Help someone special to enjoy the perfect day

Two popular Liverpool entrepreneurs want to hear from you in the hope that you will be able to sprinkle a little magic stardust and make something special happen for those deserving of a ‘Happy Day’.

Happy Days Group founders and co-owners Alan Cosgrove and Peter Schriewersmann (an adopted scouser!) have both overcome their fair share of lows and adversity themselves and the pair decided it is time to give something back to deserving local people who have gone, or are going through, tough times.

They are asking people across Liverpool City Region to think about someone they know who deserves their dream Happy Day to come true.

Alan (on right of picture with Peter) are both extremely passionate about bringing happiness to the people of Liverpool and beyond; and so to celebrate the annual International Day of Happiness, which takes place on Wednesday 20th March 2024, they are asking people from across the Liverpool City Region to think of someone who is deserving of an enjoyable experience; – A Happy Day – and your nomination could help that person to enjoy that special experience!

Do you know a neighbour, a family member, someone from your local community shop or centre, or someone from your local school, who has been through a tough time, or you believe for whatever reason that they deserve to experience their perfect Happy Day? If so please nominate them via the website listed at the foot of this page.

There are four nomination categories; 

A child/young person aged 17 and under ♥ An adult aged 18 – 64 ♥ An entire family ♥ A person aged 65+

 THE INAUGURAL AWARD CEREMONY WILL TAKE PLACE ON:

WEDNESDAY 20 MARCH 2024

Alan and Peter hope that this initiative will be the first of many and that in the future it will evolve into a bigger movement, dovetailing into the many other amazing initiatives that are already operated by a variety of amazing scousers across the region. Peter says: “Liverpool is a special city. We look after our own. We believe that all of us have our own network and platform – and we need to use it for more than just financial gain. It’s this sharing and supportive spirit that will get us all through these tough times.”

The application process for 2024 nominations will close at 5pm on Monday 12 February 2024

 TO MAKE YOUR NOMINATION, PLEASE VISIT:

 www.yourhappydays.org

Intro Photo by Stan B on Unsplash www.yourhappydays.org

Sean o’neill starts creating a legacy 20 years after his arrival in liverpool

‘Adopted’ Liverpudlian Sean O’ Neill pays it forward to create entrepreneurs of the future

An Irishman who came to Liverpool more than two decades ago has set up a foundation to give back to the city he immediately fell in love with.

After building a large property portfolio and investing in more than 30 businesses across the city, Sean O’ Neill wants to continue with what he sees as the core principles of his business – people – meeting them, understanding who they are, whether they have the same work ethic as he does, and how he can help them improve their business or make their journey a little easier.

“I’ve spent the past 20 years meeting people but more recently I decided to make meeting people more official and to make it a core part of what I do because it’s essential to who I am.”

And so ‘Meet Sean O’Neill’ was born.

Sharing the values of many Liverpudlians in business that he struck up a friendship with, Sean was initially reluctant to ‘go public’ on a brand campaign to help spread awareness of how he wanted to give back.“I’m quite happy to remain relatively low profile, continuing to build my business portfolio further whilst helping others establish and build theirs too. However, I am also good at taking advice from people who are better than me at making marketing decisions and that’s how the brand was born.

“After all, having a dedicated brand when I started in business has enabled me to understand how I find my business partners and the conversions and processes involved in creating some really successful brands over the last 20 years. I want to meet more people and share my knowledge, team, and process to help other people become successful entrepreneurs and make new friends along the way.”

Working with his team, the ‘Meet Sean O Neill’ brand consists of four pillars that embody who Sean is, his background, goals, vision and aspirations for 2024.

The pillars include MSO Club, MSO Foundation, MSO Invest and MSO Events.

“MSO Club is about sharing knowledge, contacts, and resources from people at all stages of their entrepreneurial journey – the first MSO Club took place on November 23rd in San Carlo’s private dining room and was a resounding success.

“MSO Foundation aims to empower and support Liverpool-based individuals, groups and community-focused initiatives by providing financial support, educational resources, and mentorship opportunities with a £75k foundation grant.

“MSO Invest will nurture and support the next generation of entrepreneurs in the Liverpool City Region with a £250k+ investment support package.

“MSO Events will educate and inform through a series of events that provide actionable and practical lessons on building a successful brand.”

Sean started life on a rural farm in Northern Ireland and it was here that his passion for entrepreneurship began, from selling fireworks to school friends to hustling on the snooker table and winning the 2001 Northern Ireland Amateur Snooker Championship. Since making Liverpool his home, he has bought and sold several hundred properties in addition to his thirty-plus business investments and has travelled to 59 countries.

Now it’s time for his four new projects to support other businesses, entrepreneurs and good causes in the Liverpool City Region.

MSO Invest: https://meetseanoneill.com/mso-invest/
MSO Foundation: https://meetseanoneill.com/mso-foundation/
MSO Club: https://meetseanoneill.com/mso-club/
MSO Event: https://meetseanoneill.com/mso-events/

Auteur media director joins the ghostwriters agency

The Director of Liverpool-based firm Auteur Media has been accepted as a member of the Gostwriters Agency (GWA), which matches authors and clients with experienced and best-selling ghostwriters.

AUTEUR MEDIA director, Nikki Croft-Girvan, is an experienced ghostwriter who began ghostwriting following an extensive career as a true-life journalist and commissioning editor. Specialising in true life books across a range of challenging topics, Nikki has worked with publishing houses including Bonnier Books UK, known for its John Blake and Blink imprints, Orion, one of the UK’s leading publishers, and world-leading book publisher Harper Collins, who have been publishing great authors since 1817.

Her collaborations include two Chris Wild’s books, Damaged and The State of It, along with The Boy Who Disappeared by Valerie Nettles, and two anthologies for the RNLI, Surviving the Storms and Saved from the Waves.

The Ghostwriters Agency is the first agency of its kind in the UK, with all ghostwriters accepted onto its roster having a proven track record. Unlike traditional literary agencies, the GWA does not negotiate contracts or get involved with bidding wars, it simply matches established, independent ‘ghosts’ with new clients. The GWA is run by two best-selling ghostwriters, Shannon Kyle and Teena Lyons, whose mission is to make finding a ghostwriter easier and create a supportive network for best-selling ghostwriters everywhere.

Speaking of the joining the GWA, Nikki said: “Throughout my career I have called myself a journalist, a PR, a Copywriter, but  what I actually am is a Professional Storyteller. Nowhere is this more true than in my ghostwriting work. I’m incredibly proud to have joined the GWA alongside a host of extremely talented industry peers, not just due to the potential for exciting future collaborations but also for the chance to be part of a creative community leading the industry as well.”

To find out more about ghostwriting and the GWA visit: https://www.theghostwritersagency.com/

https://auteur.media

Morecrofts marks a decade of service in allerton 

Morecrofts Solicitors is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its office in Allerton.

Since opening in 2013, the office has doubled in size and now accommodates up to 15 lawyers and support staff working across a range of legal matters including property conveyancing, family and employment law.

During its first decade, staff at the Allerton  office have represented more than 5,000 clients, often working alongside neighbouring estate agents, accountants and other local professional advisors.

Pictures by Gareth Jones

Morecrofts managing partner Alison Lobb says the achievement is all the more impressive considering that other law firms have closed their offices during this time.

“When we opened the Allerton office, our ambition was to establish ourselves in a thriving high street and lend our support to the local community, and I am delighted we have been able to do that for a decade. There have certainly been changes to the area during that time and we have seen lots of fellow occupiers, including law firms and banks, moving out or reducing their footprint. Our commitment is steadfast and we look forward to further expanding our presence and our impact here in the coming years.”

 

£32k bathgate deal brings fitness franchise to bromborough

West Kirby-based business finance specialist, Bathgate Business Finance, has brought fitness franchise, Transform Hub, to Wirral, with a £32k own-book deal.

Transform Hub’s Bromborough site opened in October 2023 and is the first to open in the borough, with two more sites planned for the CH postcode in the next two years. The £32K funding for Bathgate was secured to purchase equipment including free weights, resistance, and cardio machines.

There are currently 20 Transform Hub gyms in the UK, primarily in North West England, but with some locations in Greater London. The Wirral sites will be led by Directors Nick Hodson, who boasts more than 25 years’ experience running a family-owned healthcare recruitment business and as a business consultant, and Jamie Leighton, who has been a personal trainer and Professional Coach since 2009.

Transform Hub offers personal training in a group setting, nutritional advice, a fun and community-focused environment and compassionate coaching to provide accountability and help clients stay on track. As a franchise model, Transform Hub, also offers potential business owners the chance to purchase its method of setting up and running a successful fitness business.

Director Nick Hodson said: “We sought external funding to support the launch of our first Transform Hub in order to preserve some headroom for working capital, which is always a challenge with a new business. We approached three different funders and Bathgate’s process was the simplest by far. Once approved the cash was in our account and ready to use when we needed it. Bathgate’s reputation is second to none for SMEs looking for finance and we certainly had an excellent experience.”

Director Jamie Leighton added: “Transform Hub is unique in that we’re not targeting ‘gym bunnies’ but rather people who have tried lots of different diets and gym programmes without success. The funding provided by Bathgate has helped us to bring a different offer to Bromborough.”

Bathgate’s Ian Adams said: “Transform Hub’s business plan demonstrated a unique offer for customers, a sophisticated and considered sales process, and sound basis for a successful franchise model. Nick and Jamie’s extensive combined experience in both business ownership and development and the fitness sector also makes this an exciting venture for Bathgate to support. We’re looking forward to seeing the Bromborough site flourish and eagerly anticipate the opening of the next two sites.”

The Transform Hub deal is a further demonstration of Bathgate’s award-winning support for SMEs and its commitment to service excellence. In September 2023 it was named winner in two categories at the prestigious NACFB Commercial Broker Awards 2023 – the SME Champion and Service Excellence award – and in October 2023 won Professional Services Business of the Year at the Merseyside Independent Business Awards (MIBS).

For more information about Bathgate Business Finance or to find out more about its own-book lending visit bathgatebf.co.uk, call 0151 625 7323 or email [email protected]

Pictured at top are: L-R Nick Hodson (Transform Hub) Ian Adams (Bathgate) Jamie Leighton (Transform Hub)

Photograph by: Andrew AB Photography

The choir with no name kicks off city’s seasonal celebrations

The Choir with No Name (CWNN) Liverpool, a choir involving people impacted by homelessness, successfully kicked-off our city’s festive season with a big Christmas singalong at the Tung Auditorium, Oxford Street, on Friday 8th December. The annual festive event saw the Choir join a host of special guests in starting the season in the best way possible – with a rip-roaring, fun-filled Christmas extravaganza as crowds gathered to join in the singing of their favourite festive songs.

Building on the success of its annual ‘Big Gig’ at the Everyman earlier this year, The Choir with No Name were joined by special guests the Liverpool UNIty Choir and the Asylum Link Merseyside Choir for an evening of truly joyful performances, filled with festive magic and sing-alongs chosen to release the Christmas spirit, and raise the roof of the auditorium, with the audience in fine voice.

CWNN Liverpool Choir Manager, Ema Quinn, said: “We and our fabulous special guests were delighted to be able to treat our audience to some real Christmas magic, as we welcomed so many people to our inclusive, positive and joy-filled show, spreading the festive cheer far and wide. As well as being bags of fun, the profits made through ticket sales and donations on the night support the cost of keeping our weekly choir rehearsal running and our members singing well into the future, which will be the very best Christmas present for us all!”

The Choir with No Name is a UK charity running choirs involving homeless and marginalised people since 2008. The Liverpool choir was founded in January 2014 and has been a joyful choir community for some of the most isolated and disadvantaged residents in the city ever since. The Choir is a supportive family where a conventional family may not exist and singing together is proven to be hugely beneficial to health and wellbeing, meaning members build the support network, self-confidence and resilience needed to move away from homelessness long term. The choir rehearse on Wednesdays at The Quaker Meeting House, School Lane, Liverpool, L1 3BT. Doors open at 6.30pm for a cuppa and catch up before singing together and sitting down for a hot dinner together afterwards, cooked by a team of volunteers.

The Choir with No Name is registered charity no. 1136173

Follow them on social media:

Facebook.com/choirwithnoname | @cwnnlpool

 

December 2023

Butterworth spengler invests in a rebrand ahead of their 100th anniversary

The Directors of Butterworth Spengler, one of the UK’s longest established and fastest growing insurance brokers, having been founded in Liverpool in 1924, have invested in a rebrand as they near their centenary in 2024. The rebrand comes at a time when they have a firm focus on growth and on attracting the best in the business to join their company.

Butterworth Spengler became part of the JMG Group in 2021, a move which MD John Lacey (pictured) says has fuelled the Directors’ ambitious growth plans for the business, adding: “Joining JMG has helped us up our game. We knew we wanted to grow, and this has turbo charged it.”

Part of the firm’s growth strategy includes making acquisitions, the first of which was Gloucester-based insurance brokers, Brunsdon, which changed its name to Butterworth Spengler South West Ltd in 2022.

Butterworth Spengler has three divisions: Commercial insurance, professional risks, and specialist schemes and their areas of expertise include professional, commercial and manufacturing sectors including property, construction, retail, haulage and leisure.

Director Richie Bell said the timing of the rebrand, featuring a “fresh and modern” new logo, coincided with an exciting period for the business as they approach their 100th anniversary. A strapline: Part of JMG group (which is a ‘Top 30 UK Insurance Broker’ with £230m plus in gross written premium placed into the insurance market annually) has been added to the company’s logo. Meanwhile, the addition of the shield is a nod to Brunsdon Insurance’s logo, incorporating some of this business’s brand identity into the new design.

Butterworth Spengler’s Directors say that alongside their commitment to furthering company growth, they are also keen to make a valuable contribution to the local community. The firm has a longstanding reputation for supporting local charities, such as Nugent (a registered charity which supports vulnerable children, young people and adults through their schools, care homes, and community and social work services).

In order to empower their team to make a difference, they’re giving every member of staff one day a month to spend doing something for charity.

 

The rebrand also includes a fresh new look for Butterworth Spengler’s website, reflecting the growth of the business, and although the company’s Directors may have 100 years of heritage to celebrate in 2024, their main focus is on the future, with ambitious plans for recruitment and company growth firmly on the agenda.

 

https://butterworthspengler.co.uk/

River capital’s fund:ai wins best new product at growth investor awards 2023

River Capital has been named the winner of the Best New Product/Service award for its dedicated artificial intelligence (AI) fund, fund:AI at the Growth Investor Awards 2023 held in London on Thursday 23rd November.

Fund:AI was chosen as the Best New Product/Service winner by an independent panel of judges drawn from the alternative investment industry and wider business community.

fund:AI is the first Northern dedicated AI fund targeting the underfished waters of the North for high-growth AI investment opportunities. It concentrates on two approaches. The first are AI, Machine Learning or Data Science companies. The second are companies (particularly where they already have large data sets) who are not primarily AI companies, but who wish to apply these technologies to real life business issues.

Launched in November 2022 and with investment typically between £500k to £2m available to qualifying businesses, fund:AI is an EIS fund intended for investors who want to achieve capital growth by investing in early-stage, unquoted companies which have the potential to increase significantly in value.

Since inception, the fund, the first of its kind in the North, has invested in standout businesses including Southport VR gaming company Fallen Planet (to support the development of new titles with AI) and innovative Liverpool veterinary practice VidiVet (to embark on a computer vision, IOT and deep learning journey) with further deals imminent.

Speaking on the award, River Capital Investment Director David Walters said:

“I am thrilled that our evergreen EIS AI fund, fund:AI, has been recognised as the Best New Product/Service at this year’s Growth Investor Awards 2023. This achievement highlights our commitment and success in supporting fantastic Northern businesses on their AI and machine learning journeys. Since launching in November 2022, we have developed a management team and advisory board that are second to none and have completed investments in innovative companies like Fallen Planet and VidiVet that showcases the strength of our pipeline.

With further deals imminent, we’re looking forward to working with more exciting AI businesses across the North”

With the award win, River Capital now looks forward to cementing its place at the forefront of AI investing in the North and welcomes contact from interested parties, be they companies seeking investment or investors seeking AI exposure.

Fpc returns as mwoty headline sponsor for 2024

 

Ainsdale-based independent financial planning and investment management firm, Financial Planning Corporation (FPC), has announced that it will return as headline sponsor for the Merseyside Women of the Year (MWOTY) Awards 2024.

The women-led business stepped up as the headline sponsor for the 2023 event after five years as category sponsor and has supported this year’s winners – Heather Evans and June Russell from Halle’s Hub CIC – as well as finalists and category winners from previous years.

Cementing its commitment to the awards and champion women in the region making a difference, FPC has delivered two business leader events in partnership with MWOTY, to bring this year’s winners and finalists together with those from previous years, to encourage knowledge sharing, networking, collaboration, and celebration of success.

Moira O’Shaughnessy, Managing Partner, FPC, said: “MWOTY is a movement, not a moment, and it turns out that being headline sponsor is a similar experience! Over the past year our team became more involved with this unique community than ever before, creating a momentum that we want to ensure continues. The drive and focus of Ellie, her team, and all the winners past and present is having a positive impact throughout our region; we are honoured to keep supporting their endeavours. May 2024 be MWOTY’s best yet!”

Ellie Kerr, MWOTY Founding Director, said: “We are so excited that FPC has committed to a second year as headline sponsor for MWOTY. Not only is it a woman-led business with values that align perfectly with our own, FPC is also dedicated to supporting and improving communities. Over the past year Moira, Bernice and the team have supported us with incredible passion and gusto, and we have experienced a truly fantastic year of growth and even greater visibility. We would like to thank FPC for its support and being an incredible part of the MWOTY family – we’re eagerly anticipating what we can achieve together to make MWOTY even more of a movement in 2024!”

With clients across the Northwest, the financial planning and investment management company has 40 years’ experience supporting its clients, many of which are business owners based in the region, to achieve and maintain financial independence, secure their future and legacy, and lead the lives they aspire to. Through its charitable organisation, the FPC Foundation, it supports other events, initiatives, and organisations across the Northwest, including MWOTY category sponsor, the Community Foundation for Merseyside, which seeks to empower women in the region.

Other category sponsors returning for 2024 include Neo Community and ADDvanced Solutions, the Institute of Directors (IoD), global law firm, Taylor Wesssing, and communications and publishing consultancy, Auteur Media.

The 2024 MWOTY awards will take place on Friday 28th June 2024 at the Crowne Plaza in Liverpool City Centre and nominations are set to open in January 2024. Category sponsor opportunities are available, if you would like further information, please contact Ellie Kerr on [email protected]

For all other information, please visit: ​https://merseysidewomenoftheyear.co.uk/