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Top story
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Feel the power, urges Peel boss
Andrew Simpson, the managing director of Peel Holdings, this morning told an Insider property breakfast that Peel’s plans to harness the tidal power of the River Mersey could make a major difference in the North West energy market. The group’s subsidiary Peel Energy is in the process of appointing consultants to compile its proposal for what could be a £1bn scheme. He said: “We think it’s highly feasible. The Mersey creates fantastic power and we’ve been out to see a comparable scheme in Brittany that has been effective for 20 years. I’d estimate it will take five to seven years to get through planning and technical evaluation but there should be few barriers really.”
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Deals
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£1m funding for payment specialist
TransGlobal Payment Solutions, which provides foreign exchange and payment services to corporates, is expanding with a £1m investment from Alliance Fund Managers (AFM) and Enterprise Ventures (EV). The company, which began trading in October 2007, is moving its head office and sales base from London to the North West and will use the funds to provide development and working capital to the business. AFM provided £500,000 from the Liverpool Seed Fund and EV another £500,000 through the Coalfields Enterprise Fund. Warren Whyte, TransGlobal’s managing director, said: “We intend to expand the business throughout the UK and develop and enhance our service offerings to our target markets across the country.”
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Business
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Everton chief - We’re not sharing with Liverpool
Everton Football Club’s acting chief executive last night ruled out a ground share with rivals Liverpool. In his acceptance speech on receiving the “best club sponsorship” category at the Northwest Football Awards, Robert Elstone said: “I’ve been answering questions all day about our new ground. We’re not sharing with Liverpool,” he said. Other business winners at the event included the City of Manchester Stadium hospitality team, law firm Brabners Chaffe Street and IT provider JMC IT. The evening was crowned with a standing ovation on the stroke of midnight for the Lifetime Contribution to Award for Preston North End legend Sir Tom Finney. 
Stacking up
Stack Computer Solutions, a Bootle-based IT infrastructure and storage solution specialist, has been appointed by California-based CaminoSoft as a service provider for the company’s products, support and services in the UK. CaminoSoft provides Information Lifecycle Management solutions, strategies for administering storage systems on computing devices, Microsoft Windows, Novell NetWare and NetApp Filer. Stack integrates storage management and file archiving solutions across multiple operating system and storage platforms.
Mando develops new site for UU
Liverpool-based web application and development company Mando Group has launched a website for United Utilities. The site has undergone a full redesign and was designed to include easier access to online payments, an improved recruitment area and a number of online tools including a water and carbon calculator.
New departments for law firm
Liverpool law firm Brown Turner Ross has launched new matrimonial, family, wills and probate departments following the merger in August between Southport-based Brown Turner Solicitors and Liverpool firm Malcolm J Ross. The firm, which employs 40 professionals and is officially celebrating its launch tomorrow night, will now operate from the firm’s existing sites in Southport and Liverpool city centre.
King of the Mersey
Martin King, director of tourism at The Mersey Partnership for the past four years, is joining Merseytravel to take up the role of Mersey Ferries’ general manager. “The next few years, particularly with the Pier Head Ferry Terminal being redeveloped and a number of new attractions coming on line in 2009, will be incredibly exciting,” he said. He takes over from Paul Bunnell, who retired from Merseytravel last Friday.
Tourism counts cost of the crunch
The fifth annual Regional Tourism Conference for England’s Northwest takes place today at the Southport Theatre and Convention Centre. Hosted by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), the conference is focusing on managing business through the credit crunch, with keynote speaker David Edwards from VisitBritain providing an insight into future trends and opportunities for the tourism industry. Felicity Goodey, chairman of Tourism England’s Northwest, said: “This industry is getting even more competitive, which makes it even more important for us to continue to deliver exceptional visitor experiences. We must continue to invest in our buildings, environment and people – public and private sector alike.”
Liverpool hotels still ahead of the curve
Liverpool hoteliers continue to perform according to the latest figures released by accountancy firm PKF. The city’s September figures show occupancy levels remain strong, with an increase from 76.8 per cent to 78.9 per cent, with rooms yield up by 2.4 per cent on last year’s figures. Average room rate fell slightly, by 0.4 per cent, but figures for 2008 to date are still above the national average. Overall, rooms yield is up 13.9 per cent on 2007, with average room rate up from £77.67 in 2007 to £82.10 while occupancy has risen by 7.8 per cent.
Employment law supports Hill Dickinson growth
The Liverpool head office of law firm Hill Dickinson showed a rise in fee income of 12.5 per cent as the group reported fee income of £38.5m in the half year to October 2008, a year-on-year increase of 13.5 per cent. The firm increased its employment law work by 52 per cent year-on-year. Managing partner Peter Jackson said: “In contrast to recent announcements by other law firms, we’re delighted to report growth across the board. Albeit small, we have bucked the national trend by reporting a 1.4 per cent growth in our property and construction practice.”
Vision wins national award
Liverpool Vision has been named national client of the year 2008 by Constructing Excellence, the organisation charged with driving change in construction, housing and regeneration. The part of the regeneration and economic development body formerly known as Liverpool Land Development Company was recognised for its work with construction partners Carillion and Birse Civils on the Edge Lane Project, Stonebridge Park and Aintree Industrial Estate.
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Property
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Acies gets Royal approval
Property and construction consultancy Acies has been appointed as architect on the redevelopment and reconfiguration of the Royal Liver Building in Liverpool. The £5m project will include a major refurbishment to the ground floor, transforming the west entrance by enclosing the portico in glass to make a new entrance to the building. The designs will also include a mezzanine floor to accommodate new office space at the Grade I-listed building
RIBA goes wild
The Royal Institute of British Architects has launched a new international open competition for the design of an innovative educational, conference and seed production complex at the National Wildflower Centre, off junction 5 of the M62 in Knowsley. The Northwest Regional Development Agency is providing £100,000 for the competition, which will see first-round entrants whittled down to a shortlist of six to go before a jury panel.
Residential rents fall but demand stays healthy
Rents on residential property in the region have fallen at a slower rate than the national average, says the latest report from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. The market has been hit by a mass of properties unsellable in the current climate, sending rents tumbling as more surveyors reported falls in rents than rises in the last quarter. But demand in the North West remains good, with new instructions to let both flats and houses now at historical highs.
Meek reports on Blackpool progress
Liz Meek, regional director of the Government Office for the North West, has announced her verdict on the progress of the Blackpool Resort Masterplan commissioned in the wake of the town’s failed supercasino bid. Meek reported that since July progress has been made on the potential Victoria & Albert museum, the Tower Festival headland project, housing projects and expansion of higher education. Northwest Regional Development Agency chairman Bryan Gray said: “A better Blackpool requires investment, but also support from all partners. I am pleased this report shows that progress is being made.”
Arley on the attack
Warrington-based housebuilder Arley Homes says now is the time for developers and landowners to act. Managing director John Cosgrave said: “While these are extremely challenging and difficult times, we see opportunities to work with those who want to realise their asset potential rather than wait and allow pressures to build. We have been careful not to overstretch ourselves in recent years and are not saddled with an expensive land bank or over-valued assets, and therefore find ourselves able to continue to purchase new sites for development.”
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