BUSINESS
ECHO
★★★★
‘Red tape didn’t put me off’ PAGES2&3
Start Survive Thrive
Skills training can change lives PAGES4&5
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ENTRIES are being invited for the 12 categories in this year’s Wirral Business Awards. The competition is free to enter and the closing date for submissions is Monday, April 18. Winners will be announced at a gala dinner on July 8 at the Hillbark Hotel, Wirral. Entry forms can be downloaded from www. winpartnership.org/ events/awards.asp
Generator in Mersey expansion DISCOUNT retailer Cash Generator is to open seven new stores across Merseyside in the next eight weeks, creating 50 new jobs, followed by a training centre later this year. The Bolton-based buy, sell and loan firm, dubbed the eBay of the high street, already operates stores in Birkenhead, Huyton, Runcorn and Old Swan. Its new sites will be located in Wavertree, Netherton, Toxteth, Norris Green, Kensington, Wallasey and a flagship store in Liverpool city centre. Julian Urry, managing director of the 140-store business, said: “The area plays a major part in our growth plans for 2011 and beyond, and as such we are investing heavily in the region.”
A PENSION ● Protection Fund (PPF) representative will
address a free morning seminar at the Port of Liverpool Building office of Barnett Waddingham on the extensive changes planned for the PPF levy regarding sponsors of defined benefit pension schemes. The event will take place at 8.15am on Thursday, April 19. To attend, contact Emily Harris on 01494 788100.
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EXPANSION: Julian Urry, Cash Generator managing director, says Merseyside plays a key part in the chain’s growth plans
WALTON RETAILERS WIN RATES BATTLE EXCLUSIVE
By NEIL HODGSON Industry Reporter
SHOPKEEPERS on County Road will benefit from a rates windfall after the ECHO highlighted the plight of small business owner Michael Mavris. The 57-year-old owner of Mike’s Kitchen claimed high rateable values for the area were driving away businesses and the remaining shops were suffering from reduced footfall. Mr Mavris said 26 shops near his on County Road had closed. But the Government’s Valuation Office Agency (VOA), which sets
Shops to share in cafe’s successful valuation review
rateable values for businesses, contacted the cafe owner last week to offer a cut in his £12,250 valuation to £11,000. The reduction also means he could claim for a portion of small business rate relief. And he said the saving would hopefully rule out cuts to his six-strong
staff who have been with him since he opened eight years ago. Now, he says the VOA’s Liverpool office has indicated shopkeepers along County Road are also in line for a reduction in their rateable values.
“The VOA officer said he has dropped my valuation to £11,000, which is fine.
“And he said they have also decided that, between numbers one to 72 County Road, which is held to be the prime area, they will offer a 10% discount across the board.” Mr Mavris added: “My story last week got a really good reaction from my fellow shopkeepers on County Road, and this shows precisely just what the ECHO can help people like us achieve.”
The VOA said it had received a number of appeals against valuations last year and had been dealing with them according to a pre-arranged timetable. A spokesman said: “The Valuation Office Agency has been dealing with rating appeals concerning shops in Liverpool 4 postal district, including County Road, and as a result a number of rateable values have been reduced. “Where reductions are made in this way, we take the opportunity to review nearby properties to make sure they remain correctly assessed. “As this process is still ongoing, we are unable to state at this time how many reductions have been made to rateable values.”
PAY growth in the private sector is at its lowest level for at least seven years, says the VocaLink FTSE 350 Take Home Pay Index, which was first launched in 2004. The index, a measure of private sector earnings, has fallen by 0.4% to just 0.1% for the three months to March and sits at 0.4% below its previous lowest level of 0.5% recorded in both February 2011 and May 2010. VocaLink is a specialist payments partner to banks, their corporate customers and Government departments.
THE National ● Business Awards is seeking entrants for its
2011 competition. Finalists will be announced on July 28 and winners will be honoured at a gala dinner and awards ceremony to be held in London at the Grosvenor House Hotel on November 8. As official car partner, Jaguar will this year be providing chauffeur services to winners after the main presentations. To enter or nominate call 0207 234 8755 or visit www.national businessawards.co.uk
2 NEWS
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
★★★★
BUSINESS FPB WARNS BOSSES ON COSTS OF NEW LAWS
THE Forum of Private Business (FPB) is urging bosses to heed new laws that came into effect this month. They include increases in statutory sick pay, changes in tax rates and the end of most employers’ abilities to forcibly retire staff. The FPB believes many small firms may be unaware of the changes and could face prosecution. They take the weekly amount employers have to pay staff on sick leave from £79.15 to £81.60 and include alterations to National Insurance calculations and the rates at which it is paid. Employers’ ability to issue six-month notifications of retirement using the statutory retirement procedure is ended, while an employer’s right to use positive discrimination as a tiebreaker when making decisions on recruitment and promotion was added to the statute book. FPB chief executive Phil Orford said: “When you run your own business keeping abreast of the latest tweaks to the complex regulatory system can seem like the least of your worries. “However, any instances of a business failing to comply with a piece of legislation can have serious financial consequences, no matter how unintended or trivial the breach is.”
LOCAL JOBS BID BY FUSION 21
A NEW scheme to create local job opportunities is being launched tomorrow by Fusion21, the Huytonbased umbrella group covering maintenance and procurement for social housing groups. Employer Pool will be unveiled at its Huyton Industrial Estate base at 2pm tomorrow, April 14. The initiative will work with local employers and residents with the aim of delivering new job opportunities for the community.
SMALL
BUSINESS of the Week
R
ED tape is the bane of any small business, demanding hours of paperwork, causing unwanted and sometimes unnecessary distraction, and a source of constant frustration. But Jeanette Scott found herself mired in the stuff months and months before she could even contemplate opening her business. Jeanette, 47, has run the Happy Times child minding service from her 14 Drummond Road home in Walton for five years. But for a year before she could set up in the family home she had to meet a rigorous regime of checks and challenges that would have proved daunting to even the most ambitious of small business owners: “I spent a year on my home-based childcare diploma before opening up.” It was the first of a succession of qualifications and certificates needed to work in the child minding industry to attain Ofsted registration or insurance through the National Child Minder Association. And then, of course, there was Criminal Records Bureau clearance, although Jeanette was fortunately able to secure that within four weeks and avoid some of the lengthy delays that were the norm in the early days of the Liverpool-based Government agency. A clutch of other qualifications have followed, including safeguarding skills, first aid, hygiene, cookery, nutrition, even baby massage. “You have to pass your first qualifications and then continually update and upgrade those qualifications,” said Jeanette, who is linked to the Sure Start centre in Everton which encourages her to regularly build on her skills: “They want us to have as many strings to our bow as possible.” But she appreciates that parents need evidence of a child minder’s professionalism, for peace of mind. “Parents expect to see qualifications and diplomas. The qualifications, which are almost to teacher level, give parents confidence.” But she said the sheer graft and application was all worth it, and she advises other child minder hopefuls to follow their dream, too: “A lot of people ask my advice about what you have to do. But the hard work and red tape didn’t put me off.” She was inspired to open her own business after working as a chef in several nurseries. After initial jobs as a carer Jeanette qualified as a chef and worked in nursing homes and the Royal Liverpool hospital before moving to a children’s nursery.
Jeanette beats red tape blues to realise her dream Neil Hodgson talks to ‘multiple-mum’, child minder Jeanette Scott “I did cooking in a number of different nurseries. In my dinner hour I would go and sit with the kids.” A mum of two adult sons, Jeanette began Happy Times with just three children, but tries to limit numbers to five or six to ensure each child receives the maximum care and attention: “It is like having your own family. A lot of people don’t want to put their child in a big nursery environment where they feel they might be neglected.
“I find professional women want more of a family environment. “They know I will have more time with their children, almost like a second mum to them.” Children’s ages can range from three months to 11-years-old and a typical day for Jeanette’s youngsters can involve cookery – as part of lessons on a balanced and nutritious diet – gardening, or trips to museums or Chester Zoo. “The kids love cooking and making
cakes, and we plant flowers with them and teach them all their names, so it is educational as well as play.” And she says what might appear as mere play is part of a wider and structured programme as the industry becomes more and more professional. “In the past five years there has been a lot more book work. We have to sign children in and out, and also keep records of their progress each week to show their parents.” Jeanette also insists they she can learn from her youngsters: “We have kids from different faiths and different nationalities. I recently looked after a Spanish child. “So you have to learn about different children’s needs, and their cultures, and that includes the nutritional requirements of different faiths and nationalities.” Happy Times offers a drop-off and pick-up school service, particularly for
Banks and Chamber offer access to finance seminar LIVERPOOL Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with the Better Business Finance scheme to host a seminar on business access to finance next month. The free event, on May 11, at Liverpool’s Radisson Blu Hotel, will offer help and advice to businesses looking to raise finance.
Chamber chief executive Jack Stopforth and Bibby Line Group managing director Sir Michael Bibby are among the speakers. Break out sessions, involving high street banks Lloyds, Barclays, RBS, HSBC and Santander, will deal with a range of issues such as: What mentoring can do for
you; the lending code – principles and appeals; preparing a business plan; access to finance – the landscape of trade finance, and alternative sources including equity; and syndicated facilities. Mr Stopforth said: “Access to finance is a crucial issue for small and medium-sized
businesses, and it is important that they have a clear understanding of the support that is available to them. “Businesses need to be able to invest and grow if we are to see a lasting private sector-led recovery, and the UK’s banking sector has an important role to play in this.”
The Better Business Finance Scheme is supported by the British Bankers’ Association, and its chief executive Angela Knight said: “We are committed to ensuring that viable firms can access the finance they need to help their businesses grow and the tools they need so their enterprises can prosper.”
★★★★
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
NEWS 3
LANDLORDS FACING FALL IN INCOME
Do you want to be our Business of the Week? Contact Neil Hodgson 0151 472 2451 or email neil.hodgson @liverpool.com
the older youngsters whose parents don’t finish work until later in the day. “If their parents don’t get back until after six I pick children up from school and give them their tea. I can even help them with their homework,” she jokes. Jeanette said the variety in ages sometimes requires her to be a bit of a social worker, as well as a child minder: “I keep an eye on the kids and make sure they are safe and happy.” She said one little girl has been with her since the business started and is an established member of the Happy Times family: “She’s eight now. “You do get ‘clingy’ to them – it is lovely.” Families who use Jeanette’s services, including three teachers, hail from a wide geographical area, including Wavertree, Fazakerley, Kirkby and Rainford. Despite the current economic conditions and the Government’s austerity Budget, business, so far, has been quite stable and she said she is contemplating expanding, although she is keen to retain the family and homely atmosphere for the youngsters and their parents. “The closure of the Sure Starts have not affected us too much around here. “Hopefully, the Budget won’t affect the industry too much, but there might be an impact regarding changes to working tax credit. We’ll just have to wait to see how that feeds through,” she said.
HARD WORK: Jeanette says childminders need to go through ‘a rigorous regime of checks and challenges’ before setting up in business. Below: Toys galore
THE leader of a support group for Merseyside landlords is warning of a drop in income in the sector after new rules came into force. On April 1, the Government introduced reductions in housing allowance rents payments for many DSS tenants and a nationwide capping of DSS rental levels. Richard Globe, of the Wirral-based Property Landlord Support Group, is warning that many landlords may be unaware of the sudden fall in income. He said: “Expenditure items likely to be at risk are mortgage payments, property repair and gas safety checks. Landlords who are not prepared to lower their rents must approach DSS tenants as soon as possible and ask for a top-up. Mr Globe will offer advice and information. Call 0151 639 6253, 9am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, or email richardglobe@gmail.com
SKILLS HELP FOR SMES
BUSINESS & Enterprise (B&E) UK has been appointed by the Skills Funding Agency to provide training for small firms owners and managers to improve company performance. The north east-based private independent business will work with the Leadership and Management Advisory Service in the North West. B&E chief executive Alastair MacColl said: “By providing business leaders and strategic managers with specialist advice to improve their business and exploit growth opportunities we will help to turn good businesses into great businesses.” He added: “Our work around the country is helping to generate vital private sector jobs to rebalance the economy.” For further information on B&E please visit www. business-enterprise. net or call 0191-426 6100.
4 NEWS
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
★★★★
BUSINESS
BIG Creating an opportunity A to make a difference – one person at a time INTERVIEW Alex Turner talks to Jayne Worthington, the managing director of Scientiam
T THE same time as the Toxteth riots in 1981, a 12-year-old girl living on a council estate in Birmingham was seeing at close hand the effects of the Handsworth riots. “Although Toxteth was much worse, they were both because of very similar social issues,” recalled Jayne Worthington, who recently became managing director of Wirral-based training provider Scientiam. Growing up in that environment, and with her mum being a community worker, she got a first-hand understanding of what life was like in a place where there was little to inspire or to aspire to. After completing her studies, and deciding that despite long-held ambitions a career in the media wasn’t for her, she looked for a way she could make a difference. “I ended up working with a group helping unemployed people in Halesowen in 1991. We had lost the steel and everything – it was an important time. To work with people and see how moving into work was life-changing for them was great. “I also ran a youth group because I thought – and I still firmly believe – that being given skills and opportunities is life changing, particularly for those people who are in difficult circumstances.” Apart from 18 months living and working in Ibiza in her early 20s, Jayne has spent her entire career working in the skills sector, for delivery organisations and most recently in policy, working for the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA). It was a role that also included briefing Government ministers on the issues and problems associated with the skills agenda. The Government’s decision to wind down regional development agencies meant Jayne had to look for her next challenge. She wasn’t looking for long before Scientiam snapped her up to take charge. She said: “I wanted to get back to delivery and delivery that had social benefits. I was incredibly fortunate that I got offered the job at Scientiam really quickly.” Scientiam, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary after being set up as a legacy programme from CEWTEC, has diversified into a wider range of work-based learning from its original focus on apprenticeships for young people. “The value of good skills training cannot be underestimated,” she said. “Better skills mean a more motivated and able workforce that critically can drive a more efficient, profitable company.”
CHANGING LIVES: Jayne Worthington said she was ‘incredibly fortunate’ to win the top job at Scientiam
The skills agenda has remained high on the agenda despite the recession, in stark contrast to the last recession. “In my previous role at the NWDA, our research showed that businesses have acted very differently than in the last recession, when it was cut jobs, cut
training, slash and burn. “During this recession businesses were much more aware of keeping staff on their books and the value of training.” Scientiam provides commercial training “for all levels of staff from shop floor workers to directors” across the range of sectors.
‘Better skills mean a more motivated and able workforce’
Its major projects include retail skills shop Academy One and the Green Energy Training Centre (GETC). She said: “We decided we would invest about £150,000 in fitting out Academy One, which will be a top notch training facility and a mock shop training the retailers and leaders of tomorrow. As a company we thought that was really important. “Often public money gets thrown at lots of sectors but not retail. In Liverpool city region, it’s one of the biggest, if not the biggest
employment sector.” The low carbon economy is targeting as being a key growth sector for the city region and GETC is at the forefront of plans to make that a reality. “It’s about skills conversion – for example a plumber can convert their skills and be a part of it. We help to give them the tools to succeed in those markets.” Scientiam remains heavily involved with apprenticeships and Ms Worthington believes they will become even more popular – and important – in the years ahead.
★★★★
NEWS 5
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
IT’S THE
LAW with
Q
I HAVE a number of staff approaching retirement age but none shows any sign of wanting to leave. Can I force them to retire when they reach 65? IF you’re keen to get rid of these employees, then I’m afraid you just missed your last chance to do so. Until recently, while staff were allowed to request to work beyond the default retirement age, companies could still notify an employee of compulsory retirement, purely on the grounds of age. This, however, changed on April 6, 2011. The Government has decided that there are great benefits to having more people working beyond the age of 65 and that, as people now tend to live longer, the date people retire should be an issue of choice rather than compulsion. It also anticipates that having more people in work will provide a much-needed boost to the economy, and so has ruled that the default retirement age (DRA) itself had reached the end of its working life and should be abolished. While the change does not take effect until October 1, transition provisions attached to the change in legislation came into force on April 6, meaning that it is already no longer permissible to force staff to retire due to age alone. You will note I say due to age alone, as it is still possible to enforce a compulsory retirement age providing that you
A
LIFE SKILLS: Jayne Worthington has spent her career working in the skills sector
“I have got an absolutely fantastic staff team that are a pleasure to work with and are committed and loyal,” she said. “We are practising what we preach. We have got a fair few apprentices – they are vibrant and they get what we do, they really get it. “About 25% of our workforce have come through apprenticeships and we like to see them move up through the ranks as well. We really do believe in growing our own. “One of the really compelling things about apprenticeships is we can take people who are NEET [not
in education, employment or training], who are disenfranchised and disengaged, we can build their confidence and skills and then source an apprenticeship. “As an individual you are qualified, with experience of work, you get paid while you do it, and you are not trailing a student loan behind you. “Businesses get a staff member that completely understands the business and hopefully is part of its future and its future growth.”
HONOURS: Some of the people recognised at a recent Scientiam awards event
can objectively justify it. Clearly, we wait to see what types of roles might be included in this, but examples might include firefighters or air traffic controllers, which require a high level of physical or mental fitness. All this sounds like good news for the employees of yours who have no intention of clocking off for good just yet, but the challenges for businesses don’t end there. There are broader implications with the new legislation than whether or not individual employees work beyond their 65th birthday. For example, many employers offer staff group risk insured benefits such as health insurance or death in service benefits. What they will no doubt find in the coming months and years is that premiums for these can become significantly more expensive to provide for those over the age of 65. As result, businesses could be forced to pay a great deal more in order to give staff the same benefits they have been used to, or that they will either have to remove benefits or negotiate different remuneration packages once staff reach 65. This column was brought to you by Peter Mooney, head of consultancy at employment law specialist ELAS, Employment Law Advisory Services. For more information call the ELAS advice team on 0161-785 2000, or send an email to info@ employment-law.co. com
PREPARE FOR CHANGE: Peter Mooney
6 NEWS
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
★★★★
BUSINESS
NOPROFITNO
Tony McDonough looks at a trio of social enterprises
FOCUS . . . on social enterprises
S
OCIAL enterprises arguably have a rather touchy-feely reputation. But the view from those running them in Liverpool is that they are as commercially focused as any other type of business. Prime Minister David Cameron has said that the growth of the social enterprise sector is key to his Big Society agenda. Most social enterprises are run in the same way as any other private business, the main difference being that all profits or surplus are ploughed back in – rather than going into directors’ pockets. Blackburne House chief executive Claire Dove says being profitable is the best way to ensure its good work can continue. The award-winning Blackburne House, located in Hope Street in the city centre, turns over around £2m a year and offers training, education and consultancy services, mainly to women. The organisation started out in the 1980s as the Women’s Technology and Education Centre, based in nearby Hardman Street, with 30 students and seven employees. Now it employs around 80 people and offers more than 1,000 learning opportunities for women, and a small number of men. It runs a number of other businesses on-site including a cafe bar, a nursery and conference facilities. Claire said: “When we started out back in the 1980s our aim was to give opportunities to women who had been failed by the education system. “We do make a profit and we invest that back into what we do and into our wider environmental aims. “We decided that we did not want to rely on grants. “Of course we do look beyond the bottom line but we operate as a normal business. “We do not work in isolation – we work very closely with business. “We always keep an eye on changes in the market to see where the skills gaps are. “Liverpool is crying out for more entrepreneurs. “The women we have trained have enhanced their lives and are now making a major contribution to Liverpool’s economic renaissance.”
SUCCESS STORY: After winning his own personal battle against drink and drug addiction, Ben Donnelly set up Elixir Foundations which is now providing a work and training lifeline to ex-offenders, recovering addicts and the long-term unemployed Ben Donnelly has fought his way back from addictions to drink and drugs to set up and run what is now regarded as one of the most successful social enterprises in the country – Elixir Foundations. Elixir employs around 150 people across sites in Kirkby and Bootle. Most of its employees are ex-offenders, addicts or long-term unemployed. Its main activity is the recycling of PVC doors and windows and paper and cardboard. Its other division deals with property services such as maintenance, refurbishment and external improvements. The firm is also shortly to open a centre for which will offer assistance and accommodation to addicts. Ben said: “We are really growing the business now. “We have moved into 100,000 sq ft premises at Kirkby and we have invested more than £250,000 in new recycling equipment. “This has allowed us to start recycling paper and cardboard and
we are looking for contracts from public sector organisations like schools. The accommodation will be finished soon and that will allow us to offer a complete package to people. “The property maintenance side has been difficult – there is not a lot of work out there at the moment and we have lost some contracts, but we aim to build that up again.” Elixir employs mostly men, with just a handful of women on the books, although Ben hopes they can start offering help for single mothers. He added: “We also want to set up a training academy so we can offer the people working here proper qualifications. “I think the main difference with us being a social enterprise is the social agenda – those objectives and values are always at the forefront of our minds.” Robbie Davison strongly believes that business acumen is as vital in social enterprises as it is in any other business. He runs the Can Cook cookery school in Speke, a venture which
grew out of the local Sure Start centre. Community cafe chef Tony Evans was producing delicious and healthy dishes and people became interested in how to make them. Robbie said: “Peoples’ diets were awful but they were saying ‘we don’t know how to cook good food’. “We started to tackle that and it made a real impact – and it occurred to me there was a business model in this.” Can Cook teaches anyone, from individuals to schools or companies, but the emphasis is on healthy eating – two books are available, including one on healthy takeaway cooking. Robbie also plans to set up kiosks in Liverpool and other cities selling healthy food. Robbie is unsure about David Cameron’s claims that social enterprises can fill the gap left by public sector cuts. He added: “The problem is a lot of the people working in the public sector will not have the skills to run a business. Social enterprises can be part of the answer but they are not the whole answer.”
Raising sector’s national profile AS WELL as running Blackburne House, Claire Dove chairs the Social Enterprise Coalition. This is a national umbrella organisation which represents the interests of the sector. “I think we are like the CBI for social enterprises,” said Claire. “Our manifesto has been adopted by all the main political parties. “The Government has made a pledge in the Queen’s Speech to grow the number
GAIN
NEWS 7
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
★★★★
MONEYMATTERS MORE than a third of people who hoped to retire this year are putting their plans on hold as many find they cannot afford to stop working, research indicated today. Around 38% of people who had planned to start drawing their pension during 2011 have decided to delay retiring, with 22% admitting they
cannot afford to give up their job, according to insurer Prudential. Among those who are delaying retiring for financial reasons, 40% think they will have to keep working until they are 70 or older to have a comfortable income during retirement. On average, those who claim they cannot afford to retire as planned had
with NICKY BURRIDGE, Personal Finance Correspondent
hoped to stop work when they were 62, but they now think they will be 68 before they give it up. The proportion of people who think they can no longer afford to retire as they had planned has increased significantly during the past 12 months, rising to 22% now from 15% in 2010. Vince Smith-Hughes, head of business
development at Prudential, said: “The only realistic option for those who want to avoid having to delay their planned retirement is to start saving as much as they can as early as they can. “However, as inflation reaches 5.5%, Prudential’s research shows that people are postponing retirement.”
ADVERTORIAL
BUSINESS FINANCE: MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE BY LEIGH TAYLOR Area director for Lloyds TSB Commercial in the North West
PROFITABLE: Robbie Davison believes social enterprises have to be run the same way as any other type of business
of social enterprises.” On its website, the coalition has outlined its plan to keep social enterprise at the top of the political agenda. It says: “We work hard to influence the positions of these political parties, in order to ensure that social enterprise is understood and supported regardless of who is in power. “This work includes attending party conferences, influencing election manifestos and working with think tanks across the political spectrum.” Claire believes the sector will become increasingly important within the UK economy and says it is vital to work hand in hand with mainsteam businesses. She added: “I believe the business sector can learn from us and we can learn from them. We all need a buoyant economy.”
FOCUSED ON GROWTH: Claire Dove
If you are looking to take advantage of new opportunities and grow your company, funding is often the key. The best place to start is with your business plan. Spend some time creating a clear, strong plan with financial forecasts, clearly thought out for the next three to five years. Anticipate issues which may require additional finance and take factors such as industry regulation into account. This will give you – and your bank – a clearer view of which options will meet your business’ needs in the short, medium and long-term. At Lloyds TSB Commercial, we will help you explore a variety of funding options and help you make a choice that is right for your business – we have outlined some of these below. factoring and invoice discounting allows you to release the value of your invoices and can help bridge the gap between supplying services or products and receiving payment, helping stabilise cash flow and manage the impact of late payments. Term loans are a more structured borrowing method, based on lending against a security – such as your company’s assets or another form of guarantee. This type of financing is typically used for the purchase or refurbishment of premises or other fixed assets. Because the loan is secured, the rate offered often reflects the lower risk. Lloyds TSB Commercial has also been one of the largest participants in the Government’s Enterprise finance Guarantee (EfG) Scheme. This allows viable and eligible businesses with a turnover of up to £25 million which lack
SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES: Lloyds TSB Commercial’s Leigh Taylor lending security to apply for term lending for a number of purposes, including the improvement of working capital and partial consolidation of overdrafts. In 2010, roughly three in every 10 loans generated under this scheme were offered by Lloyds TSB. Lloyds TSB Commercial strives to understand the requirements of your business with the aim of providing you with a funding opportunity to make your plans a reality.
for more information about how Lloyds TSB can work with you and your business, please contact your Relationship Manager or visit www.lloydstsb.com/ business/finance To find out about factoring or invoice discounting visit www.ltsbcf.co.uk Any property given as security which may include your home, may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or other debts secured on it.
All lending is subject to a satisfactory credit assessment. 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. We subscribe to The Lending Code; copies of the Code can be obtained from www.lendingstandardsboard. org.uk
8 NEWS
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
★★★★
Business to Business
BUSINESS
Industrial Property
GLORY AWAITS OUR ‘GREEN WARRIORS’
UNITS TO LET Bootle Area 5,000−15,000 sqft. Flexible terms 0151 486 0004
Commercial Premises INDUSTRIAL UNITS To Let. South L’pool 500 to 4000 sqft, monthly tenancy, competitive rents. From £50pw Tel: 0151 427 5051 OFFICE/INDUSTRIAL UNITS TO LET AINTREE 24 hr access. Security provided. Excellent Rates. Call Kenny 0151 524 0033
SHOP & OFFICE PREMISES Main rd Maghull, 3,500 sq feet, secure yard and forcourt parking, will divide. Also small warehouse, well decorated 01695 423489
WALLASEY FOR SALE Modern warehouse, 9,000 sqft £250,000 ono. Ring 0151 625 7779 or 07885 493820 CAFE & LARGE FREEHOLD PREMISES For sale, Walton Vale area. £150,000. Tel: 07818 064321 WELLINGTON RD L15 Variety of Industrial units available now 0151 227 2875
Business For Sale LICENSED HOTEL FOR SALE L9 12 bedrooms, large dining room, car park, very busy through sporting season, contractors mid−week. Freehold building, further potential 0151 5254018 BUILDERS MERCHANTS & DIY Aigurth Vale. Large warehouse, shop, yard & stores s/c flat above, owner retiring, freehold. Long est, tipping truck & fork lift truck best offer 0151 727 2231 or 427 9653
PROFITABLE 140 SEAT C A F E / R E S T A U R A N T In Southport town centre for sale. New lease available, reasonable offers considered. Contact oj.childs@gmail.com C A R D S & G I F T S SouthLiverpool, Est 20 yrs excellent turnover, retirement sale. £69,000 sav. 07581 335851
Taxis/Cab & Plate PRIVATE HIRE Lpool plates. Excellent Skoda’s avail fr £160 inc ins. & lady drivers. Quarry Cars 07713 368196 L’POOL PLATE Skoda Octavia Car only £85pw, or Car & Insurance £145pw. 07951 994488
AWARDS NIGHT: The successful winners of the ECHO’s inaugural competition will be announced at a ceremony in the city’s St George’s Hall on May 18
by NEIL HODGSON Industry Reporter THE first It’s Our World Merseyside Environment Awards have attracted a record entry from eco-conscious ECHO readers. Scores of Merseyside businesses responded to the competition to encourage firms to help make the region a greener place. And with so many applications the competition has generated the biggest response for any event handled by the ECHO’s team. The 2011 awards, supported by sponsor Groundwork, aim to recognise and celebrate the work of community groups, businesses, and public sector bodies which are contributing to improving our environment.
Shorlist revealed for business category finalists They were split into two categories covering the private and public sectors, and community entries. ECHO editor Alastair Machray invited Merseysiders to enter, or nominate people and groups that were doing their bit to help create a better environment to live and work in. And he said the response was staggering: “It was fantastic to see so many projects and green initiatives taking place. “People really want to shout about
what they have been up to, no matter how big or small their projects were.” He added: “It was so exciting to receive the post, or open emails every day to read about all these fantastic initiatives, and to also see the pictures that had been sent in of all the projects.” The large scale of entries and nominations made it extremely difficult for the judging panel, which included the ECHO’s It’s Our World reporter Jade Wright. Each entry was individually examined and assessed, even before judging day last Wednesday when the final shortlist for the seven business categories was chosen. Next week the shortlist for the five community categories will be announced. And the successful winners from all
our finalists will be revealed on May 18 at the awards presentation in the Concert Room of Liverpool’s St George’s Hall. This will be followed by an opportunity for all the finalists to extend their contacts and compare best practice and their work on all their projects in a business networking event. Mr Machray added: “The event will be a great opportunity for like-minded people to come together to find out what other companies have been up to, and to celebrate the fantastic work that has been taking place.” Tickets for the It’s Our World Merseyside Environment Awards final are now available. To obtain further information, please call the ECHO’s events team on 0151-472 2570, or visit www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/ environment awards, or email events@ liverpool.com
Are you on our shortlist? ● University of Liverpool Start Up Environment Award Green Preference Service Limited North West Recycling Ltd Roberts Recycling
● Liverpool City Council Environmental Enterprise Award Elixir Group BuilderScrap Eco Environments Ltd
● The Mersey Forest Corporate Responsibility Award Hill Dickinson Elixir Group Riverside Housing
● The Mersey Partnership Carbon Champion Award Benson Signs Liverpool Produce Terminal Ltd Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service
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