£1.1m fund to give new entrepreneurs a flying start

A new training programme aimed at developing the entrepreneurial skills of unemployed and workless adults in Merseyside has been launched by the Learning and Skills Council Greater Merseyside (LSC).

The Enterprise Routeway programme is funded by the LSC and is delivered through Liverpool-based training provider Train 2000. It offers a customised programme of skills support with clear progression paths that will support unemployed and workless people wanting to start their own business.

The practical support ranges from confidence building to business planning programmes and is designed to lead participants into other targeted business start-up support such as the New Entrepreneur Scholarships and the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI).

Helen France, director of area at the LSC said:- “This is important funding which goes to the heart of our remit of ensuring that everybody has access to the funding they need to enhance their existing skills and to develop new ones. Long term unemployment is a real problem as the more time that people remain out of work the more difficult it becomes for them to find meaningful employment. This is particularly true for disadvantaged and vulnerable groups which this funding is primarily targeted at. A number of people are already benefiting from this funding so we would urge anyone thinking of starting their own business to take full advantage of the support that is available to them now.”

Bernie Cox, Training Coordinator for Train 2000, said:- “Train 2000 is delighted to have received funding to deliver this programme. Now is a good time for people to start thinking about becoming self-employed, especially if they have been made redundant and have received redundancy packages which they can put to good use. Through the Be Enterprising programme we can help individuals who want to become self-employed but we can also support people who just want advice and guidance about education and employment or would like to improve their confidence or self-esteem.”

The funding runs until December 2010 and people wishing to engage with the programme should contact Train 2000 on:- 0800 587 0383.

The funding is available to people across the Merseyside area and in various personal circumstances, including:-

· Long term unemployed people

· Lone parents

· Women returners to the labour market

· Black and Minority Ethnic groups

· Learners with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities

· Ex offenders

· People in receipt of benefits

· Homeless people

SHOOTING IN PETHERICK ROAD, CROXTETH

MERSEYSIDE Police are appealing for witnesses after a 23 year old man was shot in the arm on Petherick Road, Croxteth, on Thursday, 23 July 2009.  At 12.48pm officers were called to reports of a shooting outside a house on Petherick Road. The victim was taken to hospital and his injuries are not believed to be life threatening. The motive for the attack is not known. Two men on a scrambler motorbike were seen riding away from the scene towards Moss Way. They were both wearing dark clothes and masks.  Shortly afterwards an 18 year old man was arrested on nearby Dymoke Road. He has been taken to a police station where he will be questioned by detectives. Crime scene investigators are at the scene and house-to-house enquiries are being carried out. High visibility patrols have been stepped up in the area. Anyone who saw anything or who has any information is urged to call the police on:- 0151 777 5699, the Guncrime hotline on:- 0800 458 1211 or Crimestoppers on:- 0800 555 111.

Dedicated shuttle bus link from rail to air

A dedicated shuttle bus service linking Merseyside’s rail network with Liverpool John Lennon Airport will launch on Monday, 27 July 2009.

The fast-link 501 Service, operated by Arriva and supported by Merseytravel, will take rail passengers travelling to Liverpool South Parkway interchange directly to the airport.

The shuttle will be non-stopping service with a journey time of just 10 minutes and runs Monday to Saturday every 20 minutes between 7am and 7pm.

Councillor Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel, said:- “This shuttle bus is another way of making sure that we encourage more people to see public transport to the airport as a better option than the car. It’s the easiest way to link air travellers to and from Merseyside’s excellent rail network and an airport that is proving to be one of Europe’s fastest growing.”

Merseyrail and other operators have made it possible to book combined rail/bus tickets from any railway station to the airport so there is no need to buy separate train and bus tickets.

If required, however, single bus tickets are available at £1.60.

Phil Stone, Managing Director of Arriva North West, said:- “This new bus link is further evidence of Arriva’s support to Liverpool John Lennon Airport and we hope plenty of holidaymakers will make use of it this summer. In recent years our services have helped to make the airport even more accessible and, in partnership with Merseytravel, the 501 service offers yet another example of this.”

Bart Schmeink, Merseyrail’s Managing Director added:- “There is usually more to any journey than travelling by train; passengers want to get from the station to their actual destination. By providing this bus link to and from our station, we are creating the opportunities to get to places seamlessly and provide a real alternative to using the car.”

Liverpool South Parkway is served by frequent trains on Merseyrail’s City and Northern Lines, as well as longer distance trains from Manchester, Sheffield, East Midlands, Crewe, Stafford and the West Midlands.

Alternative local bus services will still be available outside the operating hours of the new 501 service.

The new service builds on a series of bus priority improvements introduced between Merseytravel’s flagship Liverpool South Parkway and the airport in 2007.

The works included road widening onto Speke Road and improving road markings and signage along the key link from Liverpool South Parkway along Woolton Road, Horrocks Avenue, Speke Road and Speke Hall Road.

Bus lanes were also introduced in both directions along Horrocks Avenue and Speke Hall Avenue.

Liverpool South Parkway includes a single booking and passenger information office and enquiry point for bus, rail and airport journeys; a bus station and taxi rank, and a 240 space park and ride car park free to users of the facility.

For more details on the new service travellers can go to:- merseytravel.gov.uk or contact Traveline on:- 0871 200 22 33.