Local Businesses get Boost!

The finalists have been announced for the Government backed Local Business Accelerator Awards aiming to dramatically boost the success of local businesses in Wirral.

Maria Cooper from Alright Petal in Wallasey and Nick Ashfield, from Championship Miniature Golf in Moreton were chosen from five shortlisted Wirral businesses to go through to the final.

The lucky winners will receive an expertly designed local marketing campaign and free consultancy advice from Birkenhead Market manager Danny Doyle and WirralBiz director Mike Raworth.

Alright Petal was founded by primary school teacher Maria Cooper, in 2010 and the shop is based in Wallasey village.

As well as selling a range of floral arrangements, the firm also teaches people the art of flower-making and has proven to be very popular with those taking part.

Nick Ashfield was an accounts manager in the pub industry before he had a 'lightbulb moment' in 2006, which led to the Championship Miniature Golf course that is currently being developed on King’s Parade in New Brighton.

Dragon Den's Deborah Meaden  is also backing the scheme and has said

 “With last year’s LBA having demonstrated the unique power of local and regional press to provide a meaningful boost to promising young businesses, I am delighted to be supporting the initiative once again."

This is the type of business scheme that rewards local enterprise and those looking to bring growth to the area that we need if we are going to see Wirral succeed in these tough economic times. I wish all the finalists good luck and I hope more people will get behind such a fantastic scheme and show their support.

I agree with Wirral TUC and now lets back Sheila Clarke for Pensby

This week we heard local TUC leader Alec McFadden starting the campaign to ensure the English Democrat candidate Neil Kenny doesn't get elected in the up and coming Pensby by election.

Alec McFadden says that electing an English Democrat candidate from a party who he believes to be openly racist and homophobic "would damage our reputation" of the area.

I totally agree with Alec and the TUC at a time when the Labour Council in Wirral are making unprecedented cuts its important we elect a Councillor that is going to stand up for local services and value for money and oppose the waste and extravagance being employed by the current council not a extremist single issue candidate who simply wants a platform to preach hate.

As a trade unionist and local resident I know its the Conservative local Councillors who are standing up fro residents opposing extravagant council schemes such as free ipads for Councillors and lucrative permanent contracts for senior council executives. The Conservative candidate for Pensby Sheila Clarke is an experienced local resident who understands how the council works and I know will be fighting for value for money in every council decision helping ensure the council's focus is front line services not backroom managers pockets.

So please like Wirral TUC and myself oppose the English Democrats and I urge you to support Sheila Clarke the Conservative candidate in Pensby on 28th February.