Liverpool homeware supplier Rayware has bought the intellectual property and assets of the collapsed kitchen accessories designer Typhoon Housewares. The value of the deal has not been disclosed. Surrey-based Typhoon, whose last reported turnover was £8m, entered administration on 25 May. Joint administrators from MCR managed to complete the deal two days later. It’s the second time in three years that Typhoon has gone into administration. All its staff – thought to be approximately 40 – have been made redundant.

Surface Transforms, the Ellesmere Port manufacturer of ceramic brake discs for the aircraft and automotive industries, has issued an upbeat trading statement following increased demand for its products. Turnover is expected to be more than £800,000 for the year to 31 May, up 17 per cent compared with last year, while net losses will be “significantly lower” than the 2009 figure. The company ended the year with its order book 312 per cent higher than last year at £519,670.

The Merseyside Transport Partnership (MTP) has appointed Andrew Elliot to help some of Merseyside’s most popular visitor attractions communicate how best to reach their sites via environmentally-friendly means. He said: “By working closely with tourism and leisure sites to develop dedicated visitor travel plans, we can help the environment and make it easier for everybody.” Elliot has joined from The Mersey Partnership.

The full line-up has been confirmed for Insider’s international trade breakfast on 11 June. Phil Southward from Liverpool’s World Expo team will update the audience on recent activity in Shanghai. Paul Pickup from Promethean will then be joined by Adam Howarth from Character World, Qinglin Li from Rowe Hankins and home furnishings entrepreneur Tony Caldeira for a panel debate on manufacturing in China. To register your interest for the event, which will take place at Halliwells in Manchester, click here. You can also submit a question to the panel here.

Business leaders have given a cautious welcome to the government’s plans to reduce red tape. Business secretary Vince Cable yesterday announced the creation of a ‘star chamber’ to review of all regulation inherited from the last government due to take effect from this month onwards. The proposals also include a ‘one in, one out’ system to ensure the impact of any new laws is balanced by the removal of old ones. Richard Lambert, CBI director-general, welcomed the move, while the Forum of Private Business’s Phil Orford warned that the government must ensure that it does not create more bureaucracy to deal with red tape.