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Communisis plc

Date: 2007

Issue: This major plc is a big player in the print industry, and it had identified the need for a purpose built state of the art print facility in order to enable it to deliver on its planned expansion programme.

Intervention:A suitable site was identified in Speke and BusinessLiverpool provided a FAB grant of £160,000 to help the project proceed.

Outcome: The company moved into its new purpose built building in July 2007 and expects to have 500 employees at the site by the end of 2008.

NDK International Ltd

Date: 2007

Issue: The expansion plans of this international recruitment business meant that their existing premises in Warrington were unsuitable for their future requirements.

Intervention: BusinessLiverpool helped the company identify suitable premises in the City Centre and also approved a FAB grant of £25,000 to assist with the move.

Outcome: The company moved to its new premises in June 2007.

Rugged Logic Ltd

Date: 2006

Issue: Rugged Logic specialises in the production of financial modelling computer software and advanced internet services to support the accountancy and financial communities in Europe and the USA. The company, based in London, was looking for a location for a flagship service centre operation from which to expand its business.

Intervention: BusinessLiverpool helped the company with their property search and provided a FAB grant of £18,000 to assist the company relocate to Liverpool.

Outcome: The company moved to its new premises in Liverpool in 2006.

South River Ltd

Date: 2006

Issue: Following the closure of SRJ Services in the Dingle, the former manager needed capital to acquire the assets and restart trading operations using some of the former staff (chiefly people with learning difficulties).

Intervention: Assistance to register a new not-for-profit company, prepare a business plan and Opportunities Fund grant of £9,000 awarded.

Outcome: Leased part of former premises and recommenced trading less than 2 months after closure.

Crawford House Community Partnership

Date: 2006

Issue: Cost over-runs on the development of the Crawford House Business Centre in Toxteth had left the community group that had commissioned it no funds to fit out and equip the building at handover.

Intervention: Support for application to the Adventure Capital Fund for significant assistance and an Opportunities Fund grant of £11,250 awarded.

Outcome: Centre now open and tenants paying rent, ensuring the community partnership a stable income stream.

Music Development Agency

Date: 2006

Issue: Seeking to expand into the regional training and development market through improved marketing materials an improved on-line training materials.

Intervention: Opportunities Fund grant of £9,850 awarded.

Outcome: MDA has embarked on a program of regional training and development programs with encouraging results and broadening its income streams.

Joseph Williamson Heritage Centre

Date: 2006

Issue: Jobs and the business were at risk at the Heritage Centre in Edge Hill if visitor numbers could not be boosted.

Intervention: Opportunities Fund grant of £4,200 awarded for new signage and improved visitor information displays.

Outcome: Centre reports good prospects for main visitor season in 2007.







Eventa Management Ltd

Date: 2006

Issue: Existing premises were too small for this expanding business and the company identified new offices were found near the Philharmonic Hall.

Intervention: FAB grant of £9000 to help with the cost of the move.

Outcome: Moved to new offices early this year.







F&G Stainless Ltd

Date: 2006

Issue: Existing premises were unsuitable and extra space was needed for future planned expansion.

Intervention: Project management by BusinessLiverpool Area Manager and FAB grant of £25,000 awarded.

Outcome: Moved to new purpose built building in July this year.







Mercury IT Consultancy Ltd

Date: 2006

Issue: The company had to leave their existing premises as the landlords required the site for redevelopment.

Intervention: BusinessLiverpool helped them identify suitable premises in Speke and approved a FAB grant of £5,500 to assist with the move.

Outcome: Moved to new premises in June 2006.







Enterprise plc

Date: 2005

Issue: The Group was looking for a location for a flagship service centre operation from which to expand its business.

Intervention: BusinessLiverpool helped identify suitable premises in Speke, which were formally opened in December 2005 and assisted with two FAB grants worth £415k, in respect of the creation of 511 jobs in all.

Outcome: Now moved in to new premises in Speke and as a result more than 500 jobs have been created.

Austin Smith Lord

Date: 2005

Issue: The Warrington premises of this national architects business were proving unsuitable for their planned business expansion programme.

Intervention: BusinessLiverpool provided a FAB grant of £40,000 to enable the business to relocate to Liverpool.

Outcome: Moved to their new offices in Liverpool in 2005.

Gaskells Waste Services Ltd

Date: 2004

Issue: Existing premises were inadequate for this expanding business and the company needed a new site to accommodate a state of the art recycling plant.

Intervention: The company identified a site that was ideal for its purposes and BusinessLiverpool approved a FAB grant of £50k to assist with the overall funding requirement.

Outcome: Moved to new building early in 2005.







PILKINGTON GLASS

Date: 2004

Issue: Pilkington Glass has a depot in Liverpool where it services many of its North West customers. The nature of the work and services provided means that most employees are drivers are therefore not subject to the same level of supervision and control of factory based personnel. It was therefore important that such employees had the necessary training to make informed decisions whilst away from the depot, with health & safety being the most important area.

Intervention: By working closely with the company and thereby getting a clear picture of their training needs, BusinessLiverpool was able to identify a source of training that satisfied the company’s needs.

Outcome: Training courses were provided for the drivers in two hour stints at the end of the shift. The take up of the courses by Pilkington personnel far exceeded expectations.

“BusinessLiverpool’s investment manager worked very hard to satisfy our requirements and provided the necessary link between our business and the services that we needed. He enabled us to quickly achieve objectives that would otherwise have taken us a great deal of time and effort” George Davis, General Manager, Pilkington Glass.







ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS (RIBA)

Date: 2004

Issue: RIBA has 32,000 members worldwide, with regional NW headquarters in Knutsford and wanted to create a centre for excellence in urban design in Liverpool (with Liverpool Biennial, Arts Council NW, LMDI and RENEW). Offices and a ground floor gallery space at The Tea Factory were identified as being ideal for this venture, however the project could not proceed without public sector backing and financial support; most of the agencies involved had little or no additional resources to fund the extensive refurbishment needed.

Intervention: RIBA approached BusinessLiverpool in February 2004 to determine what support, if any, they could offer the project. Initially, RIBA intended to open up the office development only, leaving major gallery refurbishment until year two or three as funds became available. BusinessLiverpool recognized the gallery development as a major bonus for the city, and identified additional funding to bring the full project on stream immediately.

Outcome: Refurbishment of the centre has been completed, providing a national focal point for the promotion of excellence in urban design.







Chiron (Now Novartis)

Date: 2003

Issue: In mid 2003, Evans Vaccines, owned by Powderject Ltd, operated from 3 adjacent sites in Speke. Some of the sites were not fit for current vaccine production and, with Powderject considering extensive investment in new production capacity, the future of the Speke operation was threatened unless it could be selected as the location for the new investment. Powderject was looking at Waterford as the alternative location.

Intervention: BusinessLiverpool facilitated a Liverpool City Council contribution towards a total public sector funding package of £20m and the project was secured for Speke. However, before the project could be implemented, Powderject became the subject of an acquisition by Chiron Vaccines, and the new investment had to be reviewed by the new parent.

Outcome: In September 2003, Chiron confirmed that the £35m investment in the new 8,000 sq,m. production facility. A further £22m of capital expenditure is expected at Speke over the next 8 years so the future of the site, now re-branded as Novartis, has been secured.

“The support provided by BusinessLiverpool was an essential factor in our decision to re-invest in Liverpool” Kevin Bryett, Vice President, Chiron

Cains Brewery Ltd

Date: 2002

Issue: In 2002 the then owner of Cains Brewery, The Danish Brewing Company Ltd, wished to dispose of this loss-making operation, which at the time was Liverpool’s only remaining brewery.

Intervention: The Dusanj Brothers put forward a proposal to the Danish Brewing Company to buy Cains Brewery and BusinessLiverpool approved a FAB grant of £150k to assist them in this venture.

Outcome: The proposed takeover was completed in 2002 and the Dusanj Brothers have managed to return the Cains Brewery business to profitability.
Part of their plan had been to increase their pub estate and in June 2007 a reverse takeover of AIM listed Honeycombe Leisure plc was confirmed by the company’s board, thus creating a new £65.5 million turnover Liverpool-based business with a chain of over 100 pubs, which will be known as Cains Beer Company PLC.

Mando

Date: 2001-2003

Issue: Originally launched as Webshed, the successful web design company quickly experienced rapid growth and required larger premises.

Intervention: BusinessLiverpool were able to offer a package consisting of financial assistance and the coordination of other support including contributions from DTI’s Regional Enterprise Grant and Merseyside Special Investment Fund.

Outcome: Over a 3 year period, BusinessLiverpool assisted the company through several office relocations during which time they re-branded as Mando Group, established their office within a 7000 sq ft site on Wavertree Technology Park and are now recognised as one of Liverpool’s most successful creative agencies.

“We have had nothing but support from many agencies across Merseyside including BusinessLiverpool in the development of our business and believe it has been absolutely critical to the success we have achieved to date” Matt Johnson, Managing Director, Mando Group.