If your are in business trading overseas, or even planning to, Liverpool Chamber can ensure that you’re fully prepared. The Chamber’s International Business Training Programme has been running successfully for a number of years helping our member companies to expand their business globally.

Forthcoming courses include imports & exports for beginners, plan for exports, letters of credit, export documentation and applying for online Certificates of Origin.

Producing Export Quotations - 17 April 2007
Suitable for directors, managers and personnel producing, checking or signing UK or export quotations and contracts of sale. Personnel travelling overseas on behalf of the company conducting sales. Enables you to understand and use terms & conditions to produce professional, safe quotations and contracts of sale. Member rate £200 + VAT - non member £300 + VAT

Plan for Exports - 18 April 2007
Instructs delegates on how to produce an export action plan to fit into the overall business strategy within the company. Member rate £200 + VAT - non member £300 + VAT

Letters of Credit - 8 & 9 May 2007
Designed to provide a comprehensive guide to the functions of Letters of Credit and an understanding of the procedures involved. Suitable for shipping/export administrators, finance executives and sales personnel. Member rate £400 + VAT - non member £600 + VAT.

Exports for Beginners - 14 May 2007
A half day seminar that takes a comprehensive look at why you should consider exporting and how you should start. Beneficial to potential exporters who need to know if they are missing out on export orders and new exporters with little experience of exporting. Member rate £110 + VAT - non member £165 + VAT.

Import for Beginners - 14 May 2007
Half day seminar provides a comprehensive guide on all aspects of importing, from producing the initial query to receiving the goods. Suitable for companies wishing to purchase products/services from overseas. Member rate £110 + VAT - non member £165 + VAT.

Export Documentation - 16 May 2007
Highlights different functions of documentation required & correct procedures of use in the daily working environment. Suitable for anyone involved in the preparation and presentation of all documents relating to the export consignment. Member rate £200 + VAT - non member £300 + VAT.

a-cert and e-cert Certificates of Origin - 22 May 2007
Enables exporters to apply for both European and Arab Certificates of Origin directly from their computer via the internet. Delegates learn how to submit secure documents, improve accuracy, store & modify repeat customer order etc. Member rate £110 + VAT - non member £165 + VAT.

To book either follow the links above, or if online booking is not available email export@liverpoolchamber.org.uk or call 0151 227 1234 and ask for the International Trade team.

Companies within Greater Merseyside may be eligible for up to 60% funding through the SkillWorks programme. Liverpool Chamber is an approved SkillWorks provider and further information can be obtained from Alan Standley on 0151 227 1234.

The Edge Lane Project is an ambitious programme of commercial, residential and infrastructure improvements that will rejuvenate an area that was once an economically thriving part of Liverpool and, at the same time, transform one of the most important routes into the city centre.

Liverpool Land Development Company are holding an Edge Lane Project Open Day,  at Devonshire House Hotel, Edge Lane on Thursday 22nd March 2007, 2pm- 9pm. The open day is for both business and residential communities and attendance is on a ‘drop-in’ basis.

Partners in the Project will be on hand to provide an update on the work done so far and answer questions on the future programme of activity.

They will include representatives from the Northwest Regional Development Agency, national regeneration agency English Partnerships, Housing Market Renewal, Community Seven, Urban Splash, Bellway and Langtree.

Come and find out more about the road improvements, public art at the Rocket Junction, Edge Lane Retail Park, Villas site redevelopment, Liverpool Technology Park, The Littlewoods Building and the Edge Lane West regeneration scheme.

More information on the Edge Lane Project can be found at www.edgelane.com

The second part in our guide to making the most of your foreign exchange payments.

Companies aren’t tied to their banks anymore and the reason is simple: specialisation and cost. The leading specialist foreign exchange (FX) companies on the market are pretty much a new phenomenon in the world of international trade, most being only a generation in the making.

They tend to be 100% focused on foreign exchange, offer their clients more attention than the banks, and comply with international regulatory authorities to a ‘T’ because all they do is foreign exchange.

Foreign exchange is the biggest business in the world with the big banks speculating on close to a trillion pounds every single day.

The largest specialty foreign exchange firms such as Custom House, Travelex and Ruesch move billions of pounds around the world annually, but these are real transactions as opposed to the speculative leverage that dominates the interbank foreign exchange market.

The incursion by non-bank specialists has really taken off in the last few years, helped by the launch of online foreign exchange trading such as Custom House’s Multiple Payment Platform.

These companies have global treasury operations and offer advantages to companies that are major exporters to Europe, Asia, the United States and other world markets. They handle billions of euros, pounds and dollars that they need to exchange. In turn, companies elsewhere in the world that import from America, for example, need those dollars to pay their bills.

Continuing on from last week, we look at some more of the services - tricks of the trade - that an experienced specialty foreign exchange provider will deliver.

Click ‘more’ for the details.

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As part of the commemoration of Liverpool’s 800th birthday, the Chamber is planning an event at Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral to celebrate the role of business and commerce in the city’s life. We are considering September 2007 and an ecumenical event to mark the contribution of business life to Liverpool’s 800-year history. This will not be a formal religious service but a broadly based recognition of the importance of business to the lifeblood of Liverpool and Merseyside.

Before finalising a date we need an indication of how many members might be interested in attending to help determine catering needs and speakers’ support. Consequently I would be grateful if you could indicate, by email, whether you would prefer the event to be

a) Saturday morning, finishing with a lunch;

b) A midweek, early evening event including a drinks reception;

c) No preference either way.

Finally, to cover the associated costs, it is likely that we would need to levy a modest charge of £15 per head - please indicate if you find this acceptable.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards

Jack Stopforth
Liverpool Chamber Chief Executive Officer
ceo@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Music fans can now download archive footage of the best band to come out of Liverpool (after the Bunnymen and Teardrop Explodes) online. Archive interviews with The Beatles, including material from the band’s early days can be downloaded from the Wippit website.

However no MP3 files of Beatles tracks will be on offer as EMI, the record label that owns the copyright for the Beatles back catalogue, has still not approved any online distribution deals.

Instead, footage including news reports on George Harrison being arrested on drugs offences and John Lennon controversially claiming the band were bigger than Jesus can be downloaded from Wippit.

“Being able to offer fans of The Beatles behind-the-scenes moments and insights to what the made the greatest band ever tick is invaluable,” said Paul Myers, chief executive of Wippit.

Earlier this week, EMI asked Wippit to clarify rumours that Wippit would be making Beatles’ content available, leading some to conclude that music tracks from one of the world’s most popular bands would finally be downloadable.

Footage from Pathe News, Reuters and ITN makes up the collection and clips cost between 49p and £4.99 to download. Those in North America will not be able to access the content.

“There is no other act on the planet that has, and continues to have a world-wide following that even comes close to what The Beatles still have thirty seven years after they split,” Myers said.

This story first appeared on the Webuser website.

The Beatles on YouTube. 

“Marketing is a key concern of small businesses and can often prove to be costly and time consuming,” says Keith Mitchellhill of Liverpool Business Associations.

Business Fairs have been developed as an informal but productive networking forum and Liverpool BA’s events have a positive and growing reputation and represent opportunities that businesses large and small cannot afford to miss.

Keith continued: “Visitors attending previous Business Fairs have found the events to be very useful and the main reasons for visiting have been to get information and advice and to obtain suppliers and customers. The atmosphere is relaxed but professional and whilst some exhibitors secure business deals on the day of an event, many others benefit afterwards as a result of contacts made.”

There is a charge to exhibit but visiting is completely free and each event has a programme of free business seminars, a free event programme and free business guide.

This is a key Business event and provides sponsors and supporters with an excellent platform to raise their profile to businesses across the North West.

Forthcoming events -

Manchester Business Fair. 27th Mar 2007- Second City (Sheridan) Suite, 371 Oldham Road, Manchester.
Manchester Booking Form

City of Liverpool Business Fair. 1st May 2007- Liverpool Town Hall
Liverpool Booking Form

Liverpool sponsorship leaflet

(All links go to PDF documents)

In advance of this year’s Budget, David Frost, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:

“Gordon Brown needs to create a framework where businesses can thrive so we have asked in our Budget submission for corporation tax to be cut from 30pc to 25pc.1

“UK businesses have to work in an overly taxed and regulated environment, which makes it more difficult for them to compete against businesses from low tax economies.

“A cut in corporation tax would be a big boost to the competitiveness of the UK.

“We would also like it made easier for SME’s to engage with the Government. Red tape is a real nightmare for businesses, in particular SME’s who do not have the spare cash to absorb the costs of compliance or the staff to deal with the growing number of regulatory requirements. Our 2007 Burdens Barometer found that the cost of red tape since 1998 has soared to £55.66bn.2

“If Gordon Brown wants to show his commitment to enterprise in the UK then these two key areas, a reduction in corporation tax and a simplification of regulation needs to be addressed.”

Click ‘more’ for the BCC’s Budget Submission key points.

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