Member Blog

Howes Percival is urging companies to consider the risks of adopting a blanket ‘no jab, no job’ employment policy.

Currently, vaccination against COVID-19 is not compulsory, with the Government leaving it up to businesses to decide the ethics and feasibility of mandatory vaccination policies in their workplace. After months of lockdown restrictions, companies will be eager to reassure customers and clients that they operate a ‘COVID-19 safe’ environment. However, Howes Percival is warning employers to tread carefully and obtain specific legal advice regarding the implementation of any workplace vaccine policies.

Issues regarding vaccination will be specific to each employers’ circumstances, their business sector, and the individual circumstances of their employees. While employers are entitled to suggest that staff get vaccinated, if an employee refuses, great care needs to be taken to avoid potential discrimination claims.

Simon deMaid, Partner and employment law expert at Howes Percival commented, 

“While the need for vaccination policies in the workplace may seem premature, the expected trajectory of the vaccination rollout will lead to more instances of employers asking for or even requiring employees to receive the vaccine.”

“There are still many unknowns about COVID-19 and the vaccinations. Depending on the science, wide-scale vaccination may not be an all-encompassing solution for a return to “normality” or a pre COVID-19 workplace environment. The vaccines have been shown to be effective at reducing or eliminating symptoms and effects of COVID-19, what is less known is the extent to which they prevent transmission (although the early data is encouraging) or the period of immunity. This raises concerns about the feasibility of employers requiring vaccination, and highlights questions about the effectiveness of these polices in reducing risk to employers, employees, and customers.”

SHOULD EMPLOYERS INTRODUCE A “NO JAB, NO JOB” VACCINATION POLICY?

Ultimately, it is a commercial decision for each employer to take based on the level of risk they are prepared to take. However, employers should bear in mind that, a “no jab, no job” policy is too simplistic an approach for most companies because it does not take into account many of the current vaccine ‘unknowns’. Existing employees may have medical clauses in their contracts, which could include a requirement to have a vaccination. If not, employers may take steps to implement a vaccination policy or contractual clause. It may also be possible to have a ‘no jab, no job’ policy for job applicants to any new role. Although, this does not come without employment law risks, specifically discrimination.

CAN AN EMPLOYER COMPEL AN EMPLOYEE TO TAKE THE VACCINE?

In short, no. Employers cannot physically force or compel employees to take a COVID-19 vaccine. At this stage, rather than relying on compulsory vaccination, employers may wish to focus on how best to educate employees and publicise the benefits of taking the vaccination.

CAN EMPLOYERS REQUIRE EMPLOYEES TO HAVE A VACCINE ON HEALTH AND SAFETY GROUNDS?

Employers are required to reduce workplace risks under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and should continue to follow COVID-secure guidance regardless of vaccination status. Requiring employees to take the vaccine on grounds of health and safety law would require employers to prove that vaccination protects other employees, and the third parties they encounter. Although early data is showing a reduction in transmission this issue is yet to be resolved. At this stage, relying on health and safety law is likely to be risky.

CAN AN EMPLOYER DISMISS AN EMPLOYEE FOR REFUSING A VACCINE?

In theory, yes, however, whether the dismissal is fair or not will depend on the individual circumstances. If the request to be vaccinated is reasonable, an employee’s unreasonable refusal to comply could result in disciplinary action. Whether a request is reasonable will depend on the circumstances of the individual employee; the employer’s business and the sector they operate in. For example, it will be more reasonable to require frontline health care workers to have the vaccine, compared to fully remote office workers.

HOW CAN EMPLOYERS AVOID UNFAIR DISMISSAL CLAIMS?

For a dismissal to be “fair”, it must fall under one of the five potentially fair reasons for dismissal. The most likely justification for dismissing an employee will be “conduct” for failure to comply with a reasonable request. Alternatively, dismissal might be for “some other substantial reason”. Due to the complex issues involved, employers should take specific legal advice on any disciplinary or dismissal relating to employees who refuse the vaccine.

WHAT IS THE RISK OF DISCRIMINATING AGAINST EMPLOYEES WHO REFUSE THE VACCINE?

There is a risk that employers could be accused of discrimination if they insist on employees, or job applicants, being vaccinated. There are several potential ‘protected characteristics’ that an employee may seek to rely on to justify a refusal to take the vaccination and consideration will need to be given to the rights of individual employees and whether there are health reasons, religious or philosophical beliefs that mean vaccination is not appropriate.

CAN EMPLOYERS ASK AN EMPLOYEE IF THEY HAVE HAD THE VACCINE?

Yes, however, the vaccination status of an employee is private health information, which is a ‘special category of data’ (that requires extra protection under GDPR). Use of this data must also be fair, necessary, and relevant for a specific purpose. Any reason for recording employees’ vaccination status must be clear and compelling. To process the data fairly and lawfully, employers will need to rely on one of the permitted grounds for doing so. The sector, type of work and specific workplace health and safety risks will help employers decide if they have compelling reasons to collect employees COVID-19 vaccine records.

For more information on COVID-19 and employment law, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the employment team.

The information on this site about legal matters is provided as a general guide only. Although we try to ensure that all of the information on this site is accurate and up to date, this cannot be guaranteed. The information on this site should not be relied upon or construed as constituting legal advice and Howes Percival LLP disclaims liability in relation to its use. You should seek appropriate legal advice before taking or refraining from taking any action.

It is hard not to notice how radically changed our world has become since the digital revolution in the late 90’s. It seems as if every aspect of our everyday and work lives has been affected in one way or the other. Communication is largely done using phones or digital chatting applications.

Writing, like this article, is done through a computer and published on the internet and not on paper with a pen or typewriter. Remember when oil was the most valuable resource on Earth? Now it is code and data. The world has become digital and this article aims at explaining to you as a business owner or employee why this can be beneficial to your company.

It is very well documented that customers are more likely to invest in a product or service if the process of locating said product and buying it is simple. Nobody wants to go through a hassle when spending money, it is really that simple.

Having your products available online gives customers a comprehensive overview of what you offer, what the prices are and a simple way to order the product with a simple click and have it delivered to their doorstep. Leaving the house is not necessary. Online shopping has been on the rise in recent years. Testament to this is Amazon that offers almost any product available on Earth and it is all done online. The Corona pandemic has also done its fair share of encouraging people to look online for products when most retail stores have been closed. A digital business makes shopping more comfortable and is likely to increase your sales.

When a business operates digitally it will do so in tandem with a host of algorithms and analytical tools. Whenever someone visits your site or makes a purchase you will obtain that information as well as changes over time.

Like it is beneficial to monitor football dropping odds when betting it is handy to be able to see which products fall in popularity on your site. This will let you know where to invest extra focus and development to keep them competitive or remove them altogether. In cooperation with this you can acquire software that scans the internet for mentions of said product. That way you will be able to pinpoint exactly how consumers feel about it.

The digital way of monitoring market trends allows you to immediately tackle changes in the market. Having flexibility and mobility in an economy that is more competitive than ever is a huge boon for any business. Just make sure that you keep updated on regulations on the use and acquisition of international services are in this sense very important and, if utilised correctly, is bound to expand your target audience and turn a larger profit.

The digital world is not just sunshine and rainbows. People feel more alone than ever. Many jobs are lost due to mechanisation. Perfectionism is on the rise. All of these are core human issues that society in one way will have to deal with. And in time solutions will present themselves as they always do.

But let these bleak aspects not overshadow the grand contributions digitalisation has provided the world. Communication is easy and has brought people from all the world together. Productivity has increased without tearing on the physical capacities of people. Life has become so much easier. Bringing this to your business is a great step in the development of, not just your company, but the economy as well.

As a rise in the Corporation Tax rate (currently 19%) remains a possibility for this year’s Budget (3 March), Richard Proctor, Tax Partner at MHA Larking Gowen, believes the Government needs to stimulate enterprise and investment and, like it or not, the Corporation Tax rate is seen as an indicator for the attractiveness of the UK economy. 

Richard said: “Small changes in tax rates are often more about influencing behaviour and sending a message than raising revenue. For foreign investors, already nervous about the post-Brexit environment, a rise in the headline rate of Corporation Tax could be a further disincentive for any potential overseas investment. It sends out a message about the UK’s willingness to preserve the current fiscal regime, which foreign investors find attractive and is one of the key drivers in the UK, as a preferred location when businesses are expanding internationally.

“The UK needs a fiscal regime centred around international competitiveness now more than ever. The Chancellor should concentrate on growth and the way to do that is to create a vibrant economy. He needs to use his fiscal tools, like varying tax rates, in a positive rather than a negative way. We have good foundations in place already, with our foreign dividend and participation exemptions, R&D tax relief, Patent Box relief and the Capital Allowance regime. It’s vital not to devalue these incentives as, post-Brexit, the UK is debatably now less attractive to overseas investors. With borrowing also currently very cheap, there’s arguably no need to pay for the pandemic in the short term.

“Corporation tax revenues are a relatively small part of the UK’s total tax revenue (around 6% in 2019/20) and total receipts have increased in recent years, despite the main rate being lowered in 2017 (from 20% to 19%).* A rise in the tax rate, even if it raised more revenue, couldn’t raise enough to compensate for the damage to the UK’s reputation for competitiveness.”

If you’d like to find out more, MHA Larking Gowen is holding a Budget webinar at 1pm on Thursday 4 March. Their tax specialists will analyse the key Budget changes and share how this could impact on you and your business. You can sign up here

*GOV.UK, Rates and allowance for Corporation Tax and HMRC Corporation Tax Statistics commentary and House of Commons Library Briefing Paper (Number CBP – 8513)

In this blog, Carl Mifflin, Head of Restructuring and Insolvency at Howes Percival, examines how investment fraud has thrived in recent years, highlights how economic uncertainty provides a breeding ground for fraudsters and identifies some of the key ways to avoid falling victim to investment fraud.

The last thirteen years have seen an unprecedented level of financial turmoil, starting with the global banking crisis in the autumn of 2008 and culminating in the economic devastation caused by the COVID pandemic in 2020. The FSB predicted last month that 250,000 small businesses in the UK would fail in 2021, and the damage is not limited to small businesses as the collapse of many high street retailers has demonstrated. A particularly troubling consequence of the economic downturn, however, has been the substantial increase in investment fraud.

It is easy to understand how financial conditions have created the ideal breeding ground for fraudsters to thrive. In August 2007, the Bank of England base interest rate stood at 5.5%. Mainstream investments, such as ISAs, offered investment returns of 10% p.a. and property prices were increasing at a steady rate. In summary, people with cash to invest could generate substantial returns with minimal risk. Fast forward to 2021 and the Bank of England base interest rate stands at 0.1%, property prices have declined substantially across most of the country, and high-interest savings accounts seem like a distant memory, now offering less than 2% p.a.

Faced with an inability to generate comparable returns on investment from 2007, investors have been drawn to riskier investments, promising returns of 10% or more, despite the age-old adage that “if something looks too good to be true, it probably is”. In most cases, the investments are packaged to look like legitimate investment opportunities, sold by independent financial advisors who are paid exorbitant commissions (25-30%) for inducing inexperienced investors to transfer funds from traditionally safe investments such as pensions, and often containing promises of “guaranteed” returns on investment. In many cases, investors are provided with an “asset”, such as a 999-year lease of an individual room in a hotel or student accommodation block, which is intended to (a) retain the value of the capital investment; and (b) generate an income equivalent to a high percentage return on investment.

The investment opportunity is given an appearance of legitimacy by demonstrating how existing investors are already achieving the promised returns on their investment. In many cases, however, this is a smokescreen achieved by using new investor money to pay early investors (commonly known as a ‘Ponzi’ fraud). Inevitably, however, as the number of investors grows, and new investor money dries up, the interest payments to investors cease and the investor is left with an “asset” which generates negligible income, has little or no re-sale value and a “guarantee” as worthless as the paper it is written on.

It is important to note that not every investment scheme that fails is fraudulent. The current financial crisis has caused many legitimate investment schemes to fail simply due to the sector in which the investment operates. It is a fact, however, that investments of this nature are inherently risky and chasing high interest rates can result in you losing your hard-earned capital.

SO WHAT STEPS CAN YOU TAKE, WHEN CONSIDERING AN INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY, TO MINIMISE YOUR RISK?

 The most critical advice is to carry out proper due diligence. Do not simply rely on the information you are given by a promotor or sales agent but seek your own independent advice to scrutinise the investment fully. Consider your exit route from the investment. Is there a legitimate secondary resale market for the “asset” you are acquiring? For example, who is going to buy a lease of a hotel room or student apartment from you if it only generates a return of 2% instead of the promised 10%? Research the company thoroughly. For example, do the directors have a history of insolvent companies or failed investment schemes?

WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS OVER AN INVESTMENT YOU HAVE ALREADY MADE? 

I cannot emphasise enough the importance of seeking legal advice as soon as your investment falls into default. Do not rely on excuses or repeated promises of payment which fail to materialise. Those investors who take action quickly to demand repayment of their investment following default have the greatest prospect of getting repaid. The harsh reality is that many of these investments resemble a game of Jenga … the structure can probably withstand the removal of a small number of blocks but, at some point, the entire structure will inevitably come crashing down leaving a debris of disgruntled investors wishing they had acted sooner to remove their “block”.

If you would like any further information or to discuss any issues relating to restructuring and insolvency, please contact Carl Mifflin at [email protected] or on 0116 247 3500.

The information on this site about legal matters is provided as a general guide only. Although we try to ensure that all of the information on this site is accurate and up to date, this cannot be guaranteed. The information on this site should not be relied upon or construed as constituting legal advice and Howes Percival LLP disclaims liability in relation to its use. You should seek appropriate legal advice before taking or refraining from taking any action.

Invest from £5,000 on the CBILS scheme

Has your business been affected by Covid-19? Have you been considering funding to finance new business equipment, consolidate debts accrued during the pandemic, or freeing up some cashflow?  If yes, then you need to act now!

Many of our customers are benefiting from the government’s Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), with 12 months interest free! The CBILS commercial loans and some asset finance packages also allow a full 12 month payment holiday – helping to ease businesses cash-flow.

The Government have extended the deadline – you can now apply up to 31st March 2021

Are you planning on a new purchase this year? Then ACT NOW! If you don’t need finance immediately, but have plans for new equipment in the next six months, you can apply now to secure the 12 months interest free feature and defer drawing-down the funding for up to 6 months. 

Don’t miss this opportunity for Government backed support.

Please call today on 01603 381955 to talk through your options or alternatively e-mail us [email protected]

If someone dies leaving a valid Will, it is the responsibility of the appointed Executors to locate the original Will and carry out the wishes of the deceased person therein. If required, the Executors may need to apply for a ‘Grant of Probate’ to allow them to administer the estate. This is simply a court order confirming the Executors’ authority to deal with the estate and is required by many organisations to allow Executors to collect in/ sell large assets. This can include the sale of a property, sale of shares and to collect in large sums from banks and building societies.

The benefit of having a Will is Executors already have authority to deal with the assets of a deceased person from the date of death.

Dying intestate

If someone dies without leaving a valid Will, they have died ‘intestate’ and the Administrators of the estate may need to apply for a ‘Grant of Letters of Administration’. This is a court order that gives authority to the Administrators of an estate to deal with the assets of the deceased person.

The downside of someone dying intestate is no-one has authority to deal with a person’s assets until they have successfully applied for, and received, the Grant of Letters of Administration. The Administrators are essentially in ‘No Man’s Land’ until that point.

The collective term for Executors and Administrators is ‘Personal Representatives’ (‘PRs’). PRs’ duties can vary widely depending on the assets of the deceased person and how much work is involved in administering the estate. Some estates could be very straightforward (i.e. one property to sell and one bank account to close) and others more complex (i.e. many properties to sell/ many bank accounts, shares, premium bonds, insurance policies, many debts to be paid etc.).

Hatch Brenner offer a competitively priced service in respect of our estate administration services and a bespoke service to meet PRs’ needs. We can assist in probate matters (where a person has left a valid Will) as well as intestacy matters (where a person dies without leaving a valid Will).

What if I can’t find the Will?

The original Will and death certificate are needed to start dealing with an estate of a deceased person in a probate matter. If you cannot find the original Will, do not panic as there are alternative options available.

We would recommend you; look through the deceased’s paperwork, contact their solicitor or bank to see if they are holding the Will, make enquiries with the deceased person’s family and friends, contact their accountant or even consider a Will Search with Certainty, the National Will Register.

If an original Will absolutely cannot be found, a photocopy of the latest Will or strong evidence of the lost Will’s content should be submitted to the Probate Registry instead, together with the appropriate evidence in support.

Dealing with a loved one’s affairs when they die can already be a very stressful time therefore we are able to make enquiries such as these on a PR’s behalf if they wished to instruct us.

Storage of Wills

At Hatch Brenner Solicitors we offer free storage of our clients’ original Wills indefinitely. This gives our clients peace of mind knowing their Wills are safe in our strongroom. We send our clients a copy of their Will, on completion of a matter, for their records and advise them to inform their Executors of where the original Will is stored. This storage service is completely free of charge and included in our fixed fee cost when we are instructed to draft a Will. This storage process is also included for our client’s Lasting Powers of Attorney documents (‘LPAs’).

Ensuring your original Will is stored safely, and knowing exactly where it is located, is very important. If your original Will is lost, it could lead to circumstances where potential beneficiaries under the Will or an Intestacy situation argue and enter into protracted, expensive litigation to try and resolve the matter. Leaving a valid Will, stored in a safe place, gives everyone assurance that when the time comes, their affairs can be handled smoothly and their chosen beneficiaries have certainty of how the estate will be distributed.

Read more: Game over: Protecting your digital assets in your Will

Accidents at work can occur in a variety of ways and include slips and trips, working at height, defective equipment, manual handling, handling dangerous substances or those involving construction sites.

If you sustain a personal injury at work, you can pursue an accident at work claim for compensation, also known as an Employer’s Liability Claim.

A Claimant must show their employer contributed to or caused the injuries suffered as a result of a workplace accident. An employer may be liable for your injury for reasons including unsafe work systems, lack of personal protective equipment, unfit premises, insufficient training, co-worker negligence or damaged/unsafe work equipment.

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Subsequent Legislation/ Safety Regulations

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires employers to protect the health, safety and welfare at work of all their employees as well as others on the premises which can include self employed workers, clients, visitors and the general public.

There are various regulations which govern workplaces and not all give rise to civil liability, meaning there is not an automatic right to compensation for breach. In addition the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 has made it more difficult for those injured at work to make claims.

It is compulsory however for an employer to have employer’s liability insurance in place to cover any claims.

Employers must also assess workplace risks and provide appropriate health and safety training.

Should I make an accident at work claim?

Being injured following an accident at work can have wide ranging implications – particularly on the individual’s financial circumstances. Claiming compensation can help cover losses incurred during your recovery period and will be important in safeguarding your financial future where your injury results in you being unable to work or undertake your normal activities. Pursuing a claim can also help improve workplace practices to prevent similar accidents taking place again in the future.

You can make a claim if the accident at work was not your fault, and occurred within the last three years.

What is an internal investigation?

Following medical treatment for your accident at work, it is important to make sure the event is reported to your line manager, and recorded in your company’s accident book. Evidence will be required to prove the accident was due to the negligence of your employer and may include witness statements, CCTV footage if available, photos of the location/equipment and photos and medical reports of any physical or mental injuries sustained. Be sure to keep the receipts or any expenses incurred for medical treatment or lost earnings as a result of the accident.

Will it affect my employment rights? Could I lose my job?

Whilst many employees feel uncomfortable and nervous pursuing a compensation claim against their employer, making a Personal Injury claim against your employer will not affect your employment rights and your employer cannot legally prevent you from making a claim.

Will my employer have to pay the compensation?

As employers are legally required to hold employer’s liability insurance, they will pay any compensation due via their insurance policy to meet the costs of your claim. The insurer makes the payment and not the employer.

Our Personal Injury team can help explain how the personal injury compensation process works and whether you have a claim to pursue. Contact Chartered Legal Executive Simon Bransby via [email protected] or call 01603 660 811.

Nestled on the east coast of England, Norfolk is quietly one of the country’s international powerhouses. With the agriculture, forestry and fishing industries particularly strong in this area, along with construction and technical work, there are many opportunities for startups to grow and flourish.

With a business survival rate that consistently outperforms the rest of the country, and local grants available for support, there’s no better place in the UK to consider setting up your own company.

Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering Norfolk as an option.

International Trade

Despite Brexit now being over the finishing line, the interaction with buyers abroad continues unabated. In the Norfolk area, more than half of all businesses export overseas, both to the EU and further afield. Although there are more checks in place now, international trade is just as important as ever, especially for small businesses. Around 80% of companies from Norfolk who trade with countries abroad have less than 50 employees.

This reliance on international customers underlines the importance of learning exactly how Forex trading works. Smaller companies typically don’t have the large balance sheets to easily absorb unexpected losses, so it’s essential to plan for currency movement. It’s possible to use CFDs and forex trading tools to be able to do this, fixing pricing in advance to remove the uncertainty of large swings.

Strong Transport Links

Norfolk lies in a convenient position in the UK, making it easy to access the capital and the South East, with direct links to other parts of the country.The coastal location means that it’s much more cost-effective to organize exports and imports. When combined with neighboring Suffolk, Norfolk contributes significantly to the national £2.9 billion export business.

The biggest export destination for Norfolk business is The Netherlands, with exports worth approximately £392 million annually.

Having these established transport links and lines of export to European countries means that it’s easier for startups to get up and running.

Local Help and Support

Although there are many factors already in Norfolk’s favour, there are also local help and support schemes that can further boost your chances. These are in addition to the national schemes offered by the government to all startups and businesses in the UK.

Go Digital is a relatively new initiative, launched in December 2020. Aimed at micro, small and medium-sized business, Go Digital is available from Norfolk County Council. The idea is for companies to be able to identify digital opportunities and claim this grant to help with the implementation. In addition to the money, Norfolk Council is also making expert consultancy available on a 1:1 basis.

Other schemes which could help startups include the Small Grant Scheme. Exclusive to Norfolk and Suffolk, the Small Grant Scheme can provide up to 30% of the total costs of your plans, enabling expansion or new services to be provided.

It’s hoped that these grants and support will continue to attract new residents to the area, making Norfolk one of the best destinations for UK Tax.

Businesses have been moving more and more towards online commerce for decades. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this trend and pushed even more companies to do so. It has also shown that small businesses can successfully do business online, not just retail giants. Bringing your business online can have significant benefits, but there are also security considerations to keep in mind.

The Importance of Online Security for Your Business

Online security is an ongoing problem that requires an ongoing solution. Businesses in the UK lose billions each year to malware, hacking, and phishing. These techniques can give criminals access to sensitive information and bank accounts from your business. These attacks primarily target smaller companies because of their inability to implement sophisticated security countermeasures.

Perhaps even worse than draining your business bank account, online criminals could steal private information from your customers. Even if your business does not store payment information, the names, phone numbers, and addresses of your customers can be used to target them in subsequent cyberattacks. Your company might well never recover from such a lapse in trust.

Going Digital Is More Important Than Ever

It might seem outlandish to young people, but a time when a business had no computers is still within living memory for many. That transition to doing business digitally has been remarkably swift and has gone further than anyone could have predicted. Making effective use of digital resources and applying them properly to your business is pivotal to succeeding in today’s marketplace.

Understanding and implementing the synergy of digital technologies can make your business run much more efficiently. Implementing digital point of sale, accounting, inventory, and marketing can let you focus more on your business’s core. Your business will be able to get more done with the same resources and, at the same time, leading to growth and success.

Why Your Business Needs to Be Online

Some business owners feel that they shouldn’t be required to have an online presence. They see it as something that will detract from their business, taking the time that could be better spent elsewhere. This simply isn’t true. Setting up a website, or even social media, for your business makes it easier to discover. This brings in more customers from demographics you might not have reached before.

An online presence also makes it easier for potential customers to gather information on your business at their own leisure. Both social media and website hosting platforms have simple and easy to use marketing tools for your business to reach even more people. Online payment processors can also simplify payments and record-keeping while giving your customers a better range of payment options.

Diversifying Sources Of Income

Going digital allows you to diversify your sources of income in a relatively easier way. For example, if you have managed to generate additional cashflow it’s better to invest it through an exchange or even purchase Bitcoin. But before you invest make sure to do your research. Our staff recently heard about a new trading app named BitQT. A quick check revealed that it is a “fraudulent software” which is used by affiliate networks to promote get-rich-quick schemes.

Tudor Lodge Consultants is excited to be working on behalf of Steve Dechan (https://stevedechan.com/), making his expert insights into chronic pain and PPE more easily accessible, as this topic becomes more globally recognised. 

How Tudor Lodge Consultants is helping SteveDechan.com

 Our team has been tasked with helping Steve Dechan’s valuable insights into PPE position better on search engine rankings in a wider brand management project for SteveDechan.com.

• Keyword Research: conducting a thorough research into the world of PPE to choose the most relevant keywords for the brand and design a strategy in order to rank

• Content Generation: creating content tailored around specific relevant keywords to highlight Steve Dechan’s important work in the health sector and share his expert industry knowledge

• Link-Building Strategy: Link-building has played an important role in our wider brand reputation management, seeking credible news and health publications to share press releases and other relevant content. On one side, this press will help to boost public image and positively impact brand reputation. Simultaneously, this will help to establish SteveDechan.com as a more authoritative and trustworthy site, eventually gaining more credibility on Google.

About SteveDechan.com

Steve Dechan, former councillor-turned-businessman, is the owner of Platform-14, leaders in the pain management sector. The business specialises in medical devices for those suffering with chronic pain difficulties. As such, Platform-14 have established themselves as one of the key players in a rapidly growing sector.  

Scottish-born Dechan is an emblem of work ethic and commitment to customer service, coming from an extensive background of sales, insurance and commercial banking. A gifted entrepreneur, his first business was in the insurance sector in which he established the UK’s second largest student and travel insurer. After that, he made his first foray into the medical sphere by investing in a urology start-up.

Now recognised as an industry expert, Dechan shares his insights and helps to better understand different clinical settings and the complex relationships between patients and clinicians. His passions lie in distribution and his company works to improve the system of medical device distribution. 

See other resources:

https://techround.co.uk/interviews/steve-dechan-interview-my-take-on-the-link-between-pain-and-inequality-in-the-uk/

https://www.medicompare.co.uk/steve-dechan-comment-chronic-pain-an-outline-of-the-basics/

Tudor Lodge Consultants is delighted to be working with Omba Advisory & Investments (https://www.ombainvestments.com/). The company won the Emerging Manager category award in last year’s Private Asset Managers (PAM) awards. Since then, they have hired Tudor Lodge to help boost organic sales through SEO strategy.

How the Tudor Lodge Consultants Team is helping Omba

Our SEO team understands the importance of an exhaustive SEO strategy in order to boost rankings on Google and gain company visibility. As such, we have carried out:

●      Keyword Research: through in-depth research of the Family Office, Investment and ETF sectors, to find relevant, niche keywords where Omba could rank highly.

●      Link-building: establishing links is an extremely important part of an extensive SEO strategy. Gaining backlinks from reliable investment, business and news related sources help to establish Omba’s online authority and credibility. Subsequently, this supports the website when it is crawled and indexed by Google.

●      Technical SEO fix-up: this refers to an overall tidy-up to ensure that, at a technical level, we are performing highly for SEO. This involves updating meta-data descriptions to ensure that they are relevant and tailored to the desired keywords. The technical SEO fix-up extends to all featured images and their alt-titles.

●      Fixing landing pages: site structure is crucial for any SEO strategy. A key part of this is the landing pages, the pages seen when customers first arrive to the site. Consequently, it is important for these pages to have all relevant information as well as being well-designed from a SEO perspective (including keywords and headings in a clear structure).

About Omba

Omba Advisory & Investments Limited is a wealth management company working for High Net Worth clients and Family Offices. Their team is built up of financial experts from a range of financial services and technology backgrounds.

The team manages diversified portfolios to always strive to get the best offer for their clients. Investments are carefully and strategically made in order to manage portfolios in the best way possible on a long-term basis.

Omba specialises in ETF, building and managing international, low cost ETF portfolios. Currently, 100% of their portfolio is made up of ETFs alongside a small residual cash balance.

I was almost at the end of my presentation when a loud shout* punctured the air, its volume belying the tender years of the one from whom it had emanated. I barely batted an eyelid, and nor did anyone else in this virtual session; after all, the audible and visual ebb and flow of lives is par for the course these days.

Rewind though a few years and I would have been a little discomforted (the memory of an epic temper tantrum from my 18 month old mid-conference call is still fresh. That’s one of the risks I guess of setting up your own business with a toddler in tow). And go back further and I would have been absolutely mortified at this perceived – by me, and perhaps by others, but mostly by me – lack of professionalism. I have written previously about there once having been two versions of me – work and non-work – and any merging was a definite no, no. NO.

But as I said I barely batted an eyelid.

Because one thing that has emerged out of this period of our lives is authenticity: more and more, we’re just being ourselves. Firstly perhaps by accident, and now maybe by choice, we’re allowing ourselves to just be….well….us.

And this authenticity has become a recurring theme I have noticed of this pandemic.

Of course – in the example I highlighted – it’s in the many different ways we visibly share of ourselves: our lives, what matters to us, our priorities.  The way we put other things first – home-schooling, caring for others, health. For many of us, the thought previously of telling a boss that we couldn’t make a meeting or deliver a task because we had to help our kids with their studies would have felt daunting. Ditto, perhaps, having to stay at home because our own health and wellbeing overrides everything. But we’re starting to realise that this is ok. (More than ok, to be honest.)

And it’s in the conversations that we have. How often before has ‘how are you?’ been used not as a question but as a perfunctory greeting, warranting the response of ‘fine’ irrespective of what’s going on. Now though, things are feeling a bit different. Managers and direct reports, colleagues, staff and customers, friends, family – these days I often get the sense that when we enquire after people’s wellbeing, we mean it. And honest responses are frequently provoked by the question: after all, our levels of fineness will vary dependent on our circumstances.  

Communications too. We are seeing authenticity in the way that messages acknowledge the reality of the situation and the impact it’s having on people. And also in the way that often communications have an increasingly human angle, revealing a little of the people at the end of the laptop. This authenticity is allowing for greater connection.

This is a good thing. Because not only is it ok for us to be authentic, to be ourselves, it’s actually better for us. Authenticity in our conversations and communications create a depth of understanding, and empower connection on a human level. It’s better for our wellbeing too; when we are able to share what matters to us, when we feel safe and supported to talk about how we are feeling and fairing, our wellbeing benefits.

So as we emerge from this period of our lives – and we will – I hope that we can retain this authenticity.

*a shout instigated by home learning frustrations. Shout out to all the parents who have stepped into the role of surrogate teachers with trepidation – and the actual teachers who are keeping the resources and support flowing.