★★★★

BUSINESS SurviveStart

ThriveECH

O

Tillsareringing forawardwinning firm

Brewingupanexpansionplan

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MATT’SMISSIONTOENTHUSEBUSINESSTHE first Christian-themed businessconference by a Liverpool entrepreneurwill take place in the city’s BTConvention Centre next month.

Matt Edmundson’s en-thuse event onNovember 11-12 will feature formerBBC TV Apprentice winner TimCampbell, Liverpool web design firmMando’s managing director Ian Finchand former Christian Peoples Alliance

leader Ram Gidoomal as speakers.But Mr Edmundson, who set up

sauna and spa business KLAF technicalin Brunswick Business Park five yearsago, said the event is not ‘cliquey’.

He said: “People not from a Christian

background can come and have a goodtime. It is very accessible and relevantand features people talking about theirexperiences in business.

“Ram Gidoomal will talk on win-winnegotiation and general businesstopics.”

Mr Edmundson said the initial ideafor the conference came to him a yearago and he was determined that thefirst of what he hopes will become anannual event was staged in his homecity.

“I was very keen that we did it inLiverpool rather than London andreally keen we did it in the Arena and

Convention Centre.“I volunteer there with the Red Cross

and I love it as a facility for our city.”He said he hopes to attract around 100

attendees at the event staged over aThursday evening and Friday day andevening.

He said: “We are committed to allbusiness people, whichever stage theyfind themselves in, from the chairmanor CEO of a multinational who needssome extra spark to inspire them, to theteenage student who dreams of runningtheir own company, we hope en-thusewill be a platform from which they leapto the next level.”

Christian-themedconference set tolaunch in city

BusinessbloomsinCapitalTHE first small firm totake newly-releasedspace in Old Hall Street’sThe Capital building hasmoved in.

Florist Flowery Hazel,run by Hazel Ellis, hastaken a stand in theatrium on a flexiblefive-year lease.

It is part of a drive byLiverpool property groupDowning to attract avariety of businesses toadd to the commercialdistrict’s offering.

BLOOMING: Flowery Hazelowner Hazel Ellis

● LIVERPOOL JohnMoores University

is offering a freebusiness breakfastnetworking event onNovember 3rd atLiverpool InnovationPark, from 8am-9.30am,explaining twopostgraduateprogrammes – an MBAin executive leadershipand PGCert in businessturnaround management– which it claims canbring tangible benefits toa business. EmailDominique Aspey ond.aspey@ljmu.ac.uk fordetails.

● ANOTHERResponse to

Redundancy course isbeing run by AcornTraining Academy fromOctober 25 for 18-65-year-olds who have beenmade redundant or areat risk of redundancy.The course is free toanyone in receipt ofbenefit or who has justbeen made redundant. Afast track course inmotor mechanics tyrefitting is available atAcorn’s Kirkdale site.

● WIDNES-BASEDglobal bulk logistics

firm Suttons hasappointed a newmanaging director for itsUK road tanker division.Tony Leighton joins thecompany from Hoyer UK,where he spent 15 yearsleading their food andpetroleum operations.His appointment followsSuttons’ £7m investmentin its UK tanker fleet.

● LIVERPOOLaccountants and

business advisers CowgillHolloway have becomepart of IAPA, a globalassociation ofindependentaccountancy firms.

EXCLUSIVEByNEIL HODGSONIndustry Reporter

NEWS Wednesday, October 13, 20102 ★★★★

Phil’smovefromthecorporateworldsuitshimtoatea

BUSINESSSMALL

of the Week

Neil Hodgson talks toPhil Kirby, founder of funkytea bar and lounge Brew

FIVE TIPS TOHELP DRIVEFLEDGLINGVENTURESRECESSION can offernew openings forcreating a venture, butbusiness coach TerryMurphy warns thatsurvival can be downto simple things andhow they are applied.

Terry, ofAchievementCoachingInternational, believesgeneral businessadvice is good, theproblem lies in beingable to recognise itand apply it well.

“What willmaximise yourchances of success willbe thinking and doingdifferently.”

He suggests five keytips: first, knowyourself – “this maysound like psychobabble, butunderstanding howyou get things done isessential.”

Secondly, know yourteam: “You need tounderstand how youcan work well with thepeople who surroundyou.”

Third, use a processto get things done:“Make sure everythingyou do adds value, soit adds to somethingyou've already doneand prepares for thenext task.”

Fourth, valueadvice: “Think aboutthe advice on offer. Isit relevant to yourbusiness?”

Fifth, implementthe advice: “Select theright advice, at theright time. If not,costly mistakes couldhappen.”

He added: “This isall about not what youdo, but the way thatyou do it that makesthe difference.”

HOPES HIGH INGREEN AWARDSMERSEYSIDE featuresstrongly in nextTuesday’s North WestBusiness EnvironmentAwards in Manchester.

Kirkby-based KMEYorkshire CopperTubes, Liverpoolarchitects StudioThree, Benson Signson Great HowardStreet, and ThePrintroom UK inBootle are all in therunning for awards.

Mark McManus,managing director ofWirral’s Stiebel Eltron,is also shortlisted forthe environmentalleadership award.

BUSINESS

FOR someone who didn’t drinktea until three years ago PhilKirby has come a long way,opening two dedicated tea barswith plans for a third coming

nicely to the boil.Phil, 28, turned his back on a life of

mergers and acquisitions withaccountants KMPG having graduatedwith a first class honours degree infinancial economics from theUniversity of Liverpool.

But during a corporate meeting in aStarbucks coffee shop he got the ideafor Brew, his tea bar chain whichlaunched in Liverpool’s St Paul’sSquare in August 2008, followed by asecond outlet in Bold Street a yearlater.

He said: “We would have a meetingin Starbucks and lots of people wouldhave meetings there because it was aplace to meet, even though peoplemight not like coffee.

“I thought there had to be room inthe market for a tea concept, eventhough I didn’t drink tea at all.”

Phil quit KPMG to research hisbusiness plan – and tea.

While he threw himself into teatastings and learning, almost‘Grasshopper-style’, from a tea master,his recently graduated brother Johntravelled to Asia to experience teaculture, where he was exposed to arange of different products such as teamilkshakes and which providedinspiration for the embryonic Brew.

“We decided to create our own style,for example, putting popcorn or chilliin tea, or doing a tea latte, and makingthe tea drinker feel like they are a bitcooler.”

Over the past two years the rangehas developed to include 35 loose leafteas, such as Scousers’ Breakfastcomprising teas from Liverpool’s oldtrade routes, iced teas, a hot fruitpunch sangria – minus the alcoholunfortunately – and an upcomingChristmas brew flavoured with pineneedles, and all blended on thepremises.

It is part of Brew’s aim to try andget customers to “buy into the teaconcept”, and sales indicate they are.

“As we have grown people haveconverted more and more to tea,which was perceived as a dull, boring,cheap alternative to coffee.

“But by doing it properly peoplehave said, ‘I will give this a go’.”

Sales of Phil’s signature brews, likethe fruit punch sangria and tea lattes,have risen from 5% to 25%.

Customers are also more aware ofthe differences in blends: “There aredifferent teas for different times of theday.

“Breakfast is a good, solid drink, but

mid-morning and in the afternoon wehave lighter options that can make youfeel different and don’t sit on yourstomach in the same way.

“It’s good that people understandthat, and we have seen a big rise inpeople buying teas to take home.”

Customers are also becoming moreadventurous: “Scousers’ Breakfast isour best seller, but in take home it’snot in the top 10. People tend to go forthe funkier flavours.

“The idea is to open up peoples’

understanding of tea.“White tea isn’t tea with milk, it is a

style of tea. We’re trying to show thedifference between what is in a tea bagand loose leaf teas.

“We aim to give people a top qualityproduct and encourage people to trytea. We will ensure the quality, and ifthey are really interested we will tellthem all about it.”

Bold Street’s Brew turns over twiceas much as the St Paul’s Square site inthe city’s commercial quarter, but Phil

explains: “They are completelydifferent markets. Bold Street doesn’treally start until 1.30pm and itsbusiest hours are 4pm to 5pm.

“The busiest time for St Paul’s is onthe way to work and lunch.”

Events such as an evening Frenchconversational club, weight loss groupmeetings, networking and beautytreatment sessions are alsoestablishing the brand among thesurrounding offices.

Phil added: “The shops areperforming to plan.

“Since the economic situation it isreally tough, but Bold Street was up8% in its first like-for-like month.”

Business is also extending beyondthe shops through a website thatdespatches orders as far as Brightonand Durham and a wholesale arm.

Phil explained: “Within six monthsof opening we had calls from peoplelike the Hard Days Night Hotel asking

Knowsley‘green’projecthelpsreducewastecostsKNOWSLEY COUNCIL isoffering help for businesses tomanage their waste andenergy better.

The Environment Network(TEN) is a team of private andpublic sector partnersproviding advice on how tobecome more eco-friendly andcut their bottom line.

It will help with getting

finance for energy efficientmachinery or on how torecycle and re-use waste.

Knowsley’s cabinet memberfor regeneration, economyand skills, Cllr DaveLonergan, said: “This is allabout sharing ideas that work.

“Most businesses knowthey’re expected to recycleand reuse more of their waste

and use less of the fossil fuelsthat produce the carbon that’slinked to global warming.

“But they don’t alwaysknow how to do this or haverealised that being moreenvironmentally friendly cangive them an edge on theircompetitors.”

TEN was launched byKnowsley Chamber of

Commerce chief executiveLesley Martin-Wright, whosaid: “The private sector hasplayed an important andproactive role in creatingTEN.

“Here in Knowsley we arecreating a shared vision andpathway to environmentalsustainability, and believe thatTEN has invaluable input into

helping businesses to use less,recycle more, and to find morerenewable sources of energy.”

“Already a waste exchangehas been set up by somecompanies to divert theirwaste and rubbish to otherbusinesses that can use it.”

For more informationcontact Knowsley chamber on0151-477 1356.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010 NEWS 3★★★★

ENGINEER’STEACHERS’OPEN DAYSOUTHPORT-BASEDmanufacturingcompany UnipartRail-Dorman isopening its doors tolocal schools nextmonth to highlightcareers available in thesector.

In collaborationwith theManufacturingInstitute, the firm,which specialises inrail and roadsignalling, is staging ateacher placementevent on November18, as part of theInstitute’s ‘Make It inManufacturing’campaign.

Campaign managerNicola EagletonCrowther said:“Events such as thisare crucial in ensuringthat teachers have up-to-date industryknowledge andexperience which, inturn, helps to bringsubjects alive in theclassroom for pupils.

“Unfortunately, it isbecoming increasinglydifficult for teachers tobe released fromschool to takeadvantage of thesetypes of opportunitieswhich, as teachers playa large part ininfluencing youngpeople about futurecareers, meansteenagers are notalways able to makeinformed choicesabout post-16 routesbased on accuratelabour marketinformation.”

For moreinformation on theevent contact StephenMelia at the Instituteon 0161-875 2512.

STIRRING: Phil Kirby inthe Brew tea bar

if they could serve our tea in theirrestaurants.

“Since then it has absolutely grownand grown, with clients from Scotlandto the south coast.

“We now serve 65 outlets with looseleaf teas, including National MuseumsLiverpool and Barcelo, one of the top10 hotel groups in the world.”

Brew has also clinched a contractwith Total Foodservice, a distributorwith 1,500 customers across the northof England: “Our product goes reallywell in little delis as a take home itemand drinks, and also spa hotels, whereour detox and skinny teas do well.”

And with an estimated 180m cups oftea drunk throughout the UK everyday compared with 60m cups of coffeeit represents a healthy potentialmarket.

Phil is already working on a rangeof new projects such as pre-bottlediced tea drinks, involving input fromLiverpool Hope University oncustomer research and marketing.

“We’re also working on a range of‘chariteas’ with the North WestCancer Research Foundation, createdby ‘celebriteas’ blending their own teaunder their name with a portion oftakings going to the charity.”

And then there’s the third Brew TeaBar and Lounge opening: “We have acouple of outlets we are interested inwhere we could open in the next sixmonths, preferably in Liverpool.”

He added: “It is easier to create abrand within the city. If we went toManchester or Chester it would be likestarting again.”

Do you wantto be our Business

of the Week?Contact Neil

Hodgson 0151 4722451 or emailneil.hodgson

@liverpool.com

QUESTIONS OFSUCCESSIONOWNERS of smallfirms are keen to passon their business totheir children, but theolder they get the lesslikely they believe thatthey will be, newresearch by the Bankof Cyprus UK shows.

In a poll of 500owners 38% in thenorth west said theywant their children totake over, but only 6%believe that likely.

Nationally, 58% ofowners aged between18-34 hope theirchildren would takeover, with 40%believing it wouldhappen. But less than10% aged 55 or overthink their childrenwill take over whenthey retire.

CUPPA: Phil Kirby (left) with adrink from his St Paul’s Square teashop Brew (above)

NEWS Wednesday, October 13, 20104 ★★★★

BUSINESS

THE loudest cheer of the nightat the Knowsley BusinessAwards came when thewinner of the SME of theYear was announced.

Chairman and founder ofCybertill Ian Tomlinson picked upthe award for the way his companyhas continued to expand andinnovate despite the recession.

Ian said he was “thrilled anddelighted” that the company’sachievements had been recognised.

“The Knowsley Business Awardswas about doing something local forthe staff and letting them share init,” he said. “It’s the people in thebusiness that make it what it is.

“They all work hard and arededicated, it’s them that have madeit possible.”

The electronic point of sale(ePoS), e-commerce and mail ordersolutions firm, has had to workhard in the last couple of years asmany retailers struggled and mostof the rest were unsure aboutinvesting.

He said: “It’s tough out there,it’s difficult. Retailers arestruggling. We have seen quite afew go into receivership.

“In my experience, smallerretailers with about 20 to 40 storesseem to be the ones that arestruggling more.

“They are more leveraged, whilethe independent retailers canperhaps cut their cloth more easily.

“Retailers are nervous at makinginvestments. We have seen ourconversion ratios almost halve onnew business.

“We have invested more in salesresources, technology andmarketing and literature.”

There are several reasons whyretailers invest in Cybertill’ssystems.

Ian said: “The stock managementmeans they get a reduction in stockholding – a single store can get a20% reduction in stock, multi-storecan get up to 40%. That’s a majorone-off cashflow saving.

“Retailers look to increase theirgross margin because it shows themwhat is selling so they can have theright stock, for example makingsure they don’t run out of theproducts that sell well.

“Also, Cybertill is all about pointof service and how you interactwith customers at point of sale, andusing the data for marketing. Thatcan lead to a 10% rise in sales.”

Ian, 45, started the company inDecember 2001 after spending hisearly career in sales which led himto be sales director for a retailsoftware house. From there he feltready to fulfil his dream of settingup his own business.

Cybertill was originally based inSt Helens but in 2008 moved downthe East Lancashire Road to Stanley

Grange Business Park on LordDerby’s Knowsley Estate.

The move was indicative ofIan’s concerted approach toprepare for the next phase of thebusiness’s growth.

That focus also led to his decisionearlier this year to becomeexecutive chairman, with his

finance director James Wardbecoming managing director, toallow him to concentrate ondeveloping Cybertill.

“Any founding CEO will startthinking about the future andstrategy,” he said. “The businessgets established but you getinvolved in the urgent, but not the

important.“You are continually thinking

about the future but you alwayshave a customer issue, or a supplyissue or a staff issue.

“James was a very good financedirector but showed that he had theability to deal with the day-to-daystuff.

“James deals with everythinginternal and I deal with everythingexternal.

“I am free to focus on thestrategy, from new products totaking the business internationally– I have been starting to talk to

people who can be overseas salesdistributors for us.

“I have got a potential massmarket proposition with aninternational partner.”

Cybertill has restructured itsproduct offers for both small andlarge retailers.

“At Cybertill we prideourselves that we give retailers amassive amount of power – a lotof bang for their buck,” he said.

“But we have been finding thatcompetitors with less functionalsystems had been reducing priceson first bid. Retail Store One is a

Cybertill’splatformpreparesitforrapidgrowthnextyear

INTERVIEWBIGAlex Turner talksto IT entrepreneurIan Tomlinsonabout the successof his Knowsley firm

‘Thepeople inthebusinessmakeitwhat it is’

AIan Te

Wednesday, October 13, 2010 NEWS 5★★★★

reduced-functionality version ofCybertill, it’s easier to use and islower cost.

“The standard Cybertill systemhas become Retail Store Two.

“In the future there will be anenterprise resource planningversion called Retail Store Three,which we will bring that to marketin the next six to 12 months.

“It will be suitable for retailerswith 50-plus stores, to give them theextra back office and head officecapabilities they are looking for.”

To support the growth thecompany is enjoying it has

increased its workforce, which wasunder 40 a year ago. It now employs47 people and job offers have beenmade to increase it to 49.

Sales have also grown, up 23% to£3.4m in the year to March andIan’s sights are set much higher.

He said: “We are aiming for about£4.3m for this year and we are ontrack for that. With a fair windbehind us we might get to £4.4m or£4.5m.

“Next year financially the targetis to get to £10m, although if we getto £8m I’d be delighted. It’s got to benew channels and new products.”

KEEP ROLLING: Ian Tomlinson in his Knowsley office

ON HIS BIKE: Ian Tomlinson at the end of his 150-milecharity bike ride from Bruges to Amsterdam, which raisedmore than £1,000

AWARD WINNERS: Cybertill executive chairmanIan Tomlinson (left) with Lesley Martin-Wright, chiefexecutive of Knowsley Chamber

IT’STHE

QI run a large office and have alreadyspent a lot on making adjustmentsfor disabled staff, but somebody

mentioned the law is about to changeagain. Is that right?

AYour sources are right. The firstparts of the previous government’sEquality Act 2010, amounting to

some 90%t of the Act, came into force onOctober 1, 2010, and bring someimportant changes for employers.

The Act’s aim was to bring all existinglaws on discrimination into one piece oflegislation. In addition, the opportunitywas taken to update the legislation totake account of recent case law.

Introduced are both new and amendeddefinitions including the description ofaspects of discrimination which are nowreferred to as protected characteristics.

The nine protected characteristics aresex, race, disability, genderreassignment, pregnancy and maternity,age, sexual orientation, religion or belief,and marriage and civil partnership.

There are some significant newchanges, including making reasonableadjustments for disabled people.

In the past the duty to makereasonable adjustments to protectdisabled employees only comprised twoelements. These stipulated thatemployers should take reasonable stepsto avoid creating any provision, criterionor practice – including physical featuresof the premises, such as in your case –which put a disabled person at asubstantial disadvantage in comparisonwith persons who are not disabled.

These are unchanged, but a third,which under previous laws only appliedto premises and goods and services, hasbeen extended to employment.

As a result employers are now boundto take reasonable steps to provideauxiliary aids for disabled people whowould be at a substantial disadvantagewithout them. Where that relates toprovision of information employers mustprovide it in an accessible format.

An important change is claims ofassociative discrimination. For example,a person who is not promoted because heor she has a disabled child and theemployer thinks that because of that heor she could not devote enough time tothe increased duties that would beinvolved with the promotion could bringa direct disability discrimination claimin an Employment Tribunal.

Another important change relates tothe use of pre-employment healthquestionnaires.

To avoid potential for discriminationemployers can only issue pre-employment health questionnaires oncean offer of employment has been made.The Act also makes employers liable forharassment of staff by a third party, likesuppliers, customers and clients.

For further information, pleasecontact the ELAS advice team on0161-785 2000.

with

LAW

NEWS Wednesday, October 13, 20106 ★★★★

BUSINESS

THE best way of persuadingbusinesses to sign up tosaving the planet was alwaysgoing to be to convince themthere was either money to be

made or saved.And so in recent years a whole

range of firms have sprung up toservice the increasing demand forenergy-saving ideas.

John McDonald and Ian Youngare directors of Wirral-basedTeamLogic that sells a“revolutionary” piece of softwarethat slashes the amount of inkused by computer printers.

They claim its main product –Preton – can help an organisationslash between 30% and 70% off itsprinting costs.

Preton allows users to accuratelyset the print quality on documents.

So, if a document was to be sentout externally, then the printquality would be set quite high, butif it was just for internal use then itcould be adjusted accordingly.

The software also providescompanies with preciseinformation about the printinghabits of users within theirorganisation.

Every time a user prints adocument, all details and imagesare logged and indexed.

TeamLogic’s client list includesNorth West Business Link, WirralPrimary Care Trust, Envirolink,the University of Liverpool,Knowsley Community College and anumber of schools.

John McDonald says that theCarbon Reduction Commitment(CRC), a legal requirement onorganisations of a certain size tocut their carbon emissions, has ledto an upsurge in demand for Preton.

He added: “Prior to CRC,companies and organisationsweren’t that bothered about theamount of energy they were using.

“Now they need audited proof oftheir energy savings and Preton canprovide exactly that.”

TeamLogic, which employs 10people and aims to turn over £1.5mthis year, also offers another pieceof software – PC Remote Shutdown.

This is a sophisticatedprogramme that can send a PC tosleep when it is not being used,with all work being automaticallysaved.

Ian Young said: “The sleepfunction in Windows does notactually turn the PC off andprogrammes are still running in the

background using electricity.”Similar to Preton, the software

also logs and indexes the usage ofeach PC on the network, allowingthe organisation to accuratelymonitor and audit energy usage.

David Hunt’s Bootle-basedcompany – Eco Environments(EE) – is growingfast thanks to anew Governmentincentive scheme.

EE installsrenewable energysystems – like PV solarpanels and wind turbines– in homes andbusinesses across the northof England.

It has set up offices inManchester, Cumbria andnow also Tamworth inthe Midlands and is ontrack to turn over £2mthis year.

The introduction by theGovernment of feed-in tariffs inApril (see panel) has given a majorboost to the firm.

This means anyone with a solarPV or wind turbine system can

claim money annually back fromthe government and sell excesspower to the National Grid.

David said: “Before April therewere PV installations totalling 32megawatts in the UK. Since feed-intariffs were introduced this hasalready gone up by another 15megawatts.

“By the end of this year we willbe covering the whole of the northof England and by the end of nextyear we aim to be covering thewhole

of the UK.“I met the Business

Secretary Vince Cable inLiverpool the other week and he

told me the Government iscommitted to extending thefeed-in tariffs scheme and that

is great news for us.”Southport-based Morgan Hope

specialises in the manufacture,supply and installation ofeco-friendly lighting and heatingsystems.

It was started in 1992 and nowservices major retailers,supermarkets and hospitals.

Sales director John Murray said:

“One of our major contracts winswas Superdrug, where we won acontract to supply eco-friendlylighting for all their stores.

“One of our lighting systems cancut lighting energy costs by up to90%.

“The last three years inparticular has seen incrediblegrowth for the company, with salesincreasing by 25% year on year.

“The last three years inparticular has seen incrediblegrowth for the company, with salesincreasing by 25% year on year.

“This is in part due to theincrease in energy costs. Whenpeople were paying 3p per KW ofenergy, then there wasn’t themotivation to be eco friendly andinvest in energy efficient systems.

“However, now, with costs beingaround 10 to 13p per kw of energyused, we’ve had lots of clientslooking to invest in energy efficienttechnology which will save themmoney in the long run.

“We have always said that it paysto be environmentally friendly andthis is certainly the case in thecurrent market.”

OURFUTUREISFOCUS. . . on saving energy

Tony McDonoughon the firms supplyingthe very latesteco-friendly products

ECO OPPORTUNITIES: John McDonald of TeamLogic, above, is helping firms to slash their printingcosts while John Murray of Morgan Hope, inset, can supply energy-saving lighting systems

FROM April this year, theGovernment introduced itsincentive scheme for theinstallation of solar PV andwind turbine projects.

Under the scheme, bothdomestic dwellings andbusinesses are paid for everykilowatt hour (kwh) ofelectricity they generate,whether they use it or not.

They will also be paid forany electricity exported tothe grid.

Eco Environmentsestimates that on a typicaldomestic solar PVinstallation, the householdercould register anincome/saving of between£800 and £1,300 every year.The rate is fixed for 25 year,

Incentivestogogreen

Wednesday, October 13, 2010 NEWS 7★★★★

GREEN

SUNSHINE MAN: David Hunt’s Eco Environments isgrowing fast with solar and wind technology

WHILE most business ratesbills will increase by 4.6%next year in line withSeptember’s Retail PriceIndex figures (announcedyesterday), many firms inLiverpool will facesignificantly higherincreases.

The Uniform BusinessRate is normally linked tothe previous September’sRPI in order to ensure thatGovernment receipts frombusiness rates remainconstant in real terms.Business organisations arecalling on Government toutilise a clause in thelegislation whichpermits a lower thanRPI increase to beapplied, on the basisthat they expect inflationto fall by next April whenthe new rate bills becomepayable.

There is a logicalargument that the increaseshould be pegged toSeptember’s CPI increase of3.1%, especially as theGovernment is planning toutilise CPI as the measureto which benefit paymentsare linked.

According to our research,1,300 businesses in theLiverpool area will see theirrate bills rocket by over 23%.

This increase will apply tothose properties whichexperienced large RateableValue increases at the 2010rates revaluation whichcame into effect on 1 April2010. Their rates increasesare being phased in over upto 5 years but with thepercentages growing eachyear. This year their billswere pegged at a 10.9%increase, but they will beshocked to be seeing adoubling to 23.1% next year.

Cost increases of thismagnitude are simplyunsustainable in thesedifficult economic times andbusinesses should beappealing their ratesassessments, if their ratingconsultants advise that thereare prospects to achievesavings.

There is also an injusticein the phasing scheme whichaccompanied this year’srevaluation. Thosebusinesses that ought to havebenefitted from significantfalls in their bills weredenied them immediatelyand are having their

reductions phased in.The maximumreduction in rates

payable this yearwas 5.9%, but the

effect of September’shigh RPI figure is that

over 5,000 businesses inLiverpool will see

reductions of only 2.3%in 2011/12.

Business facing ratesincreases just at a pointin the economy when

they expected to seefalling costs in linewith inflation andother businesses that

should have seen a sharpdecrease in business rateswill be disappointed.

MONEY

is index-linked and tax-free.The firm says that for a

system under 4kwp (almostall domestic systems are), thehouseholder will be paid41.3p for every kwhgenerated.

So a 3.22kwp system

generating 2,666kwhs a year,giving an income/saving of£1,309. Over 25 years, thatequates to a 246% return oninvestment.

A 10kw wind turbineinstallation could yield £8,527a year, giving a return on

investment over 20 years of448%.

A 10kw turbine isreasonably large and is idealfor schools, farms, industrialunits and large houses. Ecosays a 6kw turbine will alsooffer good returns.

MATTERS with Jerry Schurder,head of rating atGerald Eve

Call: 0845 143 0001or visitmerseyshop.com

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GLOSSY SIR CLIFF SOUVENIR

70 YEARSYOUNGA birthday tributeto the Peter Pan of pop

NEWS Wednesday, October 13, 20108 ★★★★

BUSINESS

NEALINAWARDSHONOUR

Family firm’sexcellenceticksboxes

NATIONAL SUCCESS: Julia and Richard Neal with their award

byNEIL HODGSONIndustry Reporter

A MERSEYSIDE family-ownedfirm set up more than 100 yearsago has clinched a national awardfor its excellence.

Robinson Neal was namedRetailer of the Year 2010/2011 bythe Home Decoration Retailers’Association.

The company, which boasts a111-year pedigree, sellsdecorating materials andprovides an individual advice andproduct-sourcing service.

Based in Birkenhead’sLairdside Technology Park, itoperates branches in Liverpool,Chester and Bangor andtriumphed at national level afterthe awards’ judges said it “ticksall the boxes required to make thecustomer feel special”.

The company said judges alsocomplimented it on itsexceptionally helpful andfriendly staff, its personalservice, its expert technicaladvice and its willingness to trackdown specific products for itscustomers.

Company directorshighlighted the firm’s reputation,which was established over theyears, for discovering the bestnew products and then bringing

them to the north west.In the 1940s Robinson Neal

introduced Dulux to a luxury-starved post-war public and in the1980s the company said it was thefirst to champion the nowuniversally-acclaimed Farrow &Ball range.

Their latest import to the northwest market is the Paint andPaper Library range which hasan enthusiastic following in thesouth among designers andarchitects and which managingdirector Richard Neal and hisco-director wife Julia describe as“absolutely brilliant”.

At the awards ceremony inBirmingham Mr Neal said: “Wefeel greatly honoured and reallyappreciate this recognition.

“We are a family business andwe take enormous and individualcare of our customers. It is whywe are in business. We believethat in retail, as in trade, it’s thedetail that counts.”

Business to BusinessECHOBusiness For Sale

0844 820 0000Open until 9pm

www.blacksbrokers.com

BROMBOROUGH - Convenience Store1467• Busy Parade Of Shops• WT £4,200• High Quality Fixtures & Fittings• Premier Store• Business £38,995 SAV

SOUTHPORT - Restaurant 1643• Well Established 25 Years• Wt £7,000+ (Under Management)• Enviable Reputation• Immaculately Presented• High Street Location, Viewing A Must• Business £149,950 SAV

BIRKENHEAD - Newsagents 1627• Prime Town Centre Position• W/T £ 2500 N/S £412 Payzone £1,500• Large Trading Premises• Potential To Increase Sales Area• Low Rent £12,000pa, Viewing Highly Recommended• Business £29,995 SAV

LIVERPOOL - Convenience Store 1712• Freehold In Prime Position• Annual Turnover £ 45,000• 3 Bedroom Living Accommodation• Massive Potential, Densely Populated Area• Viewing Highly Recommended•Bus & Prop £185,000 SAV

ST HELENS - Sandwich Bar 1715• Excellent Location, Wt £2,700• Gross Profit 60% and Rising• Scope To Increase T/o• Refurbished To High Standard• Viewing A Must• Business £64,995 SAV

PRESCOT - Sandwich Bar 1724• Excellent trading position , WT £ 1200• Town Centre Location• High Spec fixtures and fittings• Immaculately presented• Viewing essential• Business £39,950 SAV

WIRRAL - Counter Newsagents 1745• Prime Position, Town Centre• Adjacent Multiples• Audited Turnover, Gp 22%• Counter News, Vast Scope• Opposite Railway Station• Bus £150,000 SAV, Prop £385,000 Or Rent

ST HELENS - Sandwich Bar 1752• Large Residential Area• Well Established• Scope To Increase T/o• Scope For Outside Catering• Limited Opening Times, Viewing A Must• Business £16,950 SAV

LIVERPOOL - Bar/Restaurant 1763• Excellent City Centre Location• Annual T/o £2 Million• Well Established, World Heritage Site• Scope To Increase T/o• Viewing A Must• Business £1,800,000 SAV

WIRRAL - Restaurant 1781• Well Established, W/T £5000 - £6000• Well Equipped• Extensive Living Accommodation• Residential Rental Opportunity• Sought After Location• Bus & Prop £949,995 SAV

WARRINGTON - Bakery / Sandwich Bar 1839• Impeccably Presented, W/T £4,250• Enviable Reputation• High Gross Profit• Huge Scope• Extensive Building• Bus & Prop £299,995 SAV

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

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

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

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

FORMBY - Newsagents 1896• Newly Fitted• W/T £9,000 News Sheet £6,000• Free Parking• Huge Scope• Low Rent, Viewing A Must• Business £90,000 SAV

Excellent Trading Position

WIRRAL - Delicatessen 1473

• WT £ 4000 +, Well Presented Throughout• High Spec Fixtures and Fittings•Sought After Area• Viewing Essential• Business £54,995 SAV

Busy Main Road Parade

ST HELENS - Off Licence/Convenience 1892

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

Well Established• Wt £1500 (Payzone £700)• Huge Potential• Excellent Freehold Proposition• Well Equipped• Well Respected• Bus & Prop £110,000 SAV

ST HELENS - Sandwich Bar/Convenience 1868

The Business Sales Specialists

Prime Town Centre Position• Wt £18,000• Established For 15 Years• Large Premises• Potential For Extending Store.• Must Be Seen• Business £109,950 SAV

LIVERPOOL - Off Licence 1632

FOR SALEDoric Pub SeaforthSubstantial Property

over 3 floors.Offers over

£195,000 plus VAT.Freehold.Contact

Tom Cunningham0161 828 6408

www.joneslanglasalle.co.uk

LARGE DOUBLE FRONTEDSHOP In busy village. Currentlytrading as Discounts GeneralStore. Plenty of scope. Offersover £20,000 & stock atevaluation 07879 466023

SUCCESSFUL RESTAURANTAllerton Road, 70 covers, wellestablished. Genuine reason fors a l e . £ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 7 7 2 1988339

RESTAURANT FOR SALEHoylake Wirral, £160pw, 13yrslease remaining £32,000 ono.35 covers. 07754 161 063

SANDWICH BAR/CAFE Fullyequipped, good business, newre furb , low runn ing costs£12,995 ono. 07551 443134

SANDWICH ROUND & VANSFor Sale, turnover £102k. Est21 years. Excellent business£30k. Tel 07702 922563.

WOOLTON L25 Takeawaylease for sale 07826 811558

Business Wanted

IS YOUR BUSINESS INL12, L13, L14L34, L35, L36

PARCELS DELIVEREDFOR AS LITTLE AS

*** £2.95 ***Call Mike 07504 105145

BusinessOpportunities

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

Loans

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

CommercialProperty

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

TO LET BRAND NEW Work-shop/Industrial Units 1499−2,558 Sq Ft Sefton BusinessPark, Aintree. Whittle Jones01257 238666

SHOP & STORE derby LaneL13 OS. 07980 144332

Commercial Premises

OFFICESTO LETLIVERPOOL CITY CENTRE750sqft & 1,300sqft respectively

For Further DetailsPlease call 0151 521 3080

(Press Option 2)SECURE INDOORCAR EMPORIUMIdeal for car maintenance &repairs. Units to rent Aintreearea. Long & short term lets.

Parking space. Closeto M57 & M58.

£100pw.

Call 0151 546 5222or 07949 134122

Offices To LetAnfield

1450 sq ft (approximately) of officespace in close proximity to the

proposed new stadium at Anfield.For further details or an appointment

to view contact Gail McEvoy on

0151 260 3355

T J THOMAS0151 708 6544

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

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

www.tjthomas.co.uk

FULLY SERVICED OFFICESTo let in Mell ing. Air con,shared reception. Very highstandard £50pw 0151 5490555

MOSSLEY HILL Shop to let.Suits small business/office 0151724 2714 or 07764 331435

WORKSHOP TO LET PictonRd £70pw. 0151 722 3888

SHOPS TO LET Very secure07785 562496

L4/L21 Units/Offices fr £45pwSecure yard 0792O 461551

L4 GARAGE Unit 2 sets ramps£160pw 0792O 461551

OFFICE TO LET fr £40pw fullyinc. 07785 562496

WORKSHOP UNIT To let. Verysecure. 07785 562496

Industrial Property

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

Taxis/Cab & Plate

W A N T E D L I V E R P O O LHackney plate. Due to severaltime wasters £39000 offerednegotiable. Contact Box13817. Liverpool Echo, PO Box48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool,L69 3EB

ST.HELENS HACKNEY/PLTSst.helens hackney cabs & pltsfor sale good opportunity withlong term settle drivers if req07944 297501

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

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

LONG COLLAR TX2 Bronze 06plate. 1 Driver, long collar£280 pw,+ excess. Call Jon07740882724

PRIVATE HIRE Drivers req’d,busy system, cheap weekly in-surance 0151 260 1010LONG COLLAR TX1 51 plate.M i n t c o n d i t i o n . £ 2 8 0 p w .07707 474164

DAY COLLARS TX4 C/OKirkby, TX2 C/O West Derby0788 0722845

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

CITY LONG COLLAR W regTX1 Over 35. 07533 398829

LONG/DAY/NIGHT COLLAR02 Cab 07873 200893

CITY DAYS,NIGHTS OR LCOLLAR TEL: 07789 884399

KNOTTY ASH TAXIS Ownerdrivers req’d 0151 259 2000

LONG COLLAR AVAILABLE07984 039531

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

CITY CAB & PLATE For Sale07954 360876

Business For Rent

EAT IN & TAKEAWAY SHOPL 7 F u l l y e q u i p p e d , p l u sseperate access to 3 bed flatw i t h d g & g c h , r e c e n t l ydecorated 07930 369048

DOUBLE FRONTED Office/shop to let. Blundellsands L23.Would suit variety of business.£550pcm. 07799043982

Wholesale

TOYS ELECTRICS X Rockerchairs. Only 20% ie £100 for£20 T: 0151 298 1859

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

Building Trade

FRAMELINETRADE SUPPLY

COMPOSITE DOORSUPVC WINDOWS, DOORS,

CONSERVATORIES.5 Day Turnaround

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

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

Pedigree Pets

TOY POODLEPUPS

KC registered, tiny, richdark brown pups, reared in

family home, lovelytemperament, ready now

£500.0151 428 7760.

It pays to advertise in

Classified

BUSINESS TOBUSINESS

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