Please follow & like us

RSS
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
YouTube
Instagram

Front Page

Sefton businesses have it all wrapped up!

31 October 2018
Ollie Cowan
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Latest News

Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, Cllr Marion Atkinson and Bootle MP, Peter Dowd, recently visited two south Sefton businesses to hear of their development plans. 

The tours were set up by InvestSefton – Sefton Council’s enterprise, business support and inward investment service who have helped both businesses through their ERDF Business Growth programme.

First up was a site visit to Hardy UK – a leading Bootle-based manufacturer and supplier of precision blades to the global leather industry.

Currently trading from Fernhill Road, Bootle, they employ 17 staff with the majority of them living in the borough.

With a long term plan to stay locally and grow the business and workforce, InvestSefton is assisting the business in their future growth plans and previous support has included Regional Growth Funding, assistance in becoming a member of Sefton Export Group and introductions to LJMU and Manufacturing Technology Centre.

The group then visited Gift Wrap Direct Ltd – an owner-managed business based in Netherton.

The business specialises in commercial B2B print and design services, including large format prints, banners and pop ups, and corporate gifts. They also have two outlets in the Liverpool City Region for print services for businesses and retail customers.

InvestSefton is assisting with preparatory work and market research for the concept and content for an e-commerce site, and an application for funding towards the cost.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said: “Yet again it was great to hear how local businesses are thriving in the heart of Sefton and their stories capture so many interesting opportunities.

“For Hardy UK, they have become a long established company in Sefton and has remained at the forefront of technology in blade design and manufacture for the global leather industry; we have been delighted to support them with their growth plans”.

Robert Andrews (Director), Peter Oxspring (MD), Julie Swarbrick Invest Sefton, Peter Dowd MP, Cllr Marion Atkinson and Gary Brine, Hardy production manager

“Gift Wrap Direct UK are another success story and have benefited from the excellent support offered by InvestSefton as they go from strength to strength.

“With expansion plans and further development announced by both companies, it really shows how Sefton is open for business.”

Peter Dowd, MP and Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said: “These visits prove the wealth of growing and innovative businesses we have in Sefton and I am delighted that the Council continues to support economic growth through services such as InvestSefton and Sefton@work.”

Peter Oxspring, Managing Director of Hardy UK, added: “For its iconic status and global recognition, we chose Made in Liverpool over Made in Britain for our marketing message. The people of Hardy UK and as such, of the greater Sefton area, make it the success story it is today and will continue to be in the future.”

Ian Coughlin, Managing Director of Gift Wrap, said: “We have had great support over the years from InvestSefton with Julie Swarbrick being pivotal in our growth and expansion plans.

“It was with Julie’s help that we secured funding for the development of our new B2B website currently under construction. These are exciting times for us with a vision for future growth that will be of benefit to businesses and employment locally.”

Tommies stand tall to help Sefton mark Remembrance commemorations

31 October 2018
Ollie Cowan
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Latest News, WW1 Centenery Year

Six foot tall ‘Tommies’ will stand proudly across Sefton as the borough continues to mark the centenary commemorations for the end of World War One.

The figures will now go on display from Friday November 2 at Bootle Town Hall and Southport’s Atkinson Arts Centre ahead of the borough’s Remembrance services.

Created by the Remembered charity, the Tommy figures are designed to be a striking symbol to commemorate the fallen, educate future generations and heal those suffering from combat related PTSD.

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “The Tommies we will have on display acts as a token of remembrance and helps build awareness of what we are doing to mark the centenary.

“The figures are based on a photograph by Horace Nicholls, whose eldest son, George, died at Arras in 1917 at the age of 22.

“At Sefton we are incredibly proud of what we are doing to mark this momentous anniversary, from our Beyond The War Memorials project to our support of the Royal British Legion’s events calendar.

“I would encourage everyone to come down to either Bootle Town Hall or the Atkinson from November 2 to see these breathtaking figures and pause to reflect on the events and impact of the 1914-18 conflict.”

For more information about Sefton events to mark 100 years since the end of World War One, as well as Remembrance services across the borough, visit www,mysefton.co.uk/category/ww1-centenery-year

/Ends

Phase 2 of a programme of platform upgrades starts in November

31 October 2018
Ollie Cowan
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Merseytravel

A programme of platform upgrades to prepare the Merseyrail network for the arrival of new, state of the art trains in 2020 has begun. Phase 1 is underway and progressing well as Network Rail makes vital upgrades to platforms and realigns track on the Ormskirk Line.

Phase 2 will take place between 12 November and 16 December with the closure of Bank Hall station.

Train services will not be disrupted on this line as they will continue running through the station, although they will not stop there. High quality rail replacement buses will be in operation between Bank Hall and Sandhills stations to keep passengers moving to/from Liverpool, Kirkby, Ormskirk and Southport.

Alternatively passengers may prefer to make their own way straight to Bootle Oriel Road or Sandhills stations to start their journey.

These vital works need to happen to ensure that station platforms across the Merseyrail network are compatible with the new trains and their ground breaking, sliding step technology that will provide unassisted access for all.

This will mean that wheelchair users can board the train without a ramp and passengers with prams and cycles can get on and off the train with ease. This technology represents a pioneering approach for the UK.

There are 11 phases of work scheduled between October 2018 and June 2019. More information about each phase, rail replacement services and alternative travel options will be made available nearer the time.

Merseytravel, Merseyrail and Network Rail have worked collaboratively on this project and significant planning work has been carried out to minimise the time needed to complete these important works and reduce disruption to passengers.

Businesses and organisations are advised to think about what they may need to put in place to support staff and customers.

Bootle-based Regenerus hosts Tomorrows Land- and you’re invited!

26 October 2018
Ollie Cowan
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Health

A Bootle-based organisation is hosting a major international conference in Liverpool next month to celebrate the success of a European social innovation project.

Regenerus will welcome its partners in the Erasmus + Tomorrow’s Land project from Portugal, Denmark, Italy, Germany and Latvia to the one-day event which takes place at Hinterlands on Mann Street in the city centre on Thursday 22nd November.

Regenerus is issuing an open invitation to the free conference to anyone across the city region with an interest in social innovation, including university staff and students, social entrepreneurs and representatives of the public, private and social economy sectors.

Delegates at the event will hear how Tomorrow’s Land has been working to create collaborative economies by nurturing more social innovators – people who can create new ways of working to achieve positive social change and ultimately a more inclusive society.

Emphasising that ‘small actions can make a big difference’, the focus will be on examples of real success stories in the field, from Fairtrade to digital participatory democracy.

Connecting the local to the global, there will also be contributions from two high-profile guest speakers:

  • International consultant, educator and author Dr Daniel Christian Wahl will be sharing what he thinks are the most important skills that social innovators need to shape the future.
  • Globally renowned innovation and education guru Charles Leadbeater, an inspiring and influential author, award-winning journalist and a social innovator in his own right, will be sharing his insights into how to build successful movements for positive change.

Ruth Livesey of Regenerus commented: “Tomorrow’s Land has been a very successful project and we’re delighted that our European partners will be joining us to celebrate its achievements.

“We also hope that the conference will attract a wide range of delegates, including would-be social innovators and social entrepreneurs, trainers, educators and policy makers, as it will provide an opportunity for them to get to know each other and start to create new solutions to some of the challenges society faces in today’s world.”

The conference is supported by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union and Well Sefton, one of ten Well North Pathfinders, an innovative, Public Health England initiative. It is free to attend. Visit www.eventbrite.com and find Tomorrow’s Land to book a place.

Rimrose Valley Judicial Review decision deferred

24 October 2018
Ollie Cowan
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Latest News

A decision on Sefton Council’s Judicial Review application against Highways England has been deferred following the hearing at the High Court sitting at Manchester Civil Justice Centre on Tuesday, October 23.

Sefton Council presented its case at the High Court to review the decision by Highways England not to consult on the option of a tunnel for the proposed Port Access route when they undertook a consultation exercise to determine their preferred route option.

The council argued that despite having promised to do so, Highways England failed to include the tunnel option in its consultation or in any event failed to include it in a lawful way.

Sefton is of the view that the tunnel option would have merit and the only option which could balance the need for improved access to the port with the needs of the local community.

As part of the hearing, Sefton asked for an Order quashing the preferred route announcement and an Order requiring Highways England to re-consult about the tunnel option before any decision as to the preferred route is re-taken.

After hearing both sides of the case, judgement has been deferred to another date.

Search Box