DRIVERS URGED TO RESOLVE TO KILL THEIR SPEED THIS NEW YEAR

MERSEYSIDE Police are urging drivers to make reducing their speed their New Year resolution this January.

Speeding is one of the major contributory factors in road collisions and officers are appealing to motorists to kill their speed before it kills themselves or other road users.

In 2010, 483 people were seriously injured and 29 died on the roads of Merseyside with excess speed factoring in many of the collisions.

While this was a 50% reduction in the number of people who lost their lives compared to the 58 fatalities in 2009, the Roads Policing Department is continuing to work hard to further reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads of Merseyside.

Throughout the month of January officers will be out on the roads carrying out enforcement as well as educating motorists caught breaking the speeding laws.

Chief Inspector John Hogan, head of the Roads Policing Department, said:- "We want to start the new year with the message that speed limits are there to save lives and we will be carrying out enforcement and education to try to further reduce the number of people hurt on our roads by drivers prepared to break these laws. We are determined to make a difference to the safety of road users and throughout the year we will be focusing on a different theme for our monthly campaigns. But we can't do it on our own. We need drivers to pay the roads the care and attention they deserve and passengers to behave accordingly and not distract drivers. Together we can make a difference to the safety of road users in Merseyside and ensure that 2011 is a memorable year for all the right reasons and not because of any tragedies."

In the last 10 years, Merseyside Police has reduced the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads from 833 at the end of 2000 to 512 at the end of 2010 - a fall of almost 40%.

Work experience should count towards degrees says James Caan

STUDENTS should be able to gain extra marks towards their degrees from experience gained in the work place according to recruitment guru James Caan.  “I have found over the years that graduates can fill three pages with details of their dissertations yet tell prospective employers nothing about their practical experience. How does the employer know whether they have the discipline to turn up for work every day? Whether they can take on responsibility? Or whether they are prepared to knuckle down to a task?” said Mr Caan, from BBC TV’s ‘Dragons’ Den’.  The business entrepreneur runns a recruitment company called Hamilton Bradshaw Human Capital that has been named as the fastest growing recruitment company worldwide, went on to say that modern employers needed to know more about prospective employees than simple proof of academic ability. James Caan’s new book ‘Get the Job You Really Want’ is published by Penguin this week and mentors jobseeker in seeking the best employers, getting a foot in the door, how to thrive in the interview and how close the deal on a job offer.  “I was giving a talk at Cambridge University. There were 300 graduates in the room and I am sure many of them were sitting there thinking, ‘I’d love to work for someone like James Caan’. Yet only a handful waited until the conference was finished and approached me directly. They were the few who had the confidence and the initiative to make their mark in the job market.” said Mr Caan.  Some Universities are already considering methods of incorporating work and business skills in their degree programmes.  Paul Jackson, director of student support and development at the University of Leicester, said the university was "looking closely at how to embed corporate skills into the curriculum at the undergraduate stage."  University College London (UCL) is believed to be looking at ways of translating job skills into degree credits and Durham University may also award additional marks for work experience. "The job market has never been tougher. It is imperative that students are able to utilise and demonstrate all their skills as soon as possible to make them employable. Universities should do more to help students make the connection with businesses. Some Universities do more than others to help this process which inevitably means that there are students who miss out on opportunities like work placements because they don’t know how to find them.” added Mr Caan.  On his website James hadmits that have any formal education when he was young, but he did later go back to study for a business degree at Havard Business School. Since this he has been awarded with an honorary degree from Leeds Met as a part of the Summer 2009 graduation celebrations. Later James received another honorary doctorate in Business Administration from University of East London.   What do you our reads think about this idea? Do you agree? Email us your views to our newsroom via:- news24@southportreporter.com.

Business expert on-board to boost enterprise

LIVERPOOL Council’s newly appointed business advisor is pledging to put enterprise at top of the city’s agenda.

Entrepreneur David Wade-Smith has been named as the business advisor to the city council’s cabinet, a unique new role which aims to create stronger links between the council and the business community.

David will provide expert business guidance to the cabinet. He will give businesses a voice at the heart of the Town Hall, share the views of local firms and let council chiefs know how policies will impact on the private sector.

Council Leader, Councillor Joe Anderson, came up for the idea for the post after making it a key priority for the council to work more closely with businesses to revive the local economy, drive forward regeneration and increase job opportunities.

The appointment means that, for the first time, the city council’s cabinet has an expert in the field of business to put the views of the private sector directly to the leadership of the council when it is making important decisions. The role is unpaid, but with appropriate expenses. As an unelected member of the council executive board, or cabinet, Mr Wade Smith will not be able to vote.

David said:- “I’m delighted and truly honoured to be taking on this new role and providing a more direct link between the council and business. Liverpool as a city – and as a brand – is famous all over the world, and it’s vital we capitalise on that. The public and private sector have to work as one to sell this city as a leading global destination to live and work in, to visit and to invest in. I’ll be making it a priority to work closely with the council and the business community to further boost our visitor economy, as well as looking to the future by promoting our creative, digital, and science industries. There are so many strengths within our business community and there’s so much more we can do to promote traditional areas such as financial services, professional services and manufacturing.”

Mr Wade Smith was born in Yorkshire and began a career in retail in the 1980s. He played an instrumental role in the strategic development of independent retailer Wade Smith, culminating in its sale to Arcadia Group in 1998.

He is the founder and Chairman of Livesmart Ltd, a provider of web-based lifestyle solutions, delivered via smart cards, ticketing, loyalty and membership products.

A Board Member at Liverpool Chamber of Commerce – and Chairman of the Board from 2005 to 2008 - David has played a primary role in the regeneration of Liverpool. In addition to his work with the Chamber of Commerce, he served as Chair of Tourism for Merseyside at The Mersey Partnership from 2004 to 2009.

David is also a founding member of the Board of Liverpool Vision. He served on the successful Board of the Liverpool bid team for European Capital of Culture, and has served as a Board member of TATE Liverpool and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society.

The idea for the business advisor post received a fantastic response from the business community, with the city council inundated with expressions of interest. John Flamson, Liverpool University’s director of strategic partnerships was appointed as an independent adjudicator, tasked with assessing the candidates and overseeing the appointment.

City council leader, Councillor Joe Anderson, said:- “This is a hugely important appointment which sends out a strong message that we are committed to working closer than ever with the private sector. It’s about making sure local businesses have the opportunity to shape and inform policy and that the city council takes their views on-board at every step of the way. David is an excellent appointment. He will bring a wealth of experience, first-class business acumen and a real passion for this city. As a well-known figure in the sector with the respect of his peers, I’m positive he will be able to inspire some really constructive dialogue between the council and local businesses. If we want to get out of the recession, the public sector can’t do it alone. The recovery of our economy needs to be led and guided by the private sector. The appointment of David as business advisor is just one part of our plans to become more business-friendly.”

The appointment of David Wade Smith as business advisor to the cabinet is the latest move in the city council’s drive to transform the way it works with the private sector. The city council has just launched the ‘One Plan’, which will draw on the strengths of the public and private sectors to sell the city internationally; and has recently announced that it will be establishing The Liverpool Embassy in London, to secure vital investment for the city.