The Draft Local Transport Bill is the Government’s attempt to deal with the chronic congestion that is strangling the British economy. As part of its main provisions it signifies the Government’s attempt to press ahead with plans to introduce road pricing schemes across England. The draft Bill will also grant more powers to local authorities to bring in their own schemes while giving councils a bigger say in improving local bus services.

The Document builds on the recommendations of the Eddington report and the measures set out last December in the Government’s review of the bus industry ‘Putting Passengers First’.

This bill is in draft form which means it has been put out for consultation. Liverpool Chamber will be requesting responses to the specific consultation questions to allow input into the consultation process.

See the draft Bill on the Dept of Transport site here.

The public consultation closes on Friday 7 September, and full details of how to respond are contained in Chapter 7 of the consultation document. If you want your thoughts to be included in a Liverpool Chamber response please submit these to steve.pearse@liverpoolchamber.org.uk by the end of August.

This year Green Transport Week will be taking place from the 16-24 June 2007.

More information on Green Transport Week.

Chamber member and award winning property developer Urban Splash this week welcomed new tenants Maritime Housing Association to Matchworks II on Speke Road, Liverpool.

Maritime Housing Association, part of the Regenda Group has moved into 7178 sq ft of space for its neighbourhood management team of 35 to Matchworks from central Liverpool. The team will be using the office to deliver high quality housing and neighbourhood management services to communities across Merseyside.

David Selby, Maritime’s Neighbourhood Manager said: “We’re delighted to be moving to Matchworks II. The office will be an excellent place to work and offers us a fantastic working environment. It will be a great base to deliver our services from.”

Chamber members, Maritime Housing Association is the second organisation working in the housing sector to move into Matchworks II. Riverside Home Ownership, part of The Riverside Group one of the UK’s leading social housing and regeneration organisations which owns or manages around 50,000 homes throughout England.

“As we welcome new tenants to Matchworks II, it’s a real sign of the how far the area has come in the last few years,” said Lynn Haime, associate director, Urban Splash. “We have a lot of interest in the remaining space at Matchworks II and also in the new Matchbox.”

The Chamber is here to help members to increase their business and do business with each other, if you’ve got a story about how you’ve developed your business let us know.

Pictured above: Lynn Haime, associate director, Urban Splash Work and David Selby, Maritime’s Neighbourhood Manager pictured outside Maritimes unit at Matchworks II, Speke Road, Garston

Each year on August 20 - 20/08 a huge variety of organisations, businesses, venues, community groups and individuals to help celebrate the run up to the European Capital of Culture in 2008.

Over the last four years, hundreds of businesses and organisations have joined in and feedback suggests they have shared in the success of the day.

In the past, such offers included free tickets to shows and cultural events, cut price fares on flights and buses, exciting competitions, discounts for exhibitions or shopping, free swimming lessons, community litter picks, sightseeing tours and free business advice and consultations.

Councillor Warren Bradley, Leader of Liverpool City Council said: “We want to encourage organisations and businesses of all types and sizes to participate by making offers.  This will be the fifth year that we have celebrated 20/08 and the event has gone from strength to strength. There are so many things to see and do in the city - 20/08 is a chance to celebrate to find out exactly why we won Capital of Culture in the first place.

“I’m appealing to organisations and businesses across the city - large and small - to think about what they can do to contribute to 20/08 this year.”

It’s really easy for groups, businesses, or organisations to get involved in 20/08, they just need to visit www.liverpool08.com and complete the special 20/08 form or call Jennifer Ross on 0151 709 2288 or emailing jenniferross@bodyproject.co.uk All offers will appear on the website and in a 20/08 day brochure, which is distributed to venues across the city. The deadline for offers is Friday, July 22 2007.

This trade mission is designed to support SMEs new to the Irish market; Ireland is also an excellent choice for first time exporters.

Ireland is the UK’s fourth largest export market. It is a major customer for products and services of all kinds and its young population (with a third aged 25-44) makes it attractive to exporters. There are opportunities in almost all sectors, but the following are particularly attractive:

• construction
• energy
• environment
• food and drink
• healthcare
• transport

Don’t worry if you have little or no overseas experience, help and support is available when you need it. An experienced member of our team will discuss your requirements and will also accompany the visit to give you support whilst overseas.

This is a fabulous opportunity for Merseyside businesses. Having successfully secured European Funding, we are now able to offer you a chance to participate in this trade mission at a more affordable price. Eligible companies will receive subsidy of 50% towards expenses, up to a maximum eligible expenditure of £1000, covering flight travel, accommodation, in-country travel, interpreter costs, in-market telephone calls and certain market research.

Whilst in Ireland there will be an in-country briefing, where you will be presented with a market overview, cultural information and tips on how to conduct business. Then you will be free to attend meetings with your potential clients, identified through research or by yourself. Some of these companies may be based outside of Dublin therefore additional travel may be necessary.

We are presently negotiating attractive rates for flights and hotels. These will be available upon request.

If you are interested in participating in this mission, contact Maxine Globe at the international trade centre email: maxine.globe@liverpoolchamber.org.uk or telephone Maxine on 0151 227 1234, ext 2239.

The Dublin Trade mission is an all sector mission, however if you are working in the medical supply sector you might be interested in staying on to visit this event.

Medtec Ireland
This is the only event for Ireland’s Medical Product Development Professionals at the Radisson SAS Hotel, Galway, Ireland 19-20 September.This is an ideal opportunity for suppliers of medical products and manufacturing to promote their goods and meet buyers. Visit www.medtecireland.com to view detailed information about the conference & exhibition.

Environment Agency Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) event in association with The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, sponsored by Granada

This invitation has arrived for a unique event taking place at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA):

Tackling the major environmental issue of waste crime, we hope you will join us for one of the most entertaining regional business and networking events of the year.

This is your invitation to join us at a business-networking event to be followed by a specially written and exclusive musical performance in the Paul McCartney Auditorium at LIPA on June 20th.

The performance of the specially commissioned one-act play, ‘How to ruin the family business in one easy lesson’ highlights the consequences of ignoring a very real problem…………and it’s not what you may think.

You are invited to join us at LIPA, Mount Street, Liverpool L1 9HF, from 4.00pm onwards for the start of an evening of entertaining business networking. The performance commences approximately at 6.15, followed by a hot and cold buffet at around 7.30. The LIPA bar will be open during the event. With green issues being the hottest topic around, don’t miss your opportunity to be at this unique event. Places are limited so you are encouraged to book your place as soon as possible.

To confirm your attendance or to find out more please email :
e.ellis@lipa.ac.uk by June 6, 2007 or contact Kate Selby at the Environment Agency either by email to kate.selby@environment-agency.gov.uk or telephone 01925 542378.

Spain is introducing some new regulations for people travelling to their country by air after 19 June 2007.  This ‘advance passenger information’ is made up of the details on the photo page on your passport. This information will be collected either when you check in or when you book.

This applies to everyone, regardless of nationality, travelling from the UK to Spain. It may result in some delays at airports.

For more information, please visit the Department of Transport’s information page.

Do you feel your business is a bit like a reliable saloon but you just know it has the potential to deliver and handle like a high performance machine? But how do you move up to top gear?

The departments, divisions, or individuals of your business can either be your accelerator or your brakes.  You need to deliver both consistency and high performance to enable you to win.

So how do you gain consistency in your business and get up to those high performing gears?

Well, of course that is the ultimate question. Your brakes could be cost related, process, quality, or systems. Your accelerator could be sales, marketing or human resources. To gain that all important competitive advantage you need to develop both.

The other and most vital ingredient here is people. That is, you, me, our colleagues, customers, suppliers and our networks. Human nature and relationships can impact on the speed and overall development of your business.

Using the accelerator on the straight will obviously have a marked impact on your business results but what about accelerating through the bends? Will you spin off or gain a market leading position?

So, how do you get your business into top gear?

Here are 10 questions from Greenlake to ask yourself about your business:

1. Where is your business going? If you don’t have a route map how do you know when you have arrived? Develop a business plan, the route map to success.
2. Have your drivers looked at the map?
3. Do you have the tyre specialist fuelling the car?
4. Are you using the right tyres for the weather conditions?
5. Are you buying the right grade of fuel?
6. What is your position on the track and where are your competitors?
7. Do you have a two or three stop strategy?
8. Do you give team orders and do they pull together? Do you listen to your teams?
9. When did you last spray the champagne on your drivers?
10. Do you know why you won? Do you review the race.

Never underestimate the power of your own network and those members within the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce.

One such case I’d like to share with you is one of my own network experiences which led to opening a door for an associate of mine and his client. They had been trying desperately to supply Harrods with luxury porcelain wear in order for it to be sold through the top branded store.

During my time with American Express and British Airways I established a strong network of contacts. One contact a Director at Harrods. Through this contact, I was able to gain access to a high level buyers meeting for myself and my associates client which may well lead to a very lucrative contract.

This case study illustrates that you should never underestimate the power of your network and the relationships you hold. I achieved in weeks what my associate and his client could not in over three years. You will have your own network and your own contacts. You never know when your network will open doors and reap unexpected rewards. The main thing is to stay connected and be alert to the opportunity.

Perhaps its time to look at that high performance jigsaw and those networking opportunities. It could well unlock the full potential for you, your people and your business.

Greenlake Limited would love to hear your views and about any challenges you may wish to share about your own business.  Please e-mail pete@greenlakebms.co.uk

Or contact:
Greenlake Limited
7 Grove Park
Knustsford
Cheshire
WA16 8QA

Tel/Fax:  01257 260711

Make the perfect start to your new Business with entry to the Most Promising New Business category in the Chamber Awards 2007.

Open to companies that have been operating three years or less, the Most Promising New Business category, sponsored by BT, rewards exactly what it says! Entrants will be asked to explain how and why the company was founded, how it has performed and what the plans are for the future of the company.

Proud owners of successful new businesses should log onto the Chamber Awards 2007 website straight away at www.chamberawards.co.uk for more information and to download your entry form!  It’s free to enter so what do you have to lose?

Early Bird Prize Draw!

All Chamber Awards entries submitted before the 31st May 2007 will be entered into a free prize draw for your chance to win £150 worth of Marks and Spencer Vouchers - perfect for sharing amongst your team.

But don’t worry if you can’t get your entry in by the 31st May.  The final closing date is June 25th 2007, which is just over 4 weeks away.

For more details on how to enter the Chamber Awards and to download your entry forms please visit the Chamber Awards 2007 website at www.chamberawards.co.uk.  Alternatively call the Chamber Awards Team on 0870 735 5385 who will be happy to help with any questions or queries.

Best of luck!  We look forward to seeing your completed application!!

Research shows that many companies fail within the first two years of trading and poor cash flow is the main culprit.

Liverpool expects to see a flurry of new enterprises launched, encouraged by the city’s 800th birthday celebrations this year, and European Capital of Culture Year in 2008.

But if the enterprise boom is to leave a legacy beyond 2008, all businesses need to take a professional approach to credit. By taking a cautious but positive approach businesses can trade confidently with new businesses, safe in the knowledge they have taken sensible steps to protect themselves.

If you want to avoid your company becoming one of those failure statistics then ensuring you have the best credit management systems and skills is imperative.

Cash is always tight in the first few years of trading, so you’d be well advised to go on an effective training course that would show you how to overcome barriers to receiving payment, improve your cashflow, reduce bad debt and collect payment in a customer-focused way.

And if you could access 100% funding for the course so that there was no cost to you, that would be even better, wouldn’t it?

Well, now you can - ECCS is a well established and professional credit management firm is now offering Greater Merseyside SMEs that have been trading for less than 2 years 100% funding* for their 1-day credit management course together with 2 short follow up sessions.

Visit our web site on www.improvingyourcashflow.com

ECCS can help you get your invoices paid in full and on time and show you how to reduce your exposure to bad debt!

*If you are a pre start business or post start business, trading for less than 2 years, an SME in the Greater Merseyside area, you may qualify for 100% funding. So there is no cost to you!!

Read the rest of this entry »

Summer means super service for Chamber members thanks to LiveOne20’s great deals.

Start by taking advantage of cut-price corporate tickets for next month’s Liverpool International Tennis Tournament which features a host of leading players from the men’s and women’s rankings, as well as matches involving Wimbledon legend Bjorn Borg and former British number one Greg Rusedski.

LiveOne20 cardholders can enjoy a VIP day out, featuring a champagne reception, buffet lunch, afternoon tea, box tickets and VIP parking for £76 plus VAT - a 20% discount on the ticket list price.

Availability will be on a first come, first served basis for Tuesday 12th, Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th June and tickets are already selling fast, so be sure to book your places quickly.

Continue the sporting flavour with an offer from Everton Football Club. Use your LiveOne20 card when booking an event at Goodison Park costing more than £3,000 between June and August, and you’ll receive match tickets and hospitality for two people.

There’s a deal with a different flavour in the form of a tasty business lunch offer from the renowned London Carriage Works restaurant on Hope Street. Sample its fine cuisine between mid-day and four PM during the week at the special rates of £25 for three courses or £19 for two.

And, if you want to put your feet up at the end of a hard week’s work, check into the Radisson SAS Hotel, where cardholders are entitled to £50 off the price of a room on Friday’s. That’s a night in one of Liverpool city centre’s best hotels for just £99 - another great benefit of the LiveOne20 scheme.

LiveOne20 is a fantastic way of picking up great discounts during your work and leisure time with some of Liverpool’s biggest names in dining, retail, health, beauty, leisure and entertainment. Chamber member companies can order additional cards to pass on the fantastic benefits to staff and clients from as little £10 per card.

To find out more information about the LiveOne20 scheme 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.