BUSINESS
ECHO
★★★★
‘We don’t do pink or pale blue’ PAGES2&3
Builder’s football donation
Start Survive Thrive
Richard makes radio waves PAGES4&5
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A FREE seminar on the new Equality Act legislation is being staged by Merseyside employment lawyer Kirwans next Thursday. ‘Sex, Lies and Employment Law’ will feature three key speakers and includes refreshments. To attend the seminar in the boardroom of Kirwans’ Martins Building offices in Water Street, from 12 noon, call Alison Scragg on 0151-703 1911 or email ascragg@kirwans solicitors.co.uk
ON THE BALL: 468 team manager Kevin Regan and Lovell site manager George Shaw with Dingle’s 468 FC players
BIRKENHEAD affordable housing specialist Lovell has scored a hit with young Liverpool footballers. The builder donated £300 towards new kit and equipment for 468 Football Club which runs two five-a-side football teams in the Liverpool Street Games Futsal League. The club, which is run by the St Cleopas 468 Centre in Mill Road, Dingle, is for players aged between nine and 13.
SMYTHS Toys ● Superstores in St Helens beat retail giants
FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR RAIL TRAINEES by TONY McDONOUGH
Deputy Business Editor
A MERSEYSIDE training firm specialising in the rail sector has secured contract work for 35 of its apprentices. Silver Track, based in Haydock, says the trainees have all been offered contract work with KJ Rail, a leading supplier of labour to Network Rail. The news comes just weeks after it
Scheme pays off for 35 Silver Track apprentices
was revealed that Silver Track has established a £115,000 rail apprenticeship scheme in Birkenhead. The project aims to teach 100
16-24-year-olds railway engineering skills over the next year. KJ Rail heard about the apprenticeship scheme and felt the programme the individuals had undertaken had prepared them perfectly for working on contracts that they had recently won. This training included the Personal Track Safety Card (PTS) and Track Induction Course, required to work on the tracks. The apprentices will now see themselves placed on varying contracts
by KJ Rail on an interim basis. This work is likely to include maintenance and track renewal work on the new Evergreen Project line between Oxford and London Marylebone, on which KJ Rail has secured a large contract. Mark Argent, Silver Track managing director said: “It’s great to be able to link up with another leading organisation in the rail industry that can see the value of our trained apprentices and give them the opportunity to put their skills to use.”
20% off meeting rooms in February & March Red Rooms - a higher standard of meeting room...take it as red. Call 0800 731 0300 www.the-red-rooms.com
Tesco, Asda and Toys ‘R’ Us to the title of Toy Retailer of the Year at the recent Toy Industry Awards in London which recognised the excellence of toy retailers throughout the UK. St Helens store manager Alex Eveleigh said: “We would like to thank everyone in the area for supporting us since we opened.”
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LIVERPOOL law firm DWF has promoted Julie Simms, 31, from an associate, to partner status in the real estate practice. Julie acts for developers, investors and property companies in the acquisition, letting and disposal of a variety of commercial, industrial and mixed use schemes.
SPEKE-based ● community regeneration firm
Bramall Construction says it has become one of the first construction companies in the north west to recycle 100% of all the waste materials that are generated on the building sites it currently works on.
2 NEWS
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
★★★★
BUSINESS BUSINESSES EAGER TO SUPPORT START-UPS
ESTABLISHED Liverpool businesses are signing up to support struggling entrepreneurs. Chambers of Commerce across Merseyside are working together to support the government’s New Enterprise Allowance programme. Chambers will be the first port of call to help unemployed entrepreneurs access expert advice and guidance from members of the business community to help them set up a business and give their start up every chance of success. Carole Crosby, deputy chief executive at Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, said: “As soon as we announced the programme our members began volunteering as mentors. We have some of the most experienced and knowledgeable managers in Liverpool’s business community in our membership who are keen to offer their support and expertise to ensure that these start ups are a success.” She added: “Our aim is to match a mentor as closely as possible with a customer in their market sector.” To become involved or learn more about the mentoring scheme please contact Jenny Stewart at Jenny. stewart@liverpool chamber.org.uk
J2 UPGRADE IN PAVERS STORES
WARRINGTON-based J2 Retail Systems was chosen by Pavers Shoes to upgrade its point-of-sale equipment. Pavers invested in J2’s latest and most powerful PC-based touchscreen EPoS (electronic point of sale) tills and used J2's channel partner, Nebula Systems, for hardware installation and support. The York-based footwear retailer has more than 100 outlets in the UK and a thriving online set-up.
SMALL
BUSINESS of the Week
M
ILO’S is not your average childrenswear store. “We don’t do pale blue, pink or white,” insists owner Laura Coyne who, since setting up in business in 2007, has strived to create a business with attitude. And after a nomadic early period her Button Street store in the centre of town has established itself as a firm favourite with trendy parents, youngsters, and even teenagers. Crosby-born Laura cut her teeth in London’s fashion world after graduating with a BA in fashion design from the University of Kent’s Institute of Art and Design. She worked as a visual merchandiser creating slick window displays for the likes of Selfridges and Harvey Nichols and major stores on Regent Street and Oxford Street. She then moved to work for iconic fashion brand Burberry in 2003 on merchandising and public relations, but returned to her Liverpool home shortly afterwards to work in retail, start to make a dent in her student debts, and for a change of scenery having been in the South for so long. Laura was a buyer for independent clothing store Ran, on Bold Street, where she travelled around Europe seeking something that bit different from the established high street look. “I wanted to break away from the normal designer labels you get in Liverpool, like Rockport, Lacoste and Le Coq Sportif,” she said. “Our look was for the more modern kind of man.” In 2007 she decided to strike out on her own and extend the world of funky labels to babywear. She explained: “Most people dress their first baby in a Lacoste tracksuit. “I think, they have got their whole life to wear Lacoste, let them be a baby and be bright and colourful.” The first Milo’s opened in Crosby, without the benefit of any grants or loans, not because of adverse lending conditions ahead of the impending recession, but because a childrenswear business wasn’t considered eligible, said Laura. “If you wanted to set up an internet business in Toxteth you would have got money but I couldn’t get anything for the shop in what was considered an affluent area,” she said. However, the Crosby location wasn’t the best and after a short six month stint in Bold Street Laura moved to her current Button Street location in 2009. “When this unit was available we went for it because it is in a kind of boutique area that has recently started
Youngsters earn their street cred with Milo’s baby bling Neil Hodgson learns what’s going down with a new generation of trendies looking up,” she said. “Hookah, the hairdresser in Wood Street, is opening a second shop nearby soon.” A year and a half down the line Laura said business is still tough, but she is taking baby steps in her bid to build up brand awareness: “It is about people finding us and getting ourselves known.” Nevertheless, Milo’s is fast becoming the childrenswear shop of choice for a variety of trendies,
including the city’s footballing community: “Customers include Liverpool’s Daniel Agger, Jamie Carragher and John Barnes, Leighton Baines from Everton, who has been coming since we opened in Crosby, and Coleen Rooney.” Milo’s typical customer, though, ranges from 20 to 45-years-old, looking for distinctive clothing ranges that are good quality and can be washed and worn and passed down. “It’s someone with a young personality who likes
their kids to look a bit more individual and stand out,” she said. Apart from banning pastels, Milo’s also refuses to buy in bulk, instead, preferring to deal with young, specialised labels, particularly embryonic Liverpool businesses, such as knitwear company Violet’s. Laura said: “We’re trying to find as many small labels as we can and we hope to open a second floor after Easter to give more space to the upand-coming labels. “We’re trying to promote more of the smaller brands and want to get behind small indie labels for clothing or jewellery.” Among the lines favoured by Milo’s regulars are No Added Sugar, which is also stocked in stores like Selfridges and Harrods, Adidas Originals for Kids, Vans footwear, queen of punk Vivienne Westwood, and Mini Rodine, a Swedish firm specialising in the
Hundreds get job offers at Mersey recruitment fair THE organisers of a Merseyside jobs fair say more than 1,200 people who attended have been given jobs or interviews. The Future Jobs Fund event – organised by Knowsley Council on behalf of the Liverpool City Region Cabinet and delivered in partnership with Job Centre Plus –
attracted more than 1,200 people looking for work after being unemployed for six months or longer. As well as the 541 job offers that were made at the fair in late January, a further 711 follow-up interviews have been arranged. On the day, vacancies were advertised from employers
including schools, charities and housing trusts. Cllr Joe Anderson, chairman of the Liverpool City Region Cabinet, said: “This event shows what can be achieved when the Merseyside local authorities work together. The success of this initiative is testament to the positive working
relationships developed by the six local authorities. “To see hundreds of out of work people finding jobs is incredible and the impact that will have on their lives, and those of their families, cannot be underestimated.” The Future Jobs Fund is part of the Liverpool City Region’s Employment and
Skills Strategy, which is led by Knowsley Council on behalf of Halton, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens, Wirral and Liverpool. The fund’s jobs fair came just days after a Public to Private Sector recruitment event was organised by Knowsley Council to help public sector workers to find new jobs.
★★★★
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
NEWS 3
UK FIRMS ‘RELUCTANT TO EXPORT’
BRIGHT STAR: Laura Coyne in her shop Milo's in Button Street, Liverpool Picture: GAVIN TRAFFORD
Do you want to be our Business of the Week? Contact Neil Hodgson 0151 472 2451 or email neil.hodgson @liverpool.com
casual “preppy” look, which is big on chinos and casual sweat shirts. The clothing range extends from new born babies to 12-year-olds, and even attracts 18- to 25-yearold girls who are able to squeeze into Milo’s tutus. “We get a lot of adults who say they wish the ranges were available in their size.” The best sellers amongst the youngsters are highly distinctive, stand-out, items, such as No Added Sugar’s “Lock up Your Daughter” T-shirt for young lads and a “blingy” bib, by the Nippers With Attitude label, emblazoned with the legend “Mama Ain’t Raisin’ No Fool”, which are about as far away as you can get from pale blue, pink or white. Laura says her clientele also appreciate the ranges and her older customers are quite discerning: “Kids come in and mix and match their own clothes. They feel a lot more comfortable because we talk to them as grown ups.” As the recession recedes, and hopefully threats of a double-dip diminish, Laura says Milo’s is slowly starting to make progress, although at a slower pace than originally anticipated. And one ally she is keen to credit is the BID (Business Improvement District): “It gives great support to independent businesses. I have seen the benefit of what it did in Bold Street and it is starting here now.”
THE Government was today urged to do more to help firms sell goods overseas after a study found a lack of exporting culture among British firms. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said a survey of 8,000 companies showed that 5,500 did not export anything, partly because they thought their products were unsuitable or because they had enough business in the UK. But one in 10 said they lacked resources to help them export goods while a similar number believed they would need help finding overseas customers. Among exporting companies, 15% said they still faced difficulties accessing finance and insurance, while many said they would welcome more Government support. The survey was published ahead of a White Paper today on trade, which the BCC described as “highly anticipated”. David Frost, director general of the BCC, said: “Our survey reveals some uncomfortable truths for British business and for the Government about our ability to export. “Too many of our companies lack an exporting culture, even though they produce high-quality goods and services.”
ECO CHALLENGE FOR UNI TEAM
TRENDY TOPS: Some of the clothes stocked by Liverpool store Milo’s
THE University of Liverpool is one of five UK higher education sites to make the next stage of an ecochallenge by aviation company Airbus. Prize money of almost £30,000 is up for grabs in the Airbus Fly Your Ideas competition for the best proposal to encourage greener aviation. Airbus, which makes wings for its craft at Broughton, near Chester, chose the five contenders from a list of 16. A total of 84 teams around the world are still in the competition which culminates at this summer’s Paris Air Show.
4 NEWS
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
★★★★
BUSINESS
BIG
Chee teena who p up th phon big br
INTERVIEW Tony McDonough
talks to Richard Maddock, station director at Radio City
I
T IS often said that one of the keys to success is being in the right place at the right time – Richard Maddock can testify to that. In November 1990, Maddock was just 17 and on a radio production course when a decision to answer a ringing telephone sealed his destiny. “I was doing the course at a place in Liverpool called the Ariel Trust,” said Maddock, now station director at Bauer-owned Radio City. “About a week in I was walking past the boss’s office when I heard his phone ringing. There was no one there, so I answered it. “At the other end was a guy called Ian Mann who at the time was the news editor at Radio City.” Margaret Thatcher had just resigned as Prime Minister and the ruling Conservatives were about to elect a new leader to run the party and country (John Major was the eventual winner). Mann was planning a news special on the night of the election and was looking for a hard-working and enthusiastic student. Maddock added: “I told him we had just the right person and his name was Richard Maddock – I thought at the time, I’m either very clever or very stupid. “I turned up on the night and it went very well. I was doing things like running tapes up and down – studio runner stuff. “At the end of the night I deliberately left my coat in the studio so I would have an excuse to go back the next day.” Maddock did go back the next day and never stopped going back. He ended up freelancing at the station for four years while studying for a degree in media and business. Within six years he had become the station’s youngest-ever programme director, having performed many different roles. Based high up in the Radio City Tower in Liverpool city centre, Maddock now oversees the output of three radio stations – Radio City 96.7, Magic 1548 and City Talk. It employs around 50 staff – including freelancers – and boasts the biggest market share of listeners of any commercial station in its catchment area encompassing Merseyside, Chester and North Wales. “I spend around 70% of my day overseeing the output,” said Maddock. “That includes the music that we play, the content provided by the presenters and news and sport. “For the other 30% of my time I concentrate on the business side.” Radio City’s main source of income is advertising and Maddock claims the station is holding its own in a tough environment.
AWARD WINNER: Richard Maddock has seen big changes in his 20 years at Liverpool commercial station, Radio City He added: “When we started out here Radio City was the only commercial station and now there is more competition. “About six or seven years ago we saw a big rise for the BBC but audience are coming back to commercial again. “People have been predicting the death of radio for a long time.
“They said the Sony Walkman would finish us off and then the iPod but we are still here. “There is something unique about what radio can offer. People can listen to it when they’re in the bath or lying in bed with their eyes shut – that is not true of other media.” Having an online presence has
‘I must have either been very clever or very stupid’
become as important for radio stations has it has for other sectors of the media. Radio City’s website offers news, webcasts and the opportunity to listen to recordings of shows. Maddock added: “The web is particularly important for the demographic that listens to Radio City 96.7 – they do spend their lives online. On the web you can offer people something a bit extra. “On the radio you may play the latest release from a particular artist and that’s all you can do. “Online we can offer stuff to go
with that – tour dates, pictures, etc.” Maddock has seen many changes since he first joined the station. Perhaps one of the biggest was the move from its old Stanley Street base to the top of St John’s Beacon about a decade ago. “Stanley Street was full of memories and it was a big decision to move,” he said. However, from a business point of view is was a fantastic decision – it basically gave us the best billboard in the city. “We did worry initially whether the audience would feel a little
★★★★
eky ager picked he ne for break disconnected from us as people had always gathered at Stanley Street. “We did some research and what came back was really positive. “The tower had been empty for years and people thought that was a little embarrassing for the city, so they were really pleased we were in there.” Since 1999 both Richard and the station have won a clutch of accolades – too many to mention here. Those he is most proud of include the Sony Station of the Year Award in 2002, 2005 and 2007 and for himself, the Sony UK Programmer
of the Year title in 2005. The Everton season ticket holder and music fanatic lives with his long-term girlfriend, Rowena Blythe, who runs her own design agency, Honey Wolf. He retains the same infectious enthusiasm for radio as he did as that cheeky teenager. “The future of radio is really exciting,” he said. “Everything is changing and the regulatory shackles are coming off, which is good because giving listeners what they want when they want it will become increasingly important.”
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
NEWS 5
GOOD NEWS FOR UK’S FACTORIES
FLYING HIGH: Richard and his staff at Radio City have the best view on Merseyside, situated high above Liverpool city centre
SMALL manufacturers saw a pick-up in production in the three months to January as domestic demand for UK-made goods improved, according to business body the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). However, the group found firms were facing strong cost pressures which were feeding through to higher domestic and exported goods prices. Some 30% of 366 respondents in the CBI’s latest SME Survey reported a rise in output volume while 17% reported a fall. The overall balance (+13%) was slightly weaker than expected but stronger than the +9% balance in the previous quarter. Lucy Armstrong, chairman of the CBI’s SME Council, said: “Manufacturing is one of the few bright spots in the economy and this survey underlines the important role of smaller firms in delivering growth and jobs. “With domestic orders steadily improving and production rising, firms are increasing their headcount to keep up with demand. “But smaller manufacturers are facing intense cost pressures and are being forced to pass these onto customers.”
AGENCY SEEING TRADE BLOOM
BIG BREAK: Richard Maddock launched his radio career on the night John Major became Prime Minister
MARKETING agency Kenyon Fraser has won the contract to promote August’s Southport Flower Show – the largest independent show of its kind in the UK. Richard Kenyon, managing director of the Liverpool-based company, said: “We are really pleased to add such a high profile event to our portfolio. “Our aim is to increase the number of visitors to the show in 2011 and we'll be using our full range of integrated services – marketing, PR, design and advertising. “We're really enthusiastic about this event and keen to work with the flower show's dedicated team."
6 NEWS
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
★★★★
BUSINESS
TOLEARNAND
Apprenticeships could be part of the solution, reports Alex Turner
CUTTING EDGE: A hairdressing apprentice learns by doing at Michael John of Liverpool’s Duke Street salon
FOCUS A . . . on apprentices
LIVERPOOL training provider has 85 vacancies for apprentices and is looking for the right people to fill the roles. Rob McNamara from Tithebarn Street-based Geason said: “Businesses are looking for young people to employ. “We are not trying to sell you a person we have. Tell us about the opportunity you have and we will find the right person for you.” Rob says he is finding employers extremely receptive to the idea of taking on an apprentice, but the biggest challenge is making potential apprentices aware that it is not just about becoming, for example, a builder or electrician. “There is a perception that apprenticeships are manual, but there are 190 different forms of apprenticeship,” he said. Post-16 prospects for school-leavers in terms of employment and higher education mean that apprenticeships are becoming more attractive, argues Rob. He said: “The changes to funding for university means we are seeing a higher calibre of young people and we are seeing record levels of unemployment in graduates. “Young people are as concerned about their careers as older people. “They need guidance, they have ideas what they want to do but they need guidance as to how to turn that into a job.” Jayne Worthington, managing director of Wirral-based training provider Scientiam, said: “Apprenticeships have a long and proud history, but are definitely undergoing something of a muchneeded renaissance at the moment. “More young people are seeing apprenticeships as a credible way to develop a career. They are no longer seen as purely for those without the academic background to go to university. “In a fragile economy, tuition fees are on the rise, more graduates than ever are struggling to find work and the Education Maintenance Allowance – given to around half of all 16 to 18-year-olds in full time education – is to be scrapped. “There are so many sectors that now run apprenticeships and in many ways it is a much more practical and direct route into work than other options.
“Apprentices can earn while they learn and there is a strong need for talented young people to come through training ‘oven ready’ for the world of work. “For businesses, apprenticeships are an efficient way to develop a loyal and skilled workforce.” Rob, from Geason, agrees: “Part of our discussion with employers is to explain that an apprentice is not just cheap labour. “In the last couple of weeks out of 40 job opportunities we have turned down five because we didn’t think they were suitable – they were business looking for cheap labour, but that’s not what it’s about. “The reality, and what we are finding, is that businesses are preparing for growth. They see the worst economic days behind us but how do we prepare for growth without significant cost?
“This is where the apprenticeship programme fits exactly where they are. It has a low front-end cost.” Hair and beauty training provider Michael John of Liverpool has been operating in the city for 30 years and was recently awarded the Training Quality Standard, with a specialism in hair and beauty – putting it in the top bracket of training providers. Helen Eaton, Michael John’s business development manager, believes that as employers look to grow in the future, apprentices offer good value for companies. “Moving forward, if an employer has made redundancies or stopped recruiting, apprentices are the natural people to employ,” she said. “You can train them how you want, they are cheaper – it’s a cost-effective way
RENAISSANCE: Jayne Worthington
of employing staff. The employer employs that apprentice. They treat them just like any other member of staff, but they commit to provide them with a supportive environment and allowing them access to the training. “The big thing for employers is the apprenticeship wage. There’s no subsidy – contrary to what people think – but there is an apprenticeship rate for the minimum wage, which is £2.50 an hour in their first year of the apprenticeship, no matter how old they are.” Apprenticeships are also popular with large companies locally. Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is to put its 1,500 new recruits at Halewood through an intermediate apprenticeship scheme, while Warrington-based United Utilities is also looking to use apprenticeships to develop new recruits. It is looking to enrol up to 40 apprentices each year until 2015. Business Secretary Vince Cable has this week urged employers to help create 100,000 more apprentices by 2014.
The apprentice: Cathy Jackson BEING a single mother-of-four has proved no obstacle to 35-year-old apprentice Cathy Jackson. Cathy, from Wallasey, had not been for a job interview for 14 years, but passed her first to train as an apprentice painter and decorator with flying colours. She has now been with Wirral Partnership Homes for more than two years and has completed her Diploma level 2 and NVQ level 2 in painting and decorating. Cathy is studying one day a week at Wirral Met’s Twelve Quays College, on a course managed by Scientiam. She said: “The training in the college is half and half really, we learn about theory and we also
EARN
NEWS 7
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
★★★★
The employers: Evenwood Farm and CCM Design and Build “IN THIS industry you tend to go through a lot of staff while trying to find the ones who want to learn and are willing to put the effort in,” said Dave Hardman, who employs two apprentices at CCM Design and Build, his construction company in West Kirby. “The apprentices I have now are very good and tick all the right boxes. Both of
them go to college one day a week for theory lessons and obviously they bring back what they have learned on site. “It’s not ideal losing them for a day, but I see it as helping the future of my business, to have young talent coming through.” He added: “I’m very pleased with their progress and was glad to have found employees that
suited my firm’s exact needs.” Sandra Clinton, licensee at Evenwood Farm pub and restaurant in Runcorn, has also taken on two apprenticeships with the help of training provider Scientiam. She said: “They tailored the training programmes to suit me and shared my vision of courses that my team could be proud of.”
LICENSEE: Sandra Clinton
ADVERTORIAL
START-UP STRAIN AS NEW BOSSES JUGGLE BUSINESS TASKS BY LEIGH TAYLOR Area director for Lloyds TSB Commercial in the North West
HIGH HOPES: Rob McNamara, from Geason in Liverpool
AGE NO BARRIER: Cathy, 35, is an apprentice do practical work. I got a really solid ground in the basics and have started studying for my NVQ Level 3 – hopefully I’ll complete this next summer. “As part of the course we also have to gather work-based evidence, so I take photos and
write up analysis of the projects I have been working on. “There are 20 learners in our part-time group and most of them are young lads, but we’re all there to learn and help each other so I’m happy to be part of the group.”
Setting up a new business can be very rewarding, but entrepreneurs often find themselves juggling all aspects of running a business, spinning all the plates that come with being in charge. Unlike larger businesses, which have the luxury of employing people to handle many of the more specialist tasks, the owner of a smaller firm often has a vast remit of responsibilities to manage independently. it expert, marketing manager, chief sales person as well as financial controller, being just some of the roles – and all alongside the day-to-day running of the business. A little outside help can make a real difference to the success of a fledgling firm. What many business owners don’t realise is the vast amount of experience and expertise that local third parties such as fellow business owners, accountants and access to a good banking relationship, can often offer for free. At Lloyds tSB Commercial our relationship managers understand the challenges faced when setting up and running a new business and they can also connect you with other specialists who can help support your ambitions and the smooth running of your business. Consider environmental regulations and sustainability, not an area that many start-ups are immediately able to devote management time towards, but one which can land businesses with significant fines for non-compliance. Our locally based Business and environ-
SUPPORTING LOcAL START-UPS: Lloyds TSB commercial’s Leigh Taylor ment Managers are on hand to offer guidance and support to businesses on issues relating to the transition to a low carbon economy and how this can affect you and your business. As part of our SMe charter, we are also running a programme of 200 business seminars this year, which start on the 21st March. industry experts will be on hand to offer free practical guidance. these seminars will look at how businesses can be more sustainable and cut costs by becoming more efficient. this is followed by interactive workshops that could cover topics
from employment, managing cashflow, exporting and managing risks. As well as helping SMes grow and indentify new business opportunities, they also present a great opportunity to network and share best practice with other local businesses and professionals. Rather than keeping all the plates spinning yourself, don’t be afraid of getting some assistance. You presumably started your company with the intention of growing it and doing something you wanted to do, if you allow too much of your time to be taken up with administration and other tasks which don’t
form part of your business plan, you’ll soon become frustrated. to find out more about the ways in which Lloyds tSB can help you, or if you would like to register your interest for a seminar in your area please visit www.lloydstsb. com/businessguidance 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, February 9, 2011
★★★★
ECHO Business to Business
BUSINESS
£2M BOOTLE BOOST STARTS
Financial
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A £2M regeneration scheme in Bootle is under way aimed at improving the retail and residential mix of the area. New shops and 12 two-bedroom apartments will be created when the scheme is completed by late summer at the Stanley Road site, between Bedford Road and Eadham Road. The apartments will be owned and managed by Merseyside-based Cosmopolitan Housing Association, while the development is being delivered by Keepmoat – parent company of Speke-based Bramall Construction – in conjunction with Cosmopolitan and Sefton council. North West building contractor Seddon is the construction partner. The scheme is being funded by
Sefton council, Cosmopolitan and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and has been designed by Merseyside-based John McCall Architects, with the option to develop further phases of office, retail and residential space. Martin Hodgson, Keepmoat head of property, said: “The first phase of the regeneration of the Stanley Road area will help to improve the area as a gateway into Bootle and the new shop
Warning over rise in ‘phreaking’ SMALL firms are losing hundreds of thousands of pounds a year as criminals break into unsecured phone networks and rack up huge call bills at their victims’ expense, claims insurance broker Cowens Survival Capability. It says because many businesses have an in-house phone network that uses
computer and digital technology, tech-savvy fraudsters are tapping into vulnerable networks and using them to make calls. Known as “phreaking”, this type of fraud has been around for a number of years with hackers often selling access to networks to organised gangs. But Cowens says it has
recently noted an increase. Director Stuart Williams said: “Quite rightly, there’s a lot of focus on computer hacking and protecting PCs and laptops from viruses by using firewalls, but it is often the case that equally vulnerable phone networks are unsecured. “Phreaking is costing businesses hundreds of
thousands of pounds every year. Unless victims are always checking bills and telecoms reports and reviews, it’s a crime that can go on undetected. “We’ve seen a rise in businesses that have either been phreaked or know of companies who have been subject to this kind of criminal activity.”
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Industry Reporter
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HAIRDRESSERS Bootle, well established 07540 261777
LATE NIGHT OFF LICENCE To let. Prime location, South Road, L22. Requires fit−out. Alcohol trading times 10am−12 midnight Call: 0151 9209999/ 07900424441
units and apartments will provide high quality accommodation to meet modern living and trading requirements.” Mr Hodgson added: “We expect interest from a wide range of retailers for the retail space which will help serve the needs of existing and future residents. “Keepmoat Homes is also building approximately 300 houses in the areas surrounding Stanley Road, helping to meet housing needs which will make a vast difference to the quality of life of local residents.” Geoff Redhead, Cosmopolitan chief executive, said: “This project is an excellent example of how we can work in partnership with the private sector to help deliver good quality affordable rented housing and commercially viable retail spaces to help create vibrant and healthy communities.”
(Press Option 3)
UNITS TO LET Bootle Area 5,000−15,000 sqft. Flexible terms 0151 486 0004
2X BARBERS SHOPS TO LET Prime locations in Crosby/ Waterloo. Equipped with barbers chairs/ Mirrors/ Stations etc. Rent £650pcm Call: 0151 920 9999 or 07900 424 441
Scheme brings new shops and housing
For Further Details Please call 0151 521 3080
Taxis/Cab & Plate
SUCCESSFUL RESTAURANT Allerton Road, 70 covers, well established. Genuine reason for sale. £60,000. 07721 988339
by NEIL HODGSON
750sqft & 1,300sqft respectively
Offices To Let Anfield
Industrial Property
HAIR & BEAUTY SALON City L2. Leasehold. Fixtures, fittings & stock inc, 4 stations, St. Tropez tan booth & crystal clear £45,000 ono 07988 983491
LAUNCH: From left, Geoff Redhead, Cosmopolitan, Alan Lunt, New Heartlands, Carol Sutton, Homes and Communities Agency and Keepmoat director Eugien Jaruga
LIVERPOOL CITY CENTRE
Business Opportunities T A K E A W Y Lease for sale. Prime location, St Johns Rd, L22. Recently refurbished throughout. All new equipment inc Range, Pizza Oven, Kebab Cooker etc. Ingoing £25,000. Rent £600pcm Call: 0151 9209999/ 07900424441
C A T E R I N G T R A I L E R 17ft Wilkinson 550T Showstopper, fully equipped, good condition, ready for work shows,events etc £8,500 ono. 07940 540255 SUNBED/BEAUTY SALON For lease. Prime location, Linacre Lane, L20. Ingoing £6500. Rent £500. Call: 0151 9209999/ 07900424441
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
It pays to advertise in
Classified
STORAGE TO LET 125 sqft £26.56pw 520 sqft £60pw 0151 223 0036
AVON FLEET CARS LTD quality cars available in excellent condition £165pw inc insurance. 05 − 07 plates. 07943 754640
NEW E7 Liverpool cab & plate £270pw, 8K dep. Call Taxifix for details. 0151 482 5101. Business users only
PRIVATE HIRE Drivers req’d, busy system, cheap weekly insurance 0151 260 1010 TWO NIGHT COLLARS c/o Green Lane L13 and Dovecot 07957 636549 LIVERPOOL DAY/NIGHT Collars available 0151 922 3626/ 07753 814014 LIVERPOOL CABS & PLATES for sale 0151 922 3626/ 07753 814014 04 TXII Black manual. Excellent Cab. £4950. 07768 622517 BLUE LINE TAXISNew drivers wanted urgently. Earn £500 − £800pw. Tel 0151 709 0101 BOTANIC CARS Requires owner drivers. 0151 2200022 D A Y / N I G H T / L O N G COLLARavail 07984 039531
L21, L4 Secure Units/offices fr £40pw 0792O 461551
DAY COLLAR Picton Clock c/o. 07884 190920
SHOPS TO LET Very secure, elec shutters 07785 562496
BLACKCABSALES.COM Taxi trade website 07500 444 600
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS A-K TEL: 0151 472 2746 L-Z TEL: 0151 472 2573
N COLLAR Or Wkend Collar. C/ O Aintree. 0776 7085020 VARIOUS COLLARS compet rates 07873 200893 NIGHT COLLAR TX 4 Auto, c/o L6, 35+ 07885 090751 NIGHT COLLAR TX11 auto c/o Childwall. 07595 169426 PRIVATE/H £140pw 1st wk 1/ 2 price Inc ins. 07523 976108 WIRRAL CAB & PLATE £6,500. 0753 0071930