Courtesy of RBS, this Global Economic Outlook will assist with business planning.

Global Economic Outlook 0408.pdf

Changes in the way United Utilities calculates its surface water drainage charges could bring either a smile or a frown to the face of metered business users this financial year, according to the Chamber Utilities™ team at Sefton Chamber of Commerce.
Previously, the charge was linked to rateable value, but the water company has introduced  bands of payment based on the ‘chargeable area’ of a site, equating to the site area which benefits from the drainage service.
New meter customers were introduced to the new charging system last financial year, while existing customers will see the changes phased in over the next two years.
According to Jeff Wealands of Chamber Utilities™: “This means that city centre businesses with high rates, but small premises could pay less, while organisations in the non-prime locations, such as schools and factories,  with big sites and relatively low business rates may pay more.”  
“There will be no financial benefit to United Utilities as a result of the changes, whose overall revenue will remain unchanged, but there will be ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ among their business customers which should be prepared and budget accordingly.”
Chamber Utilities™ offers a raft of specialist services to help businesses minimise the cost of waste water and may be able to assist some organisations in reducing the new liabilities from the changed charging structure.  
 
Utility Auditing, which delivers the Chamber Utilities™ service, has years of experience in environmental and wastewater management solutions. Savings can be made by increasing efficiency of wastewater processes, reducing pollution, and identifying recovery value for recycled waste product.
 
Additional benefits flow from the separation and recovery of by-products, which have a commercial value.
 

Added Jeff Wealands: “Water used to be a relatively low overhead but it is now an expensive surcharge.  It is becoming increasingly important to understand the charges incurred for water supply and waste water disposal and how they can be reduced. The control of resources in your operation, including water and the control of what remains as waste is vital to cost minimisation.”
 

Chamber Utilities can advise businesses on total water management and leak detection, as as well as checking meter size to ensure users optimise efficiency.
 

For further information contact Chamber Utilities™ on 0845 120 2423, www.chamberutilities.co.uk

Seven days into the devastating earthquake measuring a massive 7.9 on the Richter scale in Sichuan province, China and the rest of the world, are still coming to terms with the magnitude of this tragedy. “An estimated 71,000 thousand have been killed, buried or remain unaccounted for. 

” 5,000,000 are now homeless and in need of support. ” 220,000 have been injured, many of them children. 

” The devastation zone measures an area of approximately 100,000 square kilometres (40,000 square miles) — an area roughly three quarters the size of England. Entire towns in mountainous Sichuan province were flattened in Monday’s quake, and have subsequently been hit by further aftershocks and landslides, making the ongoing search for any remaining survivors impossible. 

With rescue operations across Sichuan continuing, providing accommodation and medicine to those lucky to survive is now critical. Tents, medicines & equipment are in short supply and are urgently needed. We appeal to the business community in the UK to help in supporting the effort to collect donated and purchased tents and medicines for China’s earthquake zones. The Chinese Embassy and Consulate General will help in making arrangements at the China end to ensure a speedy delivery to the Earthquake area. 

Please contact ChinaLink (0151 227 1233 email: chinalink@liverpoolchamber.org.uk) if you are able to help in one or more of the following areas:  1. Donation of tents (family size / unused in original package)
2. Donation of medicines & other equipment (see the list attached)
3. Offer of discounted supply of tents and medicines
Click Below to download a list of medicines which are needed.
List of Medicines & equipments.doc
4. Donation of cash (we will use these to purchase discounted supply of tents and medicine)
5. Offer of airfreight the tents and medicines to China 

Any enquiry should be directed to Dr. Kegang Wu, Director of ChinaLink / Chief China Adviser, British Chambers of Commerce on kegang.wu@britishchambers.org.uk / 07974753528

This appeal is supported by 

” The Consulate General of The Peoples’ Republic of China in Manchester
” The British Chambers of Commerce
” ChinaLink
” International Trade Centre for Liverpool City Region, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce & Industry
” Susino (UK) Ltd.