Calling all Business Hero's

AFTER a very difficult few weeks for businesses, the organisers of the SME National Business Awards have announced the introduction of 2 new categories in this year's awards:- 'Business Hero,' a public vote category and the:- 'Positive Impact Award,' a written submission is required. The SME National Business Awards are set to celebrate the very best from all the entrepreneur's and business people that continually push the boundaries to keep the UK at the very top of the business league. With a glitzy awards final in December 2020, at the iconic Wembley Stadium, the awards are keen to build on last years continued success. Entrants can enter up to 3 categories from a choice of 18. Entry is at:- SMENationals.Co.UK.  Encouraging local and national heroes to enter, Damian Cummins Awards Director said:- "This pandemic has changed the lives of so many people and their businesses. Many companies unfortunately won't make it through these tough times. Equally challenges like these bring out the very best in people and we want to celebrate the positive contributions that these individuals and their businesses have made to the wider community."

High debt levels in North leave people badly prepared post Coronavirus

THE Liberal Democrats have responded to a Centre for Cities report warning that high debt levels in Northern England and Wales will leave people poorly prepared for the post Coronavirus economic downturn. Their new research maps debt levels in England and Wales and found that in Northern England and Wales' Cities, people have the highest levels of debt relative to their incomes. On average, for every ₤5 people earn in:- Warrington, Swansea, Sunderland and Wigan, they owe around ₤1. This compares to Oxford and Cambridge where people owe just 35p for every ₤5 they earn on average.  Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the North John Leech said:- "Report after report and analysis after analysis shows the North hit hardest. From Schools to busses, pensions to child poverty, and now debt. Let's be absolutely clear; this is another example of the undeniable and devastating result of decades of overinvestment and relentless focus on London and the South, and it cannot be solved overnight with warm words. It's time to take the North / South divide and its impact on people's lives seriously. Ministers, MPs and Councillors must listen and commit to investing in the North, and they must do it with real urgency to guarantee real equality across our Region. Only the Liberal Democrats are standing up for the North. We will continue fighting to rebalance our regional economies, making sure those in the North are not continuously left worse off and build a brighter future where everyone gets their fair share, no matter where they live."

Sefton Business Grants Update - Missing Payments

ON 21 April 2020 we contacted Damien Moore MP, after a number of readers contacted us about them not getting a payment after applying for the Small Business Grant Scheme after spotting a possible problem with payments and bank details. we said:- "We think the problems could be to be with bank accounts and trading names being shortened on bank systems or not the same name as on the Non Domestic Rate Demand notices." We have since had a reply from Sharon Johnston; Business Growth Officer, InvestSefton in connection to this:- "If you are a Limited Company who has applied online for a Small Business Grant, you may have supplied the wrong details which is delaying your payment. You should have stated your Business Bank Account Name & Bank Account details not your Personal Name and Personal Account details. If you have stated your Personal Name then please re-submit the form immediately with the Business Bank Account Name so we can process your application. Please complete the form again with your limited company bank account details at:- Sefton.Gov.UK. On completion you will be given a reference number beginning with SEF, which you should keep for future reference."

What is possibly the World's 1st zero waste beauty and lifestyle, Ethique, launches environmental studies module

ETHIQUE, who are possibly the world's 1st completely zero waste, beauty and lifestyle brand, has launched an:- 'Environmental Studies' module to help teach children about the environment during isolation. Around a quarter of the world's population is currently estimated to be under some form of isolation or distancing policy. With School closures expected to continue for most of the summer term, many parents are having to find new ideas daily to keep their children engaged and entertained. To support parents who want to continue their child's education about the environment and how to protect it, Ethique have created their very own:- 'Environmental Studies' module that parents can download and work through with their children during School closures to supplement other lessons and exercises. The module contains 5 worksheets, designed to teach kids about climate change and sustainability in a fun and informative way. Each worksheet is designed to appeal to a different age group, from the ages of 4 to 12, and focuses on a specific topic such as composting, ocean life and the planet's different biomes.

►  My Favourite Place art exercise (ages 4 to 6) - In this exercise, Ethique ask younger children what they love about their local area, they show them that the 'environment' isn't just far away rainforests and oceans; it's their home Town too.

►  Reduce, Reuse and Recycle exercise (ages 7 to 8) - This factsheet and exercise is designed to help children understand which bin is right for which item and encourage them to compost or recycle as much as possible.

►  Our Oceans word search (ages 7 to 10) - This word search teaches children about our oceans and some of the fantastic creatures that live in them and their ecosystems, and what happens if pollution enters the oceans.

►  Matching biomes exercise (ages 10+) - This is activity teaches children what the ecosystem is, how they fit into biomes and which areas of the planet fall into which category of biome.

►  Writing to persuade exercise (ages 10+) - This exercise encourages older kids to practice writing a persuasive letter or speech about an environmental issue.

Brianne West, biochemist and founder of Ethique, commented:- "Climate change and the need for sustainability are being spoken about more than ever before, and rightly so. Understandably, children of all ages often have questions about what climate change means and how we can adapt our behaviour to prevent further damage. To help parents answer these questions and teach their kids about how we can protect the amazing world we live in, we've created the School of Ethique. We hope it can inspire the next generation of Greta's to speak up and make their voice heard when it comes to climate change."

You can download Ethique's Environmental Studies from:- Ethique.Co.UK/Pages/SchoolOfEthique.

Ethique say that they have so far prevented 6.5 million plastic bottles from manufacture, and therefore landfill, through their 100% compostable packaging. Their entire range of solid hair, body and skincare bars are Vegan, cruelty free, palm oil free and made with high quality, sustainably source and biodegradable ingredients, with 20% of profits donated directly to animal and conservation charities.

Ethique has been named a:- 'Best in World' B Corp, ranking in the top 10% of B Corps around the world, and 20% of their profits go to animal conservation charities.