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Top story
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Funding boost for creative and digital sector
In a bid to boost the competitiveness of Liverpool’s TV, film, games and digital content industries, screen agency Northwest Vision and Media has launched its fourth Regional Attraction Fund, which offers funding of up to £50,000 to businesses working in the sector. Companies have until March 2010 to apply for the support, which for the first time will cover production investment. Northwest Vision and Media, which is in the process of seeking new board members, is also hosting a number of skills roadshows this week to provide advice, networking opportunities and speeches by leading industry professionals from the likes of Sony and Lime Pictures. The events are being held at the Contemporary Urban Centre in Liverpool today, Warrington Village Hall Hotel tomorrow and the City Inn in Manchester on Friday.
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Business
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University partnership for IT firm
Liverpool’s John Moores University and Merseyside company IT Developers have announced a two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership. The software development company will be provided with technical expertise and support from the university to help it improve its software development methods and to increase turnover, profitability and business growth. Managing director Ian Truman called the partnership “a tremendous opportunity for our business and added that “both parties will gain some valuable learning experiences from the project”. 
New market for eyebath business
A Rainford company has signed an exclusive distribution agreement to give it access to the Italian market. Showers and Eyebaths Services, manufacturer of emergency showers and eyebaths, has entered into partnership with Eusebi, a manufacturer of automatic fire-fighting systems. The deal will open up an important market for the company.
New HSS centre in Bootle
National tool and equipment hire company HSS Hire has opened a new Premier Centre in Bootle. The 20,000 sq ft centre completes an extensive programme of new openings throughout the UK in 2008. Branch director David Downie described it as, “an excellent addition to our other outlets in the Merseyside area, helping us to improve the scale and scope of service we offer to customers in the region”.
Calls for pan-northern RDA
A new report from the Centre for Cities think tank is calling for radical reform of regional development agencies (RDAs) after the next general election, including amalgamating the three northern RDAs into one. The organisation believes the next government should consider merging some RDAs and closing others to focus more on where economic development and investment is most needed. Under the proposals, cities such as Liverpool and Sunderland would benefit from being part of a unified northern agency that would build better links between the two biggest northern city regions - Greater Manchester and Leeds.
Improve your food and drink skills
Improve, the food and drink sector skills council, is introducing a new suite of occupational qualifications to make it easier for companies to access training and reward staff development. Employers are being urged to join sector groups to offer advice and guidance on the content and structure of the new qualifications, which will cover all roles from production line operatives to senior management. Despite being one of the region’s largest industries, with 56,000 employees and an annual turnover of £6.6bn, 14 per cent of workers in the North West’s food and drink sector have no qualifications at all. Employers are invited to attend consultation meetings to be scheduled for early next year.
Virgin promises less train strain
Services on the West Coast Main Line will be running more frequently and faster under Virgin Trains’ new timetable from 14 December. The routes from Manchester and Birmingham to London Euston see train frequencies increased to every 20 minutes, comparable with many local commuter routes, and average journey times in the case of Manchester slashed to as little as two hours and five minutes. The number of direct trains from London to Glasgow increases from nine to 13 per day, while from 26 January Chester will be linked to the capital by a train each hour. Liverpool receives extra peak period trains to and from Euston.
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Property
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Felton wins medical contract
Felton Construction has been awarded a £3.9m contract to build a medical centre on Laird Street in Birkenhead. The Wirral-based company has started work on the three-storey building, which will bring together two existing local practices, as well as other PCT and health care services. The centre is expected to improve services in the local community and is set for completion in November 2009.
Sporting chance for Warrington
Warrington council’s executive board has approved the masterplan for the redevelopment of Orford Park into a community sports village. The £30m plan could transform 50 acres of former landfill space adjacent to the A49 into a facility including sports pitches, a health centre and library. It is backed by bodies including Sport England North West and the Northwest Regional Development Agency with £3.6m, while the Football Foundation has pledged its maximum-level grant of £1m. The Warrington Wolves rugby league club will locate its academy and training facilities on site.
Claremont stays on track
Claremont Group Interiors, the Warrington-based fit-out group, says it is on course for a record year after reporting orders worth £17m in the first six months of its financial year. It recorded £21m in sales over the previous 12 months and is aiming to hit £28m this time. The company is currently working on refurbishments at both the Royal Liver Building and Port of Liverpool building.
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