A successful crime fighting initiative pioneered in London could be brought to Liverpool for 2008 with the city’s retailers support.

Peter Jones, Head of Liverpool Chamber’s Business Crime Direct Team, explained: “Although crime in the city centre has reached a 10 year low in total crime, this is no time for complacency.

“Next year will see a big influx of visitors for Capital of Culture year and the opening of the L1 complex. We expect Liverpool to move up from 17th to 4th on the ladder of UK shopping venues and that will no doubt bring additional challenges from shop thieves.”

The Metropolitan Police have successfully introduced the Shopwatch scheme, whereby retailers have allowed staff to become Specials in the store’s time, with the pay-back that they will carry out patrols in their own High Street in some of their working time. Look at the web site, www.shopwatch.info for more details.

The Chamber is working with Merseyside Police to encourage Liverpool’s retailers to take part in a Liverpool Shopwatch and invites representatives from city centre stores to a meeting with the Chief Constable at Police H.Q. on Tuesday, 31st July  10.0 a.m. This will include presentations from Chief Constable Bernard Hogan Howe and the Metropolitan Police plus a retail crime, question and answer session.

Peter continued: “The Chief has asked us to use our contacts to get decision makers to the meeting. This is an excellent opportunity to let him know of your problems and issues as well as hearing about Shopwatch. Please make every effort to have your store represented.”

To attend contact Jo Sutton on 0151 224 1859 or email jo.sutton@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

For further information contact:

Pamela Holstein
Press Officer
0151 227 1234
M 07725 413485
Pamela.holstein@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Merseyside’s most responsible small business is to be rewarded for looking after its staff and the wider community.

This year’s ECHO Enterprise Champions Awards, the sixth annual competition for small firms in Merseyside, includes a new category to reward our region’s responsible businesses. Liverpool Chamber of Commerce is supporting the category for its inaugural year.

Maresa Molloy Head of the Chamber’s Policy & Information Team said: “We are proud to sponsor the Responsible Business Award at the Liverpool ECHO Enterprise Champions Awards.

“The chamber is leading on developing the responsible business agenda which enables companies to manage a wide range of social, environmental and economic impacts, and also to realise a wide range of commercial opportunities.

Other categories include Sole Trader of the Year, Best Small Business, Most Promising New Business of the Year, Social Enterprise of the Year, Young Business Achiever of the Year and Enterprise Champion 2007.

Rules of entry

Entries must come from within the Liverpool ECHO circulation area.

To enter, applicants must submit a written summary to demonstrate how they or their business meet the category requirements as well as demonstrate how they stand out from others.

Entrants must also complete the financial chart. The closing date for entries is July 6.

For further information please contact: 0151-472 2570. For the latest information/apply on line please visit www.icliverpool.co.uk/enterprise Champions or email: enterprisechampions@icliverpool.net

LiveOne20, the scheme which brings you fabulous savings from some of the biggest names in Liverpool, this week gives you a chance to sample the city’s cultural riches.

Cardholders can take advantage of a fantastic offer of free tickets to see the famous Lebanese musician Marcel Khalife perform at the Philharmonic Hall on Saturday, 14th July.

Recognised as one of the world’s leading Arab composers, Marcel was named UNESCO Artist for Peace in 2005. He’ll be performing with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and his son, the classically-trained pianist Rami Khalife.

To get your complimentary tickets, e-mail boxoffice@liverpoolphil.com with your name, address, telephone number and the number of tickets required along with the special code LIVE120. Your tickets will be posted to you unless you e-mail less than five days before the date of concert, in which case they’ll be held at the Philharmonic Hall’s box office.

If you’re not thirsting for the for the arts but for something to satisfy your palate, why not try another stunning offer courtesy of the award-winning Malmaison hotel.

Quote your LiveOne20 card details when booking a table for lunchtime or early evening dining in the hotel’s Brasserie and you’ll receive a complimentary bottle of wine for you and your guests.

As well as its sumptuous a la carte selection, the Brasserie now boasts a mouth-watering menu of dishes containing local ingredients sourced within a 30-mile radius of the city.

This is just the latest fantastic dining offer from LiveOne20 and joins other delicious discounts from the likes of the London Carriage Works, Blue Bar and Sapporo Teppanyaki.

Together with other exclusive deals from some of the city’s premier names in retail, leisure, health and beauty that means LiveOne20 cardholders can benefit from savings of more than £800 a year.

The cards cost from as little as £10 each for an entire year of benefits, so it’s a fabulous way of treating yourself, staff, clients and contacts to a little bit of luxury.

To find out more information about the LiveOne20 scheme or to become part of it by purchasing 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.

The British Chambers of Commerce has launched its climate change charter committing itself and the Chamber network to placing climate change at the heart of its operations.

Maresa Molloy, Liverpool Chamber’s Head of Policy and Information explained: “Liverpool Chamber has signed the Charter and we urge all our members to make the pledge. The Charter aims to develop a common understanding over the nature of the climate change challenge and the responsibilities of both Government and business in meeting this challenge.”

The Charter aims to provide advice and assistance on reducing energy usage and mitigating the effects of climate change. It will encourage businesses to adopt practices to reduce carbon emissions, spread the messages of energy efficiency.

Maresa continued: “Liverpool Chamber is taking the lead role in promoting responsible business. It is vital that the threat of climate change is taken seriously. The Charter will be used to lobby Government to provide support and encouragement to the business community in this vital area. It will also help businesses to educate their employees to be aware of the company’s social and environmental responsibility.”

The website also contains information from the Carbon Trust, Envirowise, the Energy Saving Trust and the Environment Agency along with a carbon footprint calculator and a range of money saving tips. Log on to www.theclimatechangecharter.co.uk

For further information contact:

Pamela Holstein
Press Officer
0151 227 1234
M 07725 413485
Pamela.holstein@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Liverpool John Moores University and Young Enterprise North West seek volunteers to shape the entrepreneurs of the future.

The Young Enterprise Graduate Programme is an opportunity for students to test out self-employment and business creation through setting up and running their own company. The scheme runs in a variety of disciplines at LJMU from engineering to art and design. We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to work with a group of students as they develop an idea into a viable business proposal.

Full training and supporting materials are provided by Young Enterprise North West. For more information please contact Anita Rate from Young Enterprise anita.rate@youngenterprisenw.org

British Military Fitness will shortly begin classes in Liverpool’s Sefton Park. As a company, we have been getting people fit and healthy in the great outdoors since 1999. Our fitness sessions cater for ALL abilities and age groups, and they combine challenging work in a motivational, fun and very social atmosphere .