Find out more about the business case for responsibility, the impact your business has on employees, customers, suppliers and neighbours or explore the risks and opportunities associated with these impacts.

Responsibility NW (Merseyside) has invited a number of practitioners to conduct free breakfast briefings on a range of topics including; diversity, travel plans, use of local suppliers, flexible working, environmental awareness and signposting.

Our work with Responsibility Northwest aims to create to create an internationally recognised region for businesses contributing to sustainable development.

All events are FREE to business advisors and small businesses. The briefings begin at 8.30 am and take place at Liverpool Chamber of Commerce in Old Hall Street.

Events and their presenters:

4 May - How to benefit from flexible working
Ranstad Work Solutions

10 - May Connecting NW Businesses to Environmental Support
Enworks

15 May - Talking about responsibility to your clients
Sustainability NW

31 May -The Business case for diversity
Ranstand Work Solutions

7 June - Liverpool Tenders - Accessing local suppliers & tenders
Liverpool Chamber of Commerce

14 June - Merseyside Business Environmental Network (MERBEN)
Groundwork EBS

26 June - Managing Travel Effectively
Travelwise

All events are free - to book your place at the briefings please download and complete this form [PDF], then fax it to 0151 236 0121, or email nicky.lunt@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

With LiveOne20’s big launch now only weeks away, principal contacts at Chamber member companies are already starting to take advantage of some mouth-watering, exclusive savings in Liverpool.

After registering their combined membership and LiveOne20 cards, they have been able to sample fantastic offers from some of the city’s biggest names in leisure, entertainment, travel, food and retail.

This fabulous package of deals is getting bigger by the week and now includes 25% off your bill when you produce your card at the Ha! Ha! Bar in the Albert Dock’s Atlantic Pavilion and a whopping 20% off food and drink at the Newz Bar on Water Street.

They’re just the latest venues to join the unique scheme created by the Chamber together with Livesmart to give members an extra special taste of Liverpool life. Others who have signed-up to far to also take part include the Radisson SAS Hotel, Pan Am, the Sultan’s Palace and Voudou hair salons.

Principal contacts at member companies have already received their cards but firms can also now extend the benefits to staff by purchasing LiveOne20 cards at minimal cost as a reward or as an incentive for use after the scheme goes fully operational on May 1st.

To find out more information or to purchase cards, contact Jenny Stewart, Head of Membership by email at liveone20@liverpoolchamber.org.uk or by telephone on 0151 227 1234 or Livesmart’s account manager Daniel White by phone on 0870 055 3472 or by e-mail at liveone20@livesmart.biz

Find out more about the LiveOne20 scheme here. 

No matter how good your customer care policy is you are bound to come across difficult and awkward customers. The key factor in dealing with them is to ensure that they go away feeling a lot better than when they first spoke to you.

Listen
Say nothing until the customer has stated their grievance. Do not interrupt them.

Empathise and apologise
Don’t argue with the customer. They want attention and respect so give it. Making a formal and genuine apology will help to calm and regain a customer’s trust.

Establish a reason for the customer’s anger
Is the company at fault? Have they been promised delivery on a certain and time and you haven’t fulfilled? Whether the complaint is justified, obtaining precise information is vital.

Give the customer your name
If you are on a front desk always wear a name badge. Give the customer your commitment to resolving their problem.

Call on management for help
If you can’t resolve a problem with a customer who continues to be angry, don’t hesitate to call on your manager.

Fact - Customers whose complaints are dealt with to their complete satisfaction will stay loyal to you.

For more tips on good customer care, contact Gregory-Jones Marketing Communications or visit www.successfulmarketing.co.uk

Pilates (pronounced pil-ah-tays) is a method of body conditioning based on the work of Joseph Pilates (1880-1967). He called his method The Art of Contrology which refers to the way that it encourages the use of the mind to control the muscles.

Pilates strengthens the core postural muscles of the body, stabilises the torso and improves the body’s flexibility and strength without building bulk. It also involves concentration and the co-ordination of breath and movement, helping to balance the body and mind.

The result is a more balanced body with increased strength and flexibility, enabling your body to move more efficiently and effectively.

Pilates can benefit anyone at any age or level of fitness and it can also be an excellent way of releasing tension and stress for those living and working in a busy environment.

The Chamber’s very own Pam Holstein says “Every woman hates a part of her body and I hate my lower abs! Any exercise I’ve ever done has always been around trying to do something about this. I’ve tried swimming, weights and ‘crunch’ classes in a number of different gyms and have never really achieved results that I’ve been satisfied with.

“Once I began to do an hour of mat based Pilates once a week, I saw the benefits pretty quickly - I had the flattest, most toned lower abs that I’ve ever had in my life! I stopped going to ‘crunch’ classes because I realised that that 80% of the exercises in the class were not reaching the parts of my body that I wanted to work on and I was spending too much effort trying to keep up rather than concentrating on being in the correct position, focusing on the muscles that I wanted to work and breathing correctly.

“I’m not a gym bunny, I don’t really like exercise but the benefits of Pilates are the greatest motivator that I’ve ever had!”

Flex Studios is a unique, exclusive, private members-only club located in the heart of Liverpool’s financial district. The studio boasts a wide range of specialist Pilates equipment and machines, unrivalled anywhere else in the North West. Facilities also include a separate matwork studio, changing rooms, mezzanine café area and landscaped yard. All teachers are Body Control Pilates® qualified and class sizes are kept to a minimum as we believe this is the best way to offer a first class personal service.

If you would like to find out more or perhaps book a free trial session at Flex studios, then email info@flex-studios.co.uk and quote ‘Commerce Newsletter’ or visit the website at www.flex-studios.co.uk

This offer is only valid for readers of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce News.

Do you want to raise the profile of your business, gain media coverage for your success and be recognised as the best amongst your peers? It’s your chance to promote your company through the Daily Post Regional Business Awards.

Some of the biggest names in Merseyside and Cheshire have been honoured through the awards and they cost nothing to enter. Liverpool Chamber is again sponsoring the award for International Trader of the Year. For a full list of categories and criteria, pick up an application from the Chamber’s reception or download a form at the bottom of this article.

The awards close on 27th April when all entries will be considered by an expert panel of judges. Three nominees and an overall winner will be announced at a black-tie gala dinner and awards ceremony hosted by Peter Sissons at St George’s Hall on Thursday 28 June.

Regional Business Awards 2007 entry form [pdf]