Post Business - 14th March 2013

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Thursday, March 14, 2013

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Liverpool FC pioneers partnership with business school LIVERPOOL FC has linked up with the London School of Business and Finance (LSBF) on a programme combining sport and business.

In what is believed to be the first collaboration of its kind between a top-flight club and a business school, it will deliver tailored programmes in sports management and leadership, worldwide, through the new

ELITES institution (Education and Learning Initiative Training Entrepreneurs in Sport).

“We’re extremely proud to have entered this partnership with Liverpool FC,” said LSBF founder and chairman Aaron Etingen.

“Both LSBF and the club have put a lot of effort into the development of the pro-

grammes, which are unique to the market.”

The five-day continuous professional development (CPD) course will be split, with half of each day in the classroom with LSBF lecturers and the other half with Liverpool FC coaches.

Together, they will consider, through industry-leading management theory, practical

sessions and seminars, the transferable skills used in the business and sporting worlds.

Participants will also enjoy guest lecturing from industry experts.

Billy Hogan, chief commercial officer at Liverpool FC, said: “Football develops many transferable skills, including team work, leadership and management through change.

“The Management and Leadership course offers participants the chance to enhance these skills using football as a tool to learn.”

The course, aimed at professionals looking to build on their skills, will kick off at the Liverpool FC Academy in Kirkby on June 3, before being taken out on the road to territories across the world.

Growth and help for SMEs at heart of pre-Budget wish lists

by Neil Hodgson

POST BUSINESS STAFF

neil.hodgson@liverpool.com

THERE is no lack of advice for Chancellor George Osborne ahead of next Wednesday’s Budget – and Merseyside agencies and other organisations have their own lengthy wish lists.

Liverpool Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) chairman Robert Hough sees four areas where action is required.

First is more information on former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Heseltine’s report last year recommending more powers and funds for LEPs. Mr Hough called for increased powers and funding and a timetable for it to happen: “Liverpool is very well equipped in resources to take on that wider role and I hope this Budget will contain what those responsibilities comprise.”

He believes the extra powers could relate to enhanced responsibilities around skills and economic development: “That is important for us because we are in a strong shape and structure to receive this.”

Mr Hough also called for more incentives for companies and consumers to spend: “That translates to increased capital allowances for companies and a reduction in personal taxation so people have more money in their pocket to go and spend.”

He wants the Chancellor to encourage investment in construction and infrastructure, saying: “Construction is a major employer, but also induces activity because buildings are occupied and houses are lived in. And infrastructure, like the Mersey Gateway, needs to move forward.”

Finally, Mr Hough wants an improvement in access to finance for small firms. He said: “Funding for Lending could be taken forward. That would be of great assistance.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce has called on the Chancellor to go for growth.

Chief operating officer Jenny Stewart said: “Deficit reduction remains important, but without sustained growth it is unlikely to have any real impact.

“Boosting business confidence and creating an environment of enterprise that supports growing and ambitious businesses through capital investment and strategic tax cuts that can spur long-term growth is key.

“It was great to see the Chancellor use the Autumn Statement to re-confirm his support for the creation of a British Business Bank.

“What it needs now is a firm

Liverpool Chamber’s chief operating officer Jenny Stewart monitors last year’s Autumn Statement timetable for launch. Financing business growth is urgent, so we will certainly be hoping to see some movement on this.”

Ms Stewart said a freeze on business rates would also be welcome news, easing pressure on cashflow for businesses, as would help to encourage more exports.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) believes small business finance and tax must be at the heart of the Chancellor’s Budget.

With some small firms paying more in rates than they do in rent the FSB believes Small Business Rate Relief should be made permanent in England.

It is also calling for a review on how business rates are calculated, moving the indexation element from RPI to CPI, and is lobbying the Chancellor to ensure work to simplify the tax system is not watered down.

The current proposal to allow small firms with a turnover of less than £77,000 to provide cash-based accounts is a “major deregulatory step” and one it believes will increase compliance.

The FSB would also like to see exist-

ing schemes for investment relief pooled together in a one-stop shop so small firms know where to go for capital to invest in their business.

John Allan, chairman of FSB Merseyside, West Cheshire and Wigan, said: “This Budget is an opportunity to forge the tax and finance environment in which small firms can grow and thrive. It must not be missed.

“Along with other important steps the Chancellor should take on fuel duty, late payment, energy prices, employment and skills, these pro- small business and pro-growth policies should be placed at the heart of this year’s Budget.”

Meanwhile, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has called on the Government to use the Budget to get the UK building to create growth, and to address the housing crisis.

RIBA president Angela Brady said: “Every £1 of investment in construction activity generates £2.84 of economic activity – the construction industry is the place to start if the Government is truly committed to generating growth and jobs.”

Employers’ organisation the CBI has also urged the Chancellor to boost the housing market to build confidence among businesses and consumers.

Among its proposals are measures benefiting first and second-time buyers, support for householders refurbishing homes and for smaller house builders struggling to access finance.

Champion sets up an education division SOUTHPORT accountants Champion has launched an education arm to provide schools and academies around the region with specialist business advice.

The education division is aimed at primary and secondary schools that have converted to “Academy” status, or are in the process of doing so.

It will be headed by director David Hardy, who will work alongside a skilled team providing a range of specialist in-house services including audit and accounts preparation, accounting systems development, budget planning, insurance, payroll and VAT. The team will be based across Champion’s five North West offices offering a local presence to schools and academies in and around Blackpool, Chester, Preston Manchester and Southport.

Mr Hardy said: “Academy schools have full responsibility for their own finances, accounting systems and policies – areas that would have previously been looked after by their Local Education Authority.

“Champion is offering a complete business and financial support package which will ease the burden of this responsibility, while ensuring compliance in all necessary areas.

“The selection of services we provide will be tailored to each school’s individual needs and requirements.

“Our approach is very much working together with existing staff in schools.”

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‘LEP is equipped to take on a wider role’

For News, Sport and Business on your phone LEP chair Robert Hough

Text LDP to 67800

Thursday, March 14, 2013

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German deal for MSoft’s Bloodhound blood tracking system BROMBOROUGH healthcare technology company MSoft eSolutions is to export its pioneering blood-tracking software to Germany.

The firm has signed a deal to work with German healthcare hardware company Chip Card Solutions (CCS).

MSoft’s Bloodhound solution controls access to and

from all blood fridges, ensuring that only approved staff are allowed to access blood.

The firm’s blood-tracking solution provides positive identification of users and patients and in-depth auditing of all bloods across each and every stage of the transfusion process to help get the right blood into the right patient.

The software will be combined with CCS’s blood storage fridges, equipped with Radio Frequency Identification technology, allowing the effective and uninterrupted documentation of the path taken by a blood transfusion in hospitals and blood donation centres.

Up to 200 stored blood units

can be contained in one of the CCS fridges, which ensure the refrigeration of blood bags.

It is estimated that up to 10% of all blood bags in Germany have to be disposed of, leading to six-figure financial losses for many hospitals affected.

MSoft managing director and founder Matt McAlister

said: “We are delighted to be partnering with CCS in the German healthcare market.

He added: “By combining our unique Bloodhound software solution with CCS’s blood storage fridges, we are able to improve levels of patient safety and help hospitals make significant financial savings.”

X1 awards a £4.7m contract to Bardsley

by Tony McDonough POST BUSINESS STAFF

tony.mcdonough@liverpool.com

NORTH WEST building firm Bardsley Construction has won a £4.7m contract to build a student accommodation scheme in Liverpool city centre.

It will turn Arndale House in London Road into 160 student apartments after being awarded the work by X1 Developments.

Manchester-based Bardsley was appointed by Liverpool-based X1 to convert the upper floors of the building while retaining existing retail units on the ground floor.

The project involves the refurbishment of the first and second floors to create 80 apartments and the addition of a two-storey roof top extension to provide another 80 apartments.

The project also involves Liverpool-based firms DK Architects, civil and structural engineers Sutcliffe and engineering services provider HE Simm, as well as Leeds-based timber frame building specialist Shire Tim-

ber. Bardsley is scheduled to complete the work on Arndale House in the summer, in time for the new student intake.

Paul Strutt, managing director of Bardsley Construction, said: “Working in partnership with X1 Developments and its partners allows us to bring our expertise in the provision of high-quality accommodation for the education sector to a key development in the heart of Liverpool.”

Bardsley has already established a track record in Liverpool.

In 2011 it took on two projects worth a total of £7.3m which included a supported family centre for Liverpool Mutual Homes and a hostel for Liverpool Housing Trust.

A spokesperson for X1 Developments aded: “X1 appointed Bardsley Construction because it delivers the best in-build quality, student sector knowledge and industry standards and we believe these will be reflected in the X1 Arndale development.

“We look forward to the site being completed for the 2013-2014 student intake.”

Sam Walsh, general manager at the Direct365 division, said: “Oasis Business Park provides the right location for our digital sales and marketing team.

“The high-quality office accommodation is ideally located, adjoining junction 5 of M58 and close to the M6, allowing easy access for staff, clients and suppliers.

“The move forms part of

STEP INTO MY OFFICE Mark McDonald, general manager at Jamie Carragher’s Cafe Sports England

‘Like a For News, lot of Sport and managers Business inyour the on hospitality phone Text LDPI industry to 67800 sort of fell into it, but I haven't looked back once – I really enjoy it’ To watch the full video interview, go to www. ldpbusiness. co.uk

Coresafe adds staff in move An artist’s impression of X1 Developments' £4.7m scheme in London Road

PHS taking office space at Oasis WORKPLACE services provider, Personal Hygiene Services (PHS) has signed up for 8,000 sq ft of office space at Oasis Business Park in Skelmersdale.

The letting, secured on an five-year lease, will see the company occupy the entire first floor of the 17,000 sq ft new-build property, where it will operate its Direct 365 business.

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our exciting expansion plans, and will provide the base for this growing part of the business.”

Robert Diggle, partner at site agent Edward Symmons, added: “The out of town office market in the North West has seen a dip in activity recently and this letting therefore represents one of the largest deals of its kind in the area in recent times.”

Curry Club date A SPECIALIST networking firm is to hold its next Curry Club business lunch in Chester this week.

Networking in the City focuses on the property, finance and construction sectors and will hold the event in Siam Thai and Teppan-Yaki Restaurant in City Road on Friday, March 15.

Guest speaker will be Oliver Riley from vacanspeak about the rise in metal theft and what this means for property owners in the North. Latest figures show more than 1,000 metal thefts occur a week from commercial properties in the UK.

CORESAFE Consulting has expanded by moving from Crosby to the Liverpool Connect Business Village on Derby Road.

The firm specialises in construction, workplace and property health and safety and has seen its workload grow by helping firms avoid punitive notices or fines in the recent Health and Safety Executive crackdown on construction sites.

The firm recently recruited two new staff members and managing director Paul Jasper said: “We have now moved office and taken on staff thanks to steady growth over the last year.”

Coresafe is also part of the North Liverpool Business Forum.

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Thursday, March 14, 2013

post business big feature

Bill Gleeson George Osborne treads a fine line ahead of Budget GEORGE OSBORNE assures us he won’t be changing course when he delivers his Budget speech next week.

The question isn’t so much do we believe him.

It’s more what sort of semantic game is he playing?

The problem is a simple one.

The UK economy has come nowhere near matching the forecasts for growth that formed the core assumptions under pinning the Coalition’s original plan to get the public finances back on course by the end of the current parliament.

That means tax revenues from income tax, corporation tax, VAT and much besides are lower than previously anticipated.

As a result, the deficit will remain higher and take longer to cut than previously anticipated.

It is for that reason that the UK’s credit rating was cut by Moody’s a few weeks ago.

By not changing course does the Chancellor mean he is determined to cut the deficit in line with his original pledge made back in 2010?

Or does he mean he isn’t going to be swayed from that original plan, even if it does mean a higher deficit?

My hunch is that he would like us to believe the latter while in fact dogmatically going about making further cuts.

Labour used to have its stealth taxes – maybe the Coalition can find ways of making stealth cuts.

The cuts are entering a particularly vicious phase.

Next month the cuts dig deeper into local authority budgets.

The cuts councils such as Liverpool, Wirral and Sefton have been debating for the last few months will be implemented.

People who use libraries and depend on social care will find these services cut back and the people who earn their livelihoods from delivering those services will be made redundant.

On top of that, this April marks a watershed in the benefits system.

Many observers say

the forthcoming benefits changes amount to the biggest shake-up of Britain’s system of social support for 60 years.

From jobseeker’s allowance to housing and disability benefits, measures include tightening up qualification rules and the level of benefit paid, particularly as a result of changes to the way annual inflationary uplifts are calculated.

The now notorious “bedroom tax” could see people forced to move out of homes they have lived in for decades.

It is an unreasonable thing to do.

These measures will have a big knock on consequence locally.

With higher levels of unemployment and higher than average levels of incapacity, the people of the Liverpool city region and its economy will be affected by the cuts.

The question is: just how deep will they go?

To what extent will the cuts change the character of our society?

Will those in real need be left isolated by a lack of social care and in poverty due to the cuts.

Taken together the changes to the benefits system are harsh enough.

You do wonder how far the Conservatives would have gone had it not been for the fact the party has had to keep its coalition Lib Dem partners on board.

The Conservatives will also be mindful of the recent by-election result at Eastleigh.

The fact the party is in coalition is the reason why George Osborne is likely to sound more pragmatic than he would like to be next week.

While there are some hopeful signs in the wider global economy, particularly in Europe and the US, the fact is these markets are recovering only very tentatively.

As the recent spat with the Office for Budget Responsibility suggests, there is a fine tightrope to walk when it comes to managing growth and pleasing the markets and Mr Osborne is looking very unsure of himself as he tries to cross it.

BIDs looking

Bill Gleeson meets the experienced heads taking charge of Liverpool’s Business Improvement Districts

Liverpool BID chairman Ed Oliver outside St John’s Shopping Centre

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ORMER property industry business development executive Bill Addy was recently appointed to a new role as chief executive of Liverpool BID Company, which oversees the city’s two business improvement districts.

His appointment represents a beefing up of the resources available to develop the reach of business improvement districts (BIDs) in Liverpool.

One of Mr Addy’s top priorities is to establish whether there is any appetite for a third BID in Liverpool, adding to those that already exist. Liverpool City Central BID covers the traditional city centre shopping streets such as Lord Street, Whitechapel, Cavern Walks, Church Street and Bold Street. It does not include Liverpool One, which manages its own affairs.

Liverpool Commercial District BID covers the city’s office quarter around Dale Street and Old Hall Street. Both BIDs have a membership of about 700 businesses.

The proposed third BID would cover the waterfront area lying between the main dock road and the River Mersey stretching south from Princes Dock to the Arena and Convention Centre.

BIDs were an American idea that first came to Britain 10 years ago. They provide additional services to business districts such as marketing initiatives, additional street cleaning and security. In return, businesses in a BID area pay a levy worth up to 2% of their existing business rates bill.

Liverpool City Central BID was among the first wave of BIDs set up at former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott’s behest. BIDs have to be voted for by a majority of businesses in the proposed BID area and that vote has to be renewed every five years.

The Liverpool BID Company is keen to emphasise that there is no change to the governance or operational structures of the existing BIDs following Mr Addy’s appointment. Both BIDs will continue to raise their own money, have their own memberships and their own operating boards and officers. They have both traditionally reported to the Liverpool BID Company, which holds the necessary licence to operate BIDs in the city.

Ed Oliver is chairman of the Liverpool BID Company. He said: “As we increase the number of BIDs around the city, the structure of management is now set up to add those BIDs onto it.

“Hopefully as more BIDs come on board that will increase the role that Bill does. At the moment, it’s a part-time position, but eventually it will become full time.

“It’s an expansion for the future. There could be one down at the waterfront. It depends on the businesses in the area.”

In principle, BIDs could be set up anywhere that has a sufficient business density. Mr Oliver added: “We are looking to enhance things within the economy of Liverpool. It’s a public and private sector initiative, but it has to be private sec-

tor-led. The majority of the organisations on the board are private sector.”

Mr Addy said: “The Chamber of Commerce is a members‘ organisation that people can choose to join or not at any time. But once the BID has been voted for and been passed then every business in the area has to pay the levy, whether they wanted it or not.”

Referring to the governance structure which sees the two BIDs report to one board, Mr Oliver said: “It’s useful to coordinate their operations. The City Central BID has been going 10 years already, so the commercial BID can learn an awful lot from their experiences.”

A typical operating board meeting attracts up to 30 participants. Mr Oliver said: “It’s important that the businesses actually manage the process so that they get the benefit from the money that is spent in their area.”

Mr Oliver believes Government spending cuts mean that BIDs have an increased role to play in ensuring that their areas continue to receive good services. He said: “Central government cuts are passed down to regional areas and cities. The business communities have got to realise we may have to make these cuts but we can’t risk the businesses future by cutting services.

There then has to be a meeting of public and private sector partners to ask how

‘We can’t risk the business future of the city’

can we provide and fund these services in a different way?

“More and more these BIDs take over responsibility for managing their own areas.”

Mr Oliver points to the creation of the Police shop in St John’s Shopping Centre as an example of how this can be done.

When Merseyside Police reduced its presence in Liverpool city centre by closing its shop on Church Street, businesses in the area decided to campaign for its return. Now they have helped fund a shop that is manned seven days a week, including 24 hours a day during the weekend.

Mr Oliver said: “Merseyside Police used to spend £500,000 a year on the service, but we are spending only a fraction of that because of the help we get from businesses in the area.

“St John’s provides the shop. The BID pays the service charge and rent. The police provide their own technology.

“That model has been done for less than £40,000 a year.

“That's my idea of what the BID should be doing.”

Mr Addy says the BID model is tried and tested, not just here in Britain, but in other countries too, particularly in the US where it was invented.

He said: “If you look at where the BID model came from, its been on the eastern seaboard of the US for 50 years, and the fact they continue in operation there underlines their success. They vote to keep them in existence every five years,

Thursday, March 14, 2013

big feature post business

to evolve and grow

New Liverpool BID chief executive Bill Addy brings considerable experience to the role

From Wall Street to Church Street – how BIDs have spread their influence around the world so if it is not operating for the benefit of businesses it would cease to operate.”

Liverpool City Central BID is due to hold its next five-yearly vote this year.

As for other possible BIDs around the city, Mr Addy said: “There are conversations taking place about what happens with Renshaw Street, which has had no investment spent on it in donkey’s years.

“We are having conversations with Merepark about their new development.”

The BID company is also talking to the new owner of the Metquarter.

One of the reasons the new chief executive’s post was established was to have these conversations with businesses around these areas.

A key part of Mr Addy’s new job will be to raise the profile of the BIDs. He said: “People don't always understand what we do at the moment.

“We have put up banners around Lord Street and Church Street asking businesses to get in touch.

“People say it’s all down to Liverpool One, and a lot of it is, but this city has become Britain’s fifth-biggest retail destination. We need to work very closely with Liverpool One. “We don’t want to operate within our area by itself with no communications with other businesses. Liverpool One has its own management structure, cleaning, car parks etc. But we need to be sitting in

the same room. It’s important we all do the same thing. There is a clear will for that to happen.

“Liverpool One is an opportunity. It’s brought footfall into town the likes of which Liverpool hasn’t seen for 40 years.

“You have Merseytravel doing up James Street. You get off a train at Central and it looks like its in the 21st Century.”

Mr Addy points to the numerous retail developments going on around the city centre at present such as the construction of a new store for American chain Forever 21, the extension to Marks & Spencer’s Church Street store and Merepark’s development of Central Village. In addition, St John’s shopping centre has recently been bought by a new owner, as has the Metquarter.

Mr Oliver added: “What we can influence going forward is a better environment and experience so that when customers do come into town they don’t feel threatened and it’s clean.

“We will be looking to see how we can move the thing forward strategically. It’s not going to happen overnight.

“The city council has a Stategic Investment Framework for the next 15 years and we have to ask what we are going to be doing alongside it? What added value can the BID produce? We can’t just sit back and say we have cracked it. We have to look to the future.”

‘Changes are not going to happen overnight’

A BUSINESS Improvement Districts (BID) is a defined area within which businesses pay an additional tax or fee in order to fund improvements within that district, writes Ben Ashton.

These improvements can include road works, cleaning, extra protection and wider improvement projects.

The innovation was brought to the UK from Canada and the US through the Local Government 2003 Act and now there are more than 110 currently in operation. BIDs have been established around the world, from European countries such as Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands to countries such as South Africa and New Zealand.

BIDs are known by many other names including community improvement district (CID), business improvement area (BIA), special services area (SSA), business revitalisation zone (BRZ) or special improvement district (SID).

Historically, the first BID was created in Canada where there are now more than 1,000.

The Bloor West Village Business Improvement Area was the original and was established in Toronto in 1970.

The first US BID arrived four years later with the Downtown Development District in New Orleans in 1974.

The city with the most BIDs is New York with 67 including the Madison Avenue BID and Downtown Alliance BID with Wall Street which levys $13m annually.

To create a BID, 51% majority of the local businesses, above a certain size threshold must agree to the BID and the rateable values of the approving businesses must exceed the disapproving businesses’ rateable values.

Upon majority agreement, a levy is placed on all businesses, again above a certain threshold. Whether they were in agreement or not they must then pay the levy. This levy is in addition to the local council’s businesses rates.

The BID can be used to increase the amount of services on top of the existing council ones or take the bur-

Wall Street in New York is part of a BID den off of the local council to carry out those services.

A BID is managed by a board usually consisting of business owners, Government officials and at least one paid administrator to manage the funds.

BIDS have also run into controversy. Smaller businesses owners have complained of the undemocratic nature of BIDs and can feel excluded.

Another complaint often cited is towards street vendors who can be excluded from an area by the BID.

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Thursday, March 14, 2013

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Picking the right bond will offer a degree of excitement market analysis

by Mike Taylor

LIVERPOOL OFFICE OF CHARLES STANLEY CONTRARY to popular belief, bonds are not boring.

During recent years, despite the credit crisis of 2007-2009 and sovereign crisis of 2011-12, the bond markets produced a strong performance, with credit delivering extremely favourable returns.

In the process of delivering these returns, the yields on government bonds such as gilts have fallen to unsustainably low levels.

The current low level of gilt yields, and high prices, reflect low growth and inflation expectations, strong demand for high quality assets and the effect of purchases of gilts under the Bank of England’s quantitative easing (QE) measures.

Inflation-linked bonds, fuelled in part by the prospects of higher inflation as a result of QE, have also rallied strongly, resulting in near or below zero real yields.

So how does the investor achieve diversity and exposure to the fixed interest markets? The corporate bond market has grown rapidly and given the peculiarities of its structure, pricing anomalies are generated which offer great opportunities.

The UK Investment Grade corporate bond market has grown from £56bn back in 1996 to £465bn today. While the

Mike Taylor

European High Yield market has grown from £0.8bn in 1998 to £211bn today. With this expansion, investors are able to seek out bonds issued by companies whose credit fundamentals are improving or equally sell out of the bonds from a business where they believe the fundamentals are deteriorating.

Bottom-up stock selection is just as applicable to the credit markets as it is in equities. Indeed, the inefficiencies are arguably greater.

At present, markets are caught between two opposing forces – weak economic data and ample liquidity.

Assuming that UK interest rates will remain on hold for some time (not an unreasonable assumption), a dramatic sell-off in gilts is unlikely over the next 12 months, although the asset class has already priced in a lot of poor economic news and any relaxation of tensions within the eurozone will cause investors to question why they are paying for such paltry returns.

In this low growth, low inflation environment, credit remains the best option in the hunt for yield, given that valuations are not stretched and yields in government debt remain so low.

High yield debt offers the best prospect for real returns in 2013 in the fixed income field. The relatively low interest rate sensitivity, improving re-finance opportunities and initial income yield should all support reasonable returns.

Overall, it will be a challenging year for fixed interest markets based on an enduring but sluggish economic recovery but the major long-term concern is that future trend growth in developed economies will not match rates seen over the last two decades and that financial asset prices will need to reflect a lower growth, and possibly more volatile, future, yet this should highlight the benefits of spread compression and how it may work when a successful stock pick plays out.

The structure of the corporate bond market continues to throw up pricing anomalies where for some companies’ bonds, spread compression and price appreciation could be a potential outcome. While the risk appetite for equities is growing and valuations are once again beginning to look compelling it is just as well to remember that for bonds as well as equities, good returns particularly in the corporate bond sector rely on picking the right stock and if you get it right, bonds do not have to be boring.

ising it or under pressure, forced the watchdog to take on an extra 1,000 case workers from January.

Taxpayer-backed Lloyds TSB topped the table of PPI complaints, with the ombudsman upholding 86% of the 42,195 complaints against the lender.

Natalie Ceeney, chief executive and chief ombudsman, said the number of PPI complaints had continued to increase at “unprecedented levels”.

She said: “Over the last year or so, we have geared up substantially to deal with these record numbers and

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BRITAIN’S biggest building society is to introduce regular charges on its current accounts for the first time.

Nationwide’s FlexPlus account, which carries a £10-a-month fee, is being launched on to the market at a time when “packaged” products have come under fire and are under close scrutiny from the City regulator.

The building society is ramping up competition in the current account market in order to drive up its share from 7% to around 10% by 2015.

Nationwide has reported “record” numbers of people switching to it, many of whom are looking for an alternative to scandal-hit banks.

The new account, which is available from this week, pays credit interest of 3% AER (annual equivalent rate) on credit balances up to £2,500.

Customers can also get a fee-free arranged overdraft for the first three months.

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Just like 007, the bond market can get investor pulses racing

PPI complaints soar, says Ombudsman A FINANCIAL watchdog is receiving 2,000 new payment protection insurance (PPI) complaints a day as overall grievance figures hit record levels in the second half of last year.

The Financial Ombudsman Service said it had logged 211,885 PPI claims in the six months to December 31, up from 86,000 in the previous six months, with the total number reaching 600,000.

The surge in work in the wake of the scandal, which saw many people finding they had taken out insurance to help pay back their loans after a loss of income without real-

notes

we are now resolving more cases each week than ever before.

“However, as the complaint levels show no sign of slowing, consumers are increasingly having to wait longer to get their complaints sorted – with many businesses still continuing to cause unnecessary delays.”

Ffive financial services groups accounted for 78% of all new PPI cases received between July 1 and December 31 2012. The top five most complained about were Lloyds, Barclays, Bank of Scotland, MBNA Europe Bank and Capital One.

THREE in five people aiming to take their second step on the property ladder over the past year have found themselves stuck on the first rungs.

Three-quarters of struggling “second steppers” would like to see more support from the Government and 86% want their mortgage lender to give them a bigger helping hand, the report for Lloyds TSB found.

More than half of second steppers surveyed, many of whom bought their first home at the top of the market and are now stuck in negative equity, do not feel that Government schemes to make it easier for people to buy a property are helping their situation.

Nursery fees on the rise THE cost of a nursery place has almost doubled over the last decade as parents struggle with fees which are soaring towards levels being charged by private schools, childcare charities warned.

A full-time nursery place will set a family back around £11,000 a year and the burden of such fees on working parents is akin to taking on a “second mortgage”, a report by the Daycare Trust and the Family and Parenting Institute found. The typical cost per hour for a nursery place for a child

aged under two years old has risen by 77% since 2003 to reach £4.26, while wages have stagnated.

The cost of childcare varies widely across Britain and can reach as high as £42,000 a year for a full-time nursery place, which is around 25% more expensive than the annual cost of boarding at a top public school such as Charterhouse, the report said.

London was found to be particularly expensive, with average nursery fees costing just under £14,000 a year for a full-time place.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

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Join the rush to enter the Post Regional Business Awards

by Bill Gleeson

POST BUSINESS STAFF bill.gleeson@liverpool.com

BUSINESSES are clamouring to enter this year’s Liverpool Post Regional Business Awards 2013 and its popularity means we are extending the deadline for entries.

Closing date is now 5pm on Wednesday, March 20.

It is easy to make an entry using our online form or they can be hand-delivered marked for the attention of our events team to our reception desk at Old Hall Street. So don’t miss out and act now if you haven’t done already.

Attended by hundreds of the region’s top business leaders, the annual awards are an established part of the local business calendar.

To be hosted by former BBC broadcaster, Peter Sissons, this year’s final will take place amid the splendour of St George’s Hall on June 13.

The awards' 11 categories seek to recognise best performers from across a wide range of firms, including centuries-old multi-nationals all the way down the scale to recent start-ups. Our categories recognise export success, commitment to the local community and good employment practices, among much else besides.

This week we are focusing especially on four categories. They are: University of Liverpool Knowledge Business of the Year

The Knowledge Business category is open to any business engaged in the commercialisation of research and development and intellectual property in pure sciences, technology, software or professional know-how, irrespective of size or stage of development.

The judges will be looking for evidence of, or at least the clear potential for, profitable trading in the knowledge sector as well as a beneficial economic impact to the region.

The University of Liverpool is engaged in world-class research designed to support business and industry in today’s competitive global environment.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Howard Newby, said: “The economic and social prosperity of the UK depends upon a healthy knowledge-based economy.

“By partnering with business and industry we are together able to deliver solutions and products that make a significant contribution to global communities.

“The university’s innovative research centres focus on areas such as the discovery of new materials, drug safety, and sustainable energy.”

Liverpool Chamber of Commerce Export Business of the Year This award is for a firm which can best show how recent growth in its overseas trading activities has benefited the local economy.

John Flamson, left, director of partnerships and innovation at the University of Liverpool, presents Jane Thornber and Stephen Falder, of Byotrol Technology with the University of Liverpool Knowledge Business of The Year Award at last year’s Liverpool Post Regional Business Awards The chamber said: “Our sponsorship of the Export Business of the Year award is entirely appropriate for the chamber.

“We’ve helped Liverpool businesses trade internationally for more than 160 years by providing business assistance, training, market intelligence, trade visits and, most pertinently, an export documentation service enabling local companies to export their products to foreign fields, both near and far.

“Liverpool Chamber currently issues more than 20,000 certification documents every year and has delivered the UKTI international trade contract on Merseyside with our fellow city region chambers.

“We work with several exceptional exporters in the city every day and this award will rightly acknowledge the winner’s great contribution to our export-led recovery.”

Green Business of the Year.

This category will recognise a business which has had a beneficial impact on the environment. For example, has your business applied environmental policies in the workplace or have your products or services made a positive contribution to the environment?

Judges' Choice Award The winner of this award is selected from all the entries received in the other categories. While the winner might not have been shortlisted in any of the other categories, the award will

be presented to the company that, in the opinion of the judges, has demonstrated extraordinary entrepreneurial endeavour.

The other categories in this year’s competition are: ■ Jaguar Land Rover Corporate Responsibility Award ■ Liverpool Vision Investment of the Year Award ■ Ingeus Employer of the Year Award ■ 02 Business of the Year (Up to 50 Employees) ■ Barclays Business of the Year (51 – 250 Employees).

■ KPMG Business of the Year (Over 250 Employees) ■ DLA Piper Business Person of the Year Liverpool Post editor Mark Thomas said: “We are looking to recognise those firms and entrepreneurs whose endeavours are making a difference to the local economy.

“It is all the more important that we do that in these difficult times.

“It is precisely these sorts of people that will be gathered in St George’s Hall this June who will help this region build for its post-austerity future and create the jobs that will give hope to thousands.

“The Regional Business Awards are a fantastic night and always a sell-out event – so don’t be slow to enter and sign up for seats on the big night itself.

“We are grateful to our sponsors for their continued support without which this event would not happen.”

To obtain an entry form or buy tickets for the awards dinner visit our special awards website at www.regionalbusinessawards.co.uk or e-mail events@liverpool.com or telephone 0151 472 2570. There is also a twitter account to follow at @LP_RBA The closing date for receipt of completed RBA entry forms is Wednesday, March 20, at 5pm.

Stadium’s business showcase HUNDREDS of firms from the North West will be heading to Anfield next Tuesday for this year’s Liverpool Business Fair.

Organiser Liverpool BA (LBA) has been staging the event since 2002 to showcase companies from the region.

Exhibitors at the event will include sponsors .co.uk and event supporters Creditsafe, Riverview Law and Wild Thang.

The event will also include a series of Ask the Expert sessions and a series of workshops including one run by author Brad Burton.

LBA director Tony Haines said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming the exhibitors and visitors to this year’s fair.

“It provides businesses with an opportunity to grow their list of contacts, maintain contact with customers, and access information and support they need to thrive.”

The Liverpool Post’s Regional Business Awards team will also be attending to give people information on this year’s awards.

For information, see www.liverpoolbusinessfair2013.eventbrite.co.uk

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8

Thursday, March 14, 2013

post business the bottom line

New strategy puts wind back in the sales of Cammell Laird

by Bill Gleeson

POST BUSINESS STAFF

bill.gleeson@liverpool.com

CONSTRUCTION of the flight deck for one of the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers and work on Irish Sea wind turbines helped Birkenhead shipyard Cammell Laird restore topline sales to levels experienced a couple of years ago.

In its latest accounts filed last week at Companies House, Cammell Laird reported a 25% rise in turnover to £95m. The shipyard firm also reported a rise in pre-tax profit for the year to May 2012. The figure was £10.3m, up from £9.1m the year before.

The company said its growth was achieved as “a direct result of the company’s growing reputation for delivering a cost effective quality service to ship owners and operators in the ship repair, conversion and military market place.”

As well as constructing the flight decks for the Queen Elizabeth ll aircraft carrier, other highlights in the year include completion of Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels Fort Austin, Black Rover and Wave Knight.

Other contracts completed include those for James Fisher Shipping, Seatruck Ferries, Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, Irish Ferries, Northlink Ferries and Maersk.

The company has recently commenced construction of two vessels for Western Ferries and a conversion for Orkney Council.

As part of its ongoing strategy to diversify, Cammell Laird plans to enter the heavy engineering sector and will target bespoke offshore marine, energy and renewable energy markets. As well as windfarms in the Irish Sea, the hope is to assist with the construction of plant to be used in Britain’s next generation of nuclear power stations and possibly the Second Mersey River Crossing at Runcorn.

The directors’ added that these latest results brought the business back to the level it achieved in 2008/09 and 2009/10.

The business is expected to continue to grow in 2012/13.

The company paid a dividend during the year of £4.9m which compares to £914,000 the previous year. A further payment of £5.7m was due to be made after the year end.

Cammell Laird has £10.3m cash in the bank, up from £5m at the previous year’s balance sheet date.

Its balance sheet is clear of debt and

notes ■

WARRINGTONbased golf equipment retailer American Golf has boosted annual sales by 3% to a record £133m and is creating 250 jobs.

The firm has opened its 100th store, and 30 more are scheduled to open over three years.

In the 12 month reporting period to January 31 it saw its club card membership rise by more than 160,000 to pass the one million mark – 25% of all UK golfers.

The group, which employs a PGA Pro in every store, said the results were even more impressive given the challenging backdrop for the retail sector and the impact of adverse weather conditions on the number of rounds played, which fell by 13%.

Despite these difficulties, the firm’s share of the UK’s retail golf market increased to 28%.

■

Completed aircraft carrier sections leaving Cammell Laird last year and, inset, chief executive John Syvret

shows no long term creditors. This aversion to debt could be a deliberate policy, owing a great deal to the painful experiences endured by the stockmarket quoted Cammell Laird that collapsed in 2000. That former business got into trouble when an Italian cruise ship customer withdrew from a contract that Cammell Laird had spent £40m of bank overdraft supporting.

Evidence of this sensitivity can be surmised from the company’s credit

risk management policies set out in its Directors’ Report.

The statement reads: “For larger value projects the company negotiates staged payments to neutralise cashflow. For medium sized projects, the company requires payment that at least covers direct costs prior to the departure of the ship. Due to lack of credit insurance there remains a risk on smaller value projects of bad debts.

This is managed by tight credit control

procedures plus constant monitoring of the customer base.”

Chief executive John Syvret said: “While our roots are firmly in maritime engineering, there was a need for diversification. We see it very much as an engineering service provider. We see distinct opportunities and real potential in off-shore renewables and the emerging civil nuclear market.”

“We can utilise the skills we have in many areas of the market.

“We have seen some progress in terms of revenue and we generally produce circa 10% profit and we certainly see that strategy being the right one.

The presence of RWE at the site has raised our profile in the offshore market. We see that as an opportunity to capitalise on round three of the offshore market in the coming years when over 1,000 turbines will be needed in Irish Sea. “We are geographically well placed to support other projects such as the second crossing over the Mersey.”

VIMTO maker Nichols reported another year of sales and profit increases, and a new chief executive for the Newtonle-Willows-based soft drinks firm last week.

Revenues in the 12 months to December 31 rose 9% to £107.8m, while pre-tax profits were 13% ahead at £20.5m.

Brendan Hynes will depart as chief executive at the company’s May 1 annual general meeting to be replaced

by Marnie Millard, currently managing director of the group’s Vimto Soft Drinks UK business.

The firm’s annual results revealed a 9% increase in UK sales for the group, which is significantly ahead of the market growth rate.

International sales were up 8% year-onyear.

POST

MOBILE

Sportech sales drop as unprofitable operations are sold off BETTING and gaming group Sportech said 2012 was a “year of significant progress” when it published 2012 results last week.

Revenues decreased to £112m due, it said, to “discontinuing unprofitable customer acquisition activities”, while pre-tax profits fell from £8m to £2.1m after refinancing and exceptional costs.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) were

1% ahead at £26.4m.

The Walton-based group, which employs 1,100 staff including 250 in Liverpool, agreed new £75m bank facilities to back growth initiatives.

It made a $12.6m acquisition of eBet Online in December to enhance its North American horseracing activities, after the £51.4m acquisition of Scientific Games Racing in October 2010.

And it revealed that last week it signed a deal with UK Tote, owned by

Warrington-based Betfred, to sell and install 1,000 gaming terminals in the first acquisition of such services by the UK Tote for many years.

The first terminals are expected to be used at the June Royal Ascot meeting.

The company also heard last week that it has won its legal appeal about VAT on Spot the Ball, described by one analyst as a life changing event.

Chief executive Ian Penrose said:

“Sportech continues to transform into an international sports, gaming and entertainment business.

“Given our UK centric roots, it is pleasing that not only have we stabilised earnings before Ebitda in the UK for the first time in many years, but also that we are now generating half of our revenue from North America.

“We are well to take advantage of the opportunities ahead.”

For News, Sport and Business on your phone

Text LDP to 67800

9

Thursday, March 14, 2013

small business post business

notes

small

business of the week

■

HM REVENUE and Customs (HMRC) has published 21 additional videos on YouTube aimed at helping new and growing businesses.

The new suite of videos covers practical subjects such as PAYE, VAT, Corporation Tax, record keeping, registering as an employer, payroll systems and trading with other countries.

It includes case studies from real businesses.

The YouTube videos complement HMRC’s live online webinars, which are designed to help small businesses to get their tax right, and can be seen at http://you tube.com/hmrcgovuk HMRC has been using YouTube to provide simple “how to” guides for customers and tax agents since 2011.

Guides on the site include videos on self assessment for childminders, the construction industry scheme, VAT online, and the patent box scheme.

Guides for agents include videos on penalties for inaccuracies, and reducing errors.

HMRC offers a series of free online presentations or webinars to give tax help to businesses and the self-employed, both live and pre-recorded. Visit: http://www. hmrc.gov.uk/webinars/ index.htm

by Neil Hodgson

POST BUSINESS STAFF

neil.hodgson@liverpool.com

W

ALLASEY engineer BMB Group is big on creature comforts, whether it’s for a forklift truck driver, or the family pooch.

The firm, founded 24 years ago by Brian Blanchfield, has established itself as a niche provider of plastic or steel cabs for forklift trucks.

The trucks leave the factory with a standard overhead guard, but BMB makes tailor-made cabs to suit all requirements, from bog-standard functional found in supermarkets and builders’ yards, to ultra-safe steel cabs with laminated glass for specialist industrial use.

The firm has four vehicles on the road all the time servicing forklift truck customers and Mr Blanchfield said: “We have 24 years of templates we have built up and last year was our best year because a lot of people weren’t spending on new trucks and were refurbishing their old trucks.”

Sales and marketing director Ralph Jackson added: “We give a bespoke service to our customer. It is not pulling something off the shelf.”

Five years ago the firm acquired its premises on Docks Link Road which gave it capacity to expand as needed.

And four years ago it acquired Hatchbag, a maker of fitted boot liners for estate car-driving dog owners to provide a better travelling experience for pets, but also to protect the vehicle from dirt and wear and tear.

Hatchbag provides up to 400 variants for a vast range of vehicles and some are still in use, after 22 years.

Mr Jackson said: “Hatchbag is tailored to fit the load area of a vehicle and is a unique product.

“The Range Rover Evoque is our top seller and we are shipping them to Moscow, the US, Australia, Japan and now China.”

The directors dismissed the fear of unlicensed copies in China. Mr Blanchfield said it would be impossible to stock any product: “They can’t copy it because they are one-offs. We have our own templates unique to every car. The challenge is keeping up with all the new models.”

Hatchbag currently represents about 25% of BMB’s £2m turnover, which grew from £1.6m the previous year, and Mr Jackson is confident Hatchbag could even match the engineering side: “The boot liner has huge potential.

“Hatchbag started out as a very small part of the business, but people buy a car and they want to protect it.

“The Kia has a seven-year warranty, so if people are keeping their car longer they want to protect it.”

He added: “An Evoque owner paid £50,000 for his car and his dogs had made a mess of it in two weeks. So for the price of a tank of fuel you can protect it.”

They say another benefit Hatchbag can offer is transferring the online sales techniques they have learned from the boot liner business to the rest of the group.

Mr Blanchfield said: “We saw what revenues we could bring in to the company doing something online, so we are doing that now with BMB.” They said their 35-strong workforce, mostly long term staff, is also fully trained to switch between either func-

■

From left: Marketing director Ralph Jackson and managing director Brian Blanchfield at the BMB site

Transport of delight is aim of engineer BMB tion. Mr Jackson said: “On the forklift side demand can fluctuate dramatically.”

He added: “It’s a hands-on business and everyone gets involved because we can’t have a hierarchy that doesn’t get involved. If it comes to emptying bins we are in there because it has been tough times in manufacturing.”

With that in mind the firm is diversifying across a range of products from covers for golf buggys that are increasingly used for events like exhibitions or trade shows and even the Olympics, to cushioned ‘tackle tubes’ to teach youngsters rugby, or covers for Krispy Kreme doughnut supermarket displays, and its unique warehouse rubbish bag for pallet trucks recently won the national environment award from the Forklift Truck Association.

A Hatchbag in a Range Rover Evoque, one of the firm’s top sellers

A COMMUNITY enterprise in Dingle providing vital transport services has celebrated its 10th anniversary by achieving ownership of the building it operates from.

South Central Community Transport (SCCT) provides affordable transport solutions and was set up through leasing a former derelict garage on Mill Street from neighbourhood investor Plus Dane Group, then CDS Housing.

The building had been earmarked for demolition but after approaching Plus Dane for support the group bought the building to lease to SCCT for a nominal rent.

As part of the 10th anniversary Plus Dane has now handed the lease to SCCT to enable it to continue to develop its business.

SCCT transport manager Bernie Smith said: “I can’t thank Plus Dane enough for all the support they’ve given us over the last 10 years.”

By receiving ownership of the building, SCCT will be able to access loan facilities to expand further, as well as being able to undertake further works to develop the business.

10

Thursday, March 14, 2013

post business creative & digital

comment

by KEVIN McMANUS

Liverpool goes mobile at huge Catalan showcase THE Mobile World Congress (MWC) takes place every year in Barcelona and it’s an absolutely huge event. It takes place over four days and is attended by over 70,000 delegates from more than 200 countries with almost 2,000 exhibitors. And I was there too.

The reasons for the sheer scale are pretty obvious.

Almost half the world’s population now use mobile communications with a billion mobile subscribers added in the last four years.

Mobile is big business and that’s why delegates from all over the world were part of the 2013 MWC. I was there to talk about Liverpool’s digital sector and to flag up the opportunities for mobile businesses to get involved in the International Festival of Business here in Liverpool in 2014. If you are a digital business looking to set up a UK office then Liverpool has got a really strong offer, while the IFB is a great carrot to dangle in front of telecoms companies looking to

reach global markets.

Connected Liverpool, which is pursuing a Smart City/open data agenda, also attended and its team had conversations with some of the leading figures in this field. Together we met the key players from organiser GSMA, who are really interested in Liverpool and are following up with a visit this week.

As you’d expect, there was lots of clever stuff that you could try. If you had a compatible handset, simply by touching smart posters around the venue you could get access to information and services, pay for your lunch, or even download exhibitor information.

And of course there were the unexpected bits. After my presentation I was approached by a senior exec from Mozilla (the people behind Firefox). Originally from Liverpool but now based in Sweden, he was really keen to see how he could feed into anything that was happening in Liverpool.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Spotlight on digital with week of showcase events

by Alistair Houghton POST BUSINESS STAFF

alistair.houghton@liverpool.com

THE rising stars of Liverpool’s digital and creative sectors will star in two showcase events next week.

On Thursday, March 21 and Friday, March 22, student and professional coders and app developers will gather in Liverpool for “multi-discipline developer extravaganza” Codepool 13.

Also on Thursday, The Studio school, which has been set up by North Liverpool Academy to prepare students for careers in the gaming and digital industries, will hold its latest Design/Code/Game event.

Codepool will be held at Liverpool Quaker House, School Lane, Liverpool One – and the dress code is described as “casual nerd”.

It will include a series of presentations aimed at “up and coming student developers and creatives” as well as live coding sessions and competitions.

Speakers will include Lee Stott and Andy Wigley from Microsoft, as well as Francis Irving from Scraperwiki.

Codepool says: “The development and creative industries in

Liverpool are thriving at the moment, backed by some fantastic organisations who want to see Liverpool become an even more active and dominant force in these industries.

“Codepool 2013 aims to bring students, start-ups and talented locals to the mix and see if we can do something a bit special.”

Design/Code/Game is aimed at 12 to 16-year-olds who are interested in creating apps, games, digital art or starting their own businesses.

The event will be held at the Unit 51 cafe in Jamaica Street, near The Studio school’s future home in the former Contemporary Urban Centre building in the Baltic Triangle.

The Studio is holding similar sessions every month. In July, it will hold a “Digital Dragons’ Den” where young digital entrepreneurs can compete to win cash and Raspberry Pi computers.

■ ON Wednesday, March 20, the BT Convention Centre will host the Inbound Marketing UK Conference 2013, where hundreds of guests will discuss the future of digital marketing.

The event, held in association with Liverpool agency PH Creative, will include speakers from Young developer Muhammad Saeed at last Google, Innocent Drinks and O2. year’s Design/Code/Game event

South SeftonHWRC L20 4AE

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As a Liverpool householder you can use any Household Waste Recycling Centre in Merseyside. Find your nearest facility at

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11

Thursday, March 14, 2013

creative & digital post business

www.ldpcreative.co.uk

Ben Hatton

Get smart on paying by mobile

From left, Zarino Zappia of Scraperwiki and Nick Hurd, both seated, with Francis Irving and Aidan McGuire of Scraperwiki, Lindsay Sharples of Open Labs and Julian Todd and Aine McGuire of Scraperwiki

Minister’s visit shines a light on open data and city success

by Alistair Houghton POST BUSINESS STAFF

alistair.houghton@liverpool.com

OPENING up data can create opportunities for businesses and help Government work better – that was the message from Government minister Nick Hurd after he visited pioneering Liverpool business Scraperwiki.

Scraperwiki, based in Liverpool Science Park, has won a global reputation for its work “scraping” data from all corners of the web and making it easier to access.

Mr Hurd, Minister for Civil Society, met Scraperwiki staff last week to discuss their work with organisations from the Cabinet Office to business-to-business publications.

The company won funding from Channel 4 and the American Knight Foundation before last year securing a $1m funding package led by EV and the North West Fund for Venture Capital.

Directors Aidan and Aine McGuire, Julian Todd and Francis Irving are evangelists for the power of open data.

They say that the more Government opens up its spreadsheets, the better it will be for democracy and for businesses that can find new ways of using that information.

Mr Irving told Mr Hurd that the UK needed more “Silicon Valley start-ups” – companies such as Facebook that create completely new markets.

And it was clear from speaking to Mr Hurd, after his visit last week, that Scraperwiki’s enthusiasm had rubbed off on him.

Mr Hurd said: “It was really interesting for me to visit a Silicon Valley-style start-up in Liverpool that’s really on the cutting edge of managing data. I was hugely impressed.

“Governments around the world are just waking up really to the value of data and information that we just haven’t made as much of as we could have done.

“Britain is recognised as being in the vanguard of opening up data.

“We see this as a huge opportunity to change the way the Government engages with the people we serve.”

Mr Hurd said he wanted to see people use that data to find out more about public services.

He said: “Look at the crime map – the response has been staggering. People have the chance to look in detail at crime and policing in their area.”

Mr Hurd said the Government was looking at every transaction it does to see if it could be opened up, and said he wanted the state to be “open by default”.

“There’s an opportunity to change the way the Government and citizens engage with each other,” he said. “And there’s the chance to create new services that help people improve their quality of life.

“My personal favourite is how open data has changed the experience of waiting for a bus.

“In the old days, you’d go to a bus stop and it was a leap of faith if a bus would come or not. But now you can

stay at home, look at an app and see when a bus is due to arrive.

“It’s a simple way of demonstrating the power of open data to improve people’s day-to-day experience.”

Mr Hurd said open data could also provide commercial opportunities for companies.

“We see this as an area where we can help create new businesses. We are looking at companies such as Scraperwiki who are helping to mine data, clean data and make it accessible.

“They’re making platforms that people can use to create more services like They Work For You, that fantastic platform that helps people to hold their local MPs to account.

“It’s a very exciting space we’re really keen to encourage.”

Mr Hurd acknowledged there was still some resistance in some parts of government to freeing up data, but said he would push for more openness.

“You need these disruptive agents keeping your feet to the fire,” he said.

“My strong view on this wider transparency agenda is that once you start down this road there’s no way back. It would be a very brave government that says now ‘we don’t believe in giving out this kind of information’. Those dark days are behind us.

“We need to let light into Government so that the people we serve see what we’re doing and they’re given more opportunities to challenge it.”

You need disruptive agents keeping your feet to the fire

Unsurprisingly, the Government is Scraperwiki’s single biggest customer.

But the company has also won several deals to work with business-to-business media companies and other firms, such as Informa, that make their money from supplying information to businesses. It has recently taken on three more employees.

Mr Irving said: “We’ve got a lot more leads in the last few months. It’s taken a while, but our reputation as data scientists is spreading.”

The Scraperwiki CEO says Liverpool needs more “Silicon Valley start-ups” as well as more companies in more traditional sectors.

He said: “If you set up a shopping centre or something like that, it’s really nice but it spreads demand round the region. It’s not creating new demand.

“If you set up a Silicon Valley start-up, it’s riskier, but if it succeeds it’s much bigger.

“For example in Liverpool, when they built the first dock, that changed the city. It was risky, but if it succeeded it would have changed everything.

“It did. It made Liverpool what it is today.

“With something like building an office block, for example, it’s not necessarily creating new activity.

“It’s nice doing the other stuff and we have to do it to keep the economy active. But we also have to have some things that are completely new.

“In computing, there’s not enough of that outside Silicon Valley and London. But in Liverpool there is some stuff that’s starting to happen.”

THE smartphone is increasingly becoming established as the cornerstone of the digital industry. So why is a there still a significant shortfall in consumer purchase via such phones?

One key recent development is news that leading mobile carrier groups have plans to form an alliance to offer mobile wallet and commerce services to tier one brands.

Coca Cola is one step ahead of the game, revealing plans to ensure it reaches all 6bn mobile phones globally – strengthening brand love but driving sales to boot.

However, the most significant development being may be the launch of a sales programme, called Affirm, by e-commerce expert Max Levchin. It is designed to reduce the purchase process on smartphones to a simple “two-tap” system.

The key result here will be more impulsive and hassle-free purchasing for consumers.

However, improving mobile marketing strategies and purchasing systems aren’t the only factors brands have to worry about.

Privacy is back on the European legislators’ agenda and this time they’re targeting mobile apps. This will force brands to reassess their privacy policies, whilst also helping regain consumers’ trust in mobile retail.

Evidently there is a great opportunity for brands to benefit from mobile marketing and m-commerce. Brands need to educate themselves in app development and exercise stricter controls on privacy.

Small brands that perhaps lack the expertise and technology to comply with data protection requirements should not be put off. M-commerce is definitely a valuable platform worth tapping into.

■ INTERNET entrepreneur Ben Hatton is founder and managing director of digital agency Rippleffect. Follow Rippleffect on Twitter @rippleffected

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Thursday, March 14, 2013

post business the big interview

Alistair Houghton meets JOHN SUTCH, managing director of John Sutch Cranes

W

HEN veteran crane driver John Sutch broke his arm, he feared it could end his career. Instead, it gave him the inspiration to start a company that’s a giant in its field.

Machines from John Sutch Cranes have been used on iconic Liverpool projects from the restoration of Sefton Park Palm House to the building of Liverpool One, while it has worked regularly with businesses including Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Cammell Laird.

And Mr Sutch’s name was flashed around the world last year when 10 of his branded yellow cranes were used to move the giant puppets around during the three-day Sea Odyssey extravaganza in Liverpool.

Mr Sutch started his business in Liverpool in May 1990 with just one crane. Today, it turns over some £10m and has depots in central Liverpool and in Trafford Park, Manchester.

After a slow period during the recession, Mr Sutch is predicting growth again and planning to open a third depot to expand his company’s operations into other parts of the UK. Mr Sutch’s office, which sits above the company’s yard off Leeds Street, Liverpool, is festooned with models of cranes. He is a man of relatively few words but, occasionally prompted by finance director Lorna Renton, his love for the crane industry still shines through.

After leaving school in Croxteth he had a number of jobs, from driving a bread van through to working offshore in the oil fields or Morecambe Bay and the North Sea. But, in the early 1970s, he took his first job with a crane company – and hasn’t looked back.

“I love cranes,” he smiled.

“It just gets into your blood.”

Mr Sutch spent 20 years working with cranes, mostly as a driver, and by the late 80s was working at sector giant Ainscough Crane Hire.

And it was there that an accident that at first seemed like a career disaster instead gave him the inspiration to set up in business.

“I fell off a crane and broke my arm,” he said.

“I was off for about four weeks, then they brought me back and gave a me a job sales repping.

“That’s when I realised I could do all this myself.”

So Mr Sutch left Ainscough and, with his wife Elaine, set up in business. He recalled: “She used to do all the book work and invoicing. I did the driving.”

The company’s first big contract was with Lilley Construction to work on Liverpool’s sewer system. It went on to do more work in the same sector with construction giant Costain.

The group also worked with maritime sector firms Cammell Laird and Wright and Beyer.

“We’ve always been involved in shipping,” Mr Sutch said.

In 2006, Sutch opened an office in Manchester. Mr Sutch said: “We used to run machines up and down the motorway every day to Manchester, so in the end we decided to open a depot to grow our business there.

“Today they run 15 machines, while Liverpool runs 20.

“Now the recession has lifted we want to grow Manchester, so we are looking for a bigger, replacement depot there.”

As well as its work in construction, Sutch has long been carrying

How a lucky break helped a giant of the crane industry

John Sutch cranes lifting the Diver and the Little Girl Giant at the Sea Odyssey event in Liverpool last April out some more unusual jobs – including putting up Christmas trees in Liverpool, Manchester and Cheshire Oaks.

And the events of 2008, when Liverpool was European Capital of Cul-

ture, helped promote the city worldwide – and also gave a timely boost to John Sutch Cranes as the recession began to hit the construction sector.

Sutch provided the cranes for the opening ceremony of Capital of Cul-

q&a Age: 60 Highest educational qualification: I went straight into work after leaving school Biggest achievement in business: Still being here Biggest regret: I should have star-

ted my own business sooner. It was always in me to do it.

Best advice received: Just keep your head down and keep going Still to achieve: To keep this as one of the biggest companies in its fields in the North West

ture year, starring Ringo Starr.

“It was a bit of a challenge compared to what we’d normally do,” said Mr Sutch.

The success of Sutch’s Capital of Culture work meant the company was called on by Liverpool City Council and arts group Royal de Luxe to work on the Sea Odyssey project, which commemorated the centenary of the sinking of the Titanic.

Mr Sutch said: “We’ve done a lot of work with the council and we wanted to give them something back.

“We did it for half the price we’d normally do, to help the city grow.

“We feel we’ve put something back into the city.”

Ten of Sutch’s cranes were used to move and support the giant puppets of the Little Girl Giant, the Diver and Xolo the dog as they strode through the city in April last year. That complex operation took a huge amount of planning.

“We were working on it for about a year, indirectly,” said Mr Sutch.

“The giants were here for about a month beforehand. We had quite a heavy rehearsal schedule.”

And with that, Mr Sutch disappeared to fetch project manager Paul Conneely to explain further.

“Like we always do, we got stuck in,” Mr Conneely said.

“We had to deal with issues like road closures, and going the wrong

13

Thursday, March 14, 2013

the big interview post business

Alex

Turner Apprentice system has to add value AS IT is National Apprenticeship Week, it would be easy to extol the virtues of apprenticeships.

They are viewed as being A Good Thing and there is a danger that any criticism of them makes it seems like you’re in favour of higher levels of youth unemployment.

Undoubtedly a quality apprenticeship is hugely beneficial to employer and apprentice alike, which makes David Cameron’s pledge to make apprenticeships the new norm for school leavers who choose not to go to university sound perfectly reasonable.

Apprenticeships can and should provide a bridge between the worlds of education and employment and in general help young people get a start in their career. But they should not be used to dress up an entry-level job with jargon, a certificate and an excuse to pay people less.

This soft landing into the workplace distorts obligations on both sides. The existence of a national minimum wage for apprentices – which starts at a mere £2.65 – does not send the message that this is valued work.

Too many organisations which train and place apprentices seek to persuade potential employers by the crude method of asking “Do you want cheap labour?”.

Using such a starting point makes it less likely that businesses will enter into the true spirit of the partnership and take training seriously.

There is also the age-old problem that has existed since YTS schemes, if not earlier, that such recruitment becomes cyclical – an apprentice doesn’t become a full-time employee but is instead replaced by another apprentice.

The current drive towards apprenticeships is reminiscent of the target of 50% of young people going to university.

Such targets presuppose that such a route is appropriate for all. But more significantly, it mistakes the means for the end.

None of this is to dismiss those firms and young people who enter into this with the best of intentions. But then they aren’t the people who need Government encouragement to do the right thing.

We need to avoid merely delaying the problem otherwise, instead of having thousands of school-leavers who can’t find suitable work, there will be thousands of apprentices who can’t find suitable work.

‘Must not be used as an excuse to pay people less’

John Sutch founded his crane business in 1990 after 20 years in the industry Picture: CHRISTIAN SMITH

way down what are usually one-way streets. We had the help of the police and the council.

“We had to get to strategic places around the city at certain times to meet the puppets.

“It was a challenge. We had to keep an eye on things all the time to make sure it was absolutely right. If it went wrong it would have gone wrong disastrously, and we couldn’t risk that.”

Mr Sutch added: “It got us all over the world on television. We have picked up a lot of inquiries from around the world from people who’ve got hold of our number.”

With that, Mr Conneely returned to work and Mr Sutch began discuss-

ing the future of his business.

“The last four years have been sad,” he said, “but I can see a light flickering at the end of the tunnel.”

Ms Renton added: “We tightened our belts and kept going.”

That tight ship is now, Mr Sutch says, ready to set sail for happier waters.

“We hope to expand the company at least another 20% over the next two or three years,” he said. “We’d like to open another depot.

“Most of our work is in the North West, but we travel where our clients are. We work nationwide.

“We are going to be putting a new depot in Birmingham or Yorkshire.”

The company is also continuing to

invest for growth. Just this month it bought two more cranes after securing funding from Allied Irish Bank.

Mr Sutch added: “We’ve won work at a couple of power stations, and have just won more maritime work.”

The cranes that adorn Mr Sutch’s office are, it turns out, symbols of Sutch’s investment in equipment over the years.

“Every time you buy a crane from a manufacturer, they give you a model,” said Mr Sutch. “So these are a lot of the cranes we’ve had over the years.

“But a lot have been given away, and there’s some at my house.”

The company that bears the Sutch family name is a proud family busi-

ness, with Mr Sutch, his wife Elaine and their daughters Andrea and Hayley all serving as directors.

“Being a family company makes it a nice atmosphere,” said Ms Renton.

And keen Formula One fan Mr Sutch smiled: “Staff retention is very good.

“We pay people a little bit more to get a little bit more.”

Those dedicated staff will, Mr Sutch believes, allow his company to keep growing once he steps down from his hands-on role.

He smiled: “We have a young family behind us, and a young staff, so I know we’ll carry on.”

ALLIED IRISH BOOST: Page 20

■ Alex Turner is the general manager of financial training firm Ambitious Minds

14

Thursday, March 14, 2013

post business legal

www.ldplegal.co.uk

Change in whiplash claims could lead to PPI-style marketing SPAM texting and cold calling could “explode” under Government plans to force road traffic victims into the small claims court system, it has been claimed.

The Government consultation “Reducing the number and cost of whiplash claims”,

proposes that people injured in road traffic accidents will have to bring claims for compensation in a court which is designed for individuals to represent themselves, rather than take legal advice.

But the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL)

has warned this gap in legal advice will be exploited by claims management companies (CMCs) who its says have a reputation for marketing through intrusive and unwelcome cold calling and text messaging.

“Cold calls and spam text

messages encouraging personal injury claims are likely to become more prevalent, just as we’ve seen for mis-sold payment protection insurance claims,” said APIL president Karl Tonks.

“The Government’s proposal effectively represents a

business opportunity for CMCs to run claims for injured people in the same way they have taken on PPI claims. The fact CMCs involved account for the majority of complaints received by the Ministry of Justice speaks for itself.”

Rise in vigilantes could spring from legal aid cuts – lawyer

by Neil Hodgson

POST BUSINESS STAFF

neil.hodgson@liverpool.com

CUTS to legal aid could see a rise in vigilantism, claims a Liverpool lawyer.

Paul Hunt, family lawyer at Kirwans, warns the shake-up could even threaten society’s entire moral framework.

He voiced his concerns ahead of the cuts, backed by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, which come into force on April 1, predicting that they may prevent people from accessing a legal representative – and result in them taking the law into their own hands.

He said: “While the court system is far from perfect, the complete lack of access to it for someone who is not able to represent themselves could lead to situations where there are more confrontations and flashpoints on doorsteps and in homes. These, in turn, may lead to a person committing a criminal offence.”

He added: “If only those of sufficient financial means can access the rule of law, I can foresee a situation whereby society’s view of the importance of the rule of law may be eroded.”

His words echo the thoughts of Lord Neuberger, the country’s most senior judge, who has expressed grave concerns about the consequences of the Government’s drastic legal aid cuts.

The Judge has expressed a concern that if many of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the country are unable to get any form of legal advice, then their problems are going to get worse, rather than better.

From April 1, legal aid will only be available for public law proceedings such as care proceedings, and for private proceedings where the applicant for legal aid is a proven victim of domestic violence.

But this, said Mr Hunt, presents an entirely different set of problems: “Many legal aid victims have suffered in silence, and there is no record

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling backs cuts to legal aid as part of widespread Government cutbacks whether with doctors, police or social services that there has been a problem.

“The Government view is that no department or public service is immune from the need to make budget cuts and that legal aid is still available for the most vulnerable. The concern, however, is that the cuts have been

wholesale across complete categories of work rather than simply a reduction in those who qualify for legal aid, so not even those who receive income support will be eligible for assistance.

“The legal aid system has played an important part in ensuring that no-one is excluded from access to justice

Weightmans’ deal for Semple Fraser LIVERPOOL-based national law firm Weightmans LLP has continued its ongoing expansion with the acquisition of the Manchester office team of Semple Fraser, and the opening of a Glasgow office, its first in Scotland.

Commercial law firm Semple Fraser opened in Manchester in 2009 and specialised in corporate, real estate, planning and construction.

Weightmans is taking on a 14-strong team from Semple Fraser including three part-

ners – Simon Wallwork, John Hyde and Stuart Macfarlane.

Weightmans spokesman John Schora said: “We are delighted to add the Semple Fraser Manchester commercial team and their Glasgow construction team to our business.

“They have a terrific client base and bring more first class talent to our commercial business line.

“Our corporate and real estate teams in Manchester are performing very well and this will complement what we are doing.”

where this is necessary. If people are denied that access it is inevitable they will take the law into their own hands and implement their own form of direct action.

“I have very real fears that the consequences for society could be nothing short of disastrous.”

Pay levels for NW lawyers impress STAFF at commercial law firms in the North West are better paid than most of their colleagues across the UK, a new survey claims.

Liverpool-based BCL Legal, the legal recruitment consultancy which operates in Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol and Reading, looked at the salaries of lawyers at commercial law firms across the regions.

One of the key findings was that lawyers from NQ level to junior partner level in the North West were generally paid higher than their colleagues in the Midlands, Yorkshire and North East.

Mode salaries for NQs in the North West were £36,000 and rose to £85,000, and in Yorkshire they stood at £35,500 and £80,000, respectively.

In the Midlands they were £35,000 and £80,000, and in the North East £30,000 and £65,000.

The legal disciplines surveyed included corporate, commercial, banking, commercial property, employment, insolvency, intellectual property and commercial litigation.

BCL managing director and head of the firm’s private practice department, James Batt, said: “Commercial firms of all sizes have had to adapt over recent years, but the findings show remuneration is still pretty strong for talented lawyers who add value.”

He added: “The next 12 months will be another key phase as the economy either stagnates or starts to grow.”

POST

MOBILE

Quality success GREGORY Abrams Davidson Solicitors has been awarded the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme mark.

The firm has also strengthened its property law team, partly on the back of changes to the Government’s New Buy scheme which was extended beyond first time buyers last month.

Harry Friend, partner and head of residential conveyancing, said: “It’s a timely development for the market and ourselves.”

For News, Sport and Business on your phone

Text LDP to 67800

15

Thursday, March 14, 2013

women in business A client receiving treatment at Waterloo’s All Woman spa in South Road, which is targeting professional businesswomen

All Woman spa targets city’s female professionals sector

by Neil Hodgson

POST BUSINESS STAFF

neil.hodgson@liverpool.com

BEAUTY therapist Leesa Robinson is targeting Liverpool’s professional women’s sector as she bids to emulate her businesswoman mother.

She has extended opening hours at her All Woman Waterloo hair and beauty salon to cater for clients at the end of their busy working day.

She said: “The salon is a hidden gem and perfect for relaxing after work or pampering for the weekend.”

Ms Robinson has established regular evening sessions for clients, saying: “We love a good get together and we’ve hosted successful charity and promotional events, partnering with both high street names and local small businesses.

“These are always great nights and have become something the clients really look forward to.”

She was introduced to the business world at an early age. Her mother Veronica runs one of the longest established businesses on Waterloo’s South Road having opened the hairdressing salon Amber Hair 41 years ago.

She would take her young daughter to work with her where, said Ms Robinson, her simple business ethic rubbed off. She said: “Mum has a really straightforward view of business. She says there is nothing clever about it, just get a good team together, do a good job and be nice to people – and, of course, your mum always knows best.”

Twelve years ago she opened her All Woman business next to her mother’s

shop, which has expanded into a spa-style hair, beauty and make-up salon over three floors.

She said: “The last couple of years we have gone through a lot of positive changes and expansion.

“Following my mum’s advice I’ve had many customers become loyal regulars and friends, and with lots of hard work and great word of mouth recommendations we have seen increased demand for our treatments, despite the tough economic climate.

“We have, therefore, now been able to expand to offer a wide variety of aesthetic treatments including Botox and fillers as well as massage, manicures, pedicures and peels, to name but a few.”

Ms Robinson, who qualified as a beauty technician having studied with semi-permanent make-up organisation Finishing Touches, said: “I really enjoy doing the treatments and get great pleasure in seeing my clients leave more confident and delighted with the results.”

And she said she hopes to have the same kind of business longevity as her mother.

“Amber Hair is still going strong, which I think is a real achievement in these difficult times, so I’m very proud of my mum.

“She’s a brilliant business role model for me.”

The latest addition to All Woman’s range is IPL (intense pulsed light) hair removal and a celebration launch takes place at the salon on the evening of March 26.

Mr Robinson said: “We have spent a lot of time researching into IPL treatments and all the team here have gone through intensive training.”

post business

IoD set to debate women on boards A PANEL of business experts will meet to discuss women on boards at a event next week.

The Institute of Directors (IoD) in the North West is holding its annual Women Directors Forum in Manchester on Tuesday, March 19.

The event, at the Lowry Hotel, will explore every aspect of promoting, supporting and educating women business leaders to enable more diverse boards.

Leading the line-up will be Mirella Visser, managing director of the Centre for Inclusive Leadership in Amsterdam, who will address the wider issue of balanced boards.

Marj Boyer, former chief executive of Manchester’s One Central Park, who talk about what it take to get to the top job.

Two of RBS’s most senior female directors have also been confirmed for the one-day event.

They are Sarah Berry, chief operating officer of RBS England & Wales and Angela Bate, relationship director.

Darrell Mathews, regional director for the IoD North West, said: “We are delighted to have secured such a strong line-up. Many of these speakers have first-hand experience of building balanced boards, so their insight will be valuable.

“The issue of getting greater female representation on boards has been building momentum for many months now.”

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MOBILE

For News, Sport and Business on your phone From left: Leesa Robinson and her mother Veronica

Text LDP to 67800

16

Thursday, March 14, 2013

post business location

Suburban retail demand is resilient in the face of tough conditions

view point

by Malcolm Irving, director and head of commercial at Venmore RETAILERS and landlords alike are feeling the economic pressure, resulting in increasing numbers of vacant properties in Liverpool city centre.

Mazars in city move THE Liverpool office of North West accountancy firm Mazars has relocated to the top floor of Bruntwood’s The Plaza in St Paul’s Square.

Partner David Nicholls said: “The growth we have experienced over the last 18 months has been an exciting time for us at Mazars, but we had become a victim of our own success as we were bursting at the seams having grown our team by more than 20%.

“The old-fashioned attribute of high-quality expertise delivered locally in Liverpool has served us well.”

With the “threat” of online shopping and reportedly decreasing footfalls, doom and gloom headlines are closing in on Britain’s retailers.

But don’t be too quick to begin mourning our high streets.

City centre vacancy rates may be rising but their suburban counterparts appear to be riding out the slump in these troubled times.

As retailers struggle to meet occupancy costs, Liverpool’s suburbs may have a much higher vacancy rate than we have become used to in past years – but this is not necessarily the end.

Similar financial pressures are

being felt up and down the country’s high streets yet out-of-town centres may be starting to see a resurgence in demand.

The demand for retail units is holding up in the suburbs, especially so in popular trading locations with high street parking and busy residential streets. Although activity levels are lower than previous figures have shown, rental values are remaining higher than expected.

Landlords are being realistic with tenants, especially when it comes to

renewal and review, and this has underpinned the current secondary market. Pragmatism is evident where landlords are taking the view that it is better to have a tenant paying slightly below market rent than pushing potential tenants away and risking void periods and empty rates.

Yes, in tertiary locations, primarily where a convenience store has opened within the vicinity, retailers have struggled and there is an increasing number of retail units being converted, or sometimes con-

‘Landlords are now taking a pragmatic approach’

verted back to, residential properties.

However, rents in popular areas such as Allerton Road are remaining strong. But with the recent vacation of the Blockbuster and Bon Marche units, it will be interesting to observe not only how much demand there is for the newly available space but also at what price.

The demise of large-scale corporate brands could potentially open up opportunities for growing independent local retailers or even see the space lend itself to alternative uses – an approach I believe the industry will welcome.

Old Hall owner signals more investment as lettings rise

by Ben Ashton

POST BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT

business@liverpool.com

Old Hall Estate in Bromborough is set to benefit from further investment after seeing new lettings. Inset, Andrew Preston

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THE owner of a Wirral industrial estate is to invest further in the site as demand for space rises.

Old Hall Estate in Bromborough has seen five new lettings totalling 23,000 sq ft in recent weeks.

And owner London and Cambridge Properties (LCP) says more improvements are planned for the site to build on its momentum.

Andrew Preston, LCP’s industrial property manager, said: “More businesses are recognising what the Old Hall Estate has to offer with good quality accommodation and excellent transport links.

“We are investing in the estate to build on and continue to maintain its appeal.”

The latest business to move to Old Hall is Saniclad Hygienic Walls and Ceilings

which has taken a 2,788 sq ft unit in Grisedale Road.

The company is one of the UK’s leading hygienic wall cladding suppliers and specialises in the supply and installation of PVC sheets and hygienic wall and ceiling cladding systems.

All of its hygienic cladding products are manufactured in the UK. Charles O’Brien, manager at its Old Hall base, said: “We needed bigger premises as our business is growing and we required more storage space.

“We relocated from another business park in Bromborough but wanted to stay in this area.”

Other new tenants include car dealership Northwest and Wales Diesels, plus a car air conditioning servicing and repair business, a soap products manufacturer and training company NAC Holdings.

Old Hall Estate offers units from 3,456 sq ft to 28,777 sq ft.

Construction firms being denied access to finance, claims FMB A QUARTER of small building firms have missed out on contracts because they can’t secure vital funding, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) claims.

The FMB says companies are reporting that banks and building societies are “actively discriminating” against construction companies.

The latest figures show the Government’s Funding for Lending scheme is failing to support construction, as lending fell significantly in the last three months of 2012.

The FMB has urged ministers to act, citing the results of its own survey of more than 1,000 member firms, which shows the ongoing

restriction of finance to SME construction businesses.

More than 40% of construction SMEs surveyed said they had found it harder to gain access to finance in the past two years, while 43% reported that credit is more expensive than two years ago and 25% were subject to increased charges for credit facilities.

Brian Berry, the FMB’s chief executive, said: “What we are seeing is that otherwise viable and successful firms cannot access suitable finance for business operations, including buying new equipment and plant. This is having a serious knock-on effect on jobs and growth.”

Brian Berry of the FMB

17

Thursday, March 14, 2013 IN ASSOCIATION WITH

location post business

Urban Splash appoints GVA to market Matchworks site AGENTS at GVA have been appointed to market space at Urban Splash’s award-winning mixed-use Matchworks development in south Liverpool.

The former Bryant and May site in Garston is a flagship project for Urban Splash, which began with the redevelopment of the famous match factory into office, light industrial and studio space.

Matchworks is a combination of two schemes.

The first was the former match factory with its water tower, which was redeveloped in 2001.

The redevelopment of the former storage warehouse, Matchworks II, followed in 2007. Together they offer 166,000 sq ft of office space.

GVA has been instructed to market the scheme including a series of new, smaller units which have been redesigned by Urban Splash. These, alongside the flexible monthly-leased office space in Mersey House, means that Matchworks can cater for businesses looking for 100 sq ft up to 17,000 sq ft.

Jonathan Lowe, Surveyor at GVA, said: “This is a great opportunity to be working on one of the most iconic projects in Liverpool.”

The Matchworks development in Garston and, inset, Jonathan Lowe

RESEARCH published by the British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC) shows that retail space in UK town centres is declining almost 20% faster than retail space outside town centres.

The study, carried out in partnership with Geofutures, reveals that a pilot undertaken in the South West has shown that town centre retail space contracted by 12% between 2005 and 2010.

Over the same period retail space outside town centres increased by almost 6%.

It is claimed the statistics are the most “comprehensive assessment to date” of where retail space reduction in the UK is being most keenly felt.

BCSC and Geofutures are applying the newly-defined town centre boundaries to assess whether this trend is happening across the UK. ■ Viewpoint – see opposite page

Auctions raise more than £4m

by Tony McDonough POST BUSINESS STAFF

tony.mcdonough@liverpool.com

TWO property auction providers have raised more than £4.1m in two events either side of the River Mersey.

In its latest auction at Liverpool Town Hall, Venmore sold 38 out of 45 lots generating receipts of £2.84m.

And at the Village Hotel in Bromborough, Birkenhead-based Smith and Sons raised £1.3m, selling 15 out of 22 lots on offer.

Venmore reported strong bidding for the lots from both investors in the room and those on the telephone.

Auction sales manager, Ronan Connolly, said: “The broad spectrum of lots on offer at our first auction of the year generated a lot of interest from investors, developers and members of the public alike.

“This created a competitive atmosphere, with bidders determined to win their chosen lots, and we are continuing to work on completing further post-auction sales after the initial success.”

Lots included a “picturesque” period mansion in Livingston Drive besides Sefton Park which sold for £395,000, £45,000 over its guide price.

A two-bedroom Birkenhead flat sold for £34,500, nearly £20,000 over the guide price, and a three-bedroom mid-terrace house just off Breck Road in Anfield went for £17,000 over its guide price at £52,500.

Smith and Sons auctioneer, Chris Johnson, oversaw a “packed” room of bidders in Bromborough.

Centres are in decline

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Chris Johnson od Smith and Sons On offer were a range of vacant residential properties for refurbishment, commercial and residential sites and vacant commercial buildings.

Star attractions on the day included a cottage-style property in Higher Bebington needing refurbishment, two empty houses in Liverpool in need of refurbishment, and a residential investment in Birkenhead giving a yield in excess of 15%.

Mr Johnson said: “This auction was a good result for us showing some positive signs for 2013 and a higher level of interest pre-auction than was seen last year “The number of people in the room demonstrated renewed interest in the property market and we hope this will gather further momentum through the year.

“This successful sale shows the benefits to both vendors and purchasers of the auction process. Some excellent results were achieved.”

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18

Thursday, March 14, 2013

post business economic development

Apprenticeships can help national apprenticeship week 2013

From left, Cllr Dave Hanratty, Kieran Timmins of Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service and Tim Waters of Wates Construction with apprentices Mohamoud Hersi and Sean Millican at the site of the Toxteth FireFit Hub

by Ben Ashton

POST BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT

business@liverpool.com

G

ROWTH prospects for the Liverpool city region are dependent on many factors and surely one that is at the top of the list is skills.

The Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has identified four industry sectors that have the most potential for growth.

They are superport, low carbon, visitor economy and knowledge economy. Businesses and organisations across these sectors are going to need a steady stream of skilled workers if they are to fulfil that potential.

The Government has recognised this need and is pushing the virtues of apprenticeships.

This week is the the sixth annual National Apprenticeship Week and in the last few days there have been a number of events and announcements to coincide.

On Monday, banking giant Barclays held a series of events around the country, including Liverpool, to announce its plans for 1,000 new banking apprentices and support for a further 10,000 trainees in other businesses.

Another bank, Santander, also unveiled its own scheme to take on 250 apprentices.

Apprenticeships have become increasingly popular with businesses during the past couple of years and this week is seeking to increase that further.

An apprenticeship is a work-based programme that combines practical training with study and results in a nationally-recognised qualification.

The concept is not a new one.

Apprentices have been part of workforces for longer than many may think, from the “potters’ disciples” of ancient Greece to the knight’s squires of the medieval era.

In the 2010/11 academic year, 457,200 people applied for apprenticeships – a 63% increase on the previous year and more than a quarter more than the Government projected.

The onus of growing that further is now falling on the nation’s small business sector – traditionally one of the major engines of economic growth.

Elaine Bowker is principal of Liverpool Community College, one of the biggest providers of apprentice training in Merseyside.

She explained: “Apprenticeships are vital to driving the Liverpool economy forward and providing the skills that employers need to expand and grow.

“Central government sees apprenticeships as one of the key ways of delivering long-term growth and helping us catch up with European counterparts like Germany.”

The college is currently offering training to apprentices across some 200 courses and Ms Bowker added that they cover a wider range of sectors than some may imagine.

“Apprentices are traditionally viewed as being associated with cer-

tain industry sectors such as the construction industry and mechanical engineering,” she said.

“But there is now apprenticeship training for a wide range of sectors and job types. Liverpool Community College alone offers apprenticeships in 60 different careers and this is constantly expanding.

“Recently, for example, we launched the first social digital apprenticeship in the North West, which gives students the skills they need to be an expert in social and digital marketing for businesses.”

Merseyside’s superport sector has a particular need for skilled people in the year ahead.

Two University Training Colleges are being set up in Liverpool and Wirral to provide people with the skills to work on projects such as offshore windfarms and Peel Ports’ Liverpool2 development which will see the world’s biggest container ships coming to the Mersey.

Jim Teasdale is chief executive of Mersey Maritime and runs the Maritime and Engineering College Northwest next door to the Cammell Laird shipyard, in Birkenhead, and is a passionate advocate of apprenticeships.

The college has formed a partnership with Job Centre Plus to create a

series of maritime-focused employability courses aimed at getting hundreds of people in full time work through apprenticeships.

Mr Teasdale said: “Apprentices bring with them eagerness and enthusiasm and this can have a positive effect on the rest of the workforce.

“They are from a generation that do not take getting and keeping a job for granted.”

Hiring an apprentice is a straightforward process for a business. It involves initially filling out a form on the official Government apprenticeships website.

The business will then be contacted by an assessor who will establish the requirements and suggest an appropriate training provider.

The provider then handles the recruitment process on behalf of the firm. For trainees aged between 16 and 18 the Government will fund 100% of the cost, for 18 to 24-year olds it is 50% and funding of up to 50% is available on a discretionary basis for those aged over 24.

Construction firm, Wates, is keen to use apprenticeships on its key North West projects.

The firm recently completed Mer-

seyside Fire and Rescue Service’s £5.9m Toxteth FireFit Hub, a project for which eight apprenticeship positions were created.

As part of that project it also delivered the Building Futures programme with Liverpool Community College, giving 15 young people a two-week work experience placement.

Tony Shenton, business unit director for Wates Construction, North West, said: “The construction industry has traditionally been ahead of the game when it comes to providing work-based learning but there is no denying that the need to create apprenticeships has never been more urgent.

“Not only are they a valuable means for young people to gain hands-on training but they are also a great way to ensure building works have a tangible local economic impact.”

Liverpool Innovation Park (LIP) actively encourages its tenants to take on apprentices and companies on-site that have done this include Render Nation, Jonathan Ford Accounting and Nutricia. LIP innovation manager, Delyth Lloyd, said: “Many companies are beginning to

‘They do not take getting a job for granted’

see the benefits of structured apprenticeship schemes as a way of growing their businesses at a relatively low initial cost, whilst building a dedicated workforce for the future.

“Here at LIP, we facilitate introductions between education providers and our tenants, to encourage them to consider apprenticeship programmes.

“I’m very pleased to see an increasing number of companies on site engaging with the scheme and employing much-valued apprentices.”

One successful Liverpool-born entrepreneur returned to his home city to share his experiences with young people Mike Welch left school at 16, working as an apprentice tyre-fitter and now runs Blackcircles.com, the UK’s leading online tyre retailer, which he founded in 2001.

He was guest of honour at the Apprenticeships Work event, organised by Liverpool Housing Trust (LHT) which is creating opportunities for more than 30 young people.

“My business would not have been possible without the apprenticeship and training I had as a kid,” said Mr Welch.

■ FOR more information about apprenticeships log onto www.apprenticeships.org.uk

19

Thursday, March 14, 2013

economic development post business

to drive growth

Barclays’ Bob Bond and Tessa Oversby at the Liverpool launch of Barclays Bridges Into Work

Steve Latham, left, with apprentice-turned manager, James Pickett

diary of an entrepreneur I WAS encouraged to learn a trade from early on by my family and friends, rather than become an entrepreneur.

I was also told that I had the brains and brawn to carry out practical work so I had a good choice in starting out my career.

While I hadn’t realised how studying plumbing, my chosen route, would open up in opportunities in property, I did know that the job obviously wouldn’t involve any sedentary work – just not me.

That’s reflected in my other passion these days, along with the bathroom business we have in which I still get to use my plumbing and installation knowledge built up over decades.

That other passion is sport.

Being a proud father and family man, it’s a central theme in our lives, especially now that every Thursday in Liverpool, the team behind me and my fellow directors at AirbornAcademy are being touted as community role models, which is great and very humbling.

We began Airborn for a variety of reasons, but seeing as we’re talking in a business context, it is a business.

We set up a private company with the ambition of nailing a building for use by our world-leading Parkour (street running) experts, students and interested participants drawn from the general public.

We thought and, in fact, we now know, Parkour brings together people and communities partaking in exercise that brings health, flexibility, confidence and togetherness.

We prove it every week in Park Road, Toxteth.

What we’re aiming to do is repeat that success in our own dedicated building and then repeat the process around the North West and further afield.

I’m spending time right now perfecting the model of Airborn so that we can gradually establish a template business that will have all the passion and trademarks of

our original concept.

Running a bathroom business has opened up numerous contacts in property circles in the region.

Naturally, the business has taught me all of the pitfalls and benefits of directing your own destiny, so I’m treading with a mixture of caution and adrenalin along with fellow directors to take Airborn where we need to be in 2013.

We have the media profile now largely thanks to our world champion and well-travelled Ryan Doyle who is also a businessman.

This is opening up lots of opportunities UK-wide and beyond, but we’re being careful not to spread ourselves too thin.

I guess I’m chief networker because I enjoy it, I’m experienced at it and it fits neatly with my day – or I just make it fit.

The networking gives me the platform to speak about our ambitions and almost eulogise about Parkour, a sport that is rapidly gathering attention, especially within youth markets, across the globe.

I think in life, when you find a business opportunity that is commercially viable and one that gives back so much, you have to grab the chance with both hands and run with it.

The culmination of efforts to date is a showcase this month in which we’ve invited public and private sector influencers alike to help us champion our business across the region.

It’s the start of things to come because the more awareness we create amongst decision makers, the quicker our model will be in place.

Thanks to my team mates who are all involved in their own separate and successful business ventures, we have the strategic awareness of growing a business and now the fun has started in delivering another one in the shape of the Airborn Academy brand.

Martin Tsang is a director of Airborn Academy

Picture: JAMES MALONEY

Firms ‘need to check regulations’ on apprenticeships STEVE LATHAM thinks apprenticeships are a fantastic idea.

Mr Latham, who runs a lettings agency in Waterloo, says one young person he took on as an apprentice – James Pickett – is now a manager and one of his most trusted employees.

“I think apprenticeships are fantastic and I think small businesses should get involved and give young people a chance,” he said.

“However, I think there needs to be greater clarity from the Government on this issue of apprenticeship grants.”

Mr Latham, founder of Concentric Lettings, says small firms need to be fully aware of the regulations when applying for funding.

“If you have previously had an apprentice within the last 12 months who hasn’t completed their apprentice-

ship then you are not entitled to the £1500 employer grant,” he added.

“I would advise that employers should contact the apprenticeship scheme direct to see if you, as an employer, qualify for the incentive grants.”

Martin Tsang of Airborn Academy

20

Thursday, March 14, 2013

post business professional

Tax offer ‘can help to attract investors’

From left, Mike Baguley of Allied Irish Bank (AIB), John Sutch of John Sutch Cranes, Peter McGurk of AIB and Steve Elliott of Leibherr Cranes

Liverpool native comes home to lead bank’s city operation

by Alistair Houghton POST BUSINESS STAFF

alistair.houghton@liverpool.com

BANKER Peter McGurk has returned to his home city to lead the Allied Irish Bank (GB) Liverpool operation in what he calls a “pivotal” year for the economy.

Mr McGurk, who has worked at AIB for 34 years, is the new senior branch manager at its St Paul’s Square branch in Liverpool city centre.

He joined AIB’s British business in 1979 at its then branch in Renshaw Street, Liverpool.

After eight years there he moved to AIB’s Birmingham branch, where he spent four years. After a decade in Cardiff he spent another 10 years in

Leeds before returning to Liverpool.

He said: “Allied Irish Bank (GB) is focusing on making business happen in 2013.

“This is a pivotal time for us – we know that despite the continuing challenges facing British and Irish companies, the future of the economy depends on the growth of small and medium businesses which will generate local and regional employment opportunities and sustained growth into the future.

“We are very aware of our role and have a committed team of specialist relationship managers in place to work with local business, whatever their banking requirements.

“Our strength is our people – it always has been and that definitely

hasn’t changed, but has got even stronger as we’ve worked in partnership with our customers and colleagues through tough times.

“We are keen to get the message out locally to trading businesses and professional firms that we are very much ‘open for business’.”

Mr McGurk is married to fellow Liverpudlian Julie and has two children – James, 20, and Alex, 18. The lifelong Everton fan played for AIB GB’s football team and says he has a “patchy” golf game, with a handicap of 20.

Two years ago, he completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Allied Irish Bank recently gave funding to John Sutch Cranes, as

reported on pages 12-13, to allow it to buy two new cranes.

Mr McGurk said: “John Sutch Crane Hire is a real Liverpool success story which continues to go from strength to strength.

“They are regarded as the leading privately owned crane operator in the region and we have enjoyed a long-standing , mutually beneficial working relationship for many years.

“Allied Irish Bank (GB) has supported this valued local company by providing significant funding for the acquisition of two new cranes to further expand their fleet.

“We look forward to continuing to support John Sutch Crane Hire in realising their future growth aspirations.”

ACCOUNTANCY firm KPMG says the region’s professional community and inward investment bodies must highlight the UK’s “competitive tax regime” to encourage overseas firms to invest in the North West.

KPMG’s Annual Survey of Tax Competitiveness 2012 found that the UK has the most attractive tax regime compared to its key competitors. Key factors included the reduction in corporation tax and changes to the way foreign profits are taxed.

The firm’s North West head of tax, Christine Hewson, says that this, combined with the North West’s infrastructure assets and industrial base, can make this region a magnet for investment.

She said: “The North West can attract more than its fair share of overseas firms, provided we play to our strengths.

“Our region has a highly progressive economic landscape underpinned by significant business confidence and resilience, despite challenging conditions.

Its councils and economic development bodies are also front footed, and eager to attract investment and encourage innovation.

The developed professional services industry in the North West, our talent pool and infrastructure are also major attributes.

“With improved tax competitiveness, the region can expect to attract more foreign companies in the coming years if we can market these qualities effectively to them and trade delegates, as well as foreign firms based in the UK that are considering expansion.”

on the move ■

LLOYDS Bank Commercial Banking has strengthened its senior team in Merseyside, North Wales and West Lancashire with the appointment of John Csizmadia from RBS. Mr Csizmadia, formerly a relationship director at RBS Liverpool, joins as a relationship director with specific responsibility for businesses with a turnover above £25m.

He has worked in corporate banking in the North West for more than 25 years, including a spell within Barclays’ larger business team before joining RBS.

■

KELLY McConville and Jo Whittingham will help drive development at a new facilities management company on Merseyside.

Vivark is the commercial arm of The First Ark Group, which also

includes Knowsley Housing Trust, providing repairs, maintenance and facilities management services.

Ms McConville, 31, worked within the group for just over 12 months before taking up her new role as head of commercial services for maintenance.

Contracts manager Ms Whittingham, 24, has worked at the group for five years in a range of

roles and will be handling contracts worth up to £2m.

■

WIDNES-based global bulk logistics provider Suttons Group has appointed Douglas Bunch as vice president Americas, Suttons International.

He joins from Kuehne + Nagel where he was director of key account development – chemicals and will be based at Suttons’ New Jersey office.

John Csizmadia – on Lloyds’ senior team

Kelly McConville – new role with Vivark

Doug Bunch – heads the New Jersey office

21

Thursday, March 14, 2013

style

When executive stress gets too much – help is at hand

Tony McDonough looks at ways of dealing with the pressures of work

W

E ALL know the scenario – we sit down at our desk to get cracking on a vital work task.

Then the phone rings, the email pings and the boss says: “Can I have a quick word?”

Multi-tasking has become a buzz phrase in recent years. However, it is an illusion. Quite simply, our minds can only ever concentrate on one task at a time.

Believing otherwise is a sure route to stress overload.

Terry McCoy understands this well. He runs Liverpool-based The NLP Works and teaches executives and business people the benefits of neuro-linguistic programming as well as an ancient technique known as mindfulness.

He believes it is as relevant now as it ever was. He explains “Mindfulness is a way of paying attention – to be able to focus on one thing at a time.

“You could call it attention training so that people are better able to pay attention to the present moment. ““People might say I have a meeting this afternoon, the last meeting was rubbish, I have targets – what am I going to do?

“They are thinking and worrying about what is coming up instead of giving 100% attention to what they are doing right now.

“What mindfulness training does

post business

How we deal with stress..

■

RACHEL KOMRSKOVA, pictured below, swears by her weekly pilates sessions.

Rachel runs the Liverpool office of Business in the Community, an organisation that helps firms achieve their corporate social responsibility objectives.

She loves her job – however, the hours are long and the stress levels high and her pilates class is the perfect way to unwind.

She said: “When I arrive at the class some days I can be all over the place – but by the time I leave I feel fantastic and all the tension has gone.

“It is tempting to get home and open a botte of wine but that can just lead to more tiredness the next day. I have done pilates religiously for eight years.”

■

Terry McCoy, left, teaches mindfulness and Simon Whitnall, right, gets to work on a client is that it gives you the tools that allow you to be in the moment and when your mind does wander off somewhere else you can recognise it and bring it back.

“In the present moment there is no stress.”

Simon Whitnall and Emma Robertson take a more physical and holistic approach to helping their clients deal with stress.

They run Synergy Health Studios in Liverpool’s Lord Street.

The couple worked with executives and top sports stars back in their native New Zealand and have

now brought their methods to the UK. They offer much more than just a fitness facility, tailoring fitness and lifestyle programmes to suit each individual client.

“Technology has thrown our 21st lifestyles into full throttle – a turbo-charged pace of life,” said Simon.

“At Synergy we have seen enough clients over the years from the corporate sector to know intimately the dangers of stress and inactivity due to heavy work schedules.

“We work individually or in small groups with people from 21 days

through to 12 months.

“Each client is a unique individual to us, although we see similar challenges across the board such as long working hours, lack of lunch breaks, intense meetings and a heavy travel schedule.”

Synergy does a “getting to know you” session with clients covering areas such as fitness goals, lifestyle, nutrition, medical history cholesterol and body statistics.

Simon added: “Mindset is the foundation to success in anything.

What we think affects our health just as much as how we move.”

JAMES DUNNINGHAM, right, is operations director for workplace health organisation Health@ Work.

His perfect stress reliever is a game of squash. He said: “I got into squash during school and it’s a sport I’ve returned to in recent years as part of my wind down after work.

“Squash is literally 50 minutes of intense exercise, and I’m so focused on the game, it really does clear my mind of work pressures and is a really enjoyable way of staying healthy.”

past business – nostalgia

Workers came face to face with history when store entered its new era

A 1962 advert explaining the changes at George Henry Lee

WHEN George Henry Lee swallowed up its neighbour and rival Bon Marche, it uncovered evidence of its own humble past as it strode towards a bright future.

In 1853, Henry Boswell Lee founded a bonnet warehouse in Basnett Street, on the corner of Leigh Street.

In 1860, when Mr Lee retired, his sons George and Henry took over, changing the name to G and H Lee. That store was taken over by Irish businessman and “bon viveur” Thomas Oakshott, who grew it into Liverpool’s premier department store and rebuilt the Basnett Street frontage with the glorious pillars still seen today.

Meanwhile, in 1878, the Bon Marche store was opened across Leigh Street. That more flamboyant store, featuring French fashions, perfumes and accessories, soon expanded into premises fronting both Basnett and Church Streets.

The stores were rivals for decades but, by the 1950s, Bon Marche’s fortunes had faded. On August 23, 1961,

the Post reported that a “shock deal” had been struck the previous day for George Henry Lee’s owner, the John Lewis Partnership, to buy Bon Marche.

One Bon Marche assistant told the Post: “I rather like the idea of being in the John Lewis Partnership”. And two “teenage assistants” said: We don’t know much about this sort of thing, but from what the official who talked to us said, everything seems to be all right – and that’s all right with us.”

The Post’s sub-headline that day suggested that there would be “a tunnel or bridge to join them”. A Lee’s spokesman said no plans had yet been made – but plans were soon put in train to link the two buildings with bridges.

And it was during that work that, in March, 1964, workmen uncovered the wall of the original bonnet shop founded by HB Lee in 1853. The tiny news item reporting the discovery did not record what happened to those “hand-made bricks”.

The original store in Basnett Street, founded by Henry Boswell Lee

22

Thursday, March 14, 2013

post business endpiece

trading gossip ■

EITHER supermarket chain Tesco has a healthy self-deprecating sense of humour or someone in the retail empire’s flagship Liverpool store is off-message.

Tesco, of course, was one of the first retailers caught up in the horsemeat fiasco that has engulfed the UK food and retail sectors.

So it was with some surprise then that the Hanover Street store was happy to allow the Phoenix Children's Foundation, which raises money for disabled youngsters, to ask for donations right outside the entrance.

The charity often takes miniature Shetland ponies along to hospices and special needs centres which the children love to pet.

Accompanying the collectors outside the store

Sky really is the limit for Paul and his feathered friend, Kase myday off Lee Hale is a golf centre executive at Aintree Racecourse, working with the conference and events team.

His great passion is hawking

T

last weekend were two beautiful ponies, one pictured above. As yet there is no word on how sales of lasagne went during the day.

■

IT LOOKS as though the good folks at creative sector networking body Kin are secretly big fans of Noel Edmonds’ smash hit TV show the Multi-Coloured Swap Shop.

That, at least, is the conclusion you’d have to draw from its latest business bash at Leaf Cafe, in Bold Street, last week.

Everyone who attends Kin gets two drinks tokens, which usually disappear pretty quickly.

But this time, networkers were each given a sheet of coloured stickers, all the same colour.

Every time they met someone they had never met before, they had to swap stickers.

Anyone who got a full set of coloured stickers could then present themselves to ACME staff to get more drinks tokens.

It all meant a brisk trade in stickers as contacts were made and deals done. Big Noel would surely have been proud.

POST

MOBILE

Text LDP to 67800

EN years ago I swapped his pet finch for something a bit bigger – a bird of prey – and I have since gone on to develop a passion for hawking.

I’d always had birds like finches and budgies from being a kid, but one day I just thought I’d like something a bit bigger and much to everyone’s surprise I came back one day with a bird of prey.

I’ve now owned hawks for over a decade and it’s a great past time but they do take some work and care.

When I first looked in to keeping birds of prey there was so much to think about such as housing, food, equipment and training, but with enough research it all went quite smoothly.

I read up on birds of prey and learned how to “man” the bird down.

It is essential that the bird gets used to people. There are many different techniques for doing this and I made sure I fed the chick by hand so it knew to return to me for food.

I currently own a female Harris Hawk called Kase, she is about eight months old and a fairly large bird of prey. Harris Hawks originate from the south west of the United States, Chile and central Argentina.

The Harris Hawks have been increasingly used in falconry since about 1980 and have become very popular as they’re one of the most social birds of prey and easiest to train.

They are also known as the wolf of the sky due to their pack hunting technique and because of this they are one of the most successful birds of prey.

This doesn’t make them good pets and training and experience is vital.

The Harris Hawk can be aggressive, but if trained well, it will fly with other Harris’s and offer a very rewarding experience.

One of the main issues with having a bird of prey is that you need to ensure it flies regularly – but luckily this is something I’ve been able to fit around my job on a daily basis.

Working at Aintree’s golf centre and with the conference and events team on business events and exhibitions, it’s usually in shifts, so I can get up early and bring the hawk down to Aintree Racecourse for morning flights.

It’s a beautiful sight watching the

Lee Hale, above and below, with his Harris Hawk, Kase, at Aintree Racecourse bird spread its four-foot wingspan, launch off and swoop across the racecourse.

It is quite satisfying to start my day at the venue – just me and my bird before the working day begins.

Apart from my early morning flights, I also take the hawk out with fellow enthusiasts and we fly them together at the weekend, which can be quite breathtaking to watch.

As it’s a wild animal, you can’t really call a hawk a pet but I do feel there is a close kinship between owner and bird. I have developed a real bond with Kase and she has become a huge part of my life, in and out of work.

The Harris Hawk has a telemetry system on it just in case it flies off.

This is unlikely to happen as it has been trained well and will always

return for food but if lost in the wild it would not have a great chance of surviving.

I have followed my hobby by myself and done this all outside of any kind of club but I have got to know other people in hawking and one of my friends is a ranger who often gives me advice. For anyone who is thinking about starting falconry, I’d advise to get in touch with local falconer or you can enrol on a falconry course.

There is also an abundance of information out there, which can offer advice and tips on caring for a bird of prey.

It’s not something to take on lightly though. These birds are essentially wild and you will need to have a good understanding of the whole thing and put aside time every day to exercise and care for the bird.

‘Hawking is not a hobby to be taken lightly’

23

Thursday, March 14, 2013

endpiece post business

networking From left, Derek Gawne, Chris Shirling-Rooke, Chris Wainwright, Steve Roberts and Cllr Gary Millar

Sapporo Teppanyaki in Duke Street

my favourite lunch

Rory tells a story

MEMBERS of Liverpool’s business and professional community gathered for a meeting of the city’s Positivity Club at Medicash.

Guest speaker was

former England rugby union star-turned business consultant, Rory Underwood who is pictured, left, with Medicash chief executive, Sue Weir.

Delights at Hilton HILTON Hotel Liverpool hosted a Bookers networking event attended by more than 50 people.

They were treated to some of the “delights” that the Harvey Nichols Beauty Bazaar has to offer.

Peel at the chamber WIRRAL Chamber of Commerce & Industry, in association with Egerton House, hosoted a presentation by Richard Mawdsley, development director of Peel Holdings, on the Wirral Waters

MONDAY, MARCH 18

THE Federation of Small Businesses Wirral branch is holding free summit on small business finance and tax in the wake of new figures that show lending is falling. The event, at the Merebrook Hotel, Allport Road, Bromborough, will look at small business finance, funding and tax and the Federation is calling for questions to be submitted by members and non-members who wish to attend the event, which will be considered and dis-

cussed by a panel of experts. The event starts at 7pm but a buffet will be provided from 6.15pm.

Register at http://www.fsb. org.uk/merseysidewcw/ events-diary and to submit a question contact Phil McCabe on 07917628907 or email phil.mccabe@fsb. org.uk

TUESDAY, MARCH 19

LIVERPOOL Business Fair is taking place at Liverpool FC, from 7.45am and featuring a range of seminars, workshops and net-

Q What is your favourite lunch venue?

A A Sapporo Teppanyaki in Duke Street, Liverpool Q Why is this your favourite venue?

A It’s very convenient for Roscoe House, my four-star Boutique Hotel in Rodney Street, just five minutes walk away. Plus I’m a huge fan of Asian food, and Sapporo offers that along with excellent service. They are also very quick too – you can be in and out in 40 minutes, an essential at lunch time.

Nails Inc, Karidis Medispa, and Dermalogica also showcased their products. Pictured are Sabrina Aigelsreiter, a conference and events sales agent and Lauren Leonard from the Hilton.

business diary

Conor O’Donovan, CEO, The Blenheim Lakeside Hotel

working throughout the day. It is free to attend, and exhibition packages start from £250+VAT.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20

AN inbound marketing conference aimed at senior marketing professionals and company directors from across the country is taking place at Liverpool’s BT Convention Centre in Liverpool. In association with Liverpool-based internet marketing agency Ph.Creative, Inbound Marketing UK 2013 will offer business professionals an insight into the latest ideas and innovations in

development and the new Peel International Trade Centre.

Pictured, from left, are Richard Mawdsley with Julie Knight and Alan Glazier fromWirral Chamber.

the sector, as well as discussing cutting edge ideas and tactics that can transform digital strategy. To book a place or find out more visit www.inbound uk.org

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20

THE Friends of the Catalyst Science Discovery Centre are hosting the first of a monthly Catalyst Sci Bar, offering an opportunity to learn more about local and cutting edge science. The event open to anyone aged over 18 and is being held at the Hillcrest Hotel, Widnes. The first speaker is Dr Lucy Bricheno, a wave

Q What is your favourite dish and why?

A I’d have to say the Salmon Terriyaki served with fried rice. It’s really light, tasty and a healthy option too.

Q What is the best bit of business you have done over lunch?

A I recently secured a long-term commitment from a major corporate travel agent and both my properties, Roscoe House and The Blenheim Lakeside Hotel are now among their preferred hotels when they are booking accommodation in

and current modeller for the National Oceanography Centre. She studies the coastal sea around Liverpool and the Irish Sea and has worked in places like Bangladesh, the Mediterranean and other European seas. Her talk starts at 7.30pm. The event is free, although there will be a suggested £1 voluntary donation to cover the running costs and room hire for the event.

THURSDAY, MARCH 21

CHESHIRE Society of Architects is holding a conference considering a range of topics such as, “do archi-

tects and planners deserve praise or criticism for the quality of new buildings in Chester’s historic centre?” and “are we adding to the stock of buildings and spaces that are cherished by locals and visitors alike or are we squandering the opportunities for good design provided by earlier generations?” The first in a series of events is at the University of Chester’s Binks Building, from 6pm.

There is a £5 charge and details and registration are at www.csaparry.event brite.co.uk, or contact the organiser at csa@andy fosterarchitects.com

Conor O’Donovan Liverpool for their clients Q Who would you most like to have lunch with?

A Barack Obama Q Where else do you like to go?

A I’d have to say Michelangelo’s, my own Italian Restaurant at The Blenheim Lakeside Hotel in Sefton Park.

Ideal for when I’m on the go and can't get away from the hotel. All our produce is home-made on site using fresh ingredients so very healthy too.

TUESDAY, MARCH 26

WATERLOO hair and beauty salon All Woman is hosting an open evening with networking to celebrate the launch of its new IPL range of treatments. It is a chance for busy female professionals to unwind, make some new contacts and learn more about All Woman's services and products. More information and booking details are at http://allwoman. eventbrite.com ■ Send your diary events to neil.hodgson @liverpool.com

24

Thursday, March 14, 2013

readertravelholidays.com

days

fro

fro

fro

£399m .00 for 6

£709m .00 for 8 days

£649m .00 for 8 da

Madrid, Toledo & the Heart of Spain

Nice, Monte Carlo & Provence

Apr, May, Jun, Sep & Oct 2013

May, June, September & October 2013

May to October 2013

This wonderful holiday, based in hilltop Toledo, includes a day in the Spanish capital, and offers exciting optional excursions to oasis-like Aranjuez, UNESCO-listed Segovia and El Escorial’s monumental Royal Palace.

Enjoy a sun-kissed holiday on the sparkling Côte D’Azur, one of the world’s most famous playground-paradises!

Based in one of Tuscany’s most celebrated spa resorts, this wonderful holiday includes unforgettable excursions to the famous resorts of Santa Margherita and Portofino, and to exquisite Florence.

Price includes:

• Return flights to Nice or Genoa from Liverpool John Lennon or Manchester • Airport to hotel transfers • Seven nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at the three-star Quality Hotel in Menton (upgrade to the four-star Quality Suites Nice Excellior, Nice available for a supplement) • Visits to Monte Carlo, Aix-en-Provence, Ventimiglia, San Remo, St Tropez & Cannes • One suitcase allowance per person • The services of a Tour Manager

• Return flights to Madrid from Liverpool John Lennon • Airport to hotel transfers • Five nights’ bed and continental breakfast accommodation at the three-star Carlos V Hotel, Toledo • Guided walking tour of the Old City of Toledo • Full day visit to Madrid • The services of a Tour Manager

Price includes:

Seville, Granada & Classic Spain

days

March to June, September & November 2013 This superb-value six-day escorted holiday to the ‘real’ Spain includes guided excursions to Granada - with entrance to the stunning Alhambra Palace - and Seville, the historic ‘City of Flamenco’. Optional excursions include magnificent Moorish Cordoba and the exquisite hill town of Ronda, with its famous bridge and ancient bullring.

Price includes: • Return flights to Malaga direct from Liverpool John Lennon or Manchester • Return airport to hotel transfers • Five nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at the three-star Las Villas de Antikaria, Antequera (half board and upgrade hotel are available for a supplement) • Full day excursions to Seville and Granada and the Alhambra Palace • The services of a Tour Manager

£709m .00 for 8

Nice, Monte Carlo & Provence

Donegal & the Giant's Causeway

days

March to June, September & October 2013 Discover Ireland’s finest scenery, in a beautiful land of rivers and loughs, towering mountains and sheltered glens, where the Irish language is still widely spoken, and traditional music rings out from the pubs and bars. The break, based in a three-star hotel, includes a visit to the astonishing Giant’s Causeway.

Price includes: • Return flights to Belfast direct from Liverpool John Lennon or Manchester • Return airport to hotel transfers • Four nights’ bed and Irish breakfast accommodation at the three-star Station House Hotel, Letterkenny (four-star upgrade hotel is available for a supplement) • Full day excursion to the Giant's Causeway & Dunluce Castle • The services of a Tour Manager

• Return flights and airport transfers from Manchester • Seven nights’ half-board accommodation at the three-star Hotel Belvedere, Montecatini (upgrade to four-star available for a supplement) • Visit to Santa Margherita and Portofino, including boat trip • Visit to Florence • One suitcase per person • Tour Manager

fro

days

Berlin, Colditz & Dresden

£449m .00 for 5 days

May, June, September & October 2013

April to July, September & October 2013

This wonderful week-long holiday offers plenty of time to relax and enjoy the glorious Riviera surroundings, and also includes four wonderful excursions taken in the company of our friendly, knowledgeable tour manager.

Sparkling cities, symbols of restoration and reunification, and windows to the past explored and discovered.

Price includes:

• Return flights to Berlin • Return airport-to-hotel transfers • Two nights' bed and breakfast accommodation at the three-star Hotel Tiergarten in Berlin, and two nights' bed and breakfast accommodation at the three-star Park Inn Hotel in Dresden • Included tours of Berlin, Leipzig and Dresden • Guided visit to Colditz • The services of a Newmarket Tour Manager

• Return flights to Nice or Genoa • Airport to hotel transfers • Seven nights’ bed and breakfast at the three-star Quality Hotel in Menton (upgrade to the four-star Quality Suites Nice Excellior, Nice available for a supplement) • Visits to Monte Carlo, Aix-en-Provence, Ventimiglia, San Remo, St Tropez & Cannes • One suitcase allowance per person • The services of a Tour Manager

Price includes:

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£299m .00 for 5

Price includes:

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£429m .00 for 6

ys Portofino, Florence & Tuscany

Scenic Splendours of the Dordogne

£449m .00 for 6 days

The

£379m .00 for 8 days

French Riviera

June & August 2013 Based in charming Bergerac, this great value escorted holiday includes a guided walking tour and visits to exquisite Sarlat and extraordinary, cliff-side Rocamadour, and is the perfect introduction to this beautiful region.

May, June, July, September & October 2013

Price includes:

This wonderful week-long holiday offers plenty of time to relax and enjoy the glorious surroundings of the Côte D’Azur, and to join some wonderful optional excursions taken in the company of our friendly, knowledgeable tour manager.

• Return flights to France from Liverpool John Lennon • Five nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at the three-star Hotel de Bordeaux, Bergerac • Walking tour of Bergerac • A visit to Sarlat and Rocamdour • Return airport to hotel transfers • One suitcase per person • Tour Manager

• Return flights to Nice or Genoa • Airport to hotel transfers • Seven nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at the Hotel Kyriad in Nice (upgrade to the three-star Quality Hotel, Menton or the four-star Quality Suites Nice Excellior available for a supplement) • One suitcase allowance per person • The services of a Tour Manager

Price includes:

Make your booking online at: www.newmarket.travel/lpe

For further information or to make a booking please call:

0151 559 1590 quoting code LPE

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: TRINITY MIRROR NORTH WEST & NORTH WALES IN CONJUNCTION WITH: NEWMARKET PROMOTIONS AIR HOLIDAYS LTD. ABTA V787X/V7812. ATOL PROTECTED 2325. CALLS COST 4p PER MIN.