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Top story
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Qire scoops opening innovation award
Qire, the Liverpool-based specialist in interactive voice messaging technology, has scooped the first monthly award in the 13th Merseyside Innovation Awards. Its software service automates the process of making telephone calls to named contacts, verifying identity and then routing the call to a live agent, delivering a voice message or leaving a message on an answering machine. Qire is expanding and its services are used by blue-chip clients and the healthcare sector, which achieve cost reductions, improved cash flow and customer satisfaction. Monthly winners are being chosen in the run-up to the 2009 final of the awards, which reward innovation as a means of boosting growth and profitability. One innovation will win £10,000 cash plus £4,000 of professional advice and publicity for the idea. Anyone interested in applying should visit www.merseysideinnovationawards.co.uk for criteria and registration. The awards are sponsored by Insider, Amatica, BBC Radio Merseyside, Brabners Chaffe Street, Business Link, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, Liverpool Ventures, Paver Smith, RBS NatWest, RTC NorthWest, University of Liverpool Business Gateway, Vanguard and WP Thompson & Co. 
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Deals
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Cash for drugs
Drug development business Bradford Pharma, which is based at Liverpool’s Merseybio incubator, has received a £300,000 funding boost from Alliance Fund Managers’ Liverpool Seed Fund. The company has produced a new range of potential drug candidates for use in cholesterol treatment and completed the initial proof of concept in laboratory trials in May this year. Bradford Pharma was founded in 2005 by directors Dr Pete Jackson and Norman Molyneux. Dr Derek Lindsay joined as director and shareholder in 2007 prior to starting research operations. 
Zeus grabs MJ Quinn
Liverpool-based infrastructure business MJ Quinn Integrated Services has changed hands following a secondary buyout backed by Zeus Private Equity. The business, which is a preferred supplier of contracting services to the London Underground, clocked a turnover of £25m in the year to May 2007 and is expected to capitalise on the transport opportunities created by London 2012. Gary Tipper, managing partner of Zeus Private Equity, told Insider: “The best private equity returns are made when you invest in a downturn. There are plenty of opportunities out there.” 3i and the Merseyside Special Investment Fund are the exiting shareholders.
Panel to help small businesses
A new panel has been launched to monitor how banks are lending to small businesses. The five major high street banks have reached an agreement with the government to provide data on the availability, risk and overall cost of lending to small and medium-sized businesses at the first meeting of the Small Business Finance Forum, held yesterday. Paul Henly, North West policy manager for the Federation of Small Businesses welcomed the move. “It’s important that banks are monitored and that businesses out there are asked whether they get a fair slice of the pie,” he said. “We do see variations on how small businesses are dealt with by the banks.”
The future lies in technology, says Diggines
Jonathan Diggines, chief executive of fund manager Enterprise Ventures (EV) has called for greater investment in technology to help the UK economy grow. Speaking this morning at an EV seminar for investors and investees in the RisingStars Growth Fund, he said: “The dogma is that technology investments don’t make money. I say we are now in a new world and past performance is not a guide to the future. UK growth will not come from financial engineering: the biggest gains will come from new technology that will fuel demand in world markets. The UK has the skills – capital is required now to exploit them.” Diggines also called for tax cuts to stimulate the economy.
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Business
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Hunt for NWDA successor to start anew
The recruitment process to find a new chairman of the Northwest Regional Development Agency will start all over again in January, now that Bryan Gray has had his tenure extended until December 2009. New business secretary Peter Mandelson announced yesterday that the chairmen of seven regional development agencies (RDA) would stay on to ensure stability: “At this critical time for the economy I want to see continuity at the top of the RDAs.” The government wished to announce all the new chairs together, but in three regions the shortlist was rejected. Existing candidates, some of whom have privately told Insider they found the process “frustrating” will be welcome to reapply. One shortlisted candidate only learned of Gray’s extension when contacted by Insider for comment.
Sales growth for Shop Direct
On the back of improved websites, a £20m investment in advertising and alignment of sales seasons to those on the high street, Liverpool-headquartered home shopping group Shop Direct has bucked the gloomy retail trend to post group sales up 2.6 per cent to £1.78bn for the financial year to the end of April 2008. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation are up 130 per cent to £60.9m and online sales, which now account for 38 per cent of sales, are up 31 per cent. The company, formerly Littlewoods Shop Direct, says it is on target to meet its target of having 70 per cent of sales online by the financial year 2010/11 and is three years into a five-year transformation programme. Chief executive Mark Newton-Jones said: “Even in this challenging trading environment, we have seen sales growth. As the economic climate gets tougher, we are well placed with strong online growth and a broad spectrum of products.”
A healthy cooperation
Merseyside-based healthcare cash plan provider Medicash has joined forces with The Co-operative. The deal will allow customers to sign up to a healthcare cash plan in The Co-op’s food and pharmacy stores across the country. Sue Weir, chief executive of Medicash said: “The cost of healthcare in the UK is rising and, in the current economic climate, cash plans represent an affordable way for people to spread the cost of health treatment and gain peace of mind.”
In the bag for Halewood
Liverpool-based drinks manufacturer Halewood International has unveiled a new automated bag in box production line at its contract packing business H&A Prestige Packing Co, a 130,000 sq ft site in Chorley. The premises runs ten lines filling wines and spirits for major brand owners such as Diageo, Chivas Bros, Pernod Ricard, Bacardi, as well as Sainsbury’s, ASDA and Booker. Managing director Andy Smallman said: “The automated line forms part of a long-term £1m development and investment strategy for the company in wine and spirits packing.”
Christmas is coming – spend, spend, spend
In spite of the current economic turmoil, 57 per cent of UK consumers say they plan to spend the same this Christmas as they did last year, according to the annual Christmas Retail Survey, published today by business advisory firm Deloitte. But North West consumers plan to make the biggest cutbacks in spending this Christmas, with respondents telling Deloitte they plan to spend 16 per cent less this year. Chris Ronnie, chief executive of retailer JJB Sports, told Insider: “Christmas trading is hugely important and it looks like it will be a difficult period. From what I hear, some retailers could be starting January sales as early as the second week of December.” Ronnie spoke to Insider for the November issue of the magazine.
Livesmart presents to the world
Livesmart, the company behind Liverpool's Your Ticket for Liverpool visitor card, has been presenting to the World Travel Market conference in London, as part of a delegation organised by The Mersey Partnership. The card, which gives visitors access to a range of discounts and free entry offers, has seen the highest ever sales figures for the card in 2008, with visitors buying cards from as far afield as Australia, Hong Kong and the US. Livesmart also produces the official Capital of Culture card, the 08 Card, and the VIP 08 Card.
The power of two
As Britain’s small businesses battle to stay profitable, new research has revealed that ‘spouse power’ is providing companies with 230 million in unpaid working hours every month – a contribution worth some £72bn per year to the UK economy. A survey carried out by Liverpool-based Bibby Financial Services found that 68 per cent of spouses regularly take part in some form of unpaid work for their partner’s business and 18 per cent work five days a week for free. Edward Rimmer, chief executive of Bibby Financial Services for UK and Ireland, said: “It is clear from our research that having an obliging other half who is happy to be behind the scenes can be the key to business success, particularly in these volatile economic times.”
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Property
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Room at the inn
Stockport contractor Multibuild has been awarded a hotel contract worth £1m by Whitbread to build an extension to a Premier Inn in Southport. The project entails building a 35-bedroom extension over 20 weeks to increase the capacity of the hotel, which is located in the retail and leisure park on Southport’s seafront. This latest contract highlights the strength of the relationship between client and contractor, which spans over 20 years.
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