Liverpool Biennial has announced a number of new partnerships for its 2012 exhibition.

Hotel Indigo Liverpool will be the official hotel partner, and The Cotton Lounge is the official bar partner.

In addition, The Monro and The James Monro are official restaurant partners.

Hotel Indigo Liverpool is located within the commercial district of Liverpool, whilst The Cotton Lounge bar is situated within Hotel Indigo.

Paul Smith, Executive Director of Liverpool Biennial, said: “Hotel Indigo will ensure that Liverpool Biennial 2012 maintains the level of ambition and quality that is associated with the UK’s leading festival of contemporary art.

David Hughes, General Manager of Hotel Indigo Liverpool, said: “We look forward to working closely with the Biennial team in making the event a huge and continued success.”

The partnership with The Monro Group is based on its reputation for food, atmosphere and service. Will Lyons, owner of The Monro Group, said: “The partnership is a reflection of our passion to celebrate Liverpool’s world leading cultural landscape.”

Liverpool Biennial is a free contemporary art festival, presented every two years.

Liverpool Biennial 2012 will take place from September 15 2012 to November 25 2012. For more information, visit www.biennial.com.

Liverpool Lighthouse are providing local young people a chance, for one day only, to experience what it’s like to be a star – in order to raise their aspirations and to help encourage them to keep working hard in order to develop their talents and achieve success in the music industry.

Working with Liverpool One five young people and a boy band (all from north Liverpool) have been given the opportunity to perform on the same stage as X factor hero Rebecca Ferguson, who is from Anfield – which is also the base of the gospel arts venue Liverpool Lighthouse.

The performances will take place on a Stage in Liverpool One from 3pm, building up to the switch on of the Christmas lights and a performance by Rebecca Ferguson at 6pm on Wednesday 9^th November.

Harmonize Youth Connect Manager Matt Moreton says “when Liverpool One approached us to provide acts for the turning on of the Christmas lights we were very happy to give some of our most talented young people this opportunity. These young people come from mixed backgrounds, some having been excluded from main stream education, but they all have a passion for music, and it has helped inspire them to make positive choices in their lives.”

Liverpool Lighthouses Harmonize programme uses music, urban arts and personal development to engage with young people excluded from, or at risk of exclusion from school. The learners work towards 5 GCSE level qualifications: Performance skills, Music Technology, Technical theatre, English and Maths. They develop confidence and self esteem through performance and the support and care of the staff.

13-15 December 2011

UKTI North West are inviting North West Environmental, Energy and Power businesses to join a sector mission to Power-Gen 2011 in December.

What is Power-Gen?

POWER-Gen International is the industry leader in providing comprehensive coverage of trends, technologies and issues facing the generation sector. As the need to operate more efficiently and cost-effectively becomes increasingly important, no other event bridges challenges with solutions like POWER POWER-Gen International.

Power-Gen International – Sectors of Interest include:

• Power Generation and Distribution (Off site and on Site)
• Conventional Energy (coal, natural gas, petroleum)
• Nuclear
• Hydroelectric
• Renewable (Biomass, Wind & Solar)
• Energy Storage                                       

What is on offer?

• Comprehensive assistance and support throughout the visit from UKTI market visit manager
• Management and co-ordination of mission arrangement
• Post-mission de-briefing and follow-up assistance to help you capitalise on your visit
• In market briefing and business dinner
• In-depth market research and identification of contacts in the market appropriate to your business supplied by your local UKTI via OMIS (chargeable service)

Costs
The registration fee for the mission will be £444, this will cover:

• Market briefing report
• Local UKTI staff on hand to assist with enquiries
• Companies will be required to arrange and pay for their own flights and hotel accommodation.
• It is also essential that companies carry out some research into the market through the Overseas Market
• Introduction Service (OMIS) prior to departure.  UKTI can offer tailor-made research for your business by providing a market and sector overview, identifying potential business contacts, and / or scheduling
  meetings in the market. This is a chargeable service, depending on the depth of research required.

Registration of Interest

To receive a full application form or to obtain more information, please  email events@uktinorthwest.co.ukClosing date for application – 18 November 2011

Blind and partially sighted people in Merseyside who want to find out more about the basics of using a computer are invited to attend a free training course.

The Mobile I.T. training sessions are being run by Henshaws Society for Blind People, one of the main providers in the North of England of expert support, advice and training to anyone affected by sight loss and other disabilities.

During the 12 weekly sessions, visually impaired adults in Merseyside will acquire all the computer skills needed to get up and running. All of the computers will be equipped with specialist magnification or speech-based ‘access technology’ which means that the course will be open to anyone who has experienced sight loss.

The training sessions will also provide Internet and email tuition to enable people to send emails and browse the internet.

The sessions last for 2.5 hours. They are taking place in the following community venues:

• Birkdale Library, Liverpool Road, Birkdale  on Wednesday morning and afternoon
• Bootle Library, Stanley Road, Bootle, on Monday morning
  Knosley (Bradbury Centre until New Year) Yuens Way on Thursday afternoon
• Ashville Lodge, Ashville Road, Birkenhead  on Thursday morning
• St Helens Millennium Centre, Corporation Street, St Helens,  on Tuesday morning and afternoon and Thursday morning and afternoon

Bill Milner, the charity’s Merseyside Area Manager, Said: “These training sessions will be an ideal starting point for visually impaired people, even those who have never used a computer before.

“Being able to use a computer and surf the web is just as important for blind and partially sighted people as it is for anyone else. Whether it’s to look for a job, shop online or keep in touch with friends by email, these sessions will give people all the skills they need to use their computer with confidence.

“Over the years, our staff have built up considerable expertise of providing computer-based training to visually impaired adults. It may sound daunting at first, but I’d urge people to come along and give it a try. The sessions are very relaxed and everyone receives plenty of individual tuition.”

Anyone interested in booking a place or finding out more, can do so by phoning Neil Kynaston, Henshaws I.T. Training Manager on 0151 708 7055.

More information about Henshaws society for Blind People is available online at www.henshaws.org.uk

A Christmas Carol – November 23rd 2011, 7.30pm

Charles Dickens’ family classic A Christmas Carol is set to come to Liverpool Cathedral this November.

Produced by Saltmine Theatre Company, the performance takes place on Wednesday 23rd November at 7.30pm. Perfect for all ages, the play tells the classic story of Scrooge, and what happens when he is visited on Christmas Eve by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.

Saltmine Theatre Company believes in using the power of theatre to enhance lives and has been touring professionally in theatres, schools and churches across the UK since it was established in 1985. Saltmine is being brought to Liverpool Cathedral with the help of Vikki Shacklady, a youth worker from Ormskirk. Vikki has worked with Saltmine to organize the venue and the cast, which is made up of four skilled professional actors, who use clever innovations with props and a number of fast wardrobe changes to portray a vast array of characters.

Vikki’s interest in the Dickens story, and in using the Cathedral as a venue, comes from her own experience. Vikki said, “The Cathedral has always been a very important building to me, and it has played a very significant part in my spiritual journey. Now that I am a Youth Worker, I wanted to help introduce the Cathedral to as many young people and families as possible. What better way than through a play that follows the spiritual journey of Scrooge from a man who doesn’t care for the people around him, to one who gives thanks for everything he has and goes on to do good deeds.”

Tickets cost £8.00, £5.00 (Conc), £6.00 Group Tickets (10 or more in a single purchase). Tickets from www.cathedralshop.com 0151 702 7255. Car Parking - £3.00 pay on entry.

Here’s a special event coming up from St Joseph’s Hospice (Jospice):

Liverpool’s own answer to The Last Night of the Proms is coming up on Saturday, 4th February. The high spot of the Jospice Golden Jubilee Year will be a night to remember – a Gala Concert at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir and some magnificent soloists.

The programme will include many well-loved favourites, from the delicate duet from The Pearl Fishers to Zadok the Priest –that powerful Royal Wedding music - of and, of course, will end with traditional flag-waving and Land of Hope and Glory that Brits do with such style!

There is a tradition of celebration concerts at Jospice.  Twenty five years ago, in 1987, Father Francis O’Leary, the founder of Jospice and one of the first people in the world to identify, in 1962, a need for the specialised nursing and care that a hospice provides, chose to mark the Silver Jubilee of his organisation with a concert at the Liverpool Philharmonic.  One of the stars of that occasion was a young local singer who achieved world-wide fame on the opera stage. Her name is Rosa Mannion and she is coming back to the Phil to direct this Golden Jubilee concert.

Ian Tracey, who conducted the RLPO for Father O’Leary’s concert, will take up the baton again for this celebration evening and the compere will be local celebrity the writer Frank Cottrell Boyce.  Well-known tenors Paul Charles Clarke & Ashley Holland will top the bill of soloists and will be joined by Crosby’s own wonderful soprano Danielle Thomas.  Danielle has sung for Jospice on many occasions since she was 12 and is excited to be part of this great evening.

Rosa Mannion says:  “I felt honoured to sing in the Silver Jubilee Concert.  Having started volunteering for Jospice as a teenager, it was great to come back to Liverpool to take part in that concert.  Now to be directing the Golden Jubilee concert is such a joy and privilege and I can assure you of a wonderful evening.”

The Fund-raising Director of Jospice, Pat Murphy, explained “We wanted a concert for our special year that everyone would enjoy, hence choosing twenty of the best known classical great pieces of music.  Even if you do not know the piece by name, you will recognise it when you hear it.  Putting this concert together with Ian and Rosa has been a lot of fun and it will be an evening of real celebration.”

Tickets for the Jospice Golden Jubilee Concert, which is sponsored by Medicash Health Care and Maghull Developments, are now available direct from Jospice on 0151-924-3812 or at www.jospice.org.uk or from the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on 0151-709-3789 or at www.liverpoolphil.com.

There is a chance to get a taste of the quality of the soloists at the Golden Jubilee Concert in advance!  Rosa and Danielle will be singing at the annual Jospice Christmas Concert on Saturday, 3rd December, at St. Thomas of Canterbury church in Waterloo.  The Christmas concert begins at 7.30pm and tickets are available from Jospice on 0151-924-3812.

FACT, in partnership with Amaze, presents the next Roy Stringer event with respected entrepreneur and UK Digital Champion, Martha Lane Fox at 3pm, 1 November at FACT*.

Lane Fox joins a panel of guests including: Professor Andy Miah, community engagement expert Patrick Fox (FACT/Arena Housing), Director of Strategy at Aurora Media John Eagan, Managing Partner at Amaze Natalie Gross, and Google’s Peter Barron. The panel will discuss how inspiring digital content can help encourage the 100,000 people in Liverpool (25% of the population) who have never been on the Internet to take their first steps online, and the role cultural and creative industries can play in introducing off liners to the amazing digital content on offer.   

The debate will be chaired by Herb Kim, CEO of Codeworks and founder of the Thinking Digital Conference.

Martha Lane Fox is the UK Digital Champion and heads up the Race Online 2012 campaign which aims to get the 8.3 million UK residents who have never used the Internet online. An inspirational figure known for her public sector and charity work, she came to prominence after setting up lastminute.com with Brent Hoberman in 1998. Lane Fox is also a non-executive director of Marks & Spencer, Channel 4 and mydeco.com.

Liverpool is in the process of recruiting of 5,000 Liverpool digital champions - local people who are willing to support their friends, neighbours and colleagues to go online for the first time and benefit from all the advantages that can bring.
Mike Stubbs, FACT Director/CEO said:

“It’s an honour and a pleasure to have Martha with us for the fourth annual Roy Stringer event. As a passionate advocate of digital technology, Martha is someone we at FACT admire very much. I am looking forward to a lively debate about the role all of us, including the cultural sector, can play in ensuring that we open up the doors to the digital world.”

Martha Lane Fox said:

“It’s great to be taking part in the discussion on how the cultural and creative community could encourage the 100,000 Liverpudlians who have never been online to take their first steps, by introducing them to inspirational digital content through the Give an Hour campaign.”

Natalie Gross, Managing Partner at Amaze, said:

“Amaze is delighted to partner with FACT for this year’s Roy Stringer event – Roy was a true digital visionary, who Amaze is immensely proud to be connected with. His passion for digital innovation remains a key part of the Amaze brand. ”

You can book your free place on the FACT website: www.fact.co.uk

Marther Lane Fox will also join Liverpool Chamber and others for a debate on closing the digital divide in society at 11am at Liverpool Innovation Park. Places are free and you can book online here.

24 October 2011 registration at 09.30 am
Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, Number One Old Hall Street, Liverpool L3 9HG

No charge

Northwest businesses with an interest in South Eastern Europe are invited to attend a free seminar in Liverpool.

Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) Northwest is inviting Northwest companies to a free drop in clinic  focused on trade with South-Eastern Europe. It will offer delegates an opportunity to learn more about winning business in these dynamic markets.

UKTI Commercial Officers from Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia will be in attendance to discuss potential opportunities & how best to succeed in their respective markets. Staff from the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) North West and UKTI North West will be present to let you know what
specialised support and advice is on offer. Delegates have the opportunity to hold prearranged 20mins one-to-one business meetings to discuss specific opportunities.

Registration
For further information on this event or to reserve a free place please email eenw@business-support-solutions.co.uk.

Liverpool is the latest stop for NatWest’s ‘Ambitions Bus’ - a mobile business advice service aimed at entrepreneurs looking to start their own company and small business owners.

The double-decker Routemaster bus will visit the Business & Technology Show at Aintree Racecourse on Tuesday 18th October from 10am until 3.30pm.

NatWest customers and non-customers can benefit from a range of free business advice onboard the bus.  Relationship Managers will be available to offer a business review to SME owners.  Entrepreneurs looking to start their own business can receive feedback on their plans from NatWest start-up advisers.

The bus was launched at last month’s Celebrate Cheshire Event and will visit 16 other UK locations during the next two months.  Each visitor to board the bus can also enter a competition to win one of eight iPads.

Mark Winters, Managing Director of NatWest Business Banking in the North West, said: “Small businesses and entrepreneurs form the backbone of the North West’s economy.  We’re committed to making it easier for them to do business particularly in the current climate.  We would encourage business owners or those people thinking of starting up for the first time to come and talk to us to see what kind of help and support is available.”

But that’s not all…the event will also feature:

Business Exhibition - Workshops & Demonstrations - Ask the Expert - Business Showcase & Speed Networking - Free Marketing Clinics - New Product Pitches - Chance to ‘Have a Go’ at a new Skill - Free Management Clinics - Business Information & Advice - Free Head & Back Massages - Special Promotions & Prizes - Free Wine Tasting

Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) & University of Liverpool Conference Northern Futures? Responses to the Coalition Government’s Policies and their Impact on the North

Thursday 10 November 2011 l Victoria Hall, University of
Liverpool, 1 Brownlow Street, Liverpool L69 3GL

Eighteen months after the general election, this conference will take stock of the Coalition Government’s proposed policy changes – including regeneration funding and the radical reforms to planning, housing and benefit provision – and explore how communities, local government, universities and businesses in Northern England can get the best outcome.

The conference will build on the growing set of analyses of the interaction between housing, regeneration and planning reforms and the potentially significant consequences for the future of England. Regional planning structures are being removed, and the delivery of housing and investment is now focused on a model of financial incentives, such as the New Homes Bonus.

The  Treasury’s ‘Plan for Growth’ illustrates a major change in Government investment and regeneration policy, to focus on areas of high market demand, rather than those of lower demand with potentially greater social needs.

There is a growing commentary on the impacts of these changes – not just the impact on
places where regeneration funding has been cut, but the wider impact of mechanisms such as the New Homes Bonus in redistributing Rate Support Grant from Northern metropolitan areas to Southern areas of higher growth. Such outcomes have re-ignited interest in spatial inequalities and in whether, over the last 30 years, public investment patterns have mediated or exacerbated regional disparities.

As well as establishing the current political, policy and economic factors shaping the country’s future, the conference will also seek to create constructive recommendations about how England can reach its full potential, recognising that a prosperous London and South East requires a prosperous nation as a whole.

This one-day conference is structured in two parts.  The first session will look at the existing impacts of the reform process and will provide an assessment of current and expected impacts on communities through a series of high-profile keynote speakers and a one-hour interactive debate which allows the opportunity for direct and powerful discussion on the future of the North and securing a prosperous nation.

The second session will pose creative questions about how to respond, both in the short term and in the wider context of England’s future.  The debate will focus on the kinds of governance, regulation and investment which might be required to build a more efficient and fairer distribution of opportunity across the nation. In particular, it will focus on the prospect of private sector investment replacing public sector regeneration finance.

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