Liverpool Chamber of Commerce is offering help to small and medium sized businesses that are looking to invest in their ICT hardware and software.

The Chamber has been awarded £500,000 via the European Regional Development Fund, which can be allocated to companies across Merseyside.

John Blades, ICT Investment Fund Administrator, said: “We will award grants of between £10-50K  which must be spent by 30 November 2008. The funding can be up to 40% of the total project cost and covers the costs of new technology investments. “

The funding is open to businesses in the Merseyside area, whether or not they are Chamber members.

If you would like more information about how the ICT Investment Fund can help your businesses please call John Blades at Liverpool Chamber of Commerce on 0151 227 1234 or visit  the ICT Investment Fund website at http://www.ict-invest.info/

[From: http://liverpoolchamber.wordpress.com/2008/06/16/new-funding-support-for-ict-investment/]

Digital Inclusion Minister Huw Irranca-Davies visited Liverpool and St. Helens last week to see how the Merseyside region is leading the way in making IT facilities more accessible to local communities.

Mr Irranca-Davies visited the Parents and Children Together (PACT) project, run by EverybodyOnline and held at South Liverpool Personnel, which runs a series of taster sessions to help local parents access the internet, learn new skills and find out how technology could improve their lives.

Following this he went onto St. Cuthbert’s Catholic Community College for Business and Enterprise in St. Helens to hear about the Community Grid concept, which provides the local community with easy-to-use, low-cost, low-energy home access to the internet and other computing resources.

Commenting on the projects he had seen Mr Irranca-Davies said: “The two projects I have seen today are great examples of how we can make the latest technologies accessible to people who, without projects such as these, would not have access to the internet and other computer resources.

“By teaching parents basic information about the internet they can make sure their children are safe online as well as finding out how they can use the internet for day-to-day chores such as online shopping and online money management. I hope other areas can learn from this innovative project.

“All too often we hear about the expense of the equipment and technology needed to connect to the internet being a barrier for many people. Thanks to the Community Grid project over 600 homes in St. Helens and Liverpool will have access to software applications and the internet.

“By providing people with all the connectivity, hardware, software, licensing and maintenance overheads Community Grid is removing these barriers and giving people the access they need.

“The PACT project and the Community Grid should be congratulated for their innovative projects which are helping people in the North West of England become more digitally included.”

The Community Grid digital inclusion project is led by AIMES, (a spin out of the University of Liverpool) and its technology partner, e-communications specialist OciusB2, more information here.  It is part of a wider initiative, the Digital Inclusion & Enterprise Programme (DIEP), which aims to roll the service out to over 5,000 households in Merseyside.

Huge congratulations to the ultimate winner of Alt Valley’s Got Talent, singer/songwriter Michelle Strahan! Michelle won £250 and the opportunity to perform at a star-studded Open Culture event in 2008.

Special Runners Up Kirsty Crook and Urban Street Stars Juniors won £50 each

To celebrate the success of ICDC’s digital inclusion project, Alt Valley Vision, a community talent contest was held for anyone over the age of 8 who lives, works, studies or plays in the Alt Valley area of Liverpool.

Auditions were held in the community during half term week and each audition was filmed and is available to view on Alt Valley’s Got Talent website for all to see.

The final will took place during the Alt Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday 22nd June, with guest judges, Professor Phil Redmond and Joanna Jones Director of Bananafish Management, a successful TV, theatre and film casting agency based in Liverpool.

On Thursday 19th June, Digital Inclusion Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies MP will visit two leading digital inclusion projects in Liverpool and St Helens. The so-called “digital divide” is increasingly seen as a major barrier to personal, community and regional economic well-being in the UK, which is the least skilled workforce in the EU. Mr Irranca-Davies’ visit will include:

• The AIMES Community Grid project. Acknowledged as a leader in its field, AIMES is leading the Digital Inclusion & Enterprise Programme (DIEP), established as a result of the Government’s 2007 “Digital Challenge”. Mr Irranca-Davies will visit St Cuthbert’s Catholic Community College for Business & Enterprise in St Helens where pupils and parents have been using the managed computing service provided by the Community Grid project since May 2007. As part of the wider DIEP, strategically supported by the GMDDA, AIMES will provide access for around 5,000 homes in the Greater Merseyside region via the Community Grid system over a 2 year period from May 2008.

• The EverybodyOnline Liverpool 8 project is another highly successful digital inclusion initiative focusing on internet and digital technology support for parents. It includes use of the internet, and day-to-day skills such as shopping and banking online, and email. Mr Irranca-Davies will visit a PACT (Parents & Children Together) session at South Liverpool Personnel in Liverpool to speak to users direct.

Mr Irranca-Davies’ visit underlines the importance placed on the Digital Inclusion agenda at Parliamentary level, as Professor Dennis Kehoe, Director of AIMES, explains: “Digital inclusion is a crucial enabler of economic regeneration and growth. Internet access can transform cities and communities, providing improved access to employment, education and health information. The internet can also help to combat isolation and increase a sense of community. We’re delighted to be able to demonstrate our digital inclusion work to Mr Irranca-Davies in person.”

The AIMES digital inclusion project provides a fully managed internet access service to users, a key element in its success and sustainability. AIMES and its technology partner, e-communications specialist OciusB2, provide broadband internet access, a range of software packages, all equipment required, plus training and support to users of the Community Grid. The first 125 homes are now live and for the first 12 months, the service is provided free of charge.

The i-techpartner eServices Forum is taking place this week at the new Liverpool Convention Centre.

The event builds on the success of the 2007 i-techpartner Academy at Daresbury Innovation Centre where over 120 delegates attended, including researchers, small businesses, innovation experts and investors.

Focussing on the areas of web services, mobile applications, web 2.0, software as a service and more, the eServices Forum will be of interest to you if you are:

• an innovative ICT/digital small business looking to grow your business
• a researcher from a university or research institute looking to commercialise your research
• a venture fund or business angel looking for investment opportunities in eServices
• an expert in technology transfer, innovation or business growth

The event is being held on Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th June, more information on our previous story or on the i-techpartner website

A strategy to get the last third of unconnected UK citizens online is now being drawn up, according to Paul Murphy MP, Minister for Digital Inclusion, at yesterday’s National Digital Inclusion Conference, also attended by GMDDA. In his first speech since his appointment, he revealed the strategy could be in place by summer.

Some 17 million citizens in the UK did not have access to a computer, either at home or at work, he said, “Chances are these people come from an older or socially, economically or geographically disadvantaged group”.

The new cabinet committee set up by Mr Murphy met for the first time last week, “We came up with the following mission statement: To co-ordinate policies and a coherent strategy that all citizens, especially the disadvantaged, can benefit from new technologies,” he told the conference.

Delegates welcomed the appointment of the first cabinet minister to have responsibility for digital exclusion.

“The vision from government seems now to be bigger and bolder,” said Helen Milner, managing director of UK Online centres, community-based groups aimed at connecting the disconnected.

David Parr, Chair of the Greater Merseyside Digital Development Agency agreed, “This is a clear indication that the priorities of GMDDA, tackling digital exclusion in our communities, is also being addressed by central government.”

These views were echoed by Professor Dennis Kehoe, Director of the AIMES Centre at the University of Liverpool, “It is good to hear that Government is addressing digital inclusion at Cabinet-level, comments expressed today mirror exactly our objectives in the Digital Inclusion & Enterprise Programme for Merseyside. There is a clear link between digital inclusion and economic prosperity”

GMDDA and AIMES are currently working with other partners, including local councils, to digitally enable over 5,000 residents, as well as encouraging enterprise development and other initiatives, such as homeshoring. Read more about the programme here: http://diep.aimes.net/

Wirral TV is set to launch on Friday 18th April 2008 at the Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Road, Birkenhead, Wirral CH43 4UE between 11.30am and 2.30pm

The borough-wide community TV scheme means that residents of Wirral now have the opportunity to train in video production and see their own videos on a special website.

With the aid of grants from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, the Single Regeneration Budget and Riverside Housing, the two-year pilot scheme has provided the kit and specialist training for what could become Wirral’s own community television service.

The project, which was originally administered by Birkenhead Sixth Form College in association with local community trusts, is aimed at all sections of the community and for all age groups. Training courses have given trainees the basic knowledge to allow them to make their own videos.

The idea is that local residents will have the chance to make videos about anything they choose: a local band or football team; an environmental project; a campaign to clean up a local beauty-spot; local history… the choice is as broad as your imagination!

Canapes and refreshments will be served throughout the presentation of the new Wirral TV website, which will go live during the course of the presentation.

Wirral TV hope that you can set some time aside from your busy diary and come along on the 18th to celebrate the official launch of this new successful Social Enterprise and see for yourself how Wirral TV is set to serve the needs of the whole of the Wirral.

If possible please respond before 11th April 2008 for catering purposes either by phone or e-mail.

Telephone: 0151 644 4512

Email: info@wirraltv.net

Registration is now open for the i-techpartner eServices Forum which is taking place at the new Liverpool Convention Centre on 3rd & 4th June 2008.

This builds on the success of the 2007 i-techpartner Academy at Daresbury Innovation Centre where over 120 delegates attended, including researchers, small businesses, innovation experts and investers.

Focussing on the areas of web services, mobile applications, web 2.0, software as a service and more, the eServices Forum will be of interest to you if you are:

• an innovative ICT/digital small business looking to grow your business
• a researcher from a university or research institute looking to commercialise your research
• a venture fund or business angel looking for investment opportunities in eServices
• an expert in technology transfer, innovation or business growth

The event is a unique platform for eServices-focused high-growth companies, technology corporations, R&D organisations and international investors from across Europe to exchange knowledge and build effective business connections.

If you are an SME or researcher, presenting your technology offering at this event will mean significant exposure to an international audience of industry experts, investors, researchers and SMEs. Your attendance will enable you to access technology specific R&D and discuss how to grow your company with potential partners from research and industry. You will be able to book face-to-face meetings with potential business partners and develop new contacts with SMEs, multinationals, researchers, innovation experts and investors from across Europe. Overall the event provides a unique opportunity to receive valuable feedback and new knowledge regarding your technology.

The Academy is being led by AIMES, together with Daresbury Science & Innovation Campus, RTC North, Merseyside ICT and Vanguard Corporate Finance.

Register

For more information and to register for this event as a presenter or delegate, please visit http://www.i-techpartner.eu/ where you will be asked to create a profile and apply for the event.

For further information please contact Marie Mitchell at AIMES on 0151 795 0116 or marie.mitchell@liv.ac.uk.

Most people know Easter is one of the most significant dates in the Christian calendar, but new research from UK online centres reveals that 62% of people in North West aren’t sure why they’re eating chocolate eggs, and a further 64% don’t know what the Easter Bunny has to do with Easter.

Around 41% of those surveyed were convinced we eat chocolate at Easter because of a 19th Century ad campaign, while 29% wrongly believed bunnies were associated in olden days with the increase in daylight hours. The findings have prompted UK online centres to join forces with the Easter Bunny and set an online Easter challenge to families across Merseyside, who are invited to come along to your local centre, look up Easter online and enter a prize-draw for a chance to win a brand new top-of-the-range laptop!

Get down to your local UK online centre and take up the online Easter challenge by logging onto www.myguide.gov.uk – the easy way to use the internet.

UK online centres Regional Manager, Julie Mitchell explains: “We’re so used to swapping chocolate eggs in the Spring that we’ve forgotten why we do it, and where it all fits in with the Easter story. Easter is actually a time when a lot of Britain’s pagan and Christian heritage gets mixed up together, and it’s a wonderful opportunity for families to get together and unravel it. The internet is a great way to find out all sorts of information for the Easter holidays – from learning more about Easter’s history to looking up cinema times – and myguide is the best place to start.

“myguide is designed to help web-novices or even web-phobes get started on the internet, set up a free email account and search for information quickly and easily. What’s more, those registering for a myguide email address by the end of March will automatically be entered into an Easter prize draw to win a brand new laptop.”

The online Easter challenge – perhaps unsurprisingly – is being endorsed by a very famous Easter figure keen to set the record straight – The Easter Bunny herself!

The Easter Bunny adds: “Obviously I’m slightly hurt by the survey results, and keen to see people find out more about our culture and what’s behind Spring and Easter traditions. Nowadays the internet is one of the best ways to find out the answer to practically any question you have, and myguide is one of the simplest ways to use it. The Bunny was originally a pagan symbol of new life because of the fertility of rabbits. Today of course my role has changed and I do a lot of appearances at school fetes and Easter parades and things. The fact is that even though it’s good to learn about the past, you’ve got move with the times, and Easter is a perfect time to get to grips with technology and hop online at your local UK online centre.”

Julie concluded: “An estimated 44% of people in North West are still off-line, and are missing out on a fantastic resource. The internet really is great tool for families, and it could save you time, hassle and even money in everyday life. It can even be fun, and that’s what the online Easter challenge is all about – you could even win a laptop! Families all across Merseyside should take up the challenge and use the Easter holidays to spend a bit of time together finding out about both the internet and Easter itself.”

Get down to your local centre this Easter holiday and register on myguide, or log on to www.myguide.gov.uk using your own computer.

–

• Research from ICM Easter Facts Awareness Survey, March 2008, internet research from the Office of National Statistics Internet Access report, August 2007.
• Chocolate is eaten at Easter as a treat to celebrate the end of Lent.
• The Bunny was originally a symbol of new life in pagan celebrations due to the fertility of rabbits.
• Eggs are closely linked with the idea of new life and the coming of spring.
• myguide is completely free, and helps people who have never used the internet before get online for the first time. It’s highly accessible, and offers a range of courses, a simple, banner/popup-free service, an easy-to-use search function and email facility. It’s designed to be supported by staff in local centres, who provide assistance and reassurance - making sure people’s first steps onto the internet are a positive experience.
• UK online centres provide millions of people with access to technology and support in using it. They offer free or low cost access to the internet and email, deliver online courses and encourage people to progress onto further learning. UK online centres are managed by Ufi, the organisation also behind learndirect. For more information please visit www.ukonlinecentres.com.

The GMDDA has today launched a Research Repository. This site has been established to enable GMDDA partners to easily share research resources and to cut down on the number of reports being emailed around. You can access the repository here:

http://research.gmdda.org.uk/

The site will act as a repository of links for reports or presentations about anything within the GMDDA’s remit, including: digital inclusion; small business use of technology; e-government or related legislation.

If you use an RSS feed reader, you can receive updates from the site using the following address:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/GmddaResearchRepository

Tuesday 29th April, The Brewery, London

The National Digital Inclusion Conference 2008 ‘Reaching the Final Third’ will consider what radical interventions need to happen in order to reach the final third of digitally excluded citizens. The conference will be hosted in association with UK online centres and DC10plus.

Delegates will have the opportunity to hear the latest evidence and to question the individual and collective role of the public, private and third sectors and the call for Universal Access.

Conference Objectives:

• Examine the evidence and key data for the final third of the digitally excluded, looking at who and why
• Consider and discuss the costs and benefits of universal access
• Explore the role of the third, private and public sectors in reaching the final third and explore where joint working and intervention is required
• Agree a radical agenda and identify key actions moving forwards

Keynote speakers include:

• Jim Knight MP, Minister for Schools, Department for Children, Schools and Families
• Baroness Andrews OBE, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Communities and Local Government
• Mark MacGann, Director General, EICTA
• Nick Batey, EU E-Inclusion Directorate
• Dr Tanya Byron, Author, Byron Review
• Helen Milner, UK online centres
• Stephen Dodson, National Director, DC10plus
• Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive, Royal Society of Arts
• Stephen Uden, Head of Skills and Economic Affairs, Microsoft UK
• Stuart Purvis CBE, Partner for Content and Standards, Ofcom
• Andrew Heaney, Director of Strategy and Regulation, Carphone Warehouse
• Leonie Vlachos, Digital Inclusion Manager, Age Concern
• John Fisher, Director, Citizens Online
• Kevin Carey, Director, HumanITy
• Brian Eisenberg, Corporate Relations and Planning, Digital Unite
• Jane Berry, Net Gain
• Guy Giles, Operations Director, DigiTV

Target Audience:
The conference is targeted at both senior policy leads and practitioners in the fields of digital inclusion, social exclusion, transformational government and technology, including:

Public Sector and NGOs:

• Central Government Departments
• Local Authorities
• Regional Development Agencies
• Libraries and Information Services
• Local Strategic Partnerships
• Citizens Advice Bureaux
• Job Centre Plus
• Education Providers
• Think Tanks

Third Sector: Charities Social Enterprises, Not for Profit Organisations including:

• Access and Inclusion related charities
• Adult and Community Learning Providers
• UK Online Centres
• Welfare groups

Private Sector, including:

• Technology Companies
• Regeneration/IT Consultants
• Suppliers

Conference fee:
£295 +VAT

The conference fee includes admission to the reception, main conference including lunch and refreshments upon arrival and throughout the day. Further information about the programme, venue and practical arrangements for the event will be issued upon booking.

More information: http://www.civicregeneration.co.uk/conferences-page.php?sec=conferences&subSec=conferences_digital_incl_2008

BT has launched an extensive Wireless Broadband (Wi-Fi) network with coverage across Liverpool city centre - from Pembroke Place, west of Liverpool University, down to the Three Graces, across to the Albert Dock and up to Rodney Street. See the full coverage here:

http://www.btwireless.bt.com/availability_liverpool.html

BT has worked in partnership with Liverpool City Council to deliver the network. They are also working together to investigate a range of applications to improve key services addressing areas such as traffic management, environmental services and tourism. Included at launch is a facility that allows citizens and visitors to Liverpool free access to the City Council web sites, Liverpool Business and What’s on 08 - free to anyone logging on to the wireless service in the Wireless Liverpool area (Charges apply for BT Openzone and require Wi-Fi enabled equipment for usage).

Getting Started

• Starting your Wi-Fi experience couldn’t be simpler. Finding a hotspot is straightforward: BT Openzone provides several ways to help customers locate their nearest Wi-Fi access point. Customers can log on to http://www.btopenzone.com/find and input their postcode or town to pull out local hotspot locations.
• BT Openzone offers a variety of payment methods to suit individual needs. You can choose from 1 hour to 24 hour vouchers which are a great way to try the service for a small price, to pay per minute for occasional ongoing usage and subscriptions for regular ongoing usage.
• You can also buy vouchers through providers such as local company, BOZII, who provide access to many different wi-fi networks worldwide through one account.
• If you’re a BT Total Broadband customer opt into the BT FON community and you will get an allocation of inclusive minutes and if you’re a BT Business Broadband customer, you too have access to 250 inclusive BT Openzone minutes as part of your package.

UK online centres been celebrating success after scooping a special ‘highly commended’ award for Building a fairer society with e-Government.

The award was collected by Managing Director Helen Milner. She attended the E-Government National Awards in London on Tuesday 22 January 2008 along with a delegation of UK online centres. The award recognises the outstanding contributions of the UK online centres network and myguide in building a fairer society with e-Government by helping disadvantaged people to use computers and the internet and improve their lives.

Helen Milner said: “I’m delighted that myguide and UK online centres have been recognised for our contribution in motivating and supporting digitally excluded people to get online, get connected to public services, and get the skills and confidence to make computers and the internet work for them.

“There are often complex factors at work in exclusion - age, culture, disability, income, education or even attitude. Overcoming those barriers is key to creating a fairer and more equal society, and that’s the goal UK online centres and myguide are working towards.”

Location: Woodlands Conference Centre, Southport Road, Chorley, PR7 1QR
Date: Tuesday, 18 March 2008

Need to know more about the ICT services which are available to voluntary and community sector staff and volunteers working within the North West?

The Voluntary and Community Sector ICT Suppliers’ Fair, funded by the ICT Hub and the Five Counties Partnership, will allow you to talk to 40+ organisations who supply ICT services to the voluntary sector in Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire.

This free informal market place event will allow you to communicate with North West suppliers providing services such as:

• Help with Accessibility
• ICT Purchasing
• ICT Training
• Managing Your Contacts
• PC and Network Installation / Repair

For more information on this event please contact Oliver Gibson on 0161 277 1028 or via email oliver.gibson@gmcvo.org.uk

This event is being run by the North West ICT Champion Project.

ICT Suppliers are invited to take a free stand at the fair, please use the booking form provided by following the link below (return by 22nd February 200

•  Further details and booking forms

Merit North West are holding an event at their Liverpool Digital offices on Edge Lane:
Time: 11:00am - 13:00pm
Date: 30th January 2008
Presenting: Colin Birchall, Director of Digital Interactive Technologies at Rapid Technologies.

INTERACTIVE MEETING ROOM TECHNOLOGIES?

Competing in fast moving environments amidst strategies of globalization and an increasing emphasis on your organizations corporate social responsibility, can you afford to fall behind in the race to the meeting room? Introducing the revolutionary “green room” which utilizes the latest video conferencing technologies to enable you to differentiate your business from the competition as a flexible, forward-thinking and innovative organization and continue to stay one step ahead of the competition as they follow in your digital footsteps.

Operating within the traditional business environment it was perfectly acceptable to book out the meeting room for an internal meeting which all staff could attend and be back to work in the time it takes to walk down the staircase or across a corridor. However, as businesses grow and have operations across their domestic markets as well as international operations, there are new barriers to communication for the traditional meeting.

The Rapid green room embraces video conferencing and meeting room technologies to enable organizations to conduct meetings with clients and customers in the next office, town or country in real time without the time or financial costs of office disruption. In addition, with the emphasis on corporate social responsibility, the use of video conferencing technologies reduces your carbon footprint and assists in the implementation of your organizations environmental strategy, a fast developing hygiene factor for the twenty-first business.

This FREE session will provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to run and participate in interactive meeting rooms.

This session is for those organisations who are new to interactive meeting room technologies and those who already have an awareness to keep you up-to-date with the latest industry developments.

You will come away with:-

• The knowledge of what interactive meeting room technologies entail
• The comprehension to implement and run an interactive meeting room and compete effectively with your competition utilising the latest interactive technologies
• Understand practical and efficient ways in which you can reduce your carbon footprint and save your business thousands of pounds
• Benefit from an extra working week of productivity added to your annual calendar
  Protect yourself against corporate liability issues and achieving work life balance

Guest Speaker: Colin Birchall, Director of Digital Interactive Technologies at Rapid Technologies

To book your place at this FREE MERIT event, click here