The Chamber

With the British Chambers of Commerce reporting that Britain’s SMEs are predicting economic doom, what’s the opinion of Liverpool’s businesses?

Have you seen the warning signs in things like spiraling fuel costs, cash flow problems, the struggling property market and rising inflation?

Or are you confident that SMEs can remain the backbone of the British economy and weather this particular storm.

Read the BBC press release and QES results here.

Let us know your thoughtsby leaving a comment, or alternatively give a yes/no answer on the Chamber’s home page poll.

Monday 22 – Tuesday 23 September, Annual Conference 2008

This year, the Conference Business Forum (formerly Corporate Day) will be held on Monday 22 – Tuesday 23 September. The number of places is limited and the British Chambers of Commerce would encourage everyone who is attending to inform them as soon as possible by returning the attached booking form. In addition to the full programme you can also opt to attend the Monday only. This includes the full Monday programme but does not require guests to apply for a security cleared conference pass as all Mondays events will be held outside the secure area. On receipt of a completed booking form you will be forwarded a link to obtain your one or two day pass.

Invoices will be raised upon receipt of this form, and further information regarding the day forwarded to respondents in due course.

Chamber of Commerce members are eligible to a £50 discount on the price of their forum pass. To claim this discount please quote promotional code LPCommerce on your booking form.

Download Your application form here [PDF]

The British Chamber of Commerce is running a snap poll on the possible upcoming fuel strike.

Hundreds of members of the Unite Union are due to walk out from 0600 BST on Friday until 0600 the following Tuesday in a dispute over pay. The drivers work for Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport, haulage firms employed by Shell to deliver fuel to its forecourts across the UK.
We would greatly appreciate your answer to just one question so we can conduct a snap poll. The question is:

Faced with a fuel strike on Friday, will you stockpile on fuel?

Take the poll here (it’ll only take you a second)

But remember Corporal Jones’ (or was it the Hitchhikers’ Guide?) advice: Don’t Panic!

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is encouraging UK businesses to enter this year’s Chamber Awards, for the chance to win £50,000 courtesy of the RBS Group. Now in its fifth year, the Chamber Awards 2008 sets out to identify outstanding business achievement within the UK business community.

There are eight different categories of Awards and companies can enter as many as they wish. The categories comprise;

Most Promising New Business
Award for Innovation Through Technology
The Green Award
Entrepreneur of The Year
Achievement in International Business
Award for Excellence in People Development
Business of the Year
Award for Excellence in Customer service

The top prize of £50,000 (donated by the RBS Group) will be awarded to the company that the judges agree should win the overall Award for Outstanding Business Achievement and will be announced along with the national winners at the Gala Dinner and Award Ceremony on 27th November 2008 at the Natural History Museum in London.

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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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TUESDAY 29TH APRIL

Join us for a networking breakfast with a round up of the previous day’s activities British Chambers of Commerce Convention plus an opportunity to get a first hand look at some of our city’s most exciting economic developments.

STUDY TOURS 9-12.30

Following this choose from one of three study tours.

Port of Liverpool 

Encompassing the new Liverpool cruise facility, ‘Liverpool Waters’ development site, Freeport, Royal Seaforth Container Terminal and site of planned £100 million Post Panamax container Terminal.

Littlewoods Shop Direct HQ

See the future of on-line and home shopping at the newly refurbished £31m HQ, Skyways House in Speke

Liverpool One

A 900m private sector-retail led regeneration of Liverpool City Centre creating over 1.6m sq feet of shopping space.

To book call Sue Platt or Melissa Bush on 0151 227 1234.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has been lobbying the Carbon Trust to provide better advice and assistance to SMEs who wish to become more energy efficient and reduce their carbon footprint.

As part of this initiative the BCC have set up a small business toolkit in collaboration with the CT to direct SMEs to the services which are most relevant to them such as the interest free loans available and the Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme.

Visit the BCC Carbon Reduction Toolkit here.

Once again, Liverpool Chamber would like to extend a warm welcome to all its newest members. As always, the businesses listed below represent the full spectrum of local industries. From solicitors to chauffeurs, training companies to tea manufactures, all of life is here.

These companies are now enjoying the range of benefits available to Chamber members, including free HR and legal support, money-saving services, fantastic networking opportunities, plus the support and representation of a nationally accredited chamber of commerce.

If all that’s making you a bit jealous, don’t despair, joining Liverpool Chamber couldn’t be easier.

See the full list of January’s new members below. They could be just the business partner you’re looking for.

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Liverpool Chamber is brining the British Chamber’s national conference to Liverpool’s new BT Convention Centre on Monday 28 April.

Guests may wish to stay in the city for one or two nights and will be looking for city centre hotels to suit a range of budgets.

Next week, our e-newsletter will be focusing on the conference. This is an opportunity for city hotels to promote their conference offers, free of charge to an audience of 7000 potential customers.

If you run a hotel, call Sue Platt on 0151 227 1234 at Liverpool Chamber by 4pm on Friday 29 February to be included in next week’s newsletter.

Business crime affects everyone; it deprives communities of much needed shops and amenities, it destroys employment opportunities and it can devastate the lives of managers and staff traumatised by violence and intimidation. Small businesses with few resources are particularly affected by crime which, in severe cases, can lead to their closure.

In order to gain an understanding of the seriousness of crime against business, both locally and nationally, the British Chambers of Commerce is carrying out a Crime Against Business Survey. I would therefore be grateful if you would kindly spare around 10 minutes completing our web survey.

Take the survey on the BCC website here.