LDP Business Magazine, June 2010 by Liverpool Post & Echo

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SOCIAL DIARY THE NETWORKER

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

INSIDE 4

LDP BUSINESS

NEWS

£400m international trade boost

EDITOR Bill Gleeson 0151 472 2319

6 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

bill.gleeson@liverpool.com

Yorkshire House now 70% full

DEPUTY BUSINESS EDITOR Tony McDonough 0151 330 4918

9 BIG FEATURE

When the boat comes in

tony.mcdonough @liverpool.com

BUSINESS WRITERS Alistair Houghton

TRANSPORT

alistair.houghton @liverpool.com

16 DLIB Chairman Frank McKenn, left, with Roy Gronow, of Entwistle, and Dave Blackman, of Venmore, at the DLIB anniversary celebration

David al-Hadithi, of The Design Foundry; Jo Tait, of Move Publishing; and Ian Marsden, Capricorn Kitchens, at The Living Room networking event

PROFESSIONAL SECTORS Pensions warning

peter.elson @liverpool.com

BIG INTERVIEW

Neil Hodgson neil.hodgson @liverpool.com

Alex Turner

Brian Woodhouse, Bizarre Creations

CAROLYN HUGHES

Peter Elson

alex.turner@liverpool.com

HEAD OF IMAGES Barrie Mills

MARKETING EXECUTIVE Cath Reeves 0151 285 8428

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The Mersey Partnership

ADVERTISEMENT DIRECTOR Debbie McGraw

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Heath co-founder steps down

Outfits from Natalia’s Boutique on show at the Thornton Hall Hotel

DOWNTOWN Liverpool In Business celebrated its sixth birthday at the Reform Bar. More than 150 guests partied until the early hours, aided by freeflowing drink and a karaoke machine. ■ THORNTON Hall Hotel was the venue last week for a fashion show featuring Matalan and Tina Louise bridal couture. The event, which raised £1,230 for the Forsight Appeal, based at Arrowe Park Hospital, was compered by Mike McCartney with music from Marc Kenny. ■ MODO held a fashion “walk-off” evening where

Caroline Harkness, from Impact Models, was voted the best-dressed person in the city and won a beautiful diamond necklace from Boodles, valued at £400. Sophie Ellis-Bextor hit the decks and Liverpool’s own burlesque performer, Millie Dollar, wowed the crowd with her risqué performance. ■ THE Living Room, in Victoria Street, hosted a networking dinner for members of the property/ lifestyle industry recently, where guests were treated to a sneak preview of the new menu, which is to be introduced soon.

ADVERTISMENT MANAGER Jackie McMahon 0151 330 5077

INTERNATIONAL TRADE United Utilities’ eastern exit

32 HOW GREEN IS YOUR BUSINESS?

Bulky Bob’s Woman of the Year Jamie Wray and Jamie Burrow networking at the Living Room, in Victoria Street

36 EDUCATION

Anglo-Indian conference

RESTAURANT REVIEW The Noble House

TELEPHONE 0151 227 2000

THE LIST

FAX 0151 330 4942

NETWORKER

Tweet-ups and Twestivals

Sandra Withe and Carol Stanton enjoying the Thornton Hall fashion display

LDP Business is printed monthly and distributed with the Liverpool Daily Post. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the publisher.

SOCIAL DIARY

Carolyn Hughes out on the town

Sam Smith and Jan Smith in the crowd at the Thornton Hall fashion event

Kirsty Thomas and Caroline Harkness, of Impact Models, at the Modo fashion ‘walk-off’ evening

WHAT a heady month May was. A close election result has led to the creation of Britain’s first coalition government in six decades. As a nation, we are in unchartered territory. The old certainties of adversarial politics have given way to a new era which sees erstwhile bitter rivals working together in a surprisingly grown-up manner. I can’t believe it will last. One of the biggest surprises to date has been the decision to retain the Northwest Development Agency. It’s not because I thought they were rubbish at what they did, because they’re not. No, its more that the NWDA is a vestige of Labour’s

PHOTOGRAPHY Trinity Mirror PUBLISHED BY Trinity Mirror NW2, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L69 3EB.

Tracey Walters and Helen Gazzola at the Thornton Hall fashion show

ADVERTISMENT SALES Julie Cowley 0151 3472 2311 Neil Johnson 0151 472 2705

EDITOR’S LETTER failed project to bring devolved government to the English regions. Previously, the Conservatives were hostile to the whole idea. There is a perfectly good argument that says a degree of region-wide decision-making is useful. Without it, local authorities would be too parochial to allow them to agree about major transport infrastructure projects. Would, for example,

Liverpool and Manchester agree to spend their cash allocations to build the second River Mersey crossing at Halton. The NWDA, in effect a branch office of Whitehall, can deliver a more integrated approach to such matters. To my mind, the real issue is whether we need an intermediate “sub-regional” layer of government between the NWDA and the local authorities. In other words, are The Mersey Partnership and its equivalents elsewhere really needed? There does seem to be some duplication of effort between the

work of TMP, on the one hand, and the local authorities and the regional agencies on the other. TMP and Liverpool City Council both have tourism directors, and both TMP and the NWDA promote the development of the knowledge economy. Why? Look at how foreign inward investment leads are handled. National government’s UK Trade & Investment arm passes an inward investment enquiry to a regional development agency, which in turn passes it down the chain to a sub-

regional agency like TMP, which then finds a local authority to accommodate it. Surely there is at least one, perhaps two, wasteful links in that chain. Given there is so much public money tied up in this process at a time when the focus is on finding spending cuts, it may be TMP could play its part in restoring the nation’s public finances back to health by ceasing to exist. But don’t take my word for it. Have a look at the insights offered by Alex Turner’s piece on TMP on Pages 23 to 26, and decide for yourself.

BILL GLEESON 3

NEWS

ADVERTISING FEATURE

CHURCHILL INDUSTRIAL ESTATE SEEDS LANE FAZAKERLEY

West Lancs wedding venue grows by 100%

The bridal suite at the West Tower

A WEST Lancashire wedding and events venue has revealed a 100%t increase in turnover during the first quarter of this year. West Tower, in Aughton, saw revenues rise to more than £1m, compared to £500,000 over the same period last year, securing 52 wedding reservations. The former hotel and restaurant, owned and operated by Sanguine Hospitality, last year underwent a £650,000 refurbishment programme including a new glass-walled dining area and honeymoon

suite, transforming it into a wedding and events venue. John Brown, sales manager at West Tower, said: “We’ve had a great first quarter, particularly with weddings, and 98% of couples who have visited us to enquire about weddings have booked, often doing so immediately. “The investment undertaken in 2009 is clearly paying dividends, and guests are particularly keen to sample the exclusive nature of a wedding here and enjoy sole use of the entire property.”

NWDA gives boost to international trade THREE-YEAR programme to stimulate international trade in the North West has been hailed a success. The Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) has published a report claiming every £1 invested by its International Trade Programme has generated £20 for the regional economy. This totals more than £400m and the NWDA also claims more than 2,300 jobs have been created or safeguarded during the period. Liverpool’s presence at the World Expo, in Shanghai, is also expected to add to the figures. Between 2007 and 2009, the NWDA invested £2.92m in the International Trade Programme for the North West. The report, carried out by DTZ, has found that for every £1 the NWDA has put in, the programme has returned £20.57. This net additional GVA compares favourably against national benchmark figures. The evaluation report shows that the NWDA investment has generated £390m additional economic value to the region between 2007 and 2009. The NWDA funding for the programme is in addition to the core funding provided by UK Trade & Investment to deliver internationalisation support in the North West. Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the NWDA, said: “I am delighted that the report commends our international trade activity. “The return on investment and value for money of this programme is outstanding and an excellent example of how the NWDA is really making a difference to businesses in the region. “It is helping the North West maintain its position as one of the leading hi-tech exporters in Europe.”

Delighted: Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the NWDA

INDUSTRIAL UNITS NOW AVAILABLE

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Warning over redundancy procedures: Andrew Newton, of Maxwell Hodge

Firms face risk of legal action EMPLOYERS across Merseyside are leaving themselves open to legal action by not following correct redundancy procedures, a law firm is claiming. The recession has seen an increase in firms both locally and nationally having to lay off staff. Merseyside-based Maxwell Hodge says it has dealt with high numbers of tribunal claims in recent months and nationwide tribunal claims remain high. The firm’s employment law specialist, Andrew Newton, said: “The latest figures we have reveal that employment tribunals are still high, with 151,000 claims made in 2008/09, which, while down on the previous year, still remains high. “Our department

has been particularly busy in recent months, dealing with cases of employees claiming unfair dismissal, many a direct result of companies not following correct procedures.” According to Mr Newton, some of the key mistakes made by employers include not following proper consultation processes and making people redundant where the reason is not genuinely related to redundancy. Mr Newton said: “We’ve experienced a number of firms, particularly smaller companies failing to follow fair redundancy procedures. This can be anything from not carrying out consultations to neglecting to conduct a fair redundancy selection process.”

1,565 SQ FT. TO 3,000 SQ FT. COMPETITIVE FLEXIBLE TERMS RENT FREE AVAILABLE FOR ANY FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT NICK HARROP, HITCHCOCK WRIGHT & PARTNERS ON 0151 227 3400 nickharrop@hwandp.co.uk

THE NETWORKER

ALISTAIR HOUGHTON . . . in which our hero explains the wonders of meeting folk via Twitter, using rather more than 140 characters HERE can’t be many networking events where having a picture of a cartoon character sticky-taped to your face would be an advantage. But then any event based on Twitter, whether it’s a Twestival or a Tweetup, is a bit different from your run-of-the-mill bash. If you’re unfamiliar with Twitter – and, given its media ubiquity, I’m not sure that's even possible any more – it’s a service where you post short updates about what you’re doing online for all to see. It’s a service that’s come in for a lot of flak. Why, sneer the cynics, would you want to tell people everything you're up to? And, they mutter in an equally curmudgeonly fashion, why would you want to know what other people are up to? A declaration of interest here – I'm a fully signed-up Twitter fan. Why? Quite simply, because it's fascinating. Yes, there's a certain amount of watching people tell you what they had for dinner. But there's so much more.

It's a place where you can discuss the news, or broadcast your own stories. It's a place where you can let off steam about anything that bothers you, from world poverty to the new Westlife single.It's a place where you can “meet” celebrities, real and not so real. And it's a place that can help your business. Twitter can be a platform for trivia, a veritable Clapham Junction for trains of thought that just shouldn’t be aired. But it can also be a marketplace and a source for tips, hints, leads and just plain sales. And do you want to know what your competitors are up to? Well, they're probably on Twitter telling you – if you’re listening. Twitter is your chance to tune in to the world's conversation to find out what people are really saying or thinking. If people love your product, they'll say so. A Good Thing. And if they don’t, they'll say so. A Bad Thing? Not necessarily – a quick, friendly and helpful response can generate enough good PR to win you many more friends than you lost with your initial gaffe.

Actor and comedian Stephen Fry – an evangelist for Twitter

UT enough of the preaching, I hear you cry – let's get to the bar! Because Merseyside tweeters have now found a way to convert those virtual relationships into drinking sessions – sorry, vital contact-building events. There are two main types of Twitter-related event – the Twestival, a full-on social bash complete with live music, and the quieter Tweetup. The strange thing about these events is having to make the connection between the fleshand-blood people in front of you and the characters you may only know online though an inch-wide picture and the occasional exchange of what you hope is witty banter. There are two potential stumbling blocks, I find.One is the fact that people don’t always use their real names on Twitter. My Twitter name is @Wimpyking. In my defence, it seemed like a good idea when I chose it. But it does mean that I need to help people make the connection between Wimpyking and Alistair by wearing a great big name badge. And the other thorny issue is one of avatars – the images people use to go alongside their tweets. The internet means you can be who you want to be. You can tailor your personality to your audience – and can choose a picture to suit. Want people to think you look like an Atomic Kitten, even though you’re more of a bedraggled cat? No problem. But, of course, that doesn’t help if you want people to spot you at a Tweetup, particularly if you’ve chosen to illuminate your words of wisdom with a picture of a cartoon lion-tailed macaque or a Monster Raving Loony Party rosette. So, short of asking people to stick pictures of their avatars to their faces, the only way to find out who people are is to talk to them. That, though, can be tough in itself. At the most recent Liverpool Twestival in April , for example, a big screen above the stage broadcast all the tweets that namechecked the Twestival. That made it all too tempting to use the screen as a substitute for real conversation, either talking through tweets or simply sending a message just to see it on the screen – a hi-tech equivalent to bellowing: “Hello, mum!” But I’m not mocking – using Twitter opens the door to a whole world of fascinating people you might never otherwise meet. You may find a soulmate, or you may find a business partner. And, at the very least, you’ll find out what they ate for dinner.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Containing business sense Container producers to expand and grow thanks to Stepclever’s support and assistance STEPCLEVER is an initiative to generate an enterprise culture in North Liverpool and South Sefton, by offering free business advice and support, as well as grants and other financial assistance for existing enterprises, start-up companies and individuals. Here we look at an exciting venture which is being helped by Stepclever. WHEN is a container not a container? When Bootle Containers are involved. The well-established organisation, which has been operating for 30 years, designs, builds and refurbishes containers for clients across the world – who all have different needs and requirements. The units have been produced for a variety of purposes – from fire training facilities and workshop venues, right through to kitchens and mobile laboratories. Many of the services they provide are aimed at the oil, gas and military sectors.

There is clearly a lot of demand from the latter sector at the moment, and the team are currently working on making containers that will act as blood banks to be shipped out to Afghanistan later this year. Managing director, Mike Moran, believes the success of the company is down to the fact that they are a one-stop shop for their clients’ needs and thrive on any challenge that’s presented to them. He said: “I don’t believe any business is unique, but we do well as we’re a trusted brand and people can rely on us for quality.” Bootle Containers works in four key areas: ■ Defence systems – clients include the Ministry of Defence and bespoke units are produced for things such as weapons storage and repair facilities; ■ Off-shore systems – this includes providing rigging units and work cabins for oil rigs; ■ Civil defence systems – work in this area includes manufacturing a range of realistic training

scenarios for fire fighters; ■ Environmental systems – units are developed to cope with a range of issues such as waste management and oil spills. Earlier this month, the organisation was awarded a £20,000 grant from Stepclever which is going to be invested in refurbishing the factory and increasing the staff numbers from 38 to 47 people. Mr Moran added: “We’re delighted with the support that we have received from Stepclever, not just in financial terms but also in them providing us with access to their network of suppliers and potential partners. “Our dealings with Stepclever have been positive from the start, and it has been refreshing to deal with an organisation which understands our business needs and delivers the support where and when it is needed.” ■ FOR more information about Bootle Containers, go to www.bootlecontainers.co.uk or call 0151 922 0610.

Support for Business

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THE NETWORKER

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

THE BUSINESS LIST Friday, May 28

Liverpool Chamber and its partners are presenting a detailed overview of the funding and support services available in the North West. These include financial and training opportunities. The free event is from 12pm-2pm and includes presentations by Liverpool Chamber, Business Link, Liverpool John Moores University about knowledge transfer partnerships and innovation vouchers, and information about the Future Jobs Fund. For more information call 0151 227 1234.

TUESDAY, JUNE 1 / SEFTON AND WEST LANCASHIRE BUSINESS FAIR 2010

Friday, June 4 The Daresbury Business Breakfast brings together around 100 people working for hi-tech companies and their supply and support communities. The breakfast is at Daresbury Innovation Centre, starting from 8am. For more details, see www.daresburysic.co.uk/events

Friday, June 4 Liverpool Chamber of Commerce is hosting a free event from 9am-12.30pm, focusing on selling services in Europe and the EU Services Directive. It is designed to help companies make the most of the opening-up of the European market. The event will conclude with a Q and A Session followed by lunch and networking. The event will be held at Novotel, Hanover Street, Liverpool. Book online at liverpoolchamber.org.uk or call 0151 224 1863.

Tuesday, June 8 Still thriving: Yorkshire House, in Chapel Street, Liverpool, was built in 1926 and was originally the local headquarters of the Yorkshire Building Society

Landmark site secures lets

Knowsley Chamber of Commerce, in association with Knowsley Council, is hosting a free event to help raise awareness of the threat delayed payments can pose. The half-day workshop will focus on helping businesses to be more assertive chasing up outstanding fees, helping them to get paid quicker, without

Southport Theatre and Convention Centre – hosting the business fair on June 1 THE Sefton and West Lancashire Business Fair is taking place at the Southport Theatre and Convention Centre Complex. The one-day event includes an exhibition, seminars, business advice and marketing

damaging the existing relationship with the client. More information can be found at www.knowsley chamber.org

Liverpool’s Yorkshire House now 70% full after two new deals A REFURBISHED office building in the heart of Liverpool’s central business district is now 70% full after two new lettings. Developer Denizen Contracts has taken half a floor in Yorkshire House, in Castle Street, and existing tenant JAK Taverns has agreed to take further space within the building. Built in 1926, the elegant limestone property, originally the headquarters of the Yorkshire Building Society, had been

unoccupied for some years until it was acquired in 2006 by Chapel Street LLP. Keen to give the landmark building a new lease of life, the partnership, comprising Arrowcroft, Faircroft and Ethel Austin Properties, refurbished the property and created 24,411sq ft of office space. The refurbishment included an extensive and sensitive renovation of the inside of the building to create office

accommodation throughout, and a new penthouse suite offering views over the city. Simon Jones, North West director of Faircroft, said: “It is great to see an existing tenant further committing to the building by taking on more space at Yorkshire House. “We are delighted with the success the building has had in securing tenants in what is a testing economic climate, but this has been achieved as a result of

the high quality of building and facilities such as underground car parking.” Andrew Owen, head of business space at Mason Owen – the joint letting agents with CB Richard Ellis – said: “These two new lettings only serve to justify the landlord’s investment in providing high-quality office space suitable for the modern office occupier within an attractive period building. “It is this attention to detail,

combined with modern features such as comfort cooling, that has attracted occupiers such as Parkin S Booth, Turner & Townsend, Stellar Group and Hitech Exports to the building. “This is a superb building in an excellent location and we are delighted to have reached the milestone of being 70% occupied.” Yorkshire House can accommodate a variety of size requirements from 1,000 sq ft up to 3,332 sq ft.

clinics. The seminars include successful marketing on a shoestring, how SMEs can win a public sector tender, presentation skills, and tips for getting stories in the news. Tony Haines, of event

organisers Liverpool BA, said: “We try to make sure that we have something for everyone at our events and we know that the free business seminars are highly appreciated.” There are about 40

businesses and organisations exhibiting, including Invest Sefton, West Lancashire Investment Centre, Chartered Institute of Marketing, Jobcentre Plus and the Federation of Small Businesses.

Tuesday, June 8

Park, Runcorn, from 12pm-2pm. It is £5 for Halton Chamber members and £10 for nonmembers, and includes a light lunch. To book, call Nicola Holland on 01928 516142, or email nicolah@halton chamber.com

A business breakfast is being held at Inglewood Manor, Ellesmere Port, from 7.30am-9pm. The event, organised by West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce, costs £11.75 for members and £23.50 for non-members. To book call 01244 669988.

Tuesday, June 15

Daresbury Innovation Centre

A half-day workshop on basic online marketing tips and techniques is being delivered by St Helens Chamber. It costs £11.75 for members and £23.50 for non-members. It is from 8.45am-12.30pm.Book online at sthelenschamber.com/events

The event is free to attend and is on from 10.30am-3.30pm. For more details on this and our other events, contact Liverpool BA on 0151 709 8932 or visit www.businessfairs uk.com/services.php

Liverpool Marriott Hotel

Tuesday, June 15 Halton Women in Business is holding its next bi-monthly meeting at The Heath Business

Liverpool Chamber of Commerce’s monthly platform lunch is at Liverpool Marriott, in Queen Square. It starts at 12.15pm and is scheduled to finish at 2.30pm. Three members will make short presentations about their businesses. It costs £25 for members and £30 for non-members. To book, call 0151 227 1234.

THE NETWORKER

BUSINESS LUNCH Tony McDonough meets Natalie Reeves, a Liverpool songwriter and recycling entrepreneur FIRST met Natalie Reeves three years ago, when she was involved in a venture to import an energy drink into the UK called Rocket Fuel. The drink – similar to Red Bull – was a hit in South America and Natalie had joined forces with other UK-based entrepreneurs as well a the founder of Rocket Fuel – a former Argentinian international footballer called Sergio Sessa – to bring it here. Issues around the levels of a certain ingredient meant the product was not able to be sold in the UK, but, like most good entrepreneurs, Natalie knows the next good idea is only ever just around the corner. These days, the 27-year-old, an established singer and songwriter, is a director of a successful recycling business and her next big idea is to bring the “rag and bone man” back to the streets of Liverpool. The recycling operation is actually two separate ventures – North West Electronics Recycling Centre (NWERC) and North West Textiles Recycling Centre (NWTRC). NWERC is already wellestablished business in Old Swan, in Liverpool, which, in the last 18 months, has grown its full-time staff from 15 to 35. It recycles and sells on all manner of electrical appliances including televisions, microwave ovens, radios, DVD players and computer base units. “Anything bulky with a plug,” said Natalie. Its clients include banks, hotels, schools and universities. Natalie added: “Some of the stuff is exported abroad and some is sold on ebay, in our own showroom or at a Sunday market. “We also supply charity shops.” NWTRC aims to recycle most textile goods including clothes, hats, shoes and bedding. Its “weigh and pay” operation is targeting community groups, schools and other organisations who might be looking to raise money for a specific cause or project. Natalie said: “We would encourage them to send a newsletter out to all their staff or students asking people to bring in their unwanted textiles. “The only items we won’t accept are those that are wet or soiled. “We would supply them with special bags to fill up which we

would then collect and weigh them and pay the organisation. “We also want to bring back the old rag and bone man to the streets of Liverpool. “The vans would go around picking up stuff and playing the song ‘Any Old Iron’. “We have done a feasibility study and we believe Liverpool is a great place to launch something like this.” There are also recycling ventures being done in partnership with Liverpool-based Riverside Housing and Cosmopolitan Housing and Knowsley Housing Trust. Our venue for lunch was the Noble House, in Brunswick Street, Liverpool city centre. It opened in December last year and occupies the Grade II-listed Heywood Building, formerly home to a private bank. Competition for up-market diners in that part of town is now fierce. Right opposite the Noble House is the popular Restaurant Bar and Grill, and just yards away in Castle Street there is the recently opened San Carlo and Merchants, in the former Trials Hotel. However, the first few months seem to indicate the Noble House is more than holding its own. The conversion into a restaurant has been tasteful and, with a mixture of dark wooden tables and private booths, it certainly has the ambience of a place fit for fine dining. For her starter, Natalie chose the soft herb goat’s cheese with roast piquillo cream, vine tomatoes and wild rocket, which she said tasted “fresh and delicious”. I went for the freshly baked bread with infused oils and it was exactly what it said on the tin. I was served a single roll with a choice of oils, one of

The elegant interior of the Noble House restaurant, in Liverpool which had a lively and pleasing kick. For main course Natalie opted for the risotto of semi-dried cherry tomatoes, mozarella and baby herbs. It was beautifully presented and, once again, Natalie commented on the freshness of the ingredients and the richness of the flavours. She didn’t finish, but said: “The food was lovely but I’m not used to eating food as rich as this, so I’m saving some room for dessert.” For my main course, I cast the menu aside and eyed the specials board, opting for the North Atlantic mackerel florentine with spinach, poached eggs and herb hollandaise sauce all sat on sour dough bread. I was initially a little concerned when it arrived. There was an awful lot of sauce. It looked a little like a large piece of lumpy cake covered in custard. I feared that the flavour of the sauce would overwhelm everything else. However, the sauce proved to be delicious, yet subtle. The fish underneath was cooked to perfection and combined

beautifully with the poached egg and the bread and, unlike Natalie, I cleaned my plate. Having been filled up with bread in both my first courses, I was initially reluctant to join Natalie in ordering dessert. But she and the dessert menu quickly wore down my resistance and I ordered a citrus tart, which was deliciously light and tangy. Both Natalie and I sat openmouthed when her strawberry and banana skewer arrived. The skewer was hanging from an elaborate contraption that could probably be utilised to lynch a small animal. Impressed as she was with this presentation, she transferred the fruit to the plate and asked for the structure to be taken away for fear she may lose an eye. Her efforts were rewarded with a mouth-watering burst of fruity flavours. Definite thumbs-up for the Noble House, then. Great food and the service was efficient and friendly without being fawning or overbearing. Until about fours years ago, Natalie’s focus was purely on writing and performing music.

“My main focus was writing music for other artists and publishers and performing as well,” she said. “Over time, I realised I was quite good at selling things and I also feel I am good at thinking outside the box and coming up with good ideas. “I can use my initiative and bring ideas to life. I’m quite proud of the rag and bone man idea – I think it’s a traditional thing that people will love and is a great way of getting them to think more about recycling. “I have learned not to take on too many things at once but also that you don’t have to pigeonhole yourself. You don’t have to just pick one thing and stick to it.”

DETAILS The Noble House 5 Brunswick Street, Liverpool L2 0UU Tel: 0151 236 5346 Cost: £55.95

EDUCATION

control of its own future

month could influence global teaching methods and establish its own international stock

A group of Oldershaw pupils who will help host the conference, act as tourist guides and contribute to the conference sessions He added: “We focused on this idea of insiders and outsiders for schools to transform their teaching practice and the learning experience of children. “That is, what it is to a teacher, what it is to be the workforce in a school.” The conference includes practical experience of employing learning mentors to bring new expertise to the classroom: “It is seeing teachers less as instructors and now more as facilitators.” Opportunities to deliver learning outside schools will also feature in the itinerary. Dr Owen said: “We will look at how that transformation could happen in the UK and how it can happen in India as well.” That includes cultural education: “Typically, Wallasey is a fairly white area and this will give the opportunity to extend diversity and multi-racial,

multi-lingual connections. The argument is about transforming the workforce and providing new skills into the schools’ workforce that maybe weren’t there 10, 20, 30 years ago. “The main point is to provide a map for how change might occur.” Closer to home, the conference could provide a fundamental shift in how the trust develops as a business in its own right. “The question is, how do we develop this as a social enterprise with a bottom line and a top line in terms of a social agenda and an educational agenda? “We are always conscious of the bottom line – we have to tender for business and raise contracts – but we have to think of the top line as well.” Part of developing the bottom line is extending the offer – and geographical reach – of Aspire. Dr Owen said that, shortly after

they were invited to stage the conference, they became aware they were in competition with London: “One suggestion was to fly delegates to a hotel at Heathrow for their conference. “We had to make a very strong case early on to come to Liverpool and Wirral and come and see the natural sites we have as well as the architecture, the people, as well as everything else.” This inspired Aspire to investigate setting up alternative tourist trails around the region. “For example, an experimental tourist trail; the 1960s in the Wirral giving another insight into the area; and also looking at the area from a teenager’s point of view. “If a delegate wants to do a traditional tour they can, but this is another part of the business we’re trying to develop.” He said the next stage was a

no-brainer: “Could we float this out? “You can’t stand still or you will collapse.” Aspire operates a business assessment system with a nod to former England and Newcastle goals machine Alan Shearer: “We have what we call a strike rate where we assess the contracts we apply for and what we have won, and we work on the Alan Shearer principle of one-in-four. “We have kept up a ratio of three or four to one in the past few years. We know there’s a hostile climate out there, but there are safe havens you can occupy for a period of time. “There are always opportunities. From a global interest in the expansion of education, there is always interest.” The global interest extends to Denmark, where Aspire is seeking

to open an office in Copenhagen to access the Nordic markets. And Aspire is finalising details to work with South African schools next September. The trust is also confident that next month’s conference will be the start of regular Anglo-Indian events. However, Dr Owen added: “There will be a third element that comes out of this that will come from left field, which will be a surprise element that we’re not expecting. “There’s always a surprise. The whole Delhi business came out of the blue. You obviously have business plans and strategies and vision, but you must always have space for surprise and to let things in that you can’t plan because not everything is controllable and manageable. So there’s got to be space on a business level for serendipity.”

EDUCATION

Education specialist to take

Wallasey’s Aspire Trust explains to Neil Hodgson how an inaugural Anglo-Indian event next Aspire Trust director Dr Nick Owen, making the case for serendipity

organising and management, and is behind the All Our Futures event taking place at Wallasey’s Oldershaw Grammar School from June 28 to July 2. It is the first Anglo-Indian conference for school principals and head teachers of secondary schools worldwide, and could open up new horizons for the Trust in conference and tourism events. All Our Futures aims to examine the difficult national climates and pressures on secondary education and look at ways secondary schools have identified local solutions to those pressures through, for example, extending the nature of the workforce, introducing other specialisms to the classroom and extended learning to settings outside of schools. Delegates will be offered the chance to share those solutions to prepare all their young pupils to

cope with, contribute to and achieve in all their futures. Topics include preparing children for secondary education; the changing nature of the workforce; creative teaching and learning; non-conventional approaches to learning; and the role of learning mentors. Schools taking part include Oldershaw, Sir Thomas Boteler Music College in Warrington, Mount Primary School and St Joseph’s RC School in Wallasey and Bleak Hill School, St Helens. Up to 50 delegates are expected from all over India, including Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Pune, ranging from head teachers to governors and chairmen. They will be offered visits to local schools to meet teachers and pupils, observe classes and discuss the possibility of future faculty or student exchanges. Visits to non-school based

organisations which facilitate learning, including National Museums Liverpool and Liverpool FC, are also planned. Among the key speakers is Dr Nick Owen, director of Aspire Trust, which was a finalist in the 2009 Liverpool Daily Post Regional Business Awards Knowledge Business of the Year category. He explained the trust was asked to organise and run the event after it was invited to present at an “Excellence in Education” conference in Delhi last year. “Our work is fundamentally about how outsiders can help contribute to change within schools. By outsiders, I mean creative people in general. “We were asked to set up a conference over here around the themes of secondary education. “That’s a huge issue. How do

you possibly talk about secondary education in a rural school in the middle of India compared with somewhere like Oldershaw? “But what became very clear was, fundamentally, the issues facing UK schools were exactly the same as the issues facing Indian schools.” He said: “The questions we faced were how do we develop teaching to reflect the needs of children coming into the 21st century, how do we switch children back on, how do we re-connect them to the classroom, how do we re-connect them with their community, and how do we provide new ways of teaching which move beyond ‘chalk and talk’ and use new forms of interactive technology? “The issues were exactly the same, even in a global context, which is vastly different from it was 50 or 100 years ago.”

Cruise controlled

The world’s largest ocean liner and Cunard Line flagship, Queen Mary 2, berthed at the Cruise Liner Terminal on her maiden visit to Liverpool last October

BY PETER ELSON

Do fair winds and following seas lie ahead for Liverpool’s foray into the lucrative cruise market, or will the stormy waters of the turnaround row scupper its ambitions?

▲ ▲

N EDUCATIONAL conference in Wirral next month will help develop new teaching methods to meet the changing nature of global education, the preparation of the workforce of the future – and will mark a key stage in the growth of Wallasey’s Aspire Trust. The organisation covers all educational phases from early years to higher education and provides out-of-school-hours activities from mentors in drama and writing to in-house training for teachers and school staff. It is an offshoot of the Government’s Education Action Zone (EAZ) to help schools and communities in deprived areas, and is thought to be the only social enterprise in the UK to have grown out of an EAZ. More recently, it has extended its influence into conference

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TRANSPORT

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THE BIG FEATURE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 NY port which aspires to the heights of success in the cruise business must have the confidence of one

company. In the case of this industry, it is Carnival Group, dubbed “the Tesco of the seas” because of its phenomenal impact as market leader. Every other cruise line pales into significance alongside this dominant world player. Besides its own brand, it also now owns Cunard Line, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Ocean Village, Aida Cruises, Costa Cruises and Seabourn Cruises. While the once great passenger port of Liverpool struggles to re-enter the industry, it is salutary that Carnival started business with two redundant Liverpool transatlantic liners in 1972. The old Canadian Pacific ships Empress of Canada and Empress of Britain were glammed up for weekly cruises from Miami. Branded “the Fun Ships”, Carnival Cruise Lines’ founder Ted Arison had to mortgage his Israeli farm to pay for the liners. But the formula of short, casual, Caribbean holidays afloat, instead of long stuffy formal cruises, was a commercial winner. As a result, Carnival Corporation powered ahead of many traditional cruise lines which had lost their way. In charge of Carnival Group’s UK and Australian operation is David Dingle, who has spent his working life with P&O Cruises, initially based in the North West. So what does he think of Liverpool’s chances of rebuilding its cruise liner business? He said: “Liverpool is an interesting situation as we need to think about the geography. “The port has potential for two functions. Firstly as an inbound tourist destination and secondly, as an outbound port to depart on cruises, or turnarounds. “As a destination, it very much depends on the ability to grow the UK as an attractive cruise destination. “We do have a small number of Liverpool calls as part of our Princess Cruises round Britain programme, but the appeal is greater for overseas passengers. “It’s far too early to consider Liverpool as a base for us. It’s got a lot of development to go. “Liverpool needs to become proven as a departure point before I could look at it. “Also, there is a quite a long way to go in improving the UK as a destination. It’s a combination of awareness and dealing with the weather. “The northern cruises to the fjords are very special with spectacular scenery. “The Baltic has a great list of capital cities and St Petersburg as the jewel in its crown. “The UK is a challenge, as you can’t get into the capital and are therefore thrown back onto secondary ports. Edinburgh is served through Leith or Greenock. “What is the overall appeal of the UK as a whole? Do you bus cruise passengers for hours to get them to Snowdonia or the Lake District? “Dublin will always get a lot more cruise liners than Liverpool

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Co ferries on the Liverpool - Douglas run are never busier than when the Isle of Man TT races are in full swing

Ferries set for bumper TT

Steam Packet launches its plans to cope with highest demand in years for motorbike race

David Dingle, Carnival Group UK chief executive, could play a decisive role in Liverpool’s future success in the cruise holiday market as it is a non-British capital city, and US cruise lines can tick it off their list as a different country to visit in the itinerary mix. “When I arrived on Queen Mary 2 last October, I found the small terminal building congested in terms of passenger numbers, who were squeezed through. “It was not the most proficient in logistics. The space for coaches and getting coaches and other vehicles onto the landing stage seemed very limited. It could certainly do with some tweaking. “I am astonished it cost £19m, as for that in Southampton you could build from the ground up a brand new terminal, with wonderful overhead pedestrian access, very good vehicular access

and a 1,200-passenger departure lounge. “Clearly there’s a huge market in northern England which Liverpool can serve. It’s appealing to half of the country. “There is ease of access via the motorway corridor across to the Yorkshire coast, down the country to Birmingham and up to southern Scotland. “From this point of view, Liverpool is jolly good. The issues are the next level of detail. “The greater challenge is in terms of Liverpool’s UK position as it’s farther from the Mediterranean than Southampton. “This means less attractive itineraries, as it entails one day

sailing each way to get to the cruising area and back. “So you have to add two days to any voyage. If you want lazy days at sea, you want them in the Mediterranean, not the Irish Sea. “These are enormous commercial pressures on cruise lines. There is also the temptation to reduce speed as fuel prices are rising. “The emerging air emissions legislation will involve burning a different kind of fuel which is twice as expensive. “However, there will be northern cruise passengers interested in cruises for which they don’t have to go to Southampton. “Elderly people from

Manchester, for example, inevitably will prefer a short ride down the East Lancs Road, compared to the hike to Southampton. “Reviving Liverpool as a transatlantic destination could be done without having to reposition a ship, you’d simply do Southampton - New York Liverpool - New York Southampton. “The question is: Are there enough North American Cunard transatlantic passengers who will want to go this way? “They mainly spend time in London and/or the Continent, which is partly why the biggest liners were moved from Liverpool to Southampton 100 years ago.”

WITH an exceptional demand for this year’s TT Races, the Isle of Man Steam Packet (IoMSPCo) has chartered a P&O ferry to help from Saturday. Bookings for this year’s 13-day TT show an increase of about 8% on like-for-like figures this time last year. IoMSPCo will increase services by some 45% to provide additional sailings to handle motorcycle racing fans visiting the Island. The company expects to transport around 9,500 - 10,000 bikes and over 25,000 fans each way during the races from Saturday to June 11. The bulk of the company’s schedules are on its traditional route between Liverpool Pier Head and Douglas. However, there is a ro-ro service operated to Heysham by its ferry Ben-My-Chree, just out of refit at Cammell Laird Shipyard, Birkenhead. Extra crew and shore-based staff have been hired for the increased TT passenger volume.

This year, IoMSPCo also chartered the P&O Express ferry for additional sailings to the TT event via Larne, Scotland. This will take pressure off Liverpool as the main port of departure for the festival. The expanded schedule also means an increase in the number of port slots required, and the IoMSPCo relies on flexibility in berthing arrangements provided by other shipping companies at this busy time of year. The company is also again offering its discount scheme for marshals and paramedics who cover both the TT and the Manx Grand Prix. As part of the main season fastcraft schedule, the high-speed ferry Manannan will operate an extra 07.30am Douglas - Liverpool Pier Head sailing. Manannan will be assisted on the Liverpool route by another high speed ferry, Snaefell. Mark Woodward, IoMSPCo chief executive, said: “The TT is a special occasion for all of us and

one that brings with it a number of challenges for the company. “It brings into action our plans to transport over 25,000 arrivals. “With forward bookings up on last year and a vibrant entertainment programme in place, we have recently scheduled an additional sailing on 1 June. “This will ensure that we can accommodate racing fans and release some extra capacity for freight space.” He added that the extra early sailing from Douglas offers Manx passengers an excellent way of travelling directly to Liverpool city centre arriving at 10am. Mr Woodward said: “This service operates at convenient times and at a competitive fare without extra baggage charges or debit card fees. “With a crossing time of just two hours 30 minutes, a Manannan 07.30 sailing is “just the ticket”, as passengers can be in Liverpool city centre for midmorning for a shopping trip, weekend away or a short break.”

The Pier Head lined up with motorbikes waiting for the ferry

TRANSPORT MARK DOWD LESS than a year ago, the previous government announced it would invest £100m in our region's rail network. Improvements were to include electrification of the route between Liverpool and Manchester – something for which I, along with others including MP Louise Ellman, had lobbied long and hard. The new Government is, of course, empowered to reverse this decision, although it would be folly to do so. Whichever political party is in power, investment in public transport is vital to our economy. The investment in electrification makes commercial and environmental sense. Apart from the fact that survey work has already started on the scheme, which will take four years to complete, electrification of the line will mean a travelling time of 30 minutes between Liverpool and Manchester, more regular services, fewer breakdowns and cleaner, greener trains. Before the election, the Conservative Party also said it would grant longer, more flexible rail franchises to incentivise private sector investment in improvements like longer trains and better stations. They must have been looking to Merseyside for inspiration. It was, of course, Merseytravel which pioneered longer franchises in the UK when it awarded the Merseyrail contract to Serco Nedrail to produce one of the best performing networks in the country. This high standard of performance needs to be extended to the wider region and it can partly be achieved through electrification. Good rail links attract inward investment – and, in the case of Merseyside, it will

also attract increasing numbers of visitors. The visitor economy is playing an increasingly more important role in the economic health of our region. Merseytravel's own attractions, including the Mersey Ferries, Spaceport and the U-Boat Story, generate more than £34m a year and the equivalent of more than 700 full-time jobs. This figure is set to increase. Meanwhile, prior to the election, the Liberal Democrats said that people should be empowered by the transport network and that they were committed to viable alternatives to cars and reducing carbon emissions by investing in public transport. Of course, that was before the Con-Lib coalition was formed, so don't hold your breath.. Two months ago, as chair of the Special Interest Group of the Passenger Transport Executive Group (PTEG), I wrote to the then transport minister Lord Adonis. PTEG represents the six integrated transport authorities across the country and my co-signatories were the leaders of West Midlands, and Greater Manchester ITAs. We expressed our concern at the current lack of rolling stock in many of our regions, which may have to rely on diesel units for many years to come. We pointed out that overcrowded trains would drive people back into their motor cars and requested a meeting with the minister to discuss the problem. We still want that meeting, albeit with a new transport minister. I shall take the opportunity at that meeting to seek assurances that our electrification scheme remains on track.

Merseyrail is one of the best performers in the UK

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Potential to exploit cruises untapped

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Hattons secures coach funding

Partnership could resolve turnaround dilemma

LIVERPOOL should not be agonising about whether to have one riverside cruise terminal – it should build at least three. That is the view of Lib-Dem Cllr Gary Millar, who has just relinquished the executive member portfolio for tourism, enterprise and regeneration. During his Liverpool City Council tenure, he was a keen advocate of all matters maritime, not least building up the city’s cruise market. A veteran of many ocean cruises, he said: “During a trip to Norway, we arrived in Bergen and I looked out to see seven cruise liners there. “Why can’t we do that? If no less a person than David Dingle, Carnival’s boss, says Liverpool is perfectly located for cruise passengers from Birmingham to Scotland, then what are we waiting for?” As a businessman whose interests include the Parr Street Hotel and Studios, he thinks the city is simply not exploiting its unique assets. “We’re talking about real money if we go into the cruise turnaround market,” he said. “Each passenger visiting the city from a cruise liner call puts about £72 into the local economy. However, each passenger coming to board a cruise which starts and ends here puts £250 into the city. “This is exactly what we need for jobs, businesses and to increase hotel stays. “It’s real money being pumped into the economy. “Instead of EU grants being taken which restrict use, there should be a partnership set up with the council and Peel Ports, Merseytravel or any private sector body which will invest.” All parties who use the Cruise Terminal – eg, the Merchant Navy and the Royal

Transport firm buys vehicle after contract wins

From left: Tom Parry, from RBS; Andrew Thrower, from Lombard; and Ken Hatton, from Hattons FAMILY-OWNED coach firm Hattons Travel has won contracts to provide transport for two professional rugby league clubs. And the St Helens company has bought a new executive coach for £160,000 to service the contracts after securing bank funding. Hattons, which already provides all transport for St Helens RLFC, has secured the new contracts with Challenge Cup holders Warrington Wolves and first division club Swinton Lions. Hattons will transport both teams and their supporters to away games. The new contracts increase Hattons’ reputation as a leading

transport provider for professional rugby league clubs. The company has worked with St Helens RLFC for several years and is also the official transport provider for the Catalan Dragons Super League team. Lombard, the asset finance arm of the Royal Bank of Scotland, provided Hattons with funding to purchase a new King Long executive coach. The coach features 41 leather seats, a drinks machine, a microwave, tables and air conditioning. Established in 1988, the family-owned business provides bus services in the St Helens area

and coach transport for a wide range of clients including Carmel College and Merseytravel. Hattons employs 30 people and has a fleet of eight coaches and 15 service buses. Owner Ken Hatton said: “We have worked with several professional rugby league teams over the years and won the contracts thanks to our experience in this area. “This is a prestigious agreement for the company, as the Warrington Wolves, in particular, are one of the country’s top rugby league teams.” Andrew Thrower, from Lombard, and Tom Parry, from RBS, provided funding for the new coach.

City leader will resolve terminal row THE Liverpool Cruise Terminal “turnaround” dispute will be a priority to resolve, said newly-elected City Council leader Joe Anderson, who is heading the Labour administration. Rules governing its £9m EU building grant prevent cruise liners starting and ending voyages from the new landing stage. As a result, Thomson Cruises scrapped its

30-cruise programme from the port, Saga Cruises halted plans for a base here and Fred Olsen Cruise Line will “review” (ie, possibly abandon) its 2012 Liverpool departures. Local firms have already lost out on millions of pounds from servicing this business. However, the success of cruise liner calls over two years proves

Liverpool’s destination status. But Port of Southampton, owned by ABP, has been quick to call foul on any likely transgression of the EU rules by Liverpool. “It’s a crazy situation and I promise you I shall sort this out,” said Cllr Anderson. “We shouldn’t be turning away cruise lines who want to do business with us.”

Cllr Gary Millar – wants to see an expansion of facilities Navy – could be involved and the council must lead this. “If Carnival Group is putting £20m into the Port of Southampton, why can’t we talk to it about doing the same here?” he said. “This could bring in massive tourism for the city. “Liverpool is now a sexy city to visit, but is far cheaper than New York or Barcelona. “We should also develop the cruise and stay market, so hotels can be used before or after cruises.” However, Peel Mersey Ports’ managing director, Gary Hodgson, has said it is not his company’s job to pay off the £9m EU debt for the cruise terminal just so turnaround passengers can fill Liverpool hotels and spend in the city. “Well, why don’t Peel build

hotels of its own?” said Cllr Millar. “Peel has promised us Shanghai on the river Mersey on the north shore, so Liverpool Waters surely will have hotels which will benefit. “Also, we need to have something which is not solely based in the city centre. “We must think about the whole supply chain. If cruise liners are based here, firms will grow to supply them. “There will also be extra flights for passengers and crew arriving at the airport “Academically, why don’t we set up colleges to train cruise ship crews? “It makes sense for the council to get the EU grant money paid off to release all this business potential.”

Nightmare at Langton Dock

THE growth in cruising from Liverpool is hugely welcomed by travel agents. But they despair over the intrinsic problems dogging the Langton Dock Cruise Terminal. “We’d see a far wider variety of cruise lines and destinations if the Liverpool Cruise Terminal by the Pier Head was in use for

starting and ending cruises there,” said Jean Merry, of Simply Cruising. “It’s not that lines don’t want to be here, it’s just that they can’t.” Langton’s ship size restriction, poor location and facilities are not its only problem. “Because the ship must lock in and out of the river, everything depends

on the tides. Departures can vary by five hours, and it’s a nightmare to arrange coaches. “But we’ve had some wonderful feedback about Fred Olsen’s liner Boudicca, in spite of the norovirus illness. Last January, 38 ships had these outbreaks, but on the megaliners the proportions are far smaller.”

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Walk this way into our history

Liverpool scores best for exploring on foot from ships

Stiebel Eltron’s UK managing director, Mark McManus – says tax breaks are available to companies to help them switch to renewable energy

Stiebel finishes five green projects Wirral firm completes renewable energy installations across the UK

Cruise Terminal manager, Angie Redhead, with Seven Seas Voyager, the first ship to arrive at the Pier Head landing stage, in September, 2007 MORE cruise passengers choose to visit Liverpool city centre than any other UK cruise destination. This can be measured by the fact that, on average, about 40% of cruise passengers visiting Liverpool take a shore excursion by coach. This compares with an average of 63% passengers taking a shore excursion while in other UK cruise ports. “This means that an aboveaverage number of passengers are staying to look at the city,” said Keith Blundell, Liverpool City Council head of tourism. “Some passengers will take half-day tours to do Beatles locations or go to Chester in the morning, but a lot of passengers choose to stay in the city. “This ties in with passenger satisfaction information from Princess Cruises.

“Liverpool rates 89% satisfaction, second only to Dublin at 91%. “The Princess passengers report Liverpool to be a beautiful place with plenty of interesting historic architecture and is clean. “Word is getting out with passengers that this is an easy, walkable city. “Princess Cruises, which is our biggest customer, also is very pleased about support we’d given them with marine reports.” There is a balance, as passengers also rate port appeal on being able to enjoy a range of interesting shore excursions. “You can get to a lot of places from Liverpool, which benefits the city,” said Mr Blundell. “About a two-hour coach ride is the maximum, but you can reach Lake Windermere, Tatton Park or Snowdonia in that time.”

Liverpool Cruise Liner Terminal also attended the top cruise Sea Trade Convention, in Miami, for the third year running. “We doubled our presence by sending two staff instead of one,” said Mr Blundell. “Our cruise terminal manager, Angie Redhead, was accompanied by her assistant. “Essentially, we have a customer base of 30 people and the feedback was excellent. “Simon Douwes, a Holland America Line senior boss, said Liverpool was his favourite destination in the world! “He’s a big Beatles fan and attended our pre-opening sales conference in 2005. “We looked after him, he really enjoyed himself here and has stuck with us. “It just shows what the personal touch can do. We met

some really top guys including Peter Shanks, the Cunard Line president, who was very positive about Liverpool.” While at Sea Trade, Cunard announced the near-dual 2011 visit of its liners Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth to Liverpool. “This was very good news for us and shows the confidence the leading lines now have in Liverpool. It bodes well for the future,” said Mr Blundell. Another excellent result was Aida Cruises scheduling four round-Britain cruises from Germany for its liner, Aura, with Liverpool calls. “This booking came from a personal recommendation. We’ve been to Germany, but until now we were an unknown quantity,” said Mr Blundell. “That kind of endorsement is crucial, as the cruise industry is a

village. Our target market is no more than 50 cruise planners and executives. “It’s quite an open industry and they meet frequently. “Most are located in Miami and Los Angeles, plus a small German concentration. “Industry consolidation means that groups like Carnival and Royal Caribbean International (RCI) have many brands, so the real decision makers are few and far between.” One of the big missing brands from Liverpool is RCI, which has called in the past during preCruise Terminal days. “We’re focusing on Azamara, which is not a big ship, but as part of RCI she’s a sprat to catch a mackerel, so it’s a very important call for us,” said Mr Blundell. Of the remaining big lines, Norwegian Cruise Line does not

MERSEYSIDE renewable energy products provider Stiebel Eltron has completed five installations across the UK in recent weeks. The latest is at chef Jamie Oliver’s new Liverpool restaurant. The German-owned green energy company has supplied its heat pumps and other renewable energy products to a variety of projects including the Cocoa Bean Factory tourist attraction, in Scotland, and a police station in Durham. A pioneering project has seen the Wirral firm supplying a complex variety of renewable energy systems to a Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association property, in Edinburgh. The retro-fit design was part of

the £17m Government Retrofit for the Future project, which has seen 78 properties kitted out with the latest renewable energy technology. The semi-detached home was fitted with systems including increased roof insulation, underfloor heating, roof mounted solar collector and an air to water heat pump. A survey of the effectiveness of the systems will be carried out by the Energy Saving Trust for at least two years. The trust will monitor internal and external temperature, humidity and CO² levels which will then be assimilated with data from other test homes and made available to researchers, social

landlords, and energy companies to ensure that the most cost effective technologies are employed in future retro-fits. Also in Scotland, Stiebel supplied two 23kw air to water heat pumps to a new visitors area at one of Dumfries and Galloway’s top tourist attraction, the Cocoa Bean Factory. The pumps will supply hot water and assist in cooling down the 1,500 sq m building, which is home to a cafe, children’s play area and chocolate making area. Renewable energy installer Revolution Power completed its 100th project with the installation of a Stiebel Eltron ground source heat pump at Selbridge Police Station in Durham.

The company has already installed a heat pump at Southmoor Police Station – also in Durham – and says that more orders from the region’s police force are in the pipeline. At Kelber Farm in Coniston Cold, North Yorkshire, Stiebel Eltron supplied a twin set ground heat pump system for two large barn conversions, which will provide heating and hot water for an office and a family home. Next month will see the completion of the installation of a Stiebel Eltron electric water heating system at Jamie Oliver’s new restaurant, Jamie’s Italian, at Liverpool One. Stiebel’s UK managing director, Mark McManus, claims going

green is cost-effective, with Government grants available as well as huge savings on volatile oil and gas bills. He said: “Green energy is the future and there are lots of grants and tax breaks available to homeowners and the public and private sector to convert their properties to green energy. “Heat pumps are right at the forefront of green energy technology and this is a massive growth industry.” Stiebel Eltron will undertake a free energy efficiency report for any property in the UK. It offers a free eco design service to any architect or developer to help ensure their plans hit tough green energy building standards.

Construction company slashes emissions by 11% THE carbon footprint of the construction firm behind Liverpool’s Mann Island and Liverpool Community College has fallen by 11% compared to 2008. This is the third year BAM Construct UK has measured its footprint, and this year’s significant reduction in total emissions follows a fall last year of 7%. The company says the reductions have come from

all three main sources of emissions, the most notable being from construction sites, with a lot less fuel and electricity being consumed despite increasing construction turnover. Data collection and measurement has also improved, enabling it to evaluate more accurately. Jesse Putzel, BAM’s climate change manager, said: “Our CO² emissions

have reduced by approximately 2,243 tonnes. “Put another way, this is enough CO² to fill 440 hot air balloons or the whole of Wembley stadium. “Normalising our emissions against turnover shows we’ve reduced our emissions intensity (the amount of CO² emitted per £million of work) by 13%. “This is great news and is testament to the hard work

everyone has put in to reducing energy use and raising awareness of good practices. It is a real sign that we are becoming more efficient.” Measures implemented by BAM to achieve these reductions include remote monitoring of energy, providing an in-house energy management advice service to sites and reducing the use of generators.

Mann Island under construction

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Waste success rewarded

Airport could come to the rescue of the cruise lines

Bulky Bob’s operations manager scoops Woman of the Year accolade BULKY Bob’s operations manager, Helen Halpin, has been named Woman of the Year for her efforts in helping Liverpool recycle its bulky waste. Ms Halpin was given the accolade in the MAN Everywoman in Transport and Logistics Awards, run in association with Skills for Logistics to celebrate the achievements of women making their mark in this sector. In 10 years, she has gone from being office administrator in the team that set up the Liverpoolbased Bulky Bob’s service to the role of regional operations manager, leading 51 people across three sites. Ms Halpin also helps develop and implement new re-use and recycling activities, and is proud that the team achieves a recycling rate of 67% from its collections, and that it managed to secure the Liverpool bulky waste collection contract. She said: “We all made a huge effort when we had to submit the tender document to retain the contract, although a lot of the hard work had already been done by the collection team because of their fantastic attitude towards their work. “Bulky Bob’s is a popular service, down to the professionalism of the crews and the great customer service they provide.” In 2000, Ms Halpin started work at Bulky Bob’s as part of the team that set up the operation – collecting waste from local authorities to re-use and recycle as much furniture as possible. She passed her CPC qualification first time around, allowing her to operate a fleet of vehicles over 7.5 tonnes. In this role she supervised a large team of 40 drivers and trainees, as well as supporting the group transport manager running both Bulky Bob’s and the Furniture Resource Centre operations. Following the departure of the group transport manager in 2005, in addition to the drivers Ms Halpin took charge of two warehouses and two admin teams, having to learn quickly upon the job. She also became solely responsible for the group operators licence, ensuring that

Lack of waterfront facilities no barrier to handling turnarounds

Helen Halpin joined Bulky Bob’s as office administrator 10 years ago and now runs the operation all vehicles and drivers complied with legal requirements. In 2007, she gained the NEBOSH certification, which led her to being accountable for group health and safety. She was then promoted to

regional operations manager in 2008, and currently manages the Liverpool, Oldham and Warrington operations, in addition to satellite sites, including a furniture store. Maxine Benson, co-founder and

director of Everywoman said: “We have had a phenomenal response this year with even more entries than ever before, so it’s a really great achievement for Helen to be chosen for this award. “It’s important for women to

look as broadly as possible at the various career options available and the transport and logistics sector is an area that offers fantastic opportunities for those who are eager to work in management positions.”

New light will ‘cut energy use by 90%’ A SOUTHPORT manufacturer has launched what it claims is one of the UK’s most ecofriendly lights. Morgan Hope has developed a new lighting range, Caprice, which it says could cut lighting energy costs by 90%. Accredited by the Carbon Trust, Caprice uses Morgan Hope’s new movement control, dimmable system, a new

technology which is claimed to be both economical and environmentally friendly. When the system detects movement in an area, it switches the lights on to 100% output but, once the space is empty for longer than five minutes, the lights dim to 50% output, then to a hibernation state of only 10% output after a further two minutes.

John Murray, sales director at Morgan Hope said: “Our new movement control, dimmable system can be used in any lighting range and gives light when you need it and where you need it.” The Caprice lighting system is being installed for some major UK businesses, including NHS trusts and housing associations.

John Murray, of Morgan Hope, with the new lighting product

want to do round-Britain cruises. Disney Cruises is still an option for Liverpool calls, as it has two vessels under construction. “Cruise lines have a loyal customer base, so have to find new destinations,” said Mr Blundell. “We’ve exceeded the targets which were set for us in terms of ship numbers. “For the first year we were under target, but then went over.” In year two (2009) there were 14 liner visits and year three (2010) there will be 17 calls. “I don’t believe in ‘build and they’ll come’, but we knew we were in a situation of frustrated demand. “The cruise lines wanted to come, but not to anchor in mid-river at a city port where ships should come alongside so people can walk ashore. ”

LIVERPOOL John Lennon Airport should start handling cruise liner check-ins to stop business deserting the city. John Cooper, Liverpool Cruise Club’s sales and marketing manager, said Liverpool is getting left behind by the most successful holiday sector. “It’s nonsensical that as a city building its status as a tourist destination, we are turning away its biggest sector. “The amount of ships arriving here compared to five years ago by just putting a shed on a pontoon is terrific. “Imagine what would happen if we built a proper facility? “Someone needs to have a serious sitdown and with the public spending cuts coming in it will be up to the private sector here, which means Peel Holdings. “Even if this is resolved, we need the facilities to cope, so the Peel-owned airport is the ideal solution as it has check-ins, car parking and easy access to the city centre.” Meantime, news that Fred Olsen Cruise Lines was abandoning its Liverpool cruise base was “appalling”. Mr Cooper said: “It’s a really major blow that Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is pulling out. “The fact that its Boudicca sells out and Cruise & Maritime’s Ocean Countess sells out is like putting bricks down the runway at Liverpool Airport and expecting planes still to land. “We’ve got all the demand ready-made here. What the city misses out on is cruise and stay. “The amount of passengers we send on holiday for cruise and stays is phenomenal. “Yet there’s nothing to see in Southampton, as it’s only a port. “Liverpool is a destination in own right. We should be able to say to cruise passengers ‘Come and see what’s here before and after’. “Our cruising market from Liverpool has held up very well through the recession, thanks to Fred Olsen doubling its cruises from Liverpool. “There’s been very little space left on any of the cruises because of the popularity of being able to go from Liverpool. “All we have left on Christmas cruises are the outside cabins.” Liverpool is the best-selling port for Cruise & Maritime maiden season with Ocean Countess, 17,000 gross tons.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport could check-in cruise passengers

The company reports that Tilbury, Hull and Newcastle are already promoting late offers, but Liverpool has practically sold out at original prices. “The ships which are coming in are doing very well,” said Mr Cooper. “The only thing which really lets us down is the Langton Dock Cruise Terminal. “Fred Olsen doubles its capacity with Boudicca, and Langton adds two mobile cabins. “I was in Southampton for the naming of P&O Cruises’ Azura, and its facilities are fantastic. “We should have something better than a scrapheap wrapping around Langton Cruise Terminal. “Liverpool Cruise Terminal has only been built to let day trippers on and off. “We could use the old Isle of Man Steam

Packet plot at the Pier Head for a proper terminal. It could include rooftop restaurants and viewing platforms so it’s a destination on the waterfront. “It’s already a good place to be down there with so many hotels in that area. “I go to Greenock quite a bit and see the operation there all the time. “The amount of business Greenock gets from passengers and crew wandering around shopping is astonishing. “How can a town the size of Greenock thrive, when a port with the international reputation of Liverpool now can’t handle an average-sized cruise ship turnaround? “Our city’s history and wealth was built on handling huge volumes of passenger ship traffic. “Now the likes of P&O and Royal Caribbean are bringing out huge liners and they’re all going down south.”

No chance to revive transatlantic crossings just yet THE holy grail of Liverpool cruise departures is a transatlantic crossing to New York. Such a voyage has not been undertaken since the service was closed by the Cunard liner Sylvania, in 1966. Local travel agents specialising in the cruise business are convinced a revived return trip would sell out immediately. Already the waters have been tested during Queen

Mary 2’s round-Britain voyage last October. One hundred passengers disembarked from the Cunard flagship in Liverpool and their places taken by 100 other people. Such was its oversubscription that plans to replicate the event were mooted for another Cunard liner visit, Queen Victoria. However, the row over using the Cruise Liner Terminal for turnaround also caused this plan to be

abandoned. Cunard Line was refused a licence by the Board of Trade, in spite of the precedent set by the Queen Mary 2’s split-cruise. John Cooper, of Liverpool Cruise Club, in Waterloo, said: “This was a major disappointment to so many potential passengers. “Once again, we have a market in Liverpool which is not being exploited. “Likewise, with reviving transatlantic crossings

from Liverpool. Hundreds of people would regard this a once-in-a-lifetime event.” Jean Merry, of Simply Cruising, said: “Tickets for a transatlantic crossing to New York from Liverpool would fly off the shelves. “Even if we had to sell mini-cruises to relocate the ship from Southampton, there would be a market. “People would love the chance to have a taster of what the Cunard Line is like.”

THE BIG FEATURE

Liverpool to lose its new cruise ship

Famous cruise line will drop Mersey departures due to dock problems after best year ever LIVERPOOL’S leading cruise line has dropped the bombshell that it will pull out of the port next summer. Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has decided to abandon long-term sailings from Liverpool in spite of its 2010 programme practically selling out all 7,700 berths. The economic loss to Liverpool will be about £4m annually. After six cruises from Liverpool next year, Fred Olsen will abandon the port after June, 2011, but keep northern sailings from Greenock, Newcastle and Rosyth. This leaves Liverpool with just the much smaller rival ship, Ocean Countess, to offer a handful of cruises from Liverpool. Introducing Boudicca this year more than doubled Fred Olsen’s 2009 capacity using its mini-liner Black Prince. However, the deployment of the 28,000 gross tons m/v Boudicca created far greater operational difficulties for the line. Because of Liverpool Cruise Terminal turnaround ban, Boudicca locks in and out of Langton Dock Cruise Terminal, Bootle. Strong winds on the river make this a hazardous operation for such a big ship working to very tight schedules. Nigel Lingard, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines marketing director, said: “There will be no more cruises from Liverpool after mid-2011 and none in 2012. “We feel too nervous about the current facility to keep it in our programme. “Until we feel more secure about turning around in the city, we don’t plan to come back. “Our team do not feel comfortable with a ship based here as matters stand. “Our previous Liverpool ship, Black Prince, was much smaller and less exposed to winds. “We knew this would be a problem with Boudicca, as she’s both bigger and much taller. “The pilots can easily say to us at any time that there is too much risk in controlling the ship in a 20-knot wind. “That will then throw the whole cruise schedule out. “This would not be a problem if the liner could come alongside Liverpool Cruise Terminal landing stage on the river. “But we are banned from doing that except in an emergency. “Even then, we can’t unload passengers and luggage until we come into Langton Dock. “I know this will be a big disappointment for all the agents we work with up here. “Liverpool is our busiest northern departure port and third busiest after Southampton and Dover. “We understand that every effort has been made locally to find a solution to resolve this, but the problems surrounding Liverpool Pier Head proved insurmountable, but we live in hope.” The supreme irony is Fred Olsen Cruise Lines believe there is enough business to base Boudicca in Liverpool all year round. By undertaking 25 cruises and carrying around 20,000 passengers, this would be worth around £10m to the local economy. Cruise terminals are not commercially viable and more creative processes are needed to find a solution, said Mr Lingard. “Even if a ship is based in, say, Liverpool and does 20 cruises a year, the terminal will lie unused for 340 days not earning anything,” he said. “Southampton has the advantage of sheer volume and support from major cruise lines to help underwrite building new terminals. “Langton Dock is not the nicest cruise terminal, but the team there are the

Nigel Lingard – has had to make some devastating decisions about Fred Olsen Cruise Line’s future Liverpool departures friendliest in the country. They always work so hard to make embarkations happen smoothly. But that’s not the problem – it’s getting the ship into the dock and alongside. “Meanwhile, we will still be running from Greenock and Newcastle, so our northern customers do not have to drive to the south coast.” However, there is no problem with the potential future market for Liverpool, should it resolve its turnaround crisis. “With overall extrapolations, there is no reason why Liverpool cannot build traffic without stealing from other ports,” said Mr Lingard. “The cruise market will still average 5% annual value growth for the next five years. “Ports can also help grow business. New departures bring in new customers.” Over seven years in Liverpool, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ ships have made 120 cruises, including a 35-day trip up the River Amazon.

“Every cruise has sailed virtually full and we’ve never had a ‘distressed’ cruise, as in a turkey which wouldn’t sell,” said Mr Lingard. “I’m also delighted to say that we’ve not had to discount Liverpool cruises this year, because early demand was so strong. “But we added 40% capacity to the line before the recession. “We then had to discount too heavily which gave too low a yield, so 2009 was a grim year. “It was hard work to make sure all our five ships were filled and we had to make more discounting than anticipated in 2008. “We have to wait a few years to recover before we can add any more tonnage. “Yet, as the UK market grows, so must we, otherwise your percentage of it is too small to be handled by enough travel agents. I feel nationally we are dealing with more of an issue of confidence than genuine economic anxieties. “People have lost their confidence and

worry about their children’s mortgages and their grandchildren’s school fees. “A cruise seems too much of an extravagance.” The North West demographics are in cruise lines’ favour, he said. “The bulk of our passengers come within a 75-mile radius of Liverpool, from Merseyside, Lancashire, Cheshire and North Wales. “There’s a strong skilled or middle-class population, and plenty of retirement areas. “These are just the type of people who form the backbone of our market.” Last week, Boudicca had to contend with another Mersey problem when fog delayed her arrival by half a day. Instead of departing for St Petersburg, Russia, at 3pm, the ship eventually cast off at 2am the next day. “It is the first time this has happened, but if we could have used the landing stage there would have been no delay. That’s the problem in a nutshell,” said Mr Lingard.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Eastern Europe exit plan for UU

TRAVEL

Superb value Spring and Summertime Cruises £ from 399.0 0 from Liverpool or Hull for 2010 & 2011 base d on shar two ing

Utility firm open to offers for operations WARRINGTON-BASED United Utilities (UU) is very pleased with its investment in Tallinna Vesi water company. It owns a one-third stake in this Estonian water and sewage company. However, whether this means a long-term commitment is a different matter. “If you want to expand a utility company like ours, you either buy other water companies or diversify,” said Robert Yuille, Tallinna Vesi’s chief operating officer. “United Utilities can establish itself in a city like this and get the finances in place, so we would be in for the next 15 to 20 years. “This year, we’ve spent £10m on a new waste water plant and we’re very pleased with this as a long-term investment.” But UU chief executive Philip Green is reorienting the UK parent company to greater focus on its northern England water and waste water business. Mr Green said: “We should be increasingly focused on water and waste water businesses in the north of England. “The non-regulated businesses are only worth about 5% of our total operating profits.” In the past year, UU has raised, and retained, £267m from the sale of

some non-regulated businesses. In May, it sold its Australian subsidiary for £136m. This follows the sale last November of its 15% stake in Yorkshire gas distributor Northern Gas Networks for £86m, and its 11.7% share of the Philippines-based Manila Water Company for £54m. It is considering offers for its remaining portfolio, including its operations in Bulgaria and Estonia. Mr Green said there had been “expressions of interest” in both of these investments. Tallinna Vesi, based in the Estonian capital Tallinn, serves one-third of the country’s 1.3m population and was privatised in 2002 and floated on its stock exchange in 2005. It made United Utilities European Holdings BV a profit of £23.6m last year. The 315 staff are led by three UK managers, including Mr Yuille, who comes from Wythenshawe, Manchester, and Stephen Howard, chief financial officer, from Liverpool. Over the last 10 years, there has been a 5% annual return from Tallinna Vesi. The shareholding breakdown is United Utilities Tallinna Vesi 35.3%, City of Tallinn 34.7% and others 30%.

GEIRANGERFJORD

THE EDEN PROJECT

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on board

Ocean C ountess

Sailing from Liverpool or Hull A

Tallinna Vesi’s chief operating officer, Robert Yuille

The skyline of the Estonian capital city, Tallinn

Skype development one of the reasons to take to the skies to Estonia

AT THE same time as United Utilities looks to take flight from Estonia, German flag carrier Lufthansa is travelling in the opposition direction as it expands its Baltic states network. The airline has launched a daily service to Estonian capital Tallinn from Munich, linked to its Manchester shuttle services.

After the expansion of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines’ shuttle from Liverpool to its Amsterdam base, Lufthansa wants to boost North West traffic into its two main German hubs. The only other Estonian flights are via London Gatwick with Estonia Air. Marianne Sammann, Lufthansa general manager,

UK & Ireland, said: “We believe traffic will follow Estonia’s rapid growth in technology. “Software applications such as Skype (voice calls over the internet), mobile phones and sat-nav were developed in Estonia.” Peter Carter, UK Ambassador to Estonia, said: “The Baltic states – Estonia,

Lithuania and Latvia – are not well known in the UK. “But there are good opportunities for doing business.” Estonia gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 after occupation from 1941. The country is preparing to join the euro next year, as its Kroon is a small currency

vulnerable to speculators. “Estonia has a liberal trade policy, a stable currency, equal rights for local and foreign businesses, a simple tax regime and openness in conducting business,” said Mr Carter. “The UK is Estonia’s 10th most important export partner and ninth import partner.”

GIBRALTAR

No flying! - cruises from only £399

lready well-known to a generation of British cruise holidaymakers, the 17,500-tonne Ocean Countess, following a £3 million refurbishment, will be sailing for the first time from British waters in 2010, on a series of departures from regional ports around the UK. With her distinctive ‘classic’ profile, extensive traditional wooden decks and wide range of amenities – including her newly refurbished dining room and several lounges and bars – Ocean Countess, stabilised and air conditioned throughout, will, together with her friendly crew, offers memorable cruising at simply wonderful prices. Ocean Countess offers seven passenger decks served by two lifts, and seeming acres of deck space – perfect for those sunny days at sea. The heated sea-water swimming pool and the two whirlpool baths are focal points of life on deck, while the pool bar is a popular meeting point. Other on board facilities include the comfortable Holyrood Show Lounge, where each evening you can look forward to first-class entertainment provided by the team of professional singers and dancers. Lido Deck boasts a library and card tables, and there is also a well stocked shopping gallery, a well equipped gym with sauna and spa, as well as massage, hairdressing and beauty facilities. As you would expect from a cruise holiday where the accent is on the traditional, dining onboard Ocean Countess will invariably be one of the highpoints of the day, even if all your resolutions about calories and exercise are broken the minute you sit down! The two-sitting Kensington Restaurant, redecorated in the refurbishment programme, is location for the sumptuous formal dinners on board the ship, and where you can expect to be looked after by friendly, attentive waiters. Our fantastic value cruise programme from Liverpool or Hull features Round Britain cruises, journeys to the heart-stoppingly beautiful Norwegian fjords, Portugal, Spain, Baltic Cities and a Cork mini-cruise.

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY: TRINITY MIRROR NORTH WEST & NORTH WALES IN CONJUNCTION WITH: NEWMARKET PROMOTIONS AIR HOLIDAYS LTD. ABTA V787X/V7812. ATOL PROTECTED 2325. 0844 CALLS COST 4p PER MIN.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

PROFESSIONAL SECTORS

LEGALLY

SPEAKING

Q A

With Pamela Jones, partner at Hill Dickinson solicitors

I HAVE heard that the Government is extending competition law to leases and other property documents. Is this true and what exactly does it mean? PROPERTY documents are rife with restrictions which can – and frequently do – affect competition between rival businesses. Restrictive covenants imposed on the disposal of surplus properties, particularly by retailers, prevent properties being used by competitors. Leases invariably impose numerous restrictions on tenants, while shopping centre leases may include an exclusivity clause protecting an anchor tenant from competition. Section 2 of the Competition Act 1998 prohibits agreements, decisions and practices which prevent, restrict or distort competition within the UK. But land agreements are currently protected from that general prohibition by virtue of the Competition Act 1998 (Land Agreements Exclusion and Revocation) Order 2004, commonly known as the “Land Agreements Exclusion Order”. The Department for Business Innovation & Skills (DBIS) announced back in January that it wanted to repeal the Exclusion Order. Recommended in relation to the groceries market by the recent Competition Commission investigation, the Government decided to go further and repeal the Exclusion Order entirely. The intention was to repeal the Exclusion Order before the General Election, taking effect on April 6, 2011, to give businesses time to adjust; however, Parliament failed to approve the repeal before the election. Although DBIS remain confident that the Exclusion Order will be repealed in due course, its fate is currently uncertain and the delay may at least require the effective date

to be reconsidered. Any repeal of the Exclusion Order would be hugely significant for anyone involved in property, subjecting all new and existing agreements to the full force of competition law. As well as any offending restriction being void and unenforceable, the business may face significant fines (up to 10% of turnover) and damages claims, together with reputational damage from the inevitable adverse publicity. Importantly, the proposed repeal would not automatically render existing restrictions unenforceable or mean that new restrictions cannot be imposed in the future; enforceability will depend on whether the restriction has an appreciable effect on competition. Detailed guidance from the OFT is promised, but there will undoubtedly be considerable uncertainty over the validity of particular restrictions; and because validity will depend on effect rather than wording, an identical restriction may be perfectly valid in one scenario but illegal in another. Whatever happens, we must all become more circumspect in assessing the competition law implications of land agreements. The OFT already has the power to withdraw the protection of the Exclusion Order, effectively rendering an anti-competitive restriction unenforceable, while the Competition Commission doubts whether restrictive covenants are covered by the Exclusion Order anyway, so the widespread belief that competition law does not apply to land agreements and can simply be ignored is perhaps misguided. Whether or not the Exclusion Order is ultimately repealed, the publicity generated will certainly raise awareness that land agreements are subject to competition law and may be challenged.

‘It had been hoped to repeal order before the election’

Pensions Nest could be bear trap for firms

Energy savings to warm the heart

Powell Financial’s Keith Marshall and Blaise Davies are wary of the effects of pension changes

Businesses ‘must act now’ ahead of 2012 reforms WORKPLACE pension reforms coming into effect in 2012 are a “juggernaut” that employers must address now, a Liverpool-based financial adviser has warned. Blaise Davies, director of Powell Financial Management, echoed concerns from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) that there are key parts of the plans which may prove problematic for businesses and employees. The National Employment Savings Trust (Nest) will be one of the schemes employers can use to fulfil new duties under the workplace pension reforms due to come into effect from 2012. It is part of a plan to secure a much wider take-up of pensions among 11.7m workers in the private sector. Employees will automatically be enrolled in a pension scheme unless they choose to opt out, and Nest will cover staff whose employers do not have their own scheme. The minimum contribution is 8% of an employee’s income – 4% from the employee, 3% from the employer and 1% from the taxpayer. Mr Davies said: “The Government realise there is a £275bn savings gap for people’s retirement. There’s tremendous pressure on the state pension to

deliver something meaningful. One expert has said Nest was the equivalent of people walking down the motorway with an iPod in and a juggernaut approaching from behind. “Nest is a juggernaut that is about to hit business in the next couple of years. “Successive governments have tried to bring in second-tier pensions. This is a more serious attempt than stakeholder pensions. There are fines, it’s compulsory, there will be an enforcement department. “Nest is a potentially destructive way that the government is offloading the requirement to the private sector.” He believes the ramifications of the reforms will be felt throughout businesses, large and small. “It’s going to be massive. The fall-out is not just financial, for example it will impact on industrial relations because staff might think it is something that the company is imposing. “Most finance directors don’t know what Nest accounts are, and companies don’t know if their pension schemes will qualify or not.” Keith Marshall, also of Powell Financial, said that now was the time to act in order to be ready for when Nest begins to be phased in.

“Our message to employers is it’s not a long way off. It’s quite an arduous process for employers,” he said. “Even if you have an existing scheme, it may not qualify. It will need to be assessed and audited. “Take heed and do something now.” The CBI is concerned that the “high and complicated charges” could put people off, because Nest loads fees towards the earlier years after a pension is opened. Nest members will initially be charged 2% of their contribution when they pay money into the scheme, which is meant to cover the set-up costs of the whole Nest scheme. On top of that, there is a 0.3% annual management charge. While Nest is a cheaper option over longer time frames, there is widespread concern that people in their 40s and 50s, who will only save for a few years in Nest, may opt out. John Cridland, CBI deputy director-general, said: “Nest is a key part of extending the offer of a good pension to everyone in the private sector. “The scheme is meant to be low-cost and easy to understand, so that it spurs people to start saving. But the risk is that many staff will think they are getting a raw deal, and will quit the Nest scheme.”

Henk de Rooy, senior partner with Polder Health Care, which has piloted the Energy Intelligence system

Wirral healthcare homes pilot pioneering heating systems AN “ELECTRONIC brain” for heating systems, piloted by two Wirral residential homes, is being rolled out nationwide after a successful trial. The Energy Intelligence system monitors temperatures inside and outside buildings and calculates how much heat is needed and when to deliver it, maintaining comfort levels

and hot water while at the same time dramatically reducing the number of times the boiler needs to fire up. Polder Health Care has trialled the system in its Melrose Road, Hoylake, and Knowsley Road, Rock Ferry homes which have seen savings of 33% and 29%, respectively, over six months. They are among the first care

£2M R&D FUND LAUNCHED FOR NW SMES SMALL firms in the North West are to get access to a £2m research and development fund to help develop technologies that reduce carbon emissions. The Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) is offering SMEs grants of between £20,000 and £250,000 for up to 40% of the project costs. Working alongside Envirolink Northwest, the grant funds for carbon reduction technologies

will be available to companies working in a number of categories, including waste treatment and recycling, water pollution, air pollution, land remediation and energy generation and efficiency. Grant for Research and Development is part of Solutions for Business, the Government's package of publicly-funded business support designed to help companies start and grow.

homes and hotels nationwide to have fitted the system, and senior partner Henk de Rooy said: “We have placed a huge emphasis on improving the environment for our residents and reducing our carbon footprint, investing in double glazing insulation and the installation of the energy management system.” He said the system, made by JLA in Ripponden, has more than paid for itself: “At first, we didn’t believe such heating savings were possible, but we have been quite astounded. “Also, there has been absolutely no compromise on comfort – indeed, we often have to turn the heating down.” JLA business development director Dick Cardis said: “Electricity and gas bills have shot up for everyone and are set to continue.” He added: “At the same time, legislation means businesses are under pressure to meet Government targets to reduce energy consumption and reduce CO² emissions. “Polder Health Care has helped us prove that almost anyone who spends more than £4,000 per annum on heating can cut their bills at a stroke.”

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

THE BIG INTERVIEW

Licensed to thrill BY ALISTAIR HOUGHTON

Dr Peter Cook was one of the co-founders of The Heath Business & Technical Park, in Runcorn, 10 years ago

Cook to step down as SOG MD Co-founder of The Heath to become chairman and lead Fusion Project HEATH Business & Technical Park owner SOG is announcing changes to its management team. Co-founder of The Heath, Dr Peter Cook, is to step down as managing director of SOG and become chairman. The firm’s marketing director, John Lewis, who has also been on board since the launch 10 years ago, will become

managing director. Dr Cook will target business opportunities away from the business park. He will spearhead the Fusion Project which aims to replicate The Heath’s successful formula at other locations across the UK. He said: “SOG has recently celebrated its first decade, a phenomenally successful

SITE HAS FLOURISHED WITHOUT ANY STATE SUPPORT

the heyday of ICI. Facilities include meeting rooms, a restaurant, gym, shops and a purpose-built conference centre, with a 120-seat lecture theatre. Companies can also buy in laboratory support services such as scientific glass blowing and precision engineering, and the flexible licence arrangements mean they select and pay for only the services they require.

Brian BrianWoodhouse Woodhousesays sayslife lifeis isaaBlur Blurat at Liverpool Liverpoolvideo videogame gamestudio studioBizarre Bizarre Creations, Creations,as asititprepares preparesto tolaunch launchits its first firstbig bigrelease releasefor fortwo twoyears. years.

▲ ▲

THE Heath started life in 2000 on the site of the former headquarters of chemicals giant ICI. Without using any public finance, The Heath now provides office and laboratory accommodation for more than 175 individual organisations, ranging from forensic science and IT specialists to website designers and government agencies. More than 1,900 people are employed at the site – more than in

period during which it has transformed The Heath from a single occupancy site into a home for more than 175 businesses and a total workforce exceeding 2,000 people. “Replicating our success at other locations across the country is a pivotal part of our growth plans. “We are echoing calls from a succession of high-profile figures, including former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the new Foreign Secretary William Hague, for us to export our expertise more widely across the UK.” Mr Lewis will lead the ongoing development plans at The Heath, where SOG has announced proposals to create 180,000 sq ft of new offices and laboratories and to increase the workforce from 2,000 to around 3,000. He said: “The Heath has been widely applauded as an outstanding regeneration success story, largely thanks to the superb leadership within SOG of Peter Cook. “I am delighted that Peter is to spearhead the Fusion Project, which seeks to replicate the successful formula.”

John Lewis

CAMPAIGN

THE BIG INTERVIEW BRIAN WOODHOUSE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 NSIDE a faceless South Liverpool shed, Brian Woodhouse and his team at Bizarre Creations build new worlds. From behind banks of computers, the team at Bizarre has developed some of the best-selling video games to come out of the UK in recent years, including the Project Gotham Racing series. Now it is set to launch new “powered-up racing” game Blur, a game its studio director Brian Woodhouse hopes will spin off more sequels and cement Bizarre’s place among the country’s leading games developers. He may be a trained accountant who leads a 200-strong team, but Woodhouse isn’t your typical corporate suit – and Bizarre doesn’t look like a typical business. Inside that understated South Liverpool shed, a bright orange wall bearing a grinning pumpkin welcomes you to the world of Bizarre, where T-shirt and jeans combos are the norm, and where artists and programmers come together to create games enjoyed by millions worldwide. As studio director, Woodhouse is in charge of the business, with all the responsibility that implies. He led the negotiations in 2007 that saw Bizarre taken over by US developer Activision, while retaining its own identity, independent strategy and all its staff. Now that Blur is ready for release after 30 months of work, Bizarre’s team is turning its attention to other projects. These reportedly include a new James Bond title, though Woodhouse is staying tight-lipped. Sitting in his purple-walled office, adorned with huge Blur posters and Liverpool FC memorabilia, Woodhouse is a passionate and relaxed host, clearly itching for the chance to get his new game to the market and make it a success. He may be the boss, and may have spearheaded a takeover deal, but he insists it hasn’t changed the way he works or the way he relates to Bizarre’s team. “We all wear T-shirts and jeans to work,” he said. “We have an understanding that we have to work hard, but always be open and honest. There’s room for opinions – there has to be. “There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to building a game. “We’ve got people with many different skillsets. There’s a guy here who worked at CERN on the Large Hadron Collider. There’s a guy who used to calculate missile trajectories. They have all sorts of varied backgrounds, and everybody has a valid opinion. You’ve got to be honest, open and tolerant. “We’ve no room for large egos or bull---t at this business. Some of the quietest people have the best ideas.” Being taken over by a US company with a $4.3bn turnover has, he says, not changed Bizarre. “We continue to follow the indy studio model, building great games, without room for large egos,” he said. “It’s not that type of company. “There’s some people at games

Jim Williams, managing director of Tender Management, with his Business Link Northwest financial and professional services adviser, Roger Hardacre

Advice proves valuable for tender management firm

Business Link Northwest supports consultancy’s development

A screenshot from the new Bizarre Creations game Blur, released on May 28 – Brian Woodhouse and his team spent more than two companies that go about thinking they’re like rock stars. But we don’t. We build games. It’s a team effort. It’s hard work.” Even Woodhouse’s office, despite its personal touches, isn’t for his use alone. It is also used as a meeting room, leaving Woodhouse to hot-desk himself around the building. “We don’t have office snobbery,” he said. “It’s not a reflection of my ego that we have a large table and large screen in here. It’s practical.

We need them for when we hold meetings in here. “Other people regularly use this office. I just take my lap-top and go and work somewhere else. “I’m not like a CEO with a green lamp and a leather chair,” he added with a grin. “Those days are over.” There is a refreshing lack of management speak from Woodhouse. But then that’s no surprise if you look at the way Bizarre announced its deal with Activision. There was no talk of

synergies or cost-benefit analyses. Instead, the company vowed to “continue to create kick-ass games”. And, addressing gamers on its website, it said: “Bizarre are happy because it means we’re completely safe as a company, we all get to stay exactly the same, and we now have the opportunity to stretch our legs with some brand new game concepts. This is going to be fun.” At just 39, Woodhouse may seem young to be leading a

company of Bizarre’s size. But that – and the company’s relaxed approach to corporatespeak – merely reflects the youth of the video gaming sector, which took root in Liverpool in the 1980s with the success of companies such as Psygnosis, which is now part of Sony. “There is quite a lot of energy in the business,” he said. “I’m one of the oldest at 39. But even I’m relatively young to be running a 200-man studio. “They’re a young group but

TENDER Management Consultancy knows the value of advice – which is why the firm has been working with business support agency Business Link Northwest since the company’s inception. The Liverpool-based firm specialises in advising clients on how to find and secure business contracts across the public, private and voluntary or not-for-profit sectors. It was set up in 2008 by Jim Williams after a 20-year career as both a tender writer and an in-house tender assessor for major engineering and recruitment companies. He contacted Business Link and was put in touch with its financial and professional services adviser, Roger Hardacre, who visited Jim

to carry out a full business diagnostic and to help formulate an action plan. Tender Management Consultancy is currently looking at developing new software for a forthcoming online project which has been referred to the Northwest Regional Development Agency’s (NWDA) Innovation Voucher scheme for support. Mr Hardacre said: “This initiative enables businesses to purchase research and development support from universities or private sector establishments in order to move forward with a project.” Last year, the business moved into a new area, helping thirdsector organisations like social enterprises and charities to secure funding, and it has recently

secured a 12-month contract to train charities across Merseyside and the North West. It is also investigating opportunities around the High Growth Programme, which recognises businesses with the potential to create a turnover of £500,000 and provides intensive and customised one-to-one coaching, along with networking opportunities, to help improve business knowledge and specialist expertise. Mr Williams said: “I feel very fortunate to have Roger as our adviser as he has experience in the sector we work in, and he really understands the business and what direction we want to take. “I can honestly say that Business Link, and in particular our adviser, has been fundamental

to the quick growth and ongoing success of the business. Without this level of help, it would have taken us a lot longer to reach the stage we are at now.” ■ BUSINESS Link’s service can be accessed by telephone and e-mail from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, as well as from 8am to 2pm at weekends and Bank Holidays. Businesses can access face-to-face support from a Business Link adviser with specialist industry expertise. Call Business Link on 0845 00 66 888 or e-mail advisers at info@businesslinknw.co.uk Firms can also find information at www.businesslink.gov.uk/ northwest, where there is everything from tools to create employment contracts to guides on sales, marketing and finance.

THE BIG INTERVIEW BRIAN WOODHOUSE

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THE MERSEY PARTNERSHIP

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TMP chief executive Lorraine Rogers, right, at an event marking KLM’s air route from Liverpool John Lennon Airport to Amsterdam CONTINUED FROM FROM PAGE PAGE 24 25 CONTINUED West and maybe West Yorkshire. There will be a few real powerhouses of economic growth of the UK. “We either engage with that competition, that reality, or we continue to manage relative decline. “That’s what we are focused on now, using our assets and our great strengths. We grow those businesses now as fast as we can, as quickly as we can. “We work with the private sector using its resources as much as possible because they are the people who know how to create wealth and jobs. We will use and are using their skills and organisations. Some public funding is needed, but we have accepted that there will be less money available going forward.” Ms Rogers added: “In terms of

the committees, we are in attendance but we are not on the committees. The detailed work is being led by the sectors. “The best example is the visitor economy. They now have a very detailed strategy for the next 10 years. All that has been worked through and we are now in detailed delivery. The others are in a different stage of delivery.” TMP meets questions about overlap and duplication with the work of the various other quangos and organisations with short shrift – because at their heart is the issue of whether TMP should exist. The appointment last year by Liverpool City Council of Alison McRae as the director of Destination Liverpool was seen as an implied criticism of TMP’s work, a criticism that was never convincingly rebuffed by TMP or the council. Ms Rogers insisted

that “everyone is very clear where their remit is”, but added: “We are all anxious to avoid overlap”. Liverpool’s presence at the World Expo in Shanghai – with the stated aims of stimulating economic growth through exports, attracting inward investment and increasing the number of Chinese tourists and students – has been led by the city’s economic development arm Liverpool Vision, despite it always being at least sub-regional in its range. At the six-month exhibition, the pavilion has a dedicated theme each month. The content of the themes have been developed by groups from the private and public sector. Liverpool Vision’s director of enterprise and investment Mike Taylor, who has led the Expo project, has often said that the work done by the thematic groups will drive the development within

those sectors in the coming years. The six themes include gateway to the North West, ports and airports, and the knowledge sector – both of which have matching TMP committees – while the Expo’s culture, health and sport theme covers much of the same ground as the visitor economy committee. But Mr Holmes said that the agencies work hard at avoiding inefficient practices, so that working together does not become duplication. He said: “Economic drive does involve government, regional agencies, sub-regional agencies and agencies like Liverpool Vision. “We would be stupid not to be looking and seeing if there any more duplications that we can strip out, as we did with the TMP/Liverpool Vision protocols, or perhaps go further than that.

“People have different geographies and different purposes so we must too and we are looking at that to see if there are more efficient ways to do things.” Looking ahead, he is confident that there will be changes in the region’s economy, especially within the areas of focus. Mr Holmes said: “Our sector is economic growth. The very least we can expect of ourselves is that in the next few years there will be very perceptible changes around the four transformational areas. “There should be progress of one sort or another happening. We should be known for our expertise and knowledge in those sectors. We should see new businesses coming in and growing and see new jobs in the tens of hundreds in those sectors. “If we don’t achieve that, people will be entitled to criticise.”

years on the project working from their base in south Liverpool they’re smart, well-educated, experienced, and they’ve a lot of confidence in their abilities and in what they do. There’s no reason why age comes into it. “But we have got people who are older than me who are real guiding lights. “We’ve got people who’ve had 20-year careers in this industry. That’s akin to starting off in silent movies, it really is.” After taking his accountancy exams, Liverpool lad Woodhouse started his career at Sony – which

still employs hundreds at its studios and development centres in Liverpool and Runcorn. His work with Sony took him to the West Coast of the US – one of the world hubs for video game development – where he spent six months at the company’s San Francisco studios. “There’s more work and more opportunities there,” he said. “If you go down the coast – in Seattle you have Microsoft and Nintendo; in San Francisco, there are large headquarters for Sony,

EA and Sega, and then in LA you have Activision and Vivendi. “Then you have other studios feeding into that. There are more companies. “There’s also a different way of working. They work more hours, which in some senses isn’t healthy but it gives them a different outlook.” Woodhouse joined Bizarre in 1998 after 3½ years at Sony and has risen up the management ranks, becoming studio director in 2007.

“I’ve left behind the day-to-day production side because we’ve got guys who are really good and who have probably forgotten more than I’ll ever know,” he said. “But the business side of this industry is what I really enjoy. “Working with Activision gives us a more secure and stable platform for us to build games.” Bizarre Creations was founded in 1992 by Martyn Chudley, who today concentrates on the creative side of the business. Bizarre grew steadily with

successes including the Project Gotham Racing series for the Microsoft XBox console, which has sold more than 6m copies, and Geometry Wars. But the biggest change in the company’s history came in 2007 when it was bought by US group Activision. The negotiations, which ran from January to September, were led by Woodhouse. Bizarre sought a deal because it wanted new investment to make games for other gaming platforms, as well as the XBox. “We were talking to Microsoft about our future,” said Woodhouse. “We’d pushed up and we’d expanded considerably and we had a fairly large cost base. “We were getting to the point where we were looking to go multi-format, and we were looking for long-term security for the studio as well. “We started talks with a number of interested parties. But Activision came to the table pretty established and, quickly, we were very keen on them. “For Activision, we made a lot of sense. It added a string to their bow that they didn’t have – they didn’t have anybody who specialised in racing games. “We had a great relationship with Microsoft for a long period of time. “But the ability to produce games in multiple formats for a major publisher under a much more secure deal was just too tempting. “But it was definitely with some sadness that we parted ways with Microsoft. We still have a strong relationship with them now.” After the merger, Bizarre released its final Project Gotham Racing game in late 2007 and then in early 2008 released The Club for Sega. But since then the company has been investing in the systems it needs to build games for new platforms, while work on Blur continued. “It’s all cost so far,” said Woodhouse. “But the business can be very lucrative. Around 5% of released games generate 95% of the revenue. So, if you get that hit, it can be very profitable. “The average development cost of a game is in the region of $25m. That’s why the retail price is relatively high.” Blur is a racing game, but is not a typical one where drivers do laps of ultra-realistic Formula One circuits. Woodhouse says it is suited to gamers who “don’t have the patience” to tweak the depth of a tyre tread to gain milliseconds of speed over your rivals. Instead, you can use “power-ups” to give yourself a sudden speed boost or to take out your rivals, sending them spinning around the track. “It’s not just about going round a track,” said Woodhouse. “It’s interacting with your opponents and your friends. You can do stuff you can’t do in any other racing game. “It’s not just about a simulated race. It’s not about doing a time trial 86 times. It’s more interactive. It’s chaos.” The first plans for the game were sketched out 30 months ago.

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THE BIG INTERVIEW BRIAN WOODHOUSE CONTINUED CONTINUED FROM FROM PAGE PAGE 18 19 Woodhouse said: “We wanted to break away from the traditional racer and produce something for the mass market, rather than just something where you do laps and try to break somebody’s time. “We wanted to break into an area we’d never been into before – and an area no-one else was going into. “If you’re a hardcore racer it will appeal, because of the multi-player mode and because it’s great fun. But it will also appeal to the mass market – it’s something you can pick up and play, whether for ten minutes or ten hours.” The first Blur game is out on May 28, but the team at Bizarre is already planning a sequel and hoping it will become a long-running franchise. “We’re hoping this game sets a really strong benchmark and gives us something to build on. We’re not really looking at numbers. “We’re going to get huge marketing support from Activision to sell this title. I hope it gets enormous exposure and that people are really receptive. “We want to produce something that customers love and that we can build on. “This is a long-term strategy for us. We’ve built a new game that’s almost a new sub-genre in the racing category. We’ve got a lot to build on.” Bizarre’s team is now building a new racing game. Woodhouse will not be drawn on what that game will be, and kept his poker face when asked about the many online reports that it will be a James Bond game. “We are committed to building an action game that’s going to be released later this year,” he said. “We can’t name it yet. The studio is really busy.” Woodhouse isn’t expecting Bizarre’s workforce to grow any further, no matter how successful its games become. “I feel that 200 is our optimum number. “I’m proud of the fact that I know everyone’s name at the studio. Once we got past that 200 level, it would feel very different. I don’t think I could remember more than 200 names.” “My job is like herding cats some days. But I’m not dealing with folk with a factory mentality. “I have a team of creatives who are very smart. They can be both tough and sensitive at the same time. “I’ve got to have a strong belief in how I want the business set up culturally.” Liverpool has become a hub for the video gaming sector, with Bizarre and Sony – which bought Psygnosis in 1993 – as its leading lights. Woodhouse wants to play his part in making the sector a success, including building links with universities to make sure graduates have the talent gaming firms need. “I want to collaborate more closely with academia and really make Liverpool the key city in the country for game development talent,” he said. “There’s a terrific opportunity there, and a will to succeed. And there’s no question about the talent. “There’s some great talent in

TMP's destination advertising campaign appeared in national publications and across the London Underground

Brian Woodhouse – says Liverpool has become a vital hub for the video gaming sector this country and we cannot let it get sucked away to the West Coast of the US. “I’m from this city, and I’m proud we’ve got a large and successful studio in the city I’m from, and that we’ve been able to build it and support the local economy.” Video games firms have also been calling for the sector to receive tax relief, as has happened in other countries, to help them retain talent. The previous government had committed itself to such a measure before the election, but Woodhouse remains confident it will be introduced.

“All three parties committed themselves to tax breaks similar to the movie business tax breaks. It’s similar to what countries like France and Canada have done,” he said. “For us to compete properly, we as a business expect to be treated on an equal footing. “The point is that it keeps talent, secures jobs, and retains intellectual credibility. “With the right government support, the industry will grow and attract even more inward investment. “Put simply, more games will get built in the UK. ”

Woodhouse is a huge Liverpool FC fan, as demonstrated by the club memorabilia in his office, including a framed shirt and a flag for the 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul, which he attended. But mention of the club’s recent woes prompts a rueful grin. “I don’t love them as much at the moment,” he said, “not because they’re not successful but because they’re not very entertaining. “If you produced a game based on the season that Liverpool have produced, I don’t think it would sell very well.”

Woodhouse insists he is not a man for expensive hobbies – apart from following Liverpool FC – preferring to cycle round the parks of South Liverpool, or catch up with friends. “I’m pretty down-to-earth,” he smiled. “I don’t fly helicopters for a hobby.” In one small concession to the life of a more stereotypical chief executive, Woodhouse does admit to a small golfing habit. “But I’m a lousy player,” he said. “Once a year I’ll have a good game. I play about six times a year, and once a year I’ll win.”

and around the world. We have to increase our performance but we can only do that by making step changes. “Five – recession, which makes it more difficult to achieve economic growth.” Ms Rogers added: “We are not talking in vague terms. We are talking in specifics. They are set out in the Multi-Area Agreement. They are set out in our 2010 corporate brochure and we have set out numbers for job creation so we can measure progress.” The Multi Area-Agreement, signed in January, 2009, is a 100,000-word document which sets out the vision of establishing “our status as a thriving international city region by 2030”. But a key question surrounds the disconnectivity between actions and output – to what extent can TMP actually influence and deliver the targets they have set?

THE four transformational areas could be the catalyst for tens of thousands of new jobs across the city region. Forecasts have earmarked 7,000 extra jobs in the low carbon economy by 2015, 14,000 new jobs in the visitor economy, and, within the knowledge economy, developments at Daresbury alone could generate 10,000 new jobs. But the difficulty of producing forecasts – which are not, of course, the same as targets – becomes even more tricky in the current unpredictable global economy. For example, a report produced by MDS Transmodal for TMP into the potential economic benefits of Liverpool Superport estimated it could create 28,000 jobs in the region’s economy – but, in less than a year, even that potential figure has already shrunk by one-quarter.

As much as this fall is unrelated to the performance of TMP, then should a commensurate gain be thought of in the same way? The Superport report was published last August. By February, TMP were talking about the 26,000 potential new jobs estimated to be produced from the delivery of eight core Superport projects. Then, in March, the developers of Parkside rail freight interchange published new plans which reduced its forecasts by 4,500 jobs. That project is already four years old, but there is no timeframe for when the first spade will go into the ground, nor for when the scheme will be completed and employing the estimated 5,500 people. TMP has set up private sector-led committees around three of the four transformational

actions – nearly a year later, the knowledge economy committee is “still being formed” – so that the people and businesses working in those sectors can drive the agenda. The quality of the people involved is unarguable. For example, the Liverpool Superport committee includes Peter Nears, the strategic planning director for Peel Holdings, Stobart Ports’ managing director Steve O’Connor and Liverpool John Lennon Airport boss Neil Pakey. The visitor economy committee includes Liverpool FC’ s commercial director Ian Ayre and Michael Eakin, chief executive of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. Mr Holmes said: “We have been leading those discussions by getting the people around the table. What we can do is convene discussions, promote discussions,

then they reach a point where they take on their own momentum. “Our role is to facilitate and enable. It’s not a case of confrontation, it’s about addressing the opportunities. “There are big discussions with the low carbon teams on the opportunities of the wind farms, the smart grid, the tidal barrier. “Tourism – how can we exploit the two big projects, the museum then the Everyman the year after?” Mr Holmes believes that working with the private sector can help the city region compete on the global stage. He said: “The real competition is the world economy. There will only be three or four major economic drivers within a few years – parts of the South East, West Midlands, parts of the North

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Frank McKenna is the chairman of Downtown Liverpool In Business

The leading of Liverpool . . . LABOUR may be licking its wounds nationally following the General Election, but at a local level it regained control of a number of local authorities, including Liverpool. During the past 40 years, I think I am right in saying that Liverpool has only had the same colour council as the national government on just one occasion. Our city is truly contrary. This time it was the affable and able Joe Anderson that turned the town hall red again, gaining a remarkable nine seats from his Liberal Democrat opponents whose leader Warren Bradley, rather bizarrely, claimed that his party had lost because too many people voted! (Well, he actually blamed the “high turnout”, which amounts to the same thing). Anderson has been quick to make his mark, with high profile announcements about appointing a business representative to his cabinet; working in partnership with the private sector to sort out the city's housing crisis and criticising Liverpool Football Club for its failure to get moving on its new stadium plan. He will get to choose his own chief executive, too, with current post holder Colin Hilton announcing his plan to retire the week following the election. No doubt Anderson would have been more comfortable with a Labour government to deal with, but he has articulated his determination to offer pragmatic, rather than confrontational, leadership, and has emphasised his preparedness to work with anyone for the good of the city. Of course, during the “free Michael Shields” campaign, the Liverpool Labour leader demonstrated his no nonsense approach, and was more than happy to publicly speak out against

ministers from his own government when he felt they were not doing the right thing. And, perhaps most refreshing of all, Joe Anderson will be doing the job as council leader on a full-time basis, bringing our city’s leadership in line with all the other core cities of the UK. Anderson will also have a new boss at Liverpool Vision to work with. Max Steinberg, currently the chief executive of East Lancashire regeneration company Elevate, will succeed Jim Gill in July. Steinberg, a Scouser, has an impressive track record in the world of urban regeneration, and is not scared to take a risk or two and, to use David Brent speak, “think outside the box”. In East Lancashire, he used the services of the late, great Anthony Wilson, and his partner Yvette Livesey, to produce a new marketing strategy for East Lancashire – and Pennine Lancashire was born. Steinberg has a hard act to follow, as Jim Gill can take a good deal of credit for the renewal of Liverpool during the past decade. His appreciation of private sector needs, and his determination to adopt strategy over short-term planning considerations, has been a refreshing difference to the attitude encountered among the city council planners. Gill's input into the revamping of the waterfront was particularly important, and he was a key player in delivering the greatest physical legacy of 2008, the Echo arena and conference centre. So a clean slate in Liverpool, just as much as in Westminster – but Joe Anderson has a majority that David Cameron can only dream of. No horse trading, no deals or coalitions. Labour has a decent majority and will be hoping to deliver an exciting and innovative agenda during its term of office.

‘ Labour will be hoping to deliver an exciting and innovative agenda’

The Mersey Partnership's economy board, deep in discussion

Investments made with the help of TMP IN TERMS of inward investment, Ms Rogers described TMP’s role as “to go out and bring in the warm leads for the city region”. Its corporate brochure, produced this February, highlights eight “new investments and partnerships” – which TMP has clarified as being all of its recent successful investments except those firms which do not agree to be publicised. They are: ● KLM launched daily services from Liverpool John Lennon Airport to Amsterdam Schipol It was announced in November, 2008, the first flight of its three-times-a-day service was in March, 2009, and in May this year the frequency was increased to four. ● Maersk Line UK relocated its UK HQ from London to Liverpool. Maersk

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23 each year? In its own words, “[TMP’s] strategic goal is to encourage economic growth through building a positive image of the Liverpool City Region that will attract more visitors to the area and at the same time build confidence among those already living, working and investing in the region.” All standard, nebulous stuff. Its 79 full-time staff work in three areas – tourism, on which it spent 42% of its total outgoings last year, inward investment, which got 20%, and economic development, 17%. Within these areas, it focuses on four “transformational actions” which it is hoped can “deliver sustainable economic growth across the city region” – Liverpool Superport, low carbon economy, knowledge economy and

Line already had a sizeable presence in Liverpool, while the proposed expansion is yet to materialise. Maersk Line’s move was announced in Feburary, 2009, when the UK was already officially in recession, but Ms Rogers insisted that this was not a concern for the organisation. She said: “What no-one could foresee is that we were going to have the worst recession for the last 30 years. It’s given them to articulate their long-term commitment to Liverpool and that’s clear.” ● B&M Retail to move its UK HQ to Liverpool Announced in November, 2009, the company is moving its base from Blackpool and said the move will bring 200 office jobs and 400 warehouse, packing and distribution roles when it moves to Speke later this year.

the visitor economy. A straw poll suggests that the organisation has not been able to convey its vision to the business community, but this does not concern TMP chairman Mr Holmes. “There are much more important things going on than clarifying a bit of vagueness,” he said. “The origins of TMP were a private sector initiative to promote the skills Liverpool had in a time of social and political dislocation. “The five things really happening since Lorraine got involved are: One, a desire to take TMP closer to its private sector membership than it had been over the past five or six years. “Two – the city region and its creation. The six local authorities now work more closely through a shadow cabinet, and TMP was invited to be part of that. “Three – the Multi-Area

● T-Systems created a state-of-the-art print management facility in Wirral. Investment made and jobs created in 2008. ● New Horizons Global set up an Omega 3 production facility in Knowsley 2009 ● Barclays Wealth established a new wealth management centre in Liverpool city centre. Barclays relocated its commercial banking team from Moorfields to Chapel Street in June 2008 and at the same time set up a Barclays Wealth division in the city ● Jurys Inn opened a new 300-bed hotel on Liverpool Waterfront. Announced in 2005 and opened in June, 2008. ● Bugworld Experience established a new visitor attraction in Albert Dock. Opened in July, 2009.

Agreement, which the cabinet signed last year, which committed the local authorities to work where it was appropriate together on city region-wide issues. It went further and it could address some persistent problems and take actions, some of those were to do with the economy. “We now are going to focus on four areas where we can make a step change. “Four – the reality that we don’t want to shout from the upstairs window, that Liverpool city region has made huge improvements over the past 10 years compared with the two or three generations before it. But the reality is that we have only kept pace with the national average. “It’s taken a huge amount of effort and good fortune. We would have to continue making that sort of effort to keep up with national performance, let alone in Europe

ECONOMIC

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The murky partnership The business jumble: a word cloud of the transcript of an interview with Lorraine Rogers and Rod Holmes, of The Mersey Partnership

IMAGE: http://www.wordle.net

We have all heard of TMP, but, 18 years after its creation, its role is still not widely understood HE most common criticism levelled at the myriad of organisations working in areas of economic regeneration and business support is that it is extremely difficult to work out what each is responsible for. “Like nailing jelly to the wall” is among the more printable expressions of frustration. Recently the body perceived to be one of the worst offenders has been The Mersey Partnership (TMP). It underwent a restructure which was announced last July and is described as part of an “evolution” of the organisation to bring it closer to its private sector members. But more of that later.

First, though, the basics: what is TMP and what does it do? “We are not a quango” said TMP chief executive Lorraine Rogers – visibly exercised by the use of a term that is often perceived to be pejorative – and in the strictest sense that’s true. All quangos, or “nondepartmental public bodies” to give them their official nomenclature, are listed on a Cabinet Office document. At the last count there were 766, and TMP is not one of them. But its principal funder, the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA), is. Regional agency NWDA handed over £3.2m to sub-regional agency TMP in the year to March, 2009 –

45% of TMP’s £7.1m income. Added to that was £1.1m from Objective One monies and £454,000 from the city region’s six local authorities. In total, more than two-thirds of its income overtly comes from the public sector. Its membership of “almost 500 businesses and organisations” generated £1.137m (although expenditure attributed to “communications and membership” during the year was £808,000). However, the membership list includes a noticeable scattering of publicly-funded bodies, including Homes and Communities Agency Warrington and Greater Merseyside Connexions

Partnership, organisations such as Liverpool Science Park and ACC Liverpool, which are either majority or wholly-owned by Liverpool City Council, fullyfledged quango National Museums Liverpool, universities and even schools. A key part of TMP’s restructure was slimming down its board, from 16 to eight, but here the public-private relationship is also confusing. Its seven members include Rod Holmes and Ms Rogers of TMP, two councillors representing the local authorities, and NWDA chief executive Steven Broomhead. The board’s two private sector members are Philip Rooney of DLA Piper and Neil Sturmey of

Grant Thornton – both wellrespected and high-profile members of the city’s business community, but who are a lawyer and an accountant respectively. The eighth place, earmarked for someone from the private sector, is unfilled. In his position as chairman of TMP’s board, Mr Holmes is the private sector representative on the Liverpool City Region Cabinet. That is despite TMP being non-profit making – surely the ultimate arbiter of whether an organisation sits on the public or private side of the sector divide. What, then, does TMP aim to achieve with the £7m it spends

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The murky partnership The business jumble: a word cloud of the transcript of an interview with Lorraine Rogers and Rod Holmes, of The Mersey Partnership

IMAGE: http://www.wordle.net

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Frank McKenna is the chairman of Downtown Liverpool In Business

‘ Labour will be hoping to deliver an exciting and innovative agenda’

The Mersey Partnership's economy board, deep in discussion

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THE MERSEY PARTNERSHIP

TMP's destination advertising campaign appeared in national publications and across the London Underground

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

THE BIG INTERVIEW BRIAN WOODHOUSE

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THE MERSEY PARTNERSHIP

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 0

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

CAMPAIGN

Jim Williams, managing director of Tender Management, with his Business Link Northwest financial and professional services adviser, Roger Hardacre

Advice proves valuable for tender management firm

Business Link Northwest supports consultancy’s development

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

THE BIG INTERVIEW

Licensed to thrill BY ALISTAIR HOUGHTON

Dr Peter Cook was one of the co-founders of The Heath Business & Technical Park, in Runcorn, 10 years ago

SITE HAS FLOURISHED WITHOUT ANY STATE SUPPORT

▲ ▲

John Lewis

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

PROFESSIONAL SECTORS

LEGALLY

SPEAKING

Q A

With Pamela Jones, partner at Hill Dickinson solicitors

‘It had been hoped to repeal order before the election’

Pensions Nest could be bear trap for firms

Energy savings to warm the heart

Powell Financial’s Keith Marshall and Blaise Davies are wary of the effects of pension changes

Henk de Rooy, senior partner with Polder Health Care, which has piloted the Energy Intelligence system

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Eastern Europe exit plan for UU

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THE BIG FEATURE

Liverpool to lose its new cruise ship

HOW GREEN IS YOUR BUSINESS?

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

THE BIG FEATURE

Waste success rewarded

Airport could come to the rescue of the cruise lines

Lack of waterfront facilities no barrier to handling turnarounds

regional operations manager in 2008, and currently manages the Liverpool, Oldham and Warrington operations, in addition to satellite sites, including a furniture store. Maxine Benson, co-founder and

John Murray, of Morgan Hope, with the new lighting product

Liverpool John Lennon Airport could check-in cruise passengers

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

THE BIG FEATURE

HOW GREEN IS YOUR BUSINESS?

Walk this way into our history

Liverpool scores best for exploring on foot from ships

Stiebel Eltron’s UK managing director, Mark McManus – says tax breaks are available to companies to help them switch to renewable energy

Stiebel finishes five green projects Wirral firm completes renewable energy installations across the UK

Mann Island under construction

Merseyrail is one of the best performers in the UK

THE BIG FEATURE

Potential to exploit cruises untapped

in association with

Hattons secures coach funding

Partnership could resolve turnaround dilemma

Transport firm buys vehicle after contract wins

Nightmare at Langton Dock

TRANSPORT

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

THE BIG FEATURE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 NY port which aspires to the heights of success in the cruise business must have the confidence of one

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Co ferries on the Liverpool - Douglas run are never busier than when the Isle of Man TT races are in full swing

Ferries set for bumper TT

Steam Packet launches its plans to cope with highest demand in years for motorbike race

The Pier Head lined up with motorbikes waiting for the ferry

EDUCATION

Education specialist to take

Wallasey’s Aspire Trust explains to Neil Hodgson how an inaugural Anglo-Indian event next Aspire Trust director Dr Nick Owen, making the case for serendipity

Cruise controlled

The world’s largest ocean liner and Cunard Line flagship, Queen Mary 2, berthed at the Cruise Liner Terminal on her maiden visit to Liverpool last October

BY PETER ELSON

Do fair winds and following seas lie ahead for Liverpool’s foray into the lucrative cruise market, or will the stormy waters of the turnaround row scupper its ambitions?

▲ ▲

THE BIG FEATURE

EDUCATION

control of its own future

month could influence global teaching methods and establish its own international stock

THE NETWORKER

DETAILS The Noble House 5 Brunswick Street, Liverpool L2 0UU Tel: 0151 236 5346 Cost: £55.95

THE NETWORKER

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

THE BUSINESS LIST Friday, May 28

TUESDAY, JUNE 1 / SEFTON AND WEST LANCASHIRE BUSINESS FAIR 2010

Tuesday, June 8 Still thriving: Yorkshire House, in Chapel Street, Liverpool, was built in 1926 and was originally the local headquarters of the Yorkshire Building Society

Landmark site secures lets

damaging the existing relationship with the client. More information can be found at www.knowsley chamber.org

clinics. The seminars include successful marketing on a shoestring, how SMEs can win a public sector tender, presentation skills, and tips for getting stories in the news. Tony Haines, of event

organisers Liverpool BA, said: “We try to make sure that we have something for everyone at our events and we know that the free business seminars are highly appreciated.” There are about 40

businesses and organisations exhibiting, including Invest Sefton, West Lancashire Investment Centre, Chartered Institute of Marketing, Jobcentre Plus and the Federation of Small Businesses.

Tuesday, June 8

Tuesday, June 15

Daresbury Innovation Centre

The event is free to attend and is on from 10.30am-3.30pm. For more details on this and our other events, contact Liverpool BA on 0151 709 8932 or visit www.businessfairs uk.com/services.php

Liverpool Marriott Hotel

Tuesday, June 15 Halton Women in Business is holding its next bi-monthly meeting at The Heath Business

THE NETWORKER

Actor and comedian Stephen Fry – an evangelist for Twitter

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Support for Business

LINACRE L NA RE E

We can Help

If you would like some more information please contact us by either email or phone.

DERBY BOOTLE

The firm produces containers to suit a range of sectors

COUNTY O NTY Y EVERTON FC

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You can call us, free of charge, on 0800 030 4376 Email: info@stepclever.co.uk

www.stepclever.co.uk

Who to contact Stepclever has established ofﬁces in the heart of the communities serving the areas of Anﬁeld, Everton, Kirkdale, County in north Liverpool and Derby and Linacre in south Sefton.

NEWS

ADVERTISING FEATURE

CHURCHILL INDUSTRIAL ESTATE SEEDS LANE FAZAKERLEY

West Lancs wedding venue grows by 100%

The bridal suite at the West Tower

Delighted: Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the NWDA

INDUSTRIAL UNITS NOW AVAILABLE

£1

initial period only

Warning over redundancy procedures: Andrew Newton, of Maxwell Hodge

SOCIAL DIARY THE NETWORKER

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

INSIDE 4

LDP BUSINESS

NEWS

£400m international trade boost

EDITOR Bill Gleeson 0151 472 2319

6 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

bill.gleeson@liverpool.com

Yorkshire House now 70% full

DEPUTY BUSINESS EDITOR Tony McDonough 0151 330 4918

9 BIG FEATURE

When the boat comes in

tony.mcdonough @liverpool.com

BUSINESS WRITERS Alistair Houghton

TRANSPORT

alistair.houghton @liverpool.com

16 DLIB Chairman Frank McKenn, left, with Roy Gronow, of Entwistle, and Dave Blackman, of Venmore, at the DLIB anniversary celebration

David al-Hadithi, of The Design Foundry; Jo Tait, of Move Publishing; and Ian Marsden, Capricorn Kitchens, at The Living Room networking event

PROFESSIONAL SECTORS Pensions warning

peter.elson @liverpool.com

BIG INTERVIEW

Neil Hodgson neil.hodgson @liverpool.com

Alex Turner

Brian Woodhouse, Bizarre Creations

CAROLYN HUGHES

Peter Elson

alex.turner@liverpool.com

HEAD OF IMAGES Barrie Mills

MARKETING EXECUTIVE Cath Reeves 0151 285 8428

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The Mersey Partnership

ADVERTISEMENT DIRECTOR Debbie McGraw

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Heath co-founder steps down

Outfits from Natalia’s Boutique on show at the Thornton Hall Hotel

ADVERTISMENT MANAGER Jackie McMahon 0151 330 5077

INTERNATIONAL TRADE United Utilities’ eastern exit

32 HOW GREEN IS YOUR BUSINESS?

Bulky Bob’s Woman of the Year Jamie Wray and Jamie Burrow networking at the Living Room, in Victoria Street

36 EDUCATION

Anglo-Indian conference

RESTAURANT REVIEW The Noble House

TELEPHONE 0151 227 2000

THE LIST

FAX 0151 330 4942

NETWORKER

Tweet-ups and Twestivals

Sandra Withe and Carol Stanton enjoying the Thornton Hall fashion display

LDP Business is printed monthly and distributed with the Liverpool Daily Post. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the publisher.

SOCIAL DIARY

Carolyn Hughes out on the town

Sam Smith and Jan Smith in the crowd at the Thornton Hall fashion event

Kirsty Thomas and Caroline Harkness, of Impact Models, at the Modo fashion ‘walk-off’ evening

PHOTOGRAPHY Trinity Mirror PUBLISHED BY Trinity Mirror NW2, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L69 3EB.

Tracey Walters and Helen Gazzola at the Thornton Hall fashion show

ADVERTISMENT SALES Julie Cowley 0151 3472 2311 Neil Johnson 0151 472 2705

BILL GLEESON 3

Connectivity, Catchment, Cost. Lake District Preston M6

M65 M6

M61

Southport

M66

Bolton

Wigan

M61

M60

M58

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Salford

M57

St.Helens Liverpool

M62

M62 M6

M60

M62

Warrington M56

Wirral

Runcorn

M53

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M56 M56

Leeds

M53

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Global game on for city firm Bizarre’s top man prepares for a major new launch

● Stormy waters: Cruise ambitions in the balance ● New role: Heath founder spreads the word ● Networker: Meet and tweet1