Google launches Liverpool workshop project to help city businesses
SEARCH engine giant Google today announced it will hold three months of free workshops and events across Liverpool to help small firms grow their online businesses.
The company wants to “boost the area’s online economy” by working with 1,500 businesses in Merseyside.
It is the first time Google has created a series of events dedicated to one city region.
The company says Liverpool lags behind rival cities, including Manchester and Leeds, in terms of using the internet for business.
It says a recent survey by the Boston Consulting Group shows small firms actively using the internet see sales growth four times greater than those firms that do not.
Raja Saggi, head of small business initiatives at Google UK, said: “The internet has created huge opportunities, but many business owners feel they don’t have the expertise they need to help their businesses grow online.
“This is the first time we have ever run a series of events aimed at helping one city, and we’ll be working hard with our partners to make a real difference to Liverpool’s internet economy over the coming months.
“With Liverpool’s strong business networks and sense of community, we believe this is the best city to run such an initiative.
HUNDREDS of rioters have torched cars and attacked police in Liverpool.
In scenes reminiscent of the shocking scenes taking place in London, police came under fire from bottles, stones and fireworks.
A roaming mob of hundreds of people took control of the top of Smithdown Road and Lodge Lane, setting fire to vehicles, before moving towards the city centre. There were also reports of incidents in Princes Road, Grove Street and Crown Street in Liverpool.
Officers were first called at around 10pm to reports of vehicles on fire and criminal damage in the south of the city.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing around 150 youths pelting passing police vans in Lodge Lane with bricks, stones and bottles.
At around 11.30pm, the rampaging mob mounted a rush at two policemen manning a road block at the junction of Lodge Lane and Smithdown Road. At that point, three loud blasts were heard and the officers fled in their cars.
Seconds later, youths were seen kicking over bollards and a road closed sign put up by the police in Lodge Lane.
STAFF at the doomed former Royal Liver head office in Liverpool have been told they will be "preferred candidates" for new jobs in Cheshire.
Royal London took over its rival Royal Liver last month - and today announced that it was closing the Liverpool operation at the iconic Royal Liver Building with the loss of up to 222 jobs.
Royal London is moving Royal Liver’s operations to its base in Wilmslow, Cheshire, where it is creating 105 new jobs. It is creating another seven jobs in London.
The group said today that Liverpool-based employees would be encouraged to apply for the Cheshire roles on a "preferred candidate" basis.
Royal London’s finance director Stephen Shone said:"We have given careful consideration to the proposed changes being announced, and recognise the implications that an announcement of this nature has for employees.
"We are putting in place a comprehensive package of support for all employees who are affected by the proposed changes, and this will include the availability of specialist outplacement support.
"I very much hope that as many people as possible will take advantage of the opportunities arising from the creation of more than 100 new roles."
The compulsory 90-day collective consultation period with staff started today, and Royal London will ask staff whether they are interested in moving.
Royal London said: "Integration plans have not yet been developed in detail, but the expectation is that the majority of the work would be transferred by the end of 2011."
Today’s announcement marked the end of a century of occupation by Royal Liver of the building that shares its name.
The group was founded in 1850 by a group of workmen meeting at Liverpool’s Lyver Inn. But it was hard hit by the recession and said last year that it was in takeover talks with the much larger Royal London.
Interim chief executive Bill Connolly told the Daily Post that the company would have to consider moving out of the Royal Liver Building post-merger so the space it occupies could be leased out to new tenants.
The takeover was confirmed in May when delegates, representing Royal Liver’s 1m policyholders, voted in favour at their AGM in Liverpool.
Taxpayers help to pay for Merseytravel chairman Mark Dowd’s legal action against fellow councillor
MERSEYTRAVEL chairman Mark Dowd is suing a fellow member of the transport authority for defamation – and the taxpayer is helping to pay his legal bill.
Liberal Democrat Andrew Makinson was sent a legal claim by Cllr Dowd after issuing a press release raising questions about the Labour chairman’s spending on Merseytravel’s credit card.
Last night, Merseytravel refused to say how much it was contributing to the legal action by its chairman.
But renowned Liverpool solicitor Rex Makin said costs in a case like this could run to tens of thousands.
“The costs of legal action like this can run to tens of thousands, I think it is quite wrong for Merseytravel to be involved.”
Neither Cllr Dowd, who has previously refused to discuss the credit card questions – saying he was considering legal action – or Cllr Makinson, could be reached for comment last night.
In an email seen by the Daily Post, Cllr Makinson questioned Merseytravel’s senior legal officer, Tony Fitzpatrick, about why the transport authority was backing Cllr Dowd’s case.
“The chief executive (Neil Scales) has informed me today that the authority is financially supporting Cllr Dowd's legal action against me,” said Cllr Makinson’s email.
