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Weekly business supplement in the Liverpool Echo
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★★★★
BUSINESS SurviveStart
ThriveECH
O
Theageof thefreelancer?
Kim’shair forceandall that Jaz
PAGES2&3 PAGES4&5
FSB’SCONFERENCECALLTOCOALITIONTHE high costs of business regulationand transport will be top of the agendaat next week’s Federation of SmallBusinesses (FSB) annual conference atLiverpool’s BT Convention Centre.
Labour leader Ed Miliband andBusiness Secretary Vince Cable areamong the speakers and more than 800entrepreneurs are expected to attendthe March 17-19 event.
FSB chief executive John Walkersaid regulation is still a hot topic formembers: “It’s a revolving door of an
opposition being concerned aboutregulation, then a different landscapewhen they get into government. I haveseen that with the currentgovernment.”
He said the issue of parental leave is aparticular area of concern.
And he said this month’s Budget isan ideal opportunity for the coalitiongovernment to ease the pressure onsmall firms.
“Top of our wish list is motoringtaxes, especially petrol which could goup by 10p a litre within the next month,half of that in taxes.
“We are calling for the tax increasesto be repealed, and not deferred.”
He said one motion for discussioncould help small firms struggling in thecurrent economic downturn.
Based on a New Zealand law it wouldallow firms to take late payers to court,which he says is preferable to moreinvolvement by government.
“If the government gets too involvedin late payment they tend to get
involved in how small firms run theirbusiness,” he said.
“It’s a question of trying to changethe late payment culture. We will havethe debate with interest.”
Last week Mr Walker chaired a Q&Asession for members with Labour’sshadow business team of Ed Balls andJohn Denham in Liverpool’s HiltonHotel.
Among the topics were the impact ofpublic sector cuts and their effect oncompanies and workers.
Many firms are unhappy withincreased parking charges as councilstry and make up budget shortfalls.
And he said public sector job cutswill see more people pushed into whathe terms “enforced self-employment”.
Liverpool eventto highlight smallfirms’ concerns
FundingtogrowITspecialistA CITY IT firm has wonfunding of £25,000 tohelp its growth.
ICTS was set up byKensington entrepreneurMartin Dev, 24, lastMarch with no funding orpremises.
He now employs 10staff in four offices atHorton House inExchange Flags providinga range of specialistservices.
The £160,000-turnoverfirm received fundingfrom the MerseysideSpecial Investment Fund(MSIF) through theNorthwest DevelopmentAgency’s (NWDA) SmallLoans for Business.
Mr Dev said: “Idecided to go it alonewith a positive attitudeand it has paid off.”
He said this year heexpects to take on 10more staff and turn over£500,000. DEVELOPING: Chris Walters (left) from MSIF, pictured with ICTS founder Martin Dev in his Horton House offices
● A FREE eventexplaining how
firms can cope in anemergency orunexpected disruption isopen to businesses inSefton. A networkinggroup, initially led bySefton Council, is beingdeveloped to share goodpractice and offerpractical advice based onprevious experiences orevents. The first meetingtakes place on March 25,at Southport Town Hall,starting at 10am. To bookcall John Hodkinson on0151 934 2187 or [email protected]
● WIRRALrecruitment agency
Scantec is launching anew department in itsfast-moving consumergoods division and haspromoted technicalexpert Sean Carter tomanage it, focusing onthe clean technology andcompetitive intelligenceand strategy sectors.Clean technology catersfor emerging energytechnologies such aslithium batteries and fuelcell technology, whilecompetitive intelligenceand strategy includesgathering, analysing anddistributing intelligenceabout products,customers andcompetitors.
● PENSIONSspecialist Barnett
Waddingham is runninga free breakfast briefing,called “Governance andrisk: are your pensionadministrators ready forthe challenges ahead?” atits Port of LiverpoolBuilding office on March31. E-mail [email protected] for further details andto book.
● ETIHAD Airwayswill double its flight
frequency betweenManchester and AbuDhabi from August 1,from seven to 14 flightseach week. JamesHogan, Etihad chiefexecutive, said: “Thefrequency increaseillustrates how Etihadhas firmly establisheditself in the north westand that we are now theairline of choice forbusiness and leisuretravellers.”
EXCLUSIVEByNEIL HODGSONIndustry Reporter
NEWS Wednesday, March 9, 20112 ★★★★
Specialiststylistwithambitionstobuildonreputation
BUSINESSSMALL
of the Week
Tony McDonough talksto Kim Stevenson, ownerof award-winning salon, Jaz
CALL GOESOUT FORFINAL LEADCOURSEMERSEYSIDE firmshave been invited toapply to join the finalLEAD programmebefore the abolition offunding body theNorth WestDevelopment Agency(NWDA).
LEAD is aimed atimproving themanagement skills insmall firms to helpboost productivity andprofitability.
Liverpool trainingand developmentcompany No Guru hasbeen appointed todeliver theprogramme on behalfof the NWDA.
LEAD delegateKevin Thompson,owner of St Helens-based The RemovalTeam, recommendedthe programme afterreporting a rise inrevenues for the lastfinancial year and a100% surge inprofits.
Eligible firms canclaim financial supportfrom the NWDA. Call0844 873 1226 or goto www.noguru.net/leadprogramme formore information.
No Guru has alsobeen awarded “DirectClaim” status by theInstitute of Leadershipand Management(ILM), the awardingbody for the Coachingand Mentoringprogramme that NoGuru has run for anumber of years.
John Drysdale, NoGuru managingdirector, said: “Thisstatus means that wecan now award ILMcertificates directly toour delegates as anILM centre ofexcellence.”
HSBC APPOINTSCITY CHIEFHSBC CommercialBanking has appointedDean Bunning as areacommercial directorfor Liverpool.
Dean will manage ateam of 25, providingbanking support tobusinesses in the areawith turnover between£2m and £25m.
His career spans 25years, taking incorporate andcommercial banking inthe north west, and hesaid he is lookingforward to supportingLiverpool businessesachieve their growthambitions.
BUSINESS
THERE seems little out of theordinary when you firstapproach Waterloo’s Jaz hairsalon. Located on a quietsuburban street, the small shop
front is smart but not dissimilar tocountless other salons.
However, behind the door sits asmall team whose talents are in greatdemand across Merseyside andbeyond.
Owner Kim Stevenson, 30, startedthe business more than six years agoand has established a enviablereputation for specialising in “hairup” styles.
Hair up is the term used to describestyles worn by woman to glamorousevents such as weddings and racemeetings.
So well known are Kim’s skills inthis area that she has been“headhunted” by a college in Prescotto teach the technique to hair stylistsfrom all over the North West.
A few weeks ago, the mum-of-onewas surprised and delighted to benamed the winner in the health andbeauty category of the ECHO’s Traderof the Year Contest.
She had been nominated by loyaland very satisfied customers of theWarrenhouse Road business.
Kim said: “Not in a million yearsdid we think we could win.
“We are a small business and it wasnice to achieve something big.
“The comments people made aboutus were amazing. I have been inbusiness for six years and it was suchan achievement that we beat all thesalons on Merseyside.”
As well as Kim, Jaz employs threepeople and offers a consultation withcustomers before work on their hairbegins.
“We sit down with people and gothrough different ideas,” said Kim.
“We do a lot of wedding and otherspecial occasions – the Grand Nationalis always a busy time for us.
“We have customers coming herefrom as far afield and Kirkby and StHelens – from all over Merseyside.
“Word of mouth is the key.“We might do someone’s hair for a
big occasion and when they get thereother people will say ‘I love you hair,where did you get it done?’.
“I am always flexible with times andtry to accommodate people. Fridayevenings and Saturday days are verypopular. During the week we do morenormal hairstyles.
“On Saturdays we are just filled tocapacity here.
Given the demand for the hair upstyle, Kim is amazed so many salonsand hairdressers do not offer it as aspeciality.
“I think hair up is coming back in abig way,” she added.
“You can see it on the catwalks – it’sa return to old-fashioned glamour wehad in the 1940s and 1950s.
“Liverpool girls are famous forsetting the trend and more and moreof them are asking for hair up.
“It doesn’t have to be a specialoccasion – often it’s just for a nightout.
“I think it is amazing that so manysalons don’t do the hair up styles.
There are those that do but I don’tthink they do it as well as we do.
“Stylists come from all over toattend the training sessions I do at thecollege.”
Before opening Jaz, Kim worked atthe renowned Herbert of Liverpooland scooped a number of awardsincluding a National HairdressingFederation award for wedding hair.
Her reputation has now spread farand wide and she has just been askedto do all the hair for the ladies at a
wedding in Birmingham.And she insists the standards of her
staff are just as high of those as herown. She said: “The quality of servicewe offer here is very important.
“I don’t employ junior stylists hereany more – I prefer to pay anexperienced stylist a proper wage thantry to find the trainee that is one in ahundred.”
Kim claims the recession has hadlittle effect on business and, in fact,she is looking at expanding.
“We have not seen a downturn intrade over the last couple of years.
“I think getting their hair done isone of the last things that women willgive up – even when times are hard.
“Getting you hair done is such a lift– it can have a real therapeutic effect.
“We definitely want to expand. I justfeel that we need more room. It justfeels so crowded in here on Saturdays.
“I feel ready for the challenge.”
Loansavailableforviablebusinesses,saysBarclaysSMALL firms arerediscovering their appetitefor growth, and banks saymore funding is available forviable propositions.
New research from BarclaysBusiness showed that 20% ofentrepreneurs in the regionwould expand their businessinto new markets if they wereto apply for a business loan,
while 20% would use theinvestment to purchase newequipment.
But the research also foundthat 27% of small businessesare more nervous about debtsince the start of thedownturn.
James Cliffe, divisionaldirector Barclays Business,said: “Our research suggests
some entrepreneurs,particularly those largerSMEs (small, medium-sizedenterprises), may beharbouring ambitions toexpand their business.”
He added: “Barclayscontinues to agree four out offive business lendingapplications, so the evidenceis clear: we’re open for
business for lending and wewant to hear from goodbusinesses with viable plans.
“Recently we agreed withothers in the finance industryto create the capacity tosupport gross new lending of£190bn to UK businesses,including small and mediumsized businesses, and wewould be willing to lend even
more if demand from viablebusinesses is there.”
Nationally, the resultsreveal that entrepreneurs’business borrowing plans areconsistent with pre-downturnlevels, with 20% of the UK’slarger SMEs likely to apply fora business loan in 2011, whichcould indicate growth is ontheir agenda.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011 NEWS 3★★★★
ACCOUNTINGRULES TO BERELAXEDSMALL firms will nolonger have to submitindependently auditedaccounts, saving anestimated 42,000companies £40m ayear.
Business SecretaryVince Cable outlinedproposed changes toregulations coveringsmall firms’ accounts,which he says will freeup valuable time forsmall companyowners.
“It’s important thatwe free small firms upso they can grow anddrive the economy.
“The changes I haveannounced mean thatsmall firms will be ableto concentrate ongrowing and taking onmore people insteadof paperwork.”
He said thegovernmentrecognises the needfor high standards inaudit and accounting,but that some areascould do with reform.
Mr Cable said hewill seek to ease theburden of paperworkinvolved with companyaccounts, coveredboth by UK andEuropean Unionregulations.
GOOD HAIR DAY: Some of the styles that Kim and her team at Jaz specialise in are shown here by modelsJade, Faye and Jenny with the girls’ make-up being done by make-up artist Nikita Abols Picture: HELEN CARROLL
AMBITIOUS: Jaz ownerKim Stevenson is lookingto expand her business
Do you wantto be our Business
of the Week?Contact Neil
Hodgson 0151 4722451 or emailneil.hodgson
@liverpool.com
NEWS Wednesday, March 9, 20114 ★★★★
BUSINESS
Usingthepoweroffreelancerstogrowbusinesses
INTERVIEWBIGAlistair Houghtontalks to Neil Lewis,organiser of thismonth’s EnterpriseFreelance Fairs
‘ Icancreatearicherpooloftalenttocallonatshortnotice’
NEIL LEWIS is passionateabout the power offreelancing – and now heis hitting the road tospread the gospel of
flexibility.He is the creator of Enterprise
Freelance Fairs, the events that aimto help entrepreneurs meet andrecruit the region’s top freelancetalent.
The next event, sponsored byaccountancy firm Brookson, will beheld in Liverpool a week today.Daresbury Science Park will hostanother on March 31.
Neil’s business, MediaModo,offers advice to entrepreneurs, aswell as organising events such asthe freelance fairs.
And he insists it will becomemore common for entrepreneurs togrow their businesses by hiringfreelancers, rather than taking onpermanent staff.
“The key problem is thebureaucracy of employment,” hesaid. “But there’s also the time ittakes to employ people. People haveto be found. They have to givenotice to leave their job.
“I’m an entrepreneur. I want tobring new products and services tothe market quickly and efficiently,and I want to help others to do thesame.
“With Enterprise FreelanceFairs, I can create a richer pool oftalent I can call on at short notice. Ialso want to find otherentrepreneurs to do the same thing,because together because togetherwe enrich the talent pool.
“The richer the pool, the easier itis to get the right people. It’s areally collaborative win-win.
“The fairs allows entrepreneursor inventors who have a greatproduct but don’t know how torecruit a marketing team or sell aproduct to find somebody withthose skills.”
Lewis’ career began in theinformation publishing business,working for legal publisherWaterlow before moving to theEconomist Intelligence Unit to sellits political and economic analysisto clients worldwide.
He next set up his own business,property consulting and publishingfirm Visium, which started fromhis back bedroom and grew into a£4m turnover group by 2007.
Neil moved to Spain, from wherehe ran the business.
But the property crash sentVisium spiralling.
It closed in August 2009 and, saysNeil, the shareholders walked awaywith nothing.
The experience inspired him tostart the Rags to Wreckageswebsite, in which he tells howentrepreneurs can learn fromfailure and emerge as better
business leaders. Today, Neildescribes his experience of the riseand fall of Visium as “probably thebest real life MBA you could everget”.
Neil has also written a book, 100Rules for Entrepreneurs, in whichhe hits home the message thatsmall firms need to be flexible tosurvive.
“One key lesson I learned fromVisium,” he said, “is that as abusiness goes through radicalchanges, the right person for thebusiness changes.
“We found that the people we’dgot didn’t fit our business, becauseour business had shifted.
“We discovered that the peoplewho were good at growing thebusiness were highly demotivatedwhen we started shrinking.
“The people who could turn itround were in the business, but not
the people we expected.”And, Neil said, even the
entrepreneur who founded abusiness may not be the rightperson to keep it growing.
Somebody happy driving astart-up business from theirbedroom might not be happyleading a large mature corporation,where stability is more importantthan innovation.
“It explains why entrepreneursshould sell their businesses,” hesmiled.”
Neil himself is still enjoying thechallenge of running MediaModo –which, perhaps unsurprisingly,employs freelancers rather thanhaving staff of its own. He holds aconference phone call everyTuesday morning with his freelanceteam to discuss the week’sactivities.
“I know my business will change
and need to pivot,” he said.“The key advantage of being an
entrepreneur is that you can movefaster than the competition.
“As soon as you have fixed people,you give that up. You operate like acorporate, but you don’t have themoney of a corporate. It’s the worstplace to be.
“It taught me to use outsourcedpeople who can deliver the servicesaround the project as the projectchanges.
“I needed people who wereflexible and freelance and willing towork on projects with me.
“They can sell their skills to meand move on to someone else. Andin six months time, if the businessgrows as I expect, then they cancome back and charge me morebecause they’ve got more skills andexperience.”
Neil’s first freelance fair was heldin Warrington last June, withothers held last year in Manchester.Birkenhead and Daresbury.
Last month Neil held a fair inManchester, while this month seesfairs in Liverpool and Daresbury.
The fairs appeal to the digital and
creative sectors, but also attractattendees from sectors includingbiotechnology. They includeworkshops for freelancers andentrepreneurs, such as social mediamasterclasses.
At the moment, says Neil, it ismostly small firms that are relyingon freelancers. He expects largecompanies will eventually startusing more freelancers, but says itcould take years for the corporateculture to change.
It all reflects, he says, the wayolder organisations want to feelthey control their staff by keepingthem on permanent contracts.
“I find that 50-plus entrepreneurswant that control,” he said. “Theywant staff where they can see them.
“Twenty-plus entrepreneurs arethe Facebook generation. Theyexpect people to come and use theirskills and influence as and whenneeded. They have an openapproach and don’t worry aboutcontrol.”
Neil added: “How did you assessthe importance of a company? Byhow many employees it had. Butthat’s no longer the case.”
Wednesday, March 9, 2011 NEWS 5★★★★
NEW WORLD: Neil Lewissays more entrepreneursare using freelancers ratherthan hiring permanent staff
FAIR GAME: Delegates at the Manchesterfreelance fair last month
FIRST FLOURISH: Neil Lewis (left) at the first EnterpriseFreelance Fair in Warrington
SMALL FIRMCHAMPIONSCHALLENGERESEARCH bybusiness informationservice Experian hasshown that 62,000 jobswere created inLiverpool over thepast decade by just10% of the city’s smallbusiness community.
And Experian saysmore “champion”high- growth firmscould easily be createdif they took a morepro-active approach tomanaging finances.
Experian small firmsmanaging directorSimon Streat said:“The champions we’veidentified serve as ablueprint for others.
“Opportunities existfor Liverpool firmsacross all sectors, butto achieve growth theyneed the rightmanagement in placeand a healthy supportnetwork to draw on.”
The research says asubstantial number ofLiverpool businesseshave high potential toachieve these growthlevels over the nextthree years.
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LiverpoolBusiness FairTuesday 15th March 201110.30-3.30 Liverpool Anglican Cathedral
Salford & Manchester . . . .Tues 19 AprilSeRon & West Lancs . . . . . .Tues 24 MayWrexham & Borderlands .Weds 22 JuneWirral & Chester . . . . . . . Weds 21 SeptBusiness & Technology Show . .AutumnHalton & Warrington . . . .Weds 2nd Nov
NEWS Wednesday, March 9, 20116 ★★★★
BUSINESS
Entry Details
Position:
Company:
Contact number:
Your name:
Address:
Email:
Contact number:
Address:
Email:
If you are nominating someone else please alsocomplete the following
Name of company/individual youare nominating:
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Trinity Mirror group companies would like to keep you informed ofnew and exciting offers and promotions. Please tick here if you wouldprefer not to be contacted. Your details will not be passed to third parties.
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Please tick the category or categories you areentering (you can enter more than one)
Start-up Environmental Award
Liverpool City Council Environmental Enterprise Award
Liverpool Chamber of Commerce Innovation & Technology Award
Carbon Champion Award
Sustainability Award
The Mersey Forest Corporate Responsibility Award
Personal Achievement Award
Environmental & Health Project Award
Neighbourhood Improvement Project Award
Sustainable School of the Year Award
Community Project Award
Environmental Champion Award
Canyouturngreen?
ENTRIES are open for thefirst It’s Our WorldMerseyside EnvironmentAwards.
The 2011 awards,supported by sponsorGroundwork, recogniseand celebrate the work ofcommunity groups andpublic and private sectorbodies which arecontributing to makingMerseyside a greener placeto live in.
If you are involved inprojects helping with thesustainable developmentof Merseyside, then wewant to hear from you.
ECHO editor AlistairMachray said: “We wantyou to honour the peopleand organisations whohave helped to makeMerseyside a greener placeto live in. it does not matterhow big or small. Every
little bit helps and we wantto hear all about it.”
The awards are free toenter and are in twocategories: private andpublic sector; andcommunity.
Categories includestart-up environmentalaward; innovation andtechnology award andpersonal achievementaward for the public andprivate sectors, andneighbourhoodimprovement andenvironmental championin the community awards.
Entries must relate tothe period January 2010 toMarch 2011. Nominationsmust have a Merseysideaddress. Closing date forentries is March 18. Visitwww.liverpoolecho.co.uk/environmentawards forentry forms.
POWER: Hydro can be a clean renewable alternative
A MESSAGEFROMGROUNDWORKMERSEYSIDE
IN 2006, theEnvironment Agencypublished a poll of itstop 100 eco-heroes ofall time.
Next to CharlesDarwin was the nameof Tony Bradshaw, apioneer of restorationecology who, in 1968,took the chair ofbotany at LiverpoolUniversity – andLiverpool became hisadopted city.
Tony was involvedwith manyenvironmentalorganisations, includingthe first GroundworkTrust, set up in StHelens in 1981 to bringabout environmentalchange and theconsequent social andeconomic benefits.
GroundworkMerseyside, 30 yearsold this year, createssustainablecommunities which arevibrant, healthy andsafe, which respect thelocal and globalenvironment and whereindividuals andenterprise prosper.
We know fromexperience thatachievements are madeworking together withpassionate individualsand therefore we aredelighted to sponsorthe PersonalAchievement Award,dedicated to TonyBradshaw, to recognisean individual who,through their vocation,has made a realdifference.
TheGroundworkMerseysidePersonalAchievementAwardDO YOU know an individual whodeserves public recognition for his orher environmental work?
This award, presented in memory ofthe late Professor Tony Bradshaw, isfor someone who has made a positiveenvironmental impact in their sectorthrough their vocation.
The nominated person may be anunsung environmental business herowho is working hard to improve theirorganisation’s green credentials orencouraging other companies to adoptbetter environmental practices.
TheNeighbourhoodImprovementProjectAwardHAVE youimproved yoursurroundings?
This awardrecognises theyear’s bestneighbourhoodimprovementproject.
The projectmay haveenhanced a greenspace or the builtenvironment to
make yourneighbourhood asafer andhealthier place tolive.
You should beable todemonstrate thatyou have woncommunitysupport, involvedlocal people andchanged people’sperceptions.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011 NEWS 7★★★★
TOUGH economic times haveforced businesses to becomesmarter and leaders to bemore decisive. But they havealso rewarded innovation
and determination, with somecompanies thriving because of theway they have exploited theopportunities that are out there.
The 20th Regional BusinessAwards, held by our sister paper theLiverpool Daily Post, will highlightand reward those companies, largeand small, which have prospered inthe last 12 months.
There are 10 awards which enablebusinesses big and small, start-upsand long-established firms to berecognised for their achievements:
● SMALL BUSINESS OF THEYEAR
This award is for businessesemploying up to 50 people that candemonstrate all-round businessexcellence.
It was won last year by LiverpoolScience Park-based web designagency, Mando Group.
● MEDIUM BUSINESS OF THEYEAR
Judges will be looking for specificbusiness achievements and a strongfinancial performance frombusinesses employing between 51and 250 people.
● JAGUAR LAND ROVERCORPORATE SOCIALRESPONSIBILITY AWARD
This award will be presented tothe private sector business orindividual, judged to have the besthistory of taking into account theeffect of business operations on thecommunity and the economy.
● INVESTMENT OF THE YEARCan your company demonstrate
how investment since January, 2010,has had a beneficial impact on yourbusiness and local economy? Firmsthat are new to the region or existingbusinesses making freshinvestments are eligible.
● EXPORT BUSINESS OF THEYEAR
Judges are looking for the firmthat can demonstrate a substantialand sustained increase in exportsrelative to the size of your companyover the past 12 months.
● LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES
UNIVERSITY KNOWLEDGEBUSINESS OF THE YEAR
The Knowledge Business of theYear category is open to any businessengaged in the commercialisation ofresearch and development ofintellectual property, including puresciences, technology, software orprofessional know-how, irrespectiveof size or stage of development.
● GREEN AWARDLast year the judges decided that
B&M Waste Services was aforward-thinking business with ahuge commitment to meetingchallenging environmental demandswith the ultimate aim of achieving100% recycling. Has your businessmade a similarly positivecontribution to the environment?
● O2 JUDGES’ CHOICE AWARDThe winner may not be shortlisted
in any of the categories but in theeyes of the judges demonstratedcommitment, determination anddedication to their business andentry into the awards. Considerationwill be paid to the presentation,attention to detail and financialperformance of nominees.
● KPMG BUSINESS OF THEYEAR
This award is for the region’soutstanding large business,employing more than 250 people.
● DLA PIPER BUSINESSPERSON OF THE YEAR
Do you, or does someone you workwith, truly stand out from the crowd?Do they help to not only grow thereputation of their respectiveorganisation but also the region,showing the entrepreneurial spiritthat typifies the region’s resilience?
BETHEBESTAlex Turner ontoday’s launch of the2011 RegionalBusiness Awards
AWARD WINNER: Last year’s small business of the year was web developer Mando Group
Awardsforbusinesses inMerseysideandCheshireTHE awards are open to anybusiness operating in the DailyPost circulation area ofMerseyside, West Lancashire andNorth West Cheshire.
Last year business person ofthe year was Stobart Portsmanaging director and WidnesVikings chairman SteveO’Connor, while TJ Morris, AEVand Tech-X were among thewinning businesses.
This year the awards ceremonyis being held on Thursday, June
23, at Liverpool’s AnglicanCathedral. Entries open today forbusinesses which think they havebeen outstanding in their field.
To enter one or more of ouraward categories, please get intouch with the Daily Post’s eventsdepartment for an applicationform by telephoning 0151 4722570 or download an applicationform online at www.regionalbusinessawards.co.uk
The closing date for entries isWednesday, April 13.
VENUE: Last year’s awardsceremony at Liverpool’sAnglican Cathedral
NEWS Wednesday, March 9, 20118 ★★★★
BUSINESS
HATSTHEWAYTODOITROSIE
Eventpromoteswellbeingfirms
CitymillinerinspiredbyLondon icon
HAT TRICK: Woolton milliner Rosie Norman pictured with a selection of her headwear Picture: RAY FARLEY
YOUNG Woolton artgraduate Rosie Norman hasa real head for business aftersetting up her own millineryventure.
Rosie, 22, createshand-made hats for specialoccasions, from weddings toan elegant day at the races,from her home-basedshowroom.
She is the first in herfamily to work in themillinery industry andreveals that she wasinspired by an internship atthe London studios of sectordoyen Philip Treacy.
Rosie said: “I studied on a
three year decorative artscourse at Nottingham TrentUniversity beforegraduating last July.
“In my second year Ispecialised in textiles anddid an internship withPhilip Treacy for onemonth.”
Treacy has created hatsfor established designers
from Alexander McQueen toKarl Lagerfeld, as well asValentino, Ralph Laurenand Donna Karen.
He also designed hats forpop sensation Lady Gaga in2009, and for a variety offilms including HarryPotter.
Rosie said: “That waswhen I knew hats were forme and that it was what Iwanted to do.”
After a millinery coursein London’s St MartinsCollege of Art and DesignRosie created a collection ofhats for her degree madefrom an embroidered fabricshe had designed anddeveloped herself.
She said: “I graduatedwith a first, which made me
think, I have to dosomething with this, I can’tlet it go.”
Another internship withcelebrated London millinerStephen Jones gave her aninsight into how to run herown business and sinceChristmas she has beendeveloping her owncollection.
Her hats range from £80 to£380 in price.
She said: “I am trying toget footballers’ wives towear some at the GrandNational or Ascot.
“I also do bespoke designsto match a dress.
“My designs are differentand wacky and unique.They’re a bit of fun, butelegant.”
byNEIL HODGSONIndustry Reporter
AN EVENT toshowcase smallbusinesses in thehealth and wellbeingsector is being heldin Knowsley later thismonth.
Liverpool-basedMad PandaPhotography isorganising the day onSunday, March 20, in
association with theNational WildflowerCentre.
Taking place fromnoon until 4pm atthe centre in RobyRoad, the Mad PandaSpring Celebrationwill feature small andfledgling health andwellbeing firms.
They include
Positive Partnerships,You Can Make ItHappen, Odds andEndz and Visage.
Yoga instructorChristine Gibbonswill offer a “yoga forall” session and therewill be face paintingby Fantasy Faces andcommunity artistJanet Bell will also be
on hand to show herskills.
The event hasevolved out of theMad Panda Tea Partywhich has beenrunning at the centrefor the past twoyears. Mad Pandadirector Maddy Bellsaid: “Last year wehad an Alice in
Wonderland theme –this year we wantedto showcase fledglinghealth and wellbeingbusinesses. It think itis important for us tohelp promote eachother. There is a lotof stress around atthe moment and wewant to help peoplerelax.”
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S H O P T O L E T L 4 a r e a£275pcm ideal for many uses.Low overheads 07740 409355
THE FIVE STAR WASH Cafeopportunity, storage/workshop.Tel 07772 000000
WELLINGTON RD L15 Varietyof Industrial units available now0151 227 2875
L21, L4 Secure Units/offices fr£40pw 0792O 461551
Industrial Property
UNITS TO LET Bootle Area5,000−15,000 sqft. Flexibleterms 0151 486 0004
InvestmentProperty
O N E B E D S / C F L A T ,WIRRAL Same hb tennant over10yrs, £3100 per annum now,£4k from April paid direct tolandlord. £17,500. 07940953280
Business For Rent
AIGBURTH Shop with planningpermission for hot takeawayfood. Busy main road 07938877632
Business Auction
T +44 (0) 161 238 [email protected]
On the instructions of Peel Ports Limited following theiracquisition of the former premises of Bridgewater Paper Co Ltd
- In Administration
2 Day Sale by Online Auction(Subject to Conditions of Sale and Availability)
Electric Motors, Industrial& Paper Machinery/
Process Spares, GeneralFactory Equipment
On View: Monday 21 to Tuesday 22 March 2011from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
At: Bridgewater Paper Co Ltd, North Road,Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, CH65 1AF
Bidding Opens: Monday 21 March 2011 at 10.00 am
Bidding Closes: Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 March 2011from 10.00am each day
For further details and catalogue please visit our website
Business Opportunities
2X BARBERS SHOPS TOLET Prime locations in Crosby/W a t e r l o o . E q u i p p e d w i t hbarbers chairs/ Mirrors/ Sta-tions etc. Rent £650pcmCall: 0151 920 9999 or 07900424 441
LATE NIGHT OFF LICENCETo let. Prime location, SouthRoad, L22. Requires fit−out.Alcohol trading times 10am−12midnight. Rent £1200pcmC a l l : 0 1 5 1 9 2 0 9 9 9 9 /07900424441
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
Taxis/Cab & Plate
AVON FLEET CARS LTDquality cars available in ex-cellent condition. L’pool driversonly £165pw inc insurance. 05− 07 plates. 07943 754640
GOLD TX4 AUTO 2007 Cab &Plate. No sensible offer refused,140k miles. 12m MOT, TaxJuly Tel: 07710 577764
CABS & PLATES for sale two58 plates, one 08, one 07 & 51TX1. 12 months pass. all cleanvehicles Offers 07596 866041
LONG COLLAR TX1 Knowsley£170pw all in. 07854 587022/01744 812255
P R I V A T E H I R E D r i v e r srequired, busy system, weeklyinsurance. 0151 260 1010
BLUE LINE TAXISNew driverswanted urgently. Earn £500 −£800pw. Tel 0151 709 0101
TX11 52 REG Black manual,ex condition 07768 622517
VARIOUS COLLARS competrates 07873 200893
BOTANIC CARS Requiresowner drivers 0151 220 2020
P/HIRE Lpool & Knowsley Plate£140pw Inc ins 07523 976108
BUSINESS TOBUSINESS
A-K TEL: 0151 472 2746L-Z TEL: 0151 472 2573
Appears every day in your
