: they can introduce Games Tax Relief to enable the Liverpool games industry to soar ahead and make a powerful contribution to an export led UK economic recovery. Or they can remain slaves to inertia, fail the test of leadership, do nothing and let our overseas competitors steal the lion’s share of the growing video games market. We have a chance in the March Budget to shake the Government from its torpor. Liverpool MPs must grasp this opportunity and get the Government to introduce Games Tax Relief. It’s time to back a high tech, high skilled, export-focused industry. It’s time to back the Liverpool video games industry
Industry in spotlight THE region’s video games sector may be important to the local economy, but it often stays under the radar. But last week it was thrust into the spotlight with news that Bizarre Creations, the second-biggest studio in Merseyside, was to close with the loss of some 200 jobs. Speke-based Bizarre was responsible for hits including Project Gotham Racing series and Geometry Wars. But racing game Blur, released last year, proved a commercial disappointment. US owner Activision put it up for sale in November before deciding this month to close it.
HELP
MONEY MATTERS HOUSE price falls and the mortgage drought have led to a steep drop in the number of people who think property is the most reliable long-term investment, research indicated today. The proportion of people who think bricks and mortar is the best home for their cash fell by nearly a third during the final quarter of 2010, according to the Association of
NEWS 7
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
★★★★
British Insurers (ABI). Only 34% of people now rate property as the best long-term investment, down from 49% in September and the lowest level since the ABI first began collecting the figures in September 2008. People are increasingly putting their faith in
with NICKY BURRIDGE, personal finance correspondent
savings and investment products, although property still remains the most popular place to invest money overall. The number of people who favoured savings accounts rose from 11% to 18% during the period while the popularity of equity investments and ISAs increased from 9% to 14%.
Around 7% of people said they thought the Government-backed National Savings and Investments was the best long-term home for their money while 3% of people said they would opt for wine, art, antiques or other alternative investments. But 24% of those questioned admitted they did not know what would be the best long-term investment.
ADVERTORIAL
MAkE yOuR DREAM Of sTART-up succEss A REALITy In 2011 By LEIGH TAyLOR Area director for Lloyds TSB Commercial in the North West
THE NAME’S BOND: A scene from James Bond 007: Blood Stone, developed by Speke’s Bizarre Creations. Bizarre is set to shut down with the loss of 200 jobs
AT WORK: An artist working at Bizarre Creations in Speke last year The biggest games employer in the area remains Sony, with hundreds of staff in Wavertree and Runcorn. There are fears that many talented Bizarre staff could leave the UK to move to countries such as Canada,
which offer tax breaks to games firms. But regeneration bodies such as The Mersey Partnership hope that many of those people will stay in Merseyside and found new, small firms that will develop the hits of the future.
Driven. innovative. experienced. Disillusioned with their current career. Bored with a ‘9 to 5’ job. Looking for a challenge. all of the above could be used to describe the type of people who decide to start their own business. in reality, however, anyone can take that step to become their own boss. Whether they succeed is a different story. it can depend on so many factors including the industry the would-be entrepreneur chooses and the state of the economy. as a famous philosopher once said: ‘Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life again.’ it may not always feel like it when you’re calculating vat on sales at 1am but many businesses start up and succeed for exactly that reason – they were established by someone with a genuine love for what they do. Keen cyclists opening bike shops, rock-climbing experts seeking funding for climbing centres, chefs who want their own restaurant – that passion is a great starting point. But there are also some other serious considerations to think about. Firstly, is it the right time to set up the business you want? Do your research. How have equivalent businesses in the north West fared in the recession? are the customers there? What are the raw material costs? Can you make the margin you need to survive and grow? Don’t be disillusioned if things start to look tough. You may want to consider a franchise – preferring to
suppORTInG LOcAL sTART-ups: Lloyds TsB commercial’s Leigh Taylor invest in a proven business model and, in many instances, an established brand name to take your first foray into running your own company. Whether you want to start your own business or buy in-to a franchise it’s essential that every new enterprise develops a solid business plan. this is a crucial blueprint that will help you plan for your future growth ambitions and help you identify what you have to do to make your vision a reality.
it will create focus on vital issues such as identifying demand, funding, the sustainability agenda, availability of raw material, reliable suppliers etc. at Lloyds tSB Commercial we place emphasis on an approach where our local business managers can help you shape business plans, offer guidance on how to manage cash flow and, where possible, work with you to anticipate issues which could hamper success.
if you’re dreaming about starting a business, take the next step. visit us in one of our branches to arrange an appointment to talk to one of our local business managers. Lloyds tSB Commercial is a trading name of Lloyds tSB Bank plc and Lloyds tSB Scotland plc and serves customers with an annual turnover of up to £15M. authorised and regulated by the Financial Services authority.
8 NEWS
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
★★★★
Business to Business
BUSINESS
KIMPTON CHECKS IN ON HOTEL DEAL
Accountancy / Bookkeeping
Taxis/Cab & Plate
TAX RETURN DEADLINE APPROACHING need help or advice from an experienced chartered accountant. Call Gavin on 0151 493 9700
DAVY LIVER TAXIS Require more full/part time private hire owner drivers. Company cars still available Call Alan 0151 708 7080 or 07795 417333
ACCOUNTS/TAX tradesmen from £170. 0151 287 7725
AVON FLEET CARS LTD quality cars available in excellent condition £165pw inc insurance. 05 − 07 plates. 07943 754640
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STAYING POWER: A computer-generated image of the proposed new Travelodge hotel situated on Liverpool waterfront’s The Strand
by NEIL HODGSON Industry Reporter WIRRAL’S Kimpton Building Services has clinched the mechanical and electrical (M&E) design and installation contract for Liverpool’s latest hotel. The Bromborough family firm has been set a challenge at the 141-bedroom Travelodge, designed by architects Leach Rhodes Walker, currently under construction on the site of a former car park on The Strand. Kimpton is expected to go on site in March, but the development will require strict co-ordination due to its location on one of the city’s main routes. The design and installation project at the hotel, which is
Wirral firm set to go on site in major contract expected to generate about £1.5m each year for the city centre’s economy, will include heating to all bedrooms, air conditioning and ventilation in the public areas, including the hotel’s reception and café/bar areas, plus all the development’s domestic water and drainage services. Kimpton has also designed the ventilation provision for the kitchen and bedrooms, comprising a natural air intake
and mechanical extraction system. The company will also design and install all the electrical services for the building, including the fire alarm system. Managing director Richard Kimpton said: “We have an excellent track record in the hotel sector and have wide-ranging experience on similar schemes stretching back a number of years. “That expertise, combined with our experience of multi-storey offices and accommodation blocks in city locations, means that we are well-placed to tackle the challenges of this scheme. “We bring quality and attention to detail to everything we do, so, while Travelodge may offer budget accommodation, anyone that stays in the Travelodge on
Liverpool’s Strand can be confident of a five-star M&E installation.” Marcus Worthington, the developer and main contractor on the scheme, has a long-standing relationship with Kimpton, having worked with the firm on previous developments. A spokesperson from Marcus Worthington said: “This is a very high-profile project in Liverpool that will transform a neglected corner of the waterfront to ensure that it is lifted to the standard of surrounding buildings. “All the contractors on the job have been handpicked for their experience, the skills and knowledge they can bring to the project and their proven ability to deliver a quality result on time and within budget.”
LITHERLAND AREA Storage units from £28pw. 07930 943 112 L21, L4 Secure Units/offices fr £40pw 0792O 461551 SHOPS TO LET Very secure, elec shutters 07785 562496
Business For Rent
TX1 2001 (Y) Good condition inside & out. Gearbox re−built in November £4,500. Tel: 07923 599709.
PRIVATE HIRE Drivers req’d, busy system, cheap weekly insurance 0151 260 1010 BLUE LINE TAXISNew drivers wanted urgently. Earn £500 − £800pw. Tel 0151 709 0101 CITY CAB & PLATE for sale TX11 06 Auto 12 mths pass excellent cond. 07889 120754 CITY TXI days & c/o nights L13 & L/C 077151 72487 NIGHT COLLAR TX11 auto c/o Childwall. 07595 169426 BOTANIC CARS Requires owner drivers. 0151 2200022
Business Equipment SHOP EQUIPMENT CENTRE Stockists of Shelving, Counters Card Units, Slattwall, Fixtures & Fittings, Hangers, Mannequins, Price guns, Labels & Bags etc. Visit our new showroom: KIRKBY IND, L33 7UZ 0151 546 4525
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
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 TILE TRADE big discounts for regulars, 10ltr adhesive £6.99 Homeright/ Protile (Behind Taskers Aintree) 286 8286
Commercial Property TO LET Renovated to a high standard with large parking facilities at BROOKFIELD DRIVE, AINTREE Units vary from 1100sqft to 7,200sqft. Terms negotiable. Please contact 07770 736690 Ian or 07721 755183 Charlie
BUSINESS FOR RENT Fully fitted Kitchen & Bathroom Showroom. Long established, currently trading. For further information call 0795 7243168
Loans
BARBERS/HAIRDRESSERS For rent Wavertree. Furnished, 9 chairs 0151 722 9451 or 07876 642467
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
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS Appears every day in your
Liverpool Chamber eyes logistics sector LIVERPOOL Chamber of Commerce has set up a new training venture in collaboration with Learning World, the UK’s largest provider of sector-specific vocational education services. It will deliver logistics apprenticeships, NVQs and commercial courses, starting this spring.
Chamber deputy chief executive Carole Crosby said: “It is specifically intended to meet the training needs of the logistics industry based in Liverpool. This will further strengthen the Liverpool chamber’s training’s offer, and it will provide an enhanced and valuable training resource
within the city.” She added: “With logistics and warehousing playing a key part in the Greater Merseyside economy, this training opportunity should appeal to many companies.” Jack Buchanan, Learning World’s partnerships and
contracts manager, said: “We are pleased to be working in partnership with the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce to provide the city region with the logistics workforce of tomorrow. “Learning World will work collaboratively with Liverpool Chamber to promote its mission: the
development, growth and sustained economic viability of chamber members, and the wider business community in Liverpool.” Services will include conducting training needs analysis, identifying appropriate courses and funding, and scheduling and delivering training.
A-K TEL: 0151 472 2746 L-Z TEL: 0151 472 2573