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Top story
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Splash feels the crunch as job cuts announced
Urban Splash has joined the long list of developers to cut jobs following "disappointing" sales over the first half of the year. The developer, which employs people in Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Bradford and Bristol, has entered a consultation period with employees on "a number of job losses". A statement said: "Sales in the first and second quarter continue to disappoint. The company's substantial mixed commercial and residential investment portfolio remains resilient. The company has held off job cuts as long as possible." The developer's Liverpool successes include Concert Square and the Tea Factory, while current plans include Tribeca, a large residential scheme, and the conversion of the ABC cinema on Lime Street.
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Business
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Qire wins debt collection contract
Liverpool-based Qire, a supplier of interactive voice messaging technology, has won a contract from Seven Trent to provide a system that will help the water company manage its debt collection processes. The technology will issue automated messages to customers that are in arrears and will then allow Severn Trent to analyse statistics from calls. 
BID ballot papers out
Ballot papers have gone out to central Liverpool businesses to vote to renew the city's Business Improvement District (BID) term, in which businesses pay a levy on rates for extra services. If accepted, the BID, which will run for another three years, could be expanded to include the Bold Street area.
Artisan's glowing
Artisan Windows, a conservatory and window company operating in Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales, has commissioned Liverpool-based Glow New Media to design its new website. Founded in early 2007, Glow has provided its services to such projects as myliverpoolskyline.com, a site designed to celebrate Liverpool's 800th birthday.
Indian summer for Everton?
Could Everton FC's search for investment be aided by the ongoing pantomime at Newcastle United? Anil Ambani, head of the Reliance group and the world's sixth-richest man, was reported to be switching his interest from the North East outfit to Everton. A Reliance spokesman said last week: "We are no longer interested in buying Newcastle because of the turbulent conditions." Everton chairman Bill Kenwright has appointed football's premier broker, Seymour Pierce executive chairman Keith Harris, in his search for investors. Harris brokered the takeovers of Chelsea, Aston Villa and West Ham United.
BNFL starts £5m endowment fund
The University of Manchester's Dalton Nuclear Institute has received £5m from British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) to expand and develop its nuclear research programme and provide top-class education and training to the next generation of nuclear industry professionals. Under the terms of the BNFL Endowment for Nuclear Research, a series of professorial chair appointments will be made. At the end of the funding period for each chair, it is expected the position will be financially sustainable via self-generated research income.
CBI expects "feeble" growth
As the global financial markets this morning come to terms with the collapse of banking giant Lehman Brothers and the takeover of Merrill Lynch, the CBI has today said that a shallow recession through the second half of 2008 will mean growth in the economy in 2009 will be the lowest since 1992. The business organisation has cut its GDP growth predictions for both 2008 and 2009, reflecting the sharper than expected slowdown over the first half of this year and the impact of weak consumer demand, high energy prices and the collapse of major financial institutions.
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Property
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Waste plan to be a test case?
The governance of the Liverpool city region could be tested by the proposals by the Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service (MEAS) to find two sites for the thermal treatment of waste. With landfill no longer a long-term option for the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority, 11 Merseyside sites are on a long list drawn up by MEAS. Three sites are in the Wirral, while Liverpool, Knowsley and Halton have two sites each and Sefton and St Helens one option each.
Claremont completes shipping contract
Warrington-based Claremont Group Interiors has completed a design and fit-out contract for shipping company Hapag-Lloyd at its new office at the Port of Liverpool building. The contract, worth £300,000, took two months to complete and includes the design of internal meeting rooms, an open-plan area for 60 people, new partitions, decoration and furniture. Hapag-Lloyd's move to Pier Head has allowed it to merge its operations to a single site.
Rural planning project wins top award
An initiative to promote and assist farm diversification and rural development in the region has won the North West Best Rural Planning Project Award from the Royal Town Planning Institute. The Rural Planning Facilitation Service, delivered by Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency, has helped more than 1,400 businesses since it was established in 2000 and aims to offer advice before someone submits a planning application for a new development. The service was initially launched by the Northwest Regional Development Agency and has funding into 2009.
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Deals
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Offer period over for In House
The potential buyer for In House Group, the Warrington-based buyer of property portfolios, has confirmed that it is not interested in buying the business. With no other party currently at the table, the group is no longer in an offer period under AIM's takeover rules.
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Events
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Dates for your diary this week
Bob Prattey, chief executive of ACC Liverpool, will address an Insider breakfast briefing tomorrow morning at the Radisson hotel. There’s also the VIP launch of PricebyPrice.com, by Visual Position and Mando Group, on Wednesday evening at the Tate and a networking event organised by Business 9am Connections at Room on Thursday morning, from 9am.
Food festival in full flow
A selection of 40 bars and restaurants throughout the city will be offering special discounts this week as part of the Liverpool Food & Drink Festival, which launched yesterday. Tonight diners can sample the menus in restaurants such as Malmaison, Pan American Club and The London Carriage Works for just £15. Festivities culminate with the Hope Street Feast on Sunday, where there will be music, food, film, dance, theatre, exhibitions and the farmers' market.
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Contact Us
Insider
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17-21 Chorlton Street
Manchester
M1 3HY
Telephone: +44 (0)161 907 9711
Email:
nw@insiderdaily.co.uk
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