Launch of the Northwest Climate Change Action Plan 2010-2012

Robert Hough, Chair of the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), has opened the third annual Climate Change Conference in Manchester, highlighting the region’s key strengths and opportunities for business as part of a low-carbon economy. 

Joined by a number of speakers, the Conference included the launch of the revised Northwest Climate Change Action Plan for 2010 – 2012, refocusing the commitment of the region towards achieving the ultimate goal of a well-adapting and low carbon region.

The conference was a chance to highlight the Climate Change Partnership’s achievements, highlighting the region’s strengths within research and development, skills provision, finance to assist businesses and improving efficiency. 

This high profile event generated a flurry of announcements from the NWDA, including a £4 million investment for a Rural Carbon Challenge Fund through the Rural Development programme for England. This fund will deliver a minimum of 5 large-scale renewable projects in rural areas, providing the training and support to encourage social and micro-enterprises to develop renewable energy projects.

Other speakers included Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive - Energy Saving Trust; Matthew Wright, Managing Director, Asset Management & Delivery - United Utilities and Richard Ellis, Group Head of CSR - Alliance Boots.

Robert Hough, Chairman, Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) said:

“Whilst much has already been achieved in the region, the first Climate Change Action Plan was only the beginning of our response. The emerging Regional Strategy for the Northwest will help to build on the Government’s focus for delivering sustainable economic growth. With a growing emphasis on the challenges and opportunities climate change presents, developing a low carbon economy will be essential in delivering our wider vision for the region’s future.

“The new Climate Change Action Plan provides a clear and robust framework to ensure the Northwest is in the best possible position to contribute to national carbon reduction targets, and increase resilience to climate impacts. Equally as important will be our ability to capitalise on the economic opportunities this brings.”

For further information visit www.nwda.co.uk and www.climatechangenorthwest.co.uk

Chamber member The Bluecoat Display Centre have a new exhibition coming up in May, and are looking for local support:

1 May – 19 June 2010
Open Mon – Sat 10am. – 5.30pm. Sunday 12-5pm. Admission Free

As part of our artistic exhibition programme this year in Liverpool, we are celebrating the links that the city is proactively encouraging in 2010 with Shanghai, China.

Liverpool is the only city apart from London to have its own pavilion at the large international expo that is taking place there during 2010.

Historically, Liverpool has a long tradition of involvement with China, with China Trade ceramics, textiles and metalware being imported in huge quantities during the 18th and 19th centuries.

We are keen to explore contemporary influences of the Chinese culture that are present in the work of artists currently working in the U.K. and exhibit it at the Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool.

Confirmed artists include:

• Li-Sheng Cheng creates functional silverware and jewellery ranging from textured rings, earrings and bangles to unusual shaped dishes and beakers. Inherited from her Chinese culture and upbringing, she is inspired by the ideas and thoughts that “everything has a life, which should to be cherished and respected”.
• Ken Eastman began working with the Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Company in 2006. Working with original pattern manuscripts from the Derby factory archives, Eastman became absorbed in their originality and wonderful sense of colour and composition. The new range of work was launched in Paris, New York and London in 2009.
• Claire Lowe’s work combines a selection of materials predominantly plastics, including acrylic sheet and epoxy and polyester resins. “I enjoy mixing materials to create new and exciting combinations, for example my use of tea leaves within resin”. This progressed from studying the traditions of loose tea and the introduction of the tea bag.
• Paul Scott‘s work involves the digital manipulation of established vocabularies of printed motif, pattern and image from industrial ceramic archives and engraved book illustration. Cloning and collaging these, sometimes with photographic elements,” I create contemporary artworks in ceramic and printed form”.
• Peter Ting is a highly creative and well-respected ceramics and crystal designer. Ting has worked for over 20 years within the luxury sector, currently with Asprey London, Royal Crown Derby and previously at Thomas Goode, both as design director and MD of Thomas Goode Manufacturing Unit.
• Anthony Wong specialises in the design and manufacture of exciting, innovative, contemporary hand made jewellery and precious objects. Purity of materials, method and form captivates- Distilling and paring designs to the minimum form to produce a piece with a timeless interest, an element of fun and intangible beauty.

We will also be endeavoring to develop relationships with suitable partner organisations that might enable contemporary work from the UK to gain exposure in Shanghai, so would welcome any feedback on this subject.

Bluecoat Display centre, 50-51 the Bluecoat, College Lane Entrance, Liverpool L1 3BZ
email: crafts@bluecoatdisplaycentre.com
Tel: +44 (0)151 7094014
www.bluecoatdisplaycentre.com

A fantastic fundraising event for Marie Curie Cancer Care is taking place on 18t March 2010 @ KOROVA, 32 Hope Street:

• Four successful bands: MinionTV, Midnight Playground, Next Stop Atlanta, Puzzle
• One Dance Group; MD Productions (from Semi-Finals of Britain’s Got Talent)

 There will be a live auction and raffle including items:

• signed Pendulum CD,
• The Wombats exclusive Tour T-Shirts
• Chase & Status exclusive Album T-Shirt
• Exclusive Kensington Regeneration Superlambananas (x3)
• Liverpool Sound City Wristbands (x2)
• Large A0 Size Cheryl Cole HMV banner and more…

If any local restaurants, hotels or businesses would like to donate prizes, please email Ryan Cullan, event organiser.

Time: 18:30 doors

Price: £4.00 in advance, £5.00 on the door

You can get  tickets  2Joes Milkshake Bar in Liverpool One this Friday 26th February from 2:30pm onwards or turn up and pay on the door.

More info on the Elements of Narcissus website

• Half a million pound prize fund for Britain’s best business ideas
• Best business idea in the North West will win £50,000
• Barclays Business Bus will visit Liverpool, 23rd April

Barclays Business is on the hunt for Britain’s best business ideas, whether it’s new businesses or an existing business with a new idea.

From mid-March until the end of July, Barclays will be running a competition to reward ten regional winners with prizes of £50,000 each to get their ideas off the ground.

Whether they’re looking to start a brand new business, manufacture new products, or expand into new markets, entrants can enter to win one of ten regional prizes of £50,000. A panel of expert judges, including celebrity and business icons, will shortlist the three best business ideas per region. With Barclays’ support, each shortlisted entrant will canvas their community, galvanising local support to encourage the public to vote for them.

Then it’s over to the public to choose the overall winner of their region during May, with the winners to be announced in July.

As part of the competition, Barclays will be offering advice to hundreds of potential business owners and existing businesses on how to realise their business ambitions. Taking its expertise to the road, the Barclays Business bus will travel across the UK on a tour to give advice on how local business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs can take their ideas and put them into action. The bus will be visiting the streets of Liverpool on 23rd April.

To take part in the competition, entrants can go online to www.takeonesmallstep.co.uk and fill in an application form, or make an application video to bring their ideas to life

For more information on these and other highway schemes, please visit www.liverpool.gov.uk/highwayprojects

Hall Lane Strategic Gateway
Hall Lane Strategic Gateway, now under construction, will provide a much improved traffic route for vehicles entering Liverpool from the east and will take traffic out of the residential areas.

Work is now on site and on programme. The whole site has been fenced off and all tree clearance works are complete. Demolition work on properties fronting Mount Vernon began w/c February 8th and this is ongoing. There are some works on site to move services for Transco and the access road to the hospital staff car park has been widened to cater for two-way traffic.
There are no major works on the highway or traffic diversions at this time however there will be major diversions from mid March affecting the highway at Low Hill junction.

Temporary signals will be installed at the Crown Street/Brownlow Hill junction prior to the West Derby Street closure in mid-May. Further consultation will take place before the closure begins.

A59/Rice Lane
Work to improve road safety began on January 18th and will take 20 weeks to complete. All businesses remain open for the duration of the works.

While the works are on site, Rice Lane between Hornby Road and Cavendish Drive will be one way coming into the city centre only. Traffic travelling outbound follows a diversion route via Breeze Hill, Southport Road, onto Hornby Road and back onto Rice Lane. Traffic will still be able to access Cavendish Drive from the south but for access only.

Kerbing and footpath work is now complete on the west side of Rice Lane from Queens Drive all along to Hornby Road.

Kerbing and footpath work is now underway on the east side of Rice Lane from Queens Drive working towards Cavendish Drive.

The contractor is also working with utility companies to carry out maintenance work as the scheme progresses.

Dale Street area - United Utilities Work
United Utilities Essential Water Mains Refurbishment Works require the following closures from Monday, 15th February to Sunday, 7th March – the closures will run concurrently with one road closed at a time:

• Sweeting Street is closed to traffic from its junction with Dale Street to its junction with Castle Street;
• Then Princes Street will be closed to traffic from its junction with Victoria Street to its junction with Dale Street;
• Finally Temple Street will be closed to traffic from its junction with Victoria Street to its junction with Dale Street

There will be signed diversion routes in place and access to properties will be maintained when it is safe to do so.

Do you know if your business is meeting its legal requirements for health and safety?

According to St John Ambulance*, worryingly over 15% of businesses have never carried out an assessment to determine risks within the workplace and therefore how to protect staff. The organisation has launched a new course in Liverpool and across the North West aimed at helping small to medium sized businesses understand the basic processes involved in making their workplace legally compliant.

In 2008/9 there were nearly 105,000 injuries which led to absence from work - around two fifths were caused by handling, lifting or carrying and nearly a quarter were due to tripping or slipping**.

The nation’s leading first aid and health and safety organisation is encouraging SMEs to learn how to ensure good practice and prevent workplace accidents.

The new St John Ambulance Health and safety basics course is accredited by the British Safety Council and successful completion of the course results in a BSC certificate. The course is available across the country and includes:

• Health and safety legislation 
• Overview of what a company needs to do to remain compliant 
• Overview of risk assessments and basic procedures
• Introduction to the language of health and safety
• How to stay informed of latest changes
• Ongoing support from a designated SJA health and safety expert via email

Richard Evens, Training and Marketing Director at St John Ambulance says: ‘In the last year there have been over 1100 cases of businesses being taken to court because of health and safety failings, resulting in 87% being convicted. The repercussions can be immense, not only in terms of the safety of their employees but also legally and financially.

‘Health and safety is certainly not something that should be skimped on but we realise that smaller businesses can find it daunting when faced with the prospect of dealing with risk assessments, protocols and legal obligations without having the same resources as large companies. Our Health and safety basics course will help clear up any confusion and ensure employers become proficient in this area and understand how their business can comply.’

Prices for the Health and safety basics course start at £270. The next scheduled courses in Liverpool will take place from 5-6 May and 4-5 August.

Chamber of Commerce members are entitled to a 10% discount off St John Ambulance courses in the North West. 

Call 0844 770 4800 or visit www.sja.org.uk/training

Four free drop-in sessions to help you find and win more business are being held on Monday 1 March at Liverpool Chamber.

Over the last 12 months Stepclever has delivered a wide range of FREE services to help local businesses in north Liverpool connect with new income streams and maximise their potential, whether it be through expanding into new markets, learning the ins and outs of supplying to the public sector or simply learning how to hone your existing business skills.

Kevin Griffiths, Head of Commercial Services working with Stepclever said: “These drop in events are designed to improve a company’s chances of winning contracts in both the public and private sectors. The drop in events will include ‘how to use’ workshops on the Stepclever bespoke online tendering toolkit, identifying new markets through the Stepclever alert service (tender alert) –the help companies get ahead of the game in securing new business.

Kevin Griffiths continued “The unique inter-trading platform is helping businesses in the Stepclever area to trade with each other. There will also be a presentation on the importance of understanding external supply chains that could reduce your operating costs and open up new markets.”

There are two morning and two afternoon sessions at 9.00am to 10.30am, 10.30am to 12noon and 1.00pm  to 2.30pm and 2.30pm to  5.00pm.

To book call 0151 224 1891 or email: june.davies@stepclever.co.uk

This event is part of a series of FREE workshops to improve the chances of winning contracts in both the public and private sectors. Stepclever workshops are free for anyone that lives, or runs a business in the wards of Anfield, Everton, County, Kirkdale, Linacre and Derby.

The public sector tender market has £500 billion worth of business available each year and its important that local businesses are in the best position to be successful.

Stepclever hosts a series of free workshops designed to help north Liverpool and south Sefton businesses to win more business in both the public and private sectors.

These workshops will provide the skills and information to tender successfully and win new contracts.

23 February
Where to Source Public Sector Contracts
Your Business and the Environment & Consortia
This workshop looks at how to identify tender sources and search for tender opportunities. How company and supply chains impact on the environment and how consortia or partnerships can help in maximising business opportunities.

2 March
How to Complete Pre-Qualification Questionnaires (PQQs) /
Successful Tender Management
This workshop focuses on understanding PQQs and the pre-preparation required to assist in successful completion. How to identify which are the best tender opportunities for your business and how to submit successful bids and tenders.

8 March
Understanding Business Finance
Understanding the finances business is key to success. Valuable advice for sole trader, a partner or director it is beneficial to understand the finances of your business.

This programme introduces the documentation and its analysis and also looks at the key business ratios that affect that information and what external people see when they look at financials.

19 March
Effective Credit Control
Effective credit control - getting paid promptly and in full is a vital addition to a business toolkit. This workshop will highlight how late payments affect finances, how effective a company is at recovering debt and what action to take to improve debt collection processes and techniques.

These workshops will be held at Anfield Sports and Community Centre,Lower Breck Road, Liverpool L6 0AG. It will be held from 9.00am to 4.00pm and include refreshments, lunch and course notes.

To book call 0151 224 1891 or email: june.davies@stepclever.co.uk

This workshop is part of a series of FREE workshops to improve the chances of winning contracts in both the public and private sectors. Stepclever workshops are free for anyone that lives, or runs a business in the wards of Anfield, Everton, County, Kirkdale, Linacre and Derby

Liverpool is to host an extra special Chinese New Year party this weekend to celebrate the 10th anniversary of twinning with Shanghai.

The twinning celebration, which comes less than three months before Liverpool heads to the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, will be a traditional blessing ceremony to mark the 10th birthday of the largest Chinese Arch in any Chinatown outside of mainland China - at 12 noon on Saturday, 20 February.

The following day Liverpool’s Chinatown area, which will be dressed in red with Chinese style flags and special lighting, welcomes in the Year of the Tiger with the spectacular fire cracker display at 1.00 pm at Great George Square (at the end of Nelson Street) a key highlight.

The Chinese new year celebrations, organised by Liverpool Chinatown Chinese New Year Co-ordinating Committee and Liverpool City Council, run from 12noon to 4pm and includes the much loved lion, dragon and unicorn dances, Tai Chi demonstrations and a Chinese New Year market (Great George Street).

A whole host of other eye-catching events will be displayed along Nelson Street, Berry Street and Duke Street area, including live music and a fun fair while educational activities will be held at The Blackie. (Liverpool’s Chinese New Year programme can be downloaded at www.lcba.net)

St. Luke’s Church, on Berry Street, will also be rejoicing in the celebrations, with Urban Strawberry Lunch inviting the public to decorate the war damaged building.

In the evening, the VIP and Chinese Variety Show will be hosted at Britannia Adelphi Hotel. This year’s theme is ‘East meets West’ with an amazing line up of cultural and artist entertainments including: the Pagoda Chinese Youth Orchestra and traditional and contemporary artists from Wah Sing Chinese Community Centre.

ROAD CLOSURE NOTICE

Liverpool’s Chinese New Year Celebrations – in effect from 7 am to 6pm on Sunday, 21 February:

• Great George Street (from its junction with St. James Street to its junction with Duke Street)
• Duke Street (from its junction with Great George Street to its junction with Kent Street)
• Upper Duke Street (from its junction with Great George Street to its junction with Rodney Street)
• Berry Street (from its junction with Bold Street to its junction with Duke Street)
• Nelson Street (from its junction with Great George Street to its junction with Upper Pitt Street)
• Grenville Street South (from its junction with Bailey Street to its junction with Cornwalis Street)
• Wood Street (from its junction with Colquitt Street to its junction with Berry Street)
• Seel Street (from its junction with Slater Street to its junction with Berry Street)
• Knight Street (from its junction with Berry Street to its junction with Rodney Street)
• Roscoe Street (from its junction with Leece Street to its junction with Upper Duke Street)
• Sankey Street / Griffiths Street / Bold Place / Back Berry Street / Roscoe Lane / Back Knight Street / Cookson Street / Raffles Street
• Colquitt Street (from its junction with Parr Street to its junction with Seel Street)

LEAD is an innovative leadership programme designed specifically around the needs of SME owner -managers.

LEAD has been piloted by Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) in conjunction with the NWDA and since its inception in 2004 over 150 businesses have been through the 10 month leadership programme.

To experience a taste of what LEAD can offer you, sign up for the free LEAD Preview Event. This will allow you to determine whether LEAD is the right programme for you, but it also guarantees the quality of the programme, as only committed individuals will be selected to participate.

The next preview event will be held at the University of Liverpool Management School on Thursday 25 March, from 5pm – 7pm.

LEAD Taster Programme

5.00 - 5.15pm Welcome and Introduction to the LEAD Programme
5.15 - 5.30pm Icebreaker Session
5.30 - 5.45pm Taster Master Class
5.45 - 6.00 pm Past Delegate’ s Experience
6.00 - 6.15pm Break/Networking
6.15 - 6.30pm Introduction to Coaching
6.30 - 6.45pm Introduction to Action Learning
6.45 - 7.00pm Summing up
7.00pm onwards Free Wine & Dine/Networking

To book:

Phone: 0151 795 3723
Email: poojak@liverpool.ac.uk

Further details of the next LEAD Preview Event to be held on Thursday 25th March can be found here [PDF]