MERSEYSIDE’S BUSINESSES OFFERED FREE ADVICE & SUPPORT

THEY say ‘time is money’ so an event to help companies in Merseyside through the tough times ahead has been designed with busy business people in mind.

The Survive and Thrive event launched by Business Link Northwest and the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, gives business owners the chance to tailor their experience to suit their particular needs.  The Merseyside event takes place on 11 June 2009, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Liverpool, from 8.30am to 5pm.

Supported by the North West Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), the flexible events are designed to cater for local business people’s needs, allowing them to fit the support they wish to receive around the demands of running a business. 

A team of business experts from the Directors’ Centre, UKTI, NatWest, the Chartered Management Institute and Business Link Northwest’s Access to Finance service will be on hand conducting informal presentations.  Delegates can then choose and attend the afternoon workshops that are most relevant to them, enabling them to shape their own event experience to reflect the issues and topics that are of most interest to them. They simply need to confirm which sessions they would like to attend when they book their place.

Speakers include Jim McLaughlin, from The Directors’ Centre, one of the UK’s leading speakers on entrepreneurship, who will provide top tips on how to make it through the current economic climate. 

The 90 minute workshops will cover topics including:-

· Tips on beating the credit crunch with Jim McLaughlin from The Directors’ Centre

· Funding and support for training by Frank Walsh and Jane Hayes, skills brokers at Business Link

· A focus on profit and cash flow by Alan Hyams from ICAEW

· Export opportunities from Mike Eccleshall, deputy director, at UKTI NW

· Marketing insights by David de Maestri, from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, which counts as part of the CIM accreditation

· Business opportunities in Europe from the Enterprise Europe Network

Peter Watson, managing director of Business Link Northwest explains:- “These Survive and Thrive events are a collective response to the current needs of the business community. Business Link Northwest has assembled some of the most experienced entrepreneurs and business professionals to provide guidance and practical help to all kinds of businesses in their locality.  Recognising that individuals are busy running their companies, the events can be tailored to a business’ particular needs, delivering help in the areas most needed in the timeliest manner.  We are particularly proud to have the involvement of The Directors’ Centre. The expertise and insights from individuals who have experienced similar issues and built very successful enterprises will be invaluable.”

For more information or to book your place log onto the Business Link website, or via email.

You cal also call Business Link on:- 01772 790 154.

Green art cornered in Liverpool

SCARECROWS will be coming to life in North Liverpool as part of a unique arts project.  Young people in Alt Valley are creating a flock of life-size scarecrows out of recycled materials including old clothes, furniture, paper and even a superlambanana.  During half term, the group of 7 to 14 year olds will work on their creations which are symbols of what the youngsters want to ward off, and attract, to their community. The Bluecoat is working with the youngsters to create their scarecrow masterpieces. Annie MacLean, Arts Outreach Manager (Alt Valley):- “Four Corners is a fantastic project which has the potential to leave a real legacy for arts organisations working with local management areas.  I manage ART Valley which is a direct result of the Four Corners project uniting two arts organisations, the Bluecoat and Liverpool Everyman Playhouse Theatres, and working together with the Alt Valley management team.  The Scarecrow project has created a buzz within the area. Groups of young people have thought carefully about what they want to say through the Scarecrows, whether that is a message of healthy eating or bringing pride to their area.  I can’t wait for the Scarecrow trail that we will host across Alt Valley on the 22 August 2009, inviting people to come and find all the Scarecrows.”

All of Liverpool’s neighbourhoods are getting creative once again as part of the innovative Four Corners programme, which is one of the main legacy projects from the city’s Capital of Culture status. Now in its 4th year, Four Corners links residents, cultural organisations, artists and the city council’s neighbourhood services team to explore the question “what does the environment mean to you and your neighbourhood?”  Using art, drama, poetry, planting and podcasts, hundreds of people in communities across the city will answer the environmental question in their own special way.  Other projects include:-

South Liverpool - Residents have been working with South Liverpool Neighbourhood Management Service on the Adopt a Plot project. This encourages them to take responsibility for an area of unloved and neglected land in their community and transform it with plants, shrubs and some TLC. Podcasts and blogging are being used to document their progress.

South Central - Working with Arts in Regeneration (AiR) and the Eden Project, people from Toxteth are holding ‘The Big, Big L8 Lunch’ – a huge tea-party where everyone in the neighbourhood is invited. The key message of the day is sustainability and residents are preparing for the Princes Boulevard event by growing food and flowers or creating street music, art and theatre all of which will be showcased throughout the event.

Liverpool East - Stanley Park is the focus for this area and groups of people have been working with the International Centre for Digital Content (ICDC) talking about their experiences of, and aspirations for, the Grade II listed park. As part of the initiative they are being trained how to produce short films, animations and audio tracks to bring their stories to life.

Liverpool city council’s executive member for the environment, Councillor Berni Turner, said:- “For the past four years Four Corners has been an outstanding success and I’m delighted that in the Year of the Environment, residents are being encouraged to think about what the environment means to them and where they live.  There has been some fantastic work already done by the people of the city, coupled with local artists, and the support of the Neighbourhood Managers has been superb."  This year cultural organisations involved with working with the communities are ICDC, The Bluecoat, Encounters, AiR, and Everyman & Playhouse.  Executive member for safer, stronger communities, Councillor Marilyn Fielding, said:- “This is a truly pioneering project which has raised people’s aspirations and increased their confidence and skills. We are bringing Liverpool's leading arts organisations directly into the community in a unique partnership.   It is helping young people engage with older people and letting the whole community document their memories of the past and aspirations for the future."  The projects will culminate in a special exhibition at The Bluecoat from the 23 July to 29 July 2009, where the projects will be displayed or performed throughout the venue.