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All aboard for new venture
A
new Liverpool business is ‘launching’ a city first for
events. The Floating Grace is a 70ft long, 13.5ft wide canal boat,
that is to set sail on her maiden voyage on Thursday, 24 November
2011 and is a new venue for conferences, meetings, outings and
parties. The barge, which can hold up to 50 passengers, will play
host to a networking event for business women, giving them the
opportunity to link up businesses and discuss issues facing their
organisation. It will set off from Mann Island Basin and passengers
will enjoy a leisurely 3 hour journey through the new Liverpool
Canal Link past the Three Graces and taking in the other historic
city sites on the way. In order to establish the Floating Grace, the
Vauxhall Neighbourhood Council (VNC), one of the city’s leading
social enterprises, received a £20,000 grant from Stepclever which
helps start up businesses and existing organisations in North
Liverpool and South Sefton grow and develop. The VNC used the money
to equip the vessel to provide a high quality sound system, install
broadband and ensure the Canal Boat has disabled access. The support
also helped towards start up costs.
Nigel Mellor Project Manager for the Restaurant Canal Boat
initiative said:- "It has taken three years of really hard
work to get to this launch stage. We are very grateful for all the
help we have had along the way- particularly from Stepclever; since
this has meant we can offer excellent facilities to meet customers’
different requirements. And, we’re delighted to welcome the Women’s
Organisation on board for our maiden voyage!"
Not only are these voyages a first for events in the city, but the
canal boat itself isn’t a traditional boat as it is driven from the
front and inside the cabin; rather than being controlled from the
back, on the outside.
Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for employment, enterprise
and skills, Councillor Nick Small, said:- "The Floating Grace
is really filling a gap in the market, but not only is it providing
a unique venue for events, but it also gives passengers the
opportunity to enjoy the city’s fantastic architecture from an
entirely new perspective. One of Stepclever’s goals is to help
entrepreneurs achieve their business dream and give them as much
help and advice to make their business viable in these current,
difficult economic times. The Stepclever team work hard with local
businesses to make sure they grow and flourish and I hope that the
Floating Grace is a successful venture and people take the
opportunity to make the most of this venue with a difference."
For more information, visit:-
thefloatinggrace.com.
HMRC launches new offshore unit
A
new specialist unit targeting offshore tax cheats has been launched
by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). The Offshore Co-
Ordination Unit (OCU) brings together a team of highly-skilled
offshore analysts, technical tax experts and experienced
investigators, who will oversee and co-ordinate HMRC’s compliance
work to identify and pursue those who hide income and capital in
offshore accounts to avoid UK tax and duties. The unit will look to
fully exploit the increasing amount of offshore information at
HMRC’s disposal, including bank account data. They will then use
this intelligence to develop innovative new ways of tackling
offshore tax evasion. The OCU will continue to build on the success
of HMRC’s Liechtenstein Disclosure Facility (LDF) and co-ordinate
the recently announced activity in relation to HSBC Geneva account
holders. It will also implement the operational aspects of the
recently signed tax agreement between Switzerland and the UK, which
is expected to raise billions of pounds for the UK. Exchequer
Secretary to the Treasury, David Gauke, said:- "The days when
untaxed income or capital could be safely salted away offshore,
beyond the reaches of the taxman, are long gone. The launch of this
specialist unit, together with the other valuable work the
department is driving forward in an effort to tackle offshore
evasion, underlines the fact that offshore tax cheats are fast
running out of places to hide."
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A century of lending celebrated
ONE
of Liverpool’s oldest libraries on Wednesday, 23 November 2011, has
celebrated a very special birthday. Walton library opened on
23 November 1911 and will mark its 100th birthday on Wednesday with
members of staff dressing up in costumes from the period, a talk on
the Transport Strike in 1911, a musical performance by youngsters
from Northcote Primary School and a poetry reading session by local
writer Paul Birtill. The library was originally opened by Richard
Caton who was Deputy Chair of Liverpool’s Library, Museum and Arts
Committee and the building was paid for by funds from philanthropist
Andrew Carnegie at a cost of around £8,000. On Wednesday an
exhibition of photographs was held showing Walton through the ages
as well as documentation dating back to when the library opened. One
of these records shows the ‘Classification of Borrowers’,
which details the occupation of each of the members of the library
in 1911. The most popular borrowers were ‘females of no
occupation’ (1,404 were recorded) closely followed by
‘juveniles’ (614 of them) and bookkeepers/clerks (482).
Those professions who used Walton Library least were boot and shoe
makers, ironmongers, coachbuilders and landlords of public houses.
Members of Walton’s local history group where also be on hand to
talk to visitors about the area’s past.
Just
before the event Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for culture
and leisure, Councillor Wendy Simon, said:- "Walton Library
has been a popular part of the community for the past century. Local
people have very fond memories of the library and I’m delighted
there are so many activities taking place throughout the day to
celebrate this special anniversary. I encourage as many people as
possible to come along during the day, learn more about the history
of the area, take part in the activities and join staff in marking
this birthday."
Liverpool’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Frank Prendergast, will
officially open the celebration day and will present a gift to a
couple who are regular library users. He will also hand out a
picture book to the library’s youngest lenders. As well as
being the community library, the location is also home to a One Stop
Shop and the Liverpool Community College Drop-in Study Centre. The
Walton One Stop Shop is operated by Liverpool Direct Limited which
this year celebrates its tenth anniversary. The shop provides a full
range of services to residents and has become a valuable asset to
the community since it opened in 2007.
Get Safe Online
TRADING Standards officers in Sefton are supporting an online
tool which gives consumers and small businesses advice on internet
safety. The 'Rough Guide to Online Safety' is a handbook outlining
the main security issues and recommended protective measures
internet users can make. It is available through the Get Safe
Online website and has been published in partnership with the
Association of Chief Trading Standards Officers and the Association
of Chief Police Officers. It is estimated that 40% of computer
users have experienced virus attacks and more than a thousand new
computer viruses emerge every month, according to Get Safe Online.
To help combat this, the Guide provides a snapshot on digital
security and smart surfing for every scenario, from social networks
to small business security to mobile phone usage. It is free
and supported by Sefton Council Trading Standards, especially in the
run up to Christmas where last year some residents were caught out
after purchasing cheap counterfeit goods like Ugg boots and GHD hair
straighteners.
Sefton Council Trading Standards manager, Andrew Naisbitt, said:-
"The Rough Guide to Online Safety" is an incredibly
useful resource and I urge people to download it before they start
their online Christmas shopping. "It provides an updated, easy
to reference resource for users that will help them navigate online
security challenges effectively and is completely free. The Guide
also includes focus areas on social networking and online shopping,
online schemes and scams, mobile issues, security resources,
physical security, and what to do when security fails."
Tony Neate, managing director of GetSafeOnline.org added:-
"Typically, online criminals are in search of financial details or
personal information, and usually they access this information
unbeknownst to the user. However, just because there are security
concerns when you go online doesn't mean you need to shut off and
limit your computer usage: there are a few key ways; like installing
security software and creating complex passwords - that can keep you
protected online." To view the guide visit:-
getsafeonline.org. |
