Enterprising Kids Do Business

CHILDEN as young as 5 are to be taught business skills in Liverpool.  60 primary schoolchildren, from 12 schools throughout the city, will be joining Cllr Gary Millar, Executive Member for Enterprise and Tourism at Liverpool City Council, on Wednesday 6 May to launch of the “Enterprising kids? Let’s do business” Toolkit.

The children will spend the morning visiting Liverpool and Everton Football Clubs , John Lennon Airport, Merseytravel and Liverpool One to research jobs done at these venues on a “normal working day” and compare how staff and business are affected on days when football supporters arrive in the city on match days.  In the afternoon they children will meet on a Mersey Ferry to compare their morning experiences and research findings. They will then attend the formal launch of the Toolkit at Liverpool Town Hall.

This event – part of European SME week - is an introduction to the “Enterprising kids? Let’s do business” project which is being developed to get Liverpool children aged 5 to 8 actively involved in putting something back into their community through volunteering, being entrepreneurial and charitable giving.

Cllr Millar, who has developed this initiative with Cllr Andrew Tremarco, assistant executive member ,said:- ”This toolkit is to encourage the children to “think business” and put something back into their community by developing innovative, simple business-led projects. Using the toolkit they will develop ideas and relationships - working with other schools, businesses, community groups, friends and families.

It will give step by step guidance and examples to help give children the skills to run a mini business, run a charity fundraising event, market a product and become entrepreneurial.

Andrew and I passionately believe that if we can inspire and encourage this age group to think business in a social enterprise way we can instil an instinctive understanding of putting something back, having fun, working together and making some money.

The council’s children’s services are helping us develop this innovative toolkit. It is intended that it will be used in schools, community centres, churches and young person groups. The toolkit will be introduced first as a basic tool and then added to as schools become more involved.”

Pothole "every 120 yards" report prompts road safety warnings

ACCORDING to a report, we have seen a growth of a 3rd in the number of potholes as a result of a back-log and under funding. Delayed buses, damaged cars or worst still, upended 2 wheelers are the unintended consequences, warned the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists).  Visual defects such as cracking and deterioration will be addressed by a succession of "patch and mend" road works which will do little for congestion or road safety.

IAM Chief Examiner Peter Rodger said that there are things that individual drivers and riders can do to anticipate pot holes, and what should happen afterwards.  "Be particularly conscious of cyclists and motorcyclists trying to get past one and give them a suitably wide berth. They are entitled to a wobble and would appreciate not having a motorist attempting to overtake just as they avoid a hole in the road. If you do hit a pothole accidentally, make a point of checking not just the outer tyre wall but the inner tyre wall, which may have been damaged as a result.  With a bank holiday weekend just upon us there will be more people out enjoying the open air - and coming across potholes on roads they don't know. Expect them to react late and to change direction sharply and be ready - give everyone room while we all cope with poor road conditions. Leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front so that you can see the road surface before you drive or ride on it."  said Mr Rodger.

The IAM recommends that, spotting a pothole ahead, you should use your knowledge of the damaged road surface to position yourself in such a way that you can avoid it.

"But check behind and ahead; don't drive too close to an oncoming vehicle to avoid a pothole. Or suddenly pull out to avoid a hole, to discover that there is a motorcyclist trying to get past you when you do so.  Bikers and cyclists need to look well ahead and change direction early, so they have time to deal with the holes, and their movements don't cause surprise."  said Mr Rodger.

Wet weather makes potholes even more dangerous, concealing them under normal surface water. If you know that a local road has a pothole developing, even if it is not visible, try to use the a line that avoids it - if it is safe to do so. Finally, always make a point of reporting a pothole to the local authority as an early repair could prevent a future accident.

Let us know if you agree with the IAM.  Email us now to news24@southportreporter.com with your views on this item.