Post Business - 21st February 2013

postbusiness thisweek Dreamingof theWestEnd Big Interview 12-13

Whosellsthe bestbutties forbusiness?

Networker21

Being the best Liverpool Post Regional Business Awards launch

Portissetto returnto thetoptier

Economic development 18-19

Smallfirms, bigideas Creative 11

Salonthat doesitsbit

Womenin Business15

P4 &5

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Thursday, February 21, 2013

post business news

Housing groups put jobs on shopping list TWO Liverpool housing associations are offering free retail training to unemployed tenants in a mocked-up store and warehouse.

Plus Dane Group and Your Housing Group are sponsoring free courses at the two purpose-built stores and warehouses run by training provider The

Retail Academy to help trainees build a career in the sector.

The training lasts from eight to 14 weeks according to need and participants are able to keep their benefits while they learn.

Dozens of tenants have already found jobs after completing their courses at the training facilities in

Liverpool and Knowsley.

Plus Dane engagement officer Lisa Cover said: “Courses like these remove the barriers people face in finding work and are already helping people not just into employment but richly rewarding careers.”

The two associations also fund people who find work but need help with various

expenses, from travel to fork lift truck licences.

Since the Retail Academy opened its doors in September it has seen more than 180 people take up training opportunities.

From the first 45 to complete the course, 38 secured job interviews, with 23 gaining full or part-time jobs.

Southport Flower Show’s new faces Retail trainee Elaine Sumner

Big Enterprise Event looks to boost entrepreneurship

by Tony McDonough POST BUSINESS STAFF

tony.mcdonough@liverpool.com

LIVERPOOL will next week play host to what is being described as the “ultimate enterprise event” – aimed at people looking to start or grow their own businesses.

The free Big Enterprise Event takes place amid the magnificent splendour of the city’s St George’s Hall on Thursday February 28.

It is being organised by Social Enterprise North West (SENW) in partnership with the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership.

If you have got a great business idea which you hope to get off the ground, want to grow the business you’ve already got or maybe you just need a few tips on how to unlock your entrepreneurial skills, then this event is for you.

It will feature more than 45 local and regional exhibitors, including The Prince’s Trust and The Women’s Organisation, as well as Merseyside’s local authorities.

The Big Enterprise Event will showcase a number of specially-created hands-on informative workshops presented by guest speakers on relevant subjects such as how to market your business, how to manage and access finance, and business law.

These expert workshops will provide all the top tips that you will need to begin or grow your business.

The Liverpool region has seen faster business growth than the UK average and the current economic climate is inspiring more and more people to start their own business.

The rate of business closures fell over the last year while the rate of start-ups rose.

The number of people in self-employment in April last year at 4.17m was the highest it has been since 1992.

Small and start-up business are the

Liverpool’s St George’s Hall will host the Big Enterprise Event next week. Inset, Val Jones driving force of the British economy and the Big Enterprise Event wants to encourage local people to realise that owning your own business is not an impossible task.

Val Jones, chief executive of SENW and member of the North West ERDF local management committee, urged would-be entrepreneurs to attend.

“Enterprise has never been more fashionable,” she said.

“Whether you are considering starting a business, in the process of developing one, or looking to grow your organisation, the Big Enterprise is a must event for you to attend, providing you with the opportunity to speak to experts from the business and social

MedImmune’s manufacturing award SPEKE-based vaccine manufacturer MedImmune won the Innovative Operating Practices category at the EEF Future Manufacturing Awards.

Manufacturing organ-

isation EEF recognised the firm for developing a new manufacturing process and promoting employee collaboration.

MedImmune makes nasal spray flu vaccines.

Ahead of an increase

in production it developed an automated system that replaced some highly labour intensive processes, while maintaining its existing teams, staffing levels and resources.

Andy Skibo, executive vice president of operations, said “This award makes all the difference to the business. It is a reflection of everyone’s hard work, from our employees to partners.”

enterprise fields. This event is free to attend so come along and talk to a wide range of organisations about the support that they can offer you.”

The event will run from 10am to 4pm.

For more details find The Big Enterprise Event on Facebook or on twitter by searching for @BigEntEvent

Joy for Iceland DEESIDE-based supermarket chain Iceland Foods has made a top 10 list for customer service.

It was placed seventh in the Institute of Customer Service’s latest customer satisfaction index, which includes the likes of John Lewis, Waitrose, the Co-op Bank and Volvo.

THE Southport Flower Show has appointed two new trustee directors and a general manager for its 2013 event.

Local businessman Ray Roukin joins the show as general manager. He has had a long-standing relationship with the show and was previously chair of the board.

Andrew Edwards, Trinity Mirror Merseyside weeklies executive editor, and Alison Pope, bursar of Merchant Taylors’, also join as trustee directors.

Mr Roukin said: “I’ve been on the board of Southport Flower Show now for 20 years and the move to general manager is something I’m really excited about.

“We have a great team going forward, with Tim Timmerman as chair and new directors Alison Pope and Andrew Edwards joining the team.

“Added to that we have the weight of some major names as patrons who are all helping to create a great event this year, such as celebrity chef Simon Rimmer, who is leading the food festival.”

The show, now in its 84th year, runs from August 15 to 18 at Victoria Park.

Aside from the horticultural attractions and floral arrangements, the show boasts a food festival and the North West Book Festival.

Mr Roukin added: “Over the past few years, the Southport Flower Show has grown to attract thousands of visitors from all over the country and we are hoping that this year will be the most successful.”

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Thursday, February 21, 2013

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Thirsty Horses picks up pace after £500k deal with NW Fund A LIVERPOOL software specialist has secured £500,000 of funding to develop its Inspire programme which aims to improve working practices.

Thirsty Horses was founded

by Ray Pendleton, former director of organisational development at Aintree University Hospital, and Maurice Spillane.

They claim their system can help medium-sized and large organisations with more than 1,000 staff to improve their performance.

It replaces traditional performance reviews with a more “collaborative approach” and uses social media principles, allowing managers to set goals, guide their team and

“recognise outstanding performance”.

It also incorporates diagnostic tools to help monitor the progress of change management programmes.

Thirsty Horses plans to create 29 jobs within the next three years.

The funding came from The North West Fund for Venture

Capital, managed by Enterprise Ventures. It is part of The North West Fund, backed by the European Regional Development Fund and the European Investment Bank.

As part of the investment Glyn Read, chair of virtual reality business Virtalis, has been appointed as chairman and Fintan Kelly, technology

director at Irish software firm Appligenics, as a director.

Mr Pendleton said: “I am thrilled to have secured the investment that will allow the company to deliver its plans for growth. I look forward to continuing to help leaders optimise their performance by engaging their biggest assets – their people.”

Capital & Centric submits a £4m business centre plan EXCLUSIVE by Tony McDonough POST BUSINESS STAFF

tony.mcdonough@liverpool.com

DEVELOPER Capital & Centric has submitted plans for a £4m small business centre next to the former Littlewoods Pools headquarters in Liverpool.

In December last year the Post revealed that the firm had put forward a £19m proposal to transform the empty art-deco site off Edge Lane in a mixed-use scheme which may include a hotel.

Now C&C wants to turn the currently derelict warehouse nearby, known as the Bunker, into 18 small office suites for micro-businesses and growing small and medium-sized enterprises.

The office suites at the Bunker building will range from 320 sq ft to 600 sq ft and the completed development will total 17,500 sq ft.

The project is due to be considered by the city’s planning committee in March and work could start on site towards the middle of this year.

Manchester-based C&C already has a track record of delivery in Liverpool, having recently completed a multimillion pound office development at Estuary Commerce Park in Speke.

It is also on site on land close to John Lennon Airport where it is building a 50,000 sq ft business park.

The Bunker was originally designed for the storage of Littlewoods catalogues. It is being acquired by the developer from the Homes and Communities Agency.

C&C director Tim Heatley said:

Bus links support city’s car workers FIVE new bus services have been launched to serve car workers in south Liverpool.

The routes run to coincide with shift patterns of staff at Halewood’s Jaguar Land Rover factory and businesses on the neighbouring Speke Boulevard Industry Park.

Funded by the Department for Transport’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) the services, numbered J1 to J5, link with Prescot, Kirkby, Bootle and Liverpool.

They were developed

by Knowsley Council in partnership with transport authority Merseytravel and form part

Liam Robinson

‘Our plans will create a funky, interesting shape’

Computer-generated image of plans for the Bunker and, insets, the Littlewoods site and Tim Heatley “Our innovative solution utilises the existing concrete frame to create a skeletal shell. The walls of the new structure are set back to create a funky and interesting shape.

“We wanted to create great value incubation space for business start-

Connect your business to the heart of Liverpool.

Connect Business Village www.langtreegroupplc.co.uk/ connectbusinessvillage

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Connect Business Village, 24 Derby Road, Liverpool L5 9PR

0151 207 7700

ups and other small and growing businesses – they need somewhere which looks cool and gives them their own identity.”

Social “break-out” space will be created in the rear and centre of the ground floor of the structure, which

Call r availafo b rental le incentiv es (T&Cs a p ply)

Serviced offi ces offices from 2 to 6 people

may appeal to creative and digital occupiers.

The plans to adapt and refurbish the 1938 Littlewoods building were submitted to the city council late last year. If planning permission is granted, work could start this summer.

Self-contained offices from 1,270 to 3,330 sq ft

Managed offices up to 8,000 sq ft

of the region’s successful bid for national LSTF funding, which totalled £20m for Merseyside.

Cllr Dave Lonergan, Knowsley’s cabinet member for regeneration, economy and skills, said: “This will improve people’s access to a major employment area making it easier to get to work and hopefully persuading some of those who drive to try a more environmentally friendly and cheaper way to travel.”

Merseytravel chair Cllr Liam Robinson added: “This is one of the first schemes we’ve been able to put in place with LSTF funding and it’s a real boost in our bid to encourage people across Merseyside to leave their cars at home and switch to sustainable travel.”

Meeting and conference rooms

CCTV & secure on site car parking

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Thursday, February 21, 2013

post business big feature

Bill Gleeson

Time to enter

Keeping faith in the future of the region’s car makers

The Liverpool Post’s popular Regional Business Awards are launched today, Bill Gleeson reports

IT WAS a tale of two car companies last week.

Tata Motors, owner of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), had to tell investors on the Bombay Stock Exchange that it had suffered a setback in its profit growth.

A 21% fall in fourth quarter profits was not altogether unexpected.

The company had forewarned investors that this could happen.

The cause was not so much related to falling car sales, which are in fact continuing to boom – it’s more that the cars it is selling today are cheaper and have lower margins than the cars it was selling a year ago.

Tata says the decline in profits is a blip related to the fact some of its more expensive models are due to be replaced with new versions, causing consumers to defer buying them.

However, at the entry level, sales of the Halewood-manufactured Range Rover Evoque are booming. With an average selling price of just £30,000, these cars are not as profitable as the £100,000-plus top-of-therange models.

Hopefully that oddity of timing will have ironed itself out by next year.

Accepting this explanation at face value means we can still believe that Tata Motors and JLR are robust businesses with strong futures ahead of them.

In contrast, there are grounds to start worrying about the prospects for General Motors’ (GM) European operations. It keeps promising jam tomorrow, but doesn’t seem to be delivering.

GM is doing fine in its home market of North America. We are three years on from its emergence from Chapter 11 protection and the company seems to be healing nicely. Once nearly bankrupt, it made more than $4bn in profits in 2012, according to figures published last week.

Its performance in Europe, however, remains troubled.

This is primarily due to the weakness of the eurozone economies, which continue to be in recession or to suffer from slow growth.

HE Liverpool Post is today inviting entries to its annual regional business awards from firms of all sizes and types based in the region.

Now in their third decade and attended by hundreds of the region’s business leaders, the newspaper’s awards are an established part of the region’s business calendar.

This year’s 11 categories seek to recognise the best-performing businesses, whether they are centuries-old multi-nationals or recent start-ups.

Our categories recognise the likes of export success, commitment to the community, good employment practices and much else besides.

The panel of judges will be looking for evidence of strong financial performance, investment, a spirit of enterprise and local economic impact.

The awards final will take place in St George’s Hall on the evening of June 13.

The black-tie gala dinner will be hosted by former BBC broadcaster Peter Sissons.

Former award winners include Redrow founder Steve Morgan, haulage entrepreneur Steve O’Connor and shipyard Cammell Laird.

This year’s categories are: Jaguar Land Rover Corporate Social Responsibility Award: Does your company strive to achieve a balance between your competitive aims and the interests of society? This award will be presented to the private sector business judged to have the best record of taking into account the effect of its operations on the community and the economy. This can include companies which give time or money to charities or other good causes.

Liverpool Vision Investment of the Year: This category is open to firms which have invested in the area since the start of 2012.

They can include new arrivals to the area and fresh rounds of investment by firms already established here.

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.

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?

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 sec-

GM says it will be another three years before it will make a profit in Europe. It seems a long way off, but hopefully that turns out to be true and in three years time we are not still waiting for the likes of Vauxhall and Opel to turn a corner.

I’M FED up with the horsemeat scandal, principally because of the endless bad jokes it has spawned. For example, “I went to a Meat Loaf concert, but found he was hoarse.”

When the investigations are complete, it is going to turn out that someone, somewhere has been behaving badly.

It raises an interesting question about how far people will go when trying to make a profit.

Money is a powerful and persuasive force. The shoddy practice of substituting horsemeat for beef contrasts sharply with the efforts some firms are making to promote the idea that they are good.

Unilever, for example, has been claiming its improved hygiene products can save lives in the developing world and Barclays says it will no longer speculate on foodrelated commodity contracts. For years, the Cooperative has refused to invest in arms dealers or tobacco firms.

Ultimately, any opinion about the influence of money over ethical conduct boils down to our understanding of what it is to be human. Do we, as many religions would assert, have free will or are we all a bit more mechanistic than that, with our ethics determined by such things as our genetic inheritance.

I think not. Humans should all be capable of exercising control over their behaviour. I’m not saying it’s easy, but it can be done.

On the other hand, the sceptic in me doubts the purity of the motivation of some businesses that brag about their goodness. When they only kow-tow at the point public protest has reached fever-pitch, their change of tack is not just altruistically motivated. It’s just not good business to be seen to be bad.

T

tor as well as a beneficial economic impact to the region.

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.

Ingeus Employer of the Year: We are looking for the employers which can best demonstrate how their leadership and human resource policies support staff development, engagement and satisfaction, creating a positive and supportive workplace with a well-motivated and well-trained team. The winner of this award will be more than just a good company to work for. Its culture will deliver commercial results and it will be an inspiration to other businesses.

02 Business of the Year (Up to 50 Employees): Whatever your sector, if you have a great business tell us about it.

Whether you are a new or established business, if you employ up to 50 people and you can demonstrate all-round business excellence you should enter this category.

Barclays Business of the Year (51-250 Employees): If you can demonstrate outstanding business performance in your industry and employ between 51-250 people this is the category for you.

Judges will be looking for your specific business achievements and a strong financial performance.

KPMG Business of the Year (Over 250 Employees): If your business employs more than 250 people and can show outstanding business performance, enter this category. Judges will consider evidence of a strong financial performance, excellent business achievements,

Thursday, February 21, 2013

big feature post business

business awards 2013 Messages from our sponsors

THE POST L I V E R P O O L

REGIONAL BUSINESS AWARDS2013

Chris Fry of KPMG Liverpool THIS is KPMG’s 10th year supporting the Post’s Regional Business Awards.

Chris Fry, office senior partner at KPMG Liverpool, said: “It is also my second year as a judge which makes me proud to be part of such a successful awards heritage.

“Despite the testing economic con-

Philip Rooney of DLA Piper

your contribution to local prosperity and other specific initiatives that make you stand out from your peers.

DLA Piper Business Person of the Year: Do you, or does someone you know, truly stand out from the crowd? Have you or they helped to grow the reputation, not only of their organisation but also of the region, showing the entrepreneurial spirit that typifies the region’s resilience and resurgence?

If so, nominate yourself or somebody you know this award.

Shortlists will be drawn up based on information included in entry forms. The winners of each category will be decided after the judges have visited shortlisted firms.

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.

“As always 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.regionalbusiness awards.co.uk or email events@liverpool. com or call 0151-472 2570. You can also follow the progress of the awards on Twitter at @LP_RBA The closing date for entry forms is Thursday March 14.

St George’s Hall will be the setting for this year’s Regional Business Awards

DLA PIPER has sponsored the Regional Business Awards since their inception more than two decades ago.

The law firm’s Liverpool office managing partner Philip Rooney said: “The Regional Business Awards celebrate the region’s very best businesses

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John Pitchford of Barclays JOHN PITCHFORD is director of corporate banking at Barclays in Merseyside.

Mr Pitchford said: “Barclays is delighted to continue its executive sponsorship of the Liverpool Post Regional Business Awards.

“Merseyside has much to be proud of and the awards are a great plat-

ditions it is clear from talking to our clients that there is currently a good degree of optimism within the Liverpool business community and for many, growth plans and ‘getting back to business as usual’ is very much on the agenda.

“Being fleet of foot and quick to adapt and change are very important in today’s environment and are just some of the qualities which typify those businesses which form the backbone of the Regional Business Awards.

“The awards recognise true excellence and showcase those organisations which reflect the best that Merseyside has to offer, and of which we can be most proud.”

and their leaders. They showcase perfectly how to achieve success even in these difficult economic times.

“Businesses in the Liverpool city region continue to show great resilience through the current prolonged period of challenging conditions.

“This continued success derives from a wealth of innovative leaders prepared to go the extra mile to ensure their organisations succeed – creating employment, attracting investment and boosting the regional economy.

“The DLA Piper Business Person of the Year Award recognises the positive influence, commitment and inspirational leadership of the winner and pays tribute to all business leaders who, through flair and drive, ensure our region continues to prosper.”

form for businesses to showcase their success and show how they are investing for future economic prosperity.

“At Barclays we are fully committed to supporting our corporate clients, in particular helping them to fulfil their growth potential. The last few years have seen unprecedented challenges for businesses across the UK and we’re acutely aware of our responsibility to deliver for our customers, ensuring they are at the heart of everything we do.

“Our commitment is further reinforced by our second year of sponsorship of Regional Business Awards.

It is a great opportunity for Barclays to continue to work alongside our clients and the wider business and professional community, in particular to learn more about the challenges and opportunities they face.”

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Thursday, February 21, 2013

post business wealth management

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Financial markets hold their breath for Italian elections market analysis

by Anjali Roberts

LIVERPOOL OFFICE OF CHARLES STANLEY ITALY will be holding elections on February 24 and 25 – and the outcome is still uncertain.

Mr Berlusconi’s centre-right party has benefited from the latest crisis in Italian banking but it remains to be seen whether the centre-right can do enough to unseat the ruling technocratic administration and potentially undermine the progress towards long-term economic stability.

The Italian election process is complicated and convoluted, but in essence the elections will determine the 630 members of the lower house Chamber of Deputies and the 315 elective members of the upper house Senate.

Italians have to vote for a list of candidates rather than an individual and the system is designed to encourage political parties to form coalitions.

There are certain key regions which have consistently put the centre-left coalition ahead in the race to control the Chamber of Deputies.

Some of this lead has been reined in recently by the banking scandal, although a recent survey in Italy showed many of the respondents seemed to care little about the specifics relating to the controversy.

Of more concern was the domestic economy’s poor performance and the technocratic government’s seeming

Anjali Roberts

inability to do much about it.

Another worry is if votes are transferred to the radical left or right rather than to Mr Berlusconi’s centre-right coalition party, thus increasing uncertainty over the election’s eventual outcome.

This would raise the spectre of a hung parliament and create more uncertainty in the financial markets, which are eager to see some progress on structural reform.

In such a situation a temporary caretaker prime minister is appointed and new elections will be held later in the year. Given Italy’s complex and controversial electoral system and the ongoing economic uncertainties, forecasting the outcome of the election is very hard.

The financial markets seem to be of the view that the euro-zone’s third largest economy may just avoid a crisis, but the Italian elections represent just one of the ongoing problems within the euro-zone.

If the election result ends in gridlock, Italian bond prices could potentially collapse and yields surge which would mean the country might need to access the Outright Monetary Transactions (OMT) facility.

This programme was launched in September last year, but as Spanish and Italian bond yields have subsequently fallen it has yet to be tested.

If Italy does need support from the ECB’s OMT facility, the process is not entirely straightforward.

Italy would need to subject itself to an economic adjustment programme negotiated by the Troika (the ECB, the IMF and the EU).

Once the country is deemed to be performing in line with its obligations the necessary bond purchases can be undertaken, but the purchases must be approved by three national parliaments, including the German parliament.

Mr Berlusconi has already made it very clear that if the centre-right coalition win the election or force a stalemate he will not be going to the ECB asking for help.

Markets will be watching the elections with interest as the outcome will have an effect, not only on the Italian parliament, but the euro-zone as a whole, as well as financial markets.

Investors should be wary of the euro-zone banking sector and European sovereign debt because these areas could be affected if there is any fallout.

notes ■

HOME repossessions have fallen to their lowest level in five years, figures from lenders showed.

There were 33,900 repossessions during 2012, marking a 9% year-on-year drop and the lowest annual figure since 2007, the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) said.

Repossession numbers fell in the last three months of 2012 to 7,700, which is the lowest quarterly figure since winter 2007.

The annual figure comes in even lower than the CML’s scaled-back forecasts for repossessions last year.

The lending body had feared that repossessions would soar to around 45,000 amid continued pressure on household finances, but it later cut back this prediction to around 35,000.

The CML has said that good arrears management by borrowers and lenders has been key to the lower figures, while record low interest rates have helped to hold costs down.

■

Will all the good work of Mario Monti’s administration be lost?

SAVERS’ champion Ros Altmann has stepped down as director-general of over-50s group Saga after two and a half years in the post.

Dr Altmann is a vocal campaigner on behalf of pensioners who have seen their savings pots eroded by record low interest rates and the effect on annuity values of the Bank of England’s money printing programme. She told MPs that the Bank’s policies were acting like a tax increase on older people.

The ex-investment banker is a former public affairs achiever of the year at the Women In Public Life awards and was recently named one of the 50 most influential people in pensions.

UK buy-to-let market hits a five-year high

FSA uncovers poor advice

BUY-TO-LET lending grew by a fifth year-on-year across 2012 to reach its highest level since 2008.

The appetite for buy-to-let lending has been boosted by strong demand from tenants who have been unable to get on the property ladder, which has pushed up rents as they have found themselves trapped.

Some £16.4bn worth of buy-to-let loans were taken out last year, showing a 19% annual increase, the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) said.

Around £4.6bn worth of these loans were advanced in the last

ONE in four consumers was given poor or misleading advice on how to invest their nest eggs by high street banks and building societies, an undercover probe by the City watchdog has revealed.

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) carried out 231 mystery shops at six major firms between March and September last year in order to discover the quality of advice given to customers looking to invest a lump sum.

Three-quarters of customers received good advice but in 15% of

three months of 2012, representing a 10% increase on the previous quarter.

Despite the recent signs of a recovery, the 2012 lending figures are still way below the £28.5bn worth of buy-to-let loans advanced in 2008.

CML director general Paul Smee said: “Buy-to-let is benefiting from strong tenant demand, which is likely to continue.

“Loan performance compares favourably with the owner-occupier sector and the overall outlook for the buy-to-let sector is positive.

“Landlords who can demonstrate

a strong track record are in a good position to expand their portfolios.”

Recent research from property search website Rightmove found that one in eight “accidental” landlords, many of whom originally took on tenants because of difficulties selling their house in the tough market, now plan to buy another property specifically as an investment this year.

Three-quarters of professional landlords surveyed also said they intended to expand their portfolios in 2013, the Council of Mortgage Lenders added.

cases the adviser did not gather enough information to make sure that advice was suitable.

On 11% of occasions the advice was not appropriate for the customer’s circumstances, the study found.

Santander confirmed it was one of those tested and said in December it took 800 investment advisers “off the road” for re-training, a process which is ongoing.

A Santander spokesman said the move was prompted by the FSA’s probe.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

news post business

Willson Grange recognised as top performing finance firm A WIRRAL wealth management company has been recognised as one of the best performers of its parent group at a ceremony recent held in London’s O2 Arena.

Willson Grange, based in West Kirby, was named as one of the most successful companies of St James’s Place Wealth Management during 2012.

Managing director Stuart Willson received the accolade from London Olympics heptathlon gold medallist Jessica Ennis at the St James’s Place annual meeting.

Mr Willson, who lives in Hoylake, said: “We were delighted to win the award, which is a reflection of the high quality wealth management services we offer to individuals and businesses.”

St James’s Place currently looks after funds under management worth £34.8bn.

The company provides a wide range of wealth management services through the St James’s Place Partnership, which has more than 1,780 experienced advisors operating throughout the UK, who can boast an average of 17 years service within the wealth management industry.

SeaKing delivers Congo contract MARINE engineering firm SeaKing Electrical has completed a contract to upgrade an offshore support tug in the Republic of Congo in Western Africa.

The Birkenheadbased firm delivered the work for Andofe Shipping Management.

SeaKing Electrical Group business development manager Neil Mellenchip said: “This was a terrific deal for SeaKing demonstrating the global reach and ambition of the firm.

“It is the latest in a number of international projects which have seen our specialist engineers and techni-

Olympic athlete Jessica Ennis, left, and Stuart Willson at the awards held in London’s O2 Arena

Firm awarded £40m contract to renovate city housing stock

by Neil Hodgson

POST BUSINESS STAFF

neil.hodgson@liverpool.com

MERSEYSIDE repairs specialist Housing Maintenance Solutions (HMS) has been chosen to deliver a £40m building and environmental improvement scheme at four landmark Liverpool locations.

HMS, which is based at Stonebridge Park, Gillmoss, will carry out the work for Liverpool Mutual Homes (LMH) on main routes from the city centre leading north to Everton FC and Liverpool FC’s stadia, Aintree Racecourse, the docks and Liverpool Waters.

The programme will see up to 3,990 homes receive new fences, more than 500 new roofs will be fitted, 4,200

homes will benefit from roof repairs, and the communal areas of 140 flats will be overhauled.

Gates, gardens and public green land will also receive significant makeovers.

A total outlay of around £12m will be invested as part of the maintenance and renovation scheme during the next year alone.

HMS managing director Paul Worthington said: “This is a major contract for us and it will have a significant impact on our business and also the communities in north Liverpool.

“The four routes are so popular that it is imperative they represent everything that is positive about Liverpool to potential investors and the millions of tourists who visit landmarks like the football grounds, the

docks and Aintree Racecourse every year.”

Mr Worthington added: “The work will be completed by 2015 but residents will start seeing and benefiting from the transformation immediately.”

Liverpool Mutual Homes chief executive Steve Coffey said: “The project contributes to the GreenPrint For Growth strategy for improving the environmental quality of north Liverpool, led by Liverpool Vision.

“It will make a huge difference to the people and communities which have been neglected for far too long.

“We have a large number of properties in the area and this regeneration scheme will complement the £380m improvement programme we are carrying out to homes that sees us investing £65.8m this financial year.”

Paul Worthington

Edge Hill University social enterprise ventures win funding FUNDING has been secured for seven social enterprise projects at Edge Hill University.

They are run by staff, students and alumni and are funded by charitable organisation UnLtd’s social enterprise programme, along with the

7

Higher Education Funding Council for England.

The programme supports ventures which can have a long-term positive impact on society.

The scheme are web design firm Web Factory; AddSolutions, a learning and training

resource around Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); Melted Leather Records, a record label that seeks to work around diversity and inclusion; Holocaust On Film, a project that develops learning and awareness of the Holo-

caust; Note Cook, cookery workshops promoting community cohesion; AmigoInternational, which creates a child-friendly online community by researching cultural exchange; and BE AWARE, supporting children with ADHD and autism.

They will receive between £100 and £5,000 and advice on how to develop their concept.

UnLtd praised the ventures, saying: “Compared with other universities with long-standing enterprise awards programmes, Edge Hill is streets ahead.”

Neil Mellenchip cians working across the globe in places including the Suez Canal, Russia, Malaysia and the Caribbean.

“The Congo project took around one week to complete. Work was required to the bow thruster which enables the boat to manoeuvre and hold position in the water.”

He added: “It is the second time we have delivered electrical engineering for the AHT Independence. We initially carried out work in Bidston Dock when she was stationed in the River Mersey. ” SeaKing is launching a new business development initiative to target the West African oil and gas exploration and drilling market.

BUSINESS to BUSINESS BUILDING TRADE

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TRADE, UPVC WINDOWS DOORS, CONSERVATORIES. 5 Day Turnaround

Tel: 0151 546 5577 Fax: 0151 546 5588 Accredited with BS7412 & BS7950

8

Thursday, February 21, 2013

post business the bottom line

notes ■

VAUXHALL parent General Motors (GM) doubled its profits in North America in the fourth quarter of last year but continued losses in Europe.

Net income for the final quarter was £579m, compared with £302m a year earlier.

The increase was helped by its North American and Asian markets, but heavy losses still afflicted Europe as the difficult economic conditions affected car sales.

GM’s international operations, which include China and the rest of Asia, earned £305m.

In the full year, GM earned £3.2bn, which was down from £4.9bn in 2011, mainly due to the depressed European market.

Revenue for the year rose 1% to £98.1bn.

Chief financial officer Dan Ammann said: “We’ve established a clear track record of profitability over the last three years.

“We’re going to generate significant profitability in the North American market going forward.”

GM still expects to break even in Europe by the middle of the decade.

Debt-laden Peel Ports charts a way through turbulent times

An aerial view of one of Peel Ports operations at Twelve Quays at Birkenhead

by Bill Gleeson

POST BUSINESS STAFF bill.gleeson@liverpool.com

Make a difference to your prospects Management School MSc Open Evening 7 March 2013, 4-6.30pm University of Liverpool Management School, Chatham Street Full and part-time study options Funding available

For more information and to register visit: www.liv.ac.uk/prospects Learning to make a difference A MEMBER OF THE RUSSELL GROUP

PEEL PORTS is carrying a £1bn debt burden, some of which is not due to be repaid until the middle of the century, new figures show.

The latest accounts filed at Companies House for Peel Ports Shareholder Finance Co, covering the year to March 2012, show total debts of £1.25bn, up from £1.23bn the year before. This includes bank debt of £1bn, almost the same as 2011.

The complex group structure of the owner of the Port of Liverpool and Manchester Ship Canal must keep its auditors on their toes as they try to keep track of it.

As well as bank loans, the long-term creditors also show intra-group debts of £61.6m and amounts due to related undertakings of £61.4m.

The report and accounts acknowledge that this level of debt is not

without its potential pitfalls.

In the document’s business review the company says: “The key financial risk arises from the level of long-term debt held by the group and the interest arising there-on.

“The group’s loans and loan note instruments with repayment dates between December 31, 2013, and September 30, 2046, amount to £1,185.7m.

“The cashflow risk arising in connection with interest charges is mitigated through the use of interest rate swaps.

“The directors consider that the combination of swap instruments and stable trading of the ports business, effective working capital management and the investment in the asset base assists in managing the risks arising from the level of debt and variability in interest rates.

“The group’s bank loans and swap instruments are spread over a large number of banks and within the current facility agreement there are

undrawn funds of £100.7m available.”

When the Port of Liverpool was owned by the stock market-quoted Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, it was very profitable and highly cash generative, turning in tens of millions of pounds of bottom line profit for its shareholders. There was always the potential to lever in large levels of debt to acquire and build the business for the future, just as Peel has done.

In recent years, Peel Ports has struggled in the wake of the credit crunch, recessions and associated downturn in international trade. The year to March 2012 however showed signs of improved conditions.

Turnover for the year was £380.5m, up from £358.9m, a rise of 6%.

Group operating profit was £92.6m, up from £76.8m. When Peel’s share of joint ventures are taken into account, the operating profit rises to £98.1m, up from £80.3m.

Those high debt levels inevitably incur high interest charges. The net charge for the year was £71.2m, up from £69.7m. Pre-tax profit was £26.9m, up from £11.3m in 2011. The company paid a dividend of £23m, the same as last year.

In its review, the company claims its underlying trading position has improved. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation in 2012 was £149.8m, up £19.1m or 14.6% Tonnage through Peel’s UK ports reflected the upbeat note about improving economic conditions.

Around 62.3m tonnes of cargo passed through Peel-owned ports which, as well as Liverpool and Manchester Ship Canal, include Twelve Quays at Birkenhead, Medway, Heysham, Hebburn, Belfast and Dublin. The same figure last year was 57m.

The business review stated: “Turnover and tonnage throughput have increased year on year which reflects some recovery in the wider global economy and improvements in market share.

“Higher volumes, better sales mix and realised benefits of the group’s restructuring exercises resulted in improved gross margin and operational efficiency.

“Business activity has been satisfactory in the current climate.

Although the outlook remains uncertain, it is anticipated that the present level of activity will improve.”

Its diversified activities have helped it cope with slow conditions.

It said: “Although several European ports have been hit by the global decline in container volumes, Peel Ports is not as reliant on container handling.”

JLR sales hold up despite quarterly profits dip SOARING sales of the Merseyside-produced Range Rover Evoque helped Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) to quarterly profits of £404m, according to figures published last week.

JLR reported revenues of £3.8bn for the three months to December after seeing global vehicle sales during the period rise 14% to

88,658. However the quarterly profit figure is 21% down on last year due to falling margins and higher capital expenditure.

The company, which is owned by India’s Tata Motors, employs 4,500 people at its plant in Merseyside assembling the Evoque and Freelander 2.

The latest results mean

JLR’s pre-tax profits for the nine months to December 31 are up 20% to £1.2bn. Revenues for the period rose by £1.4bn to £10.7bn.

JLR’s chief financial officer Ken Gregor said: “JLR has produced another solid set of results supported by the continued success of the Range Rover Evoque.

“We continue to invest in

new products and technologies to support our aim of profitable volume growth.”

In 2012 JLR sold 357,773 vehicles, up 30% on the previous year and in January this year it sold 34,877 vehicles, up 32% on the same period last year.

The company now plans to invest £5bn in new products.

9

Thursday, February 21, 2013

small business post business

small

Open Golf Club founder David Thompson gets in the swing at Woolton Golf Club Pictures: JAMES MALONEY

business of the week

■

BUDDING social entrepreneurs can now apply for a place on the Lloyds Banking Group’s social entrepreneurs programme at the School For Social Entrepreneurs North West, part of Liverpool’s Blackburne House Group.

Successful applicants will receive tuition at the school and a financial contribution starting at £4,000 upwards to £25,000 to fund their organisation.

To further increase the success of their enterprise, the students will also receive a senior mentor from Lloyds Banking Group during their time on the course.

The programme is aimed at individuals with an idea for an enterprise which addresses social issues and disadvantage in their communities.

This support was made possible with funding from Lloyds Banking Group, with additional funding of £6m from the Big Lottery Fund.

Speaking about the application opportunity, Sylvia Pearson, development manager at SSE North West, said: “The unique action learning method we use alters the perceptions of a typical school and in doing so we help to develop some of the most credible and confident entrepreneurs in the UK. “This year we aim to do the same with our intake of students by empowering them with the appropriate tools to thrive in today’s challenging climate.”

Applicants can find out more, or apply, by visiting www.the-see.org. uk/lloydsbankinggroup

by Neil Hodgson

POST BUSINESS STAFF

neil.hodgson@liverpool.com

I

MAGINE being able to play in regular competitions at some of the region’s leading golf clubs without being a member of even one.

That is the aim of David Thompson with a scheme which could eventually become a potential franchise operation – but also reconnect golf clubs with a growing number of “nomadic” golfers.

An increasing number of golf clubs are finding it harder to retain members, either because players find it difficult to justify membership fees in the current economic climate or they prefer to join the growing band of golfers taking advantage of the “two-for-one” culture, allowing access for half-price and a green fee, which has become so prevalent over the past decade and is making business tough for private clubs.

Mr Thompson, a PGA professional for two decades who has run the golf shop at Woolton Golf Club for the past 13 years, used to work for his father Alan, who is now based at Heswall and is, he says, “probably the most respected coach in the North West”.

He said he had been wracking his brains to figure out a way of tapping into the itinerant golfers’ market and, at the same time, drum up more patronage for Woolton and the region’s other clubs.

His solution – with the blessing of Woolton – is the Open Golf Club, an online golfing competition available to players for a reduced green fee at nine clubs across Merseyside and North Wales.

Mr Thompson explained: “If you are not a member of a golf club you can’t enter any of their competitions because you haven’t got a private club handicap, so you can’t get any competitive golf.

“Open Golf Club is like an outside club. You register on my site and pay a reduced green fee to play a competition.”

His scheme is also open to private golf club members.

He added: “There’s no restriction on anyone who can play in these competitions.”

Private club members already have their own handicap which allows them access to courses.

Mr Thompson said the Open Golf Club offers its own official handicap, adding: “If someone is a society player, such as in a pub golf society, I ask them for proof of that handicap or I ask them to send me two cards they have done around a course.”

He acknowledges there are other websites offering access to golf competitions, which is adding to the problem of private clubs retaining their members, but he said these tend to be nationwide: “What is different to these amateur tours is mine is local.”

The scheme is still in its infancy.

Mr Thompson said: “This is just starting and it is free registration, so it is not making me any money. It can only start making money when I start charging a registration fee for members, but I won’t do that until it gets moving as it builds and I get more people in the competitions.”

His competitions have attracted up to 20 players and 140 members are already registered.

A new round of competitions start this month and five clubs in

notes

Open Golf Club aims to target the ‘nomads’ Manchester have agreed to join up.

Mr Thompson is introducing an order of merit, awarding points each time a golfer plays, to provide more of an incentive for players, building up to an area final.

He believes it is a win-win situation, adding: “From the golf clubs’ point of view I am bringing customers to them and extra revenue.”

With the inclusion of Manchester clubs, he reckons the venture has the potential to grow.

He said: “I plan to replicate this in other areas. It lends itself to go nationwide, with the name Open Golf Club.”

He said expansion would also create new jobs, adding: “If it goes nationwide I would need some people to work at it and look after it. And if it does take off, I may look at franchising it.”

Mr Thompson aims to build his venture into a franchise

■

AN occupational health company has unveiled a national clinic schedule to serve manufacturing and engineering businesses on their own doorsteps, in partnership with sector organisation EEF. EEF Occupational Health Service will operate regular clinics at 11 venues, including the Warrington EEF office, offering a range of statutory health surveillance, health screening, medicals and absence management assessments.

Clinics can deal with hearing, lung function, skin and vision testing, HAVS hand and arm vibration tests and biomonitoring for lead, chrome, isocyanates and other COSHH substances.

A free helpline for EEF members has been launched on 0844 800 9264 and a list of clinics, dates and services is at www.eefohs. co.uk

10

Thursday, February 21, 2013

post business location

Heritage and regeneration can go hand-in-hand with a bit of imagination

view point

by Henry Owen-John of English Heritage in the North West ENGLISH HERITAGE has had extensive experience of working with other partners on regeneration schemes to ensure that the historic environment plays its part in gen-

FBE to hold first meeting THE Liverpool branch of the Forum for the Built Environment (FBE) is holding its first breakfast event of the year today (February 21).

It will discuss the key issues affecting investment in student accommodation.

The panel will offer their insights on how the sector will shape its offerings in the future since tuition fees were raised in September 2012, resulting in a fall in university applications.

The event will be held in the Hilton, Liverpool, from 7.30am to 9.30am.

The event is free for FBE members and £25 for non-members.

erating economic growth.

One example in Liverpool is the Isla Gladstone conservatory in Stanley Park, Anfield, which was carefully restored and is now successfully used as a venue for weddings and events.

As a result we know only too well how complex these kind of projects can be and how there is a huge variety of issues and problems that can add costs, time and effort to even the best planned of projects.

This is why we have collaborated with the British Property Federation, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and Deloitte

Real Estate to produce a new edition of Heritage Works.

We have drawn together a huge wealth of both property and conservation sector expertise to create a practical step-by-step guide for developers, owners, practitioners or community groups wanting to achieve successful heritage-led regeneration projects.

It shows how to prepare and plan for projects of this kind, how to identify common pitfalls and how to overcome them.

Heritage Works embodies the English Heritage philosophy of “constructive conservation” – using what is significant about a building or historic area to help guide change and successfully stitching new development into the fabric of what already exists. In a city like Liverpool, this is clearly critical.

For English Heritage, a partnership approach in producing our document was hugely important.

Using the expertise of property professionals was crucial in ensur-

‘This is a critical issue in a city like Liverpool’

ing that Heritage Works has a fully rounded view of the issues and hurdles which all those involved in using heritage assets in regeneration projects encounter.

We think it presents things in a way that the property, development and heritage sectors will recognise, understand and put to use.

At a time when our development and construction sectors need a kickstart, we hope that this publication will go some way to helping much needed investment projects get off the ground. It demonstrates just what is possible when imaginative thinking is involved.

Sutton Kersh raises £5m from ‘packed’ February auction

More than 300 people were at the auction

by Tony McDonough

BUSINESS to BUSINESS

POST BUSINESS STAFF

tony.mcdonough@liverpool.com

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SUTTON KERSH raised £5m from its latest Liverpool property auction, selling 80% of the 102 lots on offer.

More than 300 people packed into the auction room at the Marriott Hotel in the city centre with many having to stand up at the back and down the sides.

Competitive bidding at the Valentine’s Day event resulted in many lots being sold for significantly more than their guide prices.

From the initial catalogue comprising 107 lots, five were withdrawn and 14 sold before the auction.

A total of 64 lots then sold in the room and more sales have completed afterwards.

The opening lot of the day was Media House in Claughton Road, Birkenhead, which was

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offered on behalf of Wirral Council.

The two-storey commercial site occupies more than 450,000 sq ft and has a car park to the rear with 15 spaces.

Guided at £90,000 this lot attracted a huge amount of interest in the room and eventually sold for £190,000.

Residential investment properties in Kensington also proved to be popular and encouraged competitive bidding wars.

A two-bedroom middle-terrace property located in Adelaide Road, which generates an annual rental income of £4,528, sold for £82,000 and was guided at £45,000 to £50,000.

Cathy Holt, auction manager at Sutton Kersh, said: “The atmosphere was one of the best I have experienced in an auction room.

“The room was packed with people who were keen to buy and the competitive bidding is a great sign for the property market.

“We hope to carry this momentum into our April auction.”

Lettings agency moves into city Further information please contact Neil Dryburgh or Euan Ross at

PURPLE PROPERTY is opening its first office in Liverpool city centre thanks to property group Downing’s Flexi-Offices scheme.

The Formby-based lettings agency has taken a Flexi-Office suite at Downing’s 1 Old Hall Street.

It is the first office the com-

pany has opened since forming in 2011.

Downing, Liverpool’s largest private commercial landlord, has created Flexi-Offices to fill the gap between fully serviced offices and the traditional leasing of a suite.

Flexi-Offices are available

for one person upwards for one month upwards.

Louise Bromilow, director at Purple Property, said: “We’ve been operating the business successfully from our Formby base since starting two years ago and felt it was the right time to set up our first city centre office.”

11

Thursday, February 21, 2013

www.ldpcreative.co.uk

creative & digital post business

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Time for video games sector to move up to the next level

Ben Hatton

by Alistair Houghton

POST BUSINESS STAFF

alistair.houghton@liverpool.com

THE big AAA video games studios may have shrunk or disappeared from Merseyside, but their former employees are busy proving that there’s still a thriving gaming sector in the region.

Last week’s Futureproof conference saw hundreds of representatives from the gaming and digital sectors gather at Camp & Furnace in Liverpool to debate the future of gaming.

The sector has been hit hard in recent years by the retrenching of the “AAA” gaming studios, which produce big budget games for consoles.

US giant Activision closed its Bizarre Creations studio in Speke in 2011 with the loss of 200 jobs.

Sony, meanwhile, finally closed its much-reduced games development studio in Wavertree last year. That studio was one of the cornerstones of the UK’s video games sector, having started life as Psygnosis and developed games including WipeOut. It was feared that, following those job losses, the region would see a mass exodus of games developers. But while some have left, many have stayed on to start their own companies.

At Futureproof, three leading players in the sector took part in a debate about the changes in the sector.

Clemens Wangerin ran Sony’s Liverpool studio before leaving in 2010 to co-found Setgo with two former colleagues. His company today specialises in “analytics” software which allows developers to study who is buying their games online.

Mr Wangerin said the games industry in Liverpool was now “the most active it’s ever been” – but said its new small gaming firms now had to move up to the next level.

“It’s got to the stage now where there’s a lot of talent out there,” he said. “The reassuring thing is that the opportunities are out there as well.

“Being an indie is incredibly hard. If you know that before going in, you will be better prepared for the reality of the situation.

“People are aspiring to make the new Angry Birds or become the new Microsoft. It takes a lot of luck, hard work and resilience – that’s ultimately what indies who are successful have done.

“The challenge we have now as a region is how we move people from being hobbyists, being garage developers or working in their bedrooms, to being organised and collaborating on projects together.”

Martin Linklater set up in business as Curly Rocket after losing his job when Bizarre shut down.

He said: “Since the studios closed we have lost a fair few people to places

How data can bring loyalty

Lee Omar, panellist in the Futureproof gaming debate, in a ‘meeting room’ at Camp & Furnace like Canada – they went to work for studios such as Ubisoft.

“But there’s still quite a hardcore group in Liverpool and we’ve diversified, gone back to working on a smaller scale like start-ups, finding money where we can find it and doing stuff where we can, making apps as well as games and making portfolios that we wouldn’t have been able to do if we were working for a larger publisher.”

Lee Omar, of mobile development studio Red Ninja, said that to start a business in the games sector you needed to be “passionate, hard-working, creative and intelligent”.

And he said the closure of the Sony and Bizarre studios benefited companies like his because they are now able to recruit talented developers who would otherwise have been “sucked into big corporate studios”.

In the recent past, Mr Wangerin

said, developers might have worked for years at an AAA studio working on a small number of games. Now anyone working in the games industry can expect to leap between projects and across platforms.

And taking a dig at an outdated stereotype of the video games sector, he added: “We’re no longer just talking about console games and first-person shooters for teenage boys.”

Panel chairman and gaming journalist David Valjalo asked what the dream now was for developers now the chance of being having a game picked up by a large studio such as Sony had shrunk.

Mr Linklater said: “Ten to 15 years ago, there was no independent route to market. You needed a physical publisher to manufacture the boxed product and to do the distribution and marketing.

“These days, somebody in their bedroom can distribute their software to

‘Sector in Liverpool is the most active it’s ever been’

the world. Everybody still wants to be successful, both creatively and financially, but the routes which are available are different.”

Mr Linklater also discussed how he had founded the North West Indies group two years ago as an online forum where newly independent developers could support each other.

Today it has 80 members from 55 different companies.

All panellists agreed that small gaming firms would only grow if they collaborated with each other.

Mr Omar said: “If you’re a good coder, start working with graphic artists. Collaborate with someone who does social media so you’re not doing your own marketing. Specialise in the bits you’re good at and collaborate with people who can do the bits you’re not good at.”

Other participants at Futureproof included Miles Jacobson, studio director at Football Manager developer Sports Interactive, and Colin Macdonald, commissioning editor for games at Channel Four.

Sedaka and ‘Weird Al’ star in songwriting show

Songwriter Neil Sedaka

SONGWRITING podcasters Sodajerker have notched up more than 80,000 downloads thanks to interviews with songwriters including Neil Sedaka and “Weird Al” Yankovic.

Songwriters Simon Barber and Brian O’Connor started podcasting last year and have now made more

than 30 episodes.

The hour-long programmes, available on iTunes, focus solely on songwriting as a craft.

Other subjects have included Valerie Simpson, of hitmaking duo Ashford & Simpson, and Ben Folds.

The show has also won praise from artists includ-

ing Jamie Cullum.

Mr Barber said: “We’re delighted with the success of Sodajerker on Songwriting. Obviously it’s a subject we’re passionate about, but getting to talk in detail with the talents behind some of the biggest hits ever written is fantastic.

“We still have a list of

people we’d love to talk to, so hopefully there’ll be plenty more to come.”

Mr O’Connor and Mr Barber have worked together for more than 15 years. They toured the country with their band Santa Carla and have seen their material used in films and on television.

THE use of consumer data is a hot topic at present and it has received some negative feedback from customers.

With the introduction of data regulations and plans to introduce further legislation, brands need to sharpen up and get savvy on how best to use the personal information they gather.

Costa Coffee has just shown how effective loyalty marketing can be.

At this year’s Data Strategy Awards they took the award for Best Use of Loyalty Marketing, the Retail/Home Shopping title and the overall Grand Prix award.

While this trio of trophies is certainly impressive, the realworld results speak for themselves. Costa is the biggest coffee brand in the UK, having increased the level of recommendations it receives from customers while increasing the average spend per trip and growing its membership by 1 million.

Other coffee chains such as Prêt A Manger and Starbucks have offered similar loyalty schemes in the past, yet have not enjoyed the same level of reward.

It’s the personalisation Costa brings to the table that makes it so effective.

It records consumers’ every possible contact with the brand and tailors personal responses.

It’s undeniable that receiving regular balance updates stating an entitlement to a free coffee, or informing you to “pop in” for double points on your next visit, succeeds in offering the consumer that personal touch.

Instead of using data that makes the consumer feel distrustful, loyalty marketing has the opposite effect, generating respect and appreciation.

Retail brands – it’s time to get personal with your consumer data.

After all, loyalty is the key to any long-lasting relationship.

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

12

Thursday, February 21, 2013

post business the big interview

Bill Gleeson meets theatre producer ERIC WOOLLARDWHITE, founder of Thirty7 Productions

E

RIC Woollard-White is the producer behind Hope, the forthcoming play which will be performed next month at Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre.

Written and co-produced by Liverpool-born Scot Williams and set in Blundellsands, the play is a dark comedy about an aspiring author suffering from writer’s block who falls in love with a character called Hope, played by former EastEnders star Samantha Womack.

Woollard-White and Williams met at last year’s Global Entrepreneurship Congress held at the city’s BT Convention Centre.

Through their company Thirty7 Productions, the pair have since raised just short of £100,000 to invest in the play, which will run for three weeks from March 6.

While Williams is the writer, Woollard-White – who was previously Dragons’ Den panellist Peter Jones’ right-hand man – is clearly the business brain behind the project.

Before founding Thirty7 Productions, Woollard-White’s career spanned journalism, public relations, marketing, television production and various senior management and board-level business positions.

For more than 10 years until July last year, Woollard-White was a senior executive with the group of companies owned or controlled by Jones.

He remains a trustee of his charitable foundation.

Having tried his hand at many things, he now believes the one thing it has all been leading to is a career as a theatre and film producer.

He said: “I used to get a lot of people coming to me to see if I could help them get to Peter for investment.”

Williams had approached Woollard-White to try to win the dragon’s interest in another play, A Bard Day’s Night, which sees The Beatles go back in time to meet William Shakespeare to write the world’s first musical.

“That wasn’t for Peter,” said Woollard-White.

“But I thought it would be good for Scot if he could go to the GEC. “He performed some of his songs from A Bard Day’s Night in front of 300 delegates from around the world.

“The next day I was talking to the Royal Court Theatre.

“I quickly worked out there was an opportunity to help get his play put on in Liverpool.

“Had it not been for the GEC, we wouldn’t have had that conversation.

“I have been going to entrepreneurship events like the GEC and wondered how many entrepreneurs come out of them. I wonder how many people take up the challenge?

“It’s a big step to become wholly financially self-reliant.

“It’s a big decision. There is more chance of encouraging young people to start a business because they are open to challenges and they don’t have the mortgages.”

Woollard-White took the leap. He left his job with Jones to start Thirty7 Productions.

He said: “I had a few things in my favour. I was in a position to be able to do that.

“In life, you have a list of things you would want to achieve some day.

There comes a moment when you think ‘I had better start doing that

Our Hope is for a big-money transfer to the West End

Hope will run at Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre during March; inset, Eric Woollard-White’s former employer, TV dragon Peter Jones otherwise it won’t happen’.

“I want to be a producer.”

While Hope is Woollard-White’s first foray into theatre, he is able to call upon his experience as a TV producer.

He said: “I worked for Peter Jones’ TV company.

“We made two shows with Peter [Tycoon for ITV and two series of American Inventor for ABC]. My role was in marketing and PR.” He also worked for the dragon’s main company, Phones International Group, a mobile phone wholesaler.

“I was essentially his right-hand man by the time I left the company last year. I did that for 10 years.”

Leaving school at 16, WoollardWhite ran his own small business for three years.

He then got a job delivering the Isle Of Wight Weekly Post to news-

agents. At the same time, he pursued a hobby as a bird-watcher.

A friend told him there was rare bird on the island, a Hoopoe.

He wrote a story about it for the paper, which the editor put on the front page.

“That got me signed up as a trainee reporter. The following week the paper went bust,” he said.

“With his reference, I got a job as a trainer reporter at Aldershot News Group.”

The town was for many years the home of the Army’s Parachute Regiment.

He added: “You would see trouble on a Saturday night and be in court on Monday morning reporting how an officer turned up to say so-and-so had an exemplary record.”

After three years and a stint working for ITV’s Oracle service,

Woollard-White switched from journalism to public relations.

His first PR job was with the Post Office.

“It’s a place populated by journalists doing a job of PR for one of the oldest businesses in the country,” he said.

After a short spell working for an Omnicom-owned PR agency, Woollard-White rekindled his interest in entrepreneurship by setting up his own PR business.

He said: “That’s how I met Peter. I had other great clients. I worked for Chelsea FC and a contract with the New Millennium Experience Company.”

He and his business partner have between them put up the cash needed to make the Royal Court production work.

They are paying for the theatre,

marketing and actors’ salaries.

It will run for eight shows a week for just over three weeks.

Even if every performance sold out, it would gross £250,000 at most.

It’s not the sort of money that, once everybody else has their cut, will net a fortune for the show’s promoters.

Woollard-White said: “It’s a hard business filling a theatre.

“Liverpool seems like a place which enjoys its culture.

“It feels like a city ready to embrace good plays.

“In many respects, our play is a very Liverpool play. Scot is from Liverpool and Mark Womack is a Liverpool lad.

“We have sourced our crew from Liverpool and the play is set in a Liverpool suburb.

“One of our most important relationships has been with the theatre.

13

Thursday, February 21, 2013

the big interview post business Eric Woollard-White, co-founder and director of Thirty7 Productions

Alex

Turner Myth of the superstar chief execs THE High Pay Centre’s report on chief executive appointments seeks to rebuff the notion – usually put forward by chief executives themselves – that there is a need to pay eyewatering salaries because it is the price which has to be paid to get the best people when there is a global market for them.

There is the first, obvious, question of whether a £1m-a-year chief executive would be noticeably different from a £2m-a-year chief executive.

The law of diminishing returns – and common sense – suggests not.

Once you’re paying a salary of that magnitude, the difference in pay is unlikely to create or reflect a difference in performance.

But the High Pay Centre’s report is interesting because it strikes at the heart of the idea that a global market in chief executives exists.

Its conclusion, from studying the Fortune Global 500, was clear that if such a market does exist in theory, companies don’t use it.

“In reality, companies do not feel they need to search far and wide for their next CEO,” it said. “The vast majority prefer to look within their own company for an individual who, by definition, has never proved himself to be capable of handling what we are repeatedly told are the inordinately complex challenges.

“Of the remainder, only an extremely small number look outside their country to find a successor who is at the time in another CEO role.”

There are often good reasons to choose from inside the company, to minimise the risk of an appointment who simply doesn’t fit and to ensure continuity. Of course that presupposes the company in question is on the right track and continuity is desirable.

Tesco is a good case study of internal promotions . Supermarkets are broadly similar all around the world yet when they were seeking a replacement for Sir Terry Leahy a couple of years ago, their global search found Philip Clarke, a Tesco lifer who lived in the same street as his predecessor.

There’s nothing wrong with that, but when the majority of the world’s big companies are doing the same, it undermines the argument that the pay needs to be appropriate to entice someone from the other side of the world.

‘Is a £2m CEO any different from a £1m one?’

That's been a great partnership for me.

“The Royal Court has a heritage of putting on a particular type of production – strongly themed Scouse comedies.

“We have been talking to them about bringing different types of productions there.”

The pair considered the possibility of raising money through grants and other sources, but decided that would be too time consuming.

Woollard-White said: “I thought right from the outset we are going to do this project quickly rather than writing bids.

“I thought it would be better to put my hand in my own pocket and bring in a few investors fast.

“The theatre was available in March and that gave the project a deadline.

“I am one of those people who, once they decide to do something, want to just get on and do it.

“It is less than a year since Scot and I met at the GEC and dreamily said ‘let’s put on a play’.

“There is an element of the unknown.

“We are putting on a different type of play that the Royal Court is used to, so it’s not without its risks.

“We will bring some producers from London.

“The prize we have in mind is the transfer to the West End. “For that, we need a play which is a critical success. There are no guarantees.

“There are lots of different ways to take a show to the West End. “Hopefully it will be a profitable venture in Liverpool. That will dictate what we do next.

“I want to be a presence in Liverpool beyond one stage play.

“Given that this is my first major solo production there is an element of learning to this job.

“Deep down there is a serious investment for me. My reputation rests on it.

“I sometimes lie awake at night wondering if I’m doing it right. I genuinely do feel that, despite my age and experience, I have been training for this moment all my life.

“There’s a saying ‘if you build it, they will come’ and for us, Scot’s written it, I’m producing it and if Liverpool comes to see it, I honestly believe they won’t be disappointed.”

Samantha Womack as Hope, in Hope, at the Royal Court

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

14

Thursday, February 21, 2013

post business legal

www.ldplegal.co.uk

Umbrella drives further expansion for DPP Law

by Neil Hodgson

POST BUSINESS STAFF

neil.hodgson@liverpool.com

A MERSEYSIDE solicitors is continuing its expansion with a further office opening in the South East of England.

DPP Law, the national brand for the Bootle and Liverpool-based lawyers still better known on Merseyside as David Phillips & Partners, is one of country’s biggest operations in the Legal Aid Top Ten. It has offices in the London districts of Holborn, Notting Hill and Harrow, as well as Birmingham, Manchester, Leicester, and Nelson.

Its latest opening, in Brentwood High Street in Essex, will support its existing branches in the county in Chadwell Heath and Romford.

DPP Law senior and managing partner Stuart Nolan said cuts to the legal aid budget were forcing the contraction or closure of high street solicitors and damaging the quality of service available to the public.

He said: “Rising costs and falling legal aid budgets mean the days of the small family firm or the one-man-band are over – but that doesn’t mean lawyers have to disappear from the high street.

“In fact, maintaining a high street presence is essential to our growth plan as we believe people have a right to face-to-face contact with a lawyer when they need and we want to maintain that good old-fashioned notion of client care.”

DPP has based its expansion on assimilating local firms into a national umbrella grouping.

Mr Nolan said the advantage of the umbrella grouping means that DPP Law is bucking the ongoing trend of closures through a “sophisticated backroom operation and IT system” which is run from the group’s head office operation situated in Bootle.

He said: “Smaller legal firms are failing because they have to maintain higher

DPP Law senior and managing partner Stuart Nolan staffing levels than legal aid revenues allow.

“This means many lawyers are finding themselves under pressure to meet their own wages bill, or tax bill.

“DPP Law provides all branches with a centralised backroom office management, a sophisticated nationally-linked IT system and support.

“This means that when a client meets a

DPP Law lawyer or legal representative, the client and the client’s business is the lawyer’s only priority.”

DPP Law specialises in a wide range of criminal law, from police station representation through lower and higher courts to the Court of Appeal, as well as personal injury litigation and family and children matters through to welfare rights and prison visits.

Legal aid cuts ‘will delay already congested courts’

Employers need to get facts right

CHANGES to the Legal Aid system this April affecting more than 550,000 people will lead to a rise in litigants representing themselves – which will cause delays to court cases.

That is the view of family lawyer Paul Hunt, from Kirwans.

He said: “Acting for a client when the other party is unrepresented makes a solicitor’s job even more difficult.

“Discussing issues with ‘the other side’, a long-established method of negotiating the best outcome for our clients, becomes near-impossible due to the personal involvement of the other party.

“With emotions running high, they will regard the opposing solicitor with a degree of suspicion, and are likely to be defensive and unfamiliar with the court processes.”

Mr Hunt added while the

ALAN Chalmers, partner at DLA Piper, warned employers over changes to the law on large-scale redundancies from a minimum 90 days to 45 days’ consultation which comes into force on April 6.

He said: “The draft regulations state the reduction will apply to ‘proposals’ of redundancies made on or after April 6.

“The difficulty is that a proposal is a fairly nebulous concept and will rarely be made at one specific point in time or even be capable of pinning down to a specific date.

“If employers get the consultation period wrong they could face hefty protective awards.

“Trade unions will be seeking to challenge the validity of consultation exercises which begin around April 6 and if they can point to any evidence that a ‘proposal’ was made before April 6 they may have a basis for challenging an otherwise legally compliant redundancy exercise.

“Employers will need to exercise considerable caution if carrying out collective redundancy consultation in the weeks immediately after the change to the law.”

Paul Hunt, of Kirwans courts have already begun to adapt to the needs of unrepresented parties, dealing with what may be the unrealistic expectations of litigants in person or seeking to sift out the relevant material and evidence will inevitably cause delay.

quality legal Naomi Pinder, Head of Estate Planning at Jackson & Canter, on passing on a business AN individual who has built up a successful business is usually an extremely hard-working person who may not carve time out of their busy schedule to make plans for the future.

Figures show 75% of business owners wish to pass the business to their children, but only 25% take the necessary steps to do so.

Unfortunately it is often left until it is too late and the once-energetic and charismatic business owner has lost mental capacity or perhaps died, leaving a grieving family and confused staff, suppliers and customers, along with a chaotic legal situation.

There are basic steps which can be taken to protect the business assets. The governing document may be a Partnership Deed or Shareholder Agreement, and it should include provision regarding what happens upon death.

There may also be a family constitution document regarding the core values of the business. If succession provisions are not included, the resulting situation is uncontrolled and uncertain, to the detriment of all concerned.

There is no purpose in having legal rights if they cannot be enforced. In the case of a business there is a balance of interests between family and surviving shareholders or partners.

Consider the following scenario – Horace has an 80% shareholding in his delivery company, Speedy Ltd, and in his will he leaves his shares to his wife Wilma.

On Horace’s death, Wilma inherits his shares but she does not wish to be involved in Speedy Ltd and the surviving shareholder, Simon, wishes to continue the business.

A cross option agreement grants Wilma the option to sell her shares to Simon, who has the option to purchase them.

The option can be exercised by either Wilma or Simon and is normally binding on the other party. The funding is arranged via a life insurance policy on Horace’s life, written in trust.

It is important that a business owner makes a will to protect succession and the tax position. Business property tax relief may be available. Discretionary trusts may be used to enable a business owner to arrange succession and protect the business assets.

Loss of mental capacity is catastrophic, and a business owner should have a Lasting Power of Attorney to protect the business and its operation.

For example, Horace is involved in a car accident and is in a coma for six months. He has made a Lasting Power of Attorney appointing Simon and Wilma as his attorneys, and they can make decisions regarding his property and finances. Simon has the experience in connection with the business and shares a common interest in protecting this asset.

It is easy to know that steps need to be taken, but it is also easy to procrastinate and not to invest the time and effort required to make plans for the future. Unfortunately, it can be too late to take any of these steps and a business owner’s hard work and effort may be lost.

■ Contact naomipinder@qualitysolicitors jacksoncanter.com

It is important that a business owner makes a will

■ In association with Jackson & Canter

In Business for your Business

15

Thursday, February 21, 2013

women in business

Hair salon entrepreneur does her bit for the community

by Tony McDonough

POST BUSINESS STAFF

tony.mcdonough@liverpool.com

IT IS something of a tired old cliche that people from Yorkshire can be a bit tight – and Emma Herridge is definitely proving that wrong.

The Yorkshire-born entrepreneur runs the Hair And Nail Spa in The Chester Wellness Centre in Wrexham Road, Chester Business Park.

Despite operating in a competitive sector, Emma finds the time to offer her expertise to help women less fortunate than herself.

Once a month, she opens her doors to women from a local refuge and offers them a “pamper day” when they have a complete new hairdo and their nails painted.

“You can see their confidence rising at the end of the day,” said Emma.

“It is so gratifying.

It helps these women when going for interviews. They are of all ages and from many different backgrounds.

“One lady was so pleased with her makeover she cried.

As a hairstylist you get used to being a shoulder to cry on.”

Emma, who employs one other full-time staff member plus trainees, opened the business in November 2010 after working as a hairdresser for 22 years.

The Wellness Centre is a converted barn within the business park which is close to corporate giants including M&S Money and Bank Of America.

The centre houses a number of small business specialising in various types of ther-

apies and Emma’s is the only one offering hair and nails.

She said: “We are very lucky here because there are no other businesses of this type nearby.

“There are tens of thousands of people working in the business park. Added to that I have my own client list which I have built up over the last 22 years.”

Emma’s family relocated from Yorkshire to Wrexham when she was just eight and she began working in the salon business when she was 16. She now lives with her husband in nearby Kinnerton.

And she is proud of the welcoming atmosphere she has created at the spa.

“I have worked in high street salons just doing one client after another for 12 hours a day,” she said.

“When people come here, whether it be for an hour or five hours, it is much more relaxed.

“Clients have no problems parking right outside the building and they also have a wonderful views of the Welsh mountains from their chair.”

The work Emma does for the women from the refuge forms only one part of her altruistic activities.

Other local charities also benefit from her generosity.

She donates prizes for charity auctions, including vouchers for the spa.

This makes business sense as such people often end up coming back.

She added: “Last year we contributed to six or seven charities. They raised almost £60,000 and I think we contributed about a third of that.”

Friends set up bridal business FIVE Liverpool women have opened their own boutique bridal shop.

Brides By Natalie has opened in Eaton Road, West Derby Village.

The team, which includes three experienced seamstresses are Natalie Coleman, Janet McKenna, Diane Owen, Helen Hanson and Sharon Stanton.

The business will offer a bespoke

‘One lady was so pleased that she cried’

JOIN THE COMMUNITY OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY AT THE HEATH

post business

The Brides team

Emma Herridge, who runs the Hair And Nail Spa

Picture: GARY TALBOT

Where else in the North West can you find such a unique business village?

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wedding outfit design service as well as a range of dresses from top designers.

Co-owner and managing director Natalie Coleman said: “The five of us have all worked together before.

“We thought it made sense to strike out on our own in our local area and use our expertise to give people a better choice.

“Between us we have decades of experience of working with brides, so we know the dos and don’ts of the business.”

16 Advertising Feature Accessing finance – The North West Fund

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Inspiring local entrepreneurs are given a helping hand as they develop

T

HE North West Fund is a £155m investment fund, now two years old, with a strong portfolio of growing businesses. To date, the Fund has invested more than £45m in the North West, including over £13m into more than 50 businesses in Merseyside.

The Fund supports smallto-medium-sized businesses across the North West with investments of between £50,000 and £2m.

This finance is already helping businesses in Merseyside and the rest of the region to meet their growth aspirations, while creating jobs and prosperity for the future.

The North West Fund comprises six sub-funds, each managed by a specialist fund manager who supports businesses at each stage of development: ■ The North West Fund for Venture Capital, managed by Enterprise Ventures, for new start-ups and early-stage businesses looking to grow; ■ The North West Fund for Loans Plus, managed by FW Capital, which provides debt finance options for businesses; ■ The North West Fund for Mezzanine, managed by Enterprise Ventures, for established businesses looking to expand; and ■ Three sector funds, covering:

■ Biomedical, managed by SPARK Impact ■ Energy & Environmental, managed by CT Investment Partners ■ Digital & Creative, managed by AXM Venture Capital The Fund has already invested in a broad range of Merseyside businesses, each with an inspiring story to tell about their plans for growth. You can read more about these businesses in the case studies section on The North West Fund website. In the meantime, here are just a few of the Fund’s ‘Inspiring Entrepreneurs’: CHRIS MEEHAN, MANAGING DIRECTOR AT SENTRIC MUSIC In May 2012, The North West Fund for Digital & Creative, managed by AXM Venture Capital Limited, made an equity investment into Sentric Music Limited, which operates an online music royalty management and licensing service.

It was the Digital & Creative

Fund’s fifth investment in Merseyside. It financed Sentric’s ongoing investment in its online platform and the expansion of its Liverpoolbased client management team to support the company’s growth in overseas markets.

Managing director Chris Meehan said: “The North West Fund for Digital & Creative fully understood our international growth plans, and have made an investment that will allow us to establish ourselves as a leading international music publisher for artists and businesses alike.”

JONATHAN QUINN, FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF ULTROMEX The North West Fund for Energy and Environmental, which is managed by CT Investment Partners, completed its first investment in 2013 after investing £550,000 in Ultromex, a Birkenhead-based company that develops processes for the recovery of high-value metals from electronic and industrial waste products.

Ultromex used the funding to develop its processes for the recycling of catalysts, industrial sludges and dross, and residual mine tailings.

Founder and chief executive Jonathan Quinn said: “Working with The North West Fund for Energy & Environmental will enable us to develop our techno-

logies even further.”

BRYAN ADAMS, MANAGING DIRECTOR AT PH.CREATIVE Liverpool-based marketing agency Ph.Creative is planning to double in size after securing a £500,000 investment from The North West Fund for Venture Capital, managed by Enterprise Ventures, in February 2013.

The investment is being used to support Ph.Creative’s growth strategy to expand staff numbers from 24 to more than 40 by the end of 2013 and to become one of the UK’s leading digital agencies.

Ph.Creative managing director Bryan Adams said: “Following substantial growth in 2012, we felt the time was right to seek this significant investment, and securing it is a vital step forward for us.”

Jonathan Quinn

■ Do you need finance?

Discover how The North West Fund could help you – contact one of its specialist fund managers or find more information on the website www.thenorthwestfund.co.uk.

The North West Fund is financed jointly by the European Regional Development Fund and the European Investment Bank and is designed to help create jobs and prosperity for the region through minority investments in growing businesses.

Bryan Adams

Chris Meehan

The North West Fund is a £155m investment fund, established to provide debt and equity funding from £50,000 to £2m to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) based in, or relocating to, the North West of England.

We have already supported over 150 businesses with more than £45m of funding.

Do you need finance?

We are looking for more businesses to invest in.

So whether you are just starting up or seeking funding to help take your company to the next level, investment of between £50,000 and £2m from The North West Fund could be what you need to help your business flourish.

Discover how The North West Fund could help you, contact any of our specialist Fund Managers or find more information on our website www.thenorthwestfund.co.uk SUPPORTED BY

T: 01925 418 232 E: enquiries@thenorthwestfund.co.uk

17

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Advertising Feature Accessing finance – MSIF

‘We can help achieve your business dream’

S

TARTING or growing a business?

Looking for funding to support your plans? If you need finance to make a business idea a reality, or develop an existing company, then you should speak to MSIF about how you may be able to receive help.

MSIF can provide investment from as little as £250 right up to £2m-plus through loans and other funding options.

A variety of useful support services are also available which help to grow successful businesses.

Many businesses are currently finding it difficult to secure the funding they need to realise a business idea.

MSIF is an independent organisation which was specifically set up to address this problem and help businesses which are struggling to source the finance they need to start and grow.

Here are some examples of businesses MSIF has recently supported: FOZ ELECTRICAL – £150,000 OF FUNDING When Chris Foran returned to Merseyside with a new business idea, following five years working down in London, he had no idea it would be so successful.

Seven years on, his com-

pany, Foz Electrical Limited, has a turnover of £9m and employs around 150 permanent and sub-contracted staff.

To continue its expansion, the company secured funding of £300,000 from MSIF and NatWest. The investment provided working capital to enable the business to take on more staff. It is the second time MSIF has invested in the company.

Mr Foran said: “MSIF’s investment enabled us to raise the full amount we needed to take the business forward and allow us to take on new contracts. We expect turnover to increase to £12m this year.”

LITTLE ATOM PRODUCTIONS – £25,000 OF FUNDING Little Atom Productions offers event management services to clients within the creative, charity and corporate sectors.

The company also produces its own commercial events including the hugely successful ‘In Conversation’ series (soon to be re-branded as ‘Coming Home’), where Liverpool- born celebrities are interviewed in front of an audience with their five

Paul Humphray of MSIF, left, with Chris Foran favourite songs performed live by local musicians.

Actors Stephen Graham and David Morrissey are among the stars who have taken part, and the format is due to launch in Manchester in spring 2013.

Little Atom, which was set up three years ago by Karen Podesta and Gemma Aldcroft, received a £25,000 loan from MSIF to develop both the client and commercial side of the business.

They were also recently awarded funding of £1,000 from UKTI and Liverpool Vision, which went towards a

Chris Walters of MSIF, centre, with, l-r Gemma Aldcroft and Karen Podesta of Little Atom

research trip to New York to investigate the possibility of launching the ‘In Conversation’ series there.

Karen and Gemma said: “Our planned expansion would not be possible without the funding from MSIF. They really understood where we want to go with the business and have been hugely supportive.”

BLINGSTAR – £2,500 OF FUNDING MSIF helped a young entrepreneur, 25-year-old Faye Harrison, turn a hobby into her own business.

Faye Harrison and Paul Humphray of MSIF

With a keen interest in fashion trends, Faye often struggled to find the right accessories to match her outfit. She began to make her own pieces, and friends also started to ask for her designs.

When she was made redundant from her job last year, Faye seized the opportunity and set up her own jewellery design and manufacturing business, BlingStar.

Initially, Faye used social media to promote her products and also persuaded celebrities from programmes such as Desperate Scousewives and The Only

Way is Essex to wear her designs. But to take the business further she needed to secure premises which would combine as a shop and workspace.

Through the new government- backed Start Up Loans Programme, which provides funding to 18 to 30-year-olds to help start their own businesses, MSIF provided a £2,500 loan which enabled Faye to open her own shop on Aigburth Road.

Faye said: “The funding from MSIF has helped me realise a dream of running my own business.”

We know it’s hard for businesses at the moment...

If... you need funding to start or grow your business we offer a huge range of flexible finance and support packages Supporting your Business Growth

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18

Thursday, February 21, 2013

post business economic development

Port prepares for life in superport

by Neil Hodgson

POST BUSINESS STAFF

neil.hodgson@liverpool.com

P

Liverpool2 project director Doug Coleman on the site for the enlarged container terminal

Independent Financial Advisers in your area Anglesey Security Financial Services

Ty Llwyd, Llanfaelog,Ty Croes, Anglesey LL63 5TY Contact: Richard Jones Email richard@security-financial.co.uk Phone: 01407 811268 Mobile: 07710 468970

Denbighshire Vale Financial Services

info@valefinancialservices.com Studio One,Town Hall, Crown Lane, Denbigh LL16 3TB Tel: 01745 814962 Fax: 01745 814446 Contact: Glyn B. Jones info@valefinancialservices.com

Liverpool Investec Wealth & Investment

The Plaza, 100 Old Hall Street, Liverpool L3 9AB. Tel: 0151 227 2030. Fax: 0151 227 2444 Email: paul.brokenshar@investecwin.co.uk Website: www.investecwin.co.uk Contact: Paul Brokenshar

Why choose an independent financial adviser

Because it pays to take an unbiased view

Those listed above are either an appointed representative of a network or national which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority or are directly authorised and regulated

REPARATION work is now underway on the first phase of one of the most important economic drivers for the region for more than a decade.

Liverpool2, the £300m extension of Seaforth’s container terminal, will enable the Port of Liverpool to handle larger ships, leading to much bigger volumes and generating an estimated 5,000 jobs across the region.

It is in response to the widening of the key maritime trade route through the Panama Canal, from 35m to 50m wide, enabling the passage of wider, longer vessels carrying more than 13,500 containers compared with 3,000 on current vessels.

Major ports around the world are building larger facilities to accommodate these bigger vessels and most of the large merchant fleets around the globe have larger container vessels on order.

The creation of a new in-river con-

tainer terminal at Seaforth by 2015, coinciding with the opening of the enlarged Panama Canal, has been on the drawing board for almost 10 years.

But after the final go-ahead was granted in December last year by the Maritime Management Organisation for work to finally begin on site, the port has been a hotbed of activity.

Liverpool2 project director Doug Coleman said: “We’re just so excited about this now because it has been on the stocks for a long time.

“The Harbour Revision Order was granted in 2005 so it is really nice to see it taking shape now.”

Principal contractor Lend Lease was appointed last autumn and has been signing up specialist contractors since then, such as the dredging contractor to deepen the channel in the River Mersey to accommodate the bigger vessels.

Mr Coleman said: “We have also been placing orders for various plant and materials and are looking to see the physical start of work towards the back end of May when 40m steel piles will be going into the sea bed to reclaim the land to build on.”

The process involves constructing a new quay wall in the river by means of the piles and then filling in the area behind with materials from the dredging operation to create the land on which to build the new terminal.

Advertising Feature Independent financial advice

Searching for the logic in confusing times A CCORDING to Glyn Jones of Vale Financial Services, interest rates are down, stock markets are up; employment is up, and major stores are closing.

“Is there any logic? The laws of unintended consequences are currently having a big influence,” he comments.

Glyn says the efforts to stimulate lending have depressed savers’ interest rates, and providers no longer need or want to offer higher rates to attract more funds as the Government has given them cheap money instead.

He goes on: “I may have mentioned this before, but does it really make sense to expend all this money and energy trying to prop up the housing market? It only serves to keep prices artificially high and prevents first time buyers owning their own homes. Who would dare to allow prices to drop to more realistic levels? Those of us who do own their homes would probably be less than happy to see them devalued.”

Glyn says so much surrounding personal finances is based around property ownership.

We borrow to buy, so lenders make money. In later life, having hopefully repaid the mortgage, many people now arrange equity release, ie they raise money against the value of their home for various reasons.

In fact, he reports, a recent survey revealed a range of uses for which such money is used.

These included assistance with home improvements, helping children or grandchildren buy houses, improving their income, or even, in some cases, repaying an existing interest only mortgage.

Glyn says another question concerns planning for potential care home fees. Many people are horrified at the thought that their home can be used to pay such fees, which can easily exceed £600 per week. That figure alone shows us the potential scale of the problem nationwide.

He comments: “Perhaps if the problem was addressed by people who have some exper-

ience of it, the answers would be different.

“It is generally accepted that more people are living longer, and a percentage of these may need care.

“While the majority will probably not need this care, of those that do there is a marked split in the way they pay. Some have saved and are expected to ‘self fund’, while others have most of their costs paid by a combination of the NHS and Social Services.”

And he adds: “There are now plans available which seek to address this issue. You may ask why you, in view of the above comments, should bother. The main reason is likely to be to protect other assets such as your home. If you can pay some or all of your own costs, then there will be less, or no call, on other assets or capital.

“As ever, if you need any advice, contact one of the firms mentioned on this page.”

■ Vale Financial Services is a trading style of Pi Financial Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Glyn Jones

19

Thursday, February 21, 2013

economic development post business

‘super league’ Mr Coleman explained that the project will shift a total of 5m cubic metres of materials, including 2.5m cubic metres used for infill behind the quay wall, which will all come from dredging.

He said: “The harvested materials from the channel dredging will be put to use behind the quay wall. It is a sustainable strategy.”

Some demolition and site clearance will begin next month and dredging vessels are due to arrive in the river in early April.

Cranes, barges and piling plant equipment should arrive towards the end of April, or early May, depending on sailing times and weather conditions. Mr Coleman said some vessels are sailing from Singapore.

Once these are in place piling operations, involving about 20,000 tonnes of steel piles, will commence almost immediately.

Mr Coleman said: “The initial works, which are dangerous and complex, just require about 30 or 40 plant operators on the first phase and about 40 to 50 landbased staff.

“But we will have about 500 people working on site at its peak.”

Port of Liverpool owner Peel Ports is also determined that its Liverpool2 team will be of the highest quality and to this end it has embarked on introducing appropriate apprenticeship schemes, in hand with the proposed University Technical Colleges, to deliver its workforce of the future.

It has formed partnerships with the two colleges delivering the UTCs – Liverpool Community College in north Liverpool and Wirral’s Merseyside Maritime College.

The proposal is for the UTCs to develop academies specialising in maritime skills and technologies for 14 to 19-year-old students.

Both UTCs are due to welcome their first intakes in September 2014, with their curricula – a mix of academic and technical education – both being complementary.

Students will spend around 60% of their time on core academic subjects and the rest learning specific technical skills and qualifications in what will be an employer-led curriculum.

The combination of a strong tech-

diary of an entrepreneur My PASSION for hospitality led to me spending 20 years in the trade and I only became “selfemployed” by circumstance.

I slowly became interested in becoming an owner operator... and it ended up becoming a driven desire.

In my early career within the industry I spent 15 years travelling and have been fortunate enough to work at some of the world’s top five-star restaurants spanning India and Australia.

That gave me the taste and desire to create something special and easily accessible – what I’d like to think we’ve done with our first venue and what we’ll do with our catering and events company.

Customers over the years have repeatedly told me how important ambience and character are, along with a price that people could afford.

We created Zaaffran in Allerton almost a year ago.

I was so taken by the area’s clientele that I was confident it would work for our first concept in restaurants – and it has.

Every day my own agenda is about meeting, greeting, feeding and looking after people.

My colleagues in the business share the same values that root us firmly in the “passionate about hospitality” stable.

It all began for me in India where I studied hotel management and then achieved an MBA before moving to Sydney in 1995.

During that period my experience with some of the bigger players in the industry, including Oberoia Hotels and the five-star

Taj Group, set me on my way.

It was an English chap abroad in Australia who eventually brought me to England.

It was an ambition of mine and this regular customer at Zaaffran in Sydney’s Darling Harbour, who was also a restaurateur, enticed me.

I moved to Liverpool after beginning my career here in the Midlands and have loved it ever since.

We have a great team which has enabled me to focus on our other business plans with the event management business that will also specialise in catering for large functions around the UK, and especially in the North West.

If there was a pivotal point in all of this happening, it was my involvement in Milapfest, the largest festival of Indian culture in the UK. Having experienced what it’s like to cater for the event, we are very confident that there’s a strong market for what we can offer.

I’ve no fears around the hard work and wanting to serve people, even if the latter does not come so naturally to some.

Meanwhile, and closer to home, we’re celebrating our birthday at Zaaffran in Allerton on February 27, so that’s our biggest focus at the moment.

In the long term, the focus is actually the same – looking after what is nearest and dearest to most people, what they eat and drink and how they’re looked after when socialising.

Ashwani Verma is founder of Allerton’s Zaaffran restaurant

‘Each day I meet, greet, feed and look after people’

We aim to help to rebalance the UK economy

Liverpool2 will accommodate the world’s biggest ships nical and academic education ensures that students are ready for work or further study at college or university.

Peel has already engaged with schools around the region and earlier this month invited more than 40 schools to an event at Mersey Maritime College in Birkenhead to outline the career opportunities available in the maritime sector.

Last week Peel Ports hosted a meeting for MPs and international trade experts at the Houses of Parliament to outline the benefits that Liverpool2 can bring for the region.

Peel Ports chief executive Gary

Hodgson said: “By persuading shippers and international traders to use the Port of Liverpool and Manchester Ship Canal instead of ports in the south of the country, the UK will see massive benefits in terms of reduced transport costs, carbon emissions and congestion.”

He added: “65% of the UK population is within a 150-mile radius of Liverpool2 and yet 90% of all containers enter the UK in the South and South East.

“We aim to change that and so help rebalance the national economy, which is absolutely in line with the Government’s objectives.”

JLA takes the long-term view on region’s economy LIVERPOOL John Lennon Airport is part of the Superport strategy and new chief executive Matthew Thomas is confident it will contribute even more to the regional economy.

Currently commercial director, Mr Thomas takes up his new role on March 1.

He said passenger traffic will grow at JLA in the second half of the

year, particularly from Ryanair, and growth in freight volumes is on the wish list.

But he said JLA also has to consider its role in the wider economic picture, particularly the visitor economy.

He uses new operator Norwegian, the third largest budget carrier in Europe which introduces its first route at Liverpool to Copenhagen this

spring, as an example.

He said: “We expect 75% of traffic to be inbound, different to what we normally have, which is exporting Liverpudlians to other parts of the world.

“The market is unbelievably competitive but we need to take the holistic view on the value of inbound tourism beyond the airport and consider the hotel and catering

industry in the city.

“We have to look at how we can bring more overseas visitors here.”

From that point of view he said he sees his focus as more of a business development role.

He added: “Norwegian will hopefully bring more growth. We are also looking to introduce more airlines to Liverpool and we are looking at the leisure market.”

Ashwani Verma, founder of Zaaffran

20

Thursday, February 21, 2013

post business professionals

Baroness inspires Hill Dickinson ladies’ forum LAW firm Hill Dickinson hosted Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson at the Ladies’ Business Forum which took place at its Liverpool headquarters in St Paul’s Square.

More than 100 professionals, apprentices and students from Belvedere Academy were in the audience to hear the guest speaker advise them “to be

the best that you can be at everything you do”.

Baroness Grey-Thompson explained how she overcame many challenges to become one of the greatest Paralympians of all time.

Hill Dickinson’s head of insurance Ruth Lawrence said: “Tanni is a shining example of what can be achieved with the right mind-set, determination

and support.”

Paula Leece, partner at Hill Dickinson, added: “I think we should all take note of how Tanni applied the lessons learnt during her sporting career to her working life in the House of Lords. She was an absolute delight to listen to and we are already looking forward to choosing next year’s speaker.”

From left: Ruth Lawrence, Tanni and Paula Leece

‘Risk-averse’ executives holding back progress

by Neil Hodgson

POST BUSINESS STAFF

neil.hodgson@liverpool.com

BUSINESSES are missing out on opportunities to drive growth because of risk-averse executives, said a senior Liverpool accountant.

Martin Heath, senior partner in PwC’s Liverpool office, said executives are holding back from investing in medium and long-term strategic growth plans for fear of what they might stand to lose if it doesn’t work out.

PwC’s recent Chief Executives Survey revealed that around a third of UK CEOs are “very confident” about achieving revenue growth in the next three years.

Despite this there is relatively little real evidence that merger and acquisition activity and other, larger strategic investments are happening.

Mr Heath said: “There is still a high degree of caution in the marketplace, despite plenty of positive examples in the Midlands that strategic investments can, and are, yielding strong returns for some.

“The automotive sector is a prime example of this, where businesses like Jaguar Land Rover have been actively investing both here in the UK and in the faster growing economies, like Brazil and China.

“Other companies which have invested in setting up business operations in the BRIC [Brazil, Russia, India, China] economies or striking up joint ventures are also finding that their decisions have proved good ones.

“While the continuing economic uncertainty is partly to blame for the high level of cautiousness, there are also some signs that the austere climate is affecting executives’ confidence on a per-

SUZANNE Bradley has been appointed as senior corporate adviser to the Co-operative Bank’s corporate team in Liverpool.

Ms Bradley, from Wirral, will work with the team of specialist business bankers based at the Liverpool Corporate Banking Centre in Old Hall Street’s The Plaza building.

Martin Heath, senior partner at PwC’s Liverpool office sonal level too.

“They are worried that any decision to go ahead with a large strategic investment now could have a career-limiting impact if it didn’t work out for the best.”

He added: “Business executives are right to be cautious, particularly as the outlook is for modest growth in the UK this year and next.

She has more than 31 years’ experience in banking working with clients across Merseyside and Cheshire, more recently as a business lending risk analyst.

■

Peter Mooney, Head of Employment Law at ELAS, on changes to employee checks

Q

I RECENTLY read that the law surrounding CRB checks might soon be subject to changes. What are they, and what do employers in either the care or education sectors need to be aware of ?

A

WHAT you are referring to may well be news of a recent landmark ruling at the Court of Appeal (CA), which found that the UK’s criminal record checking system impacts unfairly on a person’s right to a private life.

This followed a recent case in which a 21-year-old Manchester man discovered that police warnings he received as an 11-year-old in connection with stealing bicycles were having a detrimental impact on his chances of becoming a teacher.

This only came to light following the necessary DBS checks, formerly known as CRB checks, people must undertake in order to get a job in either the care or education sectors.

Currently, prospective employees must disclose all convictions, especially those looking to work with vulnerable adults or children.

The CA has deemed this man’s circumstances to be a breach of human rights and decided that a filtering system could remove old and minor convictions and cautions, such as petty theft, from records.

Those against the decision have argued that the very disclosure of all convictions is justified because the DBS scheme protects employers, and the children and vulnerable adults in their care.

It is therefore essential that people working in the education and care sectors continue to be subject to checks that are both rigorous and strenuous in nature so a previously settled area of law does not get thrown into confusion.

Any misdemeanours, whether recent or historic, should stay on record for the duration of a job seeker’s career. This is because an employer is entitled to access all of that information to make a fair decision about whether or not to offer someone a role.

There is a real danger employers will notice the changes keenly and, ultimately, carry the full burden of this new responsibility, taking it upon themselves to delve into a person’s background. This would be even more of an infringement on privacy than the existing system is subject to, and would defeat the point of the new law.

Now it is up to Parliament to decide what amendments to make in the light of the judgement, with the Home Office stating the decision could comprise vulnerable people, and it would appeal to the Supreme Court in the coming weeks.

It is important to note that for now, pending any further appeal, it is business as usual.

■ For further information or advice, call the ELAS Advice Team on 08450 50 40 60.

‘It is essential people continue to be subject to checks’

“However they also need to take a view about whether taking a risk now could pay off for them and boost growth in the medium to long-term.

“Such rewards are definitely there to be had – both in the UK and internationally – for companies which take a balanced and evidenced approach to strategic investment.”

on the move ■

ask the expert

HEALTHCARE technology company MSoft eSolutions is expanding with more staff and additional office space at its Bromborough headquarters.

Oliver Rickers has been promoted to account manager for its Bloodhound product, Mark Dunning joins as account manager for the community equipment software division, Marianne Van Ruth is promoted to community equipment stores operations manager, and Robert Wilson returns to MSoft as a support technician.

■

CYRA Baggaley has now officially qualified as a solicitor after joining claims handling specialist Scott Rees & Co as a paralegal.

Ms Baggaley, from Southport, studied law at the University of Central Lancashire and currently works in the Skelmersdale-based firm’s department for employment and public liability.

■ In association with ELAS

Cyra Baggaley – has qualified as solicitor

21

Thursday, February 21, 2013

style

post business

Help us find the best Business Butty in Liverpool’s commercial district The Post’s Alistair Houghton tries a tasty trio of sandwiches in our first Business Butty taste test

A

LMOST everyone here at Liverpool Post Towers thinks that we business reporters spend all our time at business lunches.

Sadly, that’s not true – most of our “business lunches” are sandwiches at our desks.

But even though you might prefer to be at a posh restaurant, or a Wimpy, you can still have a jolly nice deskbound lunch if you choose from some of the top-notch sandwich shops dotted around the city.

So we decided to launch a semi-regular feature, Business Butty, to explore what our local eateries have to offer.

This month, we decided to focus on the commercial district. So last Wednesday I headed to Franklins in St Paul’s Square – largely because it was snowing and it was the nearest of the chosen trio to our office.

It was just before noon, so there was no salt beef prepped yet. So I changed plan completely and went for the smoked mackerel – billed as a “superfood” – with a horseradish and red onion filling.

Now, horseradish is an acquired taste, shall we say. But I love it.

This isn’t a sandwich for snackers who savour subtlety.

It’s a powerful beast, with the strong taste of fish battling it out

The smoked mackerel sandwich from Franklins in St Paul’s Square

The Post’s Alistair Houghton prepares to eat his Out To Lunch sandwich with the fire of the horseradish.

It has, in other words, a powerful aroma which will annoy your colleagues when you eat it at your desk.

Kudos too to the Franklins staffer who chopped the mackerel fillet before packing it into my sandwich.

Again, you want big chunks of this strong fish, not dainty slivers.

At Franklins, as at all these sandwich bars, you can choose your bread. I went for a seeded roll, which was soft and delicious – but did spray poppy seeds all over my desk.

Thursday came, and with it Philpott’s. My first ever sandwich as a Liverpool Post employee was bought

from Philpott’s in Exchange Square.

I was confused by the queuing system, but impressed by the chicken, bacon and sweetcorn sandwich – so much so that it’s still an occasional treat.

But on this visit, I went for the £3.40 “sandwich of the day” – a seeded brown roll with Mexican salsa chicken, crunchy mixed peppers, cool tortilla chips and lettuce.

Tortilla chips in a sandwich?

Surely not. But, oddly, it worked.

The sandwich came pre-made, as opposed to most Philpott’s offerings which are made in front of you.

The chicken came in a mild and

The Philpott’s Mexican chicken special, complete with tortilla chips

lightly creamy sauce, not a million miles away from a korma in taste.

The tortillas had softened slightly in the sauce, leaving them with a tasty bite but still gave the sandwich a rare crunch. And they added a tasty corn flavour to the whole, balanced by the crisp, fresh salad.

An unusual combination, yes, but a successful one.

And so on Friday to Out To Lunch, at the end of Old Hall Street.

I wanted minted lamb, but they didn’t have any. I wanted pastrami, but they didn’t have any. Thankfully, they did have plenty of ham.

So I went for the £2.30 Wiltshire

ham, smoked cheese and coleslaw combo, this time on plain brown bread.

As you’ll see from the pic above, it was a well-stuffed sarnie. And it was a tasty effort too, the cheese adding a smoky richness, with the coleslaw giving it a cold crunch.

No mind-blowing sandwich revelation, perhaps, but a tasty and filling treat to get me through Friday and into the weekend.

■ DO YOU have any top Liverpool sandwich recommendations? What about great vegetarian options? Drop me a line at alistair.houghton@ liverpool.com

past business – nostalgia

How Mr Selfridge and son helped to develop a Liverpool retail icon

George Henry Lee’s Houghton Street extension, developed under the Selfridge family

WATCHING ITV’s smash hit show Mr Selfridge, the closed and shuttered Rapid Hardware store in Liverpool may not be the first thing that comes to mind.

The show – running now on Sunday night on ITV – tells the tale of flamboyant visionary Harry Gordon Selfridge and how he created a “theatre of retail” at his store in Oxford Street in 1909.

What later series may show is that in 1919, Selfridge bought Liverpool department store George Henry Lee. That building, in Houghton and Basnett Streets, was taken over by Rapid Hardware in 2009 but closed earlier this month after Rapid fell into administration.

In November 1928, the Liverpool Echo announced Mr Selfridge’s son Gordon Selfridge Jnr was to visit his store’s extension in Houghton Street. The paper lavished praise on the “wonderful workmanship” of the building with its oak panelling, illuminated display cases and state-ofthe-art ventilation system and said it rivalled the Oxford Street store.

On November 12, Mr Selfridge Jnr told the Echo: “It is a very beautiful building, and is as important an extension of our provincial business as we have yet made.”

And he added: “Really, in spite of the temporary difficulties we still have as a result of the war, we have got tremendous faith in Liverpool and all the North of England as the most industrial spot in the country.”

In November 1930, Mr Selfridge Snr himself paid a visit to Liverpool to open Lee’s clubhouse and sports grounds at Bradstones, West Derby, declaring: “This is a terribly important part of the business. It is just as important as a mailing department or anything of that kind.”

Sadly, Mr Selfridge was soon to see his fortune disappear thanks to the Great Depression and his free-spending ways.

In 1940, the year before he left the business, his provincial stores were sold to the John Lewis Partnership – who moved the former Lee’s store to Liverpool One in 2008.

ALISTAIR HOUGHTON

Jeremy Piven stars as Harry Gordon Selfridge in ITV drama Mr Selfridge, showing on Sundays on ITV

22

Thursday, February 21, 2013

post business endpiece

trading gossip ■

EVERY penny counts in these austere times and bosses at Birkenhead’s Grange and Pyramids shopping centre are helping punters by axing the cost of “spending a penny”.

They have flushed the 20p entrance charge at the centre’s loos, leaving shoppers more comfortably off.

Centre commercial director Derek Millar said: “The toilets cost us £17,000 a year to run in terms of cleaning, maintenance and the essentials such as toilet rolls, but we are now in a position where we no longer need to be passing this cost on.”

He said the 14m annual throughput of shoppers makes it financially possible to absorb the running costs for the toilets,

hopefully resulting in customers feeling far more engaged.

■

WE ARE a little slow to catch on to the latest fitness trends here at Trading Gossip.

Just as we have got to grips with the concept of aerobics, now another craze is seemingly gripping the nation.

We understand a strange dance-like activity known as Zumba has become all the rage.

So popular is this pastime that Liverpool solicitors Hampson Hughes is holding a “Zumbathon” on March 8 at Lifestyles Tennis Centre, in Wavertree, in aid of Comic Relief.

Good luck and all that but we think we’ll give it a miss.

POST

MOBILE

For News, Sport and Business on your phone

Text LDP to 67800

Hotel executive who enjoys weekends of baton-twirling myday off Catherine Stevens is operations manager at the Atlantic Tower at Thistle Hotel in Liverpool and in her spare time is a majorette

M

OST of my working days include managing more than 100 members of staff, organising major corporate events and guaranteeing customer satisfaction at one of the city’s most renowned hotels.

I originally joined the company at the tender age of 16 after finishing a business studies course at Wirral Metropolitan College.

My role was actually a temporary one – however I soon realised my future with the hotel was going to be longer than I had expected.

I was offered a full-time job in the restaurant and then from that I became a shift leader on reception, a reservation manager, a revenue manager, cluster revenue manager looking after the Thistle Haydock and now I’m in charge of operations.

I have a real passion for hospitality and the tourism industry as a whole.

However, since I was just seven, I’ve always had another passion that I’ve dedicated thousands of hours of my life to.

Majorettes have been a big part of my life since a friend who lived in the same street in Bebington introduced me to it back in the early 1990s.

I tried to use her baton and found I was pretty good at it so, after loads of moaning at my mum, she finally gave in and let me join a troupe.

For those who aren’t sure, a majorette is a person who does a choreographed dance or movement while baton-twirling with marching routines that you may see in marching bands.

It actually derives from girls’ involvement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in drill and gymnastic teams or groups which used apparatus similar to those found in rhythmic gymnastics.

We can also twirl knives, fire knives, flags, light-up batons and fire batons – it can be pretty exciting.

I danced for years for one particular team and became the leader of the senior troupe, which saw me training the girls and making up the routines.

However, after much deliberation, in 2005 I decided to set up my own troupe called Royal Onyx with the help of my mum Susan and sister Lesley and we currently have 45 girls in our team

Catherine Stevens in her day job and, inset and below, in her guise as a majorette between the ages of three and 32. We only had 12 in 2005.

We travel around the country performing in competitions on a monthly basis and it can get quite competitive.

Thanks to my mum, we always look the part as she makes our costumes – another key factor of majorettes. This season we are in teal and silver.

Last year was a fantastic year for us – we were crowned Overall Senior Champions 2012 in the Premier Dance Association.

On a personal level, I’ve won quite a lot of awards in the past including

Overall Senior Leader in 2010 and Overall Best Dancer.

Majorettes are a great hobby where you learn discipline, develop teamwork skills and a wiliness to win in a safe environment.

I spend at least 17 hours a week training, including five hours planning the routines, but I really enjoy it and find it a great source of exercise.

It’s not a money-making thing – we are more of a charity. It’s all about the love of the hobby and the enjoyment we see on the girls faces. You really do have to be dedicated to do it.

‘You learn discipline and skills around teamwork’

23

Thursday, February 21, 2013

endpiece post business

networking

Gaming gets debated THE Futureproof conference attracted hundreds to Camp & Furnace last week to debate the future of the creative and digital sectors.

It included a debate on video gaming, pictured above, with, from left, Lee Omar from Red Ninja, Clemens Wangerin from Setgo, host

David Valjalo from Edge and Martin Linklater of Curly Rocket.

Other speakers included Miles Jacobson, left, of Sports Interactive, who spoke onstage to Channel 4’s Colin Macdonald.

■ FUTUREPROOF: Full debate report on page 11

Mersey to Tyne STAFF at Liverpool’s Hotel Indigo have donned their gym kits to raise cash for Claire House Children’s Hospice in Wirral.

First restaurant manager Gary Scott ran last year’s Liverpool Marathon. Now hotel staff have

Piccolino in Cook Street, Liverpool city centre

my favourite lunch Laura Jones, energy consultant at Energycentric North West Q What is your favourite lunch venue?

A Piccolino in Cook Street in Liverpool’s business district.

taken part in a “virtual bike ride”, covering the almost 300 miles between Liverpool and Newcastle on hotel gym equipment.

Pictured, from left, are Dan Brook, Tom Lee, Laura Taylor and Ken Brennan.

Q Why is this your favourite venue?

A This is a lovely restaurant with great service and buzzing atmosphere – the menu also has something for everyone.

Q What is your favourite dish and why?

A Definitely the Risotto con Funghi – or “mushroom risotto” as I say when I order it. It’s tasty and really filling, which means you don’t have to order a starter or dessert if you’ve got limited time.

Swanky Belvoir bash

DIRECTORS Adam Rastall, left, and Paul Rice led staff and clients in a celebration to mark the new-look Belvoir Lettings at their West Derby Village office.

More than 100 guests

business diary FRIDAY, FEB 22

AWARD-winning journalist Mary Murtagh is hosting a free hour-long PR taster workshop aimed at entrepreneurs, small business owners and social enterprises which will cover 10 top tips for great press releases and offer advice on what journalists want.

The training, from 2.30pm-3.30pm, is useful for any social enterprise, charity, public sector organisation, or business, however big or small. It takes place at Lumisi,

Westminster Chambers, Hunter Street, Chester. To book visit www.event brite.com/event/ 5020578686

FRIDAY, FEB 22

LIVERPOOL Property Club will hold its next meeting at the Racquets Club in Chapel Street, running from 4pm-7pm, sponsored

by Innov8 Safety Solutions, Sutcliffe, Todd & Ledson and Nobles Construction. This is by invitation only. Please contact karen@innov8safety

solutions.com or phone 0845 468 1974 for details.

MONDAY, FEB 25

COMMUNITY interest company KPAC is staging a one-day training course in setting up a social enterprise, between 9.45am and 4pm, at The Old Schoolhouse, St John’s Road, Huyton, at a cost of £55, including lunch and refreshments. For further information on the course, or to book a place, please email helen@kpac.org.uk or phone 0151-481 0047.

TUESDAY, FEB 26

THE latest Liverpool Profes-

enjoyed a champagne reception by the firm, which also has a city centre site.

Mr Rice said: “We’re really pleased landlords, tenants, contacts and friends and family could join us.”

sionals Dinner Club event takes place at the Malmaison Hotel, from 6pm, with dinner served at 7pm, at a cost of £42+VAT. The club’s aim is to provide a social platform to build, create, and maintain professional business relationships in premier locations around the city. To book and pay online, visit www.documentdirect.co. uk/about-us/liverpoolprofessionals-dinner-club/

WEDNESDAY, FEB 27

LIVERPOOL Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), is hosting a

Laura Jones

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

A I try not to “hard sell” over lunch and prefer sharing ideas and contacts – I believe that the best business is done with people you have already built that relationship with.

Q Who would you most like to have lunch with?

A Gordon Ramsay – as long as

series of international lunches with a specific market focus on trading opportunities abroad. Its latest event looks at trading in the Asia Pacific region. Taking place at North John Street’s Hard Days Night Hotel it runs from 11am to 1.30pm and includes a case study on Australia, by Tim Hiscock from A. Algeo, and a talk on export opportunities and support for businesses

by Philomena Chen of UKTI. The event is free. For more information visit www.liverpoolchamber. org.uk/eventitem. aspx/show/554.

WEDNESDAY, FEB 27

THE third in a national series of discussions entitled Fairness In Finance comes to Liverpool, at the St Paul’s Square office of Santander, from 5pm, organised by TheCityUK who promote the UK financial and professional services sector. It will examine how the sector can institute changes to regain public trust and will involve customers, local consumer and charitable groups, politicians, businesses, faith and ethical groups,TheCityUK and industry employees. To register for this free event please visit: www.

he had to cook it himself.

Q Where else do you like to go for lunch?

A I’m a big fan of the Gusto restaurants – I live in Wirral and do a lot of business in Liverpool so it’s great to have one on both sides of the Mersey. They also let children create their own pizzas which is great when I’m out with my family.

thecityuk.com/events/ latest-events/detail/thecity uk-liverpool-fairness-infinance-seminar

FRIDAY, MARCH 1

A FREE breakfast seminar, called ‘Top HR tips for growing businesses’, is being hosted by ClearSky HR at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel & Spa in Hoole from 8am-10am. To reserve a place email events@clearsky-hr.co.uk with your name, company and phone number.

■ Send your diary events to neil.hodgson @liverpool.com

24

Thursday, February 21, 2013

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