It's been a big week for Downtown Liverpool as we hosted the Liverpool Leaders Debate between Warren Bradley and Joe Anderson yesterday, and we prepare to welcome former Tory Party Leader Iain Duncan Smith for a private lunch at the Hilton Hotel today. In his weekly blog, DLIB Chairman Frank McKenna sticks with the political theme commenting on the Conservatives' shrinking poll lead and bullying. Elsewhere in TFI we have all the usual features. Jack Rodwell is our 'Man of the Week', Urban Space Products 'Business of the Week' and Roy Rotheram of Panorama Kitchens tells us more than he should in 'Who Are Yer?' Enjoy, 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.

DONT FORGET TO JOIN DLIB ON FACEBOOK

Iconic Liverpool department store Lewis’s, is to close with the loss of around 300 jobs, bringing to an end more than 150 years of history.

Parent company Vergo Retail informed staff of the decision yesterday, with the closing down programme set to begin immediately.

The store’s lease with landlord Merepark will expire in June. But the building was due for redevelopment and Merepark advised Lewis’s it would be unable to use the Ranelagh Street building for the duration of the project.

Merepark is now to proceed with its £160m plans to create a new retail, leisure and hotel complex behind Central station – Central Village.

After 'Bullygate', Downtown Chairman Frank McKenna shares his views.

READ BLOG

Private bank Rathbone Brothers, thought to be Liverpool's oldest company, saw its funds under management creep back above the £13bn mark as confidence returned to the market in the second half of 2009. The group said total funds under management at the end of 2009 were £13.1bn, almost back to the levels seen at the end of 2007, and up sharply from £10.46bn at the end of 2008. More than 2,500 former clients of the Bank of Scotland’s Portfolio Management Service, which Rathbone acquired from Lloyds Banking in October 2009, have so far joined the firm, bringing almost £500m of funds with them. The announcement came as Rathbone said pre-tax profit from continuing operations fell 30 per cent to £29.5m last year, while underlying earnings per share fell by a similar percentage to 52.36p. Chairman Mark Powell said: “The challenges in 2010 may be similar to those we saw in 2009. Rathbone is well capitalised, has demonstrated the ability to make acquisitions and can continue to grow organically. We are excellently placed for the future.”

Business consultancy firm and Downtown member Opus Agency have revealed some worrying trends on cash flow for small businesses.

• 91% of UK companies have seen an increase in late payments from creditors in the last 12 months
• 74% of UK companies are concerned about their exposure to bad debt
• 4% of UK businesses are awaiting payment more than £100,000 from creditors

Research by Opus Agency reveals that 91% of UK companies have seen an increase in late payments in the last 12 months. CLICK HERE for more

Drivewise’s MD Robert Harriss has secured a linkup with the Lookers Group. This is fantastic news for Drivewise as it gives Drivewise a link to 125 Lookers outlets, covering 25 Manufactures. During the meeting Lookers Chief Executive Peter Jones was excited over the linkup and stated this could only benefit both companies.

Drivewise offers New and Used vehicle Sourcing, Contract Hire, and Accident Management, based in the North West and have a fantastic new state of the art showroom.

In conjunction with Downtown, DriveWise are offering special discounts for its members.

Visit their website www.drivewisecontracts.co.uk

Staff at the Crowne Plaza Liverpool City Centre are taking part in an Apprentice-style challenge to raise money for local charities.
 
Employees have been split into three teams, with each given £250 and a stall at the Heritage Market this Sunday (February 28) with the task of trying to raise the most and avoid the dreaded words ‘You’re Fired!’
 
Team Imagine will be selling £1 raffle tickets to win a Nintendo Wii games console and Sony DVD player, with all money raised going to Alder Hey’s Imagine Appeal.

Team Sands are offering bric-a-brac, leather goods, books, and other jumble items, with profits going to Zoe’s Place children’s hospice.

Team Di Nero will host a traditional sweet shop with profits going to NSPCC.

The stalls will be open between 8am and 12.30pm, with the winner of the raffle being drawn and notified by phone at 12.45pm on the same day.

Weatherproof Shelter & Structures specialists Urban Space Products are proud to announce the latest member to join their growing team,
Mike Middleman, contracts manger.

MD Paul Garratt says “This is great news for Urban Space AND our customers. Many high growth companies fall down by winning bigger and bigger contracts but failing to be able to deliver operationally. That’s why we head hunted Mike. It’s his job to ensure we deliver on the promise to our expanding customer base”

Mike gained years of experience as project manager for Marshalls, one of the UK market leaders in street furniture, but is now relishing his new role at Urban. “I am really excited by the expansion plans I have seen for Urban Space, who are clearly becoming a major player the UK marketplace. This was an opportunity for me that was too good to miss”

Urban Space Products Ltd
0845 0177 622
enquiries@urbanspaceproducts.co.uk
www.urbanspaceproducts.co.uk

The only man to have been awarded ‘Man of the Match’ by Sky Sports having been on the pitch for only five minutes – and for doing this.

The developer of this site says he put his thoughts into reality. It actually is pretty good fun, and utterly wacky.

Try out the imagination link! http://www.neave.com/imagination

http://www.neave.com

An update from last week's trivialpursuitexperiment.com

It turns out women are smarter than men!

City Talk 105.9 will broadcast yesterdays Leaders Debate event, held at the BT Convention Centre, sponsored by Ollie & Darsh, on City Talk's Business with Frank McKenna. The programme will be aired on Sunday morning at 7.00am and repeated on Sunday evening at 8.00pm.

WILLY RUSSEL'S BLOOD BROTHERS

Join Downtown as we host another Members Reception. Taking place at Malmaison Liverpool, this event will be attended by some of the leading business men and women in the city.

COST: £25 + VAT per person inc 3 course meal and half bottle of wine

Date: Tuesday 30th March
Time: 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Venue: Malmaison

REGISTER NOW

Don’t miss the North West’s biggest social gathering of the year. The John Smith’s Grand National return’s to Liverpool’s racecourse, Aintree from Thursday 8^th – Saturday 10^th April. Tickets and hospitality are still available for each day of the meeting so what better opportunity to beat the winter blues and welcome in the spring? In 2010, the opening day of the meeting will see the debut of Liverpool Day, a celebration of Liverpool inspired entertainment. There will  be a whole host of entertainment, which will be announced in the coming weeks, however, Aintree Racecourse has revealed that Race goers will be treated to a set by the World’s premier Beatles Tribute act, the Bootleg Beatles. Hospitality is available from £145 per person on this day. Hospitality on Aintree’s famous Ladies’ Day is also available from £180 and John Smith’s Grand National day itself, prices start from £289 per person.

Call Aintree today to find out more or reserve your place at the 163^rd running of the world’s most famous race or view packages online at www.aintree.co.uk

Name: Roy Rotheram

Company: Panorama Kitchens

Position: MD

Red or Blue: Always a Red

Brown or Cameron: Cameron

Favourite Liverpool Bar/Restaurant: San Carlo

What’s your Tipple: Wine and Vodka

Favourite Band: The Killers

Top Tune: My top tune is for ever changing but for now it’s “I got a Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas

Favourite Book: Richard Branson Autobiography

Favourite Movie: Se7en

Who would play you in a film: Ben Stiller

Favourite TV Programme: Top Gear

Most visited website: EasyJet

Celebrity Crush: Beyonce

Interesting Fact about you: Been around the world in some very interesting places over the years but China blew me away with its night life and people, a very random time and place.

Why Downtown: Very good networking tool