Liverpool Chamber of Commerce is now an approved Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) study centre.

We are hosting a CIPS taster day at 9am on 8 July at Liverpool Chamber so you can find out more.

CIPS is the professional body representing the purchasing and supply management profession, with more than 45,000 members in more than 150 countries round the world. Its professional programme exists to promote and develop high standards of professional skill, ability and integrity throughout the profession.

Completion of the graduate diploma leads to full membership of the institute and the recognised status of MCIPS.

Purchasing and supply professionals are a valuable assets to any company, especially when highly trained and qualified. CIPS qualifications are internationally recognise and help people make the most of their career whether just starting out or have been professional for some time.

Tutor, Sue Rashid (MCIPS) explained: “Correct purchasing and supply can bring three benefits to a business, adding value by getting the product to market quicker, eliminating waste by removal of duplication or excess stock. Bringing an obvious contribution to the bottom line and that’s why it’s good for business in the present environment.”

CIPS training in Liverpool starts in September 2009, to find out more come along to the CIPS taster day at 9am on 8th July at Liverpool Chamber, One Old Hall Street.

For more information:

call Stephen Sullivan on 0151 224 1880
email CIPS@liverpoolchamber.org.uk
visit http://www.liverpoolchamber.org.uk/cips.html

Hill Dickinson Celebrates Win at Law Society Awards

Liverpool Chamber Patrons Hill Dickinson is celebrating success at this year’s Liverpool Law Society Legal Awards after scooping the Employment Team of the Year title.

The firm’s success was particularly significant as the coveted Legal Awards received a record number of entries this year, across a wide spectrum of firms.

Commenting on the win, Hill Dickinson Managing Partner, Peter Jackson said: “In a year which has seen us expand our international horizons, we are proud to be recognised by the legal industry in Liverpool for our hard work and dedication.”

Hill Dickinson Employment & Pensions Partner, Robert Coward attended the awards ceremony and said, “This win underlines the expertise demonstrated by our lawyers and is testament to the fact we have an exceptional team that is committed to providing outstanding client service.”

Created to celebrate legal excellence in the region, the bi-annual Legal Awards were held on Saturday 27th June at Liverpool’s Crowne Plaza Hotel and attracted a broad range of firms.

Join us for an evening of shopping, great offers and entertainment!

Liverpool ONE  and Liverpool Chamber would like to invite you to an exclusive shopping evening in the Peters Lane designer boutique area of Liverpool ONE.

Retailers in Peters Lane will be conducting special offers on the night from exclusive discounts to prize draws and goodie bags. Stores taking part include Jigsaw, Ted Baker, Dune, Flannels, Leia, Fred Perry, Jones, Crocs and many more - see inside each store for details.

On the evening, Liverpool ONE will launch Love Style, a brand new personal shopping service. You are invited to meet the Liverpool ONE stylist for a complimentary day to night style consultation. There will also be a 10% discount on any bookings taken on the night.

Refreshments will be provided by Liverpool ONEs leisure partners serving canapes for guests to enjoy throughout the evening, and live music will be provided by a string quartet from Liverpool Jazz.

Member fee: £10
Non-member fee: £15

Start: Thursday 2 Jul 2009
Time: 17.30 - 19.30

Book online here

Win your company a big cash prize, or some outstanding professional services, by entering the 2009 Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards.

The awards, designed to encourage new, trailblazing businesses were established in 2001 by Steve Morgan, founder and chairman of the building firm Redrow.

Businesses from Merseyside, North Wales, West Cheshire, Shropshire and Wolverhampton can apply for the awards in 6 categories:

• Best New Business (less than 4 years old)
• Best Social and/or Economic Contribution to the Region
• Best Entrepreneurial Social Enterprise or Charity
• Best Young Entrepreneur (under 25 years of age)
• Best Individual Entrepreneur working in a Social Enterprise or Charity
• Against All Odds (the person or business overcoming the most obstacles to succeed)

The closing date for entrants is 10 September. Winners will be announced at a glittering awards night at Carden Park Hotel near Chester on 19th November.

More information can be found at  www.mf-awards.co.uk.

Tuesday 14 July
Holida Inn, Liverpool
1-5pm

Free help and advice for Liverpool businesses

HMRC encourages customers to use its VAT Online service

If you’re running a successful business, you’ll know how crucial it is to keep up to date with developments. From April 2010, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) plan to phase out paper VAT returns which means that any business with an annual turnover of £100,000 or more, and all newly registered VAT businesses, irrespective of turnover, will have to file their VAT returns online and make payment electronically.

HMRC are here to help you make the simple transition to filing your VAT return online and to highlight the benefits that going online brings to your business.

On Tuesday 14 July 2009, we will be offering free help and advice at the Holiday Inn Liverpool, Lime Street.

This event has been designed especially for VAT registered businesses and will be interactive, with opportunities to ask questions at our online services stand.  We will show how to get started with VAT Online, and other online services, and will let you know where to get further help and support if you need it.  There will be a 45-minute online services presentation at various times during the day, so why not call in at a time convenient to you?

HMRC’s VAT Online event takes place on Tuesday 14 July 2009 at the Holiday Inn Liverpool, Lime Street, Liverpool, L1 1NQ. The event will run from 1.00pm to 5.00pm.

Book your free place online here.

You’ll need to book your place in advance and spaces are limited, so please book early.

Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Trust have some great Superlambananas on sale to raise funds to help beat heart disease:

Our superheartbanana is helping to beat heart disease. Purchase the Trust’s Merseybeat Appeal’s uniquely designed Superheartbanana. The ‘lambs’ look fantastic in any home, make ‘heartwarming gifts’ but most importantly the sales help raise valuable funds for research into heart disease.

Diseases of the heart and circulatory system (CVD) are the main cause of death in the UK and account for over 208,000 deaths each year. About half of all deaths from CVD are from coronary heart disease (CHD) and more than a quarter is from stroke. In the UK, around 227,000 people suffer a heart attack each year, which means someone has a heart attack every two minutes. In about 30% of heart attacks the patient dies.

Liverpool Comedian and Actor, Mr. Ricky Tomlinson, officially launched our unique Superheartbanana in the hospital’s main entrance in February 2009. Within 24 hours our initial stock sold out and we were thrilled that the Superheartbanana has proved so popular. Due to this resounding success and the demand for our ‘Superheartbananas’ we increased our order of stock and they are available to purchase from the Fundraising Office within the hospital or by contacting Carol Kirkham, Fundraising Manager on 0151 600 1423 or by emailing Carol.Kirkham@lhch.nhs.uk

The Superheartbanana is priced at £20.00 per piece, the proceeds of which go to the Trust’s Merseybeat Appeal which is committed to reducing heart disease.

More information regarding the Merseybeat Appeal can be viewed on the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Trust website www.lhch.nhs.uk.

Knowsley Chamber of Commerce invite you to a free International Trade networking seminar entitled “Quick Markets, and the ways in…” , to be held at the Suites Hotel, Knowsley on 8th July from 4.00 until 6.00 pm.

Recognising the enterprising ‘can-do’ capabilities of people in the Knowsley and Sefton Boroughs, the Chambers of Commerce have joined to present a current and down- to-earth EXPORT CHALLENGE to all our would-be international traders and those businesses seeking new markets.
The pound Sterling is at an all-time competitive position against the Euro, which enables quality British goods and services to be offered at keen local prices, including transport. In many cases these could match or undercut continental European competitors. This situation, therefore, provides a new playing field of opportunity for those organisations willing and able to reach the market place.

BUT HOW DO COMPANIES FIND THESE OPPORTUNITIES, AND A ROUTE TO MARKET?

Supported by UKTI, staff from the local NW International Team and one of the British Embassies in Europe, will be on hand to guide you into the methods of finding tenders, agents and distributors; hints & tips in the market; and how to protect your brand name. Learn about terms of delivery and suitable packaging and packing. At the same time, specialists from RBS will be there to outline ways of invoicing in different currencies.

So if you are wondering whether your product might sell in Euro-land, take a positive lead, sign-up for this free introduction to growing your business across the Channel.

To attend simply telephone 0151 477 1356 or e mail  keith.lynch@knowsleychamber.org.uk with your business details.

Venue: Suites Hotel, School Lane, Knowsley, L33 9HA, Map
Date: 8th July 2009
Time: 4.00 – 6.00 pm

‘Opportunity Cologne’ Event in Liverpool on July 3

Presentation of Cologne’s unique business proposition by the City of Cologne, networking lunch and reception & drinks from 11.00 to 14.30 hrs.

Cologne is one of Europe’s premier cities for doing business. Its benefits include:

• central location in Europe’s most populated region
• part of Europe’s largest economy
• international air, rail and road logistics hub
• an audience of 180million within 155 miles
• optimal sector growth consitions
• greater productivity and returns
• highly educated and skilled workforce
• competetive taxes and inviting commercial incentives

Venue: Town Hall, Liverpool

Programme

11.00 Introduction to the City of Cologne

Welcome by the Mayor of Cologne

General introduction and sector introductions:

• Creatives Industries, Media and ICT
• Insurance Industry & Professional Services
• Real Estate Opportunities

13.00 Networking Lunch & Reception

Light lunch and plenty of networking with the Cologne team and experts. The reception is scheduled to end at approx. 14.30 hrs.

You can register online for the event.  While registering you can also pre-book your meeting with the City’s team in order to discuss your project in Cologne.

Book your place here.

Sir Richard Needham of Dyson is pictured presenting at the first Manufacturers’ Survive and Thrive event earlier this year.

A hi-tech Liverpool manufacturer that is using ‘people power’ to rise to the challenges of the recession will share lessons in business improvement at a masterclass at Haydock Park Racecourse on Tuesday 30 June.

The free event is part of The Northwest Regional Development Agency’s (NWDA) Manufacturers’ Survive and Thrive series of events, delivered by The Manufacturing Institute, Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) and Business Link.

Randal Hodson, operations manager for Liverpool- based Gencoa Ltd, a manufacturing and technology partner to the thin film coating industry, will tell the audience how the company is transforming its culture to achieve better performance. As part of an ambitious continuous improvement programme it is involving staff fully in transforming the business and creating better supplier relationships and greater collaborative working between business functions.

Said Adam Buckley, head of programmes for The Manufacturing Institute: “Gencoa is an inspiration to others and an excellent example of how businesses at the sharp end of the recession can use change management techniques to guide their way through turbulent times. This event will provide practical insights and tools and techniques that businesses can immediately apply to deliver some much needed wins.”

Keynote speaker is Professor Tom Cannon, professor of strategic development at the University of Liverpool Management School. He will draw on his research and experiences working with companies such as Microsoft, Tesco, Airbus, American Express, Virgin and General Electric, to show manufacturers how to improve leadership.

Terry Duffy, senior adviser to ACAS will guide delegates through employment relations and employment law and will answer questions from the audience on challenges they are facing.

Ann Mulhaney from MAS North West will advise on proven methods for managing change through people and report on lessons learned from the recent Culture Change initiative involving ten very different manufacturing businesses, including Gencoa.

The Manufacturing Institute offers skills and productivity support to manufacturers and through its delivery of the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) North West can offer manufacturing businesses with fewer than 250 employees a free annual performance review.  This is designed around individual company needs and can identify areas for improvement that offer immediate cost savings and productivity improvements.

Advisers from MAS, Business Link and Train to Gain will be on hand to advise businesses on funded help, support and advice available in the region.

To book free tickets, available to all North West manufacturers, log on to: www.manufacturinginstitute.co.uk/future or call 0800 458 9585.

CAPTION:  Sir Richard Needham of Dyson is pictured presenting at the first Manufacturers’ Survive and Thrive event earlier this year.

The entry deadline for Chamber Awards 2009 is  Friday 26 June.

Your chance to win £50,000!

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to increase your business profile and growth, plus free access to publicity and media opportunities. Celebrate your achievements with Chamber Awards 2009 and receive the recognition you deserve.

Which category will you be entering in this year?

• Business of the Year
• Award for Innovation Through Technology
• Most Promising New Business
• Entrepreneur of the Year
• Achievement in International Business
• Award for Excellence in People Development
• The Green Award
• Excellence in Customer Service

Find out more about each catagory online here.

To enter, all you have to do is fill out the entry form online.