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A new dawn The Liverpool Post Business Daily has arrived
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Thursday, June 13, 2013
Revolution in digital business journalism by Mark Thomas LDP EDITOR
mark.thomas@liverpool.com
TODAY sees the launch of the Liverpool Post Business Daily, a brand new five-days-a-week business publication for users of tablet computers and smart phones The publication, produced by the Liverpool Post’s newly-expanded business team, offers readers 30 pages a day of the latest news, views, expert advice, data analysis and business intelligence. It marks a return to an in-depth daily business news service for the Liverpool Post, something the business community has been clamouring for ever since the newspaper evolved into its new weekly format. And it will provide a greater depth and variety of business coverage than ever before, delivered conveniently to your digital device first thing every morning. The crisp, compact pages offer a concise breakdown of the key facts in our stories, backed by great photography. The new format allows us to take full advantage of multi-media elements like video audio, picture galleries and archive material to give you greater depth and richness of content and really bring our stories to life. Liverpool Post editor Mark Thomas said: “This is an exciting development for us – a cutting edge digital publication that will keep us at the forefront of journalism as the newspaper industry goes through the biggest revolution in our 158-year history. “We are pulling together business news and valuable information from myriad sources every day, to provide a genuinely powerful and useful tool
for the busy business person. “It goes without saying that we will continue to lead the way with exclusive and in depth coverage of the city region’s business community, but the Liverpool Post Business Daily will also help to open up opportunities for smart businesses to take advantage of. “Whether it is business advice you need, or a handy source to see who is doing what, who won what contract, and what new tender opportunities are out there, you will find it all in this compact and easily searchable daily briefing.” Steve Anderson-Dixon, Trinity Mirror Regional Managing Director North West, Manchester and North Wales, said: “Mark Thomas and his team have done an excellent job in bringing the Business Daily e-Edition to market and the reaction from the business community following the research that’s been undertaken has given us huge encouragement. “The success of the publication, as ever, is dependent on the relevancy of its content and I’m confident that the Business Daily will deliver on the business community’s expectations.” The Liverpool Post Business Daily has its formal launch tonight at the newspaper’s annual Regional Business Awards dinner, a glittering event attended by over 450 people at Liverpool’s St George’s Hall. The Liverpool Post Business Daily app is available for download now, and all subscribers will be offered a 30-day free trial.
’You will find it all in this daily briefing’
Advice from our panel of business experts
Business Intelligence at
BUSINESS moves at a bewildering pace these days, and nobody can hope to be an expert on everything. If you are part of a big corporation, you probably have advice on most areas on tap. But for smaller businesses, it isn’t so easy. That’s why every day in the Liverpool Post Business Daily we will be bringing you advice from experts.
OUR Leads and Deals section will be a powerful business intelligence tool at your fingertips. Our business team will scour the business world each day, to do the legwork you may not have time for. We will collate the latest tender opportunities for your business to pursue, executive job opportunities, planning applications, insolvencies, deal winners and who is on the move in the business community.
Whether you need help with marketing, keeping your business environmentally friendly, tax, investment, business and employment law or IT, our panel of the city region’s top business experts have the answers. Read Jon Brown at Paver Smith on marketing, Simon Walker at Cheviot for investment advice, Liverpool
Chamber of Commerce on international trade, and Hill Dickinson on business and employment law. Martyn Best at Document Direct has IT help, and Patrick Richardson of Concept LHP will help you with environmental issues. Andrew Moss, of city accountants Duncan Sheard Glass will offer tax advice to our readers.
Marketing: Paver Smith’s Jon Brown
Investment: Simon Walker at Cheviot
It is a service designed to give our subscribers a clear competitive advantage over the opposition Also in Leads and Deals you will find the editor’s in box, a collection of the latest press releases sent in to our business team. Our data journalism team will bring you fascinating insights each day into the statistics of our city region, which will help you in planning your future business strategy.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
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Ethical Glass 5% pledge to charities
The Post Business Daily will be your essential guide to what’s going on
The Business Daily app can be accessed on your smartphone every day
St George’s Hall will be the venue for the Liverpool Post Regional Business Awards
The Post Business Daily is available for your tablet from this week
your fingertips
Introducing the Liverpool Post 50
The Liverpool Post business team bringing you the news
THE Liverpool Post Business Daily is launching its own shares index, designed to act as a true barometer of the health of our city regional economy. The Liverpool Post 50 will track the share performance of 50 of the most important businesses either based here, or with major economic relevance to life in the city region. So for instance you will find locally centred organisations like Johnson Service Group and Rathbone Brothers, but equally you will find companies like Unilever,
which has its spiritual home here, and General Motors and Tata Motors, parent companies of Vauxhall and Jaguar Land Rover. The list has been compiled by our business team, who will monitor it regularly for new contenders and for firms whose local relevance has waned. Of course our stocks and shares pages will also feature the latest news from the FTSE 100, currency prices, and a daily report on the latest trends driving local, national and international market prices.
How do I subscribe? SIGNING up to become a regular reader of the Liverpool Post Business Daily couldn’t be simpler. Individual subscribers should use their tablet or smartphone and go to www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/businessdaily. For multiple or corporate subscriptions for five readers or more, contact subscriptions manager Chris Carden (below right) on 0151 330 4915 or email chris.carden@trinitymirror.com Every new subscriber will receive a 30-day free trial. Then the most you will pay is £9.99 a month, but there are a range of discounts available for groups and longer sign-ups.
A NEW cocktail bar has opened in Liverpool, pledging to bring some cheer to the region’s charities. The Ethical Glass in Harrington Street will pass on 5% of all its profits to charity. Owner Mark Hibbard said: “We operate in a different way to the chains. “We offer very low prices for a city centre venue, but still use high-end brands in our food and drinks.” He added: “With no sports screens, alcopops or karaoke, you’ll be among the right crowd in a relaxed ambience.” Mr Hibbard managed a pub 18 years ago in Birmingham but then went into management consultancy and specialised in social housing consultancy, where he was exposed to the philanthropic aims and objectives of different organisations. This inspired him to set up a bar with a view to “giving a little something back”. After gaining support from his bank he took out a loan and embarked on his new venture. He said: “I wanted to create something different. “Providing a personal touch and bringing back the values of the bar tender from the good old days. “I want people to know what to expect at The Ethical Glass. “We don’t use gimmicks, fudged 2-for-1 promotions, pints at £1.70, nor Blossom Hill – just quality brands at honest prices.” He said the atmosphere is suited to the city’s business district and ideal for a lunch date with friends or for an after work catch-up drink.
Outlook is ‘positive’ THE outlook for jobs remains “firmly positive”, with firms in some areas the most optimistic for five years, a study has shown. Manpower said more employers were planning to recruit staff in the coming months than lay workers off. Hiring intentions in London were said to be the best for five years, according to a survey of more than 2,000 UK employers.
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Bill Gleeson A good start for Peel’s new Post-Panamax in-river quayside MARGARET Hodge, chair of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, had a swipe at Peel earlier this week. She alleged the company has only paid 10% of its profits in corporation tax. If true, that would be a low figure, but on the other hand its business affairs and group structures are complex, so it’s not clear how Ms Hodge knows for sure. To determine the truth of the matter would require an extended examination of Peel’s accounts over a number of years. One thing that Peel has definitely done correctly is to invest in Liverpool’s new in-river Post Panamax terminal to be built along the sea wall at Seaforth. This will allow the world’s biggest ships to berth in the River Mersey, something they can’t do at the moment. It is hoped the new terminal will allow trade that is currently brought into the UK through Southampton and other ports in the south will be able to land closer to their final consumer markets than is currently the case. This, it is argued, will take lorries off Britain’s roads, though of course it will add to traffic volumes in the vicinity of the port. There are some early signs that the strategy is paying off. Typhoo Tea has said it will ship tea through the Port of Liverpool once the new quayside is open for business. It’s a good start. EDWARD Billington & Son is one of those companies that are closely associated with its home city. It has been in the ownership of the same family for many generations and there is still an Edward Billington on the company’s board. It recently published its results, which show some impressive figures. Sales have risen and profit has doubled on the back of the partial sale of its stake in an American sweeteners business. It has been protected from some of the worst effects of the recession because it is in the food business and we all still need to eat.
It has also undoubtedly benefited from rising agricultural prices as demand for crops has gone up to feed an ever growing population of middle class consumers in emerging economies and to produce the animal feed that their increasingly protein rich westernised diets require. There is also increasing demand for bio-fuels. While some of these issues involve controversy, the fact is Billington is a well managed business that has been consistently profitable for a number of years. THINGS appear to be looking up at Birkenhead based Park Group. Peter Johnson’s business reported its best figures in years earlier this week. His business has grown strongly in recent years on the back of its pre-payment card services. It is possible Park is riding a counter credit culture trend that has also seen the greater use of cash in preference to traditional and expensive credit cards by consumers trying to manage tight budgets and avoid the temptation to overspend. If this trend continues, it should provide Park with even bigger business opportunities in the years ahead as it seeks to meet a very important social need, a principle on which the company was originally founded. Park has also benefited from the widespread availability and use of broadband and internet. Their e-commerce service appears to be reaching a wide variety of customers around the country, and this has allowed them to sell direct to end-users rather than through its traditional and more expensive network of agents. While this might mean fewer jobs for agents, Park has recruited an increasing number of IT specialists to design and operate the service. It’s all a long way from the story of a decade ago when the company, then principally a Christmas savings and hamper business, seemed to be struggling to maintain its place in the market. Mr Johnson is right to describe it as a transformation.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
English regions A lack of marketing budgets blamed for giving advantage to other parts of UK Bill Gleeson reports
T
HE abolition of England’s regional development agencies has caused England’s regions to lose out to Britain’s other nations when it comes to attracting overseas investment. The transfer of responsibility from RDAs to civil servants based in London couldn’t have come at a worse time, as inward investment levels decline in the face of the economic downturn. According to research carried out by accountancy firm Ernst & Young, which publishes an annual investment attractiveness survey, the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland enjoyed dramatic rises in foreign direct investment of 49%, 244% and 71% respectively. Unlike the English regions, the other nations did not suffer any disruptive restructuring of their long established inward investment agencies, including Scottish Enterprise and the Welsh Development Agency. The accountancy firm says their high growth figures suggest that the three countries picked up the slack left by the failure of the English regions to compete effectively for new investment from countries like the United States and China. It wasn’t all bad news for England, with some regions, including the North West, performing very strongly. Of the English regions, the North West, Yorkshire, the North East and the West Midlands were the only ones to show an improved performance in the number of FDI projects secured last year compared to 2011. The other five, including London, South East, East of England, East Midlands and the South West suffered a slump. Simon Allport, E&Y’s senior partner in the North West, said: “English regions clearly suffered in the battle to attract inward investment last year. It appears that the closure of the regional development agencies may have started to undermine their performance. “Now represented by Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), English regions need greater focus and support to attract inward investment, or risk damaging the UK’s overall performance. “In comparison, countries such as France and Germany have a much more balanced regional spread of projects.” Former Northwest Development Agency chief executive Stephen Broomhead agrees with E&Y’s finding that the switch from RDAs to Local Enterprise Partnerships caused some considerable problems, at least initially. Mr Broomhead said: “When the RDAs were abolished there was a vacuum which UKTI tried to fill rapidly. “We are still in the situation where the Welsh, Irish and Scottish governments have had no upheaval in this area. “We are still seeing elements of that, though things are beginning to improve. “Inward investment was centralised in London and they then pass out enquiries. It’s taken time for the LEPs to find their feet with this agenda. “It was one of the unintended consequences of the abolition of the RDAs.” Liverpool City Region LEP executive director Mark Basnett says the inward investment marketing budgets in Eng-
land don’t compare to those in other parts of the UK. Mr Basnett said: “UKTI took on the role when the RDAs were abolished. They put it out to PA Consulting to handle inward investment for them on a national basis. “The English regions under RDAs did have a budget for their own inward investment promotional activity. Some of E&Y’s figures suggested that English regions were perceived to be less attractive to foreign investors than they were previously. “To be fair to UKTI, they have been trying to pull together materials and promote the competitive strengths of each area, but they don’t have the same budgets to do that. “They (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) have more control of their own budgets.” Notwithstanding the problems affecting the English regions generally, the North West and the Liverpool City Region did attract considerable foreign investment. Mr Basnett said: “We had a good year and that’s largely down to Jaguar Land
‘English regions need greater support’
Rover and some associated automotive supply chain investment. “We have identified those areas where the city region has a competitive advantage at a national or international level, for example around port trade. “We have also focussed on supply side conditions and winning investment on the back of that. “Investment in the Celtic Array (Irish Sea windfarms) means we are extraordinarily well positioned. We have secured Liverpool City Region as the west coast’s official centre for renewable engineering focussed around Cammell Laird.” Despite the fact that many English regions fell behind last year, the E&Y annual attractiveness survey shows that the North West secured the highest number of jobs from foreign investors, compared to all other UK regions in 2012. A total of 5,572 jobs were created in the region by foreign companies last year, 50% more than the number recorded in the previous year (3,715 in 2011). The North West ranked number one for number of jobs created out of 12 UK regions, ahead of London (4,018) and Scotland (4,867). Mr Allport said: “The figures demonstrate that the North West is a regional
Thursday, June 13, 2013
big feature post business
lose out in FDI stakes Merseyside benefited from millions of pounds of foreign direct investment from India owned Jaguar Land Rover
Former Northwest Development Agency chief executive Steve Broomhead
Could Germany become more attractive to inward investors than the United Kingdom?
powerhouse when securing inward investment. Our infrastructure and skilled workforce are an attractive proposition to foreign investors.” The 5,572 jobs were created by 44 foreign investment projects locating in the North West in 2012 – an increase of 13% on 2011, when there were 39 such projects. Greater Manchester secured 20 investments in 2012, compared to 11 in Merseyside, eight in Cheshire, four in Lancashire and one in Cumbria. One of the largest FDI projects recorded in 2012, by number of jobs created, was the expansion of the Jaguar Land Rover plant at Halewood. India based Tata Motors added a third shift at the plant to increase production of the fast selling Range Rover Evoque, generating 1,500 jobs. The attractiveness survey found that the region attracted investment largely from the traditional locations of the US (9 projects), France (5), Ireland (4) and Germany. As well as Jaguar Land Rover, specific projects in this region during 2012 include an investment by Unilever at its Port Sunlight site with the expansion of
its shampoo plant. Another example was a new warehouse for online retailer Amazon in Liverpool, creating 500 jobs. Around 65 jobs were created in St Helens by valve manufacturer Dresser, owned by US based General Electric. Japanese-owned NGF Europe created 24 jobs in St Helens when it opened a new fibre-forming facility and Irish airline Ryanair created 180 jobs at its Liverpool John Lennon Airport operation. E&Y’s attractiveness survey is based on a twofold methodology that reflects an evaluation of what the firm calls the real and perceived attractiveness of the UK for foreign investors and is based on E&Y’s European Investment Monitor (EIM). This database tracks FDI projects that have resulted in new facilities and the creation of new jobs but excludes portfolio investments and mergers and acquisitions. The “perceived” attractiveness of the UK and its competitors by foreign investors is based on an analysis of image, investor confidence and perceptions about competitiveness.
‘Region secured highest number of jobs’
THE Ernst & Young 2012 attractiveness survey reveals some ongoing changes and concerns affecting the international market place for inward investment. While the United States remains by far the largest source of inward investment into the UK and Europe, other nations are beginning to make an impact, notably emerging markets like India and China. At the same time, while Britain remains the largest recipient of inward investment, Germany is beginning to catch up. Francis Small, head of international markets at E&Y said: “The US is the largest foreign investors in Europe and the UK remains its European destination of choice.” Mr Small added: “But in terms of investors who are new to Europe, Germany has taken the lead and Germany is also closing the gap overall. “The biggest contributors to the UK and Germany are different. China’s favoured destination for investing in Europe is Germany.”
The UK attracted a higher number of FDI projects and a higher market share than in 2011. Mr Small said: “The UK raised its game in a number of areas. “It offers a more flexible financial system that increases the availability of finance. There is also an increased level of business support for SMEs and the UK has done more to facilitate trade missions to emerging markets. The biggest five inward investors in Britain are the US, France Germany, Japan and India. Mr Small said that, given the US economy was now recovering, it was important to continue to encourage investment from there. He said the pattern of Asian investment into Europe was mixed in 2012. Japan was up 15% while projects from China fell by 13% as that country directs its investment resources into domestic consumer markets. Since 2008, Germany has reduced the gap with the UK
year on year. Mr Small said: “The ongoing trend suggests Germany may soon catch the UK as Europe’s largest recipient of FDI projects.” In 2012, Germany claimed 16% of European FDI while the UK claimed 18%. In the period since 2006, Germany has more than doubled the number of FDI projects it wins annually. Over the same period the UK’s number has remained relatively stable. Mr Small said: “When we interviewed investors about the attractiveness of European countries over the next three years, Germany came out ahead of the UK. “The question is, could Germany now challenge the UK’s longstanding position as the primary gateway to Europe. It means the need for continued action and investment by the government is absolutely clear from the survey. “There is a clear attraction to the UK and London in particular. The core of London’s attraction is around financial services.”
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Spectre of depression adds to credit gloom across Europe market analysis
by Will Roberts
LIVERPOOL OFFICE OF CHARLES STANLEY
DESPITE the recent sell off in global bonds and equities, investor sentiment remains fairly buoyant. A number of measures suggest equities are fully valued at present, but the asset class remains in favour. For now, investors are ignoring macroeconomic issues. While investors have cheered the latest QE sugar rush provide by the Japanese authorities, this is masking the problems bubbling away with the eurozone which have not gone away. Conditions on the continent could be considered worse than before with the ECB recently reporting that seasonally adjusted credit to the non-banking sector fell by 27bn euros in April alone. Credit has now contracted in the eurozone in 17 of the last 19 months, amounting to an estimated withdrawal of non-banking sector is around 3% below levels last year. This has clear risks to financial stability, but here in the UK we are not immune as credit has also been contracting in our economy. This is especially true in terms of lending to smaller and medium-sized companies widely regarded as important employers and hotbeds of entrepreneurship. Europe as a whole is in a desperate struggle due to a credit crunch, not merely a cyclical downturn. The eurozone has now endured six
Will Roberts
consecutive quarters of negative growth, and while there are exceptions within the region, most obviously Germany, this merely masks the depth of the crisis elsewhere. You only need to see the scale of unemployment across the eurozone, and more worryingly youth unemployment, to see exactly how bad things have become. The worry is that we are seeing a depression in some countries due to a systematic breakdown, rather than a normal business cycle. There is not an automatic mechanism that exists to stabilise such conditions, meaning a strong policy response is required to deal with the problem. Unfortunately, governments and the EU seem to be falling well short on this front. We have seen various authorities within the eurozone drag their feet recently with regards to EU directives on dealing with their deficits and the cynics would say this is for populist reasons. While this may win votes and popularity contests in the short term, it is likely to prolong the agony. It is worth considering that while an easing of austerity (not that this has really got going in a lot of EU countries) may lead to one or two “strong” quarters of performance, credit creation, or the lack of it, continues to hamper the future performance the while lending to the 72bnof euros, eurozone. The region’s GDP is still 3.2% lower over the first quarter of 2013 than it was in the first quarter of 2008. A major factor is the broken banking sector. It is still highly leveraged, undercapitalised and is in such a state that further bail outs are unattractive to governments. The ECB has some firepower remaining in that interest rates are at 0.5%, so they may cut them again. It may also push the regional deposit facility rate from zero into negative territory. It can also activate the Outright Monetary Transaction (whereby it makes purchases in secondary, sovereign bond markets of bonds issued by eurozone members) or the European Stability Mechanism (a financial assistance programme for member states of the eurozone in financial difficulty) but it seems there are institutional impediments holding the ECB back. As long as this situation endures, credit continues to contract and the banking sector remains broken, it is hard to see an end to the eurozone crisis which, for the time being, Protests in Spain at economic crisis and rising youth unemployment remains out of the spotlight.
More shoppers hit the high street in May CONSUMER spending recorded its strongest increase for two and-a-half years in May as people turned to more traditional ways of buying goods such as the high street and mail order companies, a report has found. Overall consumer expenditure grew by 1.3% year-on-year according to Visa, marking the biggest annual increase seen since October 2010. This is in spite of the unseasonably cold weather hitting demand for summer clothing and garden furniture as parts of Britain were covered in sleet and snow.
The uplift was boosted by more shoppers being tempted onto the high street in May, where consumer spending saw its fastest annual increase since September last year, showing a 1.3% uplift. The rise in high street spending, together with a 1.3% annual increase in consumers turning to mail and telephone ordering, offset a small 0.2% year-on-year decline in online spending, according to the report, compiled for Visa by Markit. The strongest year-on-year increases in consumer spending were recorded in the miscellaneous
goods and services category, which includes trips to the hairdresser, personal effects such as jewellery and financial services such as insurance premiums. Hotels and restaurants saw the next biggest uplift, followed by the transport and communication sector. The biggest annual drops were seen in the health and education and food, drink and tobacco sectors. Spending on clothing, household goods and recreation and culture were also down on the same period a year ago.
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LOW income households are struggling to keep a roof over their heads, according to figures from a national debt charity. The number of households with net incomes of less than £10,000 and who are struggling with rent and mortgage arrears has increased sharply in recent years while the amounts owed have continued to rise, StepChange Debt Charity said. In 2009, 16.9% of households in rented accommodation with incomes of less than £10,000 seeking help from the charity were struggling with rent arrears. In 2012 this figure had risen to 30.8% and in the first quarter of 2013 stood at 34.4%. Meanwhile, the amount owed in rent arrears by these households has increased from an average of £636 in 2009 to £757 in 2012. The number of low income households with mortgages who are falling behind on payments has also risen significantly, the charity says.
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BANK and building society customers are to save millions of pounds in “unnecessary” penalty charges under an industry agreement announced by the new City regulator. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said the agreement reached with seven of the UK’s biggest high street banks will make a “big difference”£ to millions of customers’ everyday banking experiences. The new approach has been adopted by Barclays, The Co-operative, HSBC, Nationwide, RBS Group, Santander and National Australia Group, which owns Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks.
Warning for ATM users CASH machine users are being warned to be on their guard as criminals’ attempts to steal their card details and pin codes have tripled year-on-year. Financial Fraud Action UK (FFA UK), which released the figures, said it has seen a recent spate of incidents involving fraudsters resorting to “low-tech” crimes involving cash machines. Some 7,525 incidents at ATMs were recorded in the first four months of this year. FFA UK said that improved
security generally, amid advances in technology such as chip and pin and better fraud detection methods across the banks, is forcing criminals to turn to more old-fashioned ways to trick people. It has seen a growing trend of criminals “shoulder surfing”, meaning they simply look over a bank customers’ shoulder while they key in their pin and then distract them so they can snatch their card from the cash machine. It said that people should always shield the keypad.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
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Stephanie joins elite band of female scientific glass blowers STEPHANIE Preston is to join a scientific elite as just the fifth woman who can create complex and unique glass apparatus for research scientists. The 41-year-old mother is a trainee scientific glassblower who has snapped up a rarely available trainee position at Runcorn’s The Heath, offered by owner and operator of the business and technical park SOG Ltd. A highly specialised skill, scientific glassblowers create everything from test tubes to intricate vessels for research laboratories. As a new member of the British Society of Scientific Glassblowers, Ms Preston, from South Liverpool, joins just four other women qualified to produce the apparatus from the society membership of more than 200. She was recommended to SOG by her tutor at Le Lycée Dorian in Paris, where she completed a course in making Neon Art. Now she will work under the tutelage of SOG’s awardwinning chief scientific glassblower, Paul Le Pinnet. Ms Preston said: “I feel incredibly honoured to have been offered this role. It’s a man’s world but the work is really interesting. There is such a shortage of scientific glassblowers in this country that a lot of glass research apparatus has to be brought in from abroad.”
Stephanie Preston at work on an intricate item for the research lab at Runcorn’s The Heath business park
P2P lending set to take off as banks hold the purse strings by Neil Hodgson
POST BUSINESS STAFF
neil.hodgson@liverpool.com
A QUARTER (24%) of UK small firms (SMEs) – about 1.2m – believe they will struggle to access finance in the next 12 months, according to a new report. So, 16%, or 768,000, of small companies would consider applying for a peer-to-peer lending scheme (P2P) loan over the next year, says rebuildingsociety, a peer-to-business lending website that connects SME borrowers with lenders looking for better returns than those offered by savings accounts. The research also showed that 26% of people in the UK (up to 12m) would consider loaning money to SMEs by joining a P2P scheme in 2014 when the sector will be fully regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”).
Peer-to-peer lending – also known as person-to-person lending, peer-to-peer investing and social lending – involves lending money to businesses or individuals online. The sector is set to boom with as much as £12bn to be lent through SME P2P schemes annually, roughly 10% of total mainstream SME bank lending in 2012. Individual lenders can typically earn between 8% and 15% interest through P2P platforms such as rebuildingsociety, which is significantly higher than the sub-inflation returns offered by many bank and building society accounts. Daniel Rajkumar, rebuildingsociety. com managing director, said: “This research shows P2P lending is well on its way to entering the financial mainstream with strong levels of interest from consumers and SMEs alike. “The FCA’s regulatory oversight from next year will provide consumers
with an additional layer of protection and our study shows this is very likely to boost take-up.” The organisation was founded after Mr Rajkumar experienced frustration with his bank in terms of funding another of his business interests. One successful customer is Exquisite Handmade Cakes, in Leeds, which was founded in 2004 and employs 30 staff. Despite a host of national contracts and a £1.6m turnover, owner Viv Parry was refused a bank loan of just £50,000 to buy new cake slicing machinery. She turned to rebuildingsociety.com and was listed as a lending opportunity for three weeks, but was fully funded within one week. Lenders reviewed the financial and personal profile submitted by Ms Parry and quizzed her in the online forum. She received bids from more than 60
individuals, pushing the interest rate payable on the loan down to a level that allowed her to accept the loan and purchase the portioning machine. She said: “This is one of the most innovative schemes I’ve ever encountered. “Businesses owners shouldn’t take it personally if a bank turns them down for finance because it is no longer a barometer for a good quality business. “I would advise directors to embrace the challenge of securing growth finance because there are plenty of alternatives, like peer-tobusiness lending.” Mr Rajkumar urged Merseyside firms to embrace P2P, adding: “Angel investors traditionally invest as much in the person as the business opportunity and it’s fair to say this was the case here, albeit a debt arrangement with many different lenders.”
Firms unaware of costly changes to employment tribunals MANY businesses are unprepared and unaware of the Government’s delayed new employment tribunal rules, a business law company claims. The rules come into force this summer aimed at simplifying the tribunal system, but
could end up costing businesses dearly, says Lighthouse RiskServices.com. Lighthouse managing director Chris Hall said: “On the face of it the reforms seem to simplify the entire tribunal process, but they leave busi-
nesses wide open to multiple claims many can’t afford.” Thechanges include ‘strike out’ powers to end weak cases at the earliest opportunity; cutting the amount of paperwork, making it easier to withdraw and dismiss claims;
and new procedures for preliminary hearings to reduce the number of hearings. Mr Hall said: “While the changes have been made with the intention of making it easier to strike out frivolous claims, the ease that claims
can be filed mean companies will have to spend thousands to fight their corner. A former employee will be able to issue a claim for £160, while an unfair dismissal claim comes with a £250 filing fee, with a £950 hearing fee.”
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Optionis continues strategic expansion CLEARSKY Accounting has bought Manchester accountancy firm Michael Brookes & Co for an undisclosed sum as part of its expansion plans. ClearSky is the accountancy arm of the Optionis Group, which comprises professional employment organisation Parasol, ClearSky Accounting and ClearSky HR. Optionis employs more than 190 head office staff The company also has offices in Warrington, London, Poole and now Manchester. The Optionis brand was launched to offer a full range of support services to businesses and contractors. Michael Brookes & Co specialises in providing expert advice to small firms and also has niche practices targeting the licensed trade, taxi sector and entertainment industry. Optionis chief executtive Rob Crossland said: “The acquisition is a natural progression in our growth process. “We are already one of the top 100 firms of accountants operating in the UK. “This acquisition, which is the first of a number planned this year, allows us to strengthen this position.” Optionis managing director Derek Kelly added: “Our latest acquisition will see ClearSky expanding to become a leading SME accountant, building on our reputation as a leading contractor accountant.” Optionis boasts a turnover in excess of £350m. To date, the group has looked after the needs of some 53,000 employees, 10,000 businesses and forged partnerships with 2,500 recruitment agencies.
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Thursday, June 13, 2013
post business the bottom line
Sale of stake in US sweetener arm boosts Billington profits by Bill Gleeson
POST BUSINESS STAFF
bill.gleeson@liverpool.com
LIVERPOOL-BASED Edward Billington & Son saw a sharp rise in profits last year on the back of the sale of part of its stake in its American sweetener subsidiary. Housed in the Cunard Building at the city’s Pier Head, the family-owned and run agricultural commodities trader and food producer reaped a £15.4m exceptional profit on the restructuring of its holding in Wholesome Sweeteners Inc during the year to August 2012. When combined with an operating profit of £6.5m and a further contribution of £7.7m from associates and joint ventures, the exceptional gain allowed Billington to more than double its profit on ordinary activities before tax to £28.5m, up from £12.5m in 2011. Net interest paid in the year was £1.2m compared to £700,000. Turnover was £253.5m, up on sales of £238.9m in 2011. In its annual report and accounts, filed at Companies House recently, Billington states: ”The directors are delighted with the performance of the group in 2012. “The 2013 financial year has started well and we are trading ahead of budget.” Since its year end, the company has pumped part of the proceeds raised from the sale of its stake in Wholesome Sweeteners into the acquisition of Newport based Bar & Restaurant Foods to further broaden its product range of sauces, soups and ready meals. Billington said the new acquisition has performed well and is expected to make a useful contribution to profits in 2013. With barely any long term creditors, including no bank debt, Billington’s balance sheet looks strong with total net assets of £59.5m, almost 50% higher than the £40.2m figure a year earlier. Referring to the Bar & Restaurant acquisition, Billington chairman Lloyd Whiteley told The Liverpool Post: “Its doing really well selling to customers like Whitbread, Wetherspoons and Pizza Express. “Its a market that is new to us. “Its a growth market. Even in a time of recession people want an affordable treat like a two course meal for ten pounds. “Also, they are doing qaulity ready meals, soups and sauces and we do sauces at our other factory. “For us, it was about getting market spread.”
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THE UK’s largest independently owned perfume retailer, The Fragrance Shop, has announced a 20% rise in operating profits to £10.2m after it added 11 new stores - taking its estate to 146 - and improved like-for-like sales by 3.5% in the year to March. The Manchester-based firm employs 800 people.
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PHARMACEUTICALS firm AstraZeneca is to acquire Pearl Therapeutics, a privately held company based in Redwood City, California focused on the development of inhaled drugs for respiratory disease. The proposed deal is worth up to $1.15bn (£740m) and is due to complete in the third quarter.
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LEASED pub company Punch Taverns, which has 4,500 pubs nationwide, said underlying net income was 3.3% lower in the 40 weeks to May 25, reducing to a fall of 0.7% in the last 12 weeks. Punch has also raised £84m from the sale of 246 pubs and proposed a restructuring of its £2bn debt mountain.
Billington chairman Lloyd Whiteley and, inset, the Cunard Building
Commenting on the part sale of Billington’s stake in Wholesome Sweeteners, Mr Whiteley said: “Wholesome Sweeteners has been a very successful investment for us and, since it was part owned by management, we always planned an exit at some point. “But we have only sold half of our stake because we think there is still growth prospects. So we are planning to grow it further and selling the remaining quarter of the company in
five years time. “We can’t be complacent, but we are in foods and agriculture and they have been unaffected by recession and we have good people and we are in good markets.” The reported figures exclude any contribution from Wholesome Sweeteners, which last year saw sales increase by 36% in 2012 to £98.8m. Billington’s condiments and spices subsidiary, English Provender Com-
pany, saw sales rise by 7% in 2012, but suffered some margin erosion due to the difficulty of passing on higher raw material prices in the current economic environment. Animal feed commodity trader Criddle & Co performed well in the year, but profits were not as high as the exceptionally good results seen in 2011, the company said. Commodity markets in the early part of 2012 were very subdued and Criddle’s performance reflected this. However the latter half of the year saw higher levels of market volatility, which Criddle capitalised on resulting in an excellent performance for the year as a whole, the report and accounts state. The directors’ statement adds: “This strong performance has continued during the early part of the 2013 financial year.” Its Carr’s Billington Agriculture joint venture met expectations and the group’s fuels business performed well.
Social media strategy results in strong profits at Park Group PARK Group unveiled its best revenues and profits performance for the past seven years earlier this week as it continues to exploit e-commerce for its consumer and corporate sectors. The Birkenhead group, which was founded by chairman Peter Johnson in 1967 as a Christmas hamper business, is now a leading player in the rewards and vouchers market, offering a comprehensive range of gift vouchers and pre-paid cards used by individuals and
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companies as staff incentives. Its flexecash pre-paid card, launched in 2010, now offers 24 different formats, is accepted by 900 brands and has had £160m of value loaded on 2.4m individual cards since its launch. It helped drive pre-tax profits up by 11% to £9.5m in the year to March 31. Total revenues were static at £279m, but billings, including the pre-paid card range, rose by 7% to £352m. Mr Johnson said billings is now
seen as a more appropriate financial measure. Revenue from the pre-paid card range is only recognised when the card is used, rather than when it is billed. Shareholders will receive a 5% boost to the final dividend of 1.55p per share and total cash balances at the group peaked at £170m compared with £152m in 2012. Park is concentrating more on e-commerce and social media to gen-
erate customers and sales and its 304-strong staff has been boosted recently by the recruitment of more IT and IT security personnel. It spends £3m a year on developing its online businesses. Billings from Christmas hampers increased by 6.5% to £199.4m and operating profits were up 19.8% at £5.5m. Peter Johnson said: “The transformation of Park over recent years has been very significant.”
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MULBERRY creative director Emma Hill is to leave the luxury handbag maker, the company announced this week, as it prepares to unveil a slump in annual profits. Since joining in 2008, Ms Hill is credited with turning the Somerset-based firm from a trusted briefcase and wallet maker into an international fashion powerhouse with a clutch of celebrity fans. Last year she was made a CBE. Profits soared as its Alexa and Del Rey designs (named after TV presenter Alexa Chung and singer Lana del Rey) were picked up by A-list stars around the world. But today it is expected to reveal its bottom-line has been hit by tougher markets in Asia, a post-Christmas fall in tourist spending and attempts to improve the quality of its distribution network. Shares plunged 8% in the wake of a short announcement by the company that Ms Hill was to quit. In a statement the company said that Ms Hill’s time at the firm had been “very successful”.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
small business post business
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small
business of the week
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SMALL firms lobby group the Forum of Private Business (FPB) has pledged to help printers struggling with cash flow issues by providing free copies of a new credit control package that it has produced. The not-for-profit employer support organisation says it has identified print as a sector severely affected by late and slow payment, and one which could gain the most from the free bundle, which includes hints, tips, and advice on how small business can manage all their credit needs, from being paid on time, to accessing external finance. The bundle contains a copy of the FPB’s credit control guide, which features templates for invoices, tips on how to handle bad debtors, and ways to negotiate shorter payment times. There’s also a guide on what firms can do to improve their credit rating, and another stand alone guide, written by a former bank boss, on how to get your bank manager to agree a loan or overdraft. “We know printers are feeling the pinch at the minute, and we’re certain many will find our credit control bundle helpful,” said Forum spokesman, Robert Downes. He added: “ We know cash flow remains a huge barrier to growth, and late payment is a persistent problem.” To access the bundle visit www.fpb.org/credit control and enter company details, then the 18 page guide will be sent in PDF format.
by Neil Hodgson
POST BUSINESS STAFF
neil.hodgson@liverpool.com
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HIMING with the latest positive UK economic data, a young Liverpool firm confirms the green shoots of recovery are starting to appear around the city. “There’s a lot more going on as we walk through town,” said David Sharp, of chartered building surveyor Actua, which he set up with business partner Simon Fullard just over two years ago. The pair had worked together for several years in the Liverpool office of Davis Langdon on a range of projects, including Liverpool’s ECHO Arena and BT Convention Centre. They toyed with the idea of setting up their own business in 2008, but the onset of the credit crunch curtailed any notion of going it alone. However, a takeover by a larger US company which transformed their employer from a 2,000 person business to a 50,000 person operation provided the impetus to change direction. Both partners live in Wirral and originally set up shop in Birkenhead, but with the majority of clients and networking opportunities in Liverpool they relocated to new offices in One Old Hall Street two months ago. Thankfully, they report a plentiful workload which is now extending further afield to Edinburgh, Newcastle, the Midlands and London. Mr Sharp said: “We go where our clients have properties.” Projects range from dilapidation commercial building surveys – acting for either landlords or tenants to assess damage to properties as leases near their conclusion – to project management work for refurbishments and new-build projects. Mr Fullard said: “We have just done two large estate-wide surveys for Liverpool Hope University assessing their existing buildings stock for 45 buildings.” Another contract, for the Cheadlebased Mansion Group, involved assessing student accommodation in Edinburgh which, they hope, could lead to similar opportunities in London. Their portfolio also includes health and safety assessments for a Grade II-listed property in Manchester and a project at a Port Sunlight retirement court. Mr Sharp explained: “We look at general maintenance and improvement works as well as asset management of the court. “We do a life-cycle cost programme which itemises any work which might arise through the remainder of the leasehold period, which could be 125 years, and we have to forecast how the building will perform and what might arise in that time period, and help to cost it.” He added: “We also do small design work and are looking at remodelling St George’s primary school in Wallasey, which is one of the biggest of its kind in the country.” Mr Fullard said: “There’s more variety to what we do now in terms of size and scope.” Mr Sharp added: “And there’s a lot more autonomy. We are able to drive things ourselves and make decisions ourselves. We’re a lot more agile in terms of the market, and responsible for our own destiny.” Mr Fullard said: “We pitch for work on the basis that we worked for a large consultancy and have the ability to be agile. And it is us, the senior people, who do the work, not the ‘can lad’.”
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David Sharp, left, and Simon Fullard of Actua outside their One Old Hall Street offices
Partners see rewards after taking the risks They say the market is improving and they have managed to double turnover to £100,000 in their second year and are aiming for £150,000 for the current financial year: “We are well ahead of the five-year plan,” said Mr Sharp, adding: “We want to grow the business, possibly in terms of taking people on, and we’re aiming for organic growth at a sensible pace.” Having taken the plunge and left employment with a major player they both admit they wish they had done it a lot sooner. Mr Fullard said: “It takes a certain kind of person to work for yourself, but we wish we would have done this earlier. It is harder, but more enjoyable.” Mr Sharp insisted: “We have no regrets, whatsoever.”
Liverpool ACC was a key project for the partners at Davis Langdon
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ONE in five small firms (SMEs) have been encouraged to expand by the Government’s decision to introduce an Employment Allowance towards employer NI contributions, a further one in three are considering recruiting due to the reduced cost of employment, while four in 10 have the necessary insurance in place for expansion within their business. That’s according to research from Direct Line for Business. Jazz Gakhal, head of Direct Line for Business said: “It is encouraging to see that so many UK businesses are looking to expand. “The Government’s decision to reduce the financial burden for small companies is a welcome boost for owners and managers across the country. “Given SMEs account for over 99% of all private sector businesses in the UK, the health of this sector is vitally important.”
10 post business creative & digital
Thursday, June 13, 2013 IN ASSOCIATION WITH
comment
by DR RICHARD WILSON
Anniversary showcase shows Baltic Triangle taking shape by Alistair Houghton
Banks need to support innovation TIGA, the network for games developers and digital publishers, believes there is an opportunity for a bank to establish itself as the premier supporter for high technology and innovative businesses in the UK and that more competition is needed in the banking sector. A report by The Big Innovation Centre, an initiative by The Work Foundation and Lancaster University, showed one in three innovative small firms that sought finance between 2010 and 2012 failed to obtain funding. The centre noted that innovative firms were less likely to obtain funding than their peers. This report confirms once again that high technology and innovative firms find it comparatively more difficult to access bank finance than other firms. This has led many high technology and innovative firms to operate without bank finance. In the case of the UK games development sector, a survey of studios showed less than a third had a bank overdraft and only 12% had a bank loan in 2011. There is an opportunity for a bank in the UK to establish itself as the premier supporter of high technology and innovative firms. Bank finance will not be the principal source of finance for high technology and innovative firms as such businesses typically require more than just debt capital, but the banks could play a larger and more positive role than is currently the case. Provision of term loans, bridging loans and working capital facilities are just some examples. The Government should promote greater competition in the market for business banking as choice is currently limited. New entrants into the market such as Silicon Valley Bank and Metro are extremely welcome but more needs to be done to expand choice within the market. ■ DR RICHARD WILSON is CEO of video games trade body TIGA
POST BUSINESS STAFF
alistair.houghton@liverpool.com
A SHOWCASE event in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle will debate how the area is being transformed into a thriving creative and business hub. The Baltic Area Showcase, on June 24, will mark a year since a manifesto for the area was launched by the Baltic Triangle Community Interest company. The area, centred around Jamaica Street on the edge of the city centre, is now home to many firms in the creative and digital sectors and has also become a visitor destination thanks to venues such as Camp & Furnace. The showcase will focus on work that has already been done in the area and will highlight investment opportunities that are still available. The event has been co-ordinated by the Baltic Triangle Community Interest Company, which represents the area’s businesses, landlords, developers and residents. Its manifesto – Creative, Industrious, Pioneering – was launched at last year’s Light Night. The showcase is an official fringe event to Liverpool’s Accelerate 2013 business festival, which will take place on June 27 with speakers including Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales. Anthony Pickthall, chairman of the Baltic Triangle Steering Group, said he wanted to “start engaging with potential investors, whether in property, businesses or ideas”. He added: “The Baltic Triangle is changing quickly as more businesses and organisations choose to locate here. The area is a place where collaboration is encouraged. “The showcase event is the perfect
The Baltic Creative project is today a key Baltic Triangle hub opportunity for the area to present a snapshot of the growth already achieved, what is planned over the next few years and where we think there is more potential.” Successful developments in the Baltic Triangle include the Elevator complex and Baltic Creative. At Elevator, a group of brick Victorian warehouses facing Parliament
Street has been turned into a warren of rehearsal studios and offices for creative and digital firms. Tenants include rising video games firm Lucid and design agency Smiling Wolf. Baltic Creative, meanwhile, has seen a group of low-rise industrial units converted into premises for more creative and digital companies. The large unit at the heart of Baltic
Creative houses a street of oversized garden sheds that contain many creative and digital entrepreneurs. Later this year, North Liverpool Academy will open two new schools in the former Contemporary Urban Centre building in Greenland Street, behind Elevator. The Life Sciences University Technical College will focus on training pupils for careers in biotech, while The Studio will give young people the skills they need to work for creative and digital firms. Liverpool Vision’s Strategic Investment Framework for the city suggests the Triangle has great potential for further growth. The showcase will include talks at locations across the area, as well as a presentation from Danish urban designer Oliver Schulze. He said: “Areas like the Baltic Triangle draw on a rich cultural life and an iconic cultural heritage. They can offer great potential to be the home to a healthy mix of businesses that can share services and urban infrastructure with people in close geographic proximity. “They have capacity for an evolutionary process that can attract new businesses – based on a rather old principle – that an accumulation of a diverse group of people with complimentary goals and interests will flourish in a place that is saturated with a range of inviting and generous formal and informal meeting places. “More problems will be solved, people and businesses can improve their quality of life and people will find new perspectives for learning and can sustain personal and economic growth.” For more information, visit www.balticareashowcase.com
Taxis help to make artist’s work ubiquitous this summer BLACK CAB advertising specialist Ubiquitous is helping Tate Liverpool to promote its blockbuster summer exhibition of work by Russian artist Marc Chagall. Ubiquitous, working with Total Media and Posterscope, has created a fleet of branded taxis with Chagall imagery on the inside and outside. Jennifer Collingwood, marketing manager at Tate Liverpool, said: “ Using taxi advertising to attract a broad audience from across the city enables us to ensure Tate Liverpool captures the attention of both regular gallery attendees and those visiting Liverpool to experience the city’s vibrant arts and culture scene.” Micky Harris, director at Ubiquitous, said: “Since it reaches such a wide audience, the black cab is an excellent vehicle for securing message exposure that stands out from a very large crowd. “Taxis are a very effective means of ensuring that Tate Liverpool has a strong presence on the streets, reaching art lovers and novices alike.”
One of the black cabs used by Ubiquitous to promote Tate Liverpool’s summer Chagall exhibition
creative & digital post business 11
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Ben Hatton
Simon Rhodes
Rochelle School, in Shoreditch, was turned into a creative hub by James Moores
Jon Holmes
Creative agencies join forces to open East London office by Alistair Houghton
POST BUSINESS STAFF
alistair.houghton@liverpool.com
THREE creative studios from Liverpool have joined forces to open a London office – in a former school converted into a creative hub by Littlewoods heir James Moores. Smiling Wolf, BCA Landscape and Milky Tea have opened the office in Rochelle School, Shoreditch, which was created by Mr Moores in the 1990s. The office will allow the firms to support their existing clients in the South East and give them a base from which to recruit new clients. And the companies also plan to work together in the studio on joint
projects bringing in areas from landscape architecture to graphic design. Design and branding agency Smiling Wolf, based in Elevator Studios in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle, recently started work on a brand development contract for Rochelle School. It has also won a contract to create a website for Surrey-based acoustic consultancy, Cole Jarman Associates. Simon Rhodes, managing director of Smiling Wolf, said: “We’re proud to be part of a Liverpool vanguard in London – and particularly excited by the opportunities of collaborating further with our friends at BCA Landscape and Milky Tea.” Design and animation specialist Milky Tea, also based in Elevator, regularly works with London companies.
It has worked with Lloyds TSB on its “For The Journey” advertising campaign for seven years, creating a cast of “retro-style” characters that have appeared onscreen and in print. Milky Tea’s chief executive and founder, Jon Holmes, said: “Rochelle School is a fantastic studio environment and we are extremely proud of it being our new London home. “Having been actively working in London since our 2005 launch, opening a studio in the capital has been a long-term goal. It will be used to support and work more closely with our clients and as a bridge to build on our previous successes.” Old Hall Street-based BCA Landscape’s growing London portfolio includes the “One the Elephant” devel-
opment in Elephant and Castle. The scheme includes some £2.5m of public and private realm landscaping work, which BCA Landscape says makes it one of the “greenest” tall building projects in the capital. Managing director Andy Thomson said: “We are all very excited to be sharing our new London base at the Rochelle School Studio in Shoreditch with our great friends and creative collaborators at Smiling Wolf and Milky Tea. It is an important move for us and will further enhance our abilities to provide a high quality design and delivery service for existing and new clients in London and the South East.” Rochelle School houses a range of firms working in areas from fashion to music, including Warp Records.
Curly recruits TV and sports stars for videos
Designer’s ergonomic ‘kneeling stool’ wins national recognition
A LIVERPOOL video production firm has created a series of films for Lil-Lets as part of that brand’s efforts to help its teenage audience with their questions about growing up. Curly produced six short films featuring celebrities including local Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle, The Only Way is Essex stars Sam and Billie Faiers and X Factor star Amelia Lily. They were interviewed by two teenagers on topics including body changes and relationships. So far, the videos have had over 45,000 views in their first two weeks online. Curly also made a 20 minute film featuring Lil-Lets in-house Agony Aunt, Ask Vicki, to be sent to schools. Mary Young, head of mar-
WIRRAL firm Ubiquity Design Studio has won national recognition for its pioneering range of ergonomic children’s furniture. Ubiquity was founded in 2010 by former paediatric nurse Tim Spencer, who retrained as a product designer and has now launched the Knelt range. The “kneeling stool” encourages children to adopt a neutral posture when seated, as opposed to the conventional hunched posture children tend to adopt at desks. Now the Knelt range has been highly commended in the “Most innovative product” category in the Junior Magazine Design Awards 2013. West Kirby-based Mr Spencer said: “As an exper-
Beth Tweddle in one of Curly’s films for Lil-Lets keting at Lil-Lets, said: “As well as delivering the production element to such a high standard, Curly was quick to understand the brand and create a communication style that reflected the importance and sensitivity of the subject.”
Knelt, designed by Tim Spencer
ienced paediatric nurse I have long observed children at both play and work. Back pain is the highest single cause of sickness and loss of productivity in western society. I believe that by
instilling in children from as early an age as possible the awareness and benefits of a healthy posture, the design of Knelt can contribute to the future health, wellbeing and economy of society.”
Google’s payment checkout GOOGLE might be continuing to compete with online payment giants such as PayPal with its Google Wallet offering, but the demise of its original payment system, Google Checkout, hasn’t gone unnoticed. Launched seven years ago to great acclaim, it had done little to dent the power of eBay and Amazon’s PayPal. It was expected to make big waves in the way people do their online shopping, but never came close to its closest rivals. So, why did Google Checkout fail where PayPal succeeded? Businesses and customers want a payment service which offers simplicity and support. A mass feeling of a lack of customer care from Google Checkout turned users, particularly smaller online retailers, away in droves. What becomes of Google Wallet in light of this will certainly determine any future plans the company may have in dealing with online payment systems. There is already a host of mobile payment applications such as PayAnywhere, which are becoming increasingly popular in the buying and selling process in smartphone shopping. Google Wallet, introduced in 2011, has also yet to make an impact. Working as a card number storage system no payment process is ever handled by Google as the person’s details are passed to the retailer. But it does have features other processors don’t, such as making payments between people quick and easy using the “attach money” facility on the Gmail account. Google’s retreat away from online payment processing for now may be strategic, but it will have to up its game should it ever wish to become a big player in this space. ■ INTERNET entrepreneur Ben Hatton is founder and managing director of digital agency Rippleffect. Follow Rippleffect on Twitter @rippleffected
12 post business big feature
Joshua Taylor meets CLIFF GRAINGER and JOHN WHETNALL, of MPE Interiors
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HEN the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead entered administration 12 years ago, many workers, suppliers and customers faced uncertainty. But, as with every ending, there were opportunities for new beginnings. Cliff Grainger and John Whetnall, both employees of the shipyard who lost their jobs when the company went bust following the withdrawal of a £50m contract, believed there was still demand for their skills in ship-building, repair and conversion. “We both recognised there was still a need for our services and we both needed a job, so we started MPE Interiors,” Grainger said. The company earned its first pounds completing unfulfilled Cammell Laird contracts. “We formed the company in 2001 because the Cammell Laird shipyard closed,” Grainger continued. “In fact, most of the people we now employ were employees there too. “We had never run a business before but we both had a lot of experience in the industry and we felt confident we could offer a good service to people. “A lot of people were trying to do the same thing. But once we got going and started talking to people, we started to pick up work very quickly.” MPE Interiors got off to such a roaring start that it turned over £900,000 during its first year of trading. It also took on 10 employees within its first few months. As well as work in Merseyside, the fledgling firm also won contracts at docks in Manchester and other areas. Grainger added: “We took on a workforce of around 10 people in the first couple of months. “We were very lucky there was work out there we could go for.” He said one of the new business’s first challenges was finding a workshop. The two partners, who each own a 50% stake in the company, eventually settled on a site in Birkenhead’s Old Bidston Road. The firms order books continued to grow over the years and it now turns over between £2m and £3m each year. Explaining the company’s work, Grainger said: “Essentially, we manufacture furniture for a variety of organisations, whether land-based or sea-based, residential or commercial. We are used to working with all kinds of material. “We source, manufacture and install all types of furniture for a range of different applications. “Over the years we have purchased better equipment so we are more capable and our products are better produced. We now have much more accurate and more efficient systems.” Employment at the firm reached a peak of 50 workers during the last financial year, including sub-contractors. The core workforce has stabilised at 35, which includes an apprentice and four former apprentices who have become fully-qualified tradesmen at the company. Currently 80% of the firm’s work comes from the maritime sector. The final fifth, however, comes from on-land customers, including home and business owners who pay MPE Interiors to install furniture and other fittings in their properties.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Business booming for firm born out of shipyard sinking
The television lounge inside a Stena liner, main picture, and the study of a residential property, inset picture, both installed by MPE Interiors Mr Grainger said: “We are seeing consistent demand for our on-land services. We have completed a number of residential contracts including bespoke kitchens, study rooms as well as cabinets and desks and other bespoke, made-to-measure furniture. “In the commercial market we
have made and installed furniture such as large reception desks in schools and hospitals. “We do see much more potential for growth in the commercial property sector where our bespoke joinery and furniture manufacturing services can provide excellent value.”
q&a Highest educational qualification: Cliff: an HNC in naval architecture. John: an HND in building. Both studied at Birkenhead Technical College. Biggest achievement in business: Setting up MPE Interiors in 2001 and growing it into £2m company.
Biggest regret: Cliff: Not marketing the company to its full potential earlier. John: Not growing the company more in Scandinavia. Best advice received: Cliff: My dad told me to make your hobby your job so, loving ships, I did. John: To give responsibility to staff who want to grow the business.
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HE owners of MPE Interiors had not ever planned to run a business until circumstances required them to invoke their entrepreneurial spirits. Grainger was born in Birkenhead and educated Rock Ferry Grammar School. He started work as an apprentice at Cammell Laird and then went to Birkenhead Technical College to undertake an HNC in naval architecture. He has spent more than 25 years in the ship-building industry – working for Cammell Laird and McTay Marine Services in roles including draftsman and project manager – before setting up MPE. Meanwhile John Whetnall was born in Wallasey and educated at Mosslands School. He started his career as an appren-
tice joiner at Lovelady Shop Fitting before undertaking an HND in building at Birkenhead Technical College. He entered the marine sector in 1993, working for Cammell Laird as a foreman in the joinery department before joining the ship management department. Both men found themselves out of work following their employer’s entry into administration. Confident that their skills were very much still in demand, the two men took a leap of faith and founded their own company, which has seen impressive growth since its formation in 2001.
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ITH the maritime sector in Liverpool currently enjoying a period of growth, what does the future hold for MPE Interiors, which receives four fifths
big feature post business 13
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Alex
Turner ‘Human’ skills are overlooked FOR all the many fanciful statements that appear on LinkedIn, I’ve yet to see “after three years of study, Alex is now fully humanised”. Yet, if expressed less clumsily, it should be a characteristic that employers value. In an online university lecture, Brown University’s professor of comparative literature started off with a defence of the humanities. The humanities had, argued Prof Arnold Weinstein, taken a hit because they don’t prepare students for the world of work. Their role was, instead, to humanise, which isn’t something that sits well on a CV. The study of the humanities is perhaps better preparation for management, where context, depth and values can take on much greater importance. For example, there aren’t many prominent theologians – the only two theology graduates I can think of are Martin Luther King and Jonathan Aitken (even the current Archbishop of Canterbury’s degree is in history and law) – and there certainly aren’t many running companies. But one I was with last week who has just taken charge of her organisation started by discussing the concept of koinonia with her staff. The Greek word, which is used frequently in the New Testament, is usually translated as fellowship, but it isn’t a perfect synonym and has a much more layered meaning. It really describes the confluence of community, joint participation and sharing, so that in simple terms koinonia describes the togetherness of working together for a common or higher purpose. It’s a really interesting – and challenging – idea that is something that we all would love to have as part of our company’s culture but which is likely to be an ideal to aim for, rather than something that is achieved. The most difficult part to achieve in the corporate environment is fellowship. It is (relatively) easy to establish clear goals, measured in numbers preceded by a pound sign or by deadlines, but it can be much harder to remember to invest time and energy in ensuring everyone in the group feels their contribution is a valued part of the overall endeavour. But then it is always the things that are hardest to achieve that are, in the end, most worth achieving.
‘Context, depth and values can be very important’
of its income from the industry? Following a buyout, the Cammell Laird shipyard is now back up and running and has won hundreds of millions of pounds worth of contracts from the Ministry of Defence and a vast range of shipping groups. Meanwhile Peel Port’s £300m Liverpool2 project will see the River Mersey deepened to make the city accessible to the world’s largest container vessels – a scheme that is expected to add enormously to Liverpool’s economy. It has been estimated Merseyside’s maritime sector will approximately double in size during the next 10 years. “Firstly, we are looking to find improved premises,” Grainger said when asked about his company’s plans for the future. “But we are finding it difficult because we need to be
in a certain location. We need to be a Birkenhead-based company, that’s our heritage. “We have outgrown our current base and need to move. Largely, our growth has been down to the growth of the shipyard. “So we are now looking for a new workshop. We have taken on another building just down the road from our current base to free up workshop space, but I don’t see this as a permanent solution.” Grainger said he saw “huge potential for growth” in both the maritime and land-based sectors. “We need to increase our potential customer base,” he said. “This is being done by doing all we can to increase our exposure. However, this is an industry that has its ups and downs. “The last 12 months has seen us
continue to work closely with Cammell Laird and other key commercial marine clients, including ferry operators. “For Cammell Laird, we have worked on both its Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) and the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier flight deck contracts. “For the RFA, we have worked for Cammell Laird on a range of vessels including the RFA Wave Ruler, RFA Wave Knight, RFA Fort Austin and RFA Fort Rosalie in Birkenhead.” MPE Interiors has done many things during its 12 years in business – created employment, allowed one of its owners to fulfil a boyhood dream of working with ships, generated much needed work and money in Merseyside’s maritime economy, and formed part of a revival of the shipping sector.
John Whetnall, left, and Cliff Grainge, right, in front of the RFA Wave Ruler ship
But many say the economy is still sailing through uncertain waters. Asked about the impact of the recession on MPE Interiors and the maritime sector in general, Grainger said: “The recession has not had a major effect on us but you never know when it could hit, so we are attempting to increase our exposure and we are also trying to diversify. “I want to see us increase the amount of work we are doing, particularly on the land “However, we do not want to compromise the maritime side of our work.”
■ Alex Turner is the general manager of financial training firm Ambitious Minds
14 post business legal
Thursday, June 13, 2013
www.ldplegal.co.uk
Leading law firm in warning on courts ‘privatisation’ plan The civil and family court complex in Tithebarn Street, Liverpool city centre, and, inset, Richard Green
by Tony McDonough POST BUSINESS STAFF
tony.mcdonough@liverpool.com
A LEADING Liverpool law firm claims possible plans to privatise the running of British courts could damage the credibility of the justice system. Last month the Government unveiled a plan that could see court buildings and their staff in the control of private companies. The details of the proposed changes have yet to be confirmed but range from transferring the running and maintenance of court buildings to a private company to transferring the 20,000 courts staff into the private sector. The move would not affect judges and magistrates or the actual administration of justice and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has stressed that what is being proposed is not whole privatisation of the system. Liverpool-based Hill Dickinson, which employs hundreds of people in Liverpool, says it does support efforts to improve efficiencies within the court system. But it adds it has concerns about the plans in their current form. Hill Dickinson partner, Richard Green, told Post Business: “There are numerous examples of privatisations going wrong. “In August 2008, PA Consulting, a private sub-contractor to the Home Office lost a computer memory stick containing highly confidential data of 84,000 prisoners in England and Wales. “And probably most relevant is the outsourcing of the court interpretation system to a private company in late 2011 which has resulted in a House of Commons inquiry after a series of high-profile errors. “The administration of justice is vitally important to our democratic society and errors such as these cannot and will not be tolerated.” In response to concerns raised by the legal profession, the MoJ issued a statement clarifying its intentions It said: “We are not considering proposals for the wholesale privatisation of the courts service and there is no question of courts being handed over to private companies.” The Government has announced the £1bn cost-saving proposals as part of
‘A number of these projects have gone wrong’
DWF, has apppointedDavid Gray, former chairman of Eversheds International, as a non-executive board director. Mr Gray held the position as chairman of Eversheds International for four years and prior to this was chief executive for six years. He is also pro-chancellor and chair of council elect for the University of Leeds. He said: “DWF has experienced remarkable growth in recent years and its distinctive sector-led approach has really helped it to stand
Andrew Leaitherland
the Treasury’s plans to further reduce the MoJ's budget by 10% from 2015/16 Cuts of £142m have already been imposed which will have to be implemented before the 2015 general election. Mr Green added: “Against this background, the civil justice system has
had far-reaching reforms introduced which if they are to achieve their aim of controlling legal costs and promoting access to justice, will require more, not less, judicial intervention and resources. “Despite the evidence that privatisation has yet to prove itself to be of any
great benefit, other than financial, the Government still seems to have privatisation, if only in part, at the forefront of its mind. “As to whether this is blue-sky thinking or an idea only partially thought through, we’ll have to wait and see.”
Service aims to help domestic abuse victims STEPHENSONS Solicitors has announced the launch of Fresh Start – a family service to support those affected by domestic abuse. The firm, which has offices in St Helens, London, Altrincham, Manchester, Leigh, Wigan and Bolton, aims to help those affected by domestic abuse to get vital
Gray takes non-exec board role at DWF
support. Fresh Start will provide a full-range of services, including legal advice and representation for injunction applications, assistance with housing, welfare advice and legal advice for those with disabilities and mental health problems It will be available to all legal aid clients of Stephen-
sons’ domestic abuse team across its six North West offices. Victoria Gethin, partner and head of the team, said: “We understand that those experiencing domestic abuse may find it difficult to seek help. “Fewer lawyers are prepared to do legal aid work fol-
lowing the cuts introduced on April 1. “However, legal aid is still available for domestic abuse injunction cases. “We are concerned that victims who believe they cannot access legal aid may suffer in silence, putting themselves and their children at further risk.”
out in the market. “What I find particularly impressive about the firm is that every decision it takes is true to its original strategy, which is to build the business based on its clients’ needs. It’s a great time to be joining DWF and I look forward to helping shape the future.” Andrew Leaitherland, managing partner and chief executive of DWF, added: “We’ve had a number of great opportunities recently which have allowed us to significantly expand our national presence. “As part of the next phase of our strategy we will also be looking to further drive expansion, both nationally and internationally and with David’s experience and guidance, we believe he will play a key role in helping us.”
Horseplay for charity HAMPSON HUGHES is sponsoring a charity event that will see people in pantomime horse costumes run part of the Grand National course at Aintree. The event is being organised by voluntary sector umbrella group, LCVS United Way. One of the aims is to set a
new world record – with the most pantomime horses in a race. There will be prizes on offer for the best dressed team and a £500 prize to be donated to charity, for the team that wins the most races. Contact Minna Alanko on 0151 227 5177 for information.
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Thursday, June 13, 2013
REGIONAL BUSINESS AWARDS 2013 THE LIVERPOOL POST hosts its Regional Business awards 2013 at St George’s Hall tonight. The black-tie event will be attended by 500 guests representing the finalists in the competition and many of the principal movers and shakers in the region’s business community. The night will see awards made to companies and business leaders in 11 categories. These categories include awards for the best small, medium and large firms. When selecting the winners the judges looked for strong financial performance, good future growth prospects and economic impact, particularly in terms of creating sustainable jobs in the region. Awards will also be handed out to firms that have achieved success in export, invested in their Merseyside operations or shown a commitment to the environment or the local community. There will also be an award presented to the business leader or entrepreneur who has been deemed by the judges to have done the most to grow their business or improve the reputation of the region. Hosted by former BBC broadcaster Peter Sissons and with a keynote speech by web entrepreneur Julie Meyer, the evening promises to be both exciting and informative. Born in the United States and educated at one of the world’s leading business schools in Paris, Ms Meyer has been dubbed one of the leading lights of the internet generation. One of the early backers of Lastminute.com, Ms Meyer believes that individual capitalism releases people’s ingenuity for the solving of
Time to recognise our best local firms Tonight’s speaker is internet entrepreneur Julie Meyer the world’s problems at the macro and micro levels as well as accelerating the future. She founded Ariadne Capital in 2000 “to create a new model for the financing of entrepreneurship – entrepreneurs backing entrepreneurs”. In 1998, Ms Meyer founded First Tuesday, the network of entrepreneurs, which many credit for igniting
the Internet generation in Europe. First Tuesday was sold in July 2000 for $50m. This year’s main sponsors are law firm DLA Piper, accountancy firm KPMG and Barclays bank. Liverpool Post editor Mark Thomas said: “As well as a great keynote speaker, tonight’s shortlisted companies have all got great stories to tell. It will genuinely be exciting to
discover which ones the judges have selected to win the big prizes. “We stage these awards because we believe it is important to publicly recognise the contribution local firms and entrepreneurs make to our society. Their endeavours provide the prosperity and jobs we depend on.” ■ A full report of tonight’s event will be able on our website www.regionalbusinessawards.co.uk
IT IS very fitting this year’s Green Award is being sponsored by United Utilities. The company is currently building a £200m extension to its wastewater treatment works on Liverpool docks – one of the biggest and most important construction sites in the city – which will secure the health of the River Mersey for many years to come. This project will continue the huge environmental improvements which have been made to the river since the 1980s, when it was described as the dirtiest in Europe. Now, following millions of pounds of investment in the sewer network, salmon and trout are found among its waters. Lorne Large, principal project manager, said: “The transformation of the river in recent years has helped to regenerate the economic fortunes of the city. “This new extension means the River Mersey continues to be in safe hands, which is great news for people and businesses in Liverpool.” The new works have brought 350 jobs to Liverpool and should be operational by spring 2016.
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KPMG is proud to support the best of Merseyside business. We congratulate all of the nominees and winners of the Regional Business Awards 2013. For further information, please contact: Chris Fry Senior Partner, KPMG’s Liverpool office T: 0151 473 5153 E: chris.fry@kpmg.co.uk
kpmg.co.uk Š 2013 KPMG LLP, a UK limited liability partnership, is a subsidiary of KPMG Europe LLP and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative, a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Printed in the United Kingdom.
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women in business post business 19
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Teenager combining artistic flair with business acumen by Tony McDonough POST BUSINESS STAFF
tony.mcdonough@liverpool.com
IT IS sometimes said that entrepreneurs are born not made and Rachel Gilbertson may well come into that category. Since her early to mid-teens, Rachel has had a burning ambition to run her own business and now, at 19, that dream has been achieved. The Crosby teenager is founder and owner of Roxiie’s Treasure, which sells hand-made and costume jewellery, bags, accessories and a few other interesting odds and ends. Late last year, she was selling her wares at a local craft fair when she met local businessman, Gary Jackson. He was setting up a facility known as The Crosby Emporium above the Crosby Tearooms in College Road and was looking for creative entrepreneurs to fill the space. Rachel said: “Just before Christmas I started selling the jewellery at craft fairs. “I was doing one at Crosby Civic Hall and Gary came along and I thought it sounded like a good opportunity. “It has been really good so far. It is a lovely little place and I think it is a great thing for the local community in Crosby.” Rachel attended Holy Family High School in Crosby and growing up was always interested in “arty” activities although she wasn’t sure how that would translate into a business idea. She added: “I have wanted to run my own business since I was in high school. “I wasn’t sure what field I wanted to go into for my own business but I just found a niche. “I just thought ‘jewellery is always popular’. So I gave it a go and it seems to be doing well. “I went to Rotunda Community College in Kirkdale when I was 18. I did a course on setting up your own business and that was for 15 weeks. “They taught us how to do business plans – things such as working out costs, advertising and marketing. “They helped me find support and I started going to The Women’s Organisation to do more courses.” After completing the courses Rachel still wasn’t sure what do and gained employment in bar work. But the entrepreneurial urge would not be denied. She said: “I started selling things on social media – my old possessions at first. Then I bought a box of old jew-
Rachael Gilbertson in her room at The Crosby Emporium with some of her goods ellery and did quite well off that. “I spoke to my mum and she suggested I go into selling jewellery. I buy in charms and chains and make my own jewellery pieces. “I had always been creative when I was growing up. “I would make my own greetings cards – I love anything arty.” Rachel sells a mixture of bought in
goods – including some unusual items she picks up at antique and craft fairs and she makes her own jewellery. “I spend most of my spare time making jewellery,” she said. “My clientele is a mixture of young and old and with the jewellery I try to cater for both. “The biggest challenge is trying to get your name out there and building
Picture: TONY McDONOUGH
up your clientele – that is a challenge when you don’t have many funds. “Word is starting to spread now and I think things are really starting to pick up. “I would really love to have my own shop one day. “I have always wanted a job that I would enjoy doing and I think starting it this young is really good.”
Speciality eaterie set to expand after a successful first year AN EATERIE set up by two entrepreneurs in south Liverpool a year ago is set for expansion. Nichola Lee and Andrea Edwards opened The Interesting Eating Company in Allerton Road last year. It specialises in pancakes and also offers a full breakfast menu, salads, sandwiches, a children’s menu and a range of shakes which can incorporate well known chocolate bars such as Twix, Bounty and Snickers. Now the concept has
proved so successful that they are now looking at sites in Liverpool city centre for a second outlet. Ms Lee told Post Business: “The first year has gone really well for us. “We have worked hard to create a destination restaurant and we have done really well through word-of-mouth. “I think starting any business will always be a major learning curve and we have worked hard to establish a good reputation. “One of the things we have
made sure to do is to listen to feedback from our customers. “We are now ready to roll out the brand and open a second outlet.” Ms Lee and Ms Edwards became business partners after getting to know each other while chatting at the school gates. They realised they both had a shared passion for good food. “I felt there was a a gap in the market,” said Ms Lee in an interview last year.
Drive to promote women in workplace WOMEN should be at the heart of Britain’s economic growth and the UK cannot afford for their potential to be ignored, Women and Equalities Minister Maria Miller said as she unveiled a programme to boost females in the workforce. The plan is to get more women into work, into more senior positions and to drive entrepreneurship by providing better support for girls from school age, supporting older women in work and helping them set up their own businesses. The call for action comes as a report by the Women’s Business Council (WBC) set out its recommendations to boost women’s role in driving forward the economy. The report found that if women set up and ran new businesses at the same rate as men, there could be one million more women entrepreneurs. It said there was untapped potential in the 2.4m women who are not working – and a further 1.3m women who want to increase their hours. The WBC report recommended that Government and businesses need to broaden girls’ aspirations and job choices before the start of their working lives by creating partnerships between schools, businesses and parents. Maggie O’Carroll, founder of Liverpool’s Women’s Organisation, has called for dedicated public investment in women’s and girls’ leadership and business and career programmes.
POST
MOBILE
For News, Sport and Business on your phone Andrea Edwards, left, and Nichola Lee
Text LDP to 67800
20 post business location
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Case that has implications for tenants looking to negotiate break clauses
view point by Peter Hall, an associate at law firm Weightmans A COMMON scenario has recently been considered by the courts in a case involving Marks & Spencer. The scenario is as follows:
Capital values up in UK UK COMMERCIAL property performance was positive in May with capital values increasing by 0.1% across all classes in the UK, according to the latest CBRE monthly index. So far this year, UK capital values have declined by 0.3%. For the month, total returns remained at 0.6% delivering 2.4% over the year to date. All offices capital value growth was recorded at 0.2% and total return at 0.7% in May. This was mainly driven by the Central London offices market with strong performance in the West End in particular. Capital values in West End offices increased by 0.8% over the month and total return was 1.0% in May, up from 0.5% in April. Due to low investor demand, the rest of the UK office sector recorded the lowest capital value movement across all segments at -0.7%. In the all retail sector, capital values increased by 0.1% over the month. Aleksandra Starczynska of CBRE said: “For the first time since November 2011, we witnessed positive change.”
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■ A tenant serves notice under a break clause in its lease. ■ The break date is an anniversary of the date the lease completed. ■ Rent is payable quarterly in advance on the usual quarter days. What is the tenant’s liability for rent for the quarter when the break date falls? Is he liable to pay a rent for a full quarter, or just up to the break date? Where (as is common) the break is conditional, the court ruled that the tenant must pay a full quarter’s rent, because when the rent falls due it has not yet been ascertained that the
lease will end on the break date (ie, if the tenant fails to comply with any of the conditions, the landlord may hold the tenant to the lease). However, if the break is unconditional, the tenant is liable to pay rent up to the break date only. If the tenant pays a full quarter’s rent, can he subsequently claim a refund for the period from the break date to the end of the quarter, even if the lease is silent on this point?
This was previously a grey area of law. However the court ruled in M&S’s case that, even though the lease was silent as to there being any refund, a term should be implied that once the break had taken effect, the landlord was liable to refund rent paid in advance for the period from the break date up to the end of the quarter. What should tenants now consider when negotiating break clauses?
‘The court ruled that a term should be implied’
Ideally, tenants should seek to ensure that any break clauses are unconditional. Complying with conditions can be a minefield, even where they seem innocuous. Where a break is conditional, the tenant should ensure that any rent paid in advance for a period after the break date is refunded without any deduction or set-off. Otherwise, if the landlord claims there are outstanding dilapidations or other liabilities, the tenant might still find it difficult to recover its money.
Port Sunlight Trust secures a £1.8m loan for conversion
Claire Sedgwick of NatWest and Lionel Bolland, developer of Hesketh Hall, Port Sunlight
by Tony McDonough POST BUSINESS STAFF
tony.mcdonough@liverpool.com
AN HISTORIC building in Port Sunlight is to be converted into residential apartments with £1.8m backing from NatWest bank. The Port Sunlight Village Trust is working with the bank to complete the conservation and redevelopment of Hesketh Hall into 13 apartments. The Village of Port Sunlight was founded in 1888 by William Hesketh
Lever for his Sunlight soap factory and workers. The Port Sunlight Village Trust was established as a charity in 1999 by Unilever. Chief Executive Lionel Bolland, who joined the trust in 2003, has been working with trustees to establish a high standard of maintenance for this important conservation area that receives 300,000 visitors per year. One of the principal buildings, Hesketh Hall, had been left empty and in need of work. The trustees realised that signific-
ant investment was required to carry out conservation and conversion works to ensure a sustainable future for the building. Working closely with Claire Sedgwick, senior relationship manager at NatWest’s Liverpool office, the trust was able to secure a loan of £1.8m to take on the conversion project. Mr Bolland said: “We were faced with a real challenge. “Having already spent a great deal of time and energy on conserving the Village’s principal Grade II-listed buildings, Hesketh Hall was the last
Picture: JON PARKER LEE
building that needed our intervention. “With the help and support of NatWest, we are now able to complete a crucial phase of work to help secure a sustainable future for the village. “We hope that the re-development will also benefit the neighbouring district, New Ferry, by encouraging the local economy and helping to revitalise the area.” Ms Sedgwick added: “Port Sunlight Village is a significant part of our national heritage and it is vital that we do all that we can to conserve it for our future generations.”
Training firm takes space at Speke Hall Industrial Estate LANGTREE has secured a letting at its recently-acquired Speke Hall Industrial Estate, Liverpool, following the growth of Total Logistics Training (part of the TWA Group).
The company has taken the space after expanding its offering to cover training for apprenticeships and people studying for National Vocational Qualifications. The move has seen it grow
its workforce to more than 20 staff. This is the second training academy for Bromborough-based Total Logistics, which provides training courses for businesses and individuals.
The Speke academy will provide a mixture of courses including logistics and warehousing management, fork lift training, first aid and health and safety. Jan Brindle, regional man-
ager at Langtree Commercial Property, said: “Since acquiring the site earlier this year we have imminent plans to invest heavily in bringing it up to the standards our tenants have come to expect.”
Thursday, June 13, 2013
location
Liverpool is ‘leading the way’ in science park development by Tony McDonough
POST BUSINESS STAFF
tony.mcdonough@liverpool.com
LIVERPOOL has established a blueprint for the development of science and business parks across the UK.. That was the view of Dr David Hardman, chairman of the United Kingdom Science Park Association, speaking at an event in the city. Mr Hardman was the guest speaker at an event discussing the future of science and innovation parks in the North West. It was organised by the Forum for the Built Environment and was held at Liverpool Innovation Park (LIP). Addressing an audience of more than 50 property professionals, Dr Hardman, who is also chief executive of Innovation Campus Birmingham, said: “The future for science parks is in the cities because cities offer the facilities to enable creative minds to thrive. “These facilities include everything from high-speed internet connection, to close links to universities, being in the hub of a knowledge quarter and also being part of a vibrant culture of good food, wine and music. “Liverpool showcases the perfect example of two parks working in synergy with each other – Liverpool Science Park, focusing on nurturing graduates and companies with brain power, and Liverpool Innovation Park, offering larger business units when companies have become more established.” On a panel discussion with Wayne Locke, director of Ashtenne Space Northwest, and Chris Musson, chief executive of Liverpool Science Park, Dr Hardman told the audience that science parks were more important than they had ever been to economic recovery. He added: “Innovation is a high priority on the Government’s agenda and investors are beginning to take notice of science parks and the importance of creative minds coming together to promote serendipity.” As a not-for-profit company, Liverpool Science Park – based on the steps of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Mount Pleasant – is focused on building an interactive community of bright knowledge-based companies through close links with its owners –
‘Cities can offer the facilities for creative minds’
Dr David Hardman speaking at the event at Liverpool Innovation Park the two city universities. LIP, based in Edge Lane, focuses around providing creative businesses with high power, high broadband and connectivity to the region’s roads. Mr Locke said: “It’s about making sure that together we can promote Liverpool and the North West.
“We’ve got the links to universities, we’ve got the connectivity – it’s a perfect synergy with the potential to put Liverpool on the map for science and innovation.” Speaking about Liverpool Science Park, Mr Musson told the audience about the new £8m third building
Liverpool properties sold at auction A FULLY-LET residential investment in Liverpool, generating £20,400 a year, was sold at the latest Eddisons auction for £205,000. The two properties at Markden Mews on Upper Hampton Street, near to the city’s universities, had been offered on the instructions of the joint LPA receivers at a guide price of £170,000 plus. Meanwhile, a part-let mixed
retail and residential property on the Wirral sold for £40,000. The property in Woodchurch Lane, Prenton, currently produces £4,800 per annum, with the potential for this to increase to £10,000 when fully let. In total, Eddisons generated proceeds of nearly £8,000,000 (£7,994,500) at its three-day sale in Manchester, Leeds and London.
Tony Webber of Eddisons said: “This was our first combined national property auction catalogue which gave all the lots we were offering increased visibility. “Despite the challenging trading conditions we are delighted to have sold nearly £8m of stock across all asset classes in just seven days.’ Eddisons’ next North West auction takes place June 25.
Picture: SHAUN JEFFERS
being developed on site. “Innovation Centre three will offer a flexible mix of small offices and commercial laboratories set over 42,000 sq ft,” he said. “The science park is a crucial part of the knowledge economy and its drive to make money out of brain power.”
DTZ sells sites ACTING on behalf of Nike, DTZ has successfully disposed of three leasehold liabilities in Manchester which were the legacy of its acquisition and subsequent disposal of Umbro. The buildings, which comprised a total of 86,626 sq ft, are Lakeside 5000 and 5400 at Cheadle Royal and 29-31 Dale Street. Lakeside 5000 was assigned to Balfour Beatty which amalgamated various south Manchester offices while the remaining lease at Lakeside 5400 was surrendered to the Landlord. The lease on Dale Street was assigned to Iconix.
post business 21
Federation welcomes insolvency reform MAKING a complaint against an insolvency practitioner has been made easier with the launch of a single complaints gateway by the Insolvency Service, in a move welcomed by the British Property Federation (BPF). The move, announced by Business Minister Jo Swinson, will now mean that creditors, in the event of a company entering insolvency, are able to lodge their complaints with the Insolvency Service, rather than relying on the previous system where complaints could be made to any one of eight regulators. The property industry has repeatedly made the case for reform of the insolvency system, particularly in relation to pre-pack administrations and payment of rent during insolvency, which it feels is too far tipped towards company rescue, regardless of the consequences for creditors. Ian Fletcher, director of policy at the BPF, said: “Now’s not the time to again question why this reform has taken so long to deliver. “What’s important is that creditors get an improved service and speed of outcome from the large number of regulators. “Currently, rent owed to a landlord prior to the appointment of administrators is not treated as a cost of the administration. “This has led to tenants being put into administration just after quarter day, enabling them to use the premises for the remainder of the quarter without having to pay rent while the landlord recovers nothing as an unsecured creditor.”
Investec in property bid WEALTH management firm Investec is to invest an extra £500m in the commercial property market, according to reports this week. The company, which has a major base in Liverpool, is reportedly looking to cash in on the recovery in capital values in the UK property sector. It will be seeking investments in well-run UK property companies and real estate funds.
22 post business economic development
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Shipping giants looking focus on
growth
by Helen Davies
POST BUSINESS STAFF
helen.davies01@trinitymirror.com
T
ALKS are underway between the Port of Liverpool and major shipping operators about signing up to use the new Liverpool2 container terminal. Gary Hodgson, managing director of the Port of Liverpool, told Post Business conversations were in their “early stages” but that “very interesting talks” had already been held. He said: “It’s going to tick all the boxes for the shipping people. “The business benefits of coming to Liverpool are very strong.” Last week saw football legends Sir Bobby Charlton and Kenny Dalglish officially launch contruction work for Liverpool2, Peel Ports’ £300m in-river container terminal which will enable vessels carrying up to 13,500 containers to call directly at the Port of Liverpool. But Mr Hodgson said he was not concerned the port had not yet secured any shipping companies. He said: “If you look at London Gateway, which is due to be completed later this year, they haven’t announced anybody is signed up yet. “It was never in our plan that we would have people signed up when we started work, we’re very confident in our business model.” Major shipping companies include Maersk,ACL,CMA CGM and NYK Line but Port of Liverpool would not confirm which lines they had been speaking to. Mark Whitworth, Group Chief Executive of Peel Ports, believes the investment in Liverpool2 will make an already strong commercial proposition “more compelling than ever”. He said: “The Port of Liverpool has already seen increased interest from shipping lines and cargo owners. “Over the last 18 months APL, Evergreen and Zim have started to offer weekly feeder connections into Liverpool, whilst MSC and CMA have continued to grow their long-standing feeder volumes through the port.” Meanwhile, employment is under way at the Liverpool2 container terminal, which is predicted to create around 5,000 jobs. Mr Hodgson told the Post about 500 jobs would be around the terminal itself, with a large number of positions in logistics roles at hubs along the Manchester Ship Canal. He said: “I think the jobs will be spread across the city region. “It would be silly to say they will all be in Liverpool. “Jobs are starting now. We’ve propbably got 50 more people on site than last year and are creating more jobs every week. “A lot will be temporary for the construction phase but once the equipment is here there will be a steady build-up.” He added the Port of Liverpool was also keen to train apprentices and has taken on ten this year. Doug Coleman, Liverpool2 Project Director, added: “There will be a sub-
Steel pipes 40m long are lined up ready for construction. They will be driven into the rock beneath the Mersey stantial recruitment programme. “We’ve got hundreds of people to recruit and train in a whole range of roles including crane operators and mechanical engineers.” Mr Hodgson said that despite views by some that many staff at the Port of Liverpool site were not local, 90% actually lived within 10 miles.
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never run smoothly, especially when there’s a hostile environment like the Mersey involved. “The 10 metre tidal range of the river presents a significant challenge. “When you’re working below water things are always uncertain.” Construction work will begin by coring the rock base of the Mersey and positioning metal tubes which will form the base of the new quay wall. These tubes, which are 40 metres long and have a diameter of 1.8 metres, will then be driven into the rock core about 25m deep.
‘The tidal range of the river presents a challenge’
IVERPOOL2 is due to open in 2015, a date Mr Coleman said is “ambitious” but designed to tie in with the completion of the widening of the Panama Canal for allow larger vessels. He said: “Construction projects
Just exposing the rock is expected to take until the autumn and then putting the poles into place is predicted to take a year after that. Mr Coleman said: “The dredgers will then harvest material from the deep water channel. “Material will be pumped behind the quay wall. “It’s quite an impressive programme. “We’ve got a lot to do from manufacturing new cranes to building a new quay wall.” But the project director said it was in their interests to meet the 2015 deadline. He said: “It’s such a significant investment we need to get on quickly to get a return on our investments.” The new 854 metre-long quay wall
will require 30,000 cubic metres of concrete for its capping beam. Mr Coleman added he was pleased with progress made so far and said: “The last few months have seen an intense amount of planning and preparatory work completed on the scheme’s detailed design. “ It is intensely pleasing that we remain on programme and there is a real sense of satisfaction that we are now in the construction phase of Liverpool2.” And once Liverpool2 is completed, deredging work will carry on to ensure the new deeper channel does not silt up. Mr Coleman said: “We’ll never stop dredging. “That’s true of any of this kind of channel in the UK.”
Thursday, June 13, 2013
to Liverpool2
Sir Bobby Charlton and Kenny Dalglish at the Liverpool2 official launch event last week
economic development post business 23
diary of an entrepreneur I DON’T think you grow up wanting to be an entrepreneur, but I knew from an early age that I didn’t want to work for anyone else. I also come from an entrepreneurial family – my dad owns his own software company and my sister runs her own nursery chain so you could say the passion for owning your own business runs in our blood. There is certainly a lot of healthy competition between the three of us. Momote wasn’t my first company. I started a software company called Knowledge Management Software (KMS) straight out of university, making my degree in chemical engineering defunct. The company was one of the North West darlings of the dot com era, raising £30m on successive listings on OFEX and TechMark. They were fun times and it was great to see it grow, but by 2000 I was ready for a new challenge so I took the opportunity to take a career break to re-evaluate what I wanted to do. I was passionate about the technology industry and mobile technology was starting to emerge. I set up a company called Momote which means “anywhere or everywhere” reflecting the ethos that technology can be everywhere. Initially we were a technology company assisting companies with deploying early mobile applications on Nokia 6230i and the like (still the best phone ever invented). But due to the way the market moved, we became a consultancyled sales organisation creating mobile solutions for blue chip
companies such as Autoglass, Harveys Furniture and Iveco using our workforce management app. From working with these big names I saw a gap in the market where SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) were being priced out of mobile technology adoption because of high implementation costs. Our mobile phone app, MyMobileWorkers, was bred out of trying to offer SMEs the type of mobile solution that the big boys used, but at an affordable price via a Software as a Service (SaaS) model. Our whole philosophy for MyMobileWorkers was about getting more for less from your mobile workers – bringing a whole new level of efficiency to SMEs. MyMobileWorkers continues to grow in success. We have a clear plan of how we see MyMobileWorkers helping SMEs across key sectors, such as waste and heating and plumbing, and are rolling out awareness of the app to educate SMEs how to scrap paperwork and go mobile. And as for my vision for MyMobileWorkers in five years’ time? – I would love to see it as the “go-to app” for communicating with your mobile workers and having removed enough paper from circulation to fill the Shard. Ambitious, maybe, but we’re passionate about our technology and will continue to enhance the offer we have to provide a solution we think the market is crying out for. Graham Whistance is the founder of workforce management app, MyMobileWorkers. The company is based at The Parks, Haydock.
Artist’s impression of how Liverpool2 will look at completion, which is due to happen by 2015
Firms look forward to Liverpool2 development COMPANIES are already gearing up for the opening of Liverpool2. A whole host of different products and materials are already transported through the Port of Liverpool and the event last week to officially mark the start of construction work for the project saw the attendance of many business leaders who currently import and export
through the facility. Some of these are looking forward to increasing their use of the port when Liverpool2 is completed. Wirral-based tea giant Typhoo currently uses Liverpool for 50% of its imports, with the other half being taken to Felixstowe before being transported to the North West by road. But Somnath Saha, fin-
ance director at Typhoo, told Business Post the company plans to ship all its tea to the Port of Liverpool when the deepening of the channel is completed. Michael Forde, supply chain director at Kingsland Wines and Spirits, based in Irlam near Manchester, was also at last week’s Liverpool2 launch event and said the scheme will improve
logistics for his company, which already transports goods from Liverpool down the Manchester Ship Canal. He said: “We were, I think, the first people to import products container-wise down the canal. “We move about 1,000 containers a year. “This will give us a lot more flexibility to the whole process.”
Graham Whistance, founder of MyMobileWorkers
24 post business professionals
Thursday, June 13, 2013
A ‘challenging’ first year for Barclays’ Liverpool director by Helen Davies
POST BUSINESS STAFF
helen.davies@trinitymirror.com
THE Liverpool team of Barclays’ corporate division has seen a 25% increase in the number of relationship directors there over the last year. John Pitchford made the appointments after he started as the bank’s head of corporate banking in Merseyside 12 months ago. He said: “I think over the last few years Barclays from a corporate point of view has been punching below its weight. “It didn’t have enough corporate clients.” The plan is to resolve this with the help of the 10 relationship directors, who each have a specialist area of expertise. Mr Pitchford said: “One of the things I did was to look at the areas of growth in Liverpool and create relationship director roles which didn’t exist before “There’s a lot of big infrastructure projects and Liverpool has a huge history of trade exports so we have a new relationship director focusing on logistics.” The father-of-two, who moved to the Merseyside role from his previous position with Barclays in North Wales, admits it has been a challenging 12 months. He said: “Almost the first week I was here a lot of banking issues hit the headlines such as PPI and interest rate headlines. “Personally I went through difficult times because I didn’t recognise a lot of the behaviour I was seeing from bankers in the press. But people here and my clients have helped me get over these confidence issues. “Clients said we were doing a good job and asked us to carry on supporting them and the local economy. “I had a long hard look at the business and where it was and what neeeded to be done to make sure it was set up for the future.” Mr Pitchford, 50, said his aim with the corporate division, which deals with clients with a turnover of between £5m and £1bn, is to help the local economy by helping businesses. He added: “The challenge for the team here is similar to the challenge Liverpool has. I think Liverpool is the city in the UK that has the most potential. “There are significant problems in Liverpool such as the austerity cuts and deprived areas but there’s huge ambition. “I think the biggest problem Liverpool has is converting potential into reality.” He added he felt it is important when projects likeLiverpool 2 get underway help with things such as tendering, pitching and funding is given to ensure local businesses benefit.
‘In my first week a lot of banking issues hit the news’
John Pitchford heads up Barclays’ Liverpool corporate banking team
Picture: TONY McDONOUGH
Halton in award for its work with SMEs HALTON Council has won a best practice award from the Government for the work it does to help small businesses secure contracts with the authority. The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) named Halton as one of the winners in the ‘Best councils to do business with’ 2013 competition. The DCLG recognised Halton’s work in demonstrating to small firms that it is open to their business by proactively engaging with them at an early stage, and by introducing ways to make it easier for them to take part in the procurement process. This includes holding procurement training workshops for more than 400 local businesses, simplifying the processes, and removing barriers, such as the unwieldy pre-qualification questionnaire for small value contracts. All contracts worth more than £1,000 are now advertised online on the procurement portal, ‘The Chest’, which has led to a huge increase in activity on the site, demonstrating that companies are now finding it easier to bid for work. Judges also praised the way the council collects and uses data, and the performance measures it has in place to improve procurement with small firms. Council leader Cllr Rob Polhill said: “We are committed to supporting small business, and we have made a real difference by embracing new ways of working to open up new opportunities for them to work with us. To be named as one of the best councils to do business with is recognition for our procurement team.”
on the move ■
MERSEY Maritime has appointed a new commercial director, Chris Shirling-Rooke, to strengthen its business engagement team and develop new opportunities. The Birkenhead-based trade body represents more than 1,700 Merseyside firms supplying the maritime sector and receives funding from the European Regional Development Fund to help
drive job creation and business growth in maritime SMEs. Birkenhead-born Mr Shirling-Rooke will be tasked with signing up more businesses to Mersey Maritime’s membership organisation, which offers business and training support and networking opportunities within the maritime sector in Merseyside and the wider UK marketplace.
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STRUCTURAL engineer Ian Booth has been appointed as associate to lead the new Liverpool office for civil and structural engineering consultancy Thomasons. Richard Levery, director of Thomasons’ Manchester office, said: “Our business in Liverpool has grown substantially in recent years and it was therefore a logical move to open a Liverpool
office to be closer to our clients.”
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HSBC has strengthened its North West corporate banking team with the appointment of Sion Woodrow, Greg Caiger and Shibaji Dasgupta into relationship management roles. All three roles have a major emphasis on new business development throughout the region.
Chris Shirling-Rooke – Maritime role
Ian Booth – will lead Thomasons office
Sion Woodrow – promoted at HSBC
style post business 25
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Study reveals the hidden cost of UK’s ‘overworking’ culture
Poll’s key findings
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Alistair Houghton on a Medicash poll showing the UK’s ‘all work and no play’ culture is damaging family life
E MUST stop being “slaves to work” and take time to enjoy our family lives – that’s the message from a new report from Medicash into the UK’s working habits. The Medicash survey of more than 1,000 working parents showed the UK’s “all work and no play” culture was causing high stress levels and damaging family life. Some 83% of working parents felt guilty about the amount of time they spent working, with half saying it has a negative impact on relationships with their children, and 46% saying it caused problems in their relationship with their partner. Sixty per cent of respondents said they found it “difficult” to switch off from work when they got home. Those most likely to feel guilty about working long hours were in professional services (29.3%), who were also the most likely to work on a family holiday (56.1%), and have children complain about their overworking (22%). They were followed closely by those working in finance. Professor Cary Cooper, Distinguished Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health at Lancaster University and director of business psychology company Robertson Cooper, said: “The fact that many people feel guilty about how they spend their time is hugely significant it shows how important it is to maintain work-life balance. “The evidence shows flexible work-
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WHEN asked how they thought overworking affected family life, over 50% of respondents admitted to missing their child’s sports day, school play or parents’ evenings due to work commitments, 42.9% said they had worked through family holidays, and 58.8% said their children complained about the amount of time they spent working. PARENTS also said that work had caused issues with childcare, with 30.4% having to organise for someone to collect the offspring at the last minute because they had to work, whilst 46% of parents admitted to dropping children off at school or nursery when they were ill because they had to work and could not find a child-sitter at short notice.
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THOSE who felt they had the worst work/life balance lived in Birmingham (43.3%), followed closely by London (39%), Liverpool (36%) and Manchester (35.6%). Those who felt they had the best work / life balance lived in Glasgow (83%) and Norwich (75%).
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Overworking is hurting people’s families and hitting their health. Inset, Medicash CEO Sue Weir ing delivers to the business’s bottom line, with employees feeling less guilty about how they spend their time and achieving a better balance between work and home commitments.” Sue Weir, chief executive of Liverpool-based health cash plan provider Medicash, said: “The results of the study are very troubling, revealing that a healthy work life balance may
be hard to come by in today’s economy. “Pressures of increasing workloads and job insecurity can be seen as the principle causes of a culture of overworking which is creating problems for the family unit in Britain. “The health implications of excessive working are very serious and should not be overlooked, often being associated with the development of
health problems like heart disease, diabetes, stress and depression, which is not only damaging for personal relationships, but also the UK economy. “They lead to workplace absenteeism, which amounts to 10.4m lost working days per year, costing UK businesses an average of £3.7bn each year. Keeping a good work-life balance helps both workers and businesses.”
Respondents said the main reason they over work is because there is “too much work to complete within a working day” (35.2%), followed by “so I am not considered for redundancy” (13.7%).
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The UK has some of the longest working hours in Europe, with more than 3m UK employees (one in eight) working more than 48 hours a week.
past business – nostalgia
Liverpool retail tycoon sailed to New York to take lessons in lighting
Littlewoods founder Sir John Moores
THREE decades after Frank Winfield Woolworth brought his American retail magic to Liverpool, it seemed America was still the place to go for any serious student of shopping. In an October 1937 piece with the somewhat understated heading “Liverpool man’s impressions”, John Moores told the Post about his recent visit to New York’s grand department stores. That “Liverpool man” was, of course, one of the greatest entrepreneurs the city has ever known. Not content with founding Littlewoods Pools and making it a household name, Moores launched a home shopping arm in 1932 before opening his first Littlewood’s store in Blackpool in 1937. The Post noted that he had founded his own stores business “to fight existing firms with world-wide chain store organisations”. So, in September 1937, he visited New York to see what his young company could learn from that
city’s “walk-round chain stores”. On his return, Moores told the Post: “Two or three firms there have put the (retail) business on a better plane than some of the cheap chain stores. “There was one store, for instance, with a frontage of 200 feet and a depth of 100 feet which did not contain a single supporting column. “I should say that America has something to teach us in the matter of lighting – good use is made of concealed ceiling and wall lights – and also in the construction of buildings and the display of goods. “Apart from that I don’t think there was a lot to learn.” Mr Moores told the Post he did not plan to model his stores entirely on American lines – though he had ambitions to match any US tycoon, saying he hoped to open some 100 stores in the UK. The chain did indeed become a national institution, opening its Liverpool flagship store in the 1950s. ALISTAIR HOUGHTON
The first Littlewoods store, in Blackpool
26 post business end piece
Thursday, June 13, 2013
trading gossip
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LAST weekend was another huge success for Liverpool’s tourism economy as more than 100,000 people attended the On the Waterfront festival. As the sun beat down
punters thronged from the Pier Head to the Albert Dock. Musical luminaries such as KT Tunstall and the Christians entertained the crowds on the Pier Head stage. It was, for the most part, a family occasion but there was one amusing moment, at least for some, on Friday evening. Having set up the stage at the Pier Head organisers then started run-
ning sound checks, with music booming out from the speakers. They played one very mellow, jazzy track by Donald Fagen, former lead singer of Steely Dan. The song was perfect for the pleasant summer evening until the line “he really knows his s**t” boomed out across the Pier Head. Parents were seen quickly covering children’s ears.
KT Tunstall at the Pier Head
Cinema where Daniel Craig may just pop in myday off Mark Howard’s Wirral firm, Twenty Five Educational, provides not-for-profit organisations with photography, design and communications. In his spare time he helps to run Hoylake Community Cinema
M
OVING to Hoylake seven years ago from London, with my wife and two children, I was really keen to get involved in the local community and develop my passion for cinema. So almost two years ago, along with the help of other local volunteers, we set up Hoylake Community Cinema, a small independent pop-up cinema that is grabbing the attention of major players in British cinema. A-list actor Daniel Craig and cult film director Alex Cox are already patrons of this small, 130-seat cinema that screens monthly films with additional matinees and special screenings, all in the seaside town’s community centre. Film nights are on the last Friday of the month and as well as a post-film quiz in the bar, with specially designed prizes, we have had some special guests. Alex Cox, David Bradley who played Billy Casper in Kes and local script writer Mark Gee are amongst those who have joined us to talk about their perspectives and answer questions. Of the last five films, three have been sold out – so there is undoubtedly a strong demand for what we are offering. Our volunteers have also now started making food so there is always a great variety of high quality home-made pies, quiches and soup on offer. We’d love to expand that to a separate pop-up restaurant at some point in the future. I think we have grabbed the atten-
Mark Howard is a lover of the cinema as can be seen from the movie posters on the wall of his home Picture: JAMES MALONEY tion of major names in the film industry because what we are doing is grassroots cinema on a shoestring and anyone in the film industry knows very well that it is audiences who are the true lifeblood of the industry, not the studios, the marketers or the multiplexes This type of pop up cinema could be set to spring up all round the UK as people tire of multiplexes and want a more engaging, community-based experience, partly out of nostalgia for ‘the way things used to be’ but also because communities are increasingly conscious of spending, and playing, locally. Out-of-town shopping and entertainment are sucking the lifeblood, as well as money, out of communities. We can go a significant way to reversing that trend by offering more locally. Cinema is a part of that. It won’t adversely affect the multiplexes – this is complementary. I’ve nothing against the multiplexes – there’s no easy way to get a licence to screen the big blockbusters at the time of release. But for older, more unusual or clas-
sic film, the opportunity for pop up cinemas like ours is massive. If we have a full house we can make a healthy profit, which in turn can be reinvested in community projects. You just need a laptop, big screen and a decent projector – all of these should be available somewhere in even the smallest communities. We need to maintain an attendance of around 80 to break even although we do offer advertising among the trailers which supplements the door takings. So what’s next for this little cinema with a big vision? Just to keep offering more of what we do well, specialist cinema with unique events. Our Saturday matinees are growing in popularity too. Hopefully, if we can inspire others to start up a community cinema that would be fantastic. There’s not many around the country, people think it is complicated and expensive but we started with nothing and now make a small annual profit that we can reinvest in other projects. And if we can get Daniel Craig to visit us when he’s next back home visiting his family in Hoylake, that would be great.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
end piece
27 post business
networking
The London Carriage Works in Hope Street
It’s time for tea Mandy Molby, Wirral Witches, and Trudi Brook, KallKwik Liverpool
THE Hilton Hotel at Liverpool One has launched a new look Pink Champagne Afternoon Tea. Quirky boxes are filled with sandwiches,
cakes and scones with jam and cream. Attending the launch was, above, Suzanne Robinson, Visual Merchandiser, and Chelsea Jefferson, Wongs Jewellers
Interesting evening THERE was a definite legal flavour at the first birthday party of The Interesting Eating Company in Allerton Road. The event was attended by family, friends and business associates of the eaterie’s
my favourite lunch Mary Nowell, senior associate at BCL Legal Q What is your facourite lunch venue? A The London Carriage Works at The Hope Street Hotel. Q Why is this your favourite venue? A I’ve always really enjoyed its relaxed and friendly ambience. The food is amazing and the attention to detail never fails to impress me. I also try to avoid the big chain restaurant groups so this is at the top of my list. The Prix Fixe menu is great value and the breakfasts are delicious.
owners – Nichola Lee and Andrea Edwards. Among those who attended were, right, barristers Rachael Banks of Atlantic Chambers in Liverpool and Jane Sampson of MSB Solicitors.
Q What is your favourite dish and why? A Anyone who knows me (even just a little bit) is aware of my great love of cheese. I literally cannot get enough of ity. So, I am rather partial to the sharing platter..
Party time for Fiona
IN what was probably the worst kept secret since Roberto Martinez’s appointment as new Everton manager, staff, friends and regulars at Dale Street’s Thomas Rigby’s pub organised a sur-
business diary FRIDAY, JUNE 14
INVEST Sefton is staging a free workshop to provide an insight into credit management processes. Credit Management – end to end – an overview, will take place from 9.30am to 12 noon at the organisation’s Magdalen House ground floor premises onTrinity Road, Bootle. The workshop can help protect a company’s financial position and help it to use the credit control function as a marketing tool. Subjects covered will include such issues as do you know who you are dealing with?; assessing risks; the
paper trail; collection processes; and the legal options, followed by a Q&A session. Contact events@investsefton.com or phone 0151-934 3450 to confirm attendance.
TUESDAY, JUNE 18
A FREE HR workshop is taking place in Southport, organised by Invest Sefton, on discipline and grievance issues. By the end of the course, which runs from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm, delegates should understand why organisations have disciplinary procedures; the part procedures play
in an employment tribunal; what statutory rights an employee has; the main steps within a disciplinary procedure; where to go for support when handling a disciplinary; and the difference between conduct and gross misconduct. Contact events@investsefton.com or phone 0151-934 3450.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19
ENTERPRISING Merseyside is staging a free workshop aimed at helping people become their own boss . ‘Be Your Own Boss’ is being hosted at the St Helens Chamber of Commerce offices, in Salisbury Street, from 6pm to 8pm. The session will be
prise party to celebrate the 10th anniversary of licensee Fiona Watkin at the popular business watering hole. She is pictured with brother Stephen who called in for the celebrations.
informal and is designed to offer the best way to find out everything needed in order to start your own business. For further information call: 0845 340 9980.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19
PROFESSIONAL Liverpool is holding a networking lunch and a presentation by John Jenkins, chief executive at The Office for Nuclear Regulation, in the council chamber of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce in Old Hall Street, from 12.30pm to 2pm. Phone 0151-224 1855 for details.
THURSDAY, JUNE 20
LIVERPOOL Chamber of
Q What is the best bit of business you have done over lunch? A Business lunches tend to be with candidates who we have placed in new positions. I am pleased to report that I have had many of these lunches and I can say with conviction that it is the best part of my role as a recruiter (the celebrating a new position, not the lunch).
Commerce is introducing a new meetings format this month, with Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson. The new-look members’ meeting takes place at North John Street’s Hard Days Night Hotel and includes a two-course lunch and an opportunity to display merchandise on a marketing table. Chamber chief operating officer Jenny Stewart said: “This year has been really exciting for ourselves, and lots of our members, and we are looking forward to welcoming Mayor Anderson. This will be the first of a new series of members meetings to add to our portfolio.” Further details at www. liverpoolchamber.org.uk/ events or 0151-227 1234.
Mary Nowell, BCL Legal Q Who would you most like to have lunch with? A Maybe Bill Clinton to find out exactly what did happen in the Oval office or even Spencer Matthews from Made in Chelsea, is it real or not? On a less superficial note... lunch with Benazir Bhutto would have been hugely interesting. Q Where else do you like to go for lunch? A Liverpool is bursting with great places to eat which is great. However, my personal favourites are Lunya, The Italian Club and Alma de Cuba.
MONDAY, JUNE 24
THE Employability and Skills Group of companies is holding a series of open days at its Liverpool operation in Bold Street. It invites schools and pupils, parents, teachers, heads of departments and careers advisors, training providers, job centres, community agencies, and employers to its informal events, from 10am to 4pm, on the second floor of Link 19 in Bold Street’s Central Village. Contact Jules Westbrook or Pauline O’Brien on 0151-702 6111.
TUESDAY, JUNE 25
A WORKSHOP aimed at helping firms do business in Russia is taking place at the
Old Hall Street offices of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, from 9.15am to 1pm, including breakfast. Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organisation last year will open markets further – tariffs are already being lowered for imported goods. This event will give an overview of the practical considerations to start exporting, or increase current exports to Russia. It costs £10 for chamber members and £15 for non-members. Visit www.mychamber.co. uk/liverpool/event/view/id/ 3252#book to book. ■ Send your diary events to neil.hodgson @liverpool.com
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Thursday, June 13, 2013
2 fo Ava r 1 C ilab orp le o ora n 2 te H os 2nd & 2 pital ity 3rd Jun e