★★★★

BUSINESS SurviveStart

ThriveECH

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Floristswhoareaimingtoblossom

Bosswiththekeystosuccess

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SMALLFIRMSPASSONTHEIRVATRISEMORE than half small business ownersacross Merseyside and the north westhave passed on the January VATincrease to their customers.

Only two other regions – East Anglia(61.2%) and the south east of England(60.4%) – were higher than the northwest’s 55.3% of small firms passing onthe extra tax burden.

In Northern Ireland, 70% of smallbusiness owners were prepared toabsorb the VAT rise themselves, ratherthan pass it on, according to the latestBusiness Barometer released by CloseInvoice Finance.

The survey also found that, despitepredictions of doom and gloomsurrounding the VAT rise, it seemsmany firms are taking it in their stride,with 42.6% of north west companiessaying it has had no impact, while51.1% admitted to the hike resulting in“a small impact.”

Referring to businesses passing on

the increase, Close Invoice Financeregional head, Ian Stewart, said: “Itremains to be seen whether this willdiscourage consumer spending,meaning a decrease in sales.

“So, although there’s reason to feeloptimism at the moment, small firmsneed to keep a close eye on their orderbooks and should perhaps be looking attheir cash flow to find a way to absorbsome of the increase themselves.”

He added: “It’s heartening todiscover that the majority of businessespolled aren’t experiencing any majoradverse effects of the recent VAT hike,particularly given the fact that thefindings of our survey in 2010 showedthat 46% of SMEs (small tomedium-sized enterprises) in the north

west were expecting to find it difficultto cope.

“It seems, for many, those fearshaven’t materialised.”

He said that one in 10 SMEs in the UKpreviously stated that they believed theincrease would put them out of businessin early 2011, compared with one in 100now.

“It’s reassuring to learn that thesebusinesses, who are undoubtedly vitalto our economic recovery, have beenable to deal with the change.”

The Close Invoice Finance BusinessBarometer is a quarterly survey ofmore than 500 companies from acrossthe UK, designed to gauge SMEowner/manager sentiment on a rangeof issues affecting their business.

NorthWest inUKtop three regionsfor pricehikes

MilibandbackingforpupilsLABOUR leader EdMiliband acknowledgedthe enterprise skills oftwo Liverpool pupils atthe recent Federation ofSmall Businesses (FSB)conference in the city.

Last year the FSBcommissioned twoArchbishop Blanch HighSchool pupils, HannahRamsay and KatieJohnson through theirYoung Enterprisecompany ElephantEnterprises, to makeLiver Bird key rings topromote the city at its2010 Aberdeenconference – BusinessSecretary LordMandelson being amongthe recipients.

The FSB arranged forthe girls to meet MrMiliband after his speechto the small firms’ lobbygroup members at theevent at the BTConvention Centre. TALKING BUSINESS: Archbishop Blanch pupils Hannah Ramsay and Katie Johnson meet Labour leader Ed Miliband

● LIVERPOOLChamber of

Commerce is hosting thenext presentation of theSixty Really UsefulMinutes programme thisFriday, this week lookingat how to protect yourbusiness. The freemorning event, startingfrom 9am, will featuretips from Smith Law andShepherd IFA. Thefollowing Friday, April 8,looks at The NakedTruth of Marketing 2011,with Quay Marketingfreelance marketingmanager and strategistElizabeth Wheeler. Thisevent includes a £5 feefor non-members. Bookonline at Liverpoolchamber.org.uk

● AFTER a successfulEmployment Law

course held in February,Wirral H&S Centre, inSt Anne Street,Birkenhead, is holding asecond free employmentlaw course comprisingfive one day Fridaysessions from 10am-2pmstarting on Friday, June17, covering basicemployment rights,dismissal andredundancy, contracts,discrimination andtribunals. To register ring0151-666 1999 or emailmerseyadvice@btconnect.com

● THE shortlist forthis year’s North

West RegionalConstruction Awards hasbeen released. Featuredamong 10 categories areLiverpool John MooresUniversity; Builderscrap,the Bromboroughrecycling firm,Liverpool’s NoblesConstruction, BramallConstruction in Speke,Kier Northern and FaithPrimary School inEverton in the Project ofthe Year Award category.The final takes place onMay 26, in Chester.

● APPLIED IntelligentMarketing,

previously known as AIMSolutions, theChester-based loyaltyand customer acquisitionagency, has opened anoffice in Dublin’s ClontarfRoad as part of its bid tooffer in business-to-customerretention andacquisition to the marketin Ireland.

byNEIL HODGSONIndustry Reporter

NEWS Wednesday, March 30, 20112 ★★★★

Helenfindsroomforimpulse inhurlyburlyofbusiness

BUSINESSSMALL

of the Week

Neil Hodgson talks toproperty lettings agencychief Helen Griffin-Booth

HIGH COSTOF FAILINGTO MONITORCONTRACTSSMALL firms acrossMerseyside and thenorth west are over-paying for their energyby up to £500m a year,according to new datafrom Liverpool-basedanalysts SaturnEnergy.

The report comesas the crisis in Libyaand the Middle Eastthreatens to send UKpower bills soaringeven higher.

Saturn Energy, inthe city’s CornExchange, providesanalysis and advice onthe energy markets tomore than 450businesses in theregion.

It said that 70% ofthe region’s small andmedium-sizedenterprises (SMEs) areover-paying becausethey don’t keep trackof basic informationsuch as their contractrenewal date or evenwho their supplier is.

Managing directorJohn McShane said inmany cases this meantcontracts rolling overfrom a discountedrate onto standardrates of up to 35%higher or even ‘out ofcontract’ rates, whichcan be up to 200%higher.

He explained: “Thefigure of £500m isbased on a 35%increase in charges ona moderate annualenergy bill of £2,000,across 70% of SMEs,but this is aconservative estimateand the true figurecould potentially beeven higher.”

He said the ultimatecost to businessescould mean job lossesor even closure.

LANDLORD INSAVINGS SHARELIVERPOOL-basedhousing group PlusDane is sharing£600,000 from arecent review toachieve savings.

In agreement withthe group’s TenantsTogether Forum andtrades unions, the cashis being split equallythree ways.

One third has goneto staff, one to theMerseyside andCheshire housingassociation’s reserves,and a third to fundmore neighbourhoodinvestment activitythis year.

BUSINESS

FATE plays a big part in shapingthe life of Helen Griffin-Booth,and the lettings firm bossadmits she is happy with thehand it has dealt her.

“My life seems to be not muchplanned but everything falls intoplace,” she said.

Fourteen years after leaving schoolat 18 she has seen highs and lowsaround the world before settling backon Merseyside and establishing herown firm Bluerow Lettings which hasseen turnover soar by 40% since itslaunch nearly three years ago.

Her “self-made” parents encouragedHelen and her three sisters to forgetheir own way. All now have their ownbusinesses.

“The way we were brought up was ifyou want something you go out andget it. It doesn’t come on a plate,” shesaid. Helen admits her early life wasvery much guided by impulse.

After reading an advert in the BigIssue for volunteers to work abroadshe phoned immediately.

“They wanted people to go toVietnam, but said there were problemsthere and asked, ‘can you go to La Pazthis week’?”

Within days she had swapped herBlundellsands family home for anorphanage in Bolivia.

“I tend to be like that. If I thinkabout something I will never do it.”

Helen spent just over a year workingin the orphanage and teaching Englishat night. She was home for just fourmonths before wanderlust struckagain. She wanted to study economicsand politics at Salamanca University,Spain’s ‘Oxbridge’.

But she felt she had to get herSpanish up to scratch so first went tocollege in Malaga.

The day she was due to fly homefrom Malaga, Salamanca phoned tosay she had been accepted, so shecancelled her flight and headed tonorthern Spain for a year.

Two days after her return toLiverpool she decided it was time tobuild a career and told her parentsthat the next day she would visit theJobcentre to find work.

“What are you going to do?” theyasked. Helen said: “I told them Iwanted to go into property and theysat back and clapped.

“I asked why, and they said, ‘if wehad told you to do that two years agoyou would have told us where to go’.”

The job that took Helen’s eye thenext day was as a viewer for an estateagent’s in Leigh, near Wigan.

An interview was arranged for thefollowing day, so she called Crosbyestate agent Berkeley Shaw for advice.

“They offered me a job. We shook on

it but I still went to Leigh the next day.“They said I wasn’t what they were

expecting. They were expectingsomeone elderly, but they said theywere looking for someone to set up anoperation in Portugal, was Iinterested?”

Tempting as the offer was, Helenhonoured her handshake withBerkeley Shaw and stayed with themfor three years before beingheadhunted by city residentialspecialist Dears Brack.

“Berkeley Shaw offered me apartnership. I loved working for them,but I just wanted to try the city while Iwas young,” she said.

She added to her experience in thetwo years she spent at Dears Brackbefore Liverpool property consultantsKeppie Massie came knocking.

After another three years she felt itwas time to strike out on her own andset up Bluerow in Royal Quayapartments next to the Albert Dockwith two staff who followed her from

Keppie Massie.After a year they moved to Duke

Street where they now manage aportfolio of more than 400 residentialproperties around the city, and inCrosby and Formby.

“My aim was 20% growth each yearand we have been hitting that target.In a recession that’s not bad, but beinghonest, the industry we’re in, it willstill do well in a recession,” she said

“People can’t afford to buy but theystill need to live somewhere.”

Properties under managementrange from one bed flats to five bedproperties in the Georgian quarter.”

Property owners vary fromdevelopers to couples and individualsin the buy-to-let market who have builtup their own portfolio of properties:“Our average client is over 40 andprofessional who have an averageportfolio of 10 to 20 properties. It istheir pension.”

NeutralBudgetwillhave little impactonsmall firmsA SNAP poll of more than 800members of the Federation ofSmall Businesses (FSB) hasshown that Chancellor GeorgeOsborne’s Budget last weekwill have no real impact onthe day-to-day running oftheir companies.

The national poll,conducted the day after MrOsborne’s second Budget,

asked members what impactthe Budget would have ontheir firm, with 45% saying itwould have no impact at all,while 31% thought it wouldhave a positive impact.

Furthermore, 42% said theywould be no worse off – butcrucially no better off – as aresult of the actions taken bythe Chancellor. And, of the

third of members that thinkthey will be better off 54%claim they will get a £1 to£1,000 boost to cash-flow in thenext year.

John Allan, regionalchairman of the smallbusiness lobby group, said:“The Budget was pro-businessand we are pleased that thegovernment has listened to

some of our concerns and hasextended small business raterelief and scrapped theplanned 1p rise in fuel duty.

“But, as the results from thepoll show, while the Budgethas not hurt small businesses,it won’t help them to groweither.”

Mr Allan added: “While wewelcome the introduction of

Enterprise Zones across partsof the UK, the missing link inthe Budget was measures tohelp all UK businesses to takeon staff and grow theirbusiness.

“This could have been doneeasily through extending theNational InsuranceContributions holiday tomicro-businesses.”

Wednesday, March 30, 2011 NEWS 3★★★★

DEAL CLOSEON MERGEROF HOUSINGGROUPSLIVERPOOL housinggroup Vicinity is tomerge with Salfordcounterpart Contourto form the biggestoperation of its kind inthe north west.

A deal to create thenew SymphonyHousing Group, a£140m turnovercompany, is expectedto be concluded thisFriday.

Phil Gandy, formerVicinity chiefexecutive, will take upthe reins of the neworganisation.

He said: “Symphonywill focus on theprovision of highquality, affordablehousing and thedelivery of excellentservices to tenants.

“The demands uponsocial landlords areincreasing and ourroles extending. Thiscreates new challengesand opportunities thatthe Symphony Groupwill be well positionedto grasp.”

Chris Jeffries, pastchair of ContourHousing Group andnow chair ofSymphony, added:“Throughout theprocess ofamalgamation thecompatibilitiesbetween the twoorganisations havestrengthened and ithas been made moreapparent that byuniting as SymphonyHousing Group we willbe in an even strongerposition for the futureto do more for morepeople.”

Bill Tubey, past chairof Vicinity and currentdeputy chair forSymphony said: “Asthe housing sectorfaces new and as yetnot fully determinedchallenges, thestability that has beencreated through theunion of our twoorganisations willstand us in good steadfor the future.”

Symphony will ownand manage morethan 40,000 homes.

All local offices andservices remainunchanged after thisFriday’s plannedamalgamation.

KEY STRATEGY: Helen Griffin-Booth travelled the world beforesetting up Bluerow Lettings Picture: GAVIN TRAFFORD

HARD AT WORK: Helen says her parents’ attitude spurred her on to success Picture: GAVIN TRAFFORD

However, Helen hasnoticed the emergence of anew type of propertyowner: “We have hadyoung people wanting tobuy a property, with theirparents’ help, but it mightnot be where they want to live,so they rent them out and stilllive at home.”

Average tenants range fromprofessional couples, or friends, intheir mid- to late-20s, as well as asprinkling of actors, footballers andTV producers. She added: “We are alsoseeing an influx of older people whohave been home owners but havedownsized after the kids have gone touniversity.”

Helen and all her staff have theirown property portfolios, which shesaid helps their decision processes.

With its third anniversaryapproaching Bluerow is set to expandthrough diversification in the next sixmonths, consolidating its spot in thetop three city lettings agencies. Helenadmitted: “We see ourselves as thesilent assassins. We don’t say much,but we do a lot of business.”

Do you wantto be our Business

of the Week?Contact Neil

Hodgson 0151 4722451 or emailneil.hodgson

@liverpool.com

NEWS Wednesday, March 30, 20114 ★★★★

BUSINESS

FAITH is a fantastic qualitythat can inspire the soul andprovide the inner confidenceto stand up for your beliefs,even in the face of popular

opinion.And it has provided the moral

compass for Mark Mitchell on hisway to creating a £35m motordealership employing 104 staff atCheshire Oaks.

Mark, 48, refers to them as his“team” and his Christian faith wasat the heart of a decision torelinquish a Mitsubishi dealershipin 2004 when the manufacturerinsisted they opened on a Sunday.

The site’s opening hours plaquedetails all their hours of business,but states: “Sunday: At home withthe family.”

He explained: “I want my team toachieve success at home as well asat work.

“We have probably lost business,and I know we are swimmingagainst the tide, but I believe peoplelike to deal with organisations thathave got very clear boundaries.

“There’s a lot of greyness inbusiness and for me things can beblack and white and, if anything,our customers appreciate the factthat we take care of our staff first,even before them.”

He added: “My Christian faithhas helped with running thebusiness.

“A book written about 2,000 yearsago talks about knowing the secretof being content. I don’t want torule the world, I am quite happywhere we are now.”

Where he is now is managingdirector of The Mitchell Groupwhich includes Lexus, Skoda andMazda dealerships and a fourth“previously enjoyed” cardealership, Mitchell Select.

The latest accounts to December31 show turnover of £35.7mcompared with £34.4m and a pre-taxprofit of £1.42m against £1.45m.

In keeping with his beliefs, everyyear Mark donates 10% of profits tocharity, particularly young causesand poverty relief.

Last year the dealership sold2,430 cars, much the same as 2009,but the first quarter this year isalready showing improvement, hesaid.

Hopefully that continues, becausehe revealed a treat in store for theserious “petrolheads” among his14,200 customers early this autumnwith the delivery of the Lexus LFAsupercar which retails for £350,000and is one of only four, out of aglobal total of 500, built as a righthand drive for the UK market.

It embodies an industry he knewhe wanted to be part of as soon ashe began a graduate traineeshipwith Austin Rover in the Midlandsas a 21-year-old after leaving Leeds

University with an economicsdegree.

The former Birkenhead Schoolpupil always had a bent for sales.

He revealed that, just as theglobal Disney Corporation startedwith a mouse, his business empirestarted with a hamster.

“When I was eight, before Irealised the facts of life, I put twohamsters together, turned the lightsdown low, put some Barry White onand 16 days later there were 10running around in the cage.

“I am no animal lover, butrealised I could take them to schoolin my pockets and sell them.”

He jokes that he had theschoolyard monopoly in hamsters:“I must have sold about 40, all goodquality.”

A year or two later he moved intopushbikes on his next step tobusiness success.

After leaving Austin Rover hebecame Greater Manchester salesmanager for Ford before joiningmotor dealer Inchcape to run a

Jaguar franchise in the Cotswoldsand then becoming operationsdirector over 10 dealerships forYorkshire-based Dixon MotorGroup.

But he always yearned to returnto Merseyside and in 1990 set up apetrol stations business on theWirral with his new bride, Anita,with £100 of share capital and a£10,000 overdraft from Barclays onWater Street.

Within three years MitchellNorth West had grown to fourfilling stations.

But in 1996 Mark was back on theforecourt with a Mitsubishidealership in Eastham.

Luxury marque Lexus was addedin 1999, followed by Skoda in 2001,when the business relocated to itscurrent site at junction 10 on theM53.

A natural salesman Mark ishappy to acknowledge suchqualities in others. He confided: “Ibought the land in a pub from aman called Don Evans who was ahard negotiator.

“As we agreed on the final figurehe asked if he could shake my hand.He wouldn’t let go. He said, ‘youhave got a deal, but you’ll throw aLexus in for the missus, won’tyou?’”

Back in 2001 a Skoda franchisenext to a Lexus dealership mayhave raised the odd eyebrow or two,but Mark said: “I saw a very clearand distinctive future for Skoda andthe opportunity to be included intransforming a brand onMerseyside was a great opportunity.

“We all know the jokes aboutSkoda, but who would have thoughtthey would have won the Which?

MotormanMarkaddscolourandpassionontheroadtosuccess

INTERVIEWBIGNeil Hodgsontalks to MarkMitchell, founder ofthe Mitchell Groupcar dealership

‘Mybigphrasetoallofthestaff is–retail isdetail’

DRIVEN: Mark Mitchell says his Christian faith is integral to his business and personal life

Wednesday, March 30, 2011 NEWS 5★★★★

Car Manufacturer award last year?”Since opening, his Skoda

dealership has been among the bestin the worldwide Skoda family.

Recently it was crowned top UKretailer, named best in the UK formarketing and PR, and serviceadvisor Dave Woodcock was namedbest in the UK, securing a place inthe upcoming global final againsthis international counterparts.

Excelling in service is at theheart of the Mitchell Group. ItsLexus dealership is a UK star andcustomer care awards have followedevery year since Mark opened hisMazda dealership in 2004, replacingthe Mitsubishi franchise.

Mark said: “My big phrase to allthe staff is ‘retail is detail’.”

And the detail at the MitchellGroup is precise. All 104 staff, somewith 15 years’ service, were

recruited by Mark: “There’s no HRmanager, it’s me.”

He even interviews the parents ofprospective apprentices for theirstate-of-the-art workshop: “The guysin the workshop earn the same asthe sales staff. They are alloutstanding technicians, not kidswho have failed their O levels.”

The public face of the business isequally as impressive. The Lexusreception boasts £150-each Italiantiles, an £8,000 TV and a £15,000reception desk: “You have to havethat to have a Lexus dealership. It isnot flash or ostentatious. We justreally appreciate people’s businessand want to do our best for them.”

The service includes the personaltouch, including a bouquet offlowers with each new car – theflorist bill last year was £50,000 –and even leaving new cars outside

Picture: ANDREW TEEBAY

GOOD SIGN: Mark believes in a work-lifebalance Picture: ANDREW TEEBAY

REFLECTIVE: Mark likes to look after bothstaff and customers Picture: ANDREW TEEBAY

ARQ OPENSINTELLIGENTBUILDINGBURSCOUGH-basedARQ Technologies ismarking the launch ofits “fully intelligentbuildingdemonstrationcentre” with a seriesof open days.

The facility will openits doors from April26-28 to explain newsystems that complywith the worldwidestandard KNXintelligent buildingtechnology.

KNX, comparedwith traditionalelectrical systems, isan intelligent buildingcontrol system forlighting, heating/ventilation, blinds,alarms and energymanagement througha single, moreeconomic and energyefficient, system.

ARQ’s new centre iscontrolled by KNXtechnology and thecompany says it is theonly showroom of itskind in the UK.

Its open days areaimed at architects,maintenance andelectrical engineers,contractors, potentialusers, from homeowners to buildingmanagers, as well asfacilities managers.

ARQ managingdirector GrahamDorward said: “Ouraim is to reduceenergy consumptionand CO2 emissions.”

To attend email info@arqtechnologies.co.uk or call 01704892641.

SANTANDER INAWARDS JOYSANTANDER wasnamed Business Bankof the Year at thelatest annual BusinessMoneyfacts Awards.

The bank, which hasits commercialheadquarters inBootle, said itsupports its strategyto become the ‘SMEbank of choice’ andwas among fourawards it picked up.

It was the thirdconsecutive yearSantander has wonthe award for‘Business Bank of theYear’.

Santander alsoclinched the BestBusiness CurrentAccount Provider forthe ninth time, BestNo Notice BusinessDeposit AccountProvider and BestService from aCommercial MortgageProvider categories.

restaurants or on the top ofmountains as a surprise for newowners.

The other ‘little things’ that makethe business unique are an annualdrive and lunch for Mazdacustomers; a servicing waiting areaon a par with a BA executive lounge– last year the company spent£30,000 on refreshments; freeSaturday car washes for customers;and an annual family canal trip andlunch for staff and their families, aswell as a full-blown staff Christmasdinner and party in the workshop.

The personal touch also includesa home visit by Mark and wifeAnita to all new parents on thestaff, complete with a gift ofdistinctive baby wellingtons.

He said: “I am trying to bringsome passion and colour to themotor industry.”

NEWS Wednesday, March 30, 20116 ★★★★

BUSINESS

MOTHER’S DAY is just afew days away and thisweek is traditionally agood time to be in thefloristry business.

Such periods have becomeparticularly important in the pastcouple of years as the sector hasbeen hit badly by the recession,according to Liverpool florist,Lorraine Whittle.

For the past 31 years Lorrainehas owned and ran the DutchFlower Shop in Wavertree.

The Woolton Road shop’sspeciality is the importation offlowers from specialist suppliers inHolland.

“As long as a customer placestheir order before lunchtime we canusually have it brought over fromHolland the following day,” saidLorraine.

The Dutch Flower Shop hasestablished itself as one of the city’sbest-known florists.

Business customers includeLiverpool Football Club, for whomthey supply matchday flowers,hotels including the Hilton, Novoteland Atlantic Tower, as well as twoof Merseyside’s best known hairsalons, Herbert and Barbara Daley.

The shop also has also suppliedbouquets three times when theQueen has visited Liverpool and forthe visit of Pope John Paul II to thecity in 1981.

Lorraine says it is theirreputation for providing such aspecialist service that has allowedthe business to keep going duringthe recent slump.

“Had we not been established forso long I don’t know how it wouldhave been,” she said.

“I’m not sure how a lot of floristsout there have managed to keepgoing.

“In the early days of the recessiona lot of businesses were cuttingback and we lost quite a fewcustomers.”

The shop’s speciality inimportation came about shortlyafter it first opened.

Lorraine added: “When we firststarted we just used to get stockfrom the Liverpool market but wewere finding there were quite a fewthings, particularly plants, thatthey did not stock.

“So we got on a plane to Hollandand went to a place called Aalsmeerwhere we found a supplier whowould deal direct with England –hardly anyone was doing that then.

“Now we have Easyjet, gettingover there is even easier and we goover there every couple of months.”

The Dutch Flower Shop’s locationmeans it gets a lot of business fromLiverpool’s Jewish community – fornew year and passover celebrations.

Weddings are also a major part ofthe business, particularly duringthe spring and summer months.

“Once the spring comes we aimfor around two weddings everyweekend,” said Lorraine

“Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Dayand Christmas are definitely thebusiest times of year in thisbusiness – in fact we depend onthem.

“We try to provide something abit different for our customers and Ihope now the recession is over,people will start spending a littlemore money again.”

The prospect of starting duringan economic downturn did notput Hazel Ellis off.

London-born Hazel, 25, runsFlowery Hazel in the atriumentrance of The Capital officebuilding in Old Hall Street inLiverpool city centre.

She spent two years training to bea florist in central London afterleaving school at 16.

She said: “My mum is aheadteacher and she doesn’tnecessarily believe staying on intosixth form is the best option foreveryone.

“She encouraged me to learn atrade that could earn me a living.

“I originally wanted to become anair hostess and when I was still atschool I did two periods of workexperience – at an airline and in aflorists.”

Hazel enjoyed working withflowers so much that she decidedthat was the career for her.

She worked in the shop four daysa week and went to college for oneday a week.

“I found that was the best way ofdoing it,” she said. “Learning onthe job.

“I trained with people who wereat college all week and I found I wasmuch quicker than them.”

While still a teenager, Hazeldecided she wanted to get someother work experience so she leftfloristry and spent some time office

temping and eventually landed a jobwith an engineering company.

She added: “They then moved upto Skelmersdale and I came too andI loved it up here.”

Eventually Hazel, who now livesin Ormskirk, decided she wanted toget back into the flower businessand after doing extensive research,set up Flowery Hazel in Octoberlast year.

She added: “I think things havegone well since I started.

“I wasn’t so happy with the wayValentine’s Day went so I havetweaked a few things.

“I decided my prices were maybea little too high so I have loweredthem a bit and I now find I’mselling more.

“If I buy stock for the week I aimto have it sold by Wednesday andnow I am also going to the marketon a daily basis so I’m not buyingmuch stock in advance.

“I love it here and don’t intend togo back to London.

“I love the quality of life here andI love the fact that every day peoplepassing say hello to me – you justwouldn’t get that in London.”

ABLOOMINGFOCUS. . . on FLORISTS

Tony McDonoughlooks at how theflower business iscoping in tough times

STILL GOING STRONG: Lorraine Whittle, owner of the Dutch Flower Shop in Wavertree, has been trading for 31 years and says business hasbeen tough across the sector during the recent recession Picture: JAMES MALONEY

ROYALTY:The DutchFlower shophas suppliedbouquets forThe Queen onseveraloccasionswhen she hasvisitedLiverpool

Wednesday, March 30, 2011 NEWS 7★★★★

TRADE

STAYING PUT: City centre florist Hazel Ellis is a bigfan of Liverpool after moving up from London

MILLIONS of consumerswith tax-free ISAs could bemissing out on the bestreturns available by failingto switch accounts whenintroductory bonuses cometo an end, according to aconsumer group.

Research carried out forConsumer Focus found thattwo-thirds of people whoopened an ISA that had anintroductory bonus did notmove to a new account oncethe higher interest rateended.

One in four ISA savers didnot know if their accountincluded an introductorybonus and a third saidthey did not knowwhen it expired.

The group alsofound that one in threeof all ISA savers had hadtheir account for more thanfive years, suggesting theycould get a more competitiverate by switching.

There are several cashISAs currently availablethat pay returns of morethan 3%, with Santanderleading the field with a rateof 3.5% for existingcustomers, but the averagerate on one of the accounts isjust 0.43%.

Oliver Morgans, financialservices expert at Consumer

Focus, said: “Around one inthree of us has a cash ISA somillions of people are likelyto be losing money by notswitching when their bonusrate ends.

“Unfortunately, it seemsthat banks use higherinterest rates to lurecustomers in and then aim tocash in on their customer’sinertia.

“Sadly, ISA customers haveto watch banks like a hawk ifthey are to get the best deals.

With consumers getting apaltry return as low as 0.1%on some accounts, our adviceto savers is to check yourrate and if you are not happy,vote with your feet andswitch to an ISA that paysmore.”

The group lodged asuper-complaint with theOffice of Fair Trading aboutthe cash ISA market lastyear, calling for the processof switching an ISA to bemade quicker and easier, aswell as for pricing structuresto be more transparent.

Following the complaint,banks have agreed to start

printing interest rateson customers’statements and to

complete ISAtransfers within 15

working days.People have just

seven days left in whichto use their annual ISA

allowance of £10,200, upto £5,100 of which can bepaid into a cash ISA, for

the current tax year.The British Bankers’

Association said:“Banks automaticallynotify customers ifthere are changes

resulting in materially lowerrates specifically so they canswitch their funds.”

MONEYMATTERS with NICKYBURRIDGE, personalfinance correspondent

NEWS Wednesday, March 30, 20118 ★★★★

BUSINESS

TRAINERGROWSTHANKSTOFUND

BidtodevelopcloserChinesetrade links

MSIFbacksexpansionofLiverpool firm

FUNDING BOOST: Chris Walters (left) from MSIF with Jonathan Mortimore of Mortimore Enterprises

A LIVERPOOL constructiontraining company is expandingand creating more jobs after afunding package.

Merseyside Special InvestmentFund (MSIF) has invested £50,000in Mortimore Enterprises,through the NorthwestDevelopment Agency’s SmallLoan for Business scheme.

Mortimore offers a range ofprogrammes, including pre-employment courses,apprenticeships, approvedconstruction qualifications andshort courses.

They are aimed at people of allskill levels to obtain or sustainemployment and focus on a range

of traditional construction trades,including painting anddecorating, tiling, joinery andplastering and specialistconstruction trades such as drylining, fitted interiors and steelframe systems.

As a result of the cash injection,Mortimore has identified newpremises to support training for30 apprentices and more staff havebeen recruited, from tutorassistants to administration andsales and marketing personnel.

The company was set up in 2001by director Jonathan Mortimore.He now runs the company withfellow shareholders KarenCushion and Jan Garner.

Mr Mortimore said: “In thecurrent economic climatecompanies are sometimesreluctant to take on apprentices asthey can present a drain onessential resources that areneeded for companies to remaincompetitive.”

He said some firms are alsounable to employ apprentices forthe usual term to achieve theirqualifications: “At Mortimore, wehave revisited the traditionalapprenticeship model.

“We work very closely with ourclients to ensure that trainingprogrammes and the delivery ofthem are responsive to individual

business needs. This has provenvital for companies to commit toemploying apprentices.

“We are also keen to ensure ourcompany has a positive impact onthe local community. In additionto helping young people intoemployment, we purchaseresidential properties in need ofrenovation for apprentices towork in a real site situation.Apprentices develop valuableskills to promote and sustain theiremployment, while improving thecommunity and generatingproperties that will raise capitalto fund further projects.”

MSIF investment managerChris Walters said: “We aredelighted to be supporting abusiness which makes such animportant social impact onMerseyside.”

A CONFERENCE tostrengthen trade linksbetween Liverpool andChina is taking place atthe Hilton Hotel today.

Beyond Shanghai isdesigned to build on thecity’s six monthparticipation at last year’sWorld Expo staged byLiverpool’s twin city ofShanghai.

During the Expo morethan 770,000 peoplevisited the LiverpoolPavilion promoting thecity as a gateway tobusiness development inthe north west.

Organised by theUniversity of Liverpool,Liverpool Vision, theChinese state-backedConfucius Centre and the

Liverpool ChineseBusiness Association,today’s event aims towiden opportunities forMerseyside firms beyondthe established cities ofShanghai and Beijing toso-called second tiercities which can still havea population of morethan 10m people.

After today’s launch the

Liverpool ConfuciusInstitute will host a forumto provide networksupport, knowledgetransfer and developmentassistance to businesseslooking to work, oralready working in China.

Speakers at today’sevent include ProfMichael Hoey, director ofLiverpool Confucius and

pro-vice chancellor forinternationalisation at theUniversity of Liverpool,city council leader CllrJoe Anderson, Andy Lam,Hong Kong EconomicTrade Office deputydirector general and JianNi, consul general of thePeoples’ Republic ofChina. Visit www.beyondshanghai.co.uk

byNEIL HODGSONIndustry Reporter

Business to BusinessFinancial

3 X OFFICES TO LET SouthRoad, Waterloo, L22, withinSales & Lettings Office. Ideal forResidential and CommercialMortgage Broker. Call Stuartfor details on 0151 920 9999or 07900 424 441

Accountancy /Bookkeeping

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Call 07778 270 818

Industrial Property

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F O R S A L E F R E E H O L DBLOCK OF 4 TWO STOREYSHOPS In 1 unit. Situated thebusy end of Walton Vale, ownercurrently operating one shop asa cafe, would be of interest tothe food industry or suitable fordevelopment. Price £180,000.Tel 0781 806 4321 or0151 5311886

INDUSTRIAL UNITS To Let.South L’pool 500 to 4000 sqft,monthly tenancy, competitiverents. From £50pw Tel: 0151427 5051

OFFICE/INDUSTRIAL UNITSTO LET AINTREE

24 hr access. Security provided.Excellent Rates.

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INDUSTRIAL UNIT / YARDTO LET Strand Road Ind Est.L20 Approx 4000sq ft + largeyard Call 0151 920 9999 or07900 424441

FORMER HARDWEAR SHOPWould suit various businesses,main rd, Tuebrook 07767888808 or 0161 439 1512

OFFICE TO LET Knowsley In-dustrial Estate, 1st flr, s/c,brand new decor, 1500sqft,£600pcm 07572 956272

COMMERCIAL UNIT/WORK-SHOP Rainhill to let £75pw,£750sq ft 0161 980 1912

L 3 R O D N E Y S T S / cOffice/Retail £400pcm 0151708 0339 or 07572 956272

PRESCOT YARD/CELLAROFFICEFor rent. Ideal for smallbuilder £50pw. 07710 815649

WELLINGTON RD L15 Varietyof Industrial units available now0151 227 2875

TO LET Industrial Units L’poolCity Centre 0151 227 9191

L21, L4 Secure Units/offices fr£40pw 0792O 461551

Business For Sale

BABY SHOP Breck Rd L5.Fully stocked, 2 floors, every-thing from prams to clothes.Offers 07553 064924

HAIR & BEAUTY SALONEqpd & 2 bed flat above. Free-hold, Walton. 07551 608925

DevelopmentOpportunities

LAND WITH PLANNING FORSALE 100% Finance available(1% interest pcm) StillingtonRoad, L8. Planning for 7 xApartments. Price £185,000Call 0151 9209999 OR07900 424441

BusinessOpportunities

BARBERS SHOPS TO LET StJohns Road, Waterloo, L22.Equipped with barbers chairs/Mirrors/Stations etc. PossibleNo Business Rates. Rent re-duced £550pcm Call: 0151920 9999 or 07900 424 441

FULLY EQUIP Take away/restaurant. Business £35k,rental £1300pcm. On mainPrincess Road, Manchester.Great potential 07980 673631or 07702 190009

Taxis/Cab & Plate

ACORN CARS LIVERPOOLNew dr ivers wanted . Lowsettles, incentives, companycars. Tel 0151 546 2701

P R I V A T E H I R E D r i v e r srequired, busy system, weeklyinsurance. 0151 260 1010LIVERPOOL DAY/NIGHTCollars available 0151 9223626

BLUE LINE TAXISNew driverswanted urgently. Earn £500 −£800pw. Tel 0151 709 0101

L I V E R P O O L C A B S &PLATES for sale 0151 9223626

NIGHT COLLAR TX4 C/OVauxhall 07539 731854

BLACKCABSALES.COM CityDay/Night/Lng 07500 444600

CITY TXI days with c/o. Nights& L/C 077151 72487

BOTANIC CARS Requiresowner drivers 0151 220 2020

D A Y / N I G H T C O L L A Rcmptitive rates 07873 200893

KNOTTY ASH TAXIS Ownerdrivers req’d 0151 259 2000

CITY NIGHT COLLAR Lowsettle. 0151 526 0817

Building Trade

FRAMELINETRADE SUPPLY

COMPOSITE DOORSUPVC WINDOWS, DOORS,

CONSERVATORIES.5 Day Turnaround

Tel 0151 546 5577Fax 0151 546 5588ACCREDITED WITHBS7412 & BS7950

KITCHEN & BEDROOMFITTINGS from a hinge to a fullkitchen/bedroom. 3D plans nowavailable. Showroom & TradeCounter at 3 Rockley Street,Kirkdale, L4 0151−207 0008.www.brosna.co.uk

STAIRCASES Made to order0 1 5 1 9 3 3 3 1 9 1 / 8 1 8 1www.ehjoinery.com