The Chamber

As part of Capital of Culture celebrations, Chamber member, Home Bargains is sponsoring a number of projects to actively involve the people of Merseyside in creating art. Submit your images and you could win prizes!

Art from’08
Are you an up and coming, Merseyside based artist? If so, submit your art work to our “Art from ‘08″ competition. We will produce 25 limited edition framed prints of 8 of the best entries and help you promote and sell them.

Liverpool ‘08 Tapestry
Handy with a needle? Well why not cross-stitch your house or favourite bit of the city, to be part of a huge tapestry of Liverpool that has been commissioned to record Liverpool in ‘08′?

‘08 Christmas Cards
Kids, would you like to design a Christmas card and see them on sale in our stores? We will pick 8 of the best and all the profits raised from their sale will go to local charities. You will also win a £100 Home Bargains gift voucher.

‘08 Liverpool Mugs
Here is your chance to get your mug in everyone’s face. Design a mug which captures the humour and spirit of Liverpool. We will chose 8 mugs to sell in our stores, with all profits going to local charities and you will receive a £100 Home Bargains gift voucher.

‘08 in Photos
Got some great photos of ‘Liverpool in ‘08′? Well why not share them with everyone else? Go on, submit them to our on-line gallery for all to see. The 8 best will receive a £100 Home Bargains gift voucher.

For more information visit www.gocreate08.com

28th April 2008, Liverpool - 15:15 pm – 18:15 pm

If you are looking to trade with China or partner with a Chinese company for import, export and manufacturing, Liverpool Chamber’s Chinalink are hosting two valuable events - The China trade Forum, Question Time and UK-China Business Matchmaking event plus an evening networking reception with a Chinese delegation of business leaders.

For full details of both events and how to book, click ‘more’.

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Entrepreneurship is booming in Merseyside. To celebrate that fact and to help boost it further Mecworking week, organised by Merseyside Entrepreneurship Commission, offers local entrepreneurs the chance to learn from UK business leaders and network with their peers.

We have four great events coming up to help local entrepreneurs get going:

• The big Merseyside business debate Tuesday 13 May 2008 at Aintree Racecourse
• Practical skills for entrepreneurs Wednesday 14 May 2008 at Il Palazzo, 7, Water St. Liverpool
• Entrepreneurial innovation in Merseyside Thursday 15 May 2008 at World Museum, Liverpool
• An audience with Michelle Mone Friday 16 May 2008 at Colours Restaurant, St. Helens

If you’re serious about future success, book your place for these once-in-a-lifetime events now!

For full event details and how to book, click ‘more’

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President of the British Chambers of Commerce, Peter Mileham DL writes, with the economy in slowdown, the British Chambers of Commerce wanted to see Alistair Darling using his first budget as Chancellor to send a much needed positive message to businesses that would boost confidence.

In the BCC’s pre-budget submission, policies worth billions in extra revenue to the Treasury were highlighted. These included: the rise in small companies’ corporation tax from 20% to 21%; the next 2p fuel duty hike planned for April; the increase in the rate of capital gains tax from 10% to 18%; and income shifting legislation.

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Liverpool Chamber has negotiated a special deal for businesses who wish to visit the Business Convention here in Liverpool on 28^th April.

We have a limited number of places available for just £150 a head, this will provide a package including an invitation to the networking event at the Tate Gallery on Sunday 27^th April, entry to the conference at the BT Convention Centre on Monday 28^th where business leaders such as Tesco CEO, Sir Terry Leahy and BT’s Sir Michael Rake discuss current business issues.

This is followed by the opportunity to attend two focused forums in the afternoon hosted by experts in a range of fields such as International Trade, Innovation, Environment, competitiveness and skills. This is followed by a networking breakfast and a choice of study tours the following day, Tuesday 29^th April starting at the Hard Days Night Hotel and providing insight into Liverpool’s regeneration. 

If you would like to register for one of the limited number of places at this special group discount price contact Maresa Molloy at Liverpool Chamber on 0151 227 1234 or email maresa.molloy@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Got an innovative product? You could win £10,000 in cash, £4,000 worth of legal, business, accounting or design consultancy; support from some of the region’s leading business advisors; and publicity for the idea.

The awards are open to individuals or companies with less than 50 employees who are based within Merseyside. The Awards aim to recognise and reward the use of innovation as a means of boosting growth and profitability.

Chair of the judging panel, Brian McCann, of Vanguard said: “Over the last few years the number of applications has soared. Merseyside is a breeding ground for many world-class innovations and the next few months will be an exciting time as we examine all the entries and select the shortlist. I would urge anyone with a great idea or product to fill in an application form and see what happens.”

To enter and for further information visit www.merseysideinnovationawards.co.uk

The Chamber Professional Development Programme has just released their new brochure which has a wide range of seminars. If you did not receive one please email us, telling us your name and company.

First Aid and Health and Safety are important factors of your business. Here at the Chamber we have seminars which can cover the areas from First Aid Awareness to First Aid at Work Accredited and IOSH to NEBOSH. To see the courses in full visit our website.

We have all heard of the importance of making a good first impression and nowhere is this more important than in the business world.

A good first impression to your clients can mean a long lasting and profitable relationship whilst a bad one could mean the loss of clients and money.

For a great number of people the first contact they have with a business is by telephone and this call could get customers excited about the company or leave them cold. This is why it is very important to call handled in the correct manner. This may be difficult for a sole trader or for a business whose people are often out in the field. Therefore, it may be prudent for you to take advantage of the Clear Call answering and message services.

Clear Contact come with a wealth of call answering experience and have an extensive client range of trades people, local sole traders and SMEs who all depend of the professional and efficient manner our Clear Virtual team offer .

The Clear Team take the hassle out of dealing with your calls and messages, letting you to concentrate on the job at hand, the full services the Clear Virtual team offer are as follows:

· Provide a local or non geographical number as point of contact for potential or current clients

· Calls are answered in your company name and handled in a very professional manner

· Calls can be redirected to you as and when you wish

· Messages can be taken and a summary will be sent to you via email, fax or phone call at the end of each day or as and when you require.

· Company information for examples quote and call put emergency’s can be managed in house with the clear team to be then directed to yourselves at convenient time or patched straight through to yourself in a case of emergency

Clear Call Answering is easy, simple and takes care of you and your customers for as little as £75 per month with no long terms contracts.

Chamber members get this at £ 65 per month.

For further information call Clear Contact on 0151 703 2759 or visit www.clear-contact.com

America’s tip-top prestigious newspaper, The Wall Street Journal, has recently run an article on Liverpool and its growing cultural status:

“Liverpool has long been known as an industrial city with blighted neighborhoods and violent crime. Rowdy fans descend for soccer games, spilling out of pubs after hours. Its biggest claim to fame: the birthplace of the Beatles.

Now, the 800-year-old port is trying to become Europe’s next hip destination. This year, the city has been designated Europe’s Capital of Culture, and it just launched its first fashion week…”

Read the full article on the Wall Street Journal website.