Its 'Derby' weekend and Blues and Reds are getting ready for a big day at Anfield tomorrow. This season hasn't been the best for either club thus far, but there have been signs in recent weeks that both teams are coming into form just at the right time. Lets hope its a cracking game, and that both sets of supporters concentrate on the football, rather than trading insults and indulging in juvenille chanting about the players wives and children. This week, TFI features a 'Woman of the Week' with football connections; our Business of the Week has a strong  offer  to the world of sport; and Frank McKenna suggests that the Northwest Development Agency has a sporting chance of survival regardless of the result at the forthcoming General Election. Enjoy the game, have a great weekend, and don't do anything Frank wouldn't do...

YOU CAN HEAR A PREVIEW OF TFI EVERY FRIDAY MORNING ON CITY TALK 105.9FM, 7.45AM, WITH FRANK McKENNA.

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The area surrounding Liverpool’s Metropolitan cathedral is set to be transformed by a £6m facelift.

The urban regeneration scheme, due to start next month, is an attempt to boost road safety and reduce traffic around the Metropolitan Cathedral and Hope Street.

Major improvements will be made to the junction of Mount Pleasant and Hope Street, creating a new public space in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral and restricting the use of Upper Mount Pleasant (between the cathedral and student’s union) to buses, taxis and access to car parks only.

The future of the North West Regional Development Agency has been the subject of much debate as we approach the General Election, with likely winners the Conservative Party proposing the abolition of the strategic economic development organisation.

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As The Grand National is fast approaching, Berkley Bowen believes that now is the time to consider your outfit for the day, or any other racing day for that matter.

With that in mind,  they are offering the following packages for February:

1 Sports jacket from the Glorious Twelfth range by Porter & Harding
1 Bespoke Shirt & 1 Woven Silk Tie
Bespoke Usually £1,447, now only £1,299
Made to Measure Usually £727, now only £649

For more information please visit www.berkleybowen.co.uk

While overall levels of activity were down in the last football transfer window, with Deloitte forecasting that £30m was spent by Premier League clubs, the sports team at North West law firm Brabners Chaffe Street was one of the more active players. The firm, which has offices in Liverpool, Manchester and Preston, advised on many of the more high-profile moves and loans, including David Beckham’s loan transfer to AC Milan; Manchester United on its deal to sign Fulham’s Chris Smalling; and the six month loan of Manchester City’s Brazilian winger Robinho to Santos. Partner Matthew Bennett said the window saw a “wider climate of belt-tightening”.

This February, ‘Clatterbridge your cancer centre’ have got the perfect way for you to brighten up a dull Tuesday at work – the Big Pancake Party!

It’s simple to get involved, just get together with colleagues, friends or family and hold a pancake party. The main aim is to have fun on Pancake Day 16 February and raise much needed cash for ‘Clatterbridge your cancer centre’.

As the only charity that raises funds directly for the patients of Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology - the area's leading cancer treatment centre, they need the help of local businesses to help them improve the lives of people affected by cancer, enabling them to improve the care, treatment and facilities they can offer.

Call Karen on 0151 482 7948, email karen.swale@ccotrust.nhs.uk

The sports division of AIM-listed insurance broker CBG Group, based in Manchester, has secured boxer Ricky Hatton’s company Hatton Promotions as a client. CBG Sports will provide cover for a series of boxing events throughout the UK in 2010. It’s the first time the division has branched out into boxing. Last month CBG said trading was in line with expectations for the year to 31 December 2009 and will announce its full-year results on 23 March.

Liverpool model Abbey Clancy is using her famous curves to raise money for Sport Relief.

The girlfriend of former Liverpool player Peter Crouch was pictured in the advertising features for the charity. The design is part of a range by Victoria and David Beckham and their boys Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz.

The T-shirts are made from 100% Fairtrade Certified cotton and features the “Beckham love sport” motif.

Sport Relief is an annual national event which encourages people from all walks of life to run, jog or walk a mile for charities in Britain and abroad.
All events will take place on the weekend of Friday, March 19.

For information on how to take part, or to order one of Abbey’s tops, visit www.sportrelief.co.uk

Are you the creative type?

Do you want to be artist, without having to cut your own ear off?

Mr. Picasso Head is the site for you!

http://www.mrpicassohead.com/create.html?skin=original

This week we have invited 3 of our most valued partners to showcase some upcoming offers.

RADISSON BLU

MALMAISON1 | MALMAISON 2

FISHLOCKS

Downtown Liverpool in Business (DLIB) is to host a head-to-head debate between Liverpool City Council Leader Councillor, Liberal Democrat Warren Bradley, and opposition Leader, Labour Councillor Joe Anderson in the run up to next May’s Local elections.

The event will take place on Thursday 25th February, at the BT Convention Centre and will also be broadcast by radio station City Talk FM. The audience will be made up of business leaders from across the city.

Hosted by Jim Hancock: Former political editor with Granada and BBC Northwest.

Date: Thursday 25th February
Time: 2.00pm - 4.00pm
Venue: BT Convention Centre

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As signs of local optimism emerge it is important to be mindful that more companies collapse at the beginning of a recovery than in the depths of the preceding recession. This is mainly down to a lack of working capital once demand starts to return and ineffective marketing initiatives.

Grant Thornton will discuss how you can prepare for the upturn and look at the areas which need to be focused on in order to improve cash flow.

Dougal Paver from Paver Smith looks at cost effective marketing solutions designed to maximise the effect of marketing strategies for 2010.

Date: Monday 8th February
Time: 2.30pm - 4.00pm
Venue: Grant Thornton

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Name: Brian McAnoy

Company: Povall Worthington – We’re Architects and Surveyors

Position: Associate Director

Red or Blue: Sky Blue (Man City – 30 years of false dawns - it hasn’t been easy)

Brown or Cameron: Cameron – it’s time for a change

Favourite Liverpool Bar/Restaurant: Rigby’s

What’s your Tipple: Peroni / Amstel

Favourite Liverpool Band: Echo and The Bunnymen / Cook Da Books

Top Tune: Cowboy Song – Thin Lizzy (Live Version)

Favourite Book: Bourne Trilogy

Favourite Movie: Magnificent Seven

Who would play you in a film: Jimmy Nesbitt – at least he’d get the accent right.

Favourite TV Programme: Spooks

Most visited website: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ always buying bits and pieces for my mountain bike.

Celebrity Crush: Eva Mendes

Interesting Fact about you: Grew up near to where George Best and Van Morrison lived. Unfortunately I play football like Van Morrison, and sing like George Best!

Why Downtown: Best business networking club in the city.