The Biz: In brief.

MORE than 50 local building companies attended an open day organised by house builder Bellway in Netherton to explain their role in a major new house building programme in north Liverpool.

Richard Edgington,managing director of Bellway Homes West Lancashire, said: ``This is the first of what we hope will be a series of job creation events for Bellway over the next few years. The response has been phenomenal.''

SPORTECH, the Liverpool-based owner of Littlewoods Gaming,has launched two football themed interactive games on ITVi alongside the Euro 2004competition.

The games,available to 7.3 million interactive viewers,include the pounds 1m Hotshot scratch card style game and the Three Lions on the Shirt multiple choice football quiz. MERSEY Maritime, which seeks to promote the maritime sector and encourage inward investment,has appointed Annette Parker as its market development manager.

Ms Parker, who lives in Port Sunlight, was previously marketing manager for Liverpool-based shipping company Bibby Line. Her role with Mersey Maritime will see her developing marketing activity and providing marketing and business development support to members.