The North West Fund is a £185m evergreen investment fund, providing debt and equity funding from £50,000 - £2 million to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) based in, or relocating to, the North West of England.

We provide flexible funding options through six sub funds tailored to different business stages and sectors (Venture Capital, Development Capital, Business Loans, Biomedical, Environmental and Energy & Digital and Creative).

Many entrepreneurs are already growing their businesses in partnership with The North West Fund. To find out if your business is eligible please read our online eligibility checklist. Alternatively, for further information on the application process, to watch testimonial videos from previous successful applicants or to sign up to our newsletter please visit The North West Fund.

UKTI North West is organising a market visit to Uganda and Kenya.

The visit will include recommended travel and accommodation itinerary; experienced on hand support from UKTI International Trade Advisers and Embassy staff; and a pre-organised group itinerary of in-market briefing, business appointments with local organisations and in-market support organisation.

UKTI will provide a Market Visit Support Grant of £940 for eligible delegates.

The registration fee is £500 including VAT. This covers pre-departure briefing and individual consultation; entry in the market visit brochure distributed in East Africa prior to the visit; and reception/networking events in Kenya and Uganda. Companies must pay for their own flights and accommodation.

The event takes place from March 19 2012 to March 23 2012.

For more information, email events@uktinorthwest.co.uk or contact Jackie Nolan by calling 0161 875 2335.

Monday, 6th February 2012
09:45 – 12:30
Council Chamber, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, One Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L3 9HG

Around 31% of British entrepreneurs are looking to expand into international markets this year with nearly half of these looking to Europe, despite the crisis in the Eurozone, showing that there are still opportunities for British companies in this market.

In the current climate it is important for companies to understand the opportunities and risks of trading within Europe and what procedures should be put in place to limit the negative effects on your company.

Experts from UKTI, Enterprise Europe Network, Natwest and Express Language Solutions will talk you through what to be aware of, as well as giving an opportunity for you to ask questions to people in the know. Consular representatives will be in attendance giving a better understanding of their role.

Agenda

09:45 –  Registration
10:00 –  European Union, Eurozone countries and current trading situation – Jens Boehm, Enterprise Europe Network
10:30 –  Euro situation and currency risk management, FX strategies – Dave Dudley, GBM
10:40 -  Trade structures - Gordon Iddon, Nat West Commercial Banking
10:50 –  Trade and supplier finance - Joseph Cave, Barclays Corporate Northern
11:00 -  Coffee break
11:10 -  Export procedures within the EU and support programmes available – Tony Brown, UKTI
11:25 -  Case study - TBC
11:40 -  Business culture and language – Dina Railean, Express Language Solutions
11:50 –  Meet the Consuls in Merseyside and understand their role
12:10 –  Q & A followed by etworking and lunch

To reserve a place for this event, click here or, alternatively, please contact export@liverpoolchamber.org.uk or call us on 0151 227 1234.

The Rail In The North Business Conference will take place on February 15, 2012.

The conference theme focuses on ‘Rail in the North’ and will raise awareness of the benefits to businesses, families, students and other individuals of improved east-west rail connections delivered by the Northern Hub scheme across the north of England.

Improvements to rail infrastructure will lead to:
• Faster journey times between Liverpool and Manchester to only 30 minutes.
• More hourly train services between Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds.
• Between 20,000 - 30,000 new jobs.
• Over £4.2billion of wider economic benefits to the north of England.

Delegates will hear from freight and passenger operators, major developers and northwest MPs on why the scheme is essential for the future prosperity of the region – and what challenges face its ultimate delivery.

Speakers include:
• Duncan Law – Senior Sponsor for the Northern Hub, Network Rail.
• Maria Eagle MP – Shadow Secretary of State for Transport.
• Peter Nears – Strategic Planning Director, Peel Holdings (Management) Ltd.
• Louise Ellman MP – Member for Liverpool Riverside Constituency.
• Other speakers to be announced.

The Conference starts at 09.30, and will finish at 12.00. It will take place on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at The Liner Hotel (Britannic Suite 1), Lord Nelson Street, Liverpool, L3 5QB. Attendance is free.

To reserve a place online, click here.

For any further information please email Kush.Thakar@liverpoolchamber.org.uk or telephone 0151 227 1234.

From first bus on Sunday 05 February through until first bus on Monday 13 February 2012.

Affecting Stands 9-12 and the alighting bus stop outside The Royal Court Theatre.

Queen Square Bus Station will be partly closed during the above times for essential maintenance work.

Buses arriving in the city centre which usually stop in Queen Square Bus Station outside The Royal Court Theatre will, instead, drop-off at either bus stops in Whitechapel or Crosshall Street or divert from London Road and run via Commutation Row to bus stops in Dale Street.

Buses which usually stop at Stands 9, 10, 11 and 12 will pick-up from other bus stops in the city centre.

Please look for notices on the affected stands for details of where to catch your bus.

For more information, please visit the Bus Alerts section of our website at merseytravel.gov.uk or call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33.

A GIANT story of love inspired by the Titanic will take over Liverpool this year.

The world’s leading street theatre company is creating an event in Liverpool which will be the biggest of its kind in the UK in 2012.

A Little Girl Giant will take to the city streets in a street spectacular produced specifically for Liverpool by renowned marionette experts Royal De Luxe (RDL).

From Friday 20 to Sunday 22 April 2012 a free event will unfold with key city spaces becoming focal points in a story about love, family and communication.

The Sea Odyssey is born!

This is the most complex event the city has ever staged and will involve hundreds of people in its planning and execution and is set to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city.   It will be one of the highlights of the year’s events in Liverpool to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. 

And this is your chance to take part in the city’s biggest event since 2008.

You will find below a list of the things we need to help make Sea Odyssey the most successful event the city has seen. If you think that you can pledge any of the items on the list then we’d like to invite you for a light breakfast on Thursday 2nd February, from 8.00am to 9.30am, here at Liverpool Chamber of Commerce.  The team from the city council will be here to tell you more about The Sea Odyssey and take your pledges of help.

You can reserve your place on line at http://www.liverpoolchamber.org.uk/events.html?eventID=2886 or call our events team to book a place for you.

Pledge List

109 chairs, 42 tables
2 Washing Machine & 2 Dryer plus washing powers
Provide toilets and showers man / woman for 120 persons
2 pallets of water bottles. Provide regular replenishment.
A range of small cans of coca cola (non brand), soda. Provide regular replenishment.
20 mattresses
Medical Supplies (Bandages, Doliprane, Aspirin, Mercryl, Arnika …)
15 desks
 25 electrical adapters
Provide daily care of the place (cleaning, maintenance, garbage collection and their disposal).
Industrial bins
Glass containers
Garbage bags
1 Fuel tank (1000 litres) on the rehearsal area, with electric pump. Provide regular replenishment.
28 marking out sprays (7 different colours Blue, Red, Orange, Green, Pink, Yellow, and White)
Bags of oil absorbent (6 x 50 litres)
30 rolls of gaffer tape (20 black 10 white), professional quality
Biodegradable, flame retardant confetti - compare LCC & RDL quotes
Printing of 120,000 letters and postcards - possible branding opportunity
4-liter bottles of fire lighting gel (Special Effects - Fire)
2 bags of fire starters (Cubes, wood chips …) (Special Effects - Fire)
120 Litres of Glycerin (Special Effects, Smoke Machines)
1 stere of firewood (1/3 wood, 2/3 oak)
1 Oxygen and 1 Acetylene B 50 B 50
4m2 of cardboard, 10mm thick
2-3 m3 sand, depending on the workplace soil
5 bottles Helium B10
1 bottle B20 Nitrogen.
10 ABC fire extinguishers
10 H2O extinguishers
10 CO2 extinguishers
3 phone lines with access to international
19 Mobile Phones + local access subscriptions for the entire period
5 HF Intercom+ earphone + headsets with mics with battery charger and 5 spare
1 ADSL (Ethernet and Wi-Fi) (18 keys or 3G if possible ADSL)
1 PC with Windows + Office + Internet
4 pallet trucks
Clothes rails and hangers for 120 suits
A trailer, a tractor - Rdl to approve
1 2.5 t diesel  forklift truck for fit-up and get-out
1 telescopic forklift diesel 13M
1 forklift (Diesel or Gas) 3.5T, 5M fork with 1.80 m
2 2.5T forklifts (diesel or Gas)
1 x 2.5T forklift
2 scooters
2 scooters
1 Car for production
1 Provide an open vehicle (Convertible, Pick-up …)
1 car recovery vehicle
1 cherry picker 16M, with open basket on 3.5T vehicles
1 vehicle (pick-up - 3.5T), with hitch ball
1 vehicle, pick-up style, trailer (2.5mx 2m)
1 5 seat car for the special effects crew
1 mini bus
2 trucks VL 12m3 for runners
2 Car sedans with body in good shape (5 Weeks)
Airport Transfers 85 - 105 personnel + need family details
4 Shuttles (20 seats maximum)
1 car (6 seats) for Jean Luc
1 air compressor 100l for the smoke machine
1 heavy duty professional sewing machine
Provide cleaning and drying of all the Lilliputians costumes
10 boxes of barrier tape (total 250 rolls)
8x 250 litter wheelie bins to supply cold drinks during the show.
600 pairs of earplugs (1 pair per day per person)
Provide a small truck/ van with a lift gate (20 m3), for the transfer of the costumes from the site of rehearsals to the dressing rooms, and transfer back to the rehearsal’s site after the last day of the show.
Provide the supply of large bottles of water (1.5 litres) and small Coca-Cola bottles 80 people every day
30 Production Radios + earphones + headsets - 2 channels - cover whole show route - check frequencies
16 clothes rails with 100 hangers
2 standing mirrors
1 domestic sewing machine
4 heater blowing hot air 3KW for costumes
1 washing machine, 1 dryer and powders
4 x 600l fridges for storing drinks
• 1 x 7m telescopic forklift for 3 days
• 1 x 2.5T forklift for 3 days
Safety Shoes and Workgloves for all operators
200 volunteers uniforms
4 shuttle drivers
1 driver MUST speak french
2 translators
1 experienced electrician
200 volunteers - details to be circulated - open to all
1 nurse
1 physiotherapist
1 driver HGV 19T
2 heavy vehicle driver assistant
1 Assistance truck driver 20 m3
1 mannequin’s truck driver 16m3
1 forklift operator for the blue container 3.5T (rehearsals and show)
1 pick up driver
30 giant operators - this opportunity open to all - details to be circulated
1 driver HGV 19T assistance Truck 1
1 driver HGV 19T truck 1
1 driver HGV 19T assistance Truck 2
1 driver HGV 19T truck 2
1 car recovery driver
1 car recovery assistant driver
1 scooter driver
1 trained Pyrotechnician (Special Effects - Cymbal Machine)
1 truck driver 19T
1 tractor driver (Cymbals)
1 driver 20m3
1 boat driver
Backhoe Driver 2.5T Driver
1 professional costume technicians
1 costume assistants
2 costume assistants

Leading sports law firm Brabners Chaffe Street has teamed up with The Centre for Sports Law Research at Edge Hill University to provide a one day conference on ‘Football & the Law’.

The conference will provide an overview of topical issues and key legal developments across the following areas:

·           Agent Regulation

·           Third Party Ownership

·           Contract Stability and the FIFA Regulations

·           Social Dialogue in European Professional Football

·           Broadcasting Rights post the ECJ decision in Murphy

·           Financial Fair Play

Delegates will have the opportunity to hear from prominent individuals in the world of football including Pedro Velazquez, Deputy Head of the Sports Unit of the European Commission, Alexandre Mestre, the Secretary of State for Sport in Portugal, Roberto Branco Martins from the European Football Agents Association, Nick Craig of the Football League, and the Premier League’s Jane Purdon. Representatives from the Association of European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL), FC Porto and the global player’s union FIFPro will be giving league, club and player perspectives on the topics discussed.

Maurice Watkins CBE, who is chairing the event together with fellow Brabners Chaffe Street partner Carol Couse, said: “This event is highly recommended for those working in legal practice, sports clubs, sports administration and academia. Our highly regarded speakers will give a definitive insight into some of the key issues affecting the industry.”

The conference, which offers CPD points, takes place on Friday 30 March 2012 at the Radisson Edwardian Hotel, Manchester from 9am to 4pm.

To reserve a place or for further details, please contact Adam Pendlebury, Senior Lecturer at Edge Hill University by emailing adam.pendlebury@edgehill.ac.uk or by telephoning 01695 657624.

In November 2011 Liverpool Chamber Training saw an appeal for Training Providers from The Business Education Trust to commit to working with them.

Run by Hugh Pitman, The Business Education Trust work with wounded, sick and injured (WSI) soldiers that have been or are being medically discharged from the Armed Forces.

The WSI soldiers work with their Personnel Recovery Officers (PROs) in looking at embarking on a second career. The PROs meet with the WSIs to discuss what type of career they are interested in, what their limitations are etc. Suitable Training Providers that have committed to assist are then sent a number of CVs to see if they have any apprenticeship vacancies that are suitable for the WSI to be interviewed for. This scheme is supported by both the Skills Funding Agency and National Apprenticeship Service.

In November Liverpool Chamber Training proudly signed up to commit to this fantastic cause in the hope that we will be able to assist someone who served our country into another career. There are currently only 55 Training Providers in the UK who have committed to assist The Business Education Trust.

For more information on the scheme the website is http://www.businesseducationtrust.com/.

Liverpool-based restaurant Il Forno has announced the date of its next wine tasting evening.

The family-owned Italian restaurant will stage the next such event on Tuesday 28 February at 19.00. It will be hosted by owner Raffaele Librandi.

The evening will include a selection of award winning wines from Librandi, in addition to a six course meal, which will be specially created by the head chef at Il Forno, Paolo Cillo.

The event will cost £45 per person.

To reserve a table, you can call 0151 709 4002.

For more information, visit http://www.ilforno.co.uk/.

Health@Work are facilitating the following training sessions in February and March 2012, and currently have places available:

(1 day) HSE Emergency First Aid – Appointed Persons, February 16th, 9.30am – 4.30pm

£100 + VAT

Course content:

·         Introduction to First Aid

·         Communication and Records

·         Resuscitation

·         Asphyxia

·         Unconsciousness

·         Shock

·         Wounds and Bleeding

·         Recovery Position

·         Other Conditions

Assessment

·         Tutor Observation

·         Recommended to attend this course once every 12 months.

Absence Management, February 24th, 1.00pm – 4.30pm

Free to attend – £40 fee issued applied if booking not cancelled within 1 week or non arrival on the day

Course content:

·       Understand the common factors that can cause absence from work

·       Appreciate the importance of absence from work statistics

·       Learn how to best manage persistent short-term & long-term absence

·       Successfully conduct return to work interviews

·       Appreciate the legislation that applies to absence management

·       Apply various methods to assist in absence control & reduction of absence levels

·       Develop key aspects of absence policy & procedure for implementation

Who is this course for?

·         Line managers or anyone with responsibility of managing others.

Absence Management, March 13th, 1.00pm – 4.30pm

Free to attend – £40 fee issued applied if booking not cancelled within 1 week or non arrival on the day

Course content:

·       Understand the common factors that can cause absence from work

·       Appreciate the importance of absence from work statistics

·       Learn how to best manage persistent short-term & long-term absence

·       Successfully conduct return to work interviews

·       Appreciate the legislation that applies to absence management

·       Apply various methods to assist in absence control & reduction of absence levels

·       Develop key aspects of absence policy & procedure for implementation

Who is this course for?

·         Line managers or anyone with responsibility of managing others.

(3 day) HSE First Aid at Work, March 19th – 21st, 9.30am – 4.30pm

£220pp + VAT – Candidates must attend the full 3 days

Course content:

·         Principles of First Aid

·         Communication and Delegation

·         Respiration

·         Resuscitation

·         Asphyxia/Choking

·         Body Check

·         Recovery Position

·         Wounds and Bleeding

·         Shock

·         Injuries to Bones, muscles and joints

·         Jaw Thrust

·         Unconsciousness

·         Illness recognition

·         Poisons, Gases, Fumes

·         Burns and Scalds

·         Eye Injuries

·         Reporting and Recording

·         First Aid Kits and Contents

·         Personal Hygiene

·         Infection Control

Assessment

·         Practical Examination / Tutor Observation

·         Legal requirement to renew this every 3 years and it is recommended that the Emergency First Aid course is attended once every 12 months as a refresher.

All sessions are held in Central Liverpool CAB, 2nd Floor, 1 Union Court, Cook Street, Liverpool, L2 4SJ.

If you wish to book any places, email claire.bridson@healthatworkcentre.org.uk or sam.booth@healthatworkcentre.org.uk.