★★★★

BUSINESS SurviveStart

ThriveECH

O

Thejobfor lifeisnomore

‘StarTrekwasmyinspiration’PAGES2&3 PAGES4&5

£10MAVAILABLEFORSMALLFIRMSA £10M investment fund is nowavailable to small firms in the region.

Merseyside Special Investment Fund(MSIF) has launched the MerseysideLoan and Equity Fund, managed by itsin house team Alliance Fund Managers(AFM).

It will be funded from the sale ofstakes it has held in a number of smallfirms since 1996 when it invested cashfrom the European Objective 1 schemeand private sector partners to support

fledgling Merseyside companies.Last week MSIF repaid the last of its

private sector partners and moniesraised from now on will generate up to£25m over the next five years for a newraft of financial aid for small firms.

Investments will range from £50,000to £2m in the form of loan, mezzanineand equity finance and MSIF chiefoperating officer Lisa Greenhalgh said:“There has been uncertainty over thepast couple of years about what fundingMSIF would be able to provide.

“A lot of hard work has beenundertaken to ensure MSIF wouldreach its ultimate goal of creating afund that was independent fromEuropean Regional Development Fundand private sector support and we aredelighted to have achieved this. We arevery much open for business.”

MSIF chairman Andy Rigby added:“This is a great achievement for MSIF

and AFM and good news for localbusinesses. Funding has been verydifficult to secure in recent timeswhich, coupled with the economicdownturn, has hit businesses hard.

“Now MSIF can continue what it wasset up to do – provide a much neededalternative source of finance to theregion’s businesses which will in turnstrengthen the local economy.”

AFM is also managing an extra £3.9mfor regeneration body the NorthwestDevelopment Agency, offering loans of£3,000 to £50,000 for businesses in theretail sector and high-tech firms in thecreative, digital, life science, energyand manufacturing sectors.

MSIFopen forbusinesswithfundingboost

DreamoncourseforJennaFAZAKERLEY hair salonChic Boutique hasexpanded with an holisticbeauty offer after helpfrom business supportagency Dream High.

Beauty therapist JennaJohnstone can now offerpedicures, facials, glittertattoos, eyelash tints anda Botox service.

She said Dream Highbusiness facilitator ClaireChang was “an amazinghelp”.

PICTURE PERFECT: Jenna(left) and Claire Chang

● MERSEYSIDE lawfirm Kirwans will

host a free employmentand HR masterclass nextmonth which it says willhelp bosses increaseprofits. How to MaximiseProfitability and ReduceRisk, will take place onNovember 4 in the mainboardroom at theMartins Building inWater Street andspeakers includeKirwans’ head ofemployment law DavidJones and Peter Carter ofCorporate InformationSystems. To book a placeemail ascragg@kirwanssolicitors.co.uk

● WOMEN’Senterprise body

Train 2000 is staging aseries of free workshopsoffering advice on arange of subjects linkedto self-employment.They will take place atKirkby’s Pride Children’sCentre this Friday andon November 26, and atTrain 2000’s Liverpooloffice on November 16.A two-day personaldevelopment course isalso on offer thisThursday and Friday andon November 24 and 25.Contact 0151-236 6601or email info@train2000.org.uk for details.

● HELEN WHITE hasbeen appointed as

Knowsley HousingTrust’s new chairman.Helen, 33, has worked fornine years in housingand regeneration acrossthe region and wasnamed The CharteredInstitute of HousingCymru Young HousingProfessional of the Yearin 2003 for her innovativeand inclusive approachto working with tenants.She said: “Tenantparticipation is a hugelypowerful way to driveforward regeneration.”

byNEIL HODGSONIndustry Reporter

NEWS Wednesday, October 27, 20102 ★★★★

StarTrek’senterprisedroveMatttoreachforthestars

BUSINESSSMALL

of the Week

Neil Hodgson talks to ITexpert and ‘hi-tech chiselmaker’ Matt McAlister

DISABILITYCHAMP TOMIN THE MIXFOR AWARDTOM DOWLING, anentrepreneur fromLiverpool who waswheelchair boundafter being shot in anarmed robbery, is asemi-finalist in the2010 Barclays TradingPlaces Awards whichrecognise people whohave beaten the oddsto succeed in business.

Former LiverpoolECHO journalist Tom,56, was attacked whiletrekking with friendsin Iran 36 years ago.

A bullet in the backleft him paralysedfrom the chest down.

He now runs the AllTogether Now! charitythat produces aspecialist disabilitypublication and onlinemagazine coveringhealth and disabilityissues and is hoping towin a share of the£50,000 prize packageat the London final inThe Savoy hotel onNovember 30.

Steve Cooper, chairof the judging paneland managing directorof Barclays Business,said: “Trading Places isa celebration ofinspiring people who,in spite of greatpersonal challenges,have taken steps toestablish a sustainablebusiness and in doingso changed thedirection of their livesfor the better.

“We hope that withthis recognition, AllTogether Now! willcontinue on the roadto success.”

Mr Cooper added:“We also hope Tom’sstory will inspire otherbudding entrepreneursin Liverpool to turntheir own businessdreams into reality.”

DOUBLE WINFOR SPEEDYSPEEDY HIRE, theNewton-le-Willows-based plant hiregroup, has won twoaccolades at this year’sBuilding and Engineerawards.

It triumphed in theSupplier of the Yearand the EnergyEfficient Project of theYear categories.

It was alsocommended for itspartnership-ledapproach to workingwith its majorcustomers linked to itsgrowing operations inthe Middle East andNorth Africa.

BUSINESS

SELF-confessed geek MattMcAlister believes cult TVseries Star Trek inspired farmore than legions of Trekkiesover the past 40 years – it led to

the development of technologiesconsidered to be just the stuff of sci-fi.

He said: “Star Trek wasn’t justpredicting the future with things likeflip communicators, which we now seeas mobile phones, they were instillingin kids watching it the thought, ‘Iwant one of them’ and inspiring kidsto go out and develop it in the future.”

His own love of all things techieinspired Matt to create his EllesmerePort-based MSoft business that is nowa market leader in the design oftracking technology that can helpslash costs by eliminating waste.

When he set up in 1999, aged 25, hisbusiness was a truly family affair.

Father Peter had just sold hisindustrial cleaning company and cameon board, as Matt explained “to makesure people got paid – I had no ideahow to run a business, I just had theideas.”

Then sister Kate, who had a salesbackground joined, followed by mumBarbara, who was a whizz on creditcontrol.

It was the height of the dotcomboom and Matt said: “I started withthe intention of taking the webfurther, which sounds a bit cheesy.”

He wrote software aimed at generale-commerce: “Today you have to havean e-commerce site to be in business,back then people looked at me like Iwas an alien, saying: ‘I’m not sure thatwill take off ’.”

But soon the enterprise side of thebusiness took off because companiesrealised its potential as a business-to-business tool.

One of his first clients was ISS, a UScleaning company keen to develop asystem for customers to order througha portal instead of despatching anAmazonian rainforest of brochuresthat had wrong information and priceswhich they had to honour.

ISS was later bought and the newowner extended the concept toHolland.

Then, out of the blue came a callfrom Glasgow City Council in 2003inquiring about developing its ownbespoke system: “We hadn’t thought ofthe public sector at all because wethought they would not be interestedin a small company.”

Glasgow and the NHS ran threeseparate stores providing communityequipment like walking sticks andwheelchairs. Matt said: “Often, peoplewould receive three of the same item,so they were interested in our systemallowing people to order equipment on

the web, through one portal. Glasgowwas incredibly far-sighted.

“It was a massive operation for usbecause the council was dealing with1m people. They had 30 vehiclesdelivering equipment every day.”

Not only did MSoft’s system manageenquiries better, it also enabledrecycling of equipment and in the firstyear of operation Glasgow saved £1m.

Matt then turned his attention towinning business from other UKcouncils and health authorities.

Once again, out of the blue, theywere contacted by Trafford, in GreaterManchester, with a proposal: “Theywere having problems tracking bloodin hospitals and said, ‘you can track awheelchair, but can you track a bag ofblood?’ So we wrote a brand newproduct called Bloodhound.”

All Liverpool’s hospitals use it andMSoft has designed a system for theCountess of Chester Hospital usingbiometric technology so onlyauthorised personnel can access blood

supplies using a thumb or finger print.It also ensure the right patient gets

the right bag of blood – mistakes canprove fatal – by printing wristbandsfor scanning by nurses to make theright match.

This saves costs by freeing up one ofthe two highly skilled nurses the oldsystem required and by carefullymonitoring blood supplies, includingtags which can pinpoint the preciselocation of a single bag of blood.

“A bag of blood costs £140 due to allthe administration involved from adonor’s arm to the hospital bed. Wecut inefficiency so the right amount ofblood goes to the right person.”

Hospitals in the Netherlands,Germany, America and New Zealandhave contacted MSoft and Matt said:“Blood tracking has to happenthroughout the world.”

The system also allows the languageto be changed: “We can do it in Azer-

LiquidatorshuntsaleforstrickenengineeringfirmTHE liquidators of civil andstructural engineering firmBingham Davis were lastnight closing in on a deal tosell the stricken business.

The Liverpool firm, whichtraces its roots back to 1928and which worked on projectsincluding the Hard DaysNight Hotel, went intoliquidation last week. Begbies

Traynor was appointed tooversee a sale of the business.

It was unavailable forcomment last night but anannouncement on the futureof the firm is understood to beimminent.

In 1928 Percy Binghamfounded what was one of thefirst professional structuralengineering practices in the

North West. He worked withSir Edwin Lutyens on thedesign of his MetropolitanCathedral, though that projectwas abandoned during theconstruction of the crypt inthe 1940s.

His grandson Tim Binghamfounded TD Bingham in 1989.By 2006 that company hadmerged with Roy Billington,

Associates and then NixonDavis to form Bingham Davis.

In 2005 the companyreturned to the MetropolitanCathedral, working on theceremonial entrance steps inMount Pleasant.

Speaking in 2006, MrBingham said: “We havediverse expertise whichranges from the structural

design of major commercialbuildings and the restorationof Grade 1 listed buildings,through to large civilengineering roads, bridgesand dockland projects.”

It worked on projectsincluding the Marriott Hotelin Speke and the City Squareand City Exchangedevelopments in Liverpool.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010 NEWS 3★★★★

CPUK WINSSAINSBURYCONTRACTCONSTRUCTIONPartnership UK(CPUK), theSkelmersdale-basedbuilding firm, has wona £500,000 contractfor a new Sainsbury’sstore in Blackpool.

The latest deal addsto its growingportfolio of retaildevelopments acrossthe region, includingone of the first drive-through Starbuckscoffee shops in the UKat the Trafford Centrein Manchester.

Its Sainsbury’scontract follows thesuccessful completionof a new £500,000Tesco store in theApex Centre, inRadcliffe, Bury, earlierthis year.

CPUK managingdirector Steve Burkesaid: “Our increasingnumber of retailcontracts, as well asmore work in thegrowing care homemarket, is down to ourexcellent service andthe quality of ourdelivery.”

Also included in thefirm’s retail portfolio iswork for supermarketgroup Lidl and theFrankie and Benny’srestaurant chain in thenorth west.

Its health care workincludes the first phaseof a flagship centre forexcellence fordementia care in theUK in a £3.5m projectfor Altrincham-basedMelton Health Care.

STAR TREKKIN’: Matt McAlister(right) was inspired by the crew ofthe USS Enterprise on TV showStar Trek

FAMILY FIRM: MattMcAlister (right) managingdirector of MSoft, with hisfather Peter McAlister attheir office in Ellesmere Port

baijaniif we wantand we have donethat because we want to go intoEurope. I know there’s a massivemarket there.”

European expansion is at the heartof plans to grow sales from £1.3m to£5m in five years and Matt is workingon new products to accelerate thatgrowth, including an applicationproviding bedside access to patientrecords through Apple’s iPad.

He said Apple founder Steve Jobshas created a product that does notneed a user manual and withsufficient security already built in:“The iPad is fantastic. It is lightweightand easy to use. We have made stuffthat works on an iPad and are talkingto two hospitals who are going to useiPads on their wards. From atechnology person like myself it is ano-brainer.”

He said affinity with clients is vital:“We love working with our customers.They are the experts, the sculptors, weare the chisel makers. We give themthe tools to do their jobs to the best oftheir ability. I am an IT geek and I loveusing new technology and applying itto the way people work. Our tag line is‘quietly innovating’.”

He also admits MSoft is featuring onrivals’ radar, and will have to dealwith their attentions: “We’re at thestage where I am sure we will start toget interest from the bigger players.

“We’re in a marketplace full of very,very big billion dollar companies, butby heck, we give them a fight.”

Do you wantto be our Business

of the Week?Contact Neil

Hodgson 0151 4722451 or emailneil.hodgson

@liverpool.com

HMRC ISSUESTAX REMINDERTAX authorities haveissued a reminder foranyone sending intheir 2009/10 selfassessment return onpaper they have justdays left to file for theOctober 31 deadline.

Returns filed afterthis date could cost a£100 penalty.

However, analternative is to fileonline – which three-quarters of selfassessment filersalready do – takingadvantage of a three-month extension tothe deadline for onlinereturns.

To register foronline filing visit theHMRC website atwww.hmrc.gov.uk/online and clickRegister (new users).

Help is also availablefrom the selfassessment helplineon 0845 9000 444.

NEWS Wednesday, October 27, 20104 ★★★★

BUSINESS

JOB mobility is a phrase thecoalition government couldwell adopt as a mantra inthese testing times ofausterity.

And Liverpool businessconsultant Colin Ling would be anideal example of how to roll withthe punches during his 37 years ofworking life which began whenbusiness buzz words and phraseswere just a mere twinkle inembryonic spin doctors’ eyes.

He began his career in probablythe most secure industry – outsidethe undertaking sector – known toman and still recalls his parents’pride after he started work as a19-year-old clerk for the MidlandBank in Hunts Cross.

He said: “They were very pleased,because at that time it was a job forlife.”

Hunts Cross began a steadyascent in his banking career ladder.

After two years he relocated tothe Castle Street branch thatboasted a workforce well in excessof 100, almost unheard of in today’sbanking landscape.

A bank’s function then was alsocompletely different, said Colin:“The social life there was fantastic,in the days when cashiers had timeto have a chat with customers.”

By then he had progressed tosecurities and foreign exchange andhis next career move took him toPrenton as securities clerk, thenNew Ferry as third in command.

A move to Norton Street back inLiverpool saw him installed assenior securities manager’s clerk ata branch that boasted some bighousehold names among itsaccounts, including Vernons Poolsand the fabrics chain Waldmans.

His first manager’s position camein 1985 at Kensington, then at DaleStreet, followed by Huyton, beforehe became district managerresponsible for St Helens, Prescotand Rainhill.

Most of his former branches arenow closed, many converted intobars: “That’s not a reflection on me,I hope, just the way the bankingindustry has gone.”

But within 12 months he had leftthe bank, and a seemingly safecareer.

A keen Reds fan he can readilyrecall his resignation: “It was theday before Kenny Dalglish quit asLiverpool manager. I had been inmy new job for a year, but I didn’tlike the way the bank was going.

“The public policy was to helpbusinesses, but in reality it wasvery difficult to get lendingpropositions through.”

So began the next phase inColin’s career path.

For three years he freelanced,doing some business consultancyand also experiencing life at the

coal face of small business byrunning the Penny Lane Wine Barand a nightclub in town.

Then, in 1994, he was back in asuit as an advisor to small firmswith Business Link on the back ofEurope’s Objective 1 funding, aimedat improving Merseyside’seconomic output.

Within three years he waspersonal business advisor managerwith a staff of 38 advisors.

“We were delivering to start-upsand small businesses on aone-to-one basis and were given thetime and opportunity to really helpbusinesses.”

Despite what he calls BusinessLink’s “chequered history” atexecutive level, Colin said theyreally did make a difference:“Between 1997 and 2002 we had a bitof an impact. We were able to addreal value.”

But the heavy hand ofgovernment soon put paid to that,eventually leading to his departurein 2008: “From 2002 GovernmentOffice became very much morefocused on figures and so, to anextent, we were chasing outputs.

“Small firms need hand-holdingand what we are now callingmentoring. But more and more we

were being led away from thatthrough political pressure.”

In 2004 Colin was appointed headof enterprise development withresponsibility for start ups, whichincluded what Business Linktermed the “hard to reachcommunities”, such as women,ethnic minorities, youth, theover-50s, creatives and socialenterprises.

“While these were politicalagenda items the level of resourceallocated was always inadequate tomeet demand and I can see whythere were other organisations andagencies set up to support thosecommunities outside of local orcentral government control.”

The demise of Objective 1 fundingin 2008 brought with it the end ofBusiness Link’s enterprise team onMerseyside: “They decided theydidn’t need an enterprise team on

Merseyside to focus onMerseyside’s needs, so they basedthe support in Preston.

“From 1994 to 2008 Objective 1funding was supposed to supportMerseyside. It started out well, butover that period of time, withpolitical changes, the focus becamemore and more regional and lessLiverpool or Merseyside-focused.”

Colin left in 2008 to become aself-employed business consultantand one of his main points of focushas been his work, on a voluntarybasis, with Liverpool’s Chinesebusiness community, particularlyahead of the city’s involvement inthe six-month Shanghai Expo whichconcludes on Sunday.

“With the Expo looming interestin the Chinese community andChina had never been stronger,” hesaid. “The Chinese community inLiverpool will be interested to see

Versatilitythekeytosurvival intoday’schangingworkplace

INTERVIEWBIGNeil Hodgsontalks to thoroughlymobile businessconsultantColin Ling

‘TherearemanyopportunitiesforfirmstotradewithChina’

LIFE LESSONS: Colin Lingsays the days of a job for lifehave gone forever

Wednesday, October 27, 2010 NEWS 5★★★★

how links are maintained and whatbusiness comes here.”

Liverpool Chinese BusinessAssociation even mounted its ownindependent trade mission to thesecond-tier Chinese city of Linyi,between Beijing and Shanghai,which has established valuablelinks with a city of 10.3m citizens.

Colin said: “I believe there aremany opportunities for Liverpooland Merseyside businesses to tradewith China and, indeed, with thelocal Chinese community.”

That vision came a step closerafter Cllr Gary Millar, with the thenruling Lib Dem Party, asked whatcould be done to assist Chinesebusinesses, leading to the creationof the Liverpool Chinese BusinessNetwork as a bridge betweenChinese and non-Chinesebusinesses in the region.

“To my knowledge it is the first of

its type in the UK. We have had a lotof interest and have attracted somekey sponsors.”

And it is the latest achievementin a career that looked prettyprecarious after shunning what wassupposed to be a job for life.

Colin said: “I have now had fourseparate career paths. I have twokids who I expect will change jobmany times during their workinglives and I think that’s the way ofwork now.

“We don’t have jobs for life andyoung people now leaving school orat university will be looking atmore mobility, both physically andin the workplace.

“Even those of us in employment,but much older, have to be able toadapt and the way the economy is,and I can see over the next two orthree years that we will all have todo that.”

LEGEND: Colin Ling resigned from Midland Bank the day beforeKenny Dalglish (above) quit Anfield

TRADE MISSION: Colin Ling (second from left) on a visit to Linyi, China

BARCLAYSOFFERSINSPIRATIONBANKING groupBarclays is staging aseries of seminarsnext month aimed atsmall business owners.

The Barclays Readyfor Growth seminarswill take place onNovember 8 inLondon and Leeds,with satellite links to14 business hotspotsaround the UKincluding Liverpool’sCrowne Plaza Hotel.

A panel of expertswill include DavidFrost, director generalof the BritishChambers ofCommerce, and HenkPotts, equity strategistfrom Barclays Wealth.

There will be a livevideo link between theLeeds event and theLiverpool seminar,which will hear fromlocal entrepreneurTony Caldeira, founderof the Caldeiracushions group and itsretail arm FabricWarehousing.

Ian Aitchison,Barclays north westhead of local business,said: “This is anopportunity forbusinesses to beinspired to grow withconfidence, and hearfrom successfulentrepreneurs whohave taken the bull bythe horns andsignificantly growntheir company.”

For moreinformation, visitwww.barclaysreadyforgrowth.comor call 0208 334 1655.

TOTAL GLASS INAWARDS JOYKNOWSLEY-basedTotal Glass has wonthe Product/Innovation of the Yearcategory in theseventh annual Builder& Engineer Awards,held in Manchester, forits aluminium securitycommunal entrancedoor.

The PVC-U andaluminium windowand door fabricatorwas also a finalist inthe supplier of theyear category.

Meanwhile, the firmhas strengthened itscommercial team withthe appointments ofAndy Sheil ascommercial projectsmanager and ChrisValentine ascommercialestimating manager.

They join a 10-strong department atTotal Glass, headed byMark Formby.

NEWS Wednesday, October 27, 20106 ★★★★

BUSINESS

Research your ideasWhen you have an idea, whenyou have a dream, sometimesyou lose sight of thepracticality and marketability

of your idea.Put time into research and

challenge yourself on the strength ofyour concept. Even better, get someoneyou trust, who has a businessbackground, to challenge you–someone who is not so close to youthat all they will say is “yes”.

● Find a good mentorTo my mind, a mentor does not tell

you what to do. A mentor stimulatesyour ideas and supports you throughthe thought process of developing andgrowing your business.

He or she probably knows moreabout people than about businessalthough a business background keepsit simple.

Don’t assume they need to be olderand wiser than you. My mentor isyounger than me and keeps melooking to the future.

● Put yourself in yourcustomer/client’s shoes

From the outset, put yourself inyour customer’s shoes.

How would you feel if you weremarketed to in the way that you arethinking? What would be yourreaction to the attitude of your salesand service people? How much wouldyou pay for that product or service?

● Stay flexibleTo paraphrase Ashby’s Law, the

person who retains flexibility retainscontrol.

No matter how much you plan (andyou should plan), things will always,always turn out differently than youexpect. It’s the Law of the Universe.

If you can accept it, then you areless likely to be thrown off course bythe hurdles and issues that starting abusiness will throw at you.

● Be prepared to collaborateVery few businesses operate in

isolation. Look for who works aboveyou and below you in your businesssupply chain. Look for who works inexactly the same space.

Collaboration doesn’t mean givingyour business away. It means sharingin a greater opportunity.

● Understand the profit equationfor your business idea

It’s an old adage: turnover is vanity,

profit is sanity, cash is reality.Identify what the “profit equation”

is for your business. What can youreally make out of it? Is it just you orcan you leverage up by employingpeople? What is the profit margin inwhat you are intending to do and howwill that margin change from the startto a point when you are really flying?

● Find your KPIsYou can’t wait for month end

accounts. You need KPIs – KeyPerformance Indicators – that willgive you a snapshot of how yourbusiness is doing.

I have a client who runsrestaurants. His KPIs includecustomer satisfaction questionnairescompleted at the table and staffturnover.

I have a haulage client. His KPIs arehours driven and overtime booked.

● 8. Understand your funding needMany superb business ideas do not

get off the ground because the initialfunding need is not sufficientlyunderstood.

You have an idea that will, in twoyears’ time, give you a running profitof £100k a year. The profit and cash

will probably not flow from Day One.Many businesses start out by

putting out more cash than they bringin as they build the business.

Build a model of your business thatis realistic in its early-stage growthassumptions and find the cash.

● 9. Choose to believeAbraham Lincoln failed twice in

business and was defeated seven timesin Senate and Congress electionsbefore being elected President.

I suppose he could have given up onhis goal at any time, but he chose tobelieve that he could do it. If you have,and can sustain, the passion for youridea and have put the effort intogetting your idea right, why shouldyou not succeed?

● 10. Have some funThis thing, this business is going to

take over your life, your family’s lifeand every waking moment.

You are choosing to do it. Doyourself the biggest favour you canand enjoy it.

But be prepared to find enjoymentin facing up to and overcoming thechallenges.

Good luck.

TIPSFORYOURFOCUS. . . on startups

John Shinnick,partner at GrantThornton NorthWest, offers advice toentrepreneurs

WINNER: Start your own business and youcould become the next Richard Branson

Enola’sawalkingbillboardforherdesignenterpriseWHEN it comes toadvertising her fashionbusiness, Enola Wade usesher head.

Enola, from Huyton, set upher boutique Enolarose withthe support of East LiverpoolEconomic and CommunityTrust (Elect).

She designs and sellsclothes and accessories –including hats, fascinators andtiaras – from a stall inQuiggins in Renshaw Street.

One of her creations, a“Lips hat”, was recently wornby Hollyoaks star BronaghWaugh at Chester Races.

But when Enola doesn’thave any stars to advertiseher hats, she simply wearsone herself.

She said: “I generally wearthe hats I make and have had

endless attention from otherwomen wanting to knowwhere they can buy my hatsfrom.

“Everything is going reallywell at the moment – it’s allfalling into place.

Enola, who worked in retailand managed a beauty salonin Crosby for two years,decided she wanted to set upher own business three yearsago after the birth of herdaughter.

She said: “I’d alwayswanted to set up in businesson my own – it’s always beenat the back of my mind.

“When I was working inclothes shops, I alwaysthought that I’d rather dothis for myself than workwith somebody else.But having a baby certainly

Wednesday, October 27, 2010 NEWS 7★★★★

FIRM

KEEP TRYING: Early political defeats could notstop Abraham Lincoln becoming President

MONEYMATTERS with Nicky Burridge,business correspondent

motivated me to do it.”Enola, who started by

selling her work online,realised she needed help tostart a business.

So she consulted Elect, whohelped her draft a businessplan and offered advice onmarketing, accountancy andlegal issues.

SAVERS are missing out onup to £12bn in interest byholding their money inaccounts paying lowreturns, a consumer groupsaid yesterday.

Which? said half of the1,200-plus savings accountsavailable in the UK paidinterest of 0.5% or less,while a quarter pay just0.1% or lower.

It said if all savers movedtheir money to an accountpaying one of the highest

rates available, consumerswould collectively receivean extra £12bn a year, or£322 each.

The group saidfew banks madeit clear howmuch interestcustomers werebeing paid ontheir statements,while they alsofailed to alertpeople to theavailability of better

rates. Peter Vicary-Smith,chief executive of Which?,said: “While we pressurethe banks to be more

upfront about theirrates, people can take

action andpotentially add

hundreds of poundsa year to theirsavings by movingtheir money to abetter account.”

But the BritishBankers’ Association said

it was easy for savers tofind out what returns theywere receiving on theircash.

It said: “Information isreadily available inbranches, online and froma variety of other sources,including newspaperbest-buy tables andcomparison websites andcustomers will also beautomatically notified ifthere are changes resultingin materially lower rates.”

FUTURE’S ROSY: Enola Wade has opened a boutiquecalled Enolarose in Liverpool city centre

ADVERTORIAL

ExpLORIng ThEOppORTunITIEs TOwIn nEw busInEss

hELpIng LOcAL busInEssEs: Lloyds Tsb commercial’s Leigh Taylor

Many businesses in thenorth West are reportingthat there are fewer newbusiness opportunities avail-able, that existing clients arebeing more cautious – oftenspending less or delayingpayments – and that someclients are being lost becauseof tough trading conditions.

These factors have ledmany small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)to focus predominantly onfunding and cash flow toensure their survival. Bothare essential considerationsfor any business, but need tobe viewed as part of a widerplan. Winning new businesscould be key to continuing totrade successfully and evenfuture growth.

Lloyds TSB relationshipmanagers are locally basedand are able to provideguidance and support asbusinesses look for opportu-nities in the market place. aspart of our SME Charter, weare hosting 200 nationwideevents a year between 2010and 2012, enabling businessowners to meet with externalspecialists as well as otherlocal firms giving them theopportunity to network andthink about avenues previ-ously not considered.

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needed to stage the Games– many of which will go toSMEs. Plus there will beother opportunities furtherdown the supply chain.

The Games have generatedthousands of sub-contract-ing opportunities covering arange of goods and servicesfrom a variety of industries– specialising in everythingfrom engineering, to creativeand merchandising, meaningthere are opportunities forbusinesses across the wholeof the UK. This is evidencedby the fact that 72 per centof the 126,850 businessesalready registered to tender,are based outside of London.

Our relationship managerscan share their knowledge of

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More often, larger organi-sations are also filteringsuppliers on the basis oftheir sustainability creden-tials. Lloyds TSB Commer-cial has local business andenvironment managers tohelp companies understandthe impact diminishingresources, such as energyand raw materials, can haveon their business, and tohelp them identify thechallenges of changinglegislation and regulations

that could affect them asthe UK moves towards a lowcarbon economy.

Both our relationshipmanagers and business andenvironment managers offerfree guidance and support.For more information onOlympic Games contractsand our sustainabilityservices, or if you wouldlike to register for one ofour seminars, please visitw w w . L l o y d s T S B . c o m /businessguidance

Lloyds TSB Commercialis a trading name of LloydsTSB Bank plc and LloydsTSB Scotland plc and servescustomers with an annualturnover of up to £15M.

bY LEIgh TAYLORArea director for Lloyds TSBCommercial in the North West

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CASH LOANS Secured againstyour car. Loans for any purpose.0 1 5 1 2 2 0 4 4 8 8www.mobilemoney.co.uk

CommercialProperty

TO LET Baltic Triangle/JamaicaSt. Up and coming cutting edgedestination. 1650sq ft show-room, restaurant, bar premises.Also 1650 sq ft, refurb office/workshop space. 0151 7097034 or 07989 149551

TO LET NETHERLEY In-dustrial/Workshop Units 506−1,023 sq ft Rents from £62pwWheathills Ind Estate. WhittleJones 01257 238666

CITY CENTRE Office rooms inprime location. Rent inc. rates,water and heating. Large room24sqm. Call 0843 314 0144for viewings

Business Opportunities

GLOBAL CLEANINGCONTRACTS PLC

(Est. 1975)Are Looking for professionally minded people

To Manage Local Cleaning ContractsFull Business Support & Training Provided

Choose Your Hours & Control Your FutureInvestment Required from as little as £1000

For free information pack call

0800 358 1081Or visit:

www.globalcleaningcontracts.co.uk

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITYFor Heat /Fue l Merchants .Agents wanted nationwide tomarket quality heating productin all areas. For more details.email: aidan@hartepeat.com

Business For Sale

0844 820 0000Open until 9pm

www.blacksbrokers.com

NESTON - Pet Shop 1808• Established 60 Years• W/T £2,500• Located In Affluent Area• Scope To Increase T/O• Loyal Large Cliental Base• Viewing A Must• Bus & Prop £115,000 SAV

LIVERPOOL - Newsagents/Convenience 1910• Well Established (30 Years +)• W/T £7000 N/S £375• Excellently Fitted• Loyal Client Base• Huge Scope• Quality 2 Bedroom Accommodation• Bus & Prop £650,000 SAV

WARRINGTON - Sandwich Bar 1887• Well Established• W/T £1,450 +• Low Rent, Well Equipped• Corner Plot Location• Viewing Essential• Business £50,000 SAV

LIVERPOOL - Newsagents & ESP 1797• Well Established• WT £11,500 N/S £2,500, Lott £7,000• Pay Point £22,000• Huge Potential• Prime Trading Position• Development Project, Planning Permission Granted• Will Split Premises, Double Unit• Bus & Prop £264,995 SAV

STHELENS-Off Licence/ConvenienceStore 1892

• Busy Main Road Parade• W/T £11,000 (Increasing)• Superb Mod shop Unit• Valuable Mostly New Equipment• Very Easily Run • Highly Recommended• Business £64,950 SAV

LIVERPOOL - Bar/Restaurant 1763

• Excellent City Centre Location• Annual T/o £2 Million• Well Established• World Heritage Site• Scope To Increase T/o• Viewing A Must• Business £1,800,000 SAV

LIVERPOOL-Newsagents 1795• Established Over 40 Years• W/T £4500 N/S £1500 Lottery £3500• 1 Bedroom Studio Apartment• Huge Potential• Excellent Location - Close To Schools/Free Parking• Densely Populated Area• Bus & Prop £189,995 SAV

WARRINGTON- Convenience Store/Counter News 1860• Established 40 Years• W/T £8,500• Main Road Location Corner Plot• Limited Opening Hours• Scope To Increase Turnover• Large Residential Area• Business £85,000 SAV

ST HELENS - Sandwich Bar/Convenience Store 1868• Well Established• Wt £1500 + (Payzone £700)• Huge Potential• Excellent Freehold Proposition• Well Equipped, Well Respected• Business £25,000 SAV• Property £85,000

WREXHAM - Florists 1838• Well Established• W/T £1,000+• Corner Plot Location• 4 Bedroom Accommodation• Delivery Van Included• Excellent Reputation• Business £24,995 SAV

BLACKPOOL - Hotel 1881• Excellent location• Weekend trade only• 8 letting bedrooms• Large owner’s accommodation• Walking distance from main attractions• Huge potential• Property £135,000

BIRKENHEAD -Counter News 1877• Prime Location Within A Busy Shopping Centre• W/T £6,000, N/S £563.75 At Retail, Lotto• £700, Payzone £6,000 Paypoint £14,000• Recently Refurbished To The Highest Standard• Attractive Opening Hours• Potential Scope For Expansion• Business £65,000 SAV

•

• Well Established• W/T £1,450 +• Low Rent• Well Equipped• Corner Plot Location• Viewing Essential• Business £50,000 SAV

WARRINGTON - Sandwich Bar 1887

The Business Sales Specialists

Affluent Area• Close Proximity To Beach• Excellent Family Home• Scope To Increase Turnover• 90% Occupancy Rate• Viewing A Must• Bus & Prop £870,000 SAV

WIRRAL - Guest House 1740

WIRRAL-Cafe/Deli 1913

WIRRAL - Counter Newsagents 1745

• Adjacent Multiples• Audited Turnover, Gp 22%• Counter News• Vast Scope• Opposite Railway Station• Bus £150,000 Prop £385,000• Or Rent

Established For 20 Years

Prime Position, Town Centre

LIVERPOOL - Newsagents 1195

• Prime Main Road Trading Position• WT £10,500, N/S £ 1,600-1,700 Per• Week, Payzone £6,000• Counter Sales Newsagents• Well Established• 2 Bed Accommodation• Business £99,995

MERSEYSIDE - Hair Salon 1865• Established 9 Years• W/T£6,500• Rent Income From Nail Bars• Large Detached Freehold Property• Scope To Increase The Turnover• Viewing A Must• Bus & Prop £369,000 SAV

WIDNES Off Licence Franchise 1042

• Prominent Main Road Position• WT £11,000 (u man) Increasing• Superbly Fitted Throughout• Spacious 4 Bed Accom• Bus & Prop £239,000 SAV

LIVERPOOL - Sandwich Company 1904

• Well Established • W/T £1,750• Flexible Hours & Location• Enviable Reputation• Vehicle Included• Viewing A Must• Business £16,500 SAV

Established For 20 Years• W/T 2,500• Newly Furnished To The Highest Standard• Excellent Customer Base• Huge Potential To Increase Turnover• Viewing Highly Recommended• Business £64,995 SAV

CAFE Long est, refurbd, wellequipped takings £3700pw,long lease. Of fers around£55,000. 07940 177292

LADIES/GENTS HairdressingSalon. City centre. £10,000ono. 0151 9281549

CARDS & GIFT SHOP Est 25yrs £10,000 ono. Call 07598332978

Industrial Property

UNITS TO LET Bootle Area5,000−15,000 sqft. Flexibleterms 0151 486 0004

Commercial Premises

FOR SALEON BEHALF OF

LIQUIDATORS

INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSEPREMISES

LEES RD, KNOWSLEYINDUSTRIAL ESTATE

APPROX 18,468 SQ FT GIAOFFERS INVITED

FOR SALEOn behalf ofliquidators

IndustrialWarehousePremises

Marl Rd, KnowsleyIndustrial Estate

Approx 24,723 sq ftGIA

Offers Invited

SECURE INDOORCAR EMPORIUMIdeal for car maintenance &repairs. Units to rent Aintreearea. Long & short term lets.

Parking space. Closeto M57 & M58.

£100pw.

Call 0151 546 5222or 07949 134122

T J THOMAS0151 708 6544

ERSKINE ST close to City centreBusiness units, 850 − 950 sqft.With or without int Office Space.

£106−£125pw + vat.Modern Ind unit, KnowsleyBusiness Pk 2600sqft £13k p.a.

www.tjthomas.co.uk

T O L E T In L1 , jo in t l y orseperate (may sell freehold), S/contained office suite, approx1,434 sqft. Also Showroomapprox 1250 sqf t , secureparking, easy in and out terms.For details 0151 708 6060

O F F L I C E N C E &NEWSAGENT + 4 bed flat. OnMain road, large property.Leasehold £50,000. Shop rent£80pw, Flat £110pw. Freeholdalso available. 07738 763 706

RAINFORD St Helens WA118HP. Modern Industrial Units tolet ideal for storage or smallbusiness, 24hr cctv, rural loca-tion £75pw 07841 915503

OFFICE/RETAIL/STORAGE1st flr to rent. Excellent citycentre location L2. Please en-quire 07917 653668

SHOP TO LET Elec rollershutters, c/h, nicely refurbed.Call for details 07785 562496

L21 Unit/Offices fr £30pwSecure yard 0792O 461551

PENNY LANE Small office tolet. £60pw. 07836 369919

GARAGE UNIT 6 cars. Ramps.£130pw 0792O 461551

BUSINESS UNITS Ditton/Widnes 0151 227 9191

Taxis/Cab & Plate

AVON SETTLE CARS LTDquality cars available in ex-cellent condition £160pw inc in-surance and sat nav. 05 − 07plates. 07943 754640

DAVY LIVER TAXIS Requiremore full/part time private hireowner drivers. Some companycars still available. Call Alan07795 417333

PRIVATE HIRE Drivers req’d,busy system, cheap weekly in-surance 0151 260 1010

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

54 AUTO TX2 Knowsley cab/plate, immac, 6 months plate &tax £19,000. 07789 716500

Taxis/Cab & Plate

CITY CAB DAY COLLARWalton area 07809 464860

DAYS with c/o & Nights orLong collar. 07957 636549

CITY CAB & PLATE For Sale07594 360876

CITY DAYS,NIGHTS OR LCOLLAR TEL: 07789 884399

Business Services

Wholesale

TOYS GIFTS m&s babywear,below trade price shops Ebaycarboot etc 0151 298 1859

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

BUSINESS TO BUSINESSAppears every day in your

BUSINESSTOBUSINESS

0151 472 2377

BUSINESS TOBUSINESS

A-F TEL: 0151 472 2746G-M TEL: 0151 472 2573N-Z TEL: 0151 472 2377

BUSINESS TOBUSINESS

A-F TEL: 0151 472 2746G-M TEL: 0151 472 2573N-Z TEL:0151 472 2377

Appears every day in your