Free 1 day ‘Profiling Your IT Needs’ workshop … for every Chamber member.

According to Chamber member DTB Solutions, IT onDemand can help companies reduce operating costs and streamline their technology provision to better survive the current uncertain economic climate.

IT onDemand is an innovative approach to IT, whereby business applications are delivered to an organisation across the internet on a pay-per-user basis.

Its aim is to allow organisation to focus on their core business activities and eliminate many of the overheads associated with procuring and maintaining a dedicated IT infrastructure.

With IT onDemand routine maintenance, monitoring and upgrade activities are managed remotely by IT experts. This makes it possible for small and medium-sized organisations to take advantage of professional IT systems similar to those used by large corporate companies, but without the associated upfront costs.

From Desktops, VOIP and Exchange to Managed Applications and Dynamic Servers, IT onDemand can provide you with that competitive edge, modernise your IT service and deploy new applications, whilst avoiding upfront capital expenditure and having to employ additional support staff.

Email info@dtbsolutions.co.uk or call David on7946 605011 for your free 1 day profiling session.

www.dtbsolutions.co.uk

Due to exceptional demand Stepclever is hosting an additional seminar on Tuesday 10thMarch.

Liverpool Chamber of Commerce is hosting a free half day course to assist businesses in north Liverpool to improve their marketing and presentation techniques.

The course, funded by Stepclever, is designed to help them win new business. The event will cover both one-to-one meetings and panel and tender situations.

These workshops aim to provide the skills and information to tender successfully and win new contracts in both the public and private sectors, focusing on selling effectively and communicating the right attributes.

Marketing and presentation techniques will provide either a hands-on, practical refresher, or a first time session on a number of different aspects and demonstrate how to raise the game in personal presentation.

The course begins at 2.00pm with1.45pm registration and a 5.00pm finish and includes refreshments and course notes. To book call June Davies on 0151 224 1891 or email june.davies@stepclever.org.uk

This workshop will be held in the city centre No 1 Old Hall Street, Liverpool. It is part of a series of FREE workshops to improve small businesses chances of winning contracts in both the public and private sectors.

Stepclever is free for everyone that lives, or runs a business in the wards of Anfield, Everton, County, Kirkdale, Linacre and Derby.

If you live in an area of Liverpool with low bike ownership, you could qualify for a free tailor-made package of cycling support.

Residents in qualifying areas are entitled to free bikes, equipment and ‘Dr Bike’ cycle repair sessions. Bike checks, cycle maintenance courses and cycle skills training are being wheeled out across the city as part of a new TravelWise initiative to help get Liverpool cycling.

As well as being a great way to get around quickly and reliably, cycling is good exercise, and is environmentally-friendly. And best of all it’s free!

The scheme is run for TravelWise by Cycling Solutions, a local not for profit company who help thousands of people to cycle every year. It is funded by the Neighbourhood Working Fund for Liverpool.

To find out more and if you qualify, go to the Let’s Travel Wise website.

It could be you!

Liverpool Chamber of Commerce CEO Jack Stopforth today condemned Liverpool City Council’s plans to increase the period for car parking in the city centre from 6pm to 8pm.

He said: “To be even thinking of this on the very day that we have had a major employer, Shop Direct, announce 900 redundancies is deplorable. This Council talks a lot about being business friendly and listening to the voice of business but I know of no consultation with the Chamber of Commerce or anybody else having taken place.

“The investments made by the private sector in the city’s retail, leisure and hotels has been absolutely enormous and all of them will suffer as a consequence of this planned extension, not to mention shoppers, visitors, city centre workers and residents.

“I know that the City has to balance its books but in the teeth of a recession it has an obligation to support businesses and encourage further investment and employment. These proposals will have the opposite effect and will be welcomed by the city’s competitors. Sunday charging and extended evening charges are driving visitors away and jeopardising the progress we all made in 2008.”

What do you think? Do you think, like us, that this can only harm the city centre’s night time economy? Or will it help raise important funds for the council’s coffers in parking fees and tickets?

Let us know in the comments below or take our quick poll:

[polldaddy poll=1322311]

Interested parties are invited to the North West Fraud Forum:

“Fraud in the Credit Crunch”

Thursday, 12 February 2009
The Platinum Suite,
De Vere Whites Hotel,
Reebok Stadium,
Horwich, Bolton, Lancashire

The forum will cover such topics as:

• Impacts on the North West Economy: Is the Region really affected?
• Why invest to fight fraud?
• Is the Public Sector Immune to Fraud?
• Managing the Fraud Risk

The cost is only £69 including VAT and includes lunch.

To find out more details, please email Steve Jackson, Chair, North West Fraud Forum.

Exhibition: 2nd February - 2nd March, Auction: 4th March

dot-art is delighted to announce the launch of the first exhibition to take place in their new three part display space in Queen Avenue, Castle Street; featuring the work of celebrated Liverpool artist Stephen Collett.

The “Cities”  series, which depicts nine of the world’s great metropolis’s, was developed by Collett in 2008 as a response to Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture.  He says of the concept:

“Our Capital of Culture year gave every artist in Liverpool the chance to produce pieces of work which signified our pride for our city and this is how I see Liverpool, a thriving cultural capital which sits comfortably amongst the great cities of the world…

“I wanted these pieces to be recognisable as cities from a distance, yet up close they were slightly abstract and very impressionistic. This is indicative of any cityscape in my opinion, the dominant landmarks forming iconic skylines making every building work in the composition, yet not specifically painting every individual building.”

The collection was exhibited in three locations in 2008 and was viewed by over 10,000 people. After a successful year which included solo shows in Liverpool, London, Berlin and New York, Stephen approached dot-art with the idea of auctioning the collection in aid of charity, as a way of both celebrating the success of 2008 for the artist and the city as a whole, and to benefit a range of worthy causes who are struggling in these uncertain times.

Lucy Byrne of dot-art said: “We are delighted to be involved in this fantastic project, inspired by the generosity of Stephen Collett. His stunning but accessible work has a very wide appeal, and we are confident we can raise significant sums for the charities involved.”

All profits from the sale of the collection of nine paintings will go to the following charities, personally selected by the artist:  The Painting Project in Rio, The Bedford Road Community Centre, Age Concern and Macmillan Cancer Research. Three additional paintings, all depicting Liverpool have been created specifically for the exhibition, and will also be available to buy.

The entire collection will be available to view at dot-art, 16 Queen Avenue, Castle Street from the 2nd February - 2nd March, and online at www.dot-art.com.

The Charity Auction will take place on Wednesday 4th March at 62 Castle Street Hotel, from 6-8pm. Please call 0845 0176660 or email enquiries@dot-art.com for more details.

Lifesaving leukaemia charity, The Anthony Nolan Trust is looking for brave souls to abseil 101ft down the side of Leasowe Lighthouse in Wirral. The abseil will take place on Sunday 29th March.

The 245 year old Leasowe Lighthouse is a stunning historic monument and a well known Wirral landmark. Enjoy the breathtaking views from the top, before braving the 101ft descent to the bottom.

Ruth Carter, Regional Fundraising Manager for the Charity said, “Taking part in local events is a great way to support the charity.  This is a fantastic venue for an abseil, promising an adrenaline rush that will really test your nerves! Why not challenge your work colleagues and customers to race you down!”.

Abseiling is open to all ages and no previous experience is required as all training is given by a professional team. All abseilers will need to register before the event and will be asked to raise a minimum sponsorship of £100.

The Anthony Nolan Trust takes back lives from leukaemia by managing the world’s most successful bone marrow register.

After three years of searching we have finally found a suitable match for Southport school children Ella and Sam Wright. Both have a rare immune deficiency which leaves them open to infection. A bone marrow transplant is their only cure. Thousands of Merseysiders have responded to our appeals to join our register over the past few years and we are sure they would like to support us in our fundraising.

The Anthony Nolan Trust is an independent charity and relies on financial support from individuals and companies to fund its work. It costs the charity £125 to tissue-type each new donor to its register.

For an abseil entry form text “FUN Leasowe” and your name and address to 60003, email your details to ruth.carter@anthonynolan.org.uk or visit the Anthony Nolan website.

Tonight Tuesday 27 January 2009

Due to unique circumstances John Haynes and the International Coaching Academy have announce that they will cover the cost of the courses they provide so that you pay nothing.

This is open to manager, directors, owners, staff, or to somebody looking for a new career.

Come Along to The Open Evening to find out more on:

Management
Leadership
Goal Setting
Presentation
Sales Skills
Business Skills
Motivation
Coaching
And many many more…

The open evening is FREE and you will also have the chance to meet other likeminded people looking into self development.

The courses are free for a limited time due to funding.

Email your details to confirm your attendance and see how John and the Team will inspire you.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Time:
5:30pm - 7:30pm
Location:
International Coaching Acadmy - No1. Maryland Street

9.30 - 15.00 3 March, Liner Hotel, Liverpool

The Joule Centre and Envirolink Northwest are holding an open surgery to assist northwest companies and researchers in identifying and securing finance for energy projects.

The event on the 3rd March is open to any northwest business or research body who would like to find out more about the support which is available to promote innovation in the energy sector. The surgery will cover regional, national and international funding sources and representatives from the programmes will be available for 1-to-1 meetings with delegates throughout the afternoon.

Funding sources covered in the surgery include, amongst others, NWDA Finance for Business, Carbon Trust, Technology Strategy Board, IFI, FP7 & Intelligent Energy Europe.

To register to attend please email: events@envirolinknorthwest.co.uk including your name, company,
and any special dietary requirements.

Please note places at this event are limited and will be given on a first come first serve basis.

10am, 11 March 2009 at Liverpool Chamber

Liverpool Chamber of Commerce and UK Border Agency provide information on the new immigration system

Liverpool  Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the UK Border Agency to provide a  seminar designed to help businesses understand the workings of the immigration system, including the recent changes.

There are a number of important procedures that businesses must comply with should they wish to employ foreign workers. The seminar aims to cover all the main issues that businesses need to be aware of.  These include the new policies and processes for obtaining a licence to employ a foreign worker and visas to work in the UK.

The main components of the seminar are:

• Latest information governing the employment of non EEA workers
• Step-by-Step visa application processes including biometrics & how decisions are made.
• The new Points Based System and business visitor routes  which replaced existing work (employment)  schemes and its five  Tiers explained

Elena Enciso, International Trade Executive at LCCI said:

“Businesses can sometimes find it difficult if they are new to the immigration system and these seminars will simplify everything they need to know, including the changes recently implemented. We are pleased that the UK Border Agency sees the benefit in offering such invaluable advice. It is also a good opportunity for businesses of a similar nature to share experiences and contacts.”

Glyn Williams, Director, UK Border Agency added;

“We are delighted to be working with the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce on this seminar and know that businesses will gain a lot from attending. In addition to the main presentation, there will be an informal networking session allowing businesses to spend one-to-one time with our experts and to engage with other businesses facing similar challenges.”

The seminar will take place on 11 of March at 10:00 am at the Council Chamber at LCCI. For further information please contact Elena Enciso, International Departmet at elena.enciso@liverpoolchamber.org.uk.