The Chamber

• Do you occupy a public building of more than 1000m2? and
• Is your building occupied or part-occupied by a public authority or institution providing a public service? and
• Is your building visited by large numbers of the general public?

If so, from October 1st 2008 the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive makes it compulsory for you to have a Display Energy Certificate (DEC). This rates the operational performance of your building in terms of CO2 emissions. You also need an advisory report, which highlights cost effective measures you can implement to improve energy performance.
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26 June 2008

Climate 2ºC warmer…
Oil at $129 a barrel
What will it mean for business?

Climate change and resource scarcity will have major eff ects on business.

Understanding how such global changes might aff ect you and your client’s business remains a
difficult if not impossible task.

The University of Liverpool is hosting an authoritative workshop bringing together experts from a range of disciplines to address the threats and opportuniti es presented by these changes and how SMEs and business leaders can prepare for the future.

Make sure you know what is on the horizon and sign up today using the attached booking form or mailing: frazer.kearney@liv.ac.uk

For more info visit: www.liv.ac.uk/swimmer

Download information and booking form [PDF]

Energy markets are again in turmoil with record highs being posted on gas and electricity base load prices. Wholesale gas prices have risen by approximately 110% since February 2007 and electricity prices have risen by around 135% over this time.

“The markets are being driven by high coal and oil prices along with the economic growth experienced in China and India who are purchasing as much base fuel as possible,” explained Jeff Wealands, Technical Director for Utility Auditing, which supplies the Chamber Utilities™ service.

He added: “Reduced gas flows into the UK along with ‘outages’ at power plants over the winter have exacerbated matters - driving prices ever upwards. Where will it end? Markets are also affected by global political and natural events. One thing is for sure – price stability in wholesale energy markets is a thing of the past and locking into long term fixed contracts is looking increasingly attractive.”

As well as negotiating the best price on gas and electricity, with impending legislation to reduce carbon and consumption, it is more essential than ever before for organisations to improve their efficiency. Most organisations can cut consumption by up to 20%, which can help mitigate rising costs.

For help and advice on cutting costs and improving energy efficiency contact Chamber Utilities™. Get in touch today to see how you can profit both your business and the environment.

Contact Chamber Utilities™ 0845 120 2423, www.chamberutilities.co.uk

Free SME Workshop: 26 June 2008
The Liner Hotel,
L3 5QB

9.30 am -14.00 pm inc Networking lunch

Climate change and resource scarcity will have major effects on business. Understanding how such global changes might affect you and your client’s business remains a difficult if not impossible task.

The University of Liverpool is hosting an authoritative workshop bringing together experts from a range of disciplines to address the threats and opportuniti es presented by these
changes and how SMEs and business leaders can prepare for the future.

Make sure you know what is on the horizon and sign up today by downloading the attached booking form [PDF] or by emailing: frazer.kearney@liv.ac.uk

For more info visit: www.liv.ac.uk/swimmer

The European Commission adopted the fees and charges that will be applicable under the new REACH regulation on 16 April. The charges will be for the registration, evaluation and authorisation of all chemicals manufactured or imported in the EU and will range from €1600 to €31000.

In order to keep the burden on SMEs to a minimum, the Commission has developed a policy of reduced registration fees for different groups of companies; 30% for medium companies, 60% for small companies and 90% for micro companies. There will also be a 25% reduction for firms that cooperate on registrations due to the reduced workload for the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

REACH requires that all substances manufactured or imported in the EU in quantities above 1 tonne per year be registered as from 1 June 2008. Extended registration deadlines apply if the substances have been pre-registered (all so called “phase-in substances” are eligible for pre-registration).

Companies that want to benefit from staggered registration deadlines - 2010, 2013, 2018 - must pre-register their chemical substances between 1 June and 1 December 2008.

If a manufacturer or importer of a chemical fails to pre-register by 1 December 2008 he cannot continue manufacturing or importing it until he has submitted a registration dossier. Users of chemicals cannot continue using substances which have not been pre-registered or registered by their supplier.

For more information see the European Commission’s press release.

Over a week after the devastating earthquake measuring a massive 7.9 on the Richter scale in Sichuan province, China and the rest of the world, are still coming to terms with the magnitude of this tragedy.

• An estimated 71,000 thousand have been killed, buried or remain unaccounted for.
• 5,000,000 are now homeless and in need of support.
• 220,000 have been injured, many of them children.
• The devastation zone measures an area of approximately 100,000 square kilometres (40,000 square miles) — an area roughly three quarters the size of England. Entire towns in mountainous Sichuan province were flattened in Monday’s quake, and have subsequently been hit by further aftershocks and landslides, making the ongoing search for any remaining survivors impossible.

With rescue operations across Sichuan continuing, providing accommodation and medicine to those lucky to survive is now critical.

Tents, medicines & equipment are in short supply and are urgently needed. We appeal to the business community in the UK to help in supporting the effort to collect donated and purchased tents and medicines for China’s earthquake zones. The Chinese Embassy and Consulate General will help in making arrangements at the China end to ensure a speedy delivery to the Earthquake area.

Please contact ChinaLink (0151 227 1233 email: chinalink@liverpoolchamber.org.uk if you are able to help in one or more of the following areas:

1. Donation of tents (family size / unused in original package)
2. Donation of medicines & other equipment (see the list below)
3. Offer of discounted supply of tents and medicines
4. Donation of cash (we will use these to purchase discounted supply of tents and medicine)
5. Offer of airfreight the tents and medicines to China

Any enquiry should be directed to Dr. Kegang Wu, Director of ChinaLink / Chief China Adviser, British Chambers of Commerce on kegang.wu@britishchambers.org.uk / 07974753528

This document and the list of medicines and equipment is also available at www.chinalink.org.uk

This appeal is supported by:

• The Consulate General, The Peoples’ Republic of China in Manchester
• The British Chambers of Commerce
• ChinaLink
• Liverpool Chamber of Commerce & Industry
• Susino (UK) Ltd.

Click ‘more’ for the full list of medicines and equipment needed.

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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.

Construction firms are being urged to take early action before the planned enforcement of Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) before April 2008. These plans are due to become a legal requirement for all construction projects over £300,000 on 6th April 2008. Waste reduction is increasingly important for environmental and financial reasons. It is best to reduce waste at source, either by better design, or by improving operational efficiency. This may include the re-use or recovery of materials.

SWMPs provide a structure for systematic waste management at all stages of a project’s delivery.

The key benefits to your business:

• Provides structured approach to management and recycling on site
• Reduces cost of waste management
• Increase profit margins
• Better control of regulatory risks relating to materials and wastes on site
• Compliance of contractual needs of public and private sector clients
• Help you to deal with any queries from environmental regulatory bodies

Colin Woods Associates will be delivering the presentation. So come along to this FREE event organised by Groundwork Merseyside to find out how you should implement a SWMP, and how you can save money by improving your environmental performance.

Wednesday 19th March 2008 8.30am – 11.30am at Liverpool Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool L1 1JE

To BOOK
• Email ashley.piper@groundwork.org.uk, or
• Phone the Groundwork Merseyside team on 0151 644 4700, or
• Download this information and faxback form [PDF]

Liverpool Chamber of Commerce is hosting a free half-day networking seminar on Friday 7th March with Department for Transport’s National Business Travel Network (NBTN)  and ACT Travelwise. To raise awareness of the benefits travel plans can have on local businesses and the environment in terms of reducing costs, congestion and carbon emissions.

Maresa Molloy, Head of Policy and Information “It can be difficult to identify and implement the right travel plan which will work best for your business. At this event there will be an opportunity to learn more about best practice at national, regional and local levels through expert advice, business testimonies and local case studies and to find out about the options available to cut emissions and make cost savings.

“We will show how sustainable travel can benefit a business and demonstrate corporate social and environmental responsibility. Workplace travel plans can help companies to reduce CO2 emissions in a cost effective way. Travel plans can also help companies to save money, attract and retain staff and improve reputation.”

For more information or to attend the seminar please contact: Maresa Molloy 0151 227 1234.

Barclays is holding a Green Business event in Liverpool on the 28th February at the Marriot Hotel (South) from 8.30am until 1pm.

There will be networking opportunities after lunch. The event is intended for SMEs just starting out on the green path and will feature the renowned and inspirational speaker Rob Craven. The event is supported by Envirowise, Business Link, NWDA and ACCA.

If you are interested in attending this event, please visit: http://www.barclays.co.uk/seminars/greenbusiness/