June 2015 Local Distributor Celebrates 10 Years in Business and Plans for Future Growth When local business LK Valves & Controls Ltd were approached by Knowsley Council’s Business Liaison Team to access free consultancy support they were naturally wary. Having never accessed this kind of support from the Business Team before, they had no idea what to expect. At the point of contact the company were looking to increase their sales, both overseas and within the UK, so the Directors decided to take advantage of the support available to help them devise a strategy to achieve these aims. Although originally requesting support around business growth, Alan Forrester, one of the Company’s Directors, was pleasantly surprised by the outcome of the original meeting. He said “My expectation from the meeting was Christina (consultant) would advise on planning for growth however she quickly identified a more pressing priority for the business. That was the challenge of sustaining the business through a period of change. She (Christina) identified the critical challenge going forward to be the distribution of responsibilities across the management of the business resulting in a more proactive approach delivering drive and direction to the business”. More Success for Knowsley Businesses at the Echo Regional Business Awards On the 18th June more than 500 business leaders attended the prestigious Echo Regional Business Awards ceremony at Liverpool's St George's Hall. The awards now in their 21st year recognise the contributions of Merseyside businesses across 12 different categories. Knowsley had reason to celebrate as local businesses scooped three awards. Jaguar Land Rover received the accolade for KPMG Business of the Year (over 250 employees), Clarke Energy won the UK Trade & Investment International Trader of the Year Award, and finally the award of the evening went to Jim Clarke from Clarke Energy for DLA Piper Business of the Year Award. Congratulations to all the winners and shortlisted businesses. Click here for a full round up of all the winners. Tratos Innovation Academy opened by Mayor of Knowsley Edna Finneran and Tratos President Ing. Albano Bragagni On the 4th June local cable manufacturer Tratos were delighted to officially open Phase I of the Knowsley Expansion and the “Tratos Innovation Academy”. In attendance were the Mayor of Knowsley, the Mayor of Pieve Santo Stefano in Italy, and the President of Tratos Cavi. Several key authorities were also present; Including representatives from the Regional Growth Fund, the Chrysalis Fund, the Liverpool Enterprise Fund, and HSBC Bank to all of whom Tratos expressed great thanks for their support with the investment of Tratos’ Knowsley manufacturing facility. From the beginning of 2016, Tratos UK Ltd will be the second largest UK based cable manufacturer. The Academy will be the hub from which Tratos wishes to innovate, educate, and form its own personnel, at all levels from the top echelons through to the factory workers. More Lord Lieutenant Presents Queen’s Award Scroll to Knowsley Development Trust A Knowsley organisation has been officially presented with the UK’s highest business honour for the second time. Representatives of Knowsley Development Trust received a scroll recording their latest Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development success from the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Dame Lorna Muirhead, at a lunchtime reception at their North Mersey Business Centre HQ in Kirkby. The sustainable development honour is the rarest of the three types of Queen’s Award, presented annually and covering a five-year period. The Development Trust was previously recognised in this category in 2009. The organisation has been honoured for its wide-ranging activities which include running North Mersey Business Centre as a social enterprise, ploughing all profits back into economic development, regeneration and community projects in the area. More Young Knowsley Filmmakers Honoured At Oscars-Style Ceremony Budding young filmmakers from Knowsley and Liverpool have been honoured at a high-profile screening and awards ceremony. Merseyside actor Michael Starke - star of Brookside and Coronation Street - and X Factor finalist Chris Maloney were among the VIP guests who presented awards at Neet TV’s ‘The Producers’ evening at the Showcase Cinema on East Lancashire Road. Other VIPs included Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside Abi Pointing, Knowsley MP George Howarth and Knowsley Council Deputy Leader Cllr Mike Murphy. In total around 400 people attended the event, including 120 of the young people who made the films - most of whom have learning disabilities and difficulties – and their families. Neet TV - which is part of Knowsley Enterprise Academy - helps children and young people to produce films and explore the potential of a career in the media industry. The project’s Hollywood-standard equipment ensures that they gain state-of-the-art experience of the filmmaking process. Knowsley Enterprise Academy, established by award-winning social enterprise Knowsley Development Trust, provides a wide range of business-related activities for pupils in local schools and for young people not in education, employment or training. More The Merseyside Independent Business (MIB) Awards are now Open for Entries Moorcroft Solicitors have launched their 2015 search for the region's most successful, creative and innovative independent businesses. The Merseyside Independent Business (MIB) Awards, now in their third year, were created to recognise the region's independent business sector and to commemorate Moorcroft’s 200th anniversary in 2013. The 12 categories include Independent Retailer, Best Start-Up, Community Project and the prestigious Independent Business of the Year, as well as two new awards - Independent Place to Stay and Trades Business. The awards will culminate with a glittering black tie dinner, hosted by BBC Radio Merseyside stalwart Roger Phillips and his daughter Ellie Phillips, at Liverpool's Rum Warehouse on 1st October. Alison Lobb, managing partner of Morecrofts said: "The Merseyside Independent Business Awards were created to recognise and celebrate the region's best owner managed businesses and we're delighted it's now in its third year. Last year saw 150 submissions and we're expecting even more with the creation of new categories this year. It really does keep getting bigger and better”. More Dates for Your Diary Knowsley Business Watch, 30th June 2015, 5:00pm – 6:00pm, Suites Hotel Knowsley The aim of Business Watch is to actively work with local businesses to ensure that information/intelligence is shared so that you are aware of local problems, they have a platform for support and advice, and an opportunity for the local police and MFRS to detail any criminal activity, changes to policies, and assist you on prevention measures. Ultimately they want to share information, work together to identify issues and minimise opportunities for crime/incidents to occur. Everyone is welcome to this informal meeting so please do come along. Book Here Manufacturing Network, 1st July 2015, 8:45am – 10:00am, Suites Hotel Knowsley Knowsley Chamber is hosting an inaugural meeting of the Manufacturing Network at the Suites Hotel, Ribblers Lane, Knowsley, L34 9HA on Wednesday 1 July 2015. The meeting will commence at 08:45 (refreshments on arrival) until 10:00. At the first meeting they are hoping to identify and scope out what the Manufacturing Network in Knowsley will look like and want you want to achieve. Book Here FLASH Networking, 7th July 2015, 8:30am – 10:00am, Suites Hotel, Knowsley A networking breakfast providing you with an opportunity to pitch your company, products, services, etc. A must attend event for those who want to increase their business network, make new connections and contacts and meet like-minded business focused people. It's very simple but very effective. Businesses report that they make great connections and develop real leads through Flash Networking. Friendly and professional people all under one roof. Why don't you come along and bring your business cards - bring your contacts with you so that they can share in the success. Have the opportunity to pitch your business to the network. Book Here Doing Business with Sensor City, 7th July 2015, 9:30am – 3:30pm The next Sensor City Business Engagement event on the 7th July, is aimed at bringing together business professionals and academics with a vested interest in the development of sensor systems and technologies - to network, share knowledge, capability and industry insights and find out how the Sensor City initiative has progressed in the last 6 months. Following the successful Sensor City launch event in December 2014, this event aims to further build the sensor city business supply chain, connecting together the sensors community to allow collaboration, innovation and commercial exploitation to flourish. Book Here .