Peter Kilfoyle MP writes . . .

Last year, I had a heart attack, followed by a quadruple bypass operation.  I resolved to do what I could to get back on my feet and to help others to avoid a similar fate.

This September, I am walking the breadth of Nicaragua - from the Pacific Coast to the Atlantic Coast.  In this way, I hope to show that heart attacks and operations do not have to mean an invalidity.  On the contrary, they can be a second chance to a healthier, more fruitful life.

I also hope to raise funds for two charities close to my heart, literally and metaphorically.  One is the British Heart Foundation and the other is the Peace and Hope Trust (working with some of the most impoverished people in the Americas).  If you would make a donation, the details are on the attached form.

The walk will take me 140 miles from coast to coast, across the mountains on the west of Nicaragua and through the rainforest of the east.  It will be much easier in the knowledge that a lot of people are giving their support.

The trek will be hot and humid, but in aid of two excellent causes - both registered charities.  They are the British Heart Foundation (reg. charity no. 225971) and the Peace and Hope Trust (reg. charity no. 1058728).  The beneficiaries will be the increasing numbers of our fellow British citizens who suffer from heart disease and the deprived English-speaking people of the Mosquito Coast of Nicaragua.  Help me to help them - with your assistance, we can make a real difference to these first-rate organisations and the work which they do.

MAKING A DONATION

Please make a donation to the “Nicaraguan Walk”.  Details are:

THE COOPERATIVE BANK
PO BOX 250
DELF HOUSE
SOUTHWAY
SKELMERSDALE
WN8 6WT

ACCOUNT NAME:                  Nicaraguan Walk

SORT CODE:                            08-92-99

ACCOUNT NUMBER:             6524668950

Or send a cheque made out to “Nicaraguan Walk” to:

PETER KILFOYLE MP
HOUSE OF COMMONS
LONDON
SW1A 0AA

The Rising Star Program is operated within industry and commerce amongst the people who really make things happen, producing the products and services that result in the production of profit and a strong bottom line. It is not standard textbook learning nor is it routine attendance to a college or university. The course is tailored individually to ensure that it meets the needs of every person involved.

This program has arisen through the demand for more flexible and informal learning that addresses middle management and aspiring Directors needs for:

• Increasing and broadening practical ‘real business’ knowledge.
• Developing self awareness and tackling the aspects that are limiting personal growth.
• Learning specific leadership and management skills.
• Meeting focused corporate business objectives.
• Creating and achieving a focused tailor made personal development plan
• Raising commercial awareness and understanding of good business practice.
• Gaining management and expertise through practical, peer group learning

Content

• Work shadowing
• Business skills input
• Best practice visits
• Action learning
• Peer feedback and continued improvement
• Leadership challenge on the Lakeland Fells

Time Frame

• Sept 2007 - July 2008
• 9 Day sessions
• Optional extra evening sessions

Participants have to have a clear view of their future development plans and bring a determination to advance in their respective fields. Courses are highly exclusive and each team is tailored to draw individuals from varied environments and skill bases; though all with the shared goal of targeted advancement.

For further details contact:
Workforce Development Team
Trident Training
0151 236 3222

Adecco Premier, 8 Chapel Street, Liverpool L3 9AG,
Tel: 0151 243 5900

As a premier provider of recruitment solutions to Liverpool businesses, Adecco Premier prides itself on understanding the complex “people pressures” organisations face on a daily basis. To ensure it not only understands the needs of candidates but also its clients, Adecco regularly conducts research into key workplace issues, the most recent being a six-month study with the Institute of Employment Studies entitled ‘Work in Progress’.

The report investigated attitudes and opinions towards the workplace today, examining the key employee issues of motivation attrition, whilst also exploring the role that HR can play in solving this.
Read the rest of this entry »

The trade mission takes place 16 - 28 September 2007.

With over a decade of experience in working with Shanghai, ChinaLink & Liverpool Chamber of Commerce has put together, with two of its partners, this unique Trade Mission to support both UK importers and exporters. The Trade Mission is open to applications from any company across the UK.

The mission will take both traders and exhibitors from the UK to two of the most important trade fairs in Shanghai. Early in July, ChinaLink and Liverpool Chamber of Commerce met their partners in Shanghai and secured the exclusive UK Partner agreement to represent the two trade fairs. We have pre-booked limited spaces for UK stands.

Shanghai is undisputedly the consumer capital of China, where global brands and local products battle it out for a share of the Chinese market. With the recent change in China’s policy to encourage imports into China, the 1st Shanghai International Import Commodities Fair (Shanghai Fair) is designed to show case foreign products to meet the ever increasing demands of the China market. British exporters should not miss the new opportunities.

Financial subsidies for travel & exhibition costs for this mission are available to qualifying companies in the Merseyside area.

For further information contact International Trade Centre, One Old Hall Street, Liverpool L3 9HG. 0151 227 1234 Email: chinalink@liverpoolchamber.org.uk Web: www.chinalink.org.uk

Shanghai Trade Mission Information Sheet. [PDF]

Shanghai Trade Mission - Notes for Applicants [PDF]

Shanghai Trade Mission - ChinaLink Application Form [PDF]

The Chamber offers quality training at competitive prices, find out about the wide range of professional training on offer our Autumn 2007 launch event at 8.30 am on 6th September 2007.

Alma Mayers, Liverpool Chamber’s Seminar Projects Manager said: “The need to update existing capabilities and develop new skills is vital in today’s business environment. The Chamber’s Business Skills Training Programme will help you to improve effectiveness and efficiency. It will improve working practices, enhance job satisfaction and maximise business performance.”

Liverpool Chamber offer an excellent variety of courses from  Beyond Equal Opportunities, Changing your business for Senior Managers, to marketing and sales skills. All the course and seminars are delivered by experienced and qualified tutors and the Chamber  provide excellent conference facilities .

Alma continued: “The seminars and course are designed to accommodate you  and your  employees from junior to senior management level. We can customise seminars and courses to suit the specific training needs of your organisation.  The training can also be delivered at your business premises.”

To find our more contact Alma Mayers on 0151 2 24 1883  or visit our events page for course details and online booking.

The Seymour Suite is city centre office space like no other.

A dynamic environment, whether starting off or coming back into the business arena.

Flexible, friendly and funky, it sends out the right message about your business.

The offices are right in the centre of Liverpool just 30 seconds walk from Lime Street Station

What Seymour Suite offers:

. Fully serviced offices
. Board room
. Receptionist
. Modern office furnishings
. Your own individual digital telephone line answering and message taking service
. Broadband
. Cleaning and maintenance of office and communal areas
. Competitive rates starting at £55 per week + VAT per desk space and £25 per week for virtual office.

Call Making It now on 0151 703 1069 or email info@makingit.co.uk

Why not wrap up an ideal weekend for you and your staff with LiveOne20?

LiveOne20 cardholders can stay at the Radisson SAS hotel - one of the city’s top places to spend a night - for a fabulous, exclusive rate. And when they check-in, they’ll receive two complimentary drinks and have breakfast thrown in for free!

You can also please your purse and palate with a mouth-watering two-for-one meal deal at the hotel’s Filini restaurant.

Or you could pop down to Malmaison on Princes Dock for lunch or evening dining and pick up a free bottle of wine.

LiveOne20 cardholders can find more great value when treating their tastebuds to something even more exotic with a massive 50% off bills at Liverpool’s leading Japanese restaurant, Sapporo Teppanyaki, and the top quality Italian eaterie, Il Forno.

Chamber members can reward their staff with more than £800 worth of offers for just £10-18 per year per employee. They’ll love you for it!

Why don’t you purchase some cards today?

To buy LiveOne20 cards, just contact Livesmart’s account manager Daniel White on 0870 055 3472 or by e-mail at liveone20@livesmart.biz.

One hour a week - it doesn’t sound like much, but that’s all the time companies in the North West need to start reducing their impact on the environment.

The suggestion comes as business owners from across the region reveal they are struggling to find the time to consider the effect their company is having on the environment.

Yet even a small amount of time is enough for a company to put in place quick and easy-to-implement measures that can help the environment and, most importantly from a commercial perspective save money.
Read the rest of this entry »

Over the last couple of weeks we have been looking at the most common areas that businesses are effected by when dealing with employment issues including being compliant with employment law and grievance & disciplinary. This week we review the unfortunate circumstances of dealing with redundancy.

The ChamberHR service is provided as part of your chamber membership and will provide you telephone advice and documentation on a number of employment issues. Andrew Bines from Qdos Consulting who provide the ChamberHR service will be contacting all members shortly to ensure that you can access the website and to answer any questions you may have regarding this service.

If you have not received your website log in details or you are a new members and would like to register to use the service please contact the membership team by email at membership@liverpoolchamber.org.uk or by telephone on 0151 27 1234.
Read the rest of this entry »

Award winning property developer Urban Splash today announced LiverpoolFC.TV, a joint venture between Liverpool Football Club and ITV Plc, is the latest tenant at Matchworks II, Speke Road, Garston, Liverpool.

LiverpoolFC.TV is the media arm of the football club and has taken two units at the award winning site totalling 11,120 sq ft on a six year lease. The space will be used as a TV studio and will also be home to the production arm of the website, which with over a million fans logging on each month is one of the most visited football club websites in the world.

Stephen Michael, General Manager of LiverpoolFC.TV said: “After a long search for appropriate premises, we were delighted to settle on the Matchworks. The space is very contemporary, hugely flexible and has proven to be perfect for our new headquarters and television studios. We are very much looking forward to getting established in our new home.”

“We’re pleased to welcome LiverpoolFC.TV to Matchworks II and their creative use of the space reflects the versatility of the accommodation we have to offer here - and there are plenty of fans in the office who are very excited about our latest signing! said Lynn Haime, Associate Director, Urban Splash Work.  “We’re now over 60% let in the scheme with interest in the last few units at Matchworks II and also in our new Matchbox which will be ready to occupy later this year.”

Urban Splash has five units remaining at Matchworks II ranging from 2585 sq ft to 9282 sq ft.  Rents are £3.50 per sq ft for studio/workshop space and £7.50 per sq ft for fully fitted, high quality office space. Ample on site car parking is provided at no additional cost.

Also on the same site is the contemporary Matchbox, the first new build by Urban Splash in Liverpool and will provide 19,000 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation.  Urban Splash believes the landmark building will be an excellent location for a prestigious headquarters and it will be ready to occupy from the Autumn.

Pictured above are Lynn Haime, associate director, Urban Splash with Stephen Michael, General Manager of LiverpoolFC.TV outside the unit at Matchworks II, Garston.

www.urbansplash.co.uk