Liverpool Chamber has launched a new e-newsletter service. This aims to keep our members and other interested parties up to date with all the business news that matters as well as what’s happening at the Chamber.

Our newsletter is sponsored by Custom House. They are a leading global provider of foreign exchange services and payment solutions to businesses and individuals. Whether you’re making payments, receiving funds, or working to establishing a stable payment relationship with foreign businesses partners, they can provide custom solutions for your business needs.

Contact Ian Meyer on 07932 024 893 to find out more.

Read the Custom House weekly money market update by clicking on ‘more’. Read the rest of this entry »

Employers in the UK are offering a wide range of working patterns to increasing numbers of staff. This is not primarily because they are required to do so by legislation evidence suggests that the great majority of employers offer flexible working to all employees.

Many companies recognise the benefits not only to their staff but to their business. When employers provide flexible working opportunities, this is good for recruitment and retention and helps build an engaged workforce, all of which translates into improved profitability.

However some employers find it hard to see how they can offer flexible working to staff without putting at risk delivery of production or service targets, or causing resentment among other employees. In order to provide practical guidance in this area, our national body, the British Chambers of Commerce is undertaking joint research in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). This will explore how smaller companies are adopting flexible working practices, and how they are dealing with the practical issues.

We are looking for companies that have made significant progress towards opening up opportunities for flexible working to their staff and would be happy to discuss their experience with researchers from the CIPD. We anticipate that this will involve discussions with a small number of managers and employees, lasting no more than half a day in all, in each of the companies selected. We are looking to draw case studies from both manufacturing and services, and to get a reasonable spread in terms of geographical location and company size.

If you would be interested in discussing this research with a view to taking part, please email policy@liverpoolchamber.org.uk. The deadline for collection of contact details for potential case studies is Monday the 12th February 2007.

Liverpool Chamber is committed to helping local businesses grow and prosper. To this end, we’re putting together some ‘top tens’ to get you on your way to finding new business and increasing profits. This, the first in the series, looks at finding and winning those vital tenders to boost your order books.

1. Register with liverpooltenders.com to get relevant alerts via email or text.
2. Ensure the Contract Notice is actually a tendering opportunity and not just seeking estimates or quotations.
3. Nominate a dedicated account manager to look after tender opportunities and try to target an area to concentrate on.
4. Pay attention to detail, 80% of tender responses fail because they do not comply with all the specified detail.
5. Seek advice from the from the relevant procurement officer at the issuing organisation if you need clarification on any points relating to the tender.
6. Ensure all your companies’ policies (health & safety, environmental and equal opportunities) are up to date.
7. Have correct levels of current Employers Liability, Public Liability & Professional Indemnity insurances in place.
8. Do not mark the envelope in any way that identifies your company i.e. do not use your company’s franking machine.
9. Check that the tender does not require a signature at the receiver’s end to confirm delivery. If you deliver a tender by hand, make sure you get a receipt.
10. Ask for feedback if you are unsuccessful, don’t take it personally if you’re bid fails - competition for contracts is fierce!

Don’t forget, Liverpool Tenders can give you advice and guidance to get you on your way.