We still have a couple of places left at this month’s seminar which will take place on Wednesday 19th March.
Early Retirement – turning the dream into a reality…
Wednesday 19th March – Henderson Business Centre, Norwich
8.15am for 8.30am start (Refreshments and a light Breakfast available)
12.15pm for 12.30pm start (Refreshments and a light lunch available)
The choices you make as you approach retirement could have lasting effects. This session will take you through pensions in a clear and straightforward manner. We will also look at alternative income sources, showing how a combined approach can make the most of tax reliefs, alongside the concept of a two-stage retirement to stretch limited income further.
With annuity rates at historically low levels a better understanding of your options is an essential first step towards effective planning. The session will be useful to anyone advising clients on pension issues or income generating portfolios or approaching retirement themselves.
Each seminar will qualify for 1.5hours of SRA accredited CPD.
We expect each seminar to last around an hour and a half with a further 30 minutes for questions and discussion.
A light lunch or breakfast will be available.
The seminar is free of charge but places are limited.
For more information and to register visit www.chadwicks.co.uk or call me on 01603 251687.
If you employ apprentices, then National Apprenticeship Week is your chance to celebrate all that is wonderful about your own young professionals! Or if you’re considering of taking on apprentices, the week can be a great source of information and inspiration.
This week the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) is calling on businesses around the country to help promote the positive impact apprentices have on individuals, businesses and the country.
For example, Cambridge Regional College, Lowestoft College, West Suffolk College and Essex County Council are all getting involved with a variety of activities. From an exhibition to a dinner cooked by professional cookery apprentices, it’s all happening!
With vacancies across the East of England listed on the NAS website increasing by 23% between August and October last year, it seems that more and more of our fellow employers are seeing just what a fantastic addition to their teams an apprentice really is.
Also according to NAS, 96% of employers working with apprentices see benefits to their business. And we at Pure can vouch for these advantages – we employ five hard-working young professionals who took on apprenticeships after joining us. And we are very proud to be helping them take their first steps in a career in recruitment at our offices in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich and Norwich.
We’ve rustled together some examples of the kind of positives an apprentice can bring to your own organisation. By the time you’ve read them, you could well find yourself wondering why you haven’t already signed up some of your staff to an apprenticeship scheme!
1. Fresh ideas, new perspectives
Apprentices can bring with them a fresh perspective- from the latest digital trends to new suggestions on expanding your offering. Their enthusiasm to learn on the job can help generate ideas among your workforce that otherwise may not have cropped up. This can lead to enhanced and improved products and services, and a rise in income and renewed customer interest.
2. Helping you keep talent
The expectation that there will be an increase in people moving jobs as we enter economic recovery has been well documented. As apprentices receive work-based training, their skills and drive to complete nationally recognised qualifications such as NVQs, means they may prefer to stay with you and continue to build on what they’ve learned. As they train and develop, and share ideas with others, your longer term employees may feel more engaged, as well as motivated to sign up to more training themselves. All of this can contribute to low staff turnover.
3. Solving skill shortages
With the country’s ageing population, valuable industry skills could be lost. Apprentices learn these skills right from the beginning of their careers, and continue to develop their expertise as your organisation evolves. By investing in these young workers you are likely to also be investing in your own business. It’s good business sense!
4. Boost in productivity
The average employee completing an apprenticeship programme increases productivity by a whopping £214 week- while giving their businesses an injection of fresh talent.
5. Great for your reputation
As you invest in apprentices and give them opportunities to learn, and eventually move up through the company, you are showing a serious commitment to your staff’s professional development. You want to keep them on board and give them skills, and it’s excellent for existing staff and potential new recruits to see this too.
Whether you’re quietly congratulating yourself on making the brilliant decision to employ apprentices, or whether you’re currently building a case to recruit them, it’s certainly worth visiting the National Apprenticeship Week website.
To talk to us about our experiences of the apprenticeship scheme, please get in touch with Anna Hill, Marketing Manage, [email protected]
Some tips for turning those valuable interviews into contracts with new clients. Just follow the acronymUPPERand you will be in with a winning chance.
U– USP – what is it and what exactly do you offer – make sure you can describe yourself in the equivalent of a tweet. For example ” I presented BBC TV’s Tomorrow’s World and now offer communications training, ensuring that any media encounter you have is an opportunity not an ordeal.”
P– problems and concerns. make sure you have researched their needs and concerns before you go to the meeting. Can you solve the problem or need? Are they most concerned about price, quality, timescale or safety for instance. Make sure your offer takes these concerns into account.
P– prioritise – you only have 10 mins!! Make your most important points first – think what is the one thing you want them to remember if they remember nothing else, and start with it. If they digress bring them back.
E– examples, testimonials. People are not convinced by what you say – credibility comes with what you DO, so give brief examples of your experience and track record.
R– result, solution. Explain how you can help them. Be clear, concise and demonstrate your competence. Your testimonials and evidence of experience will cement this.
Karl Sandall, Chief Executive, said a firm focus on its core small business market has helped propel its success nationally, and now they are fostering global ambitions after successfully taking the business into the Canadian market.
Common sense and hard work have been hailed as the key to the success of a Norfolk-based accountancy business which is harbouring global ambitions.
Started in 1995 the TaxAssist Accountants network has more than 195 franchised practices across the UK servicing almost 50,000 small business clients with collective gross annual recurring fees at the end of 2013 of £31.5m.
It recently opened its 160th shop in Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire, and it is now the 26th largest accountancy practice in the UK.
Karl Sandall, Chief Executive, said a firm focus on its core small business market has helped propel its success nationally, and now they are fostering global ambitions after successfully taking the business into the Canadian market.
“The expansion globally has started,” he said. “We have nearly 50,000 small business clients, we have 35 staff in Norwich and another 600 across the UK working across franchises.”
TaxAssist Accountants, an EDP Business Awards winner in 2011, launched its first international operation in Ireland in 2009, which has since grown to 24 franchisees supported by a master franchisee in Dublin.
The business has now signed the master franchise agreement for the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada with further overseas operations planned for Canada, Australia and New Zealand with the US to follow.
It is also looking at entering new EU markets via its Ireland operation.
“We look at one shop per 100,000 people,” Mr Sandall added. “In the States that could be enormous and there are not many franchises that have successfully taken a UK franchise to these countries.”
The firm has won industry accolades for its work, including an Accountancy Firm of the Year award from the Association of International Accountants, beating global groups and industry giants, and it is bringing in three new recruits to join its technical support team in Norwich.
To read the full article on the EPD website click here.
For three years now we have participated in the Smith & Henderson Franchise Benchmark Surveys – an independent survey of our network that tells us just how they feel about the business model and us as Franchisors!
We are then benchmarked against all other franchisors who participate in the survey to see how we rank as a Franchisor and I’m pleased to say very well having won the following awards:
2011 Best Training and Support
2012 Best Training and Support
2012 Best Large Franchisor
2013 Best Training and Support
In 2013 they also launched the 5 Star Franchisee Satisfaction recognition and we were amongst the first Franchisors to receive this great recognition.
How is 5 Star Franchisee Satisfaction awarded?
In order to qualify a franchisor must meet a strict criteria including:
Having a network of 20 plus franchisees in the UK
Participate in the full franchise Benchmark Survey
A minimum of 50% of franchisees completing the survey
Based on the feedback of all franchisees surveyed the 5 Star Franchisee Satisfaction is awarded to those franchisors that score above average in all of the key areas which are:
Training & Support
Franchise System
Culture & Relationship
Stewardship & Leadership
General Satisfaction
75 franchisors took part in the Benchmark Survey during 2013 and less than 15 franchisors qualified as having 5 Star Franchisee Satisfaction putting us right up there with the best of the best of UK franchising.
Steve Frost, Founder of Smith & Henderson comments:
“With hundreds of different franchisor opportunities, it’s difficult for prospective franchisees to identify the very best franchisors that really deliver on their promises and recruitment advertising. That’s why we’ve launched 5 Star Franchisee Satisfaction. We’re delighted to be able to recognise an outstanding franchisor like TaxAssist Accountants this way.
As 5 Star Franchisee Satisfaction is only awarded to franchisors that received better than average feedback in all key areas that franchisees provide feedback on, TaxAssist Accountants joins an elite group of the UK’s best franchisors.”
About us
All TaxAssist Accountants are franchised operations providing a full range of accountancy services to local businesses whilst being backed up by a Support Centre of 27 employees plus 3 Executive Directors dedicated to supporting franchisees in all areas including Technical, Practice Management, Marketing and Business Development to ensure mutual growth.
The support systems we have in place have ensured that our franchisees continue to grow and succeed, even during a difficult trading climate. We don’t plan to stop there – we are constantly evolving and will build on our success by capitalising on the significant growth opportunities both domestically and internationally.
We are looking to further expand our UK network through awarding our franchise to individuals who have the drive and ambition to build their own Accountancy Practice but can see the value in our brand and the support services we deliver to our franchisees.
Franchisees do not need any formal accountancy qualifications as full training is given, but you do need to have a relevant career background, be self motivated, disciplined, ambitious, hardworking and keen to build a substantial successful business.
Metalfrog Studios Limited, of Norwich, Norfolk is delighted to announce it has won a contract to deliver strategic digital marketing services to Kings Lynn-based Golf Wear Anywhere Limited. Golf Where Anywhere is located within the club shop of Kings Lynn Golf Club.
The business website has been floundering online for some time, but is long established offline. Offering items such as Powakaddy golf trolleys, Titleist golf clubs, and ping clothing. It is an exclusive online stockist for popular golf clothing brand, Oscar Jacobson. The site, https://www.golfwearanywhere.co.uk offers a one-stop shop for the beginner, the keen golfer or even juniors who want value for money online.
Metalfrog Studios Limited has signed a 2-year contract to provide services including: Web design, web development, search engine marketing, branding and digital email marketing. The objective is to bring more business through the website, and to deliver results for it.
When asked why he chose Metalfrog Studios Limited to partner in this activity, the company commented: “Why would we at www.golfwearanywhere.co.uk choose Metalfrog Studios Limited to help us move our business to the next level? Easy answer – Like-minded people do business together!” “At Golf Wear Anywhere Ltd, we know it is possible to stand out from the crowd in the online golfing world. The team at Metalfrog Studios Limited stood out to us as the people to help us make it happen. They understood our industry and identified exciting current e-commerce strategies. This gives us confidence to up our game online. Teamwork is key and already we are working closely together. “
Golf Wear Anywhere Ltd is also lead by a very knowledgeable team – Head Golf Professional Mike Timson. He is based at King’s Lynn Golf Club, Norfolk and Norfolk PGA Captain 2013. All online customers can order with ease, expect personal service and they are just a phone call away from his wealth of knowledge and advice on the right golf club, trolley, ball or anything else ‘golf’ for you Two highly experienced organisations have teamed up to offer online Golf Wear -ANYWHERE!
For more information about Golf Wear Anywhere, please contact Michele Hammond on 01553 631911. For more information about Metalfrog Studios Limited, and its services, please visit its website – https://www.metalfrog.co.uk or contact via phone on 01603 816830 or email to [email protected].
UFS Ltd has been recognised by the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce for it’s long standing membership going back to 1980
Based in Thetford(IP24) the company operates European Road Freight Services to / from The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and France to name a few
The company also currently has storage / warehousing / office let options at it’s premises
For further information / quotations please contact the Sales Manager, David Cowell by phone on +44 (0)1842 751751 or e-mail [email protected]
Our popular annual employment update breakfast is taking place from 7.45am on Tuesday 11 March 2014, at Barnham Broom Hotel (Honingham Road, Barnham Broom, Norwich NR9 4DD).
The update will cover essential recent and forthcoming developments in employment law, including the following topics:
• TUPE – revised TUPE Regulations are in force from 31 January 2014. We will provide an overview of the key changes and how this will impact on businesses.
• Employment tribunals – the introduction of a new power for tribunals to impose a financial penalty on employers and mandatory pre-claim conciliation via Acas, both introduced from 6 April 2014.
• Equality changes – we will look at various recent and forthcoming amendments to the Equality Act 2010, including the abolition of statutory discrimination questionnaires.
• Flexible working – the extension of the right to request flexible working to all employees, which is now due to take place in Autumn 2014.
• Redundancy – the rules relating to collective consultation have been thrown into doubt following the EAT decision in the “Woolworths” case; we will consider the latest position and other recent developments.
• Parental leave – a look ahead at the latest plans for shared parental leave to replace the existing system of maternity and paternity leave.
Plus a look at other recent noteworthy caselaw developments.
The update will be delivered by qualified and experienced lawyers who specialise exclusively in employment law, with the emphasis on the practical implications of the law for your business. Delegates find these briefings a fantastic opportunity to keep up-to-date with the latest legal developments:
“An excellent update, a ‘must’ attend for the HR professional. Very good value for money!” (previous delegate)
The update is taking place on Tuesday 11 March 2014, at Barnham Broom Hotel (Honingham Road, Barnham Broom, Norwich NR9 4DD).
Registration and coffee will be at 7.45am; a full English breakfast will be served from 8.00am. The update will start at 8.30am and will finish at approximately 10am.
The cost of the update is just £30 plus VAT per person, including a full English breakfast. If you book one place, you can book a second place at half price, for just £15 plus VAT.
If you would like to attend please contact Gemma Pendleton, Marketing Manager by email ([email protected]) or on 01603 598000. Please let us know if you have any dietary or other special requirements when booking your place. Bookings are open until Monday 3 March 2014. We do hope you can join us and look forward to seeing you on 11 March 2014.
If you are unable to come but would like further information about the work we do, please contact the employment team: [email protected]. Apart from our regular seminars, we also carry out interactive in-house training sessions designed for managers and HR professionals, which can be tailored to suit your needs.
The Law Commission has today published its report entitled “Matrimonial Property Needs and Agreements”.
The report says that pre-nuptial agreements fulfilling certain conditions will be legally binding if new law is implemented, but it will not be possible to avoid meeting the financial needs of partners and children.
“Pre-nuptials”, and indeed “post-nuptials”, are terminology that we are all getting used to. In recent years, the Court’s attitude to these agreements has changed and the Courts are giving far more weight to the provisions of such agreements. However, under current law, the Courts still have discretion as to whether the terms of such agreements are followed. Nuptial agreements cannot be enforced as contracts and they cannot take away a party’s ability to ask the Court to make financial orders, nor the Court’s powers to make orders. As a result, the only way to achieve legal finality is to ask the Court to make orders that reflect the terms of the agreement. The position in relation to pre-nuptials is still not therefore entirely clear, and is at odds with the treatment of pre and post-nuptial agreements in many parts of the world and importantly, is at odds with the wishes of the parties who have entered into them in the first place.
In publishing its report, the Law Commission is trying to take pre-nuptial agreements a step further by recommending that legislation be brought in to introduce “qualifying nuptial agreements”. These would be enforceable contracts, which would enable couples to make contractual arrangements about the financial consequences of divorce or dissolution of the civil partnership. In order for an agreement to be a “qualifying nuptial agreement”, certain procedural safeguards would have to be met.
However, the Law Commission has been keen to say that “qualifying nuptial agreements” could not be used to contract out of meeting the “financial needs” of each party and of any children. As a consequence, a “qualifying nuptial agreement” will not remove the parties’ ability to apply for, and the Court’s jurisdiction to make, financial orders to meet their financial needs. Subject to that exception and provided that the formal requirements noted above are met, the Law Commission recommends that parties should be able to make agreements that will determine issues about their property.
The Commission, within its report, has included a draft bill to be submitted to the Government for consideration in which these recommendations are made. Therefore it will still be some time before the Law Commission’s recommendations are put into practice.
Amanda Owens, Associate Solicitor at Steeles Law, comments: “Today’s publication of the Law Commission’s report in this matter is a step forwards in the law in relation to pre-nuptial agreements. Of course, we are not there yet, as the bill will need to be considered by the Government but if it is introduced, it will help to make the position in relation to such agreements much clearer. The number of enquiries regarding pre-nuptial agreements has increased over recent years and providing more certainty regarding these agreements will enable the parties to have more autonomy and control, which can only be a good thing. This means that family property, inheritance and businesses can be dealt with and considered prior to marriage or civil partnership, and could save couples a lot of time and money should they separate at any point in the future. These are positive and welcome steps forward. It is also quite likely that we will see an upturn in those wanting to enter into pre-nuptial agreements. So far they tend to have been used by the more wealthy clients but should be seen as useful to anyone who is anxious to ensure their needs, and those of any children, are met in the future in the event of separation.”
Should you require any advice in relation to pre or post nuptial agreements, or indeed any other matters, then please contact Amanda Owens or another member of the family team at Steeles Law.
Norwich Research Park is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Belinda Clarke as the first Agri-Tech Cluster Director for the East of England.
The cluster focus will be on linking the hugely successful organisations in the Norwich-Cambridge region, aiming to create new opportunities that increase innovation, employment and economic growth in the UK. It is hoped that the region will attract new investment, to build on existing activities and help fund new start-up companies in this important sector.
Dr Clarke gained a PhD in Plant Biochemistry from the John Innes Centre and worked as Science Liaison Manager for Norwich Research Park Science for more than 6 years. Also, she has worked for UKTI, One Nucleus, ideaSpace and is currently Lead Technologist for biosciences at the Technology Strategy Board; she brings tremendous experience of organisations that are the initial building blocks of the new cluster.
Norfolk and Cambridgeshire County Councils and the Local Enterprise Partnerships have worked closely together to focus on the social and economic impact that agri-tech will have in the East of England, which has unparalleled expertise in relevant research and agricultural technology.
The cluster boasts internationally recognised organisations, three of which are Partners on the Norwich Research Park – The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia and John Innes Centre. Others include the National Institute of Agricultural Biology (NIAB) and the University of Cambridge. Large-scale growers in the region, such as those brought together in the G’s Group, have built up tremendously successful businesses and export both produce and innovative ideas.
Dr Clarke commented “We will work to build on the strengths we have, through collaboration and sharing ideas and best practice. We will establish a strong, sustainable cluster, creating synergies between the players and delivering real economic value. The national agricultural strategy gives big opportunities for the UK to grow and I am delighted to be taking on the Director role.”
Dr Sally Ann Forsyth, CEO of Norwich Research Park said: “we are delighted with Dr Clarke’s appointment to this post and look forward to working with her. Dr Clarke brings with her a wealth of scientific and industrial expertise that will be tremendously advantageous for fostering collaborations between research institutions and industry. We are excited by the opportunities that the cluster will bring, both for Norwich Research Park and the East of England as a whole.
Dr Clarke takes up her post next month and a launch event will be held on Monday 17th March to coincide with Cambridge’s 2014 Business Awards Week.
Breakwater is pleased to announce that they have formed a new alliance with Netmatters, the Norfolk based Web Development Company.
The two companies will work closely together with Breakwater helping Netmatters’ clients with their Business Telecoms’ needs as well as helping out with larger IT Projects.
In return Netmatters will help develop websites for Breakwater’s clients and will work on any bespoke software applications that they may require.
Breakwater IT Chairman Peter Davies said “We started working with Netmatters when they developed our own website and we were really impressed with the way that they delivered the work on time and on budget. We quickly realised that there was a natural synergy between the two companies and an opportunity to work much more closely together in the future”
Netmatters MD Chris Gulliver said “Breakwater IT has a very good telecoms offering in terms of connectivity and phone systems. Our clients often ask for advice on telecoms and previously we were unable to assist but now we can introduce Breakwater IT with confidence as we have experienced the quality of their services first hand. Breakwater IT is known as a leading provider of IT services and we also plan to partner together on larger UK projects”
Breakwater currently runs the IT and Telecoms for some of the best known companies in the East Anglian region and have recently completed major IT projects for The East Anglian Air Ambulance, M+A Partners and Norfolk Country Cottages. Their head office is on the Meridian Business Park in Norwich but increasingly they are working across the country. They are currently working on a large national project taking in many of the major cities of the UK.
Peter Davies continued. “Our aim is to focus on delivering what we are best at, i.e. IT and Telecoms and having a partner for software development perfectly fits in with our long term strategy for the business. I sincerely hope that this will be the start of a long term partnership that will enable East Anglia’s companies to get a unified approach for help with all their future technical needs”
Netmatters Ltd was founded in December 2008 by brothers Christopher & James Gulliver. The business is focused on becoming the leading provider for web development services in Norfolk. Netmatters has grown through acquisition of trade and companies and is currently employing 21 full time staff. Based in Wymondham on the Gateway 11 Business Park, Netmatters is set to grow further this year through providing professional web design, bespoke cloud based software and by developing strategic relationships with high calibre companies such as Breakwater IT.
Abellio Greater Anglia’s pioneering new ‘Cab and Go’ taxi booking service is to be extended to more stations after a successful pilot phase.
Cab and Go is the train operator’s new, free app and website which lets rail passengers book a taxi to or from the station, providing a fast, simple way of arranging transport and the confidence that onward travel from the station is ready and waiting. After a successful introduction at Bury St Edmunds, Chelmsford, Colchester, Ely, Ingatestone and Norwich stations, the service will be rolled out to 42 more rail stations from Monday 3rd March 2014.
As an introductory offer, Abellio Greater Anglia will give £5 off ‘first time ‘bookings, in the form of a refund once the customer completes a feedback survey.
From Monday, Cab and Go will be available at the following 48 stations: Angel Road, Audley End, Beccles, Brentwood, Brimsdown, Broxbourne, Bruce Grove, Bury St Edmunds, Bush Hill Park, Chelmsford, Chingford, Colchester, Colchester Town, Cromer, Diss, Dovercourt, Edmonton Green, Elsenham, Ely, Enfield Town, Great Chesterford, Harwich International, Harwich Town, Highams Park, Hythe, Ingatestone, March, Newport, Northumberland Park, North Walsham, Norwich, Ponders End , Roughton Road, Rye House, Sawbridgeworth, Shelford, Shenfield, Silver Street, Southbury, Stansted Airport, Stansted Mountfichet, Sudbury, Thetford, Tottenham Hale, Turkey Street , Waltham Cross, White Hart Lane and Whittlesford Parkway.
Abellio Greater Anglia’s Commercal Director, Andrew Camp, said, “The new service is a further step in making rail travel even more convenient for our customers. It will be a useful tool that will provide extra confidence, and more options, for those travelling on business or visiting unfamiliar areas. Passengers can quickly and easily use the app from wherever they are to organise a cab to take them to or from the station with no hassle.”