The Chamber

 Liverpool Chamber of Commerce have recently committed to a programme called Hope in the Cities that looks at issues of diversity within business. A high level meeting with some of the city’s key retail employers and Black and Racial Minority (BRM) networks identified the need to look at the issues employers may be having with diversity within their companies. We are all aware that legislation is in place that makes it illegal to discriminate on grounds of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, belief, sexual orientation or age.

This is largely defensive and makes sure employers don’t do the wrong thing. The more positive approach is to look at how diversity can enhance your company’s performance. For this reason we are seeking to enlist your support to build a picture of the level of diversity amongst our members. If you have not already participated, we would appreciate a few moments of your time to complete this survey. Click here and click on Surveys.

Registration is now open for the i-techpartner eServices Forum which is taking place at the new Liverpool Convention Centre on 3rd & 4th June 2008.

The event builds on the success of the 2007 i-techpartner Academy at Daresbury Innovation Centre where over 120 delegates attended, including researchers, small businesses, innovation experts and investors.

Focussing on the areas of web services, mobile applications, web 2.0, software as a service and more, this event is for you if you are:

• an innovative ICT/digital SME looking to grow your business
• a researcher from a university or research institute looking to commercialise your research
• a venture fund or business angel looking for investment opportunities in eServices
• an expert in technology transfer, innovation or business growth

The event is a unique platform for eServices-focused high-growth companies, technology corporations, R&D organisations and international investors from across Europe to exchange knowledge and build effective business connections.

If you are an SME or researcher, presenting your technology offering at this event will mean significant exposure to an international audience of industry experts, investors, researchers and SMEs. Your attendance will enable you to access technology specific R&D and discuss how to grow your company with potential partners from research and industry. You will be able to book face-to-face meetings with potential business partners and develop new contacts with SMEs, multinationals, researchers, innovation experts and investors from across Europe. Overall the event provides a unique opportunity to receive valuable feedback and new knowledge regarding your technology.

The Academy is being led by AIMES, together with Daresbury Science & Innovation Campus, RTC North, Merseyside ICT and Vanguard Corporate Finance.

Register: For more information and to register for this event as a presenter or delegate, please visit http://www.i-techpartner.eu/ where you will be asked to create a profile and apply for the event. For further information please contact Marie Mitchell at AIMES on 0151 795 0116 or marie.mitchell@liverpool.ac.uk

Liverpool CDP and Merseyrail are pleased to announce that from 31 March Moorfields station Old Hall Street entrance will remain open until 9pm Monday to Friday.

The longer opening hours of the entrance, and the on-site M to go shop, will be piloted over a 6 month period and depending upon its success, could continue indefinitely.

Paul Rice, Liverpool CDP Chief Executive explained: “We have been working closely with Merseyrail, Merseytravel, and our public and private sector partners over the last 12 months to secure this pilot scheme.

“I believe the longer opening hours will help to serve our business and residential community in the area more effectively as they can now catch the train from their doorstep after 7pm.

“We are also pleased to announce that the M to go shop will stay open until 9pm.” he added: “M to go shop offers a full range of services, from a cup of coffee to buying your train ticket through to London or anywhere else on the national rail network.”

To mark this important change, Liverpool CDP & Merseyrail will be running a competition in the Daily Post in the next few weeks with the lucky winner receiving a year’s free rail travel on the Merseyrail network.

Bart Schmeink, Merseyrail’s Managing Director said: “There are major changes happening in the Commercial District and people’s travel patterns in the area are changing. I am delighted that together with the Liverpool CDP, we have been able to respond to these changes by extending the opening hours of the Old Hall Street entrance for a trial period.”

A new online service has been launched to let you save your most important text messages for posterity.

Treasuremytext is the brain-child of Liverpool-based web 2.0 wunderkinder Katy Lips and Paul Stringer. The site setup is simple: after signing up for an account, you just forward the messages you want to save to the Treasuremytext number that fits your region. Treasuremytext will archive the SMS message and even give you options for organizing your saved texts.

So now all those special messages from loved ones (luv u!), or important reminders (buy more bacon!) need not be lost when your phone’s memory overflows.