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DRAGONS’ DEN STAR TO JOIN BUSINESS LINK AT REGIONAL EVENT
DOUG Richard,
business expert and former star of BBC show Dragon’s Den, is joining
forces with Business Link at the upcoming Business North West event,
in a bid to encourage and inspire entrepreneurs from across the
region.
The high profile entrepreneur will be speaking at the conference,
held at Manchester central, on Thursday 22 November 2007 at
11.30am to 12.30pm, alongside Peter Watson, Managing Director of
Business Link Northwest.
Peter comments:-
“Business Link Northwest is proud to support such a prestigious
regional event. It is an ideal opportunity for us to meet hundreds
of North West businesses, and to help them get the most out of our
impartial, free-to-use business support and information service. We
are excited to be collaborating with such a successful entrepreneur
as Doug Richard. In the same manner that Doug has breathed fire into
potential business enterprises, we believe his experience and
expertise can help to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs here
in the North West.”
This year, Business Link is the major supporter of Business North
West, taking the most prominent stand (number 101) at the region’s
biggest business-to-business exhibition on 21 November to 22 November
2007. As
thousands of decision makers, managers and directors descend on the
venue, known formerly as the GMEX, Business Link Northwest’s team
will be on hand to provide face-to-face information, support and
advice on a range of business issues and demonstrating how to get
the most from their content rich website.
From setting up a business to sales and marketing, employing people,
tax legislation, even buying or selling a company – Business Link
will be on hand with a whole host of information for businesses to
take advantage of. At Business North West, visitors will get
the chance to access information and support from over 170
exhibitors, as well as hear other key speakers including Nick Leeson
and Michelle Dewberry - winner of TV show ‘The Apprentice’. What’s
more an innovative speed networking area, sponsored by Business Link
Northwest, will allow business owners to network with like-minded
people and with up to 4000 visitors expected, this is an opportunity
not to be missed.
Peter continues:- “Doug Richard is the founder and Chairman of
Library House and has more than 18 years experience in the
development and leadership of technology and software ventures, both
in the UK and the US. With extensive skills as an entrepreneur,
technology visionary and creator of businesses, his keynote address
to over 500 delegates can’t help but strengthen our aim to help
businesses flourish and grow, and to ultimately contribute to the
competitiveness and success of the North West.”
Through its ongoing ‘Just Ask’ campaign, Business Link
Northwest is encouraging businesses not to go it alone, and to get
in touch when they need support and information. Whatever your
business question, you are invited to visit Business North West and
‘Just Ask’ for the help and advice you need. To register for
free tickets visit
www.bookmeaplace.org.uk
If you’re unable to get to Business North West, you can still access
Business Link Northwest by visiting this
link, by speaking
to Business Link Northwest brokers on 0845 00 66 888 or by
email. |
FATAL FRIDAY PHENOMENON
SHOULD road users think twice about
their commuting on a Friday?
Road users will be more at risk of an accident on a Friday than any
other day of the week, especially now that the clocks have gone
back. Known as ‘Fatal Friday Phenomenon’, statistics show
that more accidents happen on a Friday, and particularly between the
hours of 4pm and 6pm, than at any other time. The statistics also
show that the number of accidents jumps by up to a 5th in the winter
compared to the summer.
As National Commute Smart Week, which started on Sunday 27 October
2007,
when summer time ended, draws to a close, road users and pedestrians
are being warned to be extra careful by Work Wise UK, the
organisation behind the awareness campaign to promote alternatives
to the 9 to 5 daily grind, 5 days per week. Chief executive Phil Flaxton said:- “Now that the clocks have gone back, many
people will be travelling both to and from work in the dark. A
combination of the end of a long and tiring working week with the
rush to get the weekend started will result in some people being a
little more careless than usual. Road users need to take care today,
especially in the late afternoon.”
Analysis of the Government statistics - 'Road Casualties Great
Britain 2006' - reveals that there was a 12% increase in the
number of car users killed or seriously injured, from 1211 in
October to 1340 in November. The number of pedestrians killed during
the winter months showed a greater rise, being 20% higher than in
the summer: 339 were killed during BST, whereas 404 died during the
winter.
National Commute Smart Week has aimed to encourage the wider
adoption of smarter commuting, promoting more home working and more
flexible working. More people working from home more often will
reduce the overall requirement to travel, reducing traffic
congestion and public transport over crowding, whereas allowing more
flexible working will enable commuters to avoid peak times, easing
the strain when congestion and overcrowding are at their height.
Phil Flaxton continued:- “With less people travelling, and
peak times less busy, it must impact upon accident rates and reduce
the number of people killed or injured on our roads.”
According to RoSPA, by working from home, workers are at less risk
of an accident - 20 people are killed and 250 seriously injured
every week in crashes involving someone who was driving, riding or
otherwise using the road for work purposes.
Further details about Work Wise UK can be found on the website (www.workwiseuk.org).
City Joins Euro Road
Safety Drive
A MOVE to cut the numbers of
people killed on roads throughout Europe has been endorsed by
Liverpool City Council. The authority has signed the European
Road Safety Charter which was proposed by the European Commission in
2001 with the aim of saving 25,000 lives a year across the European
Community by 2010.
Councillor Barbara Mace, Assistant Executive Member for
Regeneration, who signed the Charter on behalf of the City Council
in a ceremony at Brussels, said:- “I am delighted to sign the
European Road Safety Charter for Liverpool. We have made great
progress in recent years in reducing the numbers of people killed or
seriously injured on our roads, but we have a great deal of work
still to do. In particular, we need to do more to reduce the numbers
of teenagers and young adults tragically and needlessly killed or
seriously injured on our roads.”
Signing the charter highlights the council’s on-going commitment to
reduce road fatalities and serious injuries. In 2006 there was a
31.7% reduction in the number compared with the period 1994-1998 and
a 51% reduction in the number of children killed or seriously
injured
Councillor Mike Storey, Executive Member for Regeneration added:-
“We are preparing an updated action plan for the next 3 years, to
make sure we further reduce the numbers killed and injured on our
roads. A key part of this will be to continue working closely
with our colleagues in the Merseyside Road Safety Partnership,
especially the Police who play a key role by carrying out a range of
activity to promote safer driving. We are preparing a package of
improvements to key routes around the City which will be
complemented by education, training and marketing campaigns.” |
