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Top story
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Carragher's café for Liverpool One
Café Sports England, the family restaurant backed by Liverpool footballer Jamie Carragher and local entrepreneur Paul Flanagan, is to open a new café in Grosvenor’s Liverpool One scheme, Insider understands. The second half of Liverpool One will be opened on 1 October, although a sneak preview of the new Chavasse Park was held last night. The event was held partly to promote residential scheme One Park West, where sales remain “on target” according to a Grosvenor spokesman.
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Today's news
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Into the angels' den
Five hopeful start-ups pitched to over 40 investors at last night's business angel event at Liverpool Science Park. Entrepreneurs included: Steve Kelly, who brought SmartKem, a chemically-printed thin film electronics system; Warren Lunt and his Golf Travel Systems, which allows online booking for golf courses; and Stuart McCrae with 121 Computer Support, anti-virus hardware gunning for BT's market. Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) head of finance David Read said: "The importance of business angels is recognised nationally at the moment, with companies finding it increasingly difficult to access funding in the current market." The event was hosted by the NWDA and Dreamcatchers Liverpool. 
Sutcliffe promotes Baldwin
Civil and structural engineer Sutcliffe, which is based in Liverpool, has promoted William Baldwin from executive associate to director. Baldwin has spent his career with the company and specialises in site investigations. He has worked on projects with both public and private sector partners across Merseyside and the North West.
Branlow acquired by engineering giant
Warrington-based mini piling specialist Branlow has been acquired by geotechnical engineering specialist Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering (BBGE). The deal enhances BBGE's services by providing a comprehensive mini and micro piling capability in the UK and Ireland. In the year ending March 2008 Branlow's turnover was £8m and all of the existing management team will continue to lead the company. Managing director Paul Woodfield said: "BBGE provides us with the financial muscle to accelerate our research and development projects, increase investment in cutting-edge innovative techniques and expand geographically."
MBO for Kendal print company
Kendal-based family-run print and design company MTP Media has been acquired in a management buyout by graphic designer Alistair Sanderson and his colleague, Dean Lowes, from founder Mike Miller. They plan to organically grow the £400,000-turnover business, which has been renamed MTP Media 2008, and increase turnover to £600,000 in three years. Accountancy Moore and Smalley has been retained as the company's accountants after brokering the deal.
Calls for tax breaks on green investment
As Chancellor Alistair Darling this week told the TUC Conference of the potential for creating one million new jobs in low-carbon industries, business advisers are calling for tax incentives to boost green energy production. Jane Jackson, tax partner at accountancy firm PKF, said: "If Darling is serious about his three energy goals - security, clean green generation and low prices - he has to use the limited investment funding currently at his disposal very wisely. Carefully constructed tax breaks for investors will gear up the investment capital that can be pumped into the UK's green energy sector at a time when all businesses are finding it harder to find funding."
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Something for the weekend
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Deal of the week
Restaurant chain Barburrito, which is set to open a new venue at the end of the month in Liverpool One, secured expansion investment by Cenkos Fund Managers' Rapid Realisations fund, which is based in Haydock. The management team of Morgan Davies and Peter Kilpatrick retain a minority stake in the business but will be at the forefront of the expansion of the Mexican fast-food operation.
Superlambanana news
Liverpool developer Iliad, which successfully bid for two of the mini-Superlambananas sold at auction on 9 September, will put them on permanent public display at East Village on Duke Street. Iliad, which sponsored the creation of Sushi Lamb Tempurabanana Table 5 Now - themed on East Village restaurant Sapporo Tepenyaki, would you believe - purchased mini-superlambananas Cargo and Yellow Superlambanana in Cage 2008. They will apparently be maintained by Iliad for the rest of their, err, lives.
Honest quote of the week
Culture supremo Phil Redmond always seems to hit the nail on the head and, when dismissing suggestions that taxpayers had paid a little too much for the fantastic spectacle that was La Machine, said: “At £1.5m I think it's actually cheaper than Macca and it has got us on the front of the South China Morning Post. So it’s good value for money.”
Excuse of the week
Warren Bradley, leader of Liverpool City Council, told the Liverpool & Manchester Property Forum that the reason the public had to pay 70 per cent of the Capital of Culture bill was London's winning of the 2012 Olympics. "We were talking to major names like Coca Cola and Barclays but they adjusted their sponsorship strategies when London won the Olympics." OK, Warren.
Canapé won't pay
A bumper crop this week. Valiant efforts came from the Racquet Club for the Liverpool & Manchester Property Forum and at North West Business Angels' Liverpool Science Park bash. But the winner has to be Grosvenor's Secret Garden Party in the mightily impressive new Chavasse Park last night. Champagne, Peroni and two heaving tables crammed with tuck from the London Carriageworks, a steel band and a thoughtfully provided marquee that kept off the monsoon.
Are you prepared for oil price rises?
The University of Liverpool is inviting companies to attend a free one-day seminar on 18 September that will help businesses understand the practical steps that can be planned now to minimise the impact of future rises in oil prices. Keynote speaker is Simon Snowden from the University of Liverpool Management School, who recently addressed the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Peak Oil and Gas and is a leading member of the university’s Oil Depletion Impact Group. Register online at www.uolevents.org/oil.
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