★★★★

BUSINESS SurviveStart

ThriveECH

O

Illness inspirationfor laserclinics

GrandNational isasignof thetimes

PAGES2&3 PAGES4&5

HIGHRATESBLIGHTCITYHIGHSTREET

UNREALISTIC business ratevaluations are blighting main retailareas, claims a Walton cafe owner.

Michael Mavris, 57, boss of Mike’sKitchen in County Road, said he mayhave to axe staff as footfall dwindles dueto business closures.

He claims shops have shut ratherthan accept high valuations, and theonce prime retail area is now indecline.

Mr Mavris, who has worked incatering all his life, paid £10,900 in rentlast year, but said his premises werevalued at £12,250, which he added tookhim out of banding to qualify for smallbusiness rate relief.

And he said his appeal against last

May’s valuation is still outstanding.“This part of County Road used to be

a prime site six years ago, with EthelAustin, Kwiksave and Burtons, but they

have all gone.“There’s 26 empty premises waiting

to be let or rented.“If you stand on my front door, 500

yards in each direction you have 18takeaways, six newsagents, fouraccident and claims shops and threepawnbrokers.

“This is what they are turning theroad into. They are driving the majorshops away.”

He argues that the rateable value of apremises is only what a retailer isprepared to pay.

And he warned: “I employ six girlsfrom the community. But it is hard tokeep six girls in employment withouthaving to cut one or two jobs if we aregoing to have to find these expenses.”

He said he approached LiverpoolCity Council regarding his appeal.

“I told them, we are going to come toa stage and close the doors, but thecouncil said, ‘when you do that, informus so we will stop taking the moneyfrom your bank’.”

A council spokesman said: “Whilethe city council collects business rateson behalf of the government, the actuallevel is set by the Valuation Office(VOA) and we have no control over it.”

A VOA spokesman added: “We havereceived several formal proposals toalter the rating list for shops inLiverpool 4 postal district, includingCounty Road, and are dealing withthem.”

Walton sufferingas retailers shutup shop–claim

BeanCoffeetogrowatPrinces

● HSBC Bank haslaunched its

Business Thinkingcompetition which willchoose six firms fromnine UK regions to go on“thought exchange” tripsbefore choosing a winner.Last year finalists weretaken to Shanghai,Mexico and Istanbul andHSBC area commercialdirector Dean Bunningsaid he is looking forbusinesses fromLiverpool to enter thisyear’s competition. Visithttp://businessthinking.hsbc.co.uk for details.

● BUSINESSES arebeing invited to an

information event thatwill help them make themost of the LabourParty’s first annualconference in Liverpoolthis September. The‘how to get involved’drop-in sessions atLiverpool’s Arena andConvention Centre takeplace tomorrow, April 7,from 1pm and willoutline details of theconference, its hundredsof fringe events, andbusiness opportunities.To register to attendphone 0870 043 5533 orregister online at www.labour.org.uk/ac2011getinvolved

● RYAN Redmond, 20,from Kirkdale, has

won the DemolitionOperative of the YearAward and a £1,000 prizeat the NationalFederation of DemolitionContractors’ annualevent in London. Hejoined Widnes firm JBryan as a 16-year-oldand completed anapprenticeship at theNational ConstructionTraining College inNorfolk.

● BARCLAYS Bank isholding a free

seminar at Liverpool’sAnfield stadium on April13 to help entrepreneursand existing businessesboost online trading.International digitalexpert Josh Spear andMatt Brittin, managingdirector of Google UKand Ireland, will bejoined by local digital-savvy entrepreneurs tooffer advice and support.Visit www.barclays.co.uk/boostingbusiness toattend.

byNEIL HODGSONIndustry Reporter

BEAN Coffee hassigned a deal toincrease its tradingspace at PrincesDock.

The independentcoffee and cateringbusiness operates outof Brunswick BusinessPark and its mobileBean Machine coffeeshop and has beentemporarilyoccupying an existingunit at Princes, where2,500 people work.

But it will move tobigger premises in

‘building 12’, whichincludes themulti-storey car parknext to theMalmaison Hotel,when they arecompleted nextmonth.

Princes Dockproperty managerLiza Marco said: “TheBean Coffee shop willprovide an excellentcomplimentaryamenity for both theexisting occupiers andvisitors to PrincesDock.”

EXPANSION:Bean Coffeeowners Vip Bhattand Jon Whyteon site at theirplanned newPrinces Dock site

SHUTTING-UP: A cafe owner claims unrealistic business rate valuationsare blighting retail areas, like County Road, Walton

NEWS Wednesday, April 6, 20112 ★★★★

Life’sGrandasPaulsignsupforanotherNational

BUSINESSSMALL

of the Week

Neil Hodgson talks toPaul Gardner of signagespecialist TVF Promotions

MARITIMEGROUP INSMALLFIRMS PLEAMERSEY Maritime,the ports-relatedbusiness group, istargeting the smallfirms sector with anew membership deal.

Communicationsmanager AnnetteParker said the newpackage will offerbusinesses anincreased range ofevents, improvedbusiness developmentopportunities and alobbying facility.

She said: “We havealways enjoyed strongsupport fromLiverpool’s best knownmaritime companies,for example, Bibby,Peel, Cammell Laird,Maersk and AtlanticContainer Line, aswell as many smaller,but equally well-respected companiessuch as Brookes Bell,Salvesen and DenholmHandling.

“Now, more thanever, other companiesare realising the valueof building theirnetworks and arecoming to us to helpmake that happen.

“ We would urgeany firm keen to growin the maritime sectoron Merseyside tocome and join us.”

The region’smaritime sectoremploys 26,000 peoplein 1,000 firms, with aturnover of £2.5bn.

Ms Parker saidprospects for thesector areencouraging, includingplans for a SuperPortwhich it is estimatedcould lead to thecreation of 21,000 newjobs by 2020, rising to30,000 by 2030.

Visit www.merseymaritime.co.uk

TRIBUTE TO‘GENT’ PAULFAMILY andcolleagues of TotalGlass managingdirector Paul Ierstonare mourning hispassing after a two-and-a-half year battlewith cancer.

Mr Ierston, 40,joined the Knowsleyfirm as an office juniorfrom school and wasappointed managingdirector in 2008.

He leaves a wife,Vicky, and twochildren, Alfie (7), andfour-year-old Ava.

Founder FrankDeary said: “Paul wasa pure gentleman.”

BUSINESS

SIGN OF THETIMES: PaulGardner,operations directorfor TVFPromotions, withthe John Smith'ssigns for this yearsGrand National

TOMORROW’S Grand NationalLiverpool Day marks the startof three days of excitement, joy,and, yes, even disappointmentfor punters whose “dead cert”

tips will have drifted across thefamous Aintree course in a confetti oftorn-up betting slips.

But for Aintree-born Paul Gardnerit will be another rendezvous with awelcome constant throughout hisworking life.

Paul, 59, first set foot on theNational course in 1982, though not asa wide-eyed racegoer.

He was working for a London-basedfirm providing signage for the entirecourse. And he has returned to theNational in a working capacity eachyear since then – though the industryand technology have raced ahead inthe intervening years.

However, things looked bleak backin the 80s when Paul’s employer,which was one of the first to providesignage and advertising hoardings atfootball and sporting venues, wentbust, leading to a period working atthe now defunct BICC factory inMelling.

“Times were hard and I had a youngfamily to support, so I did 12 hournights at the old BICC factory.”

Fortunately, he was able to findwork with a Southport firm workingin the same field that had secured theGrand National contract.

Eighteen months later they, too, hadcollapsed.

But it opened the door to a job withTVF Promotions in 1986 which had theAintree contract and has worked itever since. Now, with Paul one of twosole directors, it has diversified intoother arenas on the global sportingstage.

Paul runs contracts for sponsors ofthe National and other horseracingcourses as well as several majorsporting events, including rugbyunion’s showcase Five, then SixNations tournament, and local clubsWaterloo and Orrell. He heads TVF’sHeysham Industrial Estate base inNetherton, while co-director LynnWall heads a London office.

He said: “By the time I became adirector we were doing a lot ofracecourses. I have always done theGrand National.”

Much of the work TVF was awardedwas through word of mouth: “Westarted slowly, but by the late 80s andearly 90s, one of the London agencieswe worked for got the Coca Cola Cup.”

The first domestic final of theEnglish football season at theprestigious Wembley stadium was asignificant stepping stone for thebusiness, and preceded further

contract wins with the EnglishFootball Association and its keysponsors Green Flag and Nationwide.

TVF was then invited by the FA topitch for the contract for the EuropeanFootball Championships whichEngland was to host in 1996. Thetournament took place at Wembleyand several other stadiums around thecountry including Newcastle, AstonVilla in Birmingham, ManchesterUnited’s Old Trafford and Liverpool’sAnfield, which, as a committed Red,

was a dream for Paul.He said: “I support Liverpool and

always have done, so Euro 96 was a bigbuzz for me.”

The football tournament was thebiggest contract TVF had worked on,and its seamless delivery provided theplatform for the company to kick on,said Paul.

“It was a massive job and took twoyears to plan, but we got some reallybig spin offs from that, includingLloyds TSB for the Five Nations and

the European Speedway Grand Prix in2000.” He said he believes the qualityof their work on the Euro 96tournament elevated TVF’s standingin the industry: “At the time it wasprobably the second or third biggestsporting event in the world.”

TVF works closely with majorsponsors such as Guinness and Avivaand recent contract wins include theGreat North Run sponsor BUPA andthe Manchester 10k race. It has alsopitched for this year’s revivedLiverpool marathon in October.

Preparations are also in full swingfor May’s Heineken rugby union finalat Cardiff ’s Millennium stadium.

The company employs just over 30staff, evenly split between Liverpooland London, working on their sportingcontracts and some hotel conferencework.

Paul says the industry has changeddramatically since he began in the

LTPrintextendscapacitywith£120,000digitalpressWIRRAL printer LT PrintGroup has invested £120,000 ina new digital press that willadd extra production capacity.

The business, whichemploys 41 staff at offices inWallasey and Birkenhead, hasbought a Xerox 7002 digitalpress, one of the mostadvanced in the UK.

Managing director Bob

McWilliams said the newpress would lead to a “seachange” in productivity andquality available to customers.

“Digital is the future and agreat avenue for growth,” hesaid.

He said the new press willstreamline the business andexpand its customer offer.

“By upgrading we can meet

the high quality and fastturnaround demanded byconsumers, while improvingour services to businessclients,” he said.

“£120,000 is a lot of moneyto invest at the moment, butdespite the economicconditions we are maintaininggrowth and this is a furtherexample of our commitment

to offer our clients the bestpossible services.”

The £2.7m-turnovercompany works extensivelywith public sector clients,including the NHS and arange of Merseyside schoolsand universities, as well asprivate sector organisationssuch as Liverpool Law Societyand the Bank of Scotland.

The business alsospecialises in printing for thehospitality sector, with arange of clients including topLondon hotels Claridge’s, theHyatt Regency and MandarinOriental and the UK spa hotelchain Shire Hotels.

LT Print merged in 2009with Prescot-based firmStephenson Print.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011 NEWS 3★★★★

FPB CALL TOTEST NEWAPPEALSA SMALL businesssupport group isurging members toput a new banklending appealsprocess to the test.

The British Bankers’Associationannounced thecreation of the newprocess this weekwhich, it is claimed,will allow small firmsto request a secondopinion if they believeloan applications havebeen declined unfairlyby one of the UK’smain banks.

The Forum ofPrivate Business (FPB)believes the creationof the appeals processis a welcome stepwhich should, ifapplied correctly, helpto restore some trustin bank lending amongsmall firms.

FPB chief executivePhil Orford said: “Ifbusiness owners donot pursue the appealsavenue when theirloan applications aredenied, it willeffectively let thebanks off the hook andallow them to say thatsmall firms are happywith their lendingdecisions.”

SPORTING CHANCE: Paul Gardner’s TVF Promotions makes signs for many major events

early 1980s.“When I first came in,

all the signs were handwritten or stencilled.

“Now , almost 100% aredone on digital printers.”

Technology is also shiftingaway from printed signage andadvertising to sophisticated LEDdisplays around pitch perimetersand 3-D logos actually painted on thepitch which are placed in specificrelation to the location of TV cameras.

“They look like they are standing onthe pitch, until someone runs overthem,” said Paul.

“They’re quite distorted up close,but they are applied at a measureddistance from the TV cameras so theyappear properly on the screen.”

Another aspect of the modernindustry is specialist abseilers on thestaff who can work high on stadiumroofing to place signs as advertisersseek more and more outlets for theirproducts.

Paul admitted the business felt thepinch when the downturn hitadvertising: “We were alright at first,but after six to nine months, then itstarted happening.

“I think we have bottomed out nowand, with a lot of help andunderstanding of the staff to get usthrough, we’re picking up work againand things are on the up.

“Our turnover of almost £1m isslightly down on the previous year dueto the downturn, but we have taken ona new salesman who is trying to pickup new things for us.”

Do you wantto be our Business

of the Week?Contact Neil

Hodgson 0151 4722451 or emailneil.hodgson

@liverpool.com

29 Years’ proudassociation with the

Grand National■ Venue Dressing■ Large Format Digital

Printing■ Commercial Signage■ PVC Banners■ Window Graphics■ Building Wraps■ Vehicle Livery■ Pop Ups■ A-Boards■ Flags, Pennants & Bunting

Banners from£2.50 per sq ft

ORDERS OVER £100QUOTE REF ECHO1 FOR

10% DISCOUNTCALL NOW

0151 521 7636

Unit 1, WakefieldRoad, HeyshamIndustrial Estate,Netherton, Liverpool,L30 6TZ, UK

NEWS Wednesday, April 6, 20114 ★★★★

BUSINESS

FOR lots of would-bebusinesspeople, the desire tobe an entrepreneur comesbefore the idea. But JanWilliams’ inspiration for

Pro.Med Laser Clinics came fromher own experiences followingkidney failure.

One side-effect of thje medicationwas she suffered very badly withfacial hair and bodily hair – and herfrustrations at the lack of suitabletreatments were the catalyst forsetting up in business.

It was one of many medicalappointments that sparked the idea.

“I had gone in for a consultationbut I came out with a lot of ideas,”she said. “At this point I was quiteskint. I thought it was a dream, butI decided it was something I reallywanted to do.”

Her mother had run her ownbusinesses, including ahairdressers at 55 Goodison Roadwhen Jan was very young and morerecently a pub in North Wales,which Jan had helped run when hermedical appointments and illnessesmade it difficult to hold down afull-time job.

But she was determined to helppeople who are afflicted byunwanted hair.

She said: “When I ask people howthey heard about us, some have kepthold of something they read aboutus two or three years ago.

“It’s the hardest thing forsomeone to walk through the doorand say ‘hi, I have got a problem’.It’s amazing how people will hidethings.”

The taboo nature of the subjecthad an impact on the businesswhen Jan opened her first clinic inJanuary, 2008.

“Building up in the early dayswas very, very hard,” she said. “Itwas overcoming barriers, I wasgoing everywhere trying to getpeople to have a free treatment.”

The business, then calledFrodsham Laser Clinic, slowlyestablished itself before Jan startedlooking further afield.

Jan said: “I ran on my own fortwo years but by the end of 2009 Iwanted more. I started looking forthe next location, which happenedto be St Helens. We called it NorthWest Laser and Aesthetic Clinicbecause I thought we wouldn’t getout of the North West.

“Then I got bored again and havejust opened in Mold, Wales, so itwas time to rebrand, this time toPro.Med Lasers. We are reallytrying to idenitfy ourselves asprofessional rather thanbeauticians.”

The company offers more thanjust hair removal, with its servicesincluding scar reduction, veinremoval, tattoo removal, acnetreatment and body contouring.

Buoyed by the success so far, Janis now developing plans that willsee her business growgeographically and deepen itsinvolvement in the sector and thecommunity.

“The plan is to take over the

world by laser,” she said, laughing,although having opened two clinicsin less than a year the business isfast approaching a tipping point.

“We have got plans to open inBolton within the next few monthsand then a site in Troon, Ayrshire –

then we’ll be in England, Wales andScotland.

“I have been approached bypotential investor and I am lookingat whether I want it to go that wayor not.

“I’ve also got to decide whether Igrow the business as a chain or afranchise, although my worry aboutfranchises is you can lose focus.”

In the meantime, there is still alot going on for Jan to focus on.

“We are just opening our ownlaser training school. From GPs to

the novice who doesn’t knowwhether they want to go into lasertreatments,” she said.

“I am running some pro-bonopilot schemes with HM Prisons tohelp remove marks that will stoppeople getting on and getting a jobwhen they are released.

“We also do a few clients eachyear pro bono that have comethrough their GP or dermatologistwhere people are genuinelysuffering but can’t affordtreatment.”

Turningkidneyfailureintoabusinesssuccessstory

INTERVIEWBIGAlex Turner talksto Jan Williams,whose illness led tosetting up Pro.MedLaser Clinics

‘Buildingupintheearlydayswasveryveryhard’

GROWTH PLANS: Jan intends toopen two more clinics in thecoming months

Wednesday, April 6, 2011 NEWS 5★★★★

TEAMWORK: The Pro.Med staff are Marcus Williams, Helen Miles, Jan Williams and Karen Robertson

LASER FOCUS: Jan’s clinics offer a range of services thatinvolve laser treatments

EXPERTASK THE

BUSINESSleaders arebeing asked toshare theirexpertise with

budding entrepreneurs– could you be one ofthem?

If you’ve got abusiness idea or arealready working foryourself, you may needthat extra push to getyour business moving.This is where aStepclever mentor cancome in.

Stepclever Mentorswork with individualsto shape their businessideas and test it out withpotential investors,customers andsuppliers so they areready to launch theirbusiness. They will alsohelp to secure therequired investmentand give advice on howto maintain a successfulcompany.

Essential support isgiven to the new entre-preneurs throughoutthe process,withmentorsusing theirexistingcontacts tohelp makethe businessa success.

Theprojectoffers:● Group MentoringCourse: Allow yourselfto learn from others, asyou are provided with aset of innovative tools totake your businessforward in ways younever thought possible.● Mentoring WebSpace: Gain exclusiveaccess to an onlinementoring facility,giving you access to awide range of businessprofessionals who willbe on hand to help youevery step of the way.● Free Laptop:Everybody who attendsand completes the groupmentoring course willreceive their own laptopto help them in theirbusiness.● E-Commerce

Training: Learn how touse the powers of theworld wide web tomarket you business,increase your sales, andimprove yourefficiency.

A group of menteesand mentors havealready taken part inthe first phase of theproject, and this is whatsome of them had tosay:

“I have learnt tolook at differentbusiness ideas andthink about how ifwill help mesucceed.”

“The course hasmade me questionmyself and thinkabout the things Iwant to do in thefuture and how to goabout it.”

“The sessions haveallowed us to thinkand define our ideasfor business.”

TheStepcleverteam arelooking formentorswho canoffer adviceon areassuch as ICT,marketing,

counselling, HR, lawand procure- ment andself employ- ment.

But if you have abusiness idea and thinkyou would benefit fromspeaking with someonewho’s gone through thesame process thencontact us today.

Call Carly Phillips on07581 569835 or e-mailher at carly.phillips@neighbourhoodinvestor.com.

STARTING a newbusiness is exciting andrewarding, but it is alsofull of challenges.Stepclever has a rangeof services to help youon your way fromturning an idea into areal life business.

To find out more visitus at Stepclever.co.uk

with KAREN TATE,business start upadvisor atStepclever

NEWS Wednesday, April 6, 20116 ★★★★

BUSINESS

FEW business sectors willhave been hit harder thanthe construction sectorduring the recession.However, the latest data from

the Markit/CIPS PurchasingManagers’ Index (PMI) survey forthe UK construction sectorindicates the sector put in a goodperformance in March, see panel.

Peter Linford, director of northLiverpool-based NoblesConstruction, insists his business isweathering the storm but admitsothers have not been so fortunate.

At present the company, whichemploys 58 people, has 19 livebuilding jobs ranging in value from£200,000 to £6m.

Current projects include the£750,000 refurbishment ofLiverpool’s Neptune Theatre, workon the Slavery Museum at theAlbert Dock and some work forLiverpool Football Club.

Nobles is also on site at AintreeHospital, Christie’s Hospital inManchester and Arrowe ParkHospital in Wirral as well asnumerous school projects includingSt Margaret Church of England inWarrington, where they arecarrying out £2.1m worth of work.

“At the moment the market isextremely tight and extremelycompetitive,” he said.

“We have seen a number of localcontractors go under in the pastcouple of years and that is notgood.”

Along with the rest of the UK,Merseyside has seen private sectorproperty development virtuallygrind to a halt post credit-crunch.

Bank lending remains tight andeven if they do start to slowlyloosen the purse strings, many areunlikely to touch property projectswith a bargepole.

Consequently, Nobles has had torely much more heavily on publicsector contracts than Peter wouldlike.

Despite the cutback on largecapital projects Peter, who owns thebusiness with two other directors,says the lower level refurbishmentand building work has continued.

He added: “In an ideal world thesplit between public and privatesector jobs would be fifty-fifty. Butat the moment the majority of ourwork is public sector because theprivate isn’t building and the banksaren’t lending.

“The public sector procurementprocess is becoming increasingly

difficult. Both price and quality areimportant and it is getting moredifficult to get even onto thepre-qualification lists.

“You now have to be reallyinnovative and show what you cando. Added to that, because of thecutbacks on the bigger projects, weare now finding ourselvescompeting against the biggercontractors who are stepping downinto our market.

“A lot of the public sector workwe do is at the sub-£2m level andgenerally that work still has to bedone, despite the cutbacks in publicsector spending.”

Despite the increasedcompetition, Nobles’ reputationmeans it is continuing to win workand remains on an upward growthcurve.

Latest turnover has come in at£15m and the firm is aiming togrow that to around £25m over thenext two to three years.

Peter said: “That would take us toa manageable level and once wereach there then we may want to goa bit higher.

“We have been going now for 16

years and we have had people whohave worked for us since those days– there is a lot of loyalty there andwe want to make sure we keeppeople in a job.

“We always endeavour to keepthings as local as possible.

“As well as employing localpeople, we try as much as possibleto always use Liverpoolsub-contractors. We are a Liverpoolfirm and we want to keep themoney in Liverpool.”

Finding a niche is clearly agood strategy for surviving andthriving and that is the approchadopted by Run Services.

With two Liverpool offices, aswell as one in Manchester, the firmspecialises in community andregeneration projects and hasworked on projects both inLiverpool and Manchester.

It usually works as asub-contractor for biggercontruction firms on large-scaleregeneration schemes.

Run has worked on some ofLiverpool’s most well knownschemes from the regeneration ofLiverpool Gateway at Lime Street

Station, to work at AintreeUniversity Hospital’s BluebellHouse. Design director Nigel Wardsaid: “Our main focus has alwaysbeen on regeneration. We workwithin existing communities andbring them back to life.

“It is still very challenging outthere at the moment and we have togo out and fight for our fair share.

“Luckily our main contractorshave carried us along with them.”

Run Services’ managing director,Anthony Woods, says the firm nowhas ambitions to grow furtherbeyond the North West.

He said: “The company aims to bethe leading regeneration companyin the UK.”

“Much of our operations will nowbe directed from our Speke office,with the Rodney Street office givingus a further city centre presence.

“We are pursuing a number ofprojects in Liverpool and see thecity as one of the most promisinglocations for our kind of communityregeneration work.”

“Our name reflects our roots –RUN stands for regenerating theurban North.”

ONEBRICKATFOCUS. . . on builders

Tony McDonoughtakes a look at howthe constructionsector is faring

BIG PLANS: Peter Linford, director of Nobles Construction, left, discusses the £750,000 refurbishment of the Neptune Theatre with JoeAnderson, leader of Liverpool City Council, one of several jobs the firm has on the go

A ROBUST performancefrom the construction sectorin March was overshadowedby further warnings over thespiralling cost of fuel, oil andsteel.

The latest Markit/CIPSPurchasing Managers’ Index(PMI) survey for theconstruction sector – where areading above 50 indicatesgrowth – fell to 56.4 in March,slightly down on theeight-month high of 56.5 inthe previous month.

Economists had forecastthat the rate would fall to54.8, but each of the threesub-sectors of the industry –civil, residential andcommercial – recordedcontinued growth in March.

Signsof lifeinsector

Wednesday, April 6, 2011 NEWS 7★★★★

ATIME

AMBITION: Nigel Ward of Run Services says thefirm is looking for more regeneration work

MORTGAGES were paiddown at a record rate in thefinal quarter of last year,figures revealed, ashomeowners moved toimprove their personalbalance sheets.

Borrowers reduced theiroutstanding mortgage debtby £7bn during the threemonths to the end ofDecember, the Bank ofEngland said.

It was the 11th consecutivequarter during which theamount of money peopleunlocked from their homeswas negative and the highestnet injection of housingequity since recordsbegan in 1970.

The recent trendamong homeowners topay down theirmortgages contrasts withtheir behaviour during thehousing boom.

Homeowners have nowcollectively injected £57.4bninto their housing equitysince the trend began in thesecond quarter of 2008.

The rate at which peopleare reducing theirmortgages accelerated forthe fourth quarter in a rowduring the three months tothe end of December, withthe latest figure up on the£6.6bn injected in the third

quarter of the year.Howard Archer, chief UK

and European economist atIHS Global Insight, said thefigures highlighted “thestrong desire and perceivedneed” of many people toimprove their personalbalance sheets given highdebt levels and seriousconcerns and uncertaintiesover the economic situation.

He added: “Extremely lowsavings rates have made itmuch more attractive for

many people to use any sparefunds that they have toreduce their mortgages.”

Equity withdrawal enableshomeowners to cash in onrising house prices byincreasing their mortgagesto convert some of the rise inthe value of their home intocash.

The money is typicallyused to fund big purchasessuch as cars or homeimprovements, or for debtconsolidation.

But while people feelconfident about increasingthe size of their mortgagedebt when house prices are

booming, they are farless inclined to do sowhen the outlook

for the propertymarket and

employment isuncertain.

The housing marketdownturn has also left

many people withinsufficient equity intheir homes to withdraw

money, while the creditcrunch has made it

harder for people toincrease the size oftheir mortgage due tothe tighter lending

criteria banks and buildingsocieties now apply toapplications.

MONEY

There were further signs ofinflationary pressure after theindustry said input pricesrose to a 31-month high.

Other signs about thesector’s future health havealso emerged, as confidencewas dented by the

Government’s austerity cutsand growth in new ordersslowed to below its historicalaverage.

David Noble, chiefexecutive of CIPS, said: “Onthe surface there wasn’tmuch of a change in the

construction sector in March,but there is plenty to putbusinesses on edge abouttheir future prospects.

“The spectre ofgovernment spending cuts iscausing the greatestconcern.”

MATTERS with JAMIEGRIERSON, personalfinance correspondent

ON THE UP: Latest figures show the UK building sector weathering the storm

NEWS Wednesday, April 6, 20118 ★★★★

BUSINESS

STAFFPASSWITHFLYINGCOLOURS

BusinessAngels’supportnosmallBeer

AcademyOnegraduatesonlearningcurve

STYLISH: Chelsea Draper, from the Debenhams visual team, who achieved the Retail Skills Award, pictured at Academy One

MORE than 30 staff at theLiverpool One branch ofDebenhams have achieved theirRetail Skills Level 2 certificate.

Their training was part of apioneering deal with AcademyOne, a partnership between retailcentre Liverpool One, theNational Skills Academy forRetail, and Birkenhead trainingprovider Scientiam.

Debenhams is one of severalmajor retail brands, includingAsda and TK Maxx, to commit totraining with Academy One.

Thirty three Debenhams stafftook part in 14 weeks of training toimprove their retail and customerservice skills. Following on from

their success, 25 have now signedup to study for Level 2 and 3Apprenticeships.

Debenhams store trainerMaureen Scollins said thelearners came from a broad rangeof departments.

“We had learners aged 18upwards and from departmentssuch as lingerie, children’s wear,food services, stock replacementand the loading bay.

“We wanted to open thetraining up to all and were very

pleased that so many staff wantedto learn and gain qualifications.”

She added: “DebenhamsLiverpool One now has a muchmore skilled workforce and thiscascades across the business andto the customers.

“There is tangible value to theretail skills training with AcademyOne and on the back of thissuccess we will now becommitting to apprenticeships.”

Scientiam managing directorJayne Worthington said: “Thepartnership with Debenhams hasbeen a big success and we are verypleased to see their commitmentto investing time and support intheir workforce.

“They recognise that staffdevelopment is key to theirsuccess and I must congratulateeveryone who has achieved the

Retail Skills certificate. I hope ourpartnership will continue toflourish and we can furtherdevelop the skills of Debenhamsemployees.”

Academy One is based withinthe £1bn Liverpool One centre andoffers a range of trainingprogrammes to suit learners andemployers across the Liverpoolregion.

Sara Carthy, Liverpool One HRdirector, said: “During thesechallenging economic times thefocus on customer servicetraining and the up-skilling ofstaff is not always given thepriority it deserves.

“The investment and fantasticresults that Debenhams LiverpoolOne has achieved in partnershipwith Academy One are a credit tothe team.”

THE “acceptable face” ofbusiness investment willcome to Liverpool whena national business angelnetwork visits the city.

Beer & Partners has1,700 registered angelswith funds to invest inpromising ventures.

More than 500 live inthe north and Beerregional director Steve

McEwen is organisingthree events in Liverpool,Manchester and Leeds tointroduce prospectiveinvestors to viablebusinesses.

He said: “It’s Dragons’Den, but without thehumiliation.”

Instead of intimidatingfigures grilling nervousentrepreneurs, as

depicted in the BBC TVseries, he said Beerinvestment evenings takeplace in a warm andfriendly environment, sothat investors “can relax,present confidently, anddo themselves justice”.

Each event attractsaround 30 high net worthinvestors who seepresentations from three

fund-seeking companies.Steve said the events

aim to give entrepreneursthe best chance ofsecuring funding. Incontrast, he believesDragons’ Den oftendeliberately presentsentrepreneurs whohaven’t a hope of securingthe investment so theycan be picked apart by

the dragons for theviewers’ entertainment.

“In the real world thereis no audience apart fromthe investors, so it is innobody’s best interest topresent companies whichare not up to scratch.”

In the past two yearsBeer has raised morethan £18m for around 100companies.

byNEIL HODGSONIndustry Reporter

Business to BusinessCommercial Premises

OFFICESTO LETLIVERPOOL CITY CENTRE750sqft & 1,300sqft respectively

For Further DetailsPlease call 0151 521 3080

(Press Option 3)

FOR SALERESIDENTIAL / RETAIL /

COMMERCIALDEVELOPMENT SITE

New Chester Road, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, CH42 2AQ

0.19 hectares (0.47 acres) Corner Plot with long frontage

Best andfinal offers

by 18thApril

Incentivesavailablefor earlyexchangeandcompletion

OFFICE/INDUSTRIAL UNITSTO LET AINTREE

24 hr access. Security provided.Excellent Rates.

Call Kenny 0151 524 0033

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

MAGHULL, SEFTON LANEIND ESTATE New Unit 2f l o o r s , p a r k i n g , a l a r m e d£600pcm, easy in easy out.07967 656963

L I T H E R L A N D V I L L A G ESHOP/OFFICE/LARGE UNITseparate, will suit any business07711 819835OFFICE TO LET Knowsley In-dustrial Estate, 1st flr, s/c,brand new decor, 1500sqft,£600pcm 07572 956272

2 STOREY LOCK UP FORRENT Shuttered, Walton area,L9, £60pw 07715 271522

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

WELLINGTON RD L15 Varietyof Industrial units available now0151 227 2875

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

Taxis/Cab & Plate

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

N I G H T C O L L A R C / oKensington £200. T: 07775777900

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

TX 54 REG TX1 engine, man/white, excellent cab £6,95007768 622517

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

LIVERPOOL DAY/NIGHTCollars available 0151 9223626

KNOWSLEY CAB & PLATE52 reg, 07904 455970

TX1 OR TX2 CAB WANTEDCall 07702 754740

PRIVATE HIRE Lpool Plate£140pw Inc ins 07523 976108

CITY DAY NIGHT OR LONGCollar 07789 884399

NIGHTS Mon−fri £110pw. C/oGateacre 07801 564776

BOTANIC CARS Requiresowner drivers 0151 220 2020

DAYS NIGHTS L/COLLAR(Days with c/o) 07957 636549

MID WK LG COLLAR competrates 07873 200893

W TX1 CAB & PLATE Offers07597 679433

BusinessOpportunities

BETTING SHOP TO LETWaterloo area, low rent,excellent location, requirescouncil licence. 0151 924 4565or 07891 861358

FULLY FURNISHED MAKE−UP STUDIO For rent in busyhair & beauty salon. L4 area,more info call 07984 540825

Accountancy /Bookkeeping

Bookkeeping andadministration services

available on an hourly rate orfixed price basis.

BOOKKEEPING &ADMIN

07895247737

BOOKS IN A MESS?GIVE US A RING

ProfessionalBookkeeping, VAT

and Payroll services atcompetitive prices byqualified accountants

Call 07778 270 818

Industrial Property

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

Business For Sale

L22 BUSY POPULAR WINEBAR 2 BARS, kitchen, beergarden, 2am license, 10yr lease(re newable) significantly reduce07977 998330

OFF LICENCE NewsagentLottery & Paypoint. Best offers.0 7 7 8 7 1 7 4 9 4 8 / 0 7 8 1 0634254.

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

Business For Rent

SUNBED/NAILBAR SALONMolyneux Rd L6, with treat-ment room, all fully equipped.£100pw rent. 0151 260 4411

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