MERIT have announced details of November’s free IT event, taking place at their base in Liverpool Digital on Edge Lane on Wednesday 22 November.

At this exciting free event, Five IT will demonstrate the latest technologies that allow you to create a virtual office that can be accessed anytime, anywhere.

Imagine having your own desktop computer that is fully accessible wherever you go - in the office, at home, on the move or even abroad. All of your favourite programs, websites and email set-up just as you like them but with the performance, security, backup and reliability of systems normally only found at large blue-chip companies.

This technology is not just limited to desktop and front office services, entire computer rooms and data centres can also be rationalised drastically reducing power, cooling, space and support costs by as much as 70%.

Technologies covered in this event will include Application Virtualisation, Server Virtualisation, Storage Virtualisation and Communication Virtualisation.
Presented by Five IT Limited, Virtual Technology Consultancy

Visit the MERIT website events page to book your free place.

Just a quick reminder that Merseyside Business Fair is on the 31st October in the Adelphi Hotel, 10.30am -3.30pm. This year it features 80 exhibitors, Free seminars, Business advice and lots of freebies and prize draws - best of all its free to visit and you don’t need to register in advance. If you would like more information about the Business Fair contact Liverpool BA on 0151 709 8932 or visit their website for more details.

It’s late October. That can only mean one thing - Christmas is coming! So, it’s ‘God bless us, everyone’ or ‘Bah humbug’, depending on your point of view. Its inevitability must be faced though, and with that in mind, Christmas trading hours and special events have been announced.

Christmas shopping:

• Thursdays are already late nights till 8pm
• Trade till 9pm on four Thursdays from 30 November
• Trade till 8pm from Monday 11 December (Thursdays till 9pm)
• Trade till 7pm on Saturday 16 & 23 December
• Trade 11am - 5pm on Christmas Eve (a Sunday this year)
• Boxing Day and New Year - individual traders’ decisions.

As for the seasonal festivities, these will include:

• A Big Wheel in Williamson Square until early January
• A Big Wheel ‘do’ on 2 November, as well as a ‘letters to Santa’ event to launch the seasonal Thursday night shopping
• A carol singing lantern parade on 30 November
• Guaranteed snow every Thursday evening from 30 Nov to 21 December. PLUS - elves handing out free mince pies and fivers! Ding dong!
• The Christmas lights will be switched on on 19 November at St George’s Plateau.

Let’s hope we’ve all been good boys and girls this year then, or all that late night shopping will be a waste of time. Glass of Bailey’s, anyone?

EDIT: Holy Night, Batman! Liverpool has plans to become the Christmas capital of the world, according to this Daily Post article!

Today (Tuesday 24) sees the release of the updated web browser, Firefox 2.0, from Mozilla.

We’re all chewing our own arms off with excitement here, waiting for the release to come. With its increased security measures, anti-phishing protection, built in spell-checker and a host of other improvements, it should again prove its superiority to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, itself ugraded to a newer version, IE7 last week.

Read more about new Firefox at the Web User, and BBC websites.

The release should come at some point late morning / early afternoon as America wakes up. If you haven’t already tried Firefox, it’s worth giving it a go for its better security and ease of use.

Today’s guest on Radio Merseyside’s Drive Time business slot will be Joe Curran who’s done the show a couple of times before. He’s the Chamber’s
Pub Watch Manager, part of the Business Crime Direct Service.

He’ll be talking about the successful city centre Pub Watch scheme, that’s just won an award, explaining about what it’s achieved in improving Liverpool’s night time economy.

He’ll also be speaking about the Pub Watch about to be launched in the north of the city encompassing Walton, Everton and Anfield and which could ultimately see trouble causers being banned not only from all of the pubs in the area but from both of the football grounds too.

Last week’s guest was Pete Smith, from the Chamber’s New Entrepreneurship Scholarship programme(NES). He was talking about how the scheme can help those with a viable business idea get up and running. The scheme provides training and advice on a range of subjects, like putting together a business plan, marketing and cash flow. There are also grants available to help businesses get going.

Liverpool Chamber is offering the unique opportnity to visit HMS Liverpool, a Type 42 Destroyer, for drinks and canapes aboard this illustrious vessel.

A limited number of guests will be welcomed by the ship’s Captain, Commander Henry Duffy. His officers will give conducted tours during the evening. Ceremonial sunset will be conducted on the flight deck before disembarkation.

Sue Platt, the Chamber’s Events Manager said: “Over recent years, The Chamber has developed a very close working relationship with HMS Liverpool. The ship always proves to be an ideal location to entertain clients or even exhibit products on board.

“Commander Duffy is very keen to meet with Merseyside companies and would like the ship to be used as a promotional vehicle available for all, especially to promote the City of Liverpool at home or overseas during the run up to European Capital of Culture 2008.”

The event takes place on Monday 30th October, 6-8pm at Canada Dock, Branch 3, Liverpool. Places are strictly limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis email events@liverpoolchamber.org.uk or call 227 1234.

This pic shows HMS Liverpool firing a Sea Dart missile. Please note, we’re pretty sure they won’t be doing any of that at our ‘do’. Sorry.

ARENA ART AND DESIGN ASSOCIATION, LIVERPOOL

Over the last twenty years Arena has helped artists to produce and
exhibit work in Liverpool through offering studio space. They are
currently relocating to a new property in Liverpool city centre. They are
seeking to commission a business person with experience within the arts
sector to develop a business plan for the Association. They are looking to
develop the organisation, building a structured business plan, a
financial strategy and research revenue options. Due to their relocation
they will need the information by the beginning of December 2006.
http://www.arena.uk.com

Applicants should be available for an immediate start.

To apply please send CV and covering letter to
Sarah Richards
Arena Art and Design Association
Arena House, 82 - 84 Duke Street
Liverpool, L1 5AA
Email:arenastudios@clara.co.uk
0151 7079879

Closing date Thursday 19 October 2006

Interviews are being held in the week starting 23 October 2006.
The fee is £5K funded through the Arts council (funding is confirmed)
Estimated timescale 50 days.

From midday on Sunday, 8th October traffic will no longer be able to turn right out of Water Street on to the Strand as part of the City Centre Movement Strategy scheme.

The gap in the central reservation at the bottom of Water Street on The Strand will be closed up and motorists will no longer be able to turn right or drive straight ahead from Water Street, they will only be able to turn left.

The gap will be closed with temporary barriers to begin with and during the last days of the work on this phase, it will be permanently filled in, due for completion at the end of October.

A new right turn is being opened up for motorists coming out of the Strand Queensway (Birkenhead) Tunnel exit at the same time.

Downlad a map of the new traffic changes here. [PDF 430KB]

More  details are available on the Big Dig website.

On Friday, Chamber staff were amongst the members of the Greater Merseyside Digital Development Agency (GMDDA) to attend an away-day at The Automatic innovation lab, based in Liverpool Digital on Edge Lane.

The GMDDA was there to prioritise its future strategies, and The Automatic proved the perfect venue.

The Automatic is a custom built facility is designed to facilitate and stimulate creative thought. Its staff are fully equipped to engage users in problem solving, scenario planning, creative thinking, team building all within an exciting and dynamic environment.
Amongst its many great facilities, an outstanding piece of kit is the “The Distillery”, a 15 keyboard set up that allows individuals to add dynamic content to a single large screen display. This proved really useful for the quick and easy inputting and sharing of ideas, questions and opinions. The results of this exercise proved invaluable and really kicked off the day well. The staff (or ‘facilitators’, as they are known) were helpful and knowledgeable too. They encouraged debate and kept the day moving.

This facility would be great for anyone looking to host a meeting or discussion session with a difference, or who is lookingfor a creative solution to business problems.

Check out The Automatic website to find out more.

As the new age discrimination laws come into force, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce warns that Government needs to provide clear and concise advice to businesses.

Jack Stopforth, Chief Executive of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce commented: “We support the government in trying to ensure an equal and inclusive society however we are concerned that business has not received adequate support and guidance on this. The regulations have implications for businesses right across their operations and they will have to completely revise their procedures to ensure compliance from recruitment through to pay levels.”

While the chamber supports the new legislation and recognises that business want to make the best use of its employees both young and old. It is concerned about the scale of the changes an employer will have to make to their operations to be compliant and the challenge this poses to a small to medium enterprise without dedicated HR support.

Jack continued: “Research conducted by our umbrella organisation, British Chambers of Commerce between February and May this year showed that business knowledge of the new regulations was low and that businesses felt that they have not been given adequate guidance. Government needs to provide clear and concise advice to businesses.”

British Chambers have produced a fact sheet for companies in association with the Employers Forum available from www.chamberonline.co.uk.