Well Connected Liverpool Business Magazine October 2018

Well Connected Official Magazine for Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce - Autumn 2018

Steven Connolly

Inside •

Introducing The 1850 Club

•

International Trade Club Launches

•

Taking retail to the next level

Chamber 2018 Awards Shortlist Announced

Introducing

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Welcome & Contents

Welcome to the latest edition of Well Connected Magazine

Celebrating excellence in business

elcome to the Autumn Edition W of Well Connected, the magazine for the Chamber of

Commerce which, in this edition, is focussing on celebrating excellence in business.

There is a distinct feeling of starting afresh after the long, hot summer and the conclusion of the International Business Festival and the incredible visit of the Giants. As we enter the autumn we look forward to capitalising

on the opportunities ahead of us as a business community inthe face of a period of considerable upheaval and change in our country.

In these times of challenge, it will be those businesses that demonstrate their adaptability, value and purpose that will ultimately prosper.

Our Annual Dinner & Awards this year reflect the value of business excellence and we’re excited by both the calibre of entries for the awards and the commitment of sponsors and strategic partners to both the event and the chamber’s ongoing delivery for businesses.

Details of the shortlist are to be found on page 4.

Find Inside...

Contents 4-5

7

8-9

11

Chamber News 30

Chamber Membership

Economy

Health & Wellbeing

News

page

33

page

39

TRANSPORT

INTERNATIONAL

How the Liverpool city region is tackling transport and air pollution

The value of International Trade Training

41

Culture & Growth Finance

20-23 International

46-47 Chamber in the City

16-18 Members News 44-45 Ask the Expert

24

My Story

28

Members News 49 Chamber

20

Regards Paul Cherpeau CEO

38-39 Chamber Events

40

42-43 Members News

29

page

Kingsley (page 17) and Coeus Insurance Management (page 24) and the campaigning of Mersey Care through the Zero Suicide Alliance.

The activities of the Chamber have been plentiful throughout the summer and we are building a diverse, active and purposeful programme for businesses designed to provide excellent network opportunities, trusted information and access to expertise. We’re here to build excellence in business. You’ll read about it here. Enjoy the read.

33-35 Transport

14-15 Skills

26-27 Cover Feature

We feature Steven Connolly on our front cover and as the subject of our feature interview this issue.

Steven’s recent arrival as the new Estate Director of Liverpool ONE reflects this sense of a fresh start, building upon the work undertaken

by Chris Bliss in previous years.

A challenging retail climate and the building upon a legacy of ten years outstanding contribution to Liverpool’s economy are discussion points in our interview with Steven on page 26 and 27.

Throughout the issue you’ll read about the excellence of local businesses, including the work of our Strategic Partners and their interaction through ‘The 1850 Club’, charitable campaigns initiated by

48

Staff Directory

50

5 Minutes with...

page

26

CHAMBER EVENTS

LIVERPOOL ONE

Chamber Launches Business Hub in South Liverpool

Taking retail to the next level

New Members

Enquiries Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce Number One Old Hall Street, Liverpool L3 9HG t: 0151 227 1234 e: membership@liverpoolchamber.org.uk w: www.liverpoolchamber.org.uk Publisher Benham Publishing Limited, Aintree Building, Aintree Way, Aintree Business Park, Liverpool L9 5AQ t: 0151 236 4141 e: admin@benhampublishing.com w: www.benhampublishing.com Published October 2018 © Benham Publishing

Contributing Editor John Dean e: john@benhampublishing.com Editorial Content Manager Zoe Bleasdale e: editorial@liverpoolchamber.org.uk Advertising and Features Karen Hall Tel: 0151 236 4141 e: karen@benhampublishing.com Advertising Sales Tony Sheldon e: tony@benhampublishing.co.uk Studio Mark Etherington e: studio@benhampublishing.com Media No.1635

Disclaimer

Well Connected is mailed without charge to all Chamber members and distributed at all Chamber events.

All correspondence should be addressed to the Editor at Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce. Views expressed in publication are not necessarily those of Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce.

Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden except by permission of the Editor. © 2018.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in this journal, Benham Publishing and its agents can accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributions in advertising or editorial content.

Benham Publishing cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in web or email links supplied to us.

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Chamber News

Join us at this year’s Liverpool & Sefton Chambers Annual Dinner and Awards.

T

he magnificent Rum Warehouse, situated at the historic Stanley Dock, will once again provide a stunning backdrop to this year’s Annual Dinner and Awards, sponsored by SP Energy Networks, on Thursday 1 November.

Stephen Stewart, Director at SP Energy Networks explained why SP Energy Networks is delighted to be a sponsor of the Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce Awards Dinner for the second year running. “We are completely committed to supporting local businesses in the local area. Each of the six award categories celebrates and recognises the incredible contribution that these businesses bring to the local community.

We're extremely proud to be a part of the evening and wish all finalists the best of luck."

Mike Moran MBE, CEO of Proton Partners International, will be joining us as our keynote speaker. Born and raised in Liverpool, Mike will talk about his personal and professional journey so far including how he set out to achieve his vision of creating a better future for cancer patients, including here in Liverpool.

The shortlist is as follows:

Responsible Employer of the Year (over 250 employees) Sponsored by Growth Partners Plc. • Kier Construction • Liverpool John Moores University • Mott MacDonald • Revolution Bars Group

Responsible Employer of the Year (under 250 employees) Sponsored by Arriva North West.

• Bulky Bob’s • BWM • Construction Impact Framework • Liverpool ONE • The Webinar Vet

Workplace Health and Wellbeing Sponsored by Proton Partners International.

• Arup • BWM • Everton in the Community • Health@Work • Peel Land and Property Group Management Limited • Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

Exporter of the Year

Sponsored by Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

• Clarke Energy • Colloids • Counterline • Yanco

Digital and Technology

Sponsored by BT Local Business.

• Access Install LTD • Connect • Mashbo

• Sourced

• The Webinar Vet

Local Hero

Sponsored by Rutherford Cancer Centres • Chasing the Stigma – Jake Mills • Kier Construction – Wayne Blair

• KODE – Lord Aaron Hayes

• Liverpool Bereavement Service – Sue Johnston • Liverpool BID – Bill Addy

• NW RFCA – Gordon Black

• Partnership for Learning Charity – Maureen Leatherbarrow • Peel Land and Property Group Management Limited – Ian Pollitt

The party will continue at the fabulous Richmond Hotel in Hatton Garden, hosted by The Know Group.

We look forward to welcoming you all on Thursday 1st November. If you haven’t already booked your tickets, please see the details below.

Members: £95+VAT per place Non-member: £125+VAT per place

Book your tickets online at www.liverpoolchamber.org.uk email events@liverpoolchamber.org.uk 4

or call 0151

227 1234

Chamber News

The 1850 Club is the Chamber of Commerce senior business development club for Strategic Partner members

It aims to facilitate and enable direct business development activity and create a high level network of people to build relationships, showcase products and services and create positive transactional business. The 1850 Club meetings take place regularly with each Strategic Partner having the opportunity to co-host an event during the year.

T

his quarter saw the inaugural 1850 Club launched with strategic partner The Know Group. The event took place at the boutique hotel, The Richmond, enabling guests to sample a range of the hospitality on offer at this amazing venue, including a tour of the hotel and a look around Eat, Sleep, Love, a new type of co-living accommodation for Liverpool City Centre.

T

he most recent 1850 Club event was held at the Crowne Plaza Liverpool – John Lennon Airport hotel, brand new Strategic Partners of the Chamber.

T

he iconic Liverpool Football Club hosted the second 1850 Club in early September. Guests enjoyed excellent cuisine prepared

by Chef Rob (Virgil Van Dijk's personal chef on match days) in the top class Executive Box as well as a tour around the venue including an opportunity to sit in Jurgen Klopp’s seat, the highlight of the event for some of the attendees!

Guests experienced a demonstration from Chef Benny on how to prepare a Beijing duck as opposed to the more common Peking version.

The authentic Chinese food was enjoyed alongside Gin & Tonics courtesy of Halewood International, the UK’s largest independent drinks manufacturer and distributor.

To find out more about the 1850 Club or becoming a Strategic Partner please contact Lee Stanley, Head of Business Development on 07383 090348 or lee.stanley@liverpoolchamber.org.uk Photos courtesy of Antonio Franco Photography www.antonionfranco.net

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he last decade has seen a T boom in the North West social sector and this growing

economy has led to an increased demand for a wider range of investment options that satisfy different needs.

First Ark Social Investment help get finance to the people and projects that make a difference.

We commissioned a report to better understand the challenges facing North West social enterprises looking for investment and identify how we could help.

Our research identified a number of stumbling blocks for social businesses looking to secure funding. A lack of support through the application process was flagged as a significant problem, particularly as applicants found the whole process excessively long and complex. If an application was unsuccessful there was not enough feedback as to why or guidance about what could have been done differently,

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and signposting to other funds was almost non-existent. As the sector continues to grow, tailored financial products and support which addresses these issues could make a massive impact.

We want to make it easier for social organisations to get the backing they need to grow faster and help more people. Our investment fund, Invest for Impact is a new approach to financing, providing competitive flexible finance with wrap around support.

To date we have had 25 investments approved under our Invest for Impact fund, totalling over £2.75m. Through the Reach fund, we have also helped 16 organisations obtain investment readiness grants of up to £15,000. Working with charities, voluntary groups, and social businesses, we offer support and advice every step of the way, helping them access funding and get the most value out of it.

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Membership

Lee Stanley

Head of Business Development

H

ello members, I would like to start by saying what a fantastic 3 months it has been for the Liverpool & Sefton Chamber.

Our presence in the city is expanding and I would like to welcome the following businesses as new Strategic Partners, Growth Partners’, Coeus Insurance, Revolution Cavern Quarter & Albert Dock, Crowne Plaza Liverpool – John Lennon Airport , ACSL Solicitors, Mediate legal, HM Growth Nationwide Management Services, GSTS, Construction Impact Framework, Liverpool John Moores University and Baltic Creative.

We also saw the exciting launch of our 1850 Club which will be a regular feature on our

events calendar. The club is a senior business development networking group for our Strategic Partners and will exist to facilitate and enable direct access to each others products and services.

Our South Liverpool hub was launched in September at the Crowne Plaza Liverpool – John Lennon Airport, which saw a day of events finishing with an 1850 Club group joining the launch of the hotels new high end Chinese restaurant JIN.

Our next three months will see the expansion of our presence in the city with the launch of our second regional hub at Baltic Creative.

I look forward to seeing you all at our Annual Dinner on the 1st November at the iconic RUM warehouse.

If anyone would like further information on how to join our Strategic Partner or Patron Network please get in touch.

Lee.stanley@liverpoolchamber.org.uk 07383 090348

Rich Smith

Membership Update

From left to right, Lee, Muj and Rich

Hear about what the membership team have been up to throughout the past quarter.

Business Engagement Manager

has been an incredibly busy I&t3Sefton months here in the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce

membership team, but that’s just the way we like it. For me it has involved many fascinating discussions with our gratifyingly diverse membership base, with conversations ranging from how we can assist Liverpool’s business community’s desire for 5G digital connectivity, through to the support that we can provide to our amazing local charities in their fundraising efforts. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have invited me along to some great events over the last 3 months, it has been a privilege to attend and meet so many fantastic people. Some highlights were the launch of B&M Waste Management’s Milner House, Everyman and Playhouse Theatre’s annual supporter’s event and the Mersey Care AGM. I would also like to take the opportunity to welcome our newest member of staff,

Mujahid Miah, who started with us on 1st October.

Muj will be taking on the role of Administration Assistant and will very likely be assisting you all in the coming months with your membership queries and requests. I’m sure you will all, as an extension of the Chamber family, make Muj feel welcome and at home in his new role.

Over the next 3 months our growing team will be focusing on reaching out far and wide across Liverpool and engaging with our existing membership base. I will be prioritising making myself available to meet and discuss opportunities with you all, so please feel free to contact me should you wish to discuss your membership in greater detail.

On a more personal note, I am very pleased to announce that I will be representing the Chamber in this year’s Strictly Nugent competition in aid of Nugent on Saturday 27th October, equally exited and terrified to be flaunting my emerging talents in front of the paying public!

Richard.smith@liverpoolchamber.org.uk 07889 365925

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BRITISH CHAMBERS OF COMM MERCE

QUARTERL LY Y ECON EC NOMIC SURVEY Q3 2018 The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Quarterly Economic Survey – Britain’s largest and most authoritative private sector business survey y – based on more than 5,600 responses from firms across the UK – suggest that this year’s annual economic growth is set to be the lowest since the financial crisis as business confidence weakens.

“

These figures reinforce what we are hearring from businesses up and down the country – the uncertainty over Brexit, and the lack of bold moves to boost business at home, are starting to bite.

It should be a matter of grave concern to government that sales and orders both at home and abroad are stagnating. Weaker sterling is no long ger proving a boon to many of our exporters, while consumer spending is failing to boost the domestic c market.

“

There has never been a more important ttime for the government to bolster business investment, competitiveness and productivity, in the face of significant Brexit headwinds.

Dr Adam Marshall Director General, British Chambers of Commerce

Domestic Sales

AT A G GLANCE

Positive balance (+) = growth | Negative balance (-) = contraction

0%

0% +25%

-25%

-50%

+50%

UK GDP growth and QES balance of firms reporting 60% impro ov ved domestic sales

1. 5%

40%

1. 0%

+25%

-25%

-50% -5

+50%

0.5% 20% 0.0% 0% -0.5%

-75%

+75%

-75%

+75%

-20% -1.0% -40%

+100%

-100%

Q ES % -60% Balance 2006 2008

+100%

-100%

...of manufacturers reported improved domestic sales in Q3 2018, up from +22% in Q2 2018

...of service firms reported improved domestic sales in Q3 2018, down from +23% in Q2 2018

GDP Growth

GDP % Growth (ONS) 201 0

201 2

Service Sector QES

201 4

201 6

-1.5% -2. 0%

201 8

Manufa cturing QES

Balance of firms reporting impro ov ved e ex xport sales +25%

Recruitment difficuties

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-25%

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0%

+25%

-25%

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-50%

+50%

20% 10%

-75%

+75%

-75%

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0% -10%

+100%

-100%

+100%

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...of service firms reported improved export sales in Q3 2018, down w from +15% in Q2 2018

...of manufacturers reported improved export sales in Q3 2018, down from +24% in Q2 2018

50%

-20% Q ES % -30% Balance 2006 2008 201 0 201 2 Manufa cturing Secto r QES

201 4 201 6 Service Sector QES

201 8

Perce entage of firms facing recruitment difficulties (of those attempting to recruit)

50%

90%

80% 70% 25%

75%

25%

75%

60% 50% 40% 30% 20%

100%

0%

0%

100%

...of manufacturers attempted to recruit in Q3 2018, dow wn from 77% in Q2 2018

...of service firms attempted to recruit in Q3 2018 1 , down from 60% in Q2 2018

(note: this is not a percentage balance scale)

(note: this is not a percentage balance scale)

10% 0% 2006

2008 201 0 201 2 Manufa cturing Secto r QES

201 4 201 6 Service Sector QES

201 8

www.britishchambers.org.uk | @britishchambers w

BRITISH CHAMBERS OF COMM MERCE

LOOKING AHEAD The Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) examines busines business sentiment on a range of forward looking indicato ors, including investment intentions, turnover confidence, and prices. In Q3 2018, the proportion of manufacturers expecting cting their prices to increase also rose, with 81% citing the co ost of raw materials as the driver of cost increases, the highes ghest level for seven years. Uncertainty over future trading condiitions is continuing to act as a brake on business investm ment in both the manufacturing and services sectors, and business confidence in turnover and profitability also weakened in n the quarter.

0%

Firms facing pressures to raise prices due to the following factors:

0%

Manufacturing Sector +25%

-25%

+25%

-25%

Service Sector 81% -50%

+50%

-50%

+50%

59%

Prices

-75%

+75%

-75%

42%

+75%

34% 29% 27% +100%

-100%

...of manufacturers expect their prices to incre ease, up from +31% in Q2 2018

2 8% 18%

+100%

-100%

...of service firms expect their prices to increase, unchanged from Q2 2018

Pay settlements

Raw materials Financial c costs

Other overheads

Balance of firms increasing investment in training 0% +25%

-25%

50%

0% +25%

-25%

40%

Em mployment Expectations

Investment

30% -50% -5

+50%

-50%

+50%

10% -75%

+75%

-75%

+75%

0% -10%

+100%

-100%

+100%

-100%

...of manuffacturers increased investment in training in Q3 2018, down from +19% in Q2 2018

...of service firms increased investment in training g in Q3 2018, down from +16% in Q2 2018

0%

0%

-20% Q ES % -30% Balance 2006 2008 201 0 201 2 Manufa cturing Secto r QES

201 4 201 6 Service Sector QES

201 8

Balance of firms expecting to grow their wo orkforce +25%

-25%

50% 40%

+25%

-25%

30% -50%

+50%

20%

-50%

+50%

10% 0% -10% -75%

+75%

-75%

+75%

-20% -30% +100%

-100%

...of manufacturrers expect to grow their workforce over the next three months, down from +29% in Q2 2018

+100%

-100%

...of service firms expect to grow their workforce over the next three months, down from +23% in Q2 2018

0%

0% -25%

Confidence

20%

+25%

-25%

-40% QES % Balance -50% 2006 2008 201 0 201 2 Manufa cturing Secto r QES

201 4 201 6 Service Sector QES

201 8

UK GDP growth and QES balance of firms confident 80% their turnover will increase

1. 5%

60%

1. 0%

+25%

40% -50%

+50%

-50%

0.5%

+50%

20% 0.0% 0% -0.5% -75%

+75%

-75%

+75%

-20% -1.0%

-40% -100%

+100%

...of manufacturers are confident turnover will increase in the next 12 months, down from +47% in Q2 2018

-100%

+100%

...of service firms are confident turnover will increase in the next 12 months, down from +40% in Q2 2018

-60% QES % Balance -80% 2006 2008 GDP Growth

GDP % Growth (ONS) 201 0

201 2

Service Sector QES

201 4

201 6

201 8

-1.5% -2. 0%

Manufa cturing QES

www.britishchambers.org.uk | @britishchambers w

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Health and Wellbeing

End the silence

By Elaine Darbyshire,

Executive Director of Estates, Corporate Governance and Communications, at Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.

ne of our main challenges at O Mersey Care has always been fighting the stigma that often

surrounds mental health. We have battled hard to provide state of the art hospitals and community facilities in the Merseyside area for our service users, families and carers rather than the decaying buildings that used to be associated with mental health.

We’ve built a fantastic state of the art mental health hospital at Clock View in Walton, there are plans for another in Southport, we have established two fabulous Life Rooms Community hubs in Walton and Southport and we are working towards another in Bootle, in association with Hugh Baird College.

Having the right environment is often a large part of the battle towards recovery. At Mersey Care we believe bright and breezy buildings, designed in partnership with service users, provide therapeutic surroundings where even those with the most serious of mental illnesses can thrive.

I was reminded of that recently when I read an article all about mental health stigma and how it still flourishes in one of the most competitive of industries, the American tech business. One entrepreneur said the tech business survived on

a picture of success and positivity and because no one wants to scare off potential investors, there ends up being “a culture of silence.”

For a long time that was the case with mental health in this country.

Everyone knew it was there but no one referred to it, which is a climate we have tried hard to change at Mersey Care. We have campaigned to remove the stigma, even at Government level, where we have fought for the same funding and parity of esteem as physical health.

Through the hard work of the Zero Suicide Alliance (ZSA), a collaborative of National Health Service trusts, businesses and individuals who are all committed to suicide prevention in the UK and beyond, suicide is now regarded as a major political issue.

I’m delighted that Mersey Care, as one of the ZSA’s founder members, has played its part in that.

I was also immensely proud to support Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram and Luciana Berger MP recently at an event to persuade local businesses to complete the 20-minute free online suicide prevention training developed by the ZSA. They want to make Liverpool the most active suicide prevention region in the country and lead the way on tackling mental health issues – and I can’t think of a better way to fight stigma.

Take the Zero Suicide Alliance training today at: www.zerosuicidealliance.com

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Employment

13

Skills

St Helens Chamber Business School builds bespoke training package for Knowsley Council

In January, Knowsley Council enrolled 17 members of staff onto St Helens Chamber’s Level 5 Management Diploma, a degree level course aimed at business managers who would benefit from developing new management skills and techniques.

A

s an Apprenticeship Levy paying organisation, Knowsley Council were looking for an accredited training provider that could offer a bespoke training package to their employees.

Nicky Shamsee, Senior Workforce Development Practitioner at Knowsley Council, said: “We first approached the Chamber due to their reputation for delivering high quality management training in our local area, we also knew the Chamber was an accredited provider, which was a requirement for the levy funding.

“For us, choosing the Chamber to deliver training has been about the high quality and the approach. Chamber staff listened to what we were looking for and have created a course to meet our requirements.

“We have also been provided with a number of additional free short workshops run at the Chamber as well as the planned taught sessions that are brought to us, which has added a value that some other providers couldn’t give us.”

As part of the tailored training package, Training Advisers from the Chamber deliver monthly taught sessions at the Council’s Training Centre located in Halewood.

Nicky added: “The training has been fantastic as the Chamber comes to us, the staff don’t have far to travel and it feels much more local.

14

“We have a workforce of around 2600 and there are a significant number of managers who are managing teams within the Council. We currently have another cohort of staff receiving training in Leadership in Health and Social Care through the Chamber and are keen to address our workforce development challenges by utilising the apprenticeship levy in a way that meets our organisational priorities.

We hope the programme will give staff the tools to manage themselves and their teams so that the residents of Knowsley get the best possible service from the Council.”

Recognising the importance of keeping a flow of qualified and experienced managers, Knowsley Council plans to use the programme as part of their Workforce Planning process so there is consistency in management skills and approaches to the changing face of local government and the challenges that brings.

Nicky continued: “The management training will be an ongoing programme for us and we are looking to start a new cohort on a year by year basis. We like to develop our managers from within the organisation so we have a constant demand of employees to upskill We feel this investment in training as crucial to retaining the best possible staff and to making sure that we have consistent skill levels across the organisation.

“Our dealings with the Chamber have been brilliant, in particular with Rita and Joanne. They

understand what we are looking for and the constraints we have within the business. They also understand the business and the difference between services within Council and understand that at times the training needs to be flexible.”

Spread over two years, the course covers specific leadership and management topics such as managing improvements, managing strategic change and critical thinking.

Cohorts for the Level 5 Management Diploma start three times a year in January, April and September at St Helens Chamber and Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce.

Jason Taylor, Information Technology Analyst at Knowsley Council, said: “The personal development, just in the space of a few months has been excellent. You have a perception of how you are as a person and a manager but then you start looking into different theories about how to engage with staff and understand their needs and style of working and it makes you more human.

“You can apply what you have learnt and take it back with you to the workplace. For example, we recently did a session on staff morale. When you go back to the office you realise there are things you should be doing that you don’t do.

“I hope to not only become a better manager, but gain a better insight into how to get the most out of people.

In a staffing environment it’s easy to overlook the fact that everyone is different and deals with things in a different way.

It’s about gaining those skills to manage people better, because if staff are happier, they are more productive.

“My dealings with Chamber staff have been excellent, Bobbie, our main tutor is a great source of support.

You don’t realise the amount of work you need to put in to get something out, but it’s all worth it in the end.”

The Apprenticeship Levy requires all employers operating in the UK, with a pay bill of over £3 million each year, to invest in Apprenticeships.

St Helens Chamber will carry out a free training needs analysis on your workforce and put a fully costed training plan in place, which allows you to recoup the maximum value from your Levy contributions through investing in staff training.

To find out more contact workforce development on 01744 742333 or email workforce@sthelenschamber.com

St Helens Chamber launches Liverpool Seminar Programme

Skills

St Helens Chamber is excited to offer a new programme of seminars delivered at Liverpool and Sefton Chambers of Commerce, giving Liverpool businesses access to a range of short courses to complement the formal training and qualifications already on offer. he seminar programme runs from autumn T 2018 to January 2019, and contains a comprehensive range of topics, all delivered by industry and training experts.

Topics covered include; Digital and Office Skills, Digital Marketing, Essential Business

Upcoming seminars include: • How to Create a Good Content Marketing Strategy 24th October | 9.30am – 1pm • Manual Handling 26th October | 9.30 am – 4.30pm • Blogging for Business 31st October | 9.30am – 1pm • How to Handle Complaints Effectively 1st November | 9.30am – 4.30pm • How to Negotiate Successfully 2nd November | 9.30am – 1pm • How to Achieve Great Customer Service 7th November | 9.30am – 1pm

Skills, Leadership & Management, Winning Business, Business Compliance and Starting a Business. These half day and full day seminars are an efficient and highly cost effective way to transfer knowledge and expertise into your business.

• Risk Assessment 8th November | 9.30am – 1pm

• Using Outlook 13th November | 9.30am – 1pm • Effective Communication & Motivation Skills 20th November | 9.30am – 1pm • Effective Time Management 21st November | 9.30am – 1pm

• Social Media Marketing for Business 23rd November | 9.30am – 1pm • Food Safety 28th November | 9.30 am – 4.30pm

If you can’t find what you are looking for in the Liverpool Seminar brochure, a further range of seminars are available at St Helens Chamber. Liverpool and Sefton Chambers of Commerce Members will receive the full ‘Member Discount’ at both venues.

To book onto any of these seminars or to view the full range visit www.sthelenschamber.com/events, call 01744 742028 or email events@sthelenschamber.com

To request a copy of the seminar brochure call 01744 742028 or email events@sthelenschamber.com

Want to upskill your workforce?

St Helens Chamber Business School delivers award winning business training across Merseyside.

We will give you a free Training Needs Analysis to identify your training requirements and put together a bespoke training package specific to your company.

Qualifications available include: • Business Administration

• Sales

• Health & Social Care

• Financial Services

• Customer Service

• Childcare

• International Trade

• Management & Team Leading

• Teaching Assistant

• Marketing

• Business Improvement Techniques

• Warehousing & Logistics

• Digital Marketing

• Information Technology

• Construction

Contact our Workforce Development Team today and request a Prospectus.

Call 01744 742333, email workforce@sthelenschamber.com or visit www.sthelenschamber.com/business-school

In partnership with:

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Member News

T

he £20m will contribute to the construction of a new terminal building to replace the current temporary terminal on Princes Dock.

Liverpool City Council is leading on the creation of the new Cruise Liner Terminal, which will also include an adjoining hotel and multi-storey car park.

The new facility will enable the world’s largest cruise ships to dock at Liverpool and is expected to directly create more than 500 new jobs.

The current terminal generates more than £7m a year to the city’s economy.

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “The visitor economy is increasingly important to the whole of the Liverpool City Region – it grew by 66% between 2009 and 2017 and is now worth more than £4.5bn per year – and a new cruise liner terminal will help this vital sector continue to flourish.

“This is a unique project with the potential to boost the whole of the city region which is why as a Combined Authority we are pleased to be able to offer this substantial support to one of the city council’s flagship initiatives.”

Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: “The new cruise liner terminal is vitally important and will mean that once again we can welcome

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Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has

the greatest cruise ships in the world to the Mersey.

“The construction of this new terminal will mark a new chapter in the city’s maritime future as we create a world class experience for the cruise companies and their passengers.

“We are working in partnership with the Combined Authority and some of the very best in the engineering industry to deliver this facility to the very highest standards.”

Councillor Phil Davies, the Combined Authority’s portfolio holder for Inclusive Growth, Economic Development, Digital and Innovation, said: “The visitor economy has become one of the major drivers for economic development in our city region and ensuring that we have a state-of-the-art cruise liner facility will help to build on that success.

“As well as directly creating more than 500 jobs, we know that attracting more visitors, in bigger ships, will give a boost not just to businesses in the city centre, but around the city region, indirectly creating additional jobs for local people across the supply chain.”

The first phase of construction on the new terminal started in May this year, as site investigations were undertaken to understand the geology

approved £20m funding from its Single Investment Fund for a new Liverpool Cruise Liner Terminal

of the bedrock on which the new terminal complex will be constructed.

The main contract works will involve the construction of a suspended deck structure and the erection of a vehicular linkspan bridge and pedestrian bridge / walkway to connect the new terminal to the existing landing stage.

baggage facility, complete with passport control, lounge, café, toilets, taxi rank and vehicle pick up point, to cater for Liverpool’s growing appeal in the cruise industry. The current terminal generates more than £7m a year to the city’s economy.

Outline planning application for the new facility was approved by the city council’s Planning Committee, in April.

Works will also involve Site preparation at Princes improvements to the existing Dock, in Peel Land and landing stage, including Property’s £5.5bn Liverpool modification of existing buildings Waters scheme, is expected such as the lower cruise terminal to start later this year . reception building, relocation of the building on the northern end Princes Jetty, which will be of the pontoon and creation of dismantled to make way for ancillary buildings for storage the new facility, has been gifted and use by operational staff; to the city council by Peel. improvements to Princes Parade to incorporate pedestrian crossing facilities, provision of As well as directly terminal parking, pickup and drop creating more than 500 jobs, off facilities, and we know that attracting more supporting development.

visitors, in bigger ships,

This year will give a boost not just to Liverpool will welcome more businesses in the city centre, but than 57 vessels, with 100,000 around the city region, indirectly passengers and creating additional crew, but the city council wants to jobs for local people across capitalise on the cruise the supply chain. boom by creating a state of the art passenger and

Recruiters complete Three Peaks Challenge A team led by leading legal and property recruitment firm Kingsley are celebrating successfully completing the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge and smashing their fundraising target for Cancer Research UK.

n pretty terrible conditions, I-6including temperatures of degrees Celsius, 30 miles-

per-hour winds, torrential rain and even sleet, the famous endurance challenge took place on Thursday 13th September.

Thirteen brave and hardy souls from Kingsley, Sutcliffe Engineering, and various friends, clients and associates took on 26 miles of rough terrain to climb the three largest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales (Ben Nevis, Scarfell Pike and Snowdon).

The challenge was organised by staff from Kingsley who began training in May with the

aim of raising £3,500 for Cancer Research UK in memory of John Sutcliffe, founder of the engineering firm that bears his name and former Chairman of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, who passed away in 2017. Having left Liverpool at 7am, the team started their climb of Ben Nevis at exactly 6pm, and despite a couple of the team being forced to drop out the core group successfully negotiated the peaks and completed the descent from Snowdon at the following evening. With only 5 hours sleep between peaks, this 24-hour challenge pushed everyone to their limits.

Member News

“What a great but exhausting and tough few days. We lost a few along the way but everyone was amazing!”, said Lee Stanley, Head of Business Development at Liverpool Chamber. In total, the team climbed approximately 3,000m - the equivalent of walking one third of the way up Mount Everest.

Caroline Kingsley, MD at Kingsley and board member at Liverpool Chamber, said: “The 3 Peaks Challenge really was challenging! I expected it to be hard, but it was much harder than I ever thought, and I think it’s a real achievement by the

MSIF provide Boulder Hut Ltd with a £70k bump to reach new heights

team. I’m so proud of the team spirit, determination and sense of humour that the team showed, and obviously we’re delighted to have raised money for such a great cause and grateful to everyone who has supported us, in particular Moorcrofts Solicitors who were our main sponsor.”

The efforts of the team have so far raised more than £5000, including gift aid, all of which will be donated to Cancer Research UK. Donations are still being accepted online at www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/sutcliffethreepeaks

Cheshire based climbing facility has received financial support from MSIF in the form of a £70,000 loan. am Oxford and her partner S Antony White have recently opened a large climbing wall

centre in the popular leisure area of Ellesmere Port. Boulder Hut opened its doors to avid climbers and novices on Saturday 14th July. With over 40 years of climbing experience between them, opening their own climbing facility has been in the planning for some time.

The company was incorporated in 2016 but finding the perfect location has taken dedication and perseverance. To kick start the funding process the directors approached Steve Hitchen at the MSIF Finance Hub. The Finance Hub helped Boulder Hut with their business plan and financial forecasts for an investment proposition and, assisted them on successfully receiving a £30K Start Up Loan.

Due to the complexity of the development, Boulder Hut needed additional support to finish the project. Through further conversations with MSIF, Sue Chambers (MSIF Investment Manager) was able to facilitate a further £70K loan to bridge thegap in the remaining funds.

Boulder Hut is anticipated to be a great success with mountaineering becoming increasingly popular in recent years. It was paramount for Sam and Antony to create a climbing space suitable for all ages. As parents themselves, they understand the importance of having a dynamic space for different ages and abilities, enabling climbers to be adventurous whilst in a safe environment.

There are divided zones for both children and adults climbing, with a further

dedicated space for training.

The adult area consists of slab climbing, overhanging and cave areas where guests can perfect their bouldering skills under the guidance of trained professionals. The 17,000 square feet complex also has a vegan and vegetarian café to provide some healthy re-fuel after those hours spent working up an appetite.

Sue Chambers, MSIF Investment Manager said “It has been a delight to work with both Sam and Antony.

Their vision has created a fun and dynamic establishment with great facilities for children and adults. I look forward to seeing the further success over the coming years and Boulder Hut becoming the hub that brings the climbing community together.”

Sam Oxford, Director of Boulder Hut said “Both Sue and Steve from MSIF have given us invaluable support from the very beginning. We’ve had great success over the summer holidays with some fantastic feedback from our customers.

Even our chef who was a novice climber is really passionate about it now. Over the next few months, we will be launching Children’s Parties and hope to see our experienced climbers pay us a visit to maintain their skill throughout the winter.

It’s a very exciting time for us.”

Boulder Hut is open now at the Olympic Park in Ellesmere Port. Please see www.boulderhut.com for further details and an opportunity to win free climbing sessions.

17

Members News

n its recently released annual Itotal results it announced that the number of policyholders

covered by one of its health plans had increased by nearly 14% to 227,255. At the same time the organisation stayed true to its promise of everyday health cover by paying out on 96.6% of all claims received.

Medicash finance director, Andy Roberts, said: “Health cash plans are continuing to grow in popularity among both employees and their employers and we are seeing this reflected in the growth in demand for our products. We are delighted to

Medicash sees premium income grow by £1.3 million

Leading Liverpool based health insurer Medicash saw its premium income rise by £1.3m in 2017 to reach £25.6m, whilst the number of new policies sold in a year reached over 70,000 for the first time.

have experienced another year of strong growth and our seventh consecutive year of policyholder growth.”

LaingBuisson’s 2017 Health Cover UK market report revealed there had been year-on-year growth in the corporate funded cash plan market for the past five years, with more than 1 million people having such a policy paid for by their employer.

Medicash now has a 14% share of the corporate funded market and is teaming up with Liverpool and Sefton Chamber of Commerce as a Strategic Partner to promote the benefits

GRAHAM recognised for collaboration

Liverpool-based contractor GRAHAM has achieved international certification ISO 44001 for ‘Collaborative Business Relationships’, reinforcing the privatelyowned company’s position as a leader in the UK construction market.

he independent third-party endorsement was announced T following a rigorous Certification

Stage 2 audit, which revealed zero non-conformances or areas for concern. ISO 44001 represents a new generation of international standard and provides a common platform to harness the benefits of collaborative working.

The award coincides with a significant period of growth for GRAHAM in the North West, where the firm has realised over £300m of negotiated work since it established a presence in 2013, creating several hundred local jobs in the process.

Ranked 16th in the annual Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250, GRAHAM’s current signature projects include Liverpool’s The Strand Development (£55m).

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Commenting on the attainment of the prestigious ISO accreditation, GRAHAM’s Regional Director – England North (Building), Gary Hughes, said:“The award of the ISO 44001 accreditation affirms our unique way of working and proves that we are actively promoting and adopting collaborative best practice, not just in the North West, but throughout the UK.

to employers of offering a lowcost corporate health plan for all of their workforce.

In June 2017, Medicash completed a £4m minority investment in UK digital health provider, Now Healthcare Group.

Commenting on the investment, Roberts continued: “After observing the evolution of the healthcare sector, we decided that now was the right time to invest in Now Healthcare Group.

Demand for virtual GP and telepharmacy services is growing faster than ever and Now Healthcare Group is the first and only tele-health company to have

“As a truly national business, with an annual turnover in excess of £760m, we are clearly benefiting from our targeted focus on collaboration, which has propelled us towards continual improvement and sustainable, responsible business growth.

“So too are our clients and partners, particularly here in the North West, who are also receiving added value and certainty, founded on our expertise and local supply chain model, throughout the project journey. This is central to the GRAHAM business strategy whereby true collaboration is at the forefront of every relationship.”

All of GRAHAM’s regions and sectors have now attained ISO 44001 following the Certification Stage 2 audit. Upon completion

its own tele-pharmacy allowing it to process and fulfil medicines for thousands of NHS patients every month.”

Over the last 10 years Medicash has donated over £1 million to various charitable causes.

Following the success of the business in 2017, the Medicash Board took the extraordinary decision to donate the full technical account surplus from 2017 to charity. As a result, £720k was made available to Medicash’s Charitable Trust to distribute across a wide range of health and wellbeing focused charities and projects.

the NQA auditor stated that the organisation is ‘very engaged with collaboration and committed to ISO 44001’.

The accreditation serves to: • Provide infrastructure to support GRAHAM’s collaborative approaches • Highlight a competitive advantage that GRAHAM offers to clients • Provide evidence for work winning teams to promote GRAHAM’s collaborative approach ISO 44001 represents a new generation of international standard with a focus on behaviours, organisational culture and management processes providing a common platform to underpin sustainable business relationships and harness the benefits of collaborative working.

NQA is a third party independent accredited certification organisation that approve all of GRAHAM’s ISO certifications.

They have issued over 36,000 certificates to clients in over 70 countries for a range of management systems certifications including Quality, Environmental, Health & Safety, Information Security, Energy and Collaborative Standards.

E

Calling all businesses trading with China…

ntries must be received by Friday 7th December 2018, and the winners will be announced on Friday 15 February 2019 at The Lowry, Salford Quays at a celebratory New Year dinner to welcome in the Chinese Year of the Boar.

The awards honour companies or organisations in the North West who have made significant contributions to developing business or relationships with mainland China, Taiwan or Hong Kong, including bi-lateral trade or investment and education and community links.

One winner and one runner up will be chosen for each of the following three categories:

• The China Business Award (for companies which have had links with Greater China for more than three years)

The Department for International Trade North West are encouraging the region’s companies to apply for the Greater China Awards and earn recognition for their achievements in this exciting market.

• The China Rising Star award (for companies relatively new to the market, which have had links with the region for less than three years) • The China Education Links Award (for Universities, Higher Education Institutes and businesses offering training and education links to Greater China)

Judges will be looking for evidence of a direct link between Greater China and North West England,

as well as measuring each entrant’s approach and the impact of its China strategy on the overall success of the business or organisation.

The day begins with an afternoon seminar, China Bites, with a panel of business experts. This is open to all businesses with an interest in China and will include a wealth of information on selling, buying and partnering in Greater China.

The seminar will be followed in the evening by a networking reception, the Greater China Awards Ceremony and Chinese New Year celebratory dinner.

Philomena Chen, Head of Asia Pacific Development for DIT NW said: “This year we are again looking for companies who have shown outstanding commitment to forging links with Greater China, and have demonstrated a positive and determined approach combined with sound business strategy to develop relationships within the region.

For more information about the Greater China Awards entry, China Bites Seminar or attending the dinner please contact Miho Hatakeyama on 0161 237 4246 or email events@tradenw.org

19

International

ur tutors are ideally O positioned to answer your personal questions on

export and import procedures, economic trends, popular products and services and market challenges.

We are committed to deliver on all the key issues that are affecting companies operating in the International trade world stage. After BREXIT trade will }go on, the better equipped that you are to deal with the new situation the more chances you have to make a success for your businesses. It is very important to understand these processes to help develop a successful and profitable global business.

Some trade training highlights from Liverpool and Sefton Chamber to kickstart your thoughts on international trade are: • AEO and the World Customs Organisation SAFE framework for standards – Participate in secure international trading.

This is becoming a necessary strategy to bring companies into a global set of customs standards.

The value of International Trade Training

Liverpool Chamber has recently awarded 5 local companies with “The Foundation in International Trade”, this is a UK wide recognised qualification awarded by British Chambers of Commerce.

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• Export Documentation, Import Documentation and Agents and Distributors; Keep up with industry updates. During the course live online examples are used to explain export procedures and how to complete export documentation.

• Letters of Credit and Methods of Payment The use of the Letters of Credit as a tool to reduce risk has grown substantially during recent times so we need to be more aware of what they are and how they work.

• Customs Compliance and rules of origin and INCOTERMS

Questions covered at the above courses include: • Can you prove exports and despatches for VAT purposes?

• How often do you review your EC Sales List?

• Do you receive all export declarations for all your export transactions?

• Do you know your EORI? • Have you ever been audited

by HM Revenue & Customs concerning your export transactions?

Case studies, what our candidates say about our courses:

“I would highly recommend the BCC Accredited courses in International Trade.

The Liverpool Chamber always give a warm welcome, and the staff give excellent advice and support during the period of your studies and beyond.

The course contents are current and have helped me to grow in confidence in my new export job role.

I would recommend to both the novice exporter and the more experienced to ensure their knowledge and skills are up to date. The Foundation in International Trade I have been awarded from the Chamber will be hugely beneficial to provide evidence that RS Clare is a trusted Exporter.”

R S Clare & Co Ltd “The courses have been very helpful in gaining a greater all round understanding of International Trade. They are well taught and administered.

A great learning experience.

Thank you.”

Trigon Snacks “I found the course interesting, helpful and very useful. It helped me to ensure that all legal documentation is completed correctly.”

Cubis Systems

Latest companies to achieve The Foundation in International Trade from left to right: Carpenter & Patterson Ltd, RS Clare and Co Ltd, Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce, Trigon Snacks Ltd

International Brief

International

We host a series of international trade events through the year so you’re equipped with knowledge and contacts in order to grow your export business. Very recently we have welcomed to our offices The British Chilean Chamber of Commerce

Oliver Moss, Research Manager at Britcham Chile had meetings with local companies exploring opportunities in Chile.

Your Local International Trade Club

Oliver Moss - middle

We are delighted to have launched our International Trade Clubs where companies can keep up to date with new developments, discuss current issues around Brexit and the impact on the supply chain, what you and your business should expect and how to get prepared.

These sessions will take place every quarter at breakfast time. There is no charge for chamber members and £20 for non members.

(L-R) Denis Sowler from Tithebarn Ltd, Vinnie Dobie from Bibby Financial Services, Ana Carbonell from RTC North, Angela Cross and Ben Rogerson from BDO, Louise di Blasi from DIT

Business Forum meeting hosted by Liverpool Chamber on the 11 September

The Merseyside and Cheshire Commonwealth Association

The Commonwealth of Nations is made of 53 countries and span Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific. They are a diverse group united by common interests and some of the largest members find trade and cultural links with some of the smallest countries.

All members subscribe to the Commonwealth’s values and principles outlined in The Commonwealth Charter The Merseyside and Cheshire Commonwealth Association (MCCA) evolved from the

Liverpool Association that was created in 2014. The MCCA has developed a constitution to reflect the main aim of furthering links between diaspora communities of the Commonwealth.

As the Association develops, various specialised Forums have been created to bring special emphasis to Business, Women, Youth, Education.

Information and updates about what we are doing throughout the year. www.thelca.org www.facebook.com/ LiverpoolCommonwealth Association/ https://twitter.com/the_lca

Liverpool & Sefton Chamber New Markets 2 Export Development Project The project supports SME’s looking to export and can offer 35% grants to the cost of flights, accommodation, Trade Shows and potentially other related costs such as translations to a maximum

of £3,500. The project will finish at the end of 2018, so if you are a first time exporter or an exporter looking to expand into new markets in the next few months please contact us urgently to discuss your plans.

export@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

0151 227 1234 21

International

ood news for film, video, G television producers, businesses operating in India

and those that are expanding into India.

India is now accepting Professional Equipment (PE) on an ATA Carnet. Examples include equipment meant for press/media, television broadcasting, sporting events and equipment for testing, measuring or calibration. Until now, India has only accepted goods with the intended use of Exhibitions and Fairs (EF).

Commercial Samples (CS) are still not allowed into India under ATA Carnet.

Examples of the use of Professional Equipment are common in the export of services such as:

India eases entry for business and broadcasting Borders open to wider variety of ATA Carnet Commodities

By Leslie August, Director, boomerang carnets UK

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• Testing telecommunications equipment for future installation

• Calibrating equipment installations such as acoustical systems

• Temporary use of emergency services equipment for mining disasters or other recovery services

• Short-term collection of data using solid state drives

• International production film and video shoots

• Television broadcasts of sporting events or reality shows

India has a history of limited acceptance of ATA Carnets including port constraints and only accepting goods for government-sanctioned Exhibitions and Fairs.

Eventually all customs ports were clearing goods under ATA Carnets and other Exhibitions and Fairs were allowable for ATA Carnet use.

Now Professional Equipment is being allowed however under more limited terms than is typical. The Indian trend to increase acceptance of temporarily imported goods

admitted under ATA Carnet hopefully means that Commercial Samples will eventually be allowed.

Allowing Commercial Samples would reduce a costly and complex non-tariff barrier to trade with India from foreign businesses.

The entry of professional equipment under ATA Carnet to India will be limited to 2 months with a possible extension for an additional 2 months. However, the extension must be obtained from Indian customs PRIOR to the expiration of the original period. Goods with the intended use of Exhibitions and Fairs continue to be allowed for a period of 6 months.

Still, this is a considerable improvement to the former restrictions on anything but goods for EF under carnet.

Boomerang carnets'® Managing Director, Curt Wilson, eagerly commented, "We are not only pleased for the benefit this will provide to U.K. carnet users but relieved that the process for getting professional equipment into India will be less time-consuming and risky. This takes a big burden off our Carnet Specialists and our customers. We are grateful to have the help of FICCI, the Indian national guaranteeing association, to help effect this expanded acceptance of ATA Carnet into India. Thanks also to the U.K. national guaranteeing association, L.C.C.I., for the detailed explanation of the change so we can properly advise our clients how to proceed under the new regulation."

The expansion of acceptance is based on Indian national laws and regulations: Notification No. 4/2018. The notice lists a detailed schedule of the permissible equipment.

For more information contact a Carnet Specialist at the Carnet HelpLine®: 0808 189 3400 or Info@boomerangcarnet.co.uk

International

Leading Liverpool Energy Firm joins Prime Minister’s Trade Delegation to Africa

By Alex Marshall, Group Marketing and Compliance Director at Clarke Energy

n e-mail from the UK’s Department for International A Trade (DIT), lands in my inbox

requesting news stories from Clarke Energy’s operations in Africa. There is to be a trade delegation from a ‘senior government minister’ to the continent in the next three weeks.

The delegation will be visiting South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya. Clarke Energy has been operating in Africa since 2003 when the first gas engines were installed on the continent, in Nigeria, for a now closed tyre manufacturing plant in Lagos.

Three stories were presented to the DIT about a number of big Clarke Energy projects being worked on across the continent

that had yet to be publicised.

Clarke Energy’s collaboration with Kohler SDMO to invest in a new assembly plant in Nigeria, supplying an engine to power an Algerian ‘Mega Mosque’ and being named preferred bidder for two important power plants at Lake Kivu in Rwanda.

When on my holiday I notice a positive response came back, along with an invitation to join the delegation. The delegation fits with raising awareness of our presence across Africa and also our approach to corporate and social responsibility corresponding with the UK government's Export Strategy and Northern Powerhouse agenda.

The first firm knowledge that the visit will be involving the Prime Minister, Theresa May, comes when an invitation to a preparatory meeting comes from Number 10 Downing Street.

With the schedule clear and visas successfully received in time, the visit is on. The flight that is set to be used is no normal flight.

The delegation will be using the British Government’s new Voyager Aircraft. This is the British equivalent of Air Force One.

Following a twelve-hour flight the Voyager lands in Cape Town, South Africa. It is a cold, misty morning but the flight is given an official welcome by Minister of Communications Nomvula Mokonyane. The event is opened with a positive speech from Theresa May, outlining the UK’s strategy to business and political engagement with the African continent. In the evening the delegation joins a reception at the British High Commissioner’s residence.

After a flight to Abuja a convoy took the delegation to the Ventures Park Innovation Hub. Important speeches were delivered by the Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Finance Minister of Nigeria Kemi Adeoson. Kemi was born in London and highlighted her eagerness for British business to invest in the country, stating “there were no sharks in the water”.

With time pressing the delegation rapidly moved on to a connecting flight to Lagos. With only 45 minutes to get to Victoria Island from Lagos Airport, the travel plans were of the tight to say the least. Luckily the Nigerian government had closed the main roads into Victoria Island and we had a clear run of the Lagos-Ojoo Expressway’s Third Mainland Bridge. We arrived in the nick of time to a business delegation of the highest order for the region.

Theresa May delivered a key-note address to an audience which included Nigerian magnate Aliko Dangote amongst others.

We arrived early in the morning on the final day of the trade delegation into Kenya’s capital city Nairobi. The first site visit for the energy and infrastructure parts of the delegation was Gearbox. With my background in new business start-up and innovation at the University of Manchester’s Enterprise Centre I was inspired to see this initiative.

This event was followed by a workshop and round table at Strathmore Business School debating the structure of Kenya’s future power supply industry and the potential for microgrids and grid-balancing of renewables.

The final day drew to a close with the highlight of the visit; participation in a state banquet at State House with the Kenya President Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta.

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Why Coeus Insurance Management are keeping it local

My Story

We caught up with our new Strategic Partner, Coeus Insurance Management LTD, to find out more about the business and the team behind it.

ary Dunning and Stewart G Jordan first met in 1998 at what was then the old Royal

Insurance in Liverpool. Fast forward twenty-one years, and they are now the proud owners of a dynamic and innovative business, which they cofounded in 2013.

It’s been an exciting journey so far, tell us more about it?

We had always aspired to having our own practice and believed that this was only achievable by acquiring an already established business as new Insurance Broker startups were few and far between due to the difficulty in obtaining authorisation from the FCA and agency agreements with Insurers enabling you to trade.

Post 2010, Insurance regulation had reached an unprecedented level and independent insurance brokers were scarce due to the rise of the insurance consolidator who were purchasing these independent businesses, and the level of true face-to-face customer service and trading was almost extinct. We decided that this was the perfect opportunity and time for us to set up Coeus Insurance Management Ltd.

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Securing the prestigious designation of Chartered Insurance Broker, the industry’s gold standard for firms of insurance brokers, was key as it allowed us to provide our clients with the assurance they were dealing with proven professionals, demonstrating a commitment to delivering the highest professional knowledge, advice and ethical practice.

Our partnership with Marsh McLennan Companies (one of the largest insurance brokers worldwide) is also important in that it enables us to access exclusive facilities and expertise in addition to utilising their wealth of resources and influence with insurers on a global scale.

So what makes Coeus different?

As a general insurance broker advising corporate, commercial and private clients, we work with a varied set of business sectors, primarily property owners, developers and investors; construction and allied trades; and manufacturing and engineering.

Being independently owned means that we remain free of the shorter-term financial constraints, which hamper many competitors, and we are free to place business with whichever insurer best suits our client’s requirements.

Being independent also allows us to be agile and react swiftly to any changes in the insurance market.

However, we are well aware that at the heart of any business is its people, and we have worked tirelessly to ensure our team is built on experience and technical knowledge. We are proud that our combined insurance experience is in excess of 100 years.

How do you think being a Strategic Partner at Liverpool Chamber can help you grow your business?

Liverpool Chamber is embarking on an exciting period of change and we have found it really refreshing to work with like-minded people of a similar temperament. The decision to become a Strategic Partner with the Chamber was very much based on building our brand awareness through a variety of creative options and we are really looking forward to working with the team at the Chamber to help us achieve that.

What are your top priorities for the next 12 months?

Our commitment to our clients remains the epicentre of our priorities. We will continue to support our clients, both new and existing, delivering bespoke insurance solutions and ensuring a strong finish to 2018.

Being a responsible business is also very important to us and we are currently working towards achieving Workplace Wellbeing Charter status in 2019, as well as expanding our team to add to what is already a dynamic and relaxed working environment.

What challenges lie ahead?

Consolidation of business within our industry is common practice, which leads to cost cutting exercises and ultimately clients being moved to more centralised functions.

We believe local businesses still prefer to deal with local people, which is why we will continue to expand our footprint in Liverpool and the North West region.

On a more personal note, and building on the success of last year’s challenge climbing Kilimanjaro, Stewart will be attempting to climb to Everest Base Camp in October in support of the Steve Prescott Foundation. It’s a great cause, which Coeus is proud to be a main sponsor.

For more information you can visit: www.coeusinsurance.com www.steveprescottfoundation.co.uk

Birchall

Conquer Kilimanjaro

Birchall Service have been working in the facilities management sector in the Liverpool area for a number of years and have in recent years developed a real presence in the city when in 2015 we were awarded the mechanical and electrical building services maintenance contract for Liverpool ONE.

ince then our involvement S in the city has gone from strength to strength, with

Birchall now also providing the same service for the Clayton Square Shopping Centre as well which we started earlier this year.

We are a family owned business, that has been providing mechanical, electrical and public health maintenance for nearly forty years, with a focus on engineering a better environment for our clients.

We recognise the importance of engaging with and giving back to the community in any areas in which we work and there’s no better way to give back than through charity.

Two members of the Birchall team for Liverpool ONE decided to pull out all the stops and have been up to the ‘Roof of Africa’ to raise money for an amazing cause.

John Wright and Liam Little summitted Kilimanjaro to raise money for KIND Liverpool Children’s Charity an

organisation that has been making a huge difference to the lives of disadvantage children across Liverpool and Greater Merseyside for over 40 years.

After returning from the trip of a life time Liam had this to say about the experience; “From beginning to end is something I will never forget! Even when you’ve had no sleep, we still somehow managed the time to laugh and keep smiling.

The Mountain itself is a sight to behold and very tough both mentally and physically.

I’m glad we succeeded and even better we managed to raise over £9,200 for KIND.”

With John adding; “It proved to be one of the most difficult challenges that I had ever under taken. The air is a lot thinner at altitude, therefore there is less oxygen to breathe and add to that crawling up loose scree in the dead of night by torch light, you soon uncover an inner strength that you didn’t know you had.

The truth is Kilimanjaro can be climbed by almost anybody, however, it is the most underestimated mountain in the world resulting in many hikers continually turning

back from the mountains upper slopes. You need to be both physically and mentally prepared to climb Kilimanjaro and you certainly need the determination and willpower to get you through the final assent.”

All at Birchall were incredibly proud of John and Liam for taking on this mammoth task in the name of an excellent cause and we look forward to continuing doing great work in and giving back to Liverpool for many years to come.

“The Mountain itself is a sight to behold and very tough both mentally and physically.

I’m glad we succeeded and even better we managed to raise over £9,200 for KIND.”

Contact Us Tel : 01782 566 885 www.birchall.co.uk Email: sales@birchall.co.uk 25

Cover Feature

Taking retail to the next level

We caught up with Steven Connolly, Estate Director at Liverpool ONE to find out how he’s getting on in his new position and what he thinks the future holds for retail.

Congratulations on your new role as Estate Director at Liverpool ONE. What have been your first impressions?

Being fairly new to the role, my personal highlights so far have been getting to know the team, the city and the retailers.

I left the city 30 years ago to go to university and returning now seems fitting, taking over at Liverpool ONE as it celebrates its 10th birthday.

Liverpool ONE has proved highly popular with both visitors and retailers, with the strength and depth of its occupier mix attracting 29 million visitors annually, ensuring both footfall and sales have posted faster growth than the UK average

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every year. It has firmly established itself as the destination of choice for shopping, leisure and tourism.

I’m fortunate to have inherited a position at what is regarded as one of the most forward-thinking retail and leisure developments in the UK, combining brave design and a commitment to quality and innovation.

The retail world never stands still and we rightly celebrate the fact that Liverpool ONE has not just ridden the retail storm but has succeeded in bucking the trend.

It now proudly thrives as a mustvisit destination for shoppers and tourists from the city region, wider UK and abroad.

“The most successful regeneration project of the modern era” – how do you think Liverpool ONE has contributed to the renaissance of the Liverpool city region?

Two years after Liverpool ONE opened, Liverpool Vision reported that a further £900m of city-wide development was either on-site or in planning.

Liverpool ONE has continued to act as a catalyst for regeneration, helping to transform the city’s economic prospects.

Liverpool city centre has continued to evolve to meet changing demands of local people and tourists. Just look at the emergence of the many thriving, enterprise-led independents who are providing a really distinctive and highquality offer in areas like Bold Street and the Baltic Triangle. It’s no accident Liverpool featured in the Telegraph’s top 20 UK cities to visit in 2018, and today welcomes over 62m visitors per year seeking culture, high-end retail and entertainment.

Cover Feature

Our opportunity at Liverpool ONE is not just to keep pace with changing habits, but to anticipate and lead the change.

We’re looking forward to taking retail to the next level through innovative technology and ensuring visitors always have the best possible experience.

How has Liverpool ONE benefitted those communities outside the city centre?

We recognise that enduring success relies not only on the performance of our stores and restaurants, but on the vitality of our community and diversity of the environment around us.

Liverpool ONE are incredibly proud of the relationships we’ve built with an array of community organisations and businesses over the past decade. We work together to enhance the sustainability of our city-region, and to deliver a range of benefits for our business, team and community partners.

We’re also proud of our green credentials including sustainability initiatives such as on-site solar panels, on-site vehicle fleet fuelled by biodiesel

created by restaurant oil waste and travel plans for all staff.

In addition, the 'Liverpool ONE Foundation' works with local groups and charities in Merseyside, working to improve local young people’s mental health.

With the media focus on failing big brand names, Brexit and falling consumer confidence, Liverpool seems to be bucking the trend.

How is Liverpool ONE addressing the challenge?

Investing in activity to improve our visitors’ experience and activity which can bring Liverpool ONE to life is essential. And we know it works because the data shows that people spend more time here when they do visit.

We realise that the internet can never replace the human interaction a shop environment offers. Today we’re seeing much focus on authentically engaging customer service and instagrammable interiors creating striking, fun spaces where consumers want to be or want to record and share.

Liverpool ONE stores such as Apple, Foot Locker, Arket and the only Beauty Bazaar, Harvey Nichols in the UK are certainly leading the charge.

What have you got planned for the next 10 years?

With the rise of online shopping it is essential that we continue do everything possible to make the visitor experience richer and as enjoyable as possible. We are proud here at Liverpool ONE

to have a full programme of entertainment which ensures there is always something experiential to capture the imagination of our customers.

Our open spaces mean we blend with the rest of the city centre and can collaborate seamlessly with the impressive cultural programme.

Over the next 10 years, expect to be entertained as our streets, leisure facilities and awardwinning Chavasse Park are used as a stage for community and commercial events, to see even more desirable brands join our line up and to see increasingly impressive retail and leisure concepts to encourage interaction, brand loyalty and of course sales.

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Members News

Mayoral 100 Club:

Culture: The Catalyst of Liverpool’s Re-introduction to the World

Culture Means Business

The Mayoral 100 Club is an exclusive business network designed to forge local, national and global connections for Liverpool and its enterprises. The exclusive initiative is open to 100 businesses within Liverpool City Region.

businesses to key decisionmakers in the city, in Government, the Northern Powerhouse and beyond.

Impacts 18, an international conference, takes place in Liverpool this October to present unique, groundbreaking cultural research and discuss the role culture plays within cities around the world.

n 18 and 19 October 2018, O Culture Liverpool is partnering with the Institute of

Cultural Capital, British Council and CreArt European Network to present the results of 15 years interrogating the long term impact of cultural interventions in cities around the world. The research will reveal the extent of the impact from Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture 2008, and will form a debate to discover if the cultural accolade has changed media representations and perceptions of the city, improved cultural engagement and wellbeing across neighbourhoods and how it has shaped residents’ sense of place, enhancement levels of engagement, and strengthened cultural leadership.

The importance of culture to a city’s economy, wellbeing and regeneration is something Liverpool is intimately aware of. Culture has been the backbone of Liverpool’s

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renaissance over the past decade, and 2018 is the chance for the city to recognise its growth in confidence, ambition, creativity and cultural engagement. Impacts 18 will see Liverpool host a global conversation around cultural interventions.

World renowned speakers, cultural creators, delegates and arts organisations will explore experiences in cities big and small via keynotes, roundtables, debates and breakout sessions. Key speakers include; ude Kelly CBE, Martin Green CBE, Maria Balshaw, Jon Snow, Lord Heseltine, Darren Henley OBE, Claire McColgan MBE, Professor Ann Markusen and more.

To find out more, please visit www.impacts18.net.

Twitter: @Impacts_18 Instagram: @Impacts_18

ayor of Liverpool M Joe Anderson OBE’s official business club aims to

deliver on strategic, business development, corporate social responsibility and engagement objectives for companies that work within the city region.

The business initiative leads the way in creating a symbiotic ecosystem; in which the city’s cultural offering and business community work together to accelerate regeneration. Mayoral 100 Club membership funds major community events in the city as well as inspiring and leading collaboration in the private and public sectors.

As the official business network for the #Liverpool2018 cultural programme, the Mayoral 100 Club extends the legacy of the European Capital of Culture.

It opens doors for local

In addition to year-round benefits, members are also placed into a draw to win exclusive sponsorship of one of the city’s cultural events.

Presenting Partner for Three Festivals Tall Ships Regatta was awarded to Fazenda Rodizio Bar and Grill at The Mayoral 100 Club Gala Dinner earlier this year.

The partnership status placed Fazenda’s brand in front of a worldwide audience.

This Presenting Partner status has a return on investment of approximately £100,000, evidencing the high value in becoming a Mayoral 100 Club member.

We are inviting businesses to join the Mayoral 100 Club and embark on this thrilling journey, celebrating the city’s position at the epicentre of UK art, culture, fashion, business and sport. With an estimated economic impact of £100 million, a PR value of £10 million and over 4 million visitors to the city during #Liverpool2018, investing in this city’s renaissance is a global business opportunity.

For further information on how join, please contact alissa.koopal@liverpool.gov.uk Twitter: @Mayoral100Club

LinkedIn: Mayoral 100 Club

www.100clubliverpool.co.uk

Chamber

Chamber Roundtables tackle Investment, Skills and Digital Future As part of our ongoing programme, the Chamber has delivered three roundtable meetings in recent weeks to develop its voice for business on specific issues which matter to the local business community.

A

t a Hill Dickinson-hosted meeting to consider ‘Building Liverpool – the city of tomorrow’, Sponsored by Legal & General with the British Chambers of Commerce, members identified the city’s branding, leadership and talent pool as the critical objectives to achieve investment growth.

Steve Parry, Managing Director, ION Property Developments, outlined the current state of development within the city’s property and real estate market and opened discussions up to consider the wider role that businesses, local authorities and developers have to play in enabling Liverpool to be a viable investment destination.

Representatives from the Department for Education and the Institute for Apprenticeships addressed members at a consultation meeting at Tilneys concerning the future of apprenticeships reform and development of T-Levels.

“Less complexity; more quality” was the key message from participants when considering the ongoing changes to further education and lifelong learning.

We then welcomed colleagues from the Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank to Barnett Waddingham for a discussion about the importance of the digital economy to the future of Liverpool.

Colleagues shared their experience of implementing innovative digital improvements in their businesses and their challenges for developing sustainable improvements. The unlocking of finance to support such development and re-training of employees was highlighted as business priorities. The business role for inspiring young people to be prepared to enter a digital workforce was also championed.

Full details and policy positions relating to these meetings are available on the Chamber website.

Photos courtesy of Antonio Franco Photography www.antoniofranco.net

29

News

ACSL Solicitors –

new look, new brand, new approach Times are a-changing for ACSL Solicitors.

They have recently rebranded and launched a new website.

irector Joseph Mulrooney D reflects on this new direction for ACSL; “two years

ago, I began identifying opportunities to evolve the business. This took time - I had to ensure I was bringing people on board who were excellent solicitors and also had the right personality for ACSL. We brought in Peter Skinner, whose experience allowed us to build a full residential and commercial property law service. We also added a divorce service, as well as debt recovery, and a wider range of probate services.”

It wasn’t until 2018 that Joseph felt satisfied that everything

was in place to warrant a new identity; “we felt that we were a new firm now. We wanted a vibrant brand to reflect this.”

In with the old & in with the new

As well as the new branding, ACSL bring a clearer approach to pricing; “we’re steadily working on our ambition to provide fixed fees across our services. Our website will eventually list all of our fees so that any client can access that information easily.”

But not everything is changing; “we want to continue to use language which is jargon-free,

and our clients must always be able to contact us. We’re working on new ways to make this as easy as possible.

It’s exciting.”

Joseph hopes the new website will resonate with visitors; “if people visit and say that it doesn’t look like a law firm’s website, I’ll be delighted. If that draws them to us, we can then show them just how excellent we are.”

ACSL Solicitors are based in Exchange Flags. Their website is www.acsl.org.uk Have a look – see what you think.

New developments for The Know Group

he 28 additional rooms at T Sleep Eat Love will take the total to over 100, meeting

increasing demand for more space and following a successful initial launch period. The ‘poshtel’ concept aims to turn the notion of a run-of-the-mill hostel on its head, providing travellers on a budget with an affordable but stylish solution.

This follows news that a Love Thy Neighbour (one of Liverpool’s hippest eateries) has opened on the ground floor of the hostel, bringing the restaurant’s famed feel-good dishes to guests’ fingertips.

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Hospitality company The Know Group is expanding its Hatton Garden-based ‘poshtel’ Sleep Eat Love and has announced the opening of a Love thy Neighbour eatery in the ground floor of the building.

The Hatton Garden Love Thy Neighbour is a sister venue to the established Bold Street site.

Steven Hesketh, CEO of The Know Group, commented: “We’ve been blown away by the success of Sleep Eat Love.

We identified a clear gap in the market for stylish accommodation which wasn’t fussy and didn’t break the bank, and the overwhelming response we’ve had since opening has affirmed that to us.

“What’s more, there’s a clear alignment between the

Love Thy Neighbour and Sleep Eat Love brands, so we’re incredibly excited by the prospect of having both under one roof. We hope the arrival of Love Thy Neighbour will provide our guests with a fully-rounded, first-class experience.”

The Group is currently undergoing a period of speedy growth, having made a variety of new senior appointments. Sleep Eat Love’s expansion and the new Love thy Neighbour is just one of a host of exciting projects the company has lined up for 2018/19.

CALLING UK SMEs

READY

STEADY £600m AVAILABLE TO GROW! UK BUSINESSES BREAKING NEWS for UK businesses looking to fund their growth plans; there is now a genuine alternative to the banks.

Your next source of business funding is waiting for you. ThinCats has £600 million of funding ready to lend to small and medium sized businesses across the UK at interest rates competitive with major high street lenders.

If you need a loan of between £100k and £10m to fund growth, acquisitions (including Management Buy Outs or Buy Ins), capital expenditure or a refinance then get in touch today. It could be just the boost your business needs.

Visit thincats.com/600million or call 01530 444 040 to find out more.

ThinCats is a trading name of Business Loan Network Limited (BLN). Registered in England & Wales No. 07248014.

BLN is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (No. 724062).

Transport

T

he media headlines over recent months have contained some stark messages about the impact of air pollution on our health, with studies highlighting links with heart disease and dementia. The government themselves have said that "Air pollution is the top environmental risk to human health in the UK, and requires collective action to tackle it.�

Recent research conducted by the RAC found that there was a 33% increase, equivalent in car use 13.2 million extra miles, in drivers saying that they are more reliant on their cars now than 12 months earlier, compared to just 27% in 2017.

Top environmental risk to human health in the UK

How the Liverpool city region is tackling transport and air pollution.

Drivers are being encouraged to make small changes to help cut overall car use and the resulting congestion and pollution, particularly as a quarter of all car journeys are less than two miles.

Poor air quality does not just affect public health, it also has an impact on the economy and the environment. The government has put in place a ÂŁ3.5bn plan to reduce harmful emissions and the recently

announced Clean Air Strategy will make the UK the first major economy to work towards World Health Organisation recommendations. A bill to protect the environment has also been announced which will put new duties on the secretary of state to deliver on environmental objectives like clean air, recycling and species loss.

In this edition of Well Connected we look at some of the local initiatives being delivered in partnership between the public and private sector to reduce transport related air pollution in our city region.

>>> 33

Transport

E

ngineered by Volvo, the 7900e single deck bus will operate for a period of eight weeks on 82 and 86 routes via Garston and Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

The bus has been trialled at several other key locations across the UK – including Manchester, Cardiff and

Merseytravel and Stagecoach trial charge-on-the-go electric bus

Heathrow Airport – before coming to Liverpool. Volvo selected the city as the final area to be part of the scheme, citing the ongoing development of the Liverpool City Region, its important place within the Northern Powerhouse and future links to HS2. Zero emission vehicles like the Volvo 7900e will be crucial

More electric vehicle charge points on the way for City Region The city region has also benefitted from a £110K fund to supply and install electric vehicle charge points (EVCs) at business premises across the City Region.

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Merseytravel and bus operator Stagecoach have partnered to launch a two month trial of a new fully electric, zero emission bus which can be charged on route, cutting waste and increasing flexibility of service. in helping realise the Liverpool City Region's aim of becoming a zero carbon city region by 2040.

Rob Jones, Managing Director at Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire, said: "This trial is an exciting opportunity for us and marks a step forward for greener

embers of Merseytravel's M free to join Employers' Network were eligible to apply

for the grant of up to £5,000 for the supply and installation of electric vehicle charge points, provided for the exclusive use of their staff, visitors, company pool and fleet vehicles, with no match funding required.

Steve Hunt, Managing Director at Steven A Hunt & Associates,

travel in the Liverpool City Region. Stagecoach is committed to improving air quality across the country and making bus travel the safest and cleanest travel option.

We continue to look for new ways in providing our customers with the best value for money service on Merseyside."

the first company to take up the offer said, "We already have one employee who drives an electric car and to be able to offer him and our Clients a charging point at our premises, is a great idea.

It also means that we will consider electric vehicles as a real possibility when we look to add to our pool fleet."

Transport

Working in Partnership

Local electric vehicle and charge point suppliers SYMPHONY EV-ZE, have completed and delivered a new double rapid super fast charging infrastructure for Arriva at their Green Lane bus depot in Liverpool.

he project involved a wide T range of partners including SP Energy Networks and Schnieder Electrics who were responsible for linking the completed substation to the National Grid.

SYMPHONY designed and developed the charging point units, based around the shape of a leaf to reflect their environmental credentials, which were then branded specifically for Arriva. The new charging infrastructure will power the fleet of twelve

100 per cent electric, zero emission Arriva buses.

Other partners included Merseytravel, BYD UK-China and Alexander-Dennis UK Bus.

Howard Farrall, Arriva Merseyside Managing Director commented: “Arriva is constantly on the lookout for ways to trial new lowemission technologies, and so the new partnership with SYMPHONY EV-ZE is a great way to further contribute to our ‘Destination Green’

environmental goal, which includes ambitious plans to reduce carbon emissions, conserve energy and invest in renewable sources. We’re confident and hopeful that this exciting new development will give us the capacity to continue expanding Arriva’s electric bus network across the region, and we’re looking forward to what the future holds with this new system in place.”

Managing Director of SYMPHONY, John Robinson

who provided full project management throughout the installation said “As one of only five main approved suppliers of RAPID Charger installations in the UK we are experienced in delivering charging point installations for councils, hospitals and train stations. This was our biggest challenge yet and I am very proud that it is another major step in helping Liverpool and the City Region to become one of the lowest carbon cities in Europe.”

Putting more low emission buses on the roads This year the City Region has also been successful in another round of Clean Bus Technology Funding with just under £3m being awarded between Arriva, Stagecoach, Cumfybus and Halton Transport. his is part of a wider T £40 million funding programme for local areas to

put more low emission buses on the roads and allows councils to retrofit vehicles with technology to reduce

tailpipe emissions of nitrogen dioxide, as part of a drive to help ensure that more buses and coaches can contribute to improving air quality in UK cities.

35

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Chamber Launches Business Hub

Chamber Events

in South Liverpool In September the Chamber opened a new business hub in South Liverpool. The hub is based at the Crowne Plaza Liverpool – John Lennon Airport Hotel, brand new Strategic Partners of the Chamber.

he hub will be the focal point T for business engagement activities undertaken by the

Chamber in the Speke-Garston area with a ‘day of action’ taking place every month, comprising business tours, policy engagement activity, events and marketing activity. The hotel will provide resources and space for Chamber staff and businesses on such days.

The launch of the South Liverpool Hub in September saw exhibitions from businesses in the area as well as a Meet & Eat, allowing businesses in the area to connect with each other over lunch.

The Chamber lead a morning tour of Jaguar Land Rover for Strategic Partners and brought partners and China Club members together for the launch of Jin, the Crowne Plaza Liverpool – John Lennon Airport’s authentic Chinese restaurant for an evening reception.

Paul Gallon, General Manager of the hotel stated: “The hotel is a perfect location for businesses to utilise given its ideal location within the Speke/Garston area, proximity to the Estuary

business park and airport, and the amenities we have for businesses to use.”

Chamber CEO Paul Cherpeau commented: “The Chamber has large concentrations of business members in areas of the city and we now have the opportunity to better engage with and serve by having Chamber activity concentrated in these areas. We see the establishment of the South Liverpool hub as the first of several hubs which will launch in the coming months.”

Lee Stanley, Head of Business Development at the Chamber stated: “Setting up our first hub demonstrates our commitment to being a city-wide Chamber that looks beyond the city centre. As someone who grew up in Garston, it is great to have our first business hub taking place in my old neighbourhood which has developed so much in recent years. We’re particularly excited that the Crowne Plaza will be our Partners in this venture over the coming twelve months and we look forward to supporting business growth and improvement in the area.”

To find out more about The South Liverpool Hub and to register your interest for the next event please contact our Business Engagement Manager Rich Smith at richard.smith@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

39

Culture and Growth

HM Growth

is helping businesses move up a gear

A leading NW team of surveyors approached HM Growth (HMG) to move from its current position to the next stage of growth.

he owners of the business T had achieved steady growth and were concerned that they

might have reached a junction as they were becoming bogged down in the day to day running of the business. The team behind HMG initially explored the reasons to understand the position the two MDs were in, and to determine how to help them navigate the next steps.

David Milton from HMG observes:

“Business owners have a natural skill set and when they are seeking the next stage of growth this requires a shift from what has gone before.

It is unusual for owners to have the diverse range of skills required to adapt and implement all the necessary changes they might want to see in the short and long term. Quite often owners need to step outside of their comfort zone and allow someone else with specific skills to step in, which can be difficult.

Moving up to the next gear can take years for people within the business to achieve, yet this is something our team can help them achieve in months.”

Having run their own businesses, David and Bill Pearson from HMG can relate to the challenge of reaching a growth plateau and striving for the next peak in the (often hazy) distance.

HMG created a 6-step growth plan for the joint owners to help them

40

achieve their vision for growth.

Bill adds: “We focus on practical steps. The owners realised they had reached a natural hiatus and needed to bring in skills from outside the business to move forward with their plans. We understood the level of commitment they were willing to make and that their vision could only happen if it was shared and understood, so leading to buy-in. People need to be comfortable with the agreed direction of travel so they become a solid team pulling in the same direction.

We avoid swamping businesses with massive amounts of data and reports, preferring to see change happening in the ‘real world’.”

The joint MDs are currently four months into a strategic 12 month growth programme with HMG and already they have moved away from being responsible for the day to day running of their business.

Training has resulted in all layers of staff benefitting from new skills, including the management team who are carrying out the agreed plan while being empowered to make operational decisions.

To find out more contact:

David Milton: 07711 843495

Bill Pearson: 07387 159676

HM Growth is a service for growing businesses from Hillyer McKeown LLP.

Making Tax Digital for VAT (MTDfV) – BDO Liverpool

Finance

You have probably heard about HMRC making tax digital, but may not know yet what it really means for businesses.

ur team in Liverpool can help O assess your business’s readiness for MTDfV.

What is Making Tax Digital for VAT?

MTDfV will require UK VAT registered businesses trading above the VAT registration threshold to keep ‘digital records’ and file their VAT returns via ‘functional compatible software’.

Other European countries have already created or are planning similar systems for VAT, and it is anticipated that this is the first step in a long-term goal of requiring ‘real time filing’ of individual transactions with HMRC.

What challenges will MTDfV bring for business?

MTDfV is part of a wider HMRC project to digitise tax compliance, which will make fundamental changes to the way tax administration works. MTDfV introduces completely new technology for VAT returns, and a number of concerns have been raised by businesses and their representatives over the speed and practicality of the changes:

• The Application Programming Interface (API) software needed for the digital upload of UK VAT return figures to HMRC will not be provided free of charge by HMRC. The 2019 implementation date does not give HMRC much room for error in its software trial so it will be difficult for larger businesses with sizeable and complex accounting systems to adapt them to comply with the new law by 2020.

• The 1 April 2019 implementation date for MTDfV also clashes with the expected date of Brexit (29 March 2019) which, depending on the outcome of negotiations between the UK and EU, could well necessitate its own major systems changes for VAT at the same time.

How should businesses prepare?

The current focus of most businesses has been on identifying how they can share their data with HMRC in a manner that complies with the new rules in April 2019 ie API enabled software. There are currently 59 providers who have demonstrated their software and more will be following. Business should start to consider which software solution they will use to ensure compliance from April 2019.

However, post the 2019 change the more fundamental point is the long-term requirements. While some digital links, such as transfers from non-API enabled systems to one or more spreadsheets may not be compulsory until 1 April 2020, businesses should be preparing their systems for full MTDfV compliance now. Businesses should be reviewing their current accounting systems to map the VAT audit trail and identify areas where digital links will be required to ensure compliance for 2020.

How can BDO help?

As the implementation date approaches, we have been running MTDfV readiness workshops with some clients to prepare them for these changes highlighting where any breaks in the digital “journey” may be. BDO is also participating in a number of HMRC stakeholder groups on Making Tax Digital for VAT and can keep you up to date with the latest developments, so do keep in touch.

If you would like to discuss any points in this article contact Andrew Kirby, VAT Senior Manager andrew.kirby@bdo.co.uk or Ben Rogerson VAT Senior Manager ben.rogerson@bdo.co.uk

41

Countdown to launch of Rutherford Cancer Centre North West in Liverpool

MembersNews News Member

There is less than a year until the completion of the building of the Rutherford Cancer Centre North West in Liverpool, a key anchor institution within the exciting Paddington Village development at the Knowledge Quarter. We go behind the scenes with the team to examine the state of build, plans for launch and the legacy the centre will ultimately create in the history of cancer care in the UK.

The 55-ton cyclotron Proteus*ONE is the cornerstone of delivery of Proton Beam Therapy and is the largest capital outlay required within each centre. This is nearing completion in the Reading centre; it will ultimately be aesthetically rendered for delivery of therapy for up to 500 patients. The equipment will be identical in Liverpool and represents the genuinely world class status of the technology which has been provided by Proton Partners International’s partnership with IBA (Ion Beam Applications), the world’s leading provider of proton therapy solutions.

The CT (computerised tomography) scanner comprises the latest cutting edge technology and is a key element in treatment planning.

C

entre Manager Ron Russell provided an exclusive behindthe-scenes tour of the Rutherford Cancer Centre Thames Valley in Reading which is nearing completion. The centre is nearly identical in design to that in Liverpool which will open in 2019 at a cost of around £30m.

The Rutherford Cancer Centres are pioneers in the delivery of proton beam therapy, a type of radiotherapy used in cancer treatment, delivering heavily charged protons in a more targeted manner than standard radiation therapy, to reduce damage to peripheral tissue and organs.

High Energy proton beam therapy is a genuine game-changer for patients in the UK. The first patient was treated at the Rutherford Cancer Centre South Wales in Newport in April of this year with the opening of centres in the North East and Thames Valley taking place this past month.

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Each of the treatment rooms is equipped with Philips Ambient Experience technology, which optimises the patient experience with the use of coloured lights and soothing images in order to provide a relaxing patient environment.

The centre in Liverpool will ultimately be one of eight operating in the UK, providing a treatment centre within 90 minutes of 75% of the population, offering treatments in chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy in addition to high energy proton beam therapy.

Our picture gallery demonstrates the extraordinary level of technological investment and logistical skills undertaken in the preparation of these centres.

The cyclotron is loaded into the bunker at the Newport site, Rutherford Cancer Centre South Wales. This is a hugely complex operation and must be installed with great accuracy down to the millimetre. Once the cyclotron and gantry are delivered, the full installation process can take up to 12 months to ensure that the system is ready to treat patients. The installation of the cyclotron is yet to take place in Liverpool, however it will be the first of its kind within the region.’

Proton Partners International’s Ron Russell and Alison Hatchard welcomed Lee Stanley to the Rutherford Cancer Centre in Reading to demonstrate the speed of development and technological investment which will be replicated in Liverpool.

The Liverpool centre is around a year away from opening at the time of writing and will revolutionise cancer care within Liverpool City Region, complementing existing private and NHS delivery.

Construction of the Liverpool site commenced back in January and the speed of building work is accelerating as the one-year anniversary of the commencement dawns. Launch plans are being developed and will be

Proton Partners International CEO to headline Chamber Dinner

The Chamber’s Annual Dinner takes place on Thursday 1st November under the theme ‘Celebrating Excellence in Business.’ Our keynote address will be provided by Mike Moran, CEO of Proton Partners International and visionary in the creation of the Rutherford Cancer Centres.

Join Mike and guests for an evening of inspiration and celebration as he talks about his ambition in establishing the Rutherford Cancer Centres, his expectations for the future and the legacy he hopes to achieve.

Book your place online via the Chamber website www.liverpoolchamber.org.uk Tickets cost £95+VAT for members. £125+VAT for non-members

announced in the New Year but in conjunction with the other developments at Paddington Village, the commencement of the Rutherford Cancer Centre North West will be a substantial fillip to the city and its reputation as a centre of global excellence in health care.

The Centre in Numbers: 8

Number of Rutherford Cancer Centres being built in the UK

10% proportion of 90,000 cancer patients requiring radical radiotherapy who could be better treated with proton therapy £30m cost of building each cancer centre 500

Numbers of patients each centre is equipped to treat in the year

Archiphonic celebrates sixth year in business with new look website and team expansion Architectural design firm, ArchiPhonic, is celebrating its sixth year in business by expanding its team from three to five and revealing a brand new website.

website that was designed by Liverpool-based technology consultancy, Mashbo.

Speaking of the milestone, director and co-founder, Adam said: “The last 12 months has been a really exciting period of development for ArchiPhonic.

We’ve seen considerable growth in turnover that has been reflected in profit and an increase in new appointments has meant we have needed to bring some talented new professionals into our team.

he company has appointed T architectural designer, Allan Yeates and office administrator,

Grace Costello to support its expanding client base and influx of new projects. In the past 12 months the independent practice has been instructed on 84 new projects in the residential and commercial sectors and reported a 78% increase in turnover.

Bringing more than a decade’s experience in the industry to the team, including a stint with renowned international practice, Benoy, Allan has worked extensively in the residential sector, as well as in large scale mixed-use projects and commercial design for the food and catering industries.

Speaking of his appointment, Allan said: “ArchiPhonic is very different to other practices.

The team is young, ambitious and constantly challenges the usual approach to deliver work that is always different and really enhances lives.

“That is what attracted me to the role and I am looking forward to combining my experience and vision with that of the existing team to elevate its work and help to grow the business even further.”

First class graduate, Grace Costello, joins the team as office administrator, with responsibility for the day-to-day organisation of the team and as first point of contact for clients. Grace studied Modern History and Politics at the University of Liverpool and developed a love of architecture when writing her dissertation on Modernist architecture in Liverpool in a political context.

Grace said: “Joining the ArchiPhonic team is an incredible opportunity for me to embrace a role that I love and work collaboratively alongside a really innovative team in a field that I have always had a deep interest in.”

The two join architect, Ioanna Tsakanika and ArchiPhonic directors Adam Mokhtar and Dave Banister, who founded the ambitious young practice in 2012. Its conceptual architectural design work is rooted in principles derived from music and concepts taken from other disciplines, to deliver solutions that improve and enhance lives.

As part of its sixth year celebrations, the company has also revealed a brand new

“Both Allan and Grace bring valuable skills and new ideas to the practice that will support our ambitious growth plans for the business, as well as sharing our vision and values.

“Grace’s organisational abilities are second-to-none and keep us focused on our core objectives, while also helping to look after our rapidly expanding client base, while Allan’s significant experience and creative thinking will be key to our expansion into new sectors.”

Co-founder and director, Dave, added: “In the six years since we established ArchiPhonic we have seen our sector and the city of Liverpool itself change dramatically, which has made for an exciting journey.

“We have been honoured to work with countless domestic and commercial clients, as well as supporting fantastic local events and organisations such as Pride Liverpool, Threshold Festival, Bickerstock Festival and the GIT Awards.

“Now, with our expanded team, new website and bold growth strategy, we’re looking forward to another busy 12 months, with significant new projects about to begin and exciting work in the pipeline.”

Members News

Work begins on £8m Strawberry Field development

Robertson has started on site at Strawberry Field in Woolton as part of an £8m project to convert the site into a training centre, visitor centre, and community café operated by the Salvation Army. esigned by Hoskins Architects, the two-storey development will provide learning space for up to 40 young adults, alongside an exhibition area. There are plans to display the site’s original gates, which are recognised as “an important cultural asset” by the council due to their association with The Beatles song, in this exhibition space.

Robertson has now started work on the project including the 14,400 sq ft steel-framed training and visitor centre, which also features a gift shop and museum. The cladding will be both timber and brick, while the wooded areas around the site are to be retained.

The contractor is working with a professional team including Hoskins, Gleeds, and Curtins. The project is expected to take around two years to complete.

Planning permission was granted for the project in November last year, which was followed by a funding drive to support the scheme.

The development first secured permission in 2014, but plans were revised following a feasibility study.

Revisions included an increase in the size of the visitors’ centre and changes to the learning space, while an IT training suite and a common room were removed to keep the project within budget.

Thomas Burfitt-Williams, head of capital projects at the Salvation Army, said: “Robertson demonstrated community experience with an awareness of the great importance The Salvation Army attaches to the long-term success of this project for generations to come, both as a centre of learning and discovery, and as a place of cultural significance for Liverpool and the wider world.

“We are excited about working with Robertson in creating an asset for all to enjoy and benefit from.”

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Ask the Expert

Ask the Expert

Is your business more dependent on internet than traditional utilities...?

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We caught up with Andy MacGregor of BT Local Business to find out what his thoughts are on the dependency of businesses and the internet in 2018.

BT Local Business serves thousands of businesses in our area on behalf of BT - why do you feel the internet is so important for those businesses?

The internet is now a massive factor for businesses across the UK and the world. Companies can, and do use the internet for EVERYTHING including research, marketing, supply chain management, customer ordering, delivery arrangements, invoicing and ongoing customer management.

Where do you feel it ranks in terms of importance for modern companies?

In 2007 business owners rated the internet connection 11 from 16 key dependencies and by 2014 this had gone up 5 places to 6 from 16.

Today, I believe in the current digital economy, we could see that rise to 3rd or 4th place from 16! When you consider that the list includes cash flow, electricity and other key dependencies this puts it right up there in the forefront of the business owners mind.

Does that mean that being connected to the internet is now more important than other utilities?

My answer here could be controversial, however yes I do!

My answer is based on discussions we have every day with SME’s who

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often say it is their No.1. In fact an owner I spoke to recently who was putting in a resilient connection for the HQ, explained to me that he would rather his company had no water than no internet. His view was that they could quickly access water in bulk to ensure toilets worked and taps ran, however losing the connection to the internet would be devasting for his business.

The debate on electricity is more complicated of course as without electricity routers, data switches would not work to distribute the internet, although many companies now have battery back up and or generators to cover this eventually.

What would be the effect on a business if they lost connectivity?

Should your primary internet service become disrupted, the cost }to your business can be considerable. Overall for SME’s everyday operations will stop immediately in 40 per cent of businesses, 13 per cent immediately start losing money following an outage and 48 per cent will suffer financially after four hours.

And worryingly, surveys show only 13 per cent of businesses switch to a backup solution.

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How do companies ensure they get a good quality connection?

BT and other providers have a plethora of services available.

My view would be to look at not only what speed is available as although that is important, ensuring the SLA and minimum speed guarantees suit the business needs are also vital to today’s decisionmaking process. In addition to a reliable connection, my advice would be to get a backup service of some sort, whether than be an emergency mobile dongle for smaller businesses or a resilient connection for larger businesses.; Just don’t wait till D – Day, act now and be ready.

So other than back up what else can companies do to give them a good reliable connection?

My first advice would be to plan ahead if moving premises. Solicitors will do checks for electricity, water and issues with premises for leases or sales of property; however the internet is often not checked. It is vital companies do the research and call their providers to establish they now see decisions on premises delayed until connectivity speed at the address are checked and, in some cases, guaranteed.

Ask the Experts

Bringing a successful American business model to the UK Amrik Birdi and Daniel Brennan

Growth Partners PLC is an employee engagement company that delivers expert-level HR services to UK businesses. Using the co-employment model, they work to increase overall staff performance and introduce a more efficient HR process. In today’s interview, the firm’s Financial Consultant, Daniel Brennan, and Pensions Consultant, Amrik Birdi, are here to discuss why the co-employment model, after having originally made its mark in the US, has hit the ground running on UK soil, offering SMEs a unique growth opportunity.

Q. Tell me a bit about the Co-employment model.

First off, what is it?

DB: Simple enough, co-employment is an agreement set up between two employers: an SME and a Professional Employer Organisation – PEO for short. Let’s say you’re an SME looking to outsource some of your workload. You’re thinking there’s a chunk of smaller tasks that you can’t get away without doing, but which take up a lot of time - in this scenario, payroll is a big one. A PEO has the time and the resources to do it for you, and the co-employment model means that they can offer to do it by sharing legal responsibility of your Payroll and Pensions duty, by doing so, taking over that portion of risk to your business.

Q. When would a business best benefit from a coemployment contract?

AB: If you’ve come across coemployment before, or it sounds familiar, chances are you were either stuck on some sort of HRrelated issue and looking for answers, or you were after a benefits scheme for your employees. Something like that.

Co-employment works well for businesses looking to increase

staff performance, and essentially shape up HR. A decent example I could share is a recent study by economists, Laurie Bassi and Dan McMurrer, that measured the size and scope of growing PEO usage.

They found that small businesses using PEOs grew 7 to 9% faster, have 10 to 14% lower employee turnover, and because of the added team of specialists at hand and increased corporate compliance, are 50% less likely to go out of business.

Q. So, Growth Partners is a PEO that offers the model.

How does it work?

AB: Not all PEOs are the same, but at Growth Partners what we’ve tried to do is optimise the level of support that we give.

As part of the nine core services we offer, you get a specialist team to handle your full payroll process and a dedicated pensions consultant to kit your staff out with a plan that suits them. To make your life even easier, our developers have built the Growth Pro platform. It’s an exciting tool that offers you a full suite of employee engagement services at no extra cost, and keeps both pensions and payroll management in one place.

Q. Why Co-employment, and not just standard outsourcing?

AB: With Co-employment, an employer gets to keep full control. When it comes to outsourcing, often the employer will worry about whether the work is being carried out properly, and if anything goes wrong, the fine is sure to land at their door.

The great thing about Coemployment for an SME is that the risk element is removed.

Because a PEO inherits a level of employee responsibility along with the workload, they are legally accountable for any penalties or infractions should they occur.

Q. So basically outsourcing made safer?

DB: Yes. And not only that, there are many extra benefits that co-employment brings, a reason why the model’s been picking up steam since being introduced.

SMEs often concentrate very

heavily on cost-saving measures, for good reason. Whilst many employers would think that having someone in-house would be cheaper, for the smaller, more administrative tasks like payroll, it is in fact a smarter move, from a financial point of view, to outsource. Even more than just cost, if you’re an SME looking for a practical solution to strengthen your workforce, our inclusive employee engagement suite offers just that. Perhaps you’ve been struggling to motivate staff to meet targets, or have been having issues with workplace wellbeing, say sickness leave is high, our support network of HR specialists are at hand to make a real difference. Co-employment is all about broadening growth opportunities for SMEs, and if you’re an ambitious business owner looking for the next step, the co-employment option is a conversation worth having.

To find out more about Growth Partners PLC, or to request a FREE business consultation: You can email: neil.bradley@growthpartnersplc.co.uk Or call: 07904784170 To visit our site:www.growthpartnersplc.co.uk

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k o o l a e k a T Chamber in the City

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our members d n a r e b m a h C at what the onths m w fe t s a p e th r ove have been up to 1

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Chamber in the City 8

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Events Manager Jane and Marketing Executive Zoe met with new members Merseyside Dogs Home

Chamber CEO Paul chaired the panel at our Unlocking the Next Industrial Revolution event with IBI Group and Arcadis A very busy 60 Really Useful Minutes session held by Dale Carnegie

Marketing Executive Zoe visited the Liverpool Food & Drink Festival and spotted a brand new Arriva Click bus

Our Property & Construction Exchange Lunch was well attended as always with guest speaker, Matthew Dyer from Austin-Smith:Lord

A full room at out ‘Preparing for Trade in a Post Brexit World’ seminar in the Racquet Club

Business Engagement Manager Rich had a great evening at the Everyman Thank You Party

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Events Manager Jane enjoyed a cheeky tipple at the Alchemists second birthday party Business Engagement Manager Rich had a go in one of B&M Wastes Electric Trucks at the launch of their Recycling Innovation Centre – Milner House

Chamber CEO Paul lead the discussion at our Transport Policy Forum Connecting the Liverpool City Region

Head of Business Development Lee took part in the Three Peaks Challenge alongside James Battle from Nationwide Management Services

The Chamber welcomed senior representatives from the Department for Education and the Institute for Apprenticeships (IFA) for a discussion with businesses about The Skills Revolution

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Staff Directory Staff Directory

Chamber staff are here to provide dedicated support for business members of the Chamber.

The directory below provides a list of contacts for members should they need to contact us.

Paul Cherpeau Chief Executive paul.cherpeau@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Jon Cranston Director of Finance jon.cranston@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Lee Stanley Head of Business Development lee.stanley@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Julie Sankey International Trade Executive julie.sankey@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Ian Bulmer Programmes & Policy Manager ian.bulmer@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Sarah Woolley Export Documentation Manager sarah.woolley@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Heather Whitaker Export Documentation Analyst heather.whitaker@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Lisa Noon Export Documentation Assistant lisa.noon@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Michelle Cameron Senior Policy & Communications Advisor michelle.cameron@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Richard Smith Business Engagement Manager richard.smith@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Jane Slinger-Brennan Events Manager jane.slingerbrennan@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Zoe Bleasdale Marketing & Membership Executive zoe.bleasdale@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Contact Us :

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Tel: 0151 227 1234 | Email: membership@liverpoolchamber.org.uk | export@liverpoolchamber.org.uk | www.liverpoolchamber.org.uk | Lpoolchamber

New Members

Elena Enciso International Trade Manager elena.enciso@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Welcome to our new Chamber Members

Strategic Partners ACSL Solicitors

GSTS

Baltic Creative

HM Growth

0151 363 3977 www.acsl.org.uk

www.baltic-creative.com 0151 708 2840

Coeus Insurance Management LTD 0151 486 0626 www.coeusinsurance.com

Construction Impact Framework Helen Gibbons Accounts Manager helen.gibbons@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

07463 540 183 www.ciframework.co.uk

Crowne Plaza Liverpool John Lennon Airport

0151 494 5000 www.crowneplaza.com/liverpoolarpt

Growth Partners Plc

0116 340 3116 www.growthpartnersplc.co.uk

Membership Plus

Antonio Franco Photography

07957 081974 www.antoniofranco.net

Ayre Ltd

0844 414 0502 www.ayre.events

Melissa Healy Office Manager melissa.healy@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Counselling Matters

0151 601 2145 www.counselling-matters.org.uk

Membership

07711 843495 www.hillyermckeown.co.uk/business/ business-growth/

Liverpool John Moores University 0151 231 8073 www.ljmu.ac.uk

Mediatelegal

0151 363 3972 www.mediatelegal.co.uk

Nationwide Management Services 0800 783 1191 www.nation-wide.co

Revolution Albert Dock & Cavern Quarter Albert Dock: 0151 909 2777 Cavern Quarter: 0151 236 0905 www.revolution-bars.co.uk

Mikhail Hotels Limited 01704 532 578 www.boldhotel.com

Prism Infosec

0124 265 2100 www.prisminfosec.com

A.W.Law Limited

Sulem Care Limited

Business Focus

Soaroc International

0151 909 2125 www.alexanderwhyatt.com

07507 442709 www.businessfocus.solutions

Glow Care Limited 0151 558 1617 www.glowcareuk.com

Muj Miah Administration Assistant Mujahid.Miah@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

0800 389 0661 www.gsts-sia.com

Ground Civils Ltd 07825 156612 www.groundcivils.com

Charity Membership

0151 372 0369 www.glowcareuk.com

0844 884 3188 www.soarocrecycling.com

Surface Transforms Plc 0151 348 8887 www.surfacetransforms.com

Merseyside Dogs Home

The Royal College of Physicians

Safety Layne Investments Ltd

The Whitechapel Centre

0151 487 3592 www.merseysidedogshome.org 07973 756237 www.medsonthenet.com

The Conference Centre at LACE 0151 522 1092 www.conferenceatlace.co.uk

0207 224 0900 www.rcplondon.ac.uk

0151 207 7617 www.whitechapelcentre.co.uk

When you Wish Upon a Star

0115 9791 720 www.whenyouwishuponastar.org.uk

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5 Minutes with ...

Minutes with... network for the electrification of transport and heat across the Liverpool City Region.

SP Energy Networks are proud to return as the main sponsors for the Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce Awards Dinner in 2018. We see these awards as an integral part of engagement with the business community across in the area, and we are committed to supporting the success of local businesses.

What changes would you like to see to improve or develop your sector?

Stephen Stewart SP Manweb Director, SP Energy Networks

SP Energy Networks owns and manages the underground cables and overhead power lines that bring the electricity into your home or business.

We don’t sell electricity and we don’t issue electricity bills, this is the role of your electricity supplier.

We are dedicated to delivering a safe and reliable electricity supply to all of our 1.5 million customers in the SP Manweb licence area 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

We’re investing over £1billion to strengthen and secure our electricity network to cope with the ever growing demand for electricity and allow power generated from renewable sources to come back into the network from a variety of supply points. The key challenge over the next five years is to prepare our existing

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I would like to see greater powers for local government across the City Region. SP Energy Networks operates across Scotland, Wales and England and I believe both the Scottish and Welsh Government have achieved great things by having devolved powers from UK Government. I am keen to see the improvements that have been made by the Merseyside Metropolitan Mayor since being in position and I am looking forward to building upon this and helping to bring greater local decision making for all investment and infrastructure requirements as we move to a low carbon future.

I truly believe that we should be looking to ensure the local economy benefits from the low carbon initiatives we are seeing across the energy sector. As I have discussed previously with both Scottish and Welsh Government – What local jobs have been brought about by the all renewable generation they have connected in their areas?

My point to them is always – I don’t believe enough local jobs have been created and this is something that I would

encourage both local and UK Government to improve on moving forward.

What does a typical working day look like?

I am a true believer that planning and preparation is critical to success in life not just in business. I start my day early and ensure I am fully prepared for the day ahead.

In my role I am responsible for ‘keeping the lights on’ across Merseyside, Cheshire, North Shropshire and North Wales.

We operate a 24 hours a day 365 days a year business, so my first port of call is to always to check the network status and the weather to see what we have coming our way, and only then do I go about my daily activities. I can be speaking to large businesses or local government about the work we are doing to facilitate a low carbon future, or I can be dealing with staff and our service partners who deliver our huge investment programmes. I am also fully committed to developing our future workforce and I take great satisfaction from mentoring and coaching the staff within my business.

What advice would you give your teenage self?

Preparation and planning is everything. A hard work ethic, positive attitude and commitment will make your transition into the business world run much smoother. You should have at least a five year and a ten year plan, set out where you would like to be and then more importantly work out what skills and experience you need to develop to help you achieve your goals. Nothing should be left to chance – you need to go out there and make it happen for yourself and don’t expect anything to be handed to you on a plate.

Where would we find you on your day off?

My ideal day off work would be playing a round of golf with my wife Jenny, watching Liverpool win at Anfield and enjoying the bars and restaurants in Liverpool. I am proud to live in this great city and enjoy getting involved in local culture since relocating from Glasgow a few years ago.

What is the best advice you have been given in your career?

The best advice I have been given by a very valued mentor, and I try to remember every day, is that a positive attitude will open many doors in business regardless of what you are doing. I have used this advice regularly throughout my career and have found it to be invaluable in helping me to achieve my goals and building strong working relationships whatever I am trying to achieve.

Who is your role model in business?

That is a difficult question to answer because there have been many people throughout my career, both internal and external to our business, who have helped me with my career. Currently I would have to say Jürgen Klopp is an inspiration to me for the way he has come into an underperforming team and has inspired them to achieve great things, and as a result he has also created a positive buzz across this great city of Liverpool.

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