Many of us have wished we could be more assertive when faced with a difficult situation in the workplace. This one day course, taking place on Thursday 20 September and aimed at all levels will help you to recognise aggressive, assertive and passive behaviours.

This seminar, seeks to help participants to achieve the best balance between being too bossy or aggressive and being too soft or passive. The participants will be given practical tips on how to state what their wants and needs are, manage conflict and deal with difficult situations. In turn, this will gain them respect from others, more self-respect and increased confidence.

Cost £188.00 plus a 10% discount for Chamber members. You may also be eligible for 60% of Skillworks funding towards the cost of this training.

You can book your place online here.

For more information please contact Alma Mayers on 0151 227 1234 or email: alma.mayers@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Enjoy a Day Out on the Train!

To mark European Car Free Day 2007 TravelWise Merseyside has joined forces with Merseyrail Electrics and Northern Rail to offer half price adult rail travel on Saturday, 22nd September.

All adult tickets on the City, Wirral and Northern lines are half price with a TravelWise rail voucher which is obtained by visiting the TravelWise website here.

Ten lucky people will also receive a free month’s rail pass.

Car Free Day aims to encourage people to experience the benefits of cleaner ways to travel with faster journey times and no parking fees by trying out the rail or bus network, or enjoying some healthy fresh air by cycling or walking.

The event has been organised by TravelWise Merseyside, the campaign run by the Merseyside Local Transport Plan Partnership, consisting of Merseytravel and the five local authorities, to encourage people to make smarter travel choices to help our environment, such as cycling, walking, public transport, or using the car wisely.

Their website, www.LetsTravelWise.org  offers a range of information on the work they do to make it easier for you to change your travel habits so you can be moneywise and climatewise when you travelwise.

There are lots of great activities to be enjoyed across Merseyside which are easily accessible by public transport such as Knowsley’s National Wildflower Centre, shopping in Liverpool City Centre, the seaside in Southport, World of Glass in St Helens or Port Sunlight in Wirral and don’t forget you can carry your bicycle for free on all Merseyrail services.

Coaching in the workplace has become something of a hot topic in recent years. More and more organisations are using coaching strategically to improve the bottom line and business leaders are employing coaches to help them become more effective.

But how do I introduce coaching into the organisation and is it worth the effort and expense?

In recent surveys by CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development), employers rated coaching as one of the most effective tools for developing staff:

• 67% of Organisations using line managers to coach said coaching was “effective” or “very effective”
• 92% of Organisations using external coaches rated it “effective” or “very effective”
• 99% of employers believe coaching can deliver tangible results
• 88% now expect their managers to deliver coaching as part of their role.

And yet…

Read the rest of this entry »

Are you covered?
Research suggests that many small to medium sized businesses are facing serious risks by not having suitable business insurance cover and that they are not giving insurance a high enough priority.

Still confident?
To ensure our members’ businesses are insured against unnecessary risk, Liverpool Chamber have joined forces with AIG (Europe) Ltd and local broker Jardine Lloyd Thomson.

Chamber Risk Insurance
Together we provide a range of insurance including packaged property, employers’ liability and products liability insurance, usually enjoyed by large corporates, but now available to Liverpool Chamber members.

At discounted prices!
You can be safe in the knowledge that as Chamber members, you have the appropriate insurance cover to protect your business. And what’s more, you can get a 10% discount against AIG Europes’s standard rates.

Call the Liverpool Chamber Risk scheme, administered by Jardine Lloyd Thompson, for a quote now on 0845 347 1517

This week’s article from Chamber HR looks at creating and managing a drugs and alcohol policy for the workplace, as well as the ramifications of the ban on smoking in the workplace.

Read the rest of this entry »

Liverpool, as has been well documented, is currently in the middle of a total transformation. Job creation has been widely reported, many high profile companies are establishing operations in the city. Office space is being built and cranes can be seen from every angle. It is widely reported that by a variety of economic indicators, that Liverpool is growing faster than any other provincial city. As the City celebrates it’s 800th birthday, businesses, employees and residents are limbering up for the European Capital of Culture 2008 and all that this year long event will bring.

There are many causes for optimism at present, however NDK International, a leading European recruitment business, are actively working with many high profile businesses to ensure that despite the successful recovery of the local economy, this does not also produce short and medium term challenges too for the business community.

As the Capital of Culture gathers momentum, many people will be attracted to the city and Greater Liverpool areas. Many graduates will make the city home; however as the growth rate continues to grow, common challenges such as middle management talent shortages, lack of innovation in HR processes due to added growth pressures and skill shortages could affect the positive growth of the economy.

NDK themselves have recently relocated to Liverpool, albeit only from Warrington, after a successful 6 years. All of the Head Office personnel at NDK live locally in Merseyside, are passionate about the rebirth of the area and equally keen for local businesses to leverage off their expertise nationally and internationally gained whilst working with some of the most pioneering businesses in Europe.

However, due to working with many Blue Chip European and Global businesses, NDK are keen to ensure that potential challenges, such as shortage of “top talent” labour pools, lack of language capabilities and increasing competition for talent does not hinder local and International businesses from successfully investing in Liverpool.

NDK work with companies such as DuPont, Whirlpool and Philips to attract, retain and develop the best talent within their businesses and would be keen to discuss how similar strategies can be employed by local or regional businesses in order to avoid the potential pitfalls of a high growth economy. To discuss some the above opportunities further, NDK would be happy to organise a consultant to visit your business to discuss middle and senior management challenges?

Contact us on 0151 258 1140 for more information or to arrange a meeting without obligation.

Corporate Web Site - www.ndksearch.com

NDK International Ltd
100 Old Hall Street
Liverpool
L3 9QJ

Your LiveOne20 Chamber membership card not only makes you part of Liverpool’s ultimate business network.

It also gives you access to an exclusive package of wonderful offers worth more than £800 from some of the city’s finest names in food, drink, leisure, travel, health and beauty.

You can take advantage of great discounts such as three-course business lunches for just £25 at the famous London Carriage Works or a free bottle of house wine in The Brasserie at Malmaison.

The LiveOne20 card can also make your celebrations go twice as far with a two-for-one offer on weekday evening meals at Filini in the SAS Radisson on Old Hall Street.

But you need to register your card to make the savings, so visit www.liveone20.com straightaway.

You can also reward your staff with the same benefits for for around £10-18 per card, Why not give them a treat?

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