Member Blog

Flowers are very versatile, and can be used for a variety of occasions, whether it be a wedding or a funeral. They can be used as a home décor item, or a gift to your significant other. The list is endless. Due to their beauty and versatility, they are widely bought in the UK. Flowers shops are very common throughout the country. You are bound to find one in your neighborhood. However, you should note that the world of flowers is really vast, and there are many different types available, to choose from. The choice of the flower you buy, should be dependent upon a various factors, most importantly the occasion for which the flowers are to be used. This is because each type of flower is used to portray a particular emotion. Below is a description of the best-selling flowers in the UK, for popular occasions. It can serve as a viable guideline for what flowers you should be looking to buy.

Wedding Flowers

The most classic type of flowers are roses. They have stood the test of time, and never seem to go out of style. Their luscious red color conveys a sense of deep passion and romance. Millions of roses are sold in the UK, each year. They are widely used in wedding decorations and also wedding bouquets.

Lilies are also amongst the best-selling flowers in the UK, primarily for weddings. They are known for lasting long amounts of times. Their white buds give off a vibe of elegance and classic beauty. In recent years, the amount of lilies sold in the UK has even surpassed the amount of roses sold, which is a testament to their growing popularity. Moreover, orchids are gradually becoming one of the best-selling flowers in the UK. They look very exquisite and exotic. Plus, they come in many different colours and sizes, so you have many different types of orchids to choose from. Orchids are suitable for a wide variety of occasions as they are symbolic of various things. They symbolize fertility, love, royalty, and power. The most popular orchids are Yellow, Pink, White and Blue Orchids. An iris is also a very popular type of flower in the UK. In fact, it is the birth flower of people who were born in February. Hence, it can make for a great birthday gift for such people. An iris symbolizes valor, faith, and wisdom. The color blue is relatively rare in flowers, and a Blue Iris is one of few true blue flowers available.’

Home Décor Flowers

Flowers are also a very popular home décor item. They can lighten up your room, with beauty and an air of freshness. They are also one of the most inexpensive options when it comes to home décor, and that is one primary reason why they are so widely sold in the UK. One of the most popular types of flowers for home décor are Tulips. Tulips were also very popular a long time ago. They were viewed as a luxury item, and hence had staggering prices. Thankfully, their prices has reduced by a significant amount now, in the UK. They come in a wide variety of unique shades. Jasmines are also used for home décor, and are very widely sold in the UK.

Funeral Flowers

That’s right, flowers are also widely used for funerals. People do not only buy flowers to express their love for each other, but also to express their condolences for each other. The death of a close is one of the most painful and difficult experiences of life. Providing your condolences to those who are grieving, is necessary etiquette. Sending them flowers is a good way to show them your sympathy. However, there are certain types of flowers and flowers arrangements that are more suitable when it comes to funerals.

Some of the best-selling flowers in the UK (appropriate for funeral ceremonies) include Orchids, Daffodils, and Lilies. Erin Bradley from ‘Funeral Flowers’ has termed these three flowers as the most appropriate for funerals. This is because these flowers carry with them a sense of deep meaning and symbolism. Therefore, it can be seen that flowers are one of the most popular items in the UK. They are used for a wide variety of situations and occasions throughout the country, whether it be down in London or up in Newcastle. That is why they are being sold in larger numbers than ever before. Naturally, some flowers have won the popularity contest against other flowers, and that is why some are more widely sold than others, in the UK.

Flower arrangements are usually made of different kinds of flowers, imported and locally grown, because that’s the easiest way to do it. However, if you really want to do it right, you should create your arrangements using season flowers. This is a cheaper and more eco-friendly way of making flower arrangements. If you decide to use locally sourced, seasonal flowers, your bouquets and arrangements will always be fresh, interesting and affordable for everyone.

If you have no idea about flowers, you need some help, and you will get help only if you ask professionals. And when talking about flowers and other plants, you can’t find better experts than flower delivery companies. They usually know a thing or two about flowers, and our friends from Flowershops.co.uk keep up to date with all the latest trends in the flower industry. We asked them for some tips so you don’t have to. This is what they told us:

“Certain blooms like roses are available all year round. They have always been popular and every florist has them. This is why you can easily find them when you need them for that date you’ve been planning for the next weekend, for February 14th and for your mom’s birthday in July. But, you don’t have to be that lazy. Do the research and get creative. Because there are other flowers you can choose from. In February, for example, you can choose a nice bouquet of Calla Lilies and Hyacinths look awesome in July!

Seasonal flowers: Autumn

Many summer flowers are still in bloom during autumn in the UK but your options are very limited when it comes to creativity. You may choose from very popular flowers like Chrysanthemum, Carnations, lilies, roses, snowdrops and winter jasmine, forsythia, iris, freesia, etc. but you can also spice the things up with natural seasonal colors like gourds, nuts, yellow leaves or wood and you can make nice vases using pumpkins.

Seasonal flowers: Winter

Well, we don’t have to tell you that winter is a really tough time to find flowers. However, you can make some very interesting arrangements with what we have, here in the UK, during those cold winters. Depending upon your location in the UK you may have to decide between carnations, camellias, chrysanthemums, heathers, holly, roses, snowdrops and winter jasmine, and pussy willows. You can combine those blooms with dark greenery, seasonal berries and Christmas color schemes.

Seasonal flowers: Spring

Spring is the most colorful time of the year in the UK when it comes to flowers. It is that time of the year when almost all plants and flowers suddenly start re-emerging all around you. You can list them from A to Z with Amaryllis, apple blossoms, azaleas, bluebells, camellias, cherry blossoms, carnations, crocuses, clematis, chrysanthemums, daffodils, daisies, freesia, honeysuckles, jasmines, lilacs, orchids, etc. However, many of these flowers look somewhat pale in the spring so you need to improvise if you want to spice things up a little bit. And to make a perfect combination of colors you also need to keep in mind that all those spring flowers in the UK give up distinct aromas and the overall scent also has to be harmonious.

Seasonal flowers: Summer

Summer is that time of the year when flower options are almost as plentiful as during the spring in the UK. In fact many of these flowers overlap during these two seasons. You can choose from all kinds of flowers like lilac (of course), larkspur, marigold, orchid, peonies, sunflowers, sweet pea, gardenia, gerbera, delphinium, dahlia, daisies, aster, azalea, carnations, chrysanthemums, and roses (duh!) are just a few flowers that you can find across the entire UK during those summer months.

Wildflowers are (as other kinds of flowers) at their best during the summer months… As the matter of fact, the height of summer is possibly the most productive season for all British grown flowers, including wildflowers. This kind of flowers can make the arrangements look a bit more relaxed and informal.”

Our friend from the already mentioned flower delivery company, Hollie Hobbs, also told us that a huge part of flowers that are currently sold in the UK comes from “abroad”. She told us that these flowers are often raised with heavy use of dangerous pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides, and under extremely poor labor conditions. And by the time you purchase them at the local grocery store, they are a week old, and this means that they often last just a couple of days in your (or your friend’s/ girlfriend’s) home. This is why we should start looking at buying local flowers as some sort of activism. You will say no to chemicals, no to air pollution (because of carbon emissions from long-distance shipping), no to exploitative labor practices, and no to industry that cherishes quantity over quality.

As a florist designer, you will be able to achieve your dream of using your creative skills, art and love for flowers to bring joy to others. It is a career that opens up a world of love and beauty. 

What You Need to Start

The first thing you need to become a florist designer is an undiminishing supply of passion for the job. This is because the job is not all a bed of roses. There will be times when you will be required to do a lot of mundane things.Get enough relevant training. This includes lessons in floral design. The course will help you understand how to care for flowers, and the best way of cutting and arranging them. As you do this, ensure the programs offered at the school have the American Institute of Floral Designers approval and possess a state license.

You can also take photography lessons if you wish, as this will help enhance your skills in visualizing shapes and patterns, a useful skill to have as a floral designer. As you get your formal training, you should find time to indulge in some practical work. Hands-on experience is important as it will help you develop a deeper understanding of what you learn in class. You can also become an apprentice at a florist. This will give you the hands-on experience you seek.

You should work on being original, authentic and unique in your floral designs. This is important as it is what will make you stand out from your competitors. Allow your innovativeness to take a front seat. As a florist, you should have some math skills as you need to be able to estimate how many flowers would be needed to decorate a certain venue. To ensure you run your business in a professional manner, it is advisable to take a basic business course, even if it is just up to certificate level. Lastly, you need determination and a vision to push on through the tough times, knowing that a bright future waits for you.

These are just some of the points that Victoria Howe from www.flowerdelivery.org.uk has to offer to any person with a desire to becoming a florist designer. Victoria is regarded as one of the leading florist designers in the UK.

Victoria goes further to advice potential florist designers that they need to sharpen their people skills as customer service is the cornerstone of the floral business. You need to be able to empathize with the customer if they are grieving, or rejoice with them when they are celebrating. That helps to seal the bond between you and your customers.

Pros of Running Your Floral Business

The biggest plus point is the idea of doing what you love every day. It has been proved that those whose work involves doing what they love have a greater productivity rate, are happier and are more satisfied. The business offers the designer a great outlet for their creativity. They are able to design unique floral arrangements, while also helping their customers choose the right flowers, plants and arrangements for their occasion. Being your own boss is great as you can decide where you want to take your business, setting your own boundaries. Should you venture into event venue floral decoration, you will enjoy the opportunity of taking your creativity to a higher level. You will also get to meet a lot of new people. The prospect of creating something that brings joy to others is very satisfying. This is true whether the flowers are for individuals or for decorating for an event. The need for fresh flowers will never go out of style, meaning that your floral business can keep running into the unforeseeable future.

Cons

Using your creativity throughout can be mentally exhausting, especially during Christmas, Valentine and other special seasons. The stress levels are compounded by the requirement to meet certain deadlines that come with the job. Being your own boss means that the buck stops with you so there is a lot of pressure to make sure that all orders go out  goes flawlessly. There is also the challenge of multi-tasking. During a normal work day, you will have to deal with a number of customers at a time. You need to develop your prioritization skills to be successful. As the business owner, you have the responsibility of ensuring that all the relevant taxes are paid in full and on time. When all is said and done, being a florist designer is one of the most satisfying careers for any person gifted with a creative and artistic skill, coupled with a love for flowers.

Have you ever been faced with the daunting task of buying flowers for your significant other? Chances are that you were and that you took a long time making the final decision. It does seem rough, standing in flower shop and looking at all those flowers displayed in front of you while you try to remember your girlfriend’s favorite colour. It is not as easy as entering the first flower shop and getting the first bouquet of flowers you see. The process is much deeper than that. There are all kinds of things to consider and sometimes the ultimate decision you make will end up shaping the future of your relationship.

Miriam Watts, from Handy Flowers, says that their flower shop has flowers for all kinds of occasions and that if you are not sure which one is the best one for your significant other, the staff is there to provide help. Nevertheless, if you are facing this decision alone, here are some tips on how to buy a perfect flower for a British woman.

What’s The Occasion?

One of the first things that you have to determine is the reason you are buying flowers. Guys buy flowers for various kinds of occasions whether it is romantic or simply as a way to put a smile on her face. Romantic occasions demand more romantic flowers. This means roses or flowers with intense colors or hues. But if you are buying something for a birthday or an anniversary you can tone things down by using flowers which do not have such lush colors.

When to Give her Flowers?

Now when you got the occasion out of the way you need to determine the time. If you are trying to surprise her than any time is okay, but if you are going on a first date you might consider opening with that. A first date is a great occasion for giving a girl some flowers and if you do it immediately it will explain to her your intentions deeper and also make the evening run smoother.

On the other hand, a birthday or anniversary flowers should be a surprise. If you have organised something for your special girl you should include the flowers as part of the surprise. Try being flamboyant and show her that she really means to you.

What Colours Should I Choose?

This is something that goes beyond simply knowing her favorite flower. Certain flowers only come in certain hues and colors also express the meaning of the flower. Warmer colors express deeper feelings while subdued flowers can evoke calmness.

You need to consider the occasion first and the reason why you are giving flowers to a girl. That way you will know which color suits the situation the most. Don’t just go immediately for red roses, there are many other colors that can express your feelings. Flower clerks are usually professionals so they can help you but it is much more fulfilling if you do the research yourself. Here Are Some Examples of Specific Type of Women and Flowers that match:

• White Lilies for elegant women.
• Pink Orchids for a modern girl.
• Daisies for a dynamic woman.
• A Mixed bouquet as something for anyone.

If you know your girl than these are some prime examples that can help you determine which way to go. Sometimes it can be as easy as that but on most occasions, it’s not. However, mixing things up a bit and choosing a whole bunch of flowers, in the end, might also be a good idea. Chances are that if a girl likes you she will most certainly like whatever flowers you give her. However, just to be on the safe side, try putting in a bit of effort and make your girl happy.

What’s Your Pick from The Vehicle Finance Menu?

Vehicle Finance is no longer an alternative for purchasing vehicles! In fact, 80% of all new cars purchased, are done so through bespoke finance arrangements!

What is Vehicle Finance?

There are many forms of Vehicle Finance-which we have listed for you below!

Essentially, Vehicle Finance is a way for businesses or private individuals to obtain a vehicle or fleet of vehicles. Vehicle Finance is often preferable than a cash purchase as it reduces large upfront costs-protecting your cashflow! Due to low rates, it’s easier and more affordable than ever to borrow a sum of money!

At Chatsbrook, our clients are at the heart of everything that we do. We pride ourselves on finding the most competitive deal on the marketplace for our clients, even if it means that we don’t earn a lot of money from it! If you would like a fully transparent service, contact 01603 733500 for the best Vehicle Finance.

So, without further ado…

There are a multitude of finance options you can select on your route to finance. Sometimes it is hard to know which one would work best for your business. So, to make it easier for you, Chatsbrook have summed up each finance plan.

Hire Purchase

The customer (hirer) agree to hire an asset from a finance provider, who agrees to purchase and provide the asset to the business if the business meets all of the criteria. The hirer is then accountable for the insurance and maintenance of the equipment and make regular payments to the provider. At the end of the agreed term-time the hirer has the option to take ownership of the asset.

Lease Purchase

This agreement is very similar to Hire Purchase but offers more flexibility to the hirer. Lease Purchases enable you to defer a proportion of your payments-this is known as the final balloon payment. Clients that choose to defer a larger proportion of the payment consequently have lower monthly payments.

 Finance Lease

This is a contract between the hirer and the lender, whereby the hirer agrees to lease the asset for a particular amount of time whilst maintaining regular payments. Throughout the lease, the hirer is wholly responsible for the maintenance of the equipment. At the end of the leasing period, the provider sells the asset and typically receives only 5% of what it sells for. On average, 95% of the money generated from the sale is returned to the hirer that leased the asset.

Contract Hire

A Contract Hire agreement is great for clients that wish to have a vehicle, such as a car or van where usage rather than ownership is required. There are many benefits to this type of agreement. For instance, you do not have the burden of having to source the vehicle from the supplier, there is no risk of depreciation or disposal and there is also an option to include the running costs of assets. There are however mileage limits.

Refinance     

Businesses can agree to sell one or more of their assets to the finance provider, releasing a sum of money- this is good for businesses that are asset rich and wish to release cash flow. The business retains full use of their asset as they lease it from the finance provider by providing regular payments. Refinance is also good for businesses with poor credit history as the finance arrangement is based on the value of the asset and not the businesses credit history. This means that businesses that have been turned down by lending institutions in the past for loans could have the opportunity to access funds.

To make it easy to understand, Chatsbrook have created a table to showcase the terms and features of each type of agreement. Click HERE to see. 

If you think that any of these finance options could benefit your business, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team!

You’ve done everything right, you found a buyer, you’ve answered all their questions, you even got the offer letter through, it’s all plain sailing from here right? Well not exactly…   For some people who are new to the world of corporate finance, the words ‘Due Diligence’ may not strike fear into their hearts, but for those of us a bit more grizzled, we are all too aware that Due Diligence is not “something that needs to get over and done with”. It is not without reason that we get that feeling of dread wash over us, this is when all the skeletons in the closet come out and unfortunately your buyer’s advisers don’t get any gold stars for not finding anything wrong.   This is why it is so important to prepare your business in advance of any sale event taking place. I can’t in good conscience sit here and tell you that you can plan for every eventuality, or that there won’t be a question that comes completely from left field, but there are certainly a few foundations you can be laying right now to ease the process.    People Almost certainly one of the biggest assets of your company, but they can also be a sore point in the Due Diligence process. Make sure that you have up to date, signed contracts of employment. Temporary or assumed contracts may not be the answer a buyer is looking for.    Over-generous contracts – any acquirer is required to take on your staff on a TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings Protection Employment Regulations 2006 – Catchy right?) basis meaning that any existing contracts you have with staff have to carry over to a new owner. Company cars firm wide may have seemed like a good idea at the time, but could cause the wheels to come off a deal when an acquirer factors in the cost.   Issues with IP  There could be an entire article on intellectual property itself, but for now I will summarise. This is particularly relevant to technology companies, it is a given that anything an employee works on is property of the company, but what about if you subcontract to an outside developer? Or if you work with a customer to develop a piece of software? It is imperative that you understand who owns the IP you are selling and to get things in place before a sale event happens.    Contracts You’ve got an exclusive agreement with a national company to supply them with widgets, great news. Can you show the contract that confirms this? I hear this a lot, the sad truth is that a lot of time these relationships are never formalised, and while long term trading relationships count for something, a signed piece of paper means a lot more. Buyers are inherently cautious and are sceptical of anything that isn’t tangible. This may manifest itself in conditions on consideration, reduction of price, or in extreme circumstances, the collapse of the deal altogether in cases where there are significant dependencies.    Property Whether you rent or own the premises you operate out of, a buyer will be interested in just about everything.   If you are renting a property, now would be a good time to check how long you have left on your lease, make sure you have a change of control clause in the contract, or a break clause if necessary.   If you own the freehold, there are a number of issues to consider, whether you decide to sell the property as part of the transaction or not. It is standard practice for an acquirer to request EPC, PAT tests, Fire Assessments (with any issues identified and how they have been rectified), Asbestos audit (if relevant) details of any building works, the list goes on.   If the property is being retained by the shareholders, it will be necessary to work out the terms of the lease with the acquirer, who ultimately holds the lease and whether the property is transferred to the shareholders or gets moved up to a holding company as each of these have their own quirks.    Timely and Organised I cannot stress enough how important being timely and organised is.   Buyers will expect you to have all the information they are looking for, to hand and in a format they will understand. The reality is all too often very, very different! A quick due diligence process not only saves everyone endless sleepless nights, but also lets the buyer know that the company is run in an organised manner. As an added bonus, the quicker the process, the less time a buyer has to potentially chip away at the price.    Buyers will want to make sure any documents produced cross reference and can be reconciled. Hastily produced documents often don’t reconcile, so if you don’t already do something, please don’t start producing documents because of the DD process. Similarly, multiple versions of the same document will slow any process down, it may make sense to you that next year’s forecast is made up of a consolidation of six different documents, but this will more than likely confuse a buyer and let doubts creep in about the validity of the data you are providing.    Speaking from experience, we were going through Due Diligence, and the seller gave a document to the buyer, completely in good faith, that ended up not reconciling to any other documentation provided to that point. The truth was, it was never meant to, it was purely for internal use, but the ensuing confusion caused us and the seller to have to go back and try and reconcile the figures for the last three years. We ended up agreeing with the buyer to reconcile one year, an endeavour that ended up setting us back four weeks and threatened to derail the whole process.    Key takeaways, make sure the information you are providing is timely, accurate, cross referenced and perhaps most importantly, easy to follow.   There are considerably more things to consider when going through the Due Diligence process and we would always suggest speaking to an adviser well in advance of getting to this point, to make sure you are representing the business in the best light.    One of the benefits of working with a Corporate Finance adviser is that they have experience of working with both buyers and sellers, so will have a good idea of the things a potential buyer will be looking for. If you are thinking of selling your business or have been approached, we are happy to have a confidential, no obligation discussion about your business. Please feel free to contact a member of the Lovewell Blake Corporate Finance team on 01603 663300.      Ben Anstee is pictured (right) above with Lovewell Blake Corporate Finance Partner, Matt Crawley

There has been a major shift in the way we play gambling games, and it’s one that has taken the industry by storm. Where once we used to head to our local casinos, betting shops and arcades for the pleasure of placing a little bet. Now, all we have to do is look at our phones and access any one of a number of impressive high-tech betting apps.

It should be noted that some people still enjoy the social experience of visiting a specific location to gamble, and there’s nothing wrong with that, of course. The betting shops and casinos are a familiar sight on our high streets, and long may that continue, but it’s reassuring to know that these days we are able to enjoy the best of both worlds.The convenience of using online websites such as Duelz Casino is all too apparent from the moment you first use them. A growing number of people are making the switch to the online versions of games that we have known and loved for many years, and it seems that development is set to continue for a long time.

Online playing has advantages for both casual and committed players

While there are plenty of improvements that can be enjoyed when you play online, one of the more intriguing is the fact that you can play in healthy competition with other users. The thought that you could go head to head with someone from the other side of the world in real-time is one that many people should experience.

Perhaps the most important aspect of playing games online is the way we can fit our gaming around our lives. Even if you’ve been incredibly busy during any given week, there will always be time to settle back into a comfy chair and enjoy some fun. And of course, when you have your phone or tablet with you, the action is right in front of your eyes.

And if you’re one of those making the most of the technological revolution, you certainly won’t be on your own. The influential Ecommerce Foundation estimate that around 87% of UK residents will shop online at some point during 2019, and this is surely a trend that will continue for many years to come. If you are yet to play any type of online game on your phone or tablet, it could just be time for you to give it a try. There are so many ways for us to relax when we get the chance, but few of them can surely match the enjoyment of playing games while you’re sitting in a comfy chair and enjoying a refreshing drink. Give it a go – you might just find it incredibly pleasurable.

Method Marketing has launched a survey into the State of Content.

The aim is to learn more about attitudes towards the quality of written content across a range of platforms.

By investigating areas such as spelling, punctuation and grammar, the survey explores the impact of errors on consumer trust and spending habits.

Says Method Marketing founder Lucy Mowatt: “Having seen a decline in the quality of content over the past few years, I’m keen to learn if anyone else has spotted this trend. Does it affect the perception of a brand? Do businesses seem less trustworthy? Which industries are most affected?

“Some businesses may not believe that the quality of content is important. After all, if it’s not a core part of what they do, it may not seem like a priority. The results of this survey will demonstrate that this may be hurting their business and reducing profitability.”

Take the survey now.

The Tudor Lodge Consultants team is pleased to announce that we have started an SEO campaign with Fund Ourselves. The firm contacted us to help with its search engine optimisation strategy to help boost its Google rankings and website traffic for specific terms relating to personal loans, peer to peer loans and investments.

Fund Ourselves operates in the peer-to-peer industry, offering low cost loans to consumers, with the finance provided by other individuals who receive interest on lending out money. The keyword strategy is therefore based around attracting both borrowers and investors looking for a return.

With our background in financial services, this is how we have approached the Fund Ourselves project in the early stages.

Keyword research

One of the first steps we took in terms of an SEO strategy for the startup was conducting keyword research. This is vitally important, as once relevant keywords have been narrowed down it enables you to tailor content in order to drive traffic and target your audience in a more effective manner. The tool we use is Keywords Everywhere which allows us to see the keywords and their monthly search volume on Google, and then we transfer this to our keyword reporting tool of AWR.

Landing pages

Once relevant keywords regarding personal loans, investments and ISAs had been established following research, we set out to create individual landing pages for each. We also ensured that these pages had also been fully optimised, in order to ensure they are indexed properly by Google and to help improve overall rankings – and this is achieved through well constructed meta-titles, descriptions, heading structure (h1,h2,h3), images, calculators, internal links and more.

The idea is to make one landing page per keyword and not to overlap (otherwise Google will be confused and demote all pages). So it is best to have one page for personal loans, not 3 or 5.

Link building

We have been working on establishing credible and trustworthy links to Fund Ourselves, to help with its SEO strategy. This is important for any website’s Google ranking, as it builds up trust for the domain.

We focus on industry specific links from websites (not blogs or directories) and news sites relating to finance, startup, business, consumer finance – to ensure relevancy where possible. Therefore, we avoid links from food, sport or science, since this would lack relevancy.

We keep very safe with the anchor text, using brand name and ‘here’ and ‘read more’ where possible to avoid the risk of penalties.

Whilst early days, we expect to see small growth in the first few weeks, with solid growth over the 3 to 6 month period.

The England and Wales Court of Protection has recently set out guidelines for persons appointed as Attorneys under a Lasting Powers of Attorney (‘LPA’) to use when deciding whether they can spend the donor’s funds for the benefit of other parties.

These guidelines have been presented by the Court of Protection in the form of a decision tree, setting out the thinking process to be followed in the day-to-day context of a lay person acting as Attorney, making arrangements for management of the funds and contemplating whether they can use the donor’s funds to benefit someone else.

Dawn Parkes, Private Client Specialist and Hatch Brenner Managing Partner commented: “The decision tree produced by the Court of Protection will form a very useful tool for Attorneys who may be considering the correct actions concerning gifting. It is often assumed by Attorneys that they cannot benefit themselves or give away donor money, but there are exceptions to this. If the donor has habitually given funds to charity, or passed on monetary gifts to family members, friends or the Attorney themselves, perhaps at Christmas, it is acceptable for the appointed Attorneys to continue to use the donor’s funds to benefit someone other than the donor, providing there are enough funds available.”

Click here to read more information about Powers of Attorney and to find the decision tree as a downloadable pdf file.

For any queries relating to Lasting Powers of Attorney, or gifting, please contact Hatch Brenner Managing Partner Dawn Parkes on 01603 660 811 or at [email protected]

For more information, please view an article on the STEP website: https://www.step.org/news/england-and-wales-court-protection-sets-out-rules-valid-gifts-third-parties

The recent demise of Thomas Cook and Zenith Home improvements left the public in shock and with Thomas Cook, required a significant operation to repatriate travellers. But what happens to the employees in such a situation, when an insolvency is sudden and unexpected? Jobs may be lost at short notice, leaving employees in a potentially very difficult financial situation. The employees are technically redundant, but the employer may be in a position where it is unable to pay statutory redundancy, notice pay or even outstanding wages.

Fortunately for such employees, certain amounts owed to employees by an insolvent employer are payable out of the National Insurance Fund (NIF), subject to certain conditions being met.

The NIF can pay:

1. Unpaid wages up to a maximum overall limit of eight weeks’ pay and subject to the current maximum statutory limit on a week’s pay (£525 at present), less tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs);
2. Holiday pay taken or accrued in the 12-month period ending on the date of the insolvency, up to a maximum overall limit of six weeks’ pay and subject to the current maximum statutory limit on a week’s pay, less tax and NICs;
3. Statutory notice pay (one week per full year of employment, up to a maximum of 12 weeks) up to the current maximum statutory limit on a week’s pay, less “notional” tax and NICs. The notice pay is reduced by the “notional” tax and NICs to reflect the fact that the employee would receive the net amount had it been paid directly by the employer. There is no actual deduction of tax and NICs that is paid to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). However, the employee is required to mitigate their loss by trying to find alternative employment and if they do so, then the notice pay can be reduced by the amount of actual pay they receive in the new role;
4. Statutory redundancy payment (broadly one week per full year of employment, depending on the employee’s age, up to a maximum of 20 years and subject to the current maximum statutory limit on a week’s pay) less any amount paid by the employer. Only employees with more than two years’ continuous service are entitled to a statutory redundancy payment;
5. A protective award where the employer has failed to inform and consult the employees’ representatives when proposing to make 20 or more redundancies.

In addition, HMRC becomes responsible for unpaid statutory sick pay, statutory maternity pay, statutory paternity pay, statutory adoption pay and statutory shared parental pay from the date of the formal insolvency.

The conditions for payment are that:

1. An individual must be an employee of an insolvent employer;
2. The employee’s contract of employment must have been terminated;
3. On the “appropriate date” (the date when the employer became insolvent for unpaid wages and holiday pay; the later of the date when the employer became insolvent, the date when employment terminated or the date on which the award was made in relation to a protective award; and the later of the date on which the employer became insolvent and the date of termination of employment in relation to any other payment), the employee must have been entitled to be paid a “relevant debt” (one of the payments identified above);
4. The employee obtains a lifting of the automatic stay on proceedings in administrations and compulsory liquidations to claim a protective award and the claim must be established by an employment tribunal;
5. No payment will be paid out of the NIF unless the Secretary of State has received a statement from the relevant insolvency practitioner of the amount of the debt in question (except where the Secretary of State decides that no such statement is required);
6. In relation to a statutory redundancy payment, the employee must also show that their employer is liable to pay them an “employer’s payment” (broadly, a statutory redundancy payment or equivalent payment) and that one of the following applies:
   1. the employer is insolvent and the whole or part of the payment remains unpaid;
   2. the employer is not insolvent but the employee has taken all reasonable steps (but not necessarily legal proceedings) to obtain payment from the employer.

This will bring relief to employees who have concerns about ending up in such a situation, but where the insolvency involves a considerable number of employees, the liability to make such payments could have a significant impact upon the National Insurance Fund (which is also responsible for state pension and other government benefits).

Carla Gowing is an experienced Employment Solicitor who is able to advise employees regarding their particular circumstances. Call 01603 660 811 or email [email protected]

Like everything else in your living space, an insanely clean carpet maintains a healthy lifestyle. Besides, carpets sprawl out acres of space and their cleanliness affects the overall hygiene of your home. Appearances of a carpet can be deceiving and you’ll only continue piling dirt underneath. Vacuuming only sucks up lint or trash leaving behind hidden debris. Deep spring-cleaning with steam purges dust embedded into the carpet, which may be hard to reach for vacuums. Carpets can stash dirt four times their mass stocking pet hair, dead skin cells, insect waste, mold, VOCs, allergens and dust mites. Intensive carpet cleaning using professional methods yearly enhances durability, décor and makes cleanup a breeze.

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Thorough carpet cleaning with high-quality equipment improves indoor air quality by wiping away pollutants, toxins and allergens. Frontrunners in the carpet cleaning industry like The Red Carpet employ advanced steam extraction techniques to uproot particles as tiny as 0.3 microns. They use eco-friendly cleaners that leave no traces of dirt-absorbent residue, toxic concoctions or unnatural whiff. Fall weather unleashes its fair share of contaminant. Red Carpet protects your family with efficient cleaning. Combined with DIY maintenance, you create an allergen-free, pristine indoor environment yearly.

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Grime and foreign particles open a new can of worms for your carpet diminishing the longevity. Therefore, sprucing up meticulously prevents dirt buildup to promote its aesthetics, resilience, and stain-resistant quality. A heavily-grimed piece becomes stubborn to clean making tidying up a hard row to hoe. A professional company will eliminate spots, oil spills or stains to prevent premature damage.  

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Deep cleaning your carpet both sides improves appearance making it fresh and shipshape. It enhances the aesthetics of your interiors. A spiffed-up, neat carpet will deck out the decor of your living space with spotlessness.

Remove Stubborn Spots

In order to permanently erase stubborn spots or stains, you need powerful cleaner and machine. Professional cleaning services have commercial-grade products to wipe away stubborn stains. For vibrant surfaces, indelible spots ruin the apparent cleanliness. Experts hunt down the root of blemish to choose the appropriate formula like a protein digester to pulverize embedded dirt or grease.

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Carpets made of wool fibers cost the earth and require exquisite aftercare to prevent damage or shrinkage. Professional carpet cleaning providers handpick abrasive-proof solutions along with wet and dry carpet to safeguard the integrity of your investment. Wool shrinks when exposed to extremely hot water making experts the only safe pair of hands to rely on for serviceability. They have deep acquaintance with natural and synthetic materials to select effective methods such as coherent cleaning powders.

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Specialists tool up with steam cleaning equipment, high-pressure devices, extraction cleaning with oxidizing agent or advanced systems to agitate the fibers and dissolve grime. Carpet cleaning companies use methods such as hot water extraction cleaning, encapsulation and carpet shampooing to purge difficult-to-remove grease, dirt or other debris. Resilient bristles paired with powerful cleaning solutions cut through grime trapped within the fibers to restore your carpet into mint condition.

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Your pets and kids spend chunks of time on the floor making carpet cleaning to wipe out embedded dirt or allergens ineluctable. Specialized cleaning providers use high temperature methods to nuke allergens, microbial matter or dust mites. Children or hypersensitive dwellers can develop respiratory problems, allergies or other complications when exposed to soiled carpeting. Guilds of microbial life thriving beneath your carpet also emit odors, deep cleaning helps deodorize it for a healthier atmosphere.   

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Residential carpet cleaning machines may leave residue behind and this builds up with time. Professionals recommend safe carpet cleaning solutions for different materials to ensure you don’t sweep dirt under the carpet. A local service provider uses premium-grade products to eliminate the vestiges of dirt. They also use high pressure and hot water extraction systems that leave the micro-fibers free of grains of dirt or stains.

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Sections of carpeting prone to heavy traffic will deteriorate rapidly than other areas. More dirt is deposited here creating variegated spots that taint the beauty of your carpet. Effective cleaning methods employed by experts will purge this sludge to slow down these knock-on effects. Resource-intensive maintenance ensures these variegated spots will melt away and the fibers regain their purity.