Full house for the inaugural Liverpool Science & Technology Graduate Recruitment Careers Fair

PROCTOR & Gamble, Jaguar Land Rover and BT are just handful of the firms signed up to scout top graduate talent at Liverpool’s first science and technology focused graduate careers fair next month.  The sell-out event, on November 10 2011, will see more than 23 leading science and technology firms travel to Liverpool for the chance to meet the city’s brightest and best graduate talent and showcase their training and employment opportunities.

The Inaugural Liverpool Science & Technology Graduate Recruitment Careers Fair is the brainchild of Liverpool Science Park, in partnership with the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University.

Chris Musson, CEO of Liverpool Science Park, said:- “This Fair is about bringing together the region’s leading science and technology firms and brightest graduates looking to break into their chosen knowledge sectors including software development, gaming, biotech and pharmaceuticals and supporting professional service industries.  Our strong links with both Universities, coupled with our successful Graduate Enterprise Centre, makes Liverpool Science Park the ideal location to host Liverpool’s first careers fair in this sector. We’re delighted with the overwhelming response from firms wanting a presence at the fair and look forward to hosting more events like this in the future."

It is expected around 500 students from across the two universities will attend the fair, held in Liverpool Science Park’s ic2 building on Brownlow Hill, Liverpool.

Other organisations taking stands include Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, (LSTM) Deloitte, the British Toxicology Society, Royal Navy, gaming company Setgo Limited and biomedical venture capital company SPARK Impact.

Sir Howard Newby, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, said:- “We are very excited about the chance to work with our colleagues in the Science Park, and Liverpool John Moores University, in jointly hosting this prestigious event. Along with our existing careers programme, this is yet another wonderful opportunity for our students to network with some of the most prestigious recruiters in the STEM field."

Professor Weatherill, VC from Liverpool John Moores University, added:- “We very much welcome this event. Liverpool John Moores University is always keen to support its students in finding exciting careers. In addition we see this event as being beneficial to companies who will have the opportunity to meet with students and employ our graduates."

The Liverpool Science & Technology Graduate Recruitment Careers Fair is the latest in a number of initiatives launched by Liverpool Science Park to retain and support the city’s top talent.

The Park’s popular Graduate Enterprise Centre (GEC), launched in September 2010, is now home to 16 start-up companies, and its starter pods are 72%occupied.

In April 2011 the Park teamed up with Manchester Metropolitan University's business incubator Innospace and the University of Chester’s new Riverside Innovation Centre, to launch the ‘Graduate i-pass’ initiative, which allows their graduate and start-up tenants to access facilities across the three sites.

It is hoped the Liverpool Science & Technology Graduate Recruitment Careers Fair will become an annual event.

Companies interested in a stand at the Fair can contact Vicky Brown at Liverpool Science Park via email.

Due to high volume of interest priority will be given to those most relevant to the science and technology sector.

...When The Clocks Go Back...

IT was not so long back that it was being debated that the change in British Summer time and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), by putting the clock forward one hour to concur with most of Europe. So what do you our reader think about that?  Please do drop us an email to our newsroom.  Also what are you going to do with that extra hour? The BBC are suggesting that you donate the hour to helping someone who has never used the web to get online? The BBC is running a 3 week promotional campaign on TV and radio networks across the country to do just that... So would you help someone go online? Again let us know... ‘Give an Hour’ is a major national campaign that the BBC and its many partners, will be encouraging the estimated 30 million people in the UK who use the internet regularly to help the estimated 8.7 million (ONS surveys) who are still offline to have a go. Research conducted for the BBC has shown that friends and families play an integral role in inspiring and helping others to get online. Of people in the UK who know someone who doesn't use the internet, 86% say they are 'quite likely' or 'very likely' to help someone get online. BBC presenter Fiona Bruce in a press release said:- "The internet is an incredible thing. Helping someone go online can open their world beyond the four walls of their home. They can keep in touch with friends and family which is so important. They can do useful things, they can go shopping, and they can have fun. So go on, give an hour." Many other celebrities including Bill Oddie, Stephen Fry, Gabby Logan and Christopher Eccleston have also lent their support to the campaign and feature in a special promotional film for the BBC Give an Hour website. The BBC's Give an Hour is in partnership with Go ON Give an Hour, working with a wide range of partner organisations including Race Online 2012, UK Online Centres, The Post Office and Age UK, to help reduce the number of off-liners. Ideas and information which people may need, can be downloaded via:- bbc.co.uk/giveanhour. For more information about local beginners' computer courses ring the free phone advice line:- 08000 150 950. Lines are open 8am to 10pm, 7 days a week. Please note that mobile phone users could be charged by their phone operator for using the 0800 number. People can also make a pledge online and join the many others who have already signed up to the Digital Champion Network.

Safety first on second hand goods

ADVICE about what to look for when bargain-hunting is part of a 3-month campaign by the city’s Trading Standards Officers who are checking the safety of secondhand goods on sale in the city.  They have visited 93 shops selling secondhand goods across the city to inspect items and to offer free guidance and training to the traders. These included charity shops, house clearance traders, antique and vintage dealers.

The vast majority of over 800 items inspected were found to be satisfactory, but 68 items were seized for not complying with relevant safety standards. These included unsafe fires, lamps, electrical goods and furniture.  Any of the seized goods which can be made safe will be returned for sale, and if not, they will seek agreement with the trader to have the items destroyed.

The project is aimed at raising awareness about safe purchase and use of second hand goods, particularly electrical items. Electrically-related fires account for almost half of all accidental fires in UK homes and are caused by electrical faults, or incorrect use of electrical appliances.

Councillor Tim Moore, Cabinet Member for the Environment said:- “This is a unique project being run by Trading Standards.  In these difficult economic times, many people are looking for bargains and will be looking to the second hand market to save money. For example, we are aware of members of new communities who are setting up home in the city who need to get furniture and electrical goods. But what may look like a good deal on the face of it may prove disastrous.  However, we are not only offering advice to consumers in the city, but also advising and training the second hand trade on safety issues which will help with their businesses."

Other aspects of the project include:-

► Free training sessions for second hand traders on buying and selling safe second hand goods. The sessions are being run jointly between Trading Standards and CREATE, the community recycling organisation.

► A series of talks and community events to raise public awareness of the safe purchase and use of second hand goods and fire prevention.

► Joint work with Merseyside Fire Service on the ‘Emergency Heating Provision Initiative’ aiming to reduce fatalities and fires through unsuitable methods of heating

The whole project has received financial support from the Electrical Safety Council’s Fire Safety Fund.

Lorraine Carney, Senior Campaigns Manager at the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) said:- “Our primary objective is to help people stay safer around electricity. So we are delighted to be working with the Liverpool Trading Standards to support their innovative scheme.   According to government statistics, almost half of all accidental fires in UK homes – that’s over 20,000 each year – are caused by electricity, so it’s vital that people are made aware of where electrical dangers may arise in their homes and understand how to prevent an electrical-related accident happening."

Tips for Buying Safe Goods:-

When buying any goods, including second hand goods, always consider the following to reduce the risk of injuries and fires in your home: -

► Upholstered furniture -Look for a permanent label stating that the item complies with the Furniture and Furnishings Regulations 1988 on any upholstered furniture such as settees, armchairs, dining and office chairs and headboards for beds

► For electrical items check that there are no breaks or cracks on the outer wiring and make sure that the coloured wires inside are not visible or accessible

► Plugs – all electrical items should be sold with a three pin plug attached. The plug should be tightly secured to the wiring and the bottom two pins of the plug should be ‘sheathed’, that is, have a plastic base halfway up the pin. Don’t buy if the plug only has three fully brass pins.

► Gas Cookers – must have legible and durable markings on the controls and must have adequate pan supports. You should also check that tap handles are easy to operate, but not too loose to be turned on by accident.

► Fires – avoid buying second hand fires if possible. If you have to, make sure you are given a copy of the manufacturer’s instructions. Gas fires must be fitted by a qualified gas fitter (check the Gas Safe register).

► Before buying any item look closely at it – does it look clean and in good condition? Is there any sign of damage or misuse? Do you know how to use it safely or will you need a copy of the manufacturer’s instructions? If in any doubt it is best not to buy.

Finally when using any item, new or second hand, make sure you do the following:-

► Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using any electrical appliance

► Don’t stand or sit too close to heaters, and don’t allow clothing or curtains to come into contact with them

► Switch off electrical appliances at night

► Check your home has a smoke alarm fitted and that it is working

►If you are involved in a community group and would like a free talk on electrical and fire safety and the work of Trading Standards, please email them.