★★★★

BUSINESS SurviveStart

ThriveECH

O

PCrepair firmisECHOtoptrader

WolfmanwhoisaheadofthepackPAGES4&5 PAGE6

TRAININGFIRMINRAILJOBSSCHEMEA TRAINING centre to deliver youngtalent for the rail industry has beencreated as part of developer PeelGroup’s £4.5bn Wirral Waters scheme.

Haydock-based Silver TrackTraining has started the recruitmentprocess for 100 apprenticeship placesfor 16-24-year-olds, paying up to £60 aweek,on its new programme inBirkenhead’s Faraday House.

Silver Track’s £115,000 investmentwill also create eight full-time jobs.

A disused railway line running alongthe southern boundary of the docks will

be used for the training site which alsoincludes indoor track, points andcrossings for apprentices to work on.

Silver Track says the rail industryemploys more than 159,000 staff, but alarge portion of these are aged over 45which increases the need to develop arail industry workforce of the future.

Bidston councillor Harry Smith said:“Silver Track’s apprenticeship is anexcellent scheme aimed at helpingindividuals to gain the qualificationsrequired for long-term jobs in the railindustry.

“I was very pleased to enable them tomeet relevant Wirral Council officersand also Peel staff to get the project upand running.”

Silver Track managing directorMark Argent added: “These youngadults need to be able to take advantageof projects such as this, as it will helpthem to realise that a rewarding careeris still a possibility for them.

“Many of our apprentices are now inemployment with leading railcompanies as a direct result of their

training. They are earning as much as£11 an hour as well as taking the firststeps to a long career in railwayengineering.”

Peel Group development managerRichard Mawdsley said: “When welaunched Wirral Waters four years agowe recognised the need to help raiseskill levels in and around the docks andto provide opportunities for youngadults.

“We’ve been told at various publicevents we’ve hosted that ‘skillsimprovement’ is important to thepeople of Birkenhead – it also helps Peelto attract new employers to the area.Wirral Waters is all about trying tocreate new job opportunities that localpeople can access.”

WirralWaterslinkwill provideapprenticeships

Growthof‘green’specialistA BOOTLE-basedrenewable energyspecialist is undertakinga nationwide expansionas part of ambitiousgrowth plans.

Eco- Environments hasopened an office inDarlington weeks aftersimilar openings inManchester, Penrith andTamworth, takingstaffing up to 20.

The company, whichprovides homes andbusinesses withrenewable energysolutions, has grownsales from £100,000 in itsfirst year three years agoto a forecast £1.8m thisfinancial year.

Director David Huntsaid: “We have a veryclear business plan whichwill see us establishourselves as the leadingbusiness of its kind in thenorth of England andthen across the UK.” ENERGISED: Eco-Environments directors, from left, Mike Clarke, Mark Buchanan and David Hunt

● THE call has goneout to Merseyside

firms to enter the 2011Business in theCommunity Awards forExcellence which rewardinnovation andinspiration. The awardscomprise 14 national andfour north westcategories. The northwest winners will berevealed on June 9. Formore information and todownload an applicationpack go to www.bitc.org.uk/NWawards

● AIRPORT GROUP,a collaboration of

northern housingassociations including StHelens-based HelenaPartnerships, WirralPartnership Homes andSefton’s One VisionHousing, won twohonours for its efforts ingetting people back intowork and training at theNorthern HousingConsortium SilverScreen Awards held atYork Racecourse.

● JIMMY Tyrer hasbeen appointed

director of finance atGingerbread Pre-Schooland Day Nursery Groupon Liverpool’s DerbyRoad. The charteredaccountant will head upthe existing finance teamand assist the newoperational managementteam in theirdevelopment plans.

● ST HELENS-basedBurtonwood

Generator andSwitchgear Services hasjoined theSAFEcontractor schemewhich helps industryimprove its safety recordthrough industry specificand tailored health andsafety assessments for allprofessions and sectors.Managing director KeithLittler said: “I amconfident that this awardwill demonstrate andreinforce our alreadyhigh standards.”

● LIVERPOOLproperty group

Ascot is offering a25-year operating licencefor a new wine bar/restaurant alongside itsShorrocks Hill nightclubin Formby, which is nowunder new managementof local operator PaulGarton.

byNEIL HODGSONIndustry Reporter

NEWS Wednesday, December 15, 20102 ★★★★

Reinforcinglovedones’linksoveraworldwidedivide

BUSINESSSMALL

of the Week

Neil Hodgson talks to abrother and sister helpingto reinforce family bonds

ST HELENSFIRM INOVERSEASEXPANSIONHI-TECH St Helenscompany RainfordEMC Systems iscelebrating overseassuccess aftermulti-million poundsales in India andChina and majororders in three otherAsia-Pacific markets.

The companydesigns, manufacturesand installs a range ofshielded enclosures totest products forelectromagneticemissions and washelped in its overseastrade mission bygovernment exportfacilitator UK Tradeand Investment(UKTI) after initialtalks with a potentialIndian partner in 2007.

The contractssuccess has helped thefirm weather adownturn in trade inits UK and Europeanmarkets.

Company managingdirector John Noonansaid: “A key elementwas developing astrategic alliance witha suitable partner withcomplementaryproducts and existingaccess to, andinfrastructure in,Asian markets.

“This has helped usto more than doubleturnover and we havesecured major ordersin India forgovernment andcivilian applicationsand generatedsignificant business inChina.”

He added: “Wehave 18 agents acrossthe world now and areabout to add anotherfour.”

Julian Birchett, ofUKTI, helped the firmwith its strategies.

TAX ADVICE ONXMAS STAFFHM REVENUE &Customs is advisingbosses overtemporary studentstaff on Christmasholiday contracts.

It says if students dono other paid work interm time, they donot have to pay tax iftheir annual earningsare less than thisyear’s personalallowance of £6,475.

“Before you pay anystudent they will haveto sign a P38(S) formconfirming they arestudents and are onlyworking during theholidays.”

BUSINESS

ALOVING memento from

Liverpool will inspire homethoughts from abroad forBritain’s brave frontlineheroes in a new venture by

brother and sister Darren and AllisonDixon.

Their Recollections business willoffer servicemen and women stationedin military hotspots a personalpendant, keyring or cufflinks bearingthe fingerprints, footprints or personalmessages of partners or children as areminder of their love and support.

Darren, a corporal who is close tocompleting almost 13 years of servicein engineering regiments in placeslike Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan,explained: “During time away Icarried pictures of family and lovedones which inevitably became worn,torn and occasionally misplaced.”

Sister Allison and her husbandPeter Wafer had set up Recollectionsin 2008 and Darren, who married in2003, realised just how much a morepermanent memento would mean.

“We had deployed and when wewere eating dust and missing home Iasked everyone what they thoughtabout having a personal Recollectionand it was an outstanding 100%, withthe younger soldiers and the moremature of us.”

The family keeps a sterling silverversion while their loved one will takea harder-wearing stainless steelversion with them.

Negotiations are now taking place toset up a chain of distributors amongservice personnel families to offer theRecollection range, with a percentageof profits donated to a charity of eachregiment’s choice.

Allison said: “There’s a strongfamily sense of community whenservicemen are away. Families havesocial gatherings when parents andkids get together.”

She revealed it was family pressurethat persuaded Darren to considerpastures new: “He had done a coupleof tours of Afghanistan and his familywere concerned that he was not goingto come back .”

Darren completed his last tour onJuly 28 and will leave the Army at theend of January. With the six months’leave he has accrued he is nowworking on offering Recollections tothe services.

He said: “I knew what Allison wasdoing but didn’t get involved in it. Ihad my life and Allison had hers.”

But now he is immersed in thebusiness, having suggested offeringRecollections to the services, and istaking a LEAD course aimed atimproving management skills.

“ It helps you bounce ideas off each

other and I am getting lots of ideasand help. They say because of myleadership skills from the militarythey are learning a hell of a lot fromme, and I am learning a lot from themin terms of business.”

Allison and Peter originally set up aretail business selling Recollectionsthrough Selfridges and Debenhamsand their Warrington art shop, Gallery33.

Then a Co-op Funeral Homecustomer enquired about a piece of

their jewellery, which led to a pilotearlier this year in 140 branches andthe possibility of a national roll-outcovering 800 branches next year.

Allison, who was the first pupil inKnowsley to achieve eight straightGCSE A’s, had trained as a lawyer andqualified as a chartered accountantwith Coopers and Lybrand.

She said: “I have always beencreative. But it’s one of those things ifyou come from a poor background, itwas always drummed into you that

you need a good education to get on inthe world.”

She and Peter have so far invested£90,000 in the business, which alsoattracted a £40,000 grant from supportagency Stepclever.

Alongside their currentnegotiations with the services they arekeen to broaden their retail base andare in talks with the buyers of a rangeof big high street retailers.

Since the business began tradingtwo years ago it has achieved retailsales of £250,000 and Allison isforecasting that by the end of nextyear their total retail turnover couldhit £750,000.

Darren acknowledges that it willprobably take another two to threeyears for Recollections to becomefirmly established in the retailingworld and among British servicepersonnel, but beyond that he has evenmore ambitious plans: “I am hoping to

Entrepreneurialspiritaliveandwell innorthwestNEARLY a third (29%) ofpeople in the north west wantto set up their own business,which contrasts starkly withthe north east where less thanone in five (19%) plan to.

The figures came in arecent YouGov survey forbusiness support group IntuitUK.

When asked about the

barriers to setting up abusiness 53% nationally feltfinding the money was the keybarrier, compared with 50% ofnortherners.

However, 31% of northernrespondents said they did notknow where to start to set upa business, compared with25% in the UK as a whole.

Intuit UK managing

director Pernille Bruun-Jensen said: “It is clear thatproviding better advice andsupport, including applyingfor finance and managingcashflow, is needed to givethem the courage to take theplunge.

“As such, it will be veryinteresting to compare thisyear’s findings with next

year’s, to see if the measuresbeing proposed bygovernment and banks torestore confidence in thissector and inspire men andwomen across the country tostart their own smallbusinesses prove successful.”

She added: “With nearly fivemillion small businesses inthe UK, Britain is still very

much an entrepreneurialcountry. However, althoughmany people plan to set uptheir own business, this year’ssurvey, like last, found a largenumber still remain cautious.

“Most people cite ‘findingthe money’ as a key barrierand think banks cutting loaninterest would help start upsthe most.”

Wednesday, December 15, 2010 NEWS 3★★★★

POLICE THANKSTO BUS BOSSMERSEYSIDE policehave recognised thecrime reductionefforts of transportgroup Arriva’s RickHalsall with a specialcommendation.

Mr Halsallintroduced a range ofmeasures over thepast six years such as'spit kits' and theTrojan Bus – a ground-breaking initiativewhich has seen theproblem of smashedbus windows reducedby more than 60%.

Rick, who recentlymoved to ArrivaManchester, said:"Both the police and Ireceived a great dealof co-operation fromthe Merseyside driverswho reportedincidents andcompleted thepaperwork if they hadany trouble.”

He was presentedwith the specialcommendation, whichis seldom awarded toa civilian, bySuperintendent SteveMcNaughton.

SIBLING SUCCESS: Brother andsister Allison and Darren Dixon

Picture: GAVIN TRAFFORD

approach the US military. Ihave a couple of contactsover there.”

The family sources allits hall-marked materialsfrom a Shrewsbury silvermill: “All our suppliers areUK-based,” said Allison.

“We work in sterling silver, 9carat gold or platinum.”

The manufacturing process takesplace at their Liverpool workshops.

Allison explained: “We take afingerprint or pawprint and producean exact replica within a piece ofjewellery using our bespoke softwarethat replicates the exact curvature ofthe print to give something like a 3Dimage.”

Recollections is currently producingabout 1,200 items for retail eachmonth: “We get peaks for Christmas,Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and willprobably get peaks that will coincidewith a military tour of duty.”

And as the retail and military sideof the business grows she said theyhope to increase their currentsix-strong workforce to 20 by the endof 2011.

But her ultimate ambition, sherevealed, is to help others realise theirown business dreams.

“I am hoping that the businessbecomes successful so that I can offermy services as a mentor. I have hadhelp from several people who havehelped me avoid pitfalls and I wouldlike to do the same. If the business issuccessful it means I could offer myservices free of charge.”

Do you wantto be our Business

of the Week?Contact Neil

Hodgson 0151 4722451 or emailneil.hodgson

@liverpool.com

WORK SETTO STARTON DOBBIESWORK will soon beginon an £8m gardencentre planned forsouth Liverpool thatwill create around 120jobs.

City planners havegiven the green lightto the scheme putforward by DobbiesGarden Centres.

Followingfinalisation of theplanning processthrough theGovernment Office forthe North West,Dobbies will confirmdates for constructionto begin on site.

It is aiming to openits doors to the publicduring the 2011/2012financial year.

The Garden Worldscheme will beconstructed fromsustainably-sourcedtimber and othernatural constructionmaterials and willinclude a range ofenvironmentallyfriendly featuresincludingenergy-efficientlighting systems andrainwater recycling.

It will be built on a8.78 acre gateway siteoff Speke Boulevard,near to Liverpool JohnLennon Airport.

Dobbies haspurchased the sitefrom Peel Land andProperty.

HANDY: An example of products sold by Liverpool business, Recollections

NEWS Wednesday, December 15, 20104 ★★★★

BUSINESS

SIMON Rhodes and his packcan be forgiven for howlingwith success after a decadein design.Simon founded Smiling Wolf

in 2000 and has worked with clientsfrom cultural institutions such asNational Museums Liverpool tomusicians like Stone Roses legendIan Brown and Merseysidearchitectural practices includingUnion North.

And along the way it has wonawards aplenty, for projectsincluding its work with Liverpoolarchitects BCA Landscape on ascheme to regenerate the centre ofBurscough, West Lancashire.

Simon also co-founded DesignSymposium North, the annualshowcase for Merseyside’s designindustry.

The creative sector was hit hardby the recession, but Simon says heis now seeing signs that theeconomy is recovering.

“In the last six to eight weeks,we’ve found there’s been a lot ofopportunities,” he said.

“Last year, and the start of thisyear, it was just quiet. Everybodysaid the same. Even inquiries weredown, let alone jobs.

“But there have been a lot ofthings in the pipeline. And thereare some great things lined up fornext year as well.”

Simon was born in South Londonbut grew up in Wiltshire. He cameto Liverpool to study in 1990 andhas been here ever since.

He moved into the design world,ending up at well-known Liverpoolagency Nonconform, but in 2000decided the time was right to strikeout on his own and move beyondtraditional graphic design.

He said: “I thought it would bereally exciting to bring togetherdifferent disciplines, to continue todo that branding and print-baseddigital work, but also move into thedigital sphere – not only the webside of things, but also animationand experimenting with digitalexperiences as well.

“We got a name quite quickly forbeing innovative in that area.

Simon founded Smiling Wolf witha business partner who soon left thecompany. The name came from oneof Simon’s previous projects,featuring three little pigs and asmiling wolf.

His early clients includedLiverpool’s Foundation for Art andCreative Technology, FACT, whichremains a customer to this day.

Its website for FACT’s CultureCastles exhibition won it a LondonInternational Design Award.

Smiling Wolf has also branchedout into the music industry.

“We worked with The Kooks, andthat brought a raft of musicindustry work,” said Simon.

“We’ve worked with TheMaccabees, and we did a websitecampaign for Ian Brown, which I’mtold he thought was great.”

Simon was particularly excitedby the Fairytale of BurscoughBridge project, which saw BCALandscape and Smiling Wolf cometogether to revitalise the towncentre.

But instead of simply sprucing uppavements and lampposts, theproject saw the agencies look intoBurscough’s past to design uniquesigns and decorative paving.

The sculptures and carvingsfocus on subjects including themedieval Burscough Abbey and the

Lancashire tradition of streetdancing called “pace-egging”.

“It’s a tradition that has been alittle bit lost in Burscough,” saidSimon. “It’s reinventing a traditionthat had started to wane, but givingit… I don’t want to say the words ‘acontemporary twist’, but thatmakes sense.”

Smiling Wolf ’s work inBurscough will be visible for yearsto come – something that is unusualin the fast-moving world of design.

“It’s fantastic to see things withsuch permanence,” said Simon. “It’squite a rarity for a design studio tobe able to do that.

“The centrepiece is a carved

stone with a tree in the middle.That piece weighs about 150 tonnes.It’s made in China, and thecraftsmanship on it isextraordinary.”

Smiling Wolf recently created anew brand for Liverpool law firmHeaney Watson.

And it won its first client in thefood and drink sector, designing anew brand for healthy fruit drinkEvoid. It created a new font and aset of brand guidelines, makingsure the product’s ingredients – andlack of e-numbers – are clearlyvisible on the packaging.

The product is aimed at theschools market and Simon says thatbefore Smiling Wolf ’s work Evoid’sbrand identity was unclear.

“We did some workshops inschools,” said Simon. “There was areal yearning from the kids thatthey wanted something that madethem fell a bit grown-up.

“They felt a bit patronised by a

lot of juices and ‘healthy drinks’.“So we created something a lot

more edgier and grown-up.“Since we began the project with

Evoid, their sales have increased1,000% over two years.”

A year ago, Smiling Wolf movedto Elevator Studios – a Victorianwarehouse in Parliament Streetthat today houses many digital andcreative companies.

The company has a pack of sevenstaff, and Simon says he tries tohave a relaxed management style.

“We try to be like a family, or aband – everybody has a say,” hesaid.

“But there are deadlines andthere is a structure to get projectsthrough. Some people think it’salways relaxed, but there’s plenty todo.”

Simon organises DesignSymposium North with fellowLiverpool design agency bosses,Alex Frech of Black & Ginger and

Wolfpackallsmilesafteradecadeindesign

INTERVIEWBIGAlistair Houghtontalks to SimonRhodes, founder ofLiverpool designagency Smiling Wolf

‘Therearesomegreatthingslinedupfornextyear’

HAPPY WOLF: SimonRhodes at SmilingWolf ’s base in ElevatorStudios, Liverpool

Picture: PAUL HEAPS

Wednesday, December 15, 2010 NEWS 5★★★★

Nick Howe of Uniform.“The first took place in 2008,” he

said. “Someone called me fromDesign Week magazine and askedme how I felt about the lack ofdesign events in Capital of Cultureyear. I said it was disgraceful, and Imoaned about it to Alex and Nickand asked what we could docollectively.

“It’s been really well-received. It’sreally inspiring. It fires yourimagination. You really do feelrevitalised.

The event was known asLiverpool Design Symposium, buthas been rebranded so it caninclude a Manchester event inSpring.

The team picture that illustratedthis interview was taken by Simon’sthree-year-old twins, Tom and Eva.

“We set it up in the viewfinderand showed them how to do it,”smiled Simon. “That’s their firstproject for Smiling Wolf.”

DESIGN TEAM: Simon Rhodes’ three-year-old twins Tom and Eva took thispicture of the team at Smiling Wolf, from left, Simon Rhodes, Trevor Green,John Wai, Andy Syson, Leon Russell, Jason Wood and Heather Almond

MUSIC WORLD: Smiling Wolf has designed websites forartists including Ian Brown, above Picture: David Munn

LAWIT’S THE

QTHE recentweather has beendriving me mad.

First I have staffclaiming they can’tmake it in, then thosestaff who do turn upcomplain it is too coldto work. How can I befirm and fair withoutgetting into troublewith the law?

ATHE first issue ismaking it into theoffice in the first

place, and on this thelaw is perfectly clear.Staff who aren’t ill anddon’t make it into workhave no right to bepaid.

As an employer, youhave a number ofoptions, but mostemployers agree to paystaff who have madeevery attempt to getinto work and cannotwork from home.

Those who don’t tryto get to work can taketime off either asholiday or unpaidleave.

The problem for mostemployers this year isactually taking aninconsistent approach.

Earlier this year,many employers sawwhat was described asa once-in-a-generationproblem and decided tobe lenient with thosestaff who couldn’t – orat least, didn’t – makeit to work.

What they now findis that with thiswinter’s early coldsnap, and withforecasts for more snowthis week, they arebound to a certainextent by theprecedents they set inJanuary and February.

Staff who can’t makeit in and are not paidthis winter, when theywere last, could citethat precedent and useit to bring a legal caseagainst their employersfor unlawful deductionof wages.

To avoid that, allemployers shoulddecide what theirpolicy is now and alertall staff to it beforeproblems arise again,amending contracts toincorporate it ifnecessary.

Unlike many otherparts of the country inNovember, the northwest recently suffered

plunging temperatureswithout too muchproblematic snow – andthis brings with itother problems.

Once staff do make itin, they have a right toexpect their workplacewill be warm enoughfor them to do theirjobs.

In legal terms, thatmeans it must be atleast 16C, and theguidance is that thetemperature should beup to this level withinthe first working hourof the day.

While this iscomfortably below thetemperature of mostoffices, the limit isthere and so employerswho think there is anyrisk that thetemperature of theirworkplace may dropthis low at any pointshould have a policy inplace to ensure they arealways compliant.

Of course, this is notalways possible for allworkplaces and sothere is some flexibilityin the legislation.

For those workplaceswhere the temperaturecannot be guaranteed,or cannot be above 16Cfor operational reasons,employers must allowstaff regular breaks tomake hot drinks orleave the workplaceand stay warm.

This column wasbrought to you byPeter Mooney, head ofconsultancy atemployment lawspecialist ELAS,Employment LawAdvisory Services.

For moreinformation, pleasecall the ELAS adviceteam on 0161-7852000 or send an emailto info@employment-law.uk.com

with

Peter Mooney

NEWS Wednesday, December 15, 20106 ★★★★

BUSINESS

ACOMPUTER repair

specialist from Formby hasbeen named Merseyside’sTrader of the Year.The ECHO teamed up with

one of the UK’s fastest growingonline business directories –www.LocalMole.co.uk – to find andcelebrate the very best local tradersin Merseyside.

We urged people to tell us abouttheir favourite traders – and wereceived entries from around theregion across the four categories.

The overall winner – and winnerof the Local Retailers category –was ACRC Computer RepairCentre of Formby.

● The winner of the HomeServices category was StuartHenry Kitchens, of Bromborough.

● The winner of theEntertainment and Leisurecategory was the So TalentedAcademy of Music andPerforming Arts, of Southport.

● And the winner of the Healthand Beauty category was Jaz HairSalon, of Waterloo.

ACRC – also known as the AAComputer Repair Centre – is basedin Piercefield Road, Formby.

It won the award thanks to thevolume and quality of thenominations it received.

One nomination read: “Thiscompany goes that extra mile – andmore!”

Another called it “A family-runoutfit that takes a real pride inproviding excellent value for moneyand a first-class service. I wouldn'thesitate to recommend them toanyone. Gem has been a real ‘gem’to me on more than one occasion!”

And another said: ACRC havealways been quick and efficient inrepairing our computer and arealways happy to help with anyquestions we have if we don’tunderstand what we are doing.“They are always on the other endof the phone or by email should weneed any questions answering.”

Last night, Gem Watson, whofounded the company with herhusband Chris, said she wasthrilled at her win.

She said: “Firstly Chris and Iwould like to thank our amazingcustomers from the bottom of ourhearts for their nominations andmore importantly the kind wordsthey took the time to write aboutour business.

“It is made even more special aswe have just experienced our mostdifficult year following unexpectedrelocation from Bootle to Formby,it’s been so reassuring to hearCustomers say things like ‘Whywould be go elsewhere, we know wecan trust you and you do a thoroughjob and don’t charge the earth’.

“AA Computer Repair Centre is afamily run business established

back in the 1990s by me and myhusband.

“Winning this award means somuch as we really do live and die bygood customer service.

“Repairing or servicingcomputers is a delicate business.“We are extremely conscious thatwe are not only handling anincredibly personal possession interms of value and data – this pieceof equipment wether it be a PC,Laptop Or Apple Mac, really is alifeline to all people whether they

be home or business users.“Thank you all once again – have

a wonderful Christmas and we can’twait to serve you all in 2011.”

In the Home Services category,family-run Stuart Henry Kitchenshas over 20 years’ experience inkitchen design.

Owners Russell and DianeBuckley said: “What fantastic news– we are very proud to win thisaward.

“We would like to thank all of ourcustomers for not only nominating

us but for wanting to nominate us.“We are a small family kitchen

retailer that offers high qualitykitchens at affordable prices withour ethos being excellent customerservice throughout the wholeprocess.

“Our aim is to make ourcustomers feel relaxed and at easewhilst we focus on their kitchendesign and lifestyle requirementsusing our unrivalled advice andexpertise.”

The So Talented academy is

TOPTRADERSWe reveal theregion’s besttraders and smallcompanies

SONG AND DANCE: The So Academy of Southport won the Entertainment and Leisure Category of the Trader of the Year Awards. Some ofits students are pictured here at a fundraising event in March for the victims of the Haiti earthquake

based in the Wayfarers Arcade,Southport.

The company said: “So Talentedcombines high quality teachingwith lots of performanceopportunities and most importantly,fun.

“If you are looking for piano orkeyboard lessons, guitar lessons,drum lessons, singing lessons,dance lessons, drama and actinglessons, with a professional andqualified teacher to teach and guideyou, then visit So Talented.”

Kim Stevenson is the owner ofJaz and opened the business sixyears ago.

She’s won a number ofcompetitions and has won aNational Hairdressing Federationaward for wedding hair – aspecialist area for Jaz.

She said: “It's brilliant to win thisaward after all the hard work that'sone into the salon building it upfrom nothing over the last six years.

“We’re only a small business butit just goes to show what a greatloyal customer base we’ve got whichis so nice.

“I want to thank the team here atJaz. The girls have been with me fora while now and the team’s at thestrongest it's ever been.”

WINNER: Gem Watson of AAComputer Repair Centre

STYLE: Jaz Hair Salon won theHealth and Beauty category

DESIGN: One of the roomscreated by Stuart Henry Kitchens

Wednesday, December 15, 2010 NEWS 7★★★★

MORTGAGE lending looksset to fall to its lowest levelfor more than three decadesduring 2011 with first-timebuyers particularly hard hit,a trade body warned today.

Net lending, which stripsout redemptions andrepayments, is expected tototal just £6bn next year,down from an estimated£9bn this year and £110bn in2006, before the creditcrunch struck, according tothe Council of MortgageLenders.

The group said the figurewould be the lowest annualtotal since 1980, when themortgage market was muchsmaller, while it wouldrepresent the most subduedgrowth since 1968.

The fall in lending levelsis being driven by theongoing shortage and cost offunds, as well as mutedconsumer demand.

The situation isbeing exacerbated bythe fact banks will haveto repay the remaining£130bn they borrowedthrough the Government’sSpecial Liquidity Scheme bythe end of next year.

The CML added that theFinancial ServicesAuthority’s ongoingmortgage market reviewcontinued to be a “majorand unhelpful source ofuncertainty” for theindustry, as lenders did notknow when it would issuefirm rules, or whether itwould modify its current

“excessively risk-averseapproach”.

The CML said: “Over theshort to medium term,lenders will need to managesome large-scalere-financing of wholesalefunding.

“From April next yearonwards, lenders will beginto have to re-pay the fundingadvanced through officialsupport schemes.

“This is likely to limit theavailability of credit tosupport mortgage lendingnext year, and beyond.”

The group warned thatwith funding in shortsupply, the availability ofmortgages for first-timebuyers would remain

“limited”, as lenders werelikely to continue to haveonly a “modest appetite” forlending to people with onlysmall deposits.

The remortgage market isexpected to remain subduednext year, as low interestrates mean people on theirlenders’ standard variablerate have little incentive totake out a new deal.

Property sales areexpected to remain broadlyflat at just 860,000, downfrom levels of 1.6m beforethe credit crunch struck – arate that suggests theaverage home will changehands only once every 20years.

The CML said there waslikely to be a “modest boost”in sales towards the end of2011, in the run up to thecurrent stamp duty

exemption for first-timebuyers purchasing a

home for up to£250,000 coming to

an end.But the group,

which based itsforecasts on the UK

avoiding a double diprecession, said public

sector spending cutssuggested there would

be a difficult jobsmarket in comingyears, and households

were also likely tofocus on reducingdebt, suggesting

demand for mortgageswould be subdued for sometime.

MONEYMATTERSwith NICKY BURRIDGE,personal financecorrespondent

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Northwest’s200leadingfirmsTHE north west’s 200largest firms will berevealed tomorrow inour sister publication,the LDP Businessmagazine.

The companies onthe list, compiled bythe University ofLiverpoolManagement School,each have a turnoverin excess of £100mand collectivelyemploy more than400,000 people.

Some of the mostrecognisable names onthe high street arealongside giants of thechemicals,manufacturing andproperty sectors.

LDP Business editorBill Gleeson said: “Themajority of the biggestfirms in our regioncontinued to grow,despite the recentrecession. That mightcome as a surprise,but if you stop toexamine the table, youwill see that many ofthe businesses in ourpatch are, in fact,recession-proof.

“We seem to havemany firms that haveshown resilience.” The region’s Top 200 firms will be revealed

FURTHERFALLSATMERSEYPORTTHE Port of Liverpool hascontinued to suffer from subduedlevels of trade with the latestofficial data showing furtherfalls.

Owners Peel Ports Merseydescribed the Department forTransport (DfT) figures as“slightly disappointing”.

The third-quarter figures fromthe DfT ports report, which coverJuly to September, showedLiverpool handled 7.33m tonnes.

That was down 0.8% on thesame period in 2009 and is thelowest figure for the quarter since2002.

Nationally there was an 8%year-on-year improvement intonnage, as inward traffic rose10% and outward traffic grew by5%.

Six of the nine major UK portshandled increased tonnage in thethird quarter, with only Tees andHartlepool, and Dover alsoshowing falls.

Liverpool – the UK’sseventh-largest trade port – hashandled 21.25m tonnes in the firstnine months of the year.

This is down 5% on last year,

and its lowest nine-monthperformance for more than adecade.

But its sluggish first halfperformance has been blamed onthe temporary closure of Stanlowoil refinery.

However, Liverpool hasincreased the number of units ithandles.

This has risen to 299,000, thethird-quarter performance is up5% on last year and the bestlike-for-like performance in threeyears.

Stephen Carr, Peel PortsMersey head of business

development, said: “It’s fair to saythat our tonnage figures for Q32010 were slightly disappointing.

“The main drivers behind thedrop were that coal volumes goingthrough the port were downthroughout the quarter, whilerecycled metal volumes were alsolow in September.

“That said, there was strongactivity in unitised trade duringQ3 and in this quarter – indeed Q4is looking strong overall. Theunderlying trends continue tolook good for the Port of Liverpoolin support of our growthstrategy.”

Mr Carr added that theunitised trade created plenty ofactivity as it was moved aroundthe dock estate.

However, as these units wereoften partially empty, theirtonnage weights did not registerin the DfT figures.

Meantime, the operation toclean up a heavy fuel oil spillageinto Langton Dock, Bootle, is nowahead of schedule. The bulk of the250 tonnes oil could be cleared bySunday. The initial estimate wastwo weeks for removal.

Thirdquarterfigures showan0.8%drop

by PETER ELSONBusiness Reporter

NEWS Wednesday, December 15, 20108 ★★★★

BUSINESS

HIGHHOPESFORTOM’STOMSART

HaydockPlantHireUKin£10mJCBdeal

Entrepreneur’spassion for artanddesign

DREAM ON: Claire Chang, of Dream High, with artist Tom Donohue and a selection of his Beatles-themed work

LIVERPOOL entrepreneur TomDonohue has realised hischildhood dream by setting up hisown business to display and sellhis artwork.

Tom was helped by enterprisesupport group Dream High inestablishing his business‘Tomsart’. He now has workdisplayed at a range of exhibitionsincluding the Biennial exhibition,Penny Lane Development Trustand the Bridge House Arts inKent.

Dream High assisted theestablished artist expand anddevelop his work and improve hismarketing and networking skills.

Tom supplies his artwork offine pencil, Indian ink and colourportrait artwork to regularprivate clients and has limitededition prints displayed at

numerous exhibitions in largepublic galleries, independent artstudios and cultural outlets.

He is also creating illustrationsfor an independent magazinecalled ‘Object of Dreams’, whilehis pictures are also displayed onT-shirts.

He said: “I have always had apassion for art since childhoodand throughout my life.

“Recently, I decided to be moreserious and focused about myambition to follow my passion andbecome a serious and dedicatedartist.”

Tom used the support of DreamHigh to realise his ambitions,adding: “Dream High has given

me the support and contacts tohelp me have my own business.

“They have put me in touchwith invaluable contacts likeDavid Parrish, who displayed myartwork on his T-shirts.”

He said the Dream High panelof mentors and businessesimpressed him immediately withits professionalism, dedicationand support.

Dream High enterprisefacilitator Claire Chang said:“Tom has so much passion aboutart and lots of determination anda positive outlook on life, which iswhy I believe he deserves tosucceed. I am so happy his newbusiness is thriving.”

HAYDOCK-based PlantHire UK has invested£10m in its fleet with thepurchase of 250 new JCBmodels during 2010.

The order covers awide variety of JCBmodels and marks asignificant milestone inthe relationship betweenthe two companies as thetotal number of JCB

Loadalls purchased hasnow hit 500 since PlantHire UK was establishedfive years ago.

Its managing director,Graham Jones, said: “Wehave used JCB since westarted. Nothing haschanged in our eyes, asthese huge milestonesdemonstrate.

“The ongoing update

of our fleet is part of ourcommitment to providecustomers with the latestand safest equipment inexcellent condition,ensuring no machine ismore than two yearsold.”

He added: “The JCBmodels continue to bepopular and these newmachines are already all

out on hire. Customerslike the brand and ourengineers know theproducts well.”

The company providesa round-the-clock coverservice through its teamof engineers whichensures all breakdownsreceive assistance withinfour hours.

Mr Jones said: “The

sheer volume and varietyof equipment we havetaken from JCB reflectsour continued andambitious growth.”

Plant Hire UK deliversgeneral plant hireservices nationwide,offering equipment fromleading manufacturersfollowing a majorinvestment programme.

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