The Chamber

Last night Liverpool Chamber was at the Daily Post Regional Business Awards, where we were one of the sponsors of this prestigious event. It was hosted by famous Liverpool Institute, old boy, Peter Sissons and we enjoyed an impassioned speech by key note speaker, the music mogul, Pete Waterman.

Chamber members made a good account of themselves in the awards; with New Mind winning Small Business of the year; Croda taking the award for Corporate Social Responsibility; T J Morris winning Investment of the Year; Rensburg Sheppards won the Cultural Engagement award and the Duke of Westminster was presented with the Business Person of the year award for his work bringing the Liverpool One development into fruition.

A special mention goes to the puddings that managed to be both rich and tasty and feature the city’s iconic skyline. Nom!

Liverpool Chamber is launching a new award for Liverpool companies who have been supporters of the arts in the city.

We are looking for businesses who have commissined sculptural works of art since 2003 - the year Liverpool was nominated European Capital of Culture.

John Entwhistle, a past Chairman of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce and Trustee of the Royal Academy has generously sponsored the competition. He said: “Many visitors to Liverpool during Capital of Culture year have commented on the diversity of the city’s culture, its renaissance and the unique collections in its art galleries and museums, as well as the city’s stunning architecture.

“We aim to encourage business to commission original artwork and continue Liverpool’s tradition of patronage of outstanding public artwork during European Capital of Culture Year.”

Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, Chief Executive, Jack Stopforth said: “2008 is our year to showcase what we can offer and ensure that our creative industries are sustainable.

“Many Liverpool businesses see the arts as integral to their success. Any numbers of case studies show that companies who invest in the arts see the rewards on the balance sheet. It’s not just about sponsorship; it’s about employing creative thinking.”

Liverpool Chamber is keen to use the momentum of Capital of Culture year to encourage patronage. We will present the award to the Liverpool business adjudged to have commissioned the most impressive work of public sculpture in Liverpool since 2003, when the city was nominated as European Capital of Culture.

Businesses that have commissioned original three dimensional artwork for public areas are invited to enter. The winner will be announced at Liverpool Chamber’s annual dinner on 20th November 2008.

For more details email Pamela Holstein on or call her on 0151 227 1234 x2217.

Clear Contact are launching their sister company www.mynetworkingpa.com. This is hotly tipped to be the UK’s leading business networking event notification website. The website allows user to access all business networking events both within their areas and on a national scale.

My Networking Pa is designed to take the work out of finding your nearest networking event.

The launch event is being held on the 22nd July from 6:30, The Renshaw Grill, Renshaw Street Liverpool.

This is a free event

Please rsvp to holly@clear-contact.com or call 01517032759

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.

A limited number of places are  available for businesses, budding entrepreneurs (and journalists) to join a handpicked audience at a unique Business Question Time.

The event, taking place on Thursday 23 October 2008, at the Reebok, Bolton, is organised by Chambers of Commerce North West and promises an honest and lively discussion a range of issues affecting our business community

The panel members will all be prominent figures from the world of business, renowned for expressing their hard hitting and frank opinions on a whole range of issues affecting business in our region. Whatever your political opinion or whatever type of business you own or manage we’re sure that you’ll find the event stimulating and entertaining.

This free event will start at 6.30pm and finish at 8.30pm with a buffet supper. We hope that you will be able to join us at the event and look forward to meeting you on the day.

A coach will depart Liverpool at 5pm.

Book your place online at the Liverpool Chamber website.

For more information, contact Liverpool Chamber’s Head of Policy, Maresa Molloy.

Creating professional-looking invoices then tracking and managing them can be a complicated and time-consuming task. If you’re a freelancer, self-employed or running a small business, it can be a serious drain on your time.

However, those nice chaps over at the Lifehack website have put togather a handy list of web-based alternatives. These tools can help you stay on top of the whole process, from beginning to end. By managing your invoicing system more efficiently, you can concentrate on whatever it is you set up business to do in the first place.

The full list goes into greater detail, but includes:

Paypal: Simple and classic for the minimalist approach.

Blinksale: Greater control over the look and feel of your invoices

Freshbooks: its free account gives unlimited invoicing

Invotrak: another simple and free tool.

Whilst most of these support multi-currency invoicing, it’s worth checking out the full article for greater detail on what each service offers and at what price.

Read the full article at Lifehack here.

Why indeed!  When you  have a free service right on your door step.

As members of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce you are entitled and indeed encouraged, to make use of  the Trident Training Recruitment Service which is FREE to members.

Trident Training have been involved with schools and colleges within the Greater Merseyside Area, through the Compact Careers and Guidance Open Days.  We have over two hundred applicants waiting to be placed in employment

If your organisation is looking to employ any staff in the 16 to 18 years age group in a junior administrative or general office position we can assist.  All applicants are thoroughly vetted by qualified staff, providing screening and testing of each individual applicant before Trident release their CVs to employers for consideration

Each successful applicant will commence their apprenticeship with Trident Training in one of a number of subjects such as Business Administration, Retail & Customer Service, IT User& IT Practitioner with key Skills and Technical Certificate

The Learning & Skills Council provide funding of 100% for any staff in the 16 to 24 years old age group to gain a National Vocational Qualification through the apprenticeship scheme which is also open to existing staff in this age group.

The employer is responsible for employing the employee at an Apprenticeship wage of not less than £80.00 per week. Also the employer is responsible for ensuring that the employee receives support and assistance with their apprenticeship program.

For more information, please call the Workforce Development Team on 0151 236 3222 or 227 1234

Liverpool Chamber of Commerce recognises the difficulties faced by small businesses when tendering for public sector contracts. Barriers often quoted include:

• accessing tendering opportunities
• finding relevant contracts
• the pressure to respond to calls within limited timescales
• contracts being too large or diverse for a small business to compete
• even the language of procurement has presented problems.

As a Chamber of Commerce we have worked over a number of years to redress this imbalance for our members and have developed unique products such as our tender alert service to address some of the issues.

An independent inquiry has recently been launched looking specifically at the barriers faced by small businesses and social enterprises when tendering for public sector work. An opportunity has now arisen to put your views directly to government and as your Chamber we encourage you to respond to the consultation and have your views heard.

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At Liverpool Chamber, we’re commencing production of the 2009 Business Directory.

Visit our online membership directory to check your company details on our website, before we go to print. Mistakes cannot be rectified later!! If you have any changes please email membership@liverpoolchamber.org.uk and we will amend your details.

You may also wish to advertise in the directory which goes out to over 4000 businesses in Merseyside.  Benham Publishing are working with the chamber and will be contacting your shortly to find out your requirements. Alternatively you may wish to book early to get the best advertising space, so you can email rogerswift@benhampublishing.com or call him on 0151 236 4141.

10 July 2008, will be officially rechristened as the first ever Beatles Day, 24 hours when the people of Liverpool will show their love for the Fab Four and raise money for the Alder Hey Imagine Appeal and Liverpool Unites.

Over 20,000 specially made Beatles-style mop-top wigs will be sold around Merseyside in the days leading up to 10 July.  Following a day of celebrations all over the region, the spectacular climax will come in the shape of ‘Imagine - The Concert’ at the Summer Pops, hosted by Ricky Tomlinson. He will be joined by a host of artists young and old from around the country, all performing Beatles favourites at a packed Liverpool Arena!

The plan for Beatles Day is quite simply for Liverpudlians to go about their daily business as normal on July 10th, the only difference being that they wear Mop Top wigs and share their Beatles stories with the rest of the city!

Wigs will cost £5.00 – all profits go to the charities.

Donations:
Online at www.lcvs.org.uk
By phone +44(151) 243 1076
Cheques by post to be made payable to LCVS (Beatles Day) and posted to: ‘Beatles Day’, P.O. Box 14, Liverpool L69 7AA.
Info: info@beatlesday.tv