Members of Liverpool’s business community are invited to attend a special celebratory event at Liverpool Cathedral on 26 September 2007

The event is to celebrate the role of business in the City of Liverpool. There will be a number of interesting features illustrating some of the business activity, memories of more recent times, a view on where we stand now and the Hopes & Dreams for the future.

The invitation is open to all business contacts to attend along with a guest,

You are however requested to book your place(s) in accordance with the details contained in the attached pdf invitation.

Details on the event and how to book. [PDF]

Please note: bookings will be taken up until 4pm Tuesday 18 September

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO3WRkVMF2M]

We all know that the original Star Wars trilogy are the best three films ever made. That’s just a fact of life. But have you ever stopped to wonder what it was really like for those hardworking, under-appreciated Imperial Stormtroopers? I mean, they were only trying to do their jobs…

Well now you can find out in this episode of Troops, looking at the everyday working life of those brave boys in white. See how they deal with those pesky Jawas, and find out what really happened at Owen and Beru’s moisture farm.

Click on the image above to play the movie.

Move along, move along…

Trident Training Limited, Liverpool Chamber’s training company, is currently recruiting for the below posts:

Training and Development Manager

Learner Support Officer

Telesales Advisor

Tutor / Assessor

Follow the links above to find out more details and how to apply.

The closing date for applications on all three jobs is Friday 21 September 2007.

The Guardian today reports on the TUC’s announcement that guidelines should be drawn up to protect employees from the sack if they use social networking sites like Facebook or MySpace in the office.

The article says: “The TUC yesterday appealed to the employers of the 3.5m Facebook users not to give them the sack for doing a bit of social networking while at their desks.

“The plea follows decisions by a number of employers - the latest being Kent county council - that staff caught sending messages to their friends while they should be working would be sacked.

“Brendan Barber, TUC general secretary, urged firms not take such drastic action. ‘Simply cracking down on use of new web tools like Facebook is not a sensible solution to a problem which is only going to get bigger.

“It’s unreasonable for employers to try to stop their staff from having a life outside work.

“It is better to invest a little time in working out sensible conduct guidelines, so that there don’t need to be any nasty surprises for staff or employers.’”

Read the full article here.

We’ve mentioned social networking before at The Chamber. Sites like Facebook (where ‘poking’ a friend is a quick way of saying “Hi”), are not just useful tools for keeping in touch. If engaged with sensibly, they can be an excellent resource for making new contacts and raising company profiles.

Like any web-based activity, if it is used responsibly, it can lead to new and unexpected ways of working. Employers need to understand and except the technologies, and provide a framework within which staff can safely use them. At the same time, employees should ensure that their MySpace addiction does not interfere with their duties. As usual, a middle ground would seem to be the sensible way forward.

Tailored for the needs of small to medium sized businesses, Chamber Risk Insurance uses the might of AIG Europe (UK) and the local commitment of Jardine Lloyd Thompson in Liverpool, to provide a packaged property, employer’s liability and products liability insurance solution for Chamber members.

Chamber members get 10% discount with Chamber Risk!

AIG Europe (UK) have over 50 years of experience in the UK market, protecting more than 4 million adults and over half of the UK top 1000 companies, as well as many smaller businesses and professionals. AIG are committed to working within the Chamber network over the long term and in agreement with British Chambers of Commerce now offer chamber members in as many sectors as possible discounts on Chamber Risk insurance.

JLT, Liverpool Chamber’s approved broker, are ranked as the 6th largest insurance broker in the world but more importantly are now the only national broker, not only to maintain a presence in Liverpool, but to commit to expanding their resources in the city. The city of Liverpool is experiencing a period of dramatic development and JLT are determined to play their part.

The Liverpool operation now has a total of 29 staff. With a strong local presence in the Insurance and Business Community they are fiercely proud of both their client retention and new business record. The team has a core of long serving staff, which has been enhanced by quality acquisitions of people in order to strengthen the overall team and service delivery. Liverpool Chamber have appointed JLT because they clearly demonstrate their commitment to Liverpool and can help us meet the needs of a wide range of clients from the very large to smaller family owned businesses across all sectors.

Get a quote now by calling Chamber Risk on 0845 347 1517 or emailing liverpoolchamber@jltgroup.com

Liverpool Chamber staff took part in a special ’school sports day’ on Old Hall Street today to help celebrate Liverpool’s 800th Birthday.

In a series of classic events, like the egg and spoon race, sack race and space hopper, er, race, Team Chamber took on teams from neighbouring businesses and organisations.

Despite a quite horrendous level of cheating being displayed by some teams (mentioning no names, but Liverpool Vision and the Combined Armed Forces Team should be ashamed of themselves), the Chamber’s brave athletes scored a valiant joint second overall. And that was with hardly any cheating at all. Well, maybe just a bit…

All participants were awarded a special medal for taking part. The Chamber’s very own Paul also received some nasty scraped knuckles, a result of a desperate dive and roll to beat the an army to the finish line.

See pictures of the games and other events on the Chamber Flickr page.

Other events took place around the city, including pageants and parades and tonight will see a spectacular fireworks display at the Pier Head. There was even a medieval theme in Exchange Flags, with stilt walkers (very big in the 13th century, apparently), and real live birds of prey on display. Surprisingly, no pigeons were anywhere to be seen.

More details on the day’s events can be found on the Liverpool 08 website.

More pictures from the day can be seen on the Prazzi website.

Switched off to environmental issues? Doing your bit with cutting waste but missing where the next opportunity lies? Or perhaps you are totally committed to environmental action in your business?

If any of those characters sound familiar, it’s not surprising. The Envirowise programme suggests that the environmental behaviour of employees is routed in four different ‘eco characters’. And the key to a more profitable and sustainable business is making the best of these characters, which can be summarised as:

• Eco-sceptics are non-committed individuals who perhaps have doubts over the motive to act on environmental issues
• Eco-ignorers undertake the obvious mainstream activities, but are blinkered to the opportunities to take firmer environmental action
• Eco-implementers are typically committed implementers of resource efficient activity, going beyond the most obvious actions
• Eco-innovators are pioneers that look to seize the opportunity to improve competitiveness through completing environmental activities

Nick Ward, Envirowise Regional Manager for the North West, commented: “In every company, employees will have different attitudes when it comes to environmental and sustainability issues.

“We hope that North West’s business managers will see that recognising the attitudes of their staff is crucial in encouraging positive behaviour change on environmental matters. We’re not trying to say that a company of eco-innovators is best - rather managers should look to take the best from each employee in order to form an effective environmental team.”

Gary Pheiffer, Chartered Occupational Psychologist and Senior Lecturer at London Metropolitan University, added: “The definition of these eco-characters suggests that to bring about organisational change we cannot take a ‘one size fits all’ approach.

“Crucially, businesses must tailor their activities to reflect the needs and potential of different individuals. For example, awareness-raising activities or events may be useful for ‘unfreezing’ the eco-sceptics, while the eco-innovators could be called on to help enter their organisation for awards linked to sustainable action - which in turn could send out a strong message to their competitors.”

Envirowise can offer free, tailored advice to any company wanting guidance on becoming more sustainable - via a free advice line (0800 585 794), or via www.envirowise.gov.uk.

We all know how satisfying it is to score a direct hit in the bin with some scrunched up paper. It makes you look cool and drives Dorothy from accounts wild. What’s not to like?

Well now you can engage in some online target practice with Throw Paper. Point the direction arrow with your mouse and release to throw the paper. Don’t forget to take wind speed and direction into consideration. Sounds easy? Well it’s not!

As an extra treat, if you get bored with that, take a look at these cats in boxes. Again, what’s not to like?

7 - 27 November 07
Closing Date for Applications:  28th September 2007

This market visit is designed to enable exporters to explore opportunities in South Africa in all sectors of activity. Flexibility is key to business travel and the market visit itinerary is designed so delegates may choose to alter the official itinerary.

Liverpool Chamber of Commerce Market Visit benefits include:

.   UK Trade & Investment grant of £550
.   Experienced International Trade Advisers / Executives providing pre-mission assistance on both a country and sector basis
.   Specifically negotiated attractive travel package
.   Assistance with contact building and market research
.   Support of an experienced Market Visit Manager throughout the visit
.   Pre-visit briefing and in market briefing from local British Consulate staff
.   Networking receptions in Johannesb rg and D rban
.   Local advance publicity
.   Security of traveling with a UKTI supported market visit

The UK is South Africa’s largest trade and investment partner with over £7 billion in two-way trade in goods and services and £24 bllion of UK investment in South Africa. The strong commercial ties are an important element of the overall bilatera  relationship.

South Africa and the UK are natural trading partners, with English as the main business language and similar legal systems and business cutures.

Opport nities in the folowing sectors exist for UK companies - ICT, Healthcare, Power, Transport, Automotive, Education and Training, Sports & Leisure infrastructure (full information on request).  As well as being a major market in itself, South Africa is the gateway to southern Africa and
its 185 million people.

South Africa Trade Mission Itinery [PDF]

South Africa Trade Mission Application Form [PDF]

17 - 19 October 2007

This trade mission is designed to support SMEs in Merseyside wanting to expand their activity in the Spanish Market

Spain is a highly developed, competitive market. Almost anything sold in the UK is likely to sell well in Spain.

The Spanish government is committed to opening up the Spanish market and has embarked on an extensive privatisation programme. Spain therefore offers many opportunities to the British exporter across a wide range of sectors.

It is also worth noting that some 17 million British tourists visit Spain each year and over 750,000 Britons now live in Spain permanently (mainly around the coasts).

Don’t worry if you have little or no overseas experience, help and support are available at any stage throughout the market visit through our experienced International Trade Executives.

Whilst in Spain 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. Thereafter, 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 Madrid therefore additional travel may be necessary.

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, maximum eligible expenditures of £1000, covering flight travel, accommodation, in-country travel, interpreter costs, in-market telephone calls and certain market research.

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

For more details please email elena.enciso@Liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Or download the attached application form [PDF] and return to:

Elana Encisco
International Trade Centre
Liverpool Chamber of Commerce
One Old Hall Street
Liverpool
L3 9HG

Alternatively telephone Elena on 0151 227 1234 Ext: 2212