A new ecommerce website which sells heating oil tanks online has been launched for The Oil Tank Store. The website was designed and built through a joint partnership between Bigfork and By Design and is aimed at home owners in the UK. The website is fully functional and Bigfork are now carrying out an online marketing campaign including search engine optimisation and Google Adwords to drive traffic to the website.
In these tough economic times many of us are looking to save money. However, in terms of administering an estate, saving money now can cost in the long term. Karen Bacon, head of our wills and probate team, explains more.
The number of people dealing with the administration of a deceased person’s estate without professional help has increased in the past few years. With decreasing property prices, people have looked for ways to increase the amount of the estate available to be paid to the beneficiaries. However, there are many reasons to be cautious of taking this “DIY” approach and benefits to instructing a solicitor to deal with the estate.
The first thing you need to enable you to sort out the deceased person’s affairs is a legal document called a Grant of Probate. Solicitors are able to apply for a Grant on behalf of their clients without them having to go through the process of attending an interview with the Probate Registry.
A solicitor can often advise ways in which money can be saved, for example by reducing the inheritance tax due on the estate. If the person who died was a widow or widower then the nil rate allowance (the rate below which no tax is due – currently £325,000) could potentially be doubled to £650,000. At Steeles Law, we recently helped a client claim the unused nil rate allowance from her husband’s first wife’s estate. She had died in the 1980s and there was little evidence as to how her estate had been distributed. However, we gathered sufficient information to persuade HM Revenue & Customs to allow the 100% increase in the nil rate allowance. This saved our client a tax bill of £130,000!
Since 2010, executors have been liable for capital gains tax at 28% on increases in the value of assets between the date of death and the date of sale. We can advise on the best way to deal with the estate to avoid or reduce the tax liability and can also assist you with carrying out variations to the distribution of the estate to take advantage of tax rules. Similarly, we can assist with transferring property to beneficiaries and will identify any associated problems that may arise.
Finally, many Wills include provisions to set up trusts – either life interest trusts or discretionary trusts, which were popular before October 2007 and used to save inheritance tax. If these trusts are not properly dealt with during the administration of the estate, then they can cause significant problems at a later date.
A typical example is where Mr Smith dies and his Will contains a discretionary trust for his wife and children. The trust is no longer required in order to save inheritance tax so his family simply ignores it and distributes the estate as though the trust had not been included in the Will. When Mrs Smith dies her executors will encounter difficulties and may find that Mrs Smith cannot claim the double inheritance tax allowance. The best solution is to get expert advice at the time and not ignore something in the Will that is not clear to you.
At Steeles Law, our wills and probate team can offer a range of probate services – from an initial fixed fee interview to discuss what steps need to be taken, to the full administration of an estate. We can also advise on all types of trusts and estate planning.
We welcome the news that the Legal Services Board will recommend to the Lord Chancellor that estate administration and probate should only be carried out by regulated legal professionals. This will give greater protection to consumers who seek help with the administration of a deceased person’s estate from someone other than a solicitor, but there are no safeguards for those seeking to handle administration of a deceased person’s estate without any professional help
For further information, please contact Karen Bacon on 01379 652141 or [email protected].
A recent decision of the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has confirmed that an employment tribunal, when assessing the fairness of a dismissal, cannot take into account reasons other than those that were in the mind of the employer at the time. Professional Support Lawyer Elizabeth Stevens and Trainee Solicitor Laura Tanguay report.
The claimant in this case, Mr Nejjary, worked as a hospitality manager for Aramark Ltd providing hospitality services for Goldman Sachs. Mr Nejjary was accused of failing to check a booking sheet for an event, leading to a complaint from the client about the service provided at the event.
In both the disciplinary and appeal hearings, Aramark considered this booking error and other recent complaints in isolation. Despite there being previous recorded warnings on his file for similar incidents, these incidents were not relied upon in the decision to dismiss Mr Nejjary for gross misconduct.
Aramark concluded that the single booking failure alone justified dismissal. Consequently, Mr Nejjary brought a claim for unfair dismissal on the basis that dismissal was not within the range of reasonable responses for a single booking failure.
The employment tribunal found that summary dismissal would normally be outside the range of reasonable responses for this incident, but that Mr Nejjary’s previous written and verbal warnings for similar failings meant that dismissal was within the range of reasonable responses. The claimant’s claim for unfair dismissal was therefore dismissed. Mr Nejjary appealed this decision.
On appeal, the EAT held that the relevant ‘reason’ for dismissal is the employer’s actual reason for dismissal, and not any other reasons for which the employee might otherwise have been dismissed. Aramark had disregarded the previous disciplinary matters in their reasons for dismissal, and it was not permissible for the tribunal to substitute a reason or supply an additional reason which did not form part of Aramark’s considerations at the time.
Mr Nejjary’s appeal was therefore allowed by the EAT and his claim for unfair dismissal succeeded.
Comment
The legal test to consider in these circumstances is one of ‘reasonableness’ – i.e. whether it was reasonable for the employer to dismiss the employee in the circumstances. The ‘circumstances’ are limited to the specific issues that had been in the employer’s mind at the time when making its decision, and do not include factors that the employer might have taken into consideration, but did not. In this case, the employer should have made reference to the previous warnings in reaching its decision to dismiss.
A copy of the EAT judgment is available here.
FXhome, the fast-growing UK video and photo editing and effects software developer, has secured a major distribution deal with The F.J. Westcott Company (Westcott), a leading supplier of photographic and video equipment worldwide.
The deal will see FXhome’s cutting-edge offerings including PhotoKey5 and HitFilm2 (due to be released shortly) available in stores and malls worldwide.
FXhome marketing manager Tom McLoughlin said: “FXhome has a well-established online route to our enthusiastic user community. Through partnering with Westcott, we will be able to leverage their brick and mortar contacts in this marketplace and benefit from their reputation & scale. We are confident that this deal will see tens of thousand of new users join our customer base over the next two years.”
Westcott will be offering starter bundles for photographers including the brand new PhotoKey 5 Lite, and a bundle for filmmakers including HitFilm Standard. Westcott will also distribute and sell PhotoKey 5 & PhotoKey 5 Pro directly to customers and their reseller network.
Soon, Westcott will also offer the powerful and exciting new video effects and editing packages HitFilm2 Express & HitFilm2 Ultimate following their release in Q4 2012.
The deal assigns Westcott exclusive rights to manufacture and distribute physical copies of the FXhome range of software worldwide, whilst FXhome will continue to manage direct download sales through its websites FXhome.com & HitFilm.com.
“We have been working with FXhome since 2009 and have been impressed by the results of FXhome products, backed up by outstanding customer feedback. We are delighted to become FXhome’s exclusive retail distributor” said Kelly Mondora, Vice President at Westcott.
More information can be found on the FXhome website.
Alisdair Douglas, head of the Family Team at Leathes Prior, has had his membership of the Law Society Advanced Family Law Accreditation scheme continued.
The Law Society operates accreditation schemes in order to promote high standards in legal service provision, ensure that clients are able to identify experts in a given area of law, help clients make informed choices about which solicitor to instruct and ensure that panel members maintain relevant standards of competency and expertise.
Alisdair has been recognised by the Law Society as an Advanced Specialist since 2002 in respect of both financial provision on divorce and children matters. Accredited members must regularly undergo assessment to ensure their continued high-standards and Alisdair’s panel membership was re-approved in July 2012.
Retaining the Advanced Accreditation means that Alisdair has continued to demonstrate his ability to provide advice and assistance to clients in particularly complex and/or high-value family law cases. The Accreditation acknowledges Alisdair’s experience and expertise in dealing with divorces involving large property portfolios, farming partnerships, family businesses and inheritances as well as matters relating to children such as contact and/or residence, specific issues and matters involving cross border issues, criminal allegations or cases involving psychological issues.
Wednesday 3 October saw a day of celebration at Steeles Law’s Mount Street based offices in Diss, with staff Karen Bacon and Janet Calver celebrating 30 and 41 years of working for the firm respectively.
Karen is head of Steeles Law’s wills and probate team and also has a particular specialism working with local agricultural clients.
Janet is the office’s team assistant, providing administrative support to legal staff and welcoming clients and visitors to reception.
Commenting on these fantastic long service achievements, Managing Principal Stephen Drake commented: “The firm would like to offer our warmest congratulations to both Karen and Janet on this milestone, which seems an increasingly rare achievement in today’s business world. We would also like to thank them for their hard work and dedication to Steeles Law throughout the years.”
Revised National Minimum Wage rates took effect from 1 October 2012. Professional Support Lawyer Elizabeth Stevens reports.
The new rates were accepted by the Government following the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission in its annual report published in February 2012. The revised rates, with effect from 1 October 2012 are as follows:
• Adult rate (workers age 21 and over): £6.19 per hour (up from £6.08) • Youth development rate (workers age 18-20): £4.98 per hour (no change) • Workers age 16-17: £3.68 per hour (no change) • Apprentices: £2.65 per hour (up from £2.60) • Accommodation offset rate: £4.82 per hour (up from £4.73)
The amending regulations also make minor changes to the apprenticeship schemes that will qualify for the national minimum wage, and clarify the rules regarding accommodation offset for educational establishments.
A copy of the new legislation is available here.
The Resuscitation Council (UK) is keen stress how important CPR is to the survival of a victim of sudden cardiac arrest. It is recognised that performing CPR becomes very difficult over a prolonged period of time. These issues have been addressed by the manufacturers of the Zoll AED Plus® . This unit incorporates the technology that Zoll calls Real CPR Help®. “Voice and message prompting helps the rescuer achieve optimal CPR compressions.” Zoll® READ MORE
We regularly run training sessions in Advisory External Defibrillation and are often asked about which units are best and where they can be purchased from. For this reason we have become the regions only distributor of Zoll AED Units. Do contact us for more information.
Award-winning PR agency Lexia Media,which hasoffices in both Norfolk and Suffolk, is celebrating a very successful summer which has seen the team win six new clients.
The agency was chosen after a competitive tender process to run the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ event this October.
It has also been selected by New Anglia LEP to handle the event management and PR for their upcoming conference and Top 100 event, taking place at Wherstead Park on 22nd October.
The team has been taken on a retained contract by UKTI (East) to handle all PR and case study writing.
Other client wins include national recruitment agency Jark, the Industrial Noise and Vibration Centre, and local GP surgery Stowhealth, which has commissioned the Lexia team to provide a library of patient information videos.
Deborah Watson, of Lexia Media, said: “We are delighted to have been taken on to provide PR and event management services for both New Anglia and the new Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust which strengthens our position as a pan-county agency. The work with Stowhealth also adds to our growing portfolio of health clients. The team are looking forward to a busy autumn and winter period.”
Norfolk County Council has launched the new Apprenticeships Norfolk campaign, alongside City College Norwich, The College of West Anglia and BCTS, to help local businesses that may be looking for an apprentice, but don’t know where to begin.
An apprenticeship is an achievement to be proud of; it’s a work-based learning programme for an employee who gains a nationally recognised qualification. Businesses can also celebrate the success and the value their apprentices add by showcasing them in the annual Apprenticeship awards.
To find out more, from funding options for your company and training, visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/apprenticeships or call 0344 800 8020
Today (1 October) occupational health providers Abermed is to open a new clinic in one of Norwich’s busiest business areas.
The clinic will be open for business at the Norwich Research Park where staff will provide a full range of occupational health services including offshore medicals, drug and alcohol screening and travel health advice and vaccinations.
Abermed is part of the International SOS group of companies and Ross Haworth, Abermed/International SOS’ General Manager, Medical Services for Northern Europe said: “We are delighted to be part of a thriving science and innovation business park that ensures Norwich is at the heart of research and scientific excellence. Abermed has a strong presence in Norwich and the new centre only emphasises our reputation as a premium provider of occupational health services.”
Staffed by an experienced clinical team, the Norwich Abermed unit will also offer health surveillance, medical assessments, sickness absence and rehabilitation and offshore medicals among other occupational health services.
Abermed’s national expansion was further emphasised today with a refurbished clinic opening in Edinburgh.
Snelling Business Systems has announced that it is expanding its operation, with the opening of new offices in the South of England in November 2012.
The sales office, which will be based in Uxbridge, also sees the creation of a new role within senior management and the company is delighted to announce the appointment of Sheila Egan to the position of Business Development Manager.
Currently head of Media Services at Brunel University, where she has had responsibility for a team of 20 people, Sheila brings with her a wealth of industry knowledge, management experience and audio visual expertise.
After studying theatre and drama at university, where there was an emphasis on the technical and practical elements of production, Sheila has embraced her love of technology and now boasts an impressive range of technical qualifications. She has been responsible for installations at both corporate sites and higher education facilities throughout the south, recently completing a complex 4½ year project to deliver a multi-function auditorium, which can offer users anything from a 400 seat tiered lecture theatre, to a flat cabaret style banqueting room.
In her new role within Snelling Business Systems, Sheila will be responsible for continuing to develop the company’s rapidly expanding operations and relationships with universities, higher education facilities and corporate clients across London and the South, as well as overseeing the development of the Snelling team across the same area.
Sheila Egan said:
“I am very much looking forward to joining Toby and the team at Snelling Business Systems. I have worked with the company on a number of projects over the last few years and I have always been extremely impressed with their product knowledge, grasp of systems and attention to detail, not to mention their outstanding levels of customer service. So I know I am joining a company with a solid foundation based on good quality and high standards.
Snelling Business Systems is also rapidly expanding, so my role will be instrumental in helping to grow the framework of their business in London and the South and I am honoured to be opening their first ever satellite office.
I am really relishing the new challenge and I look forward to seeing what it is like working on the other side of the tender process. I believe that my experience on the other side of commissioning will enable me to offer an additional level of service to the Snelling Business Systems customers, as I will have a unique understanding of their needs and requirements, in particular the challenge of selling the value of AV.
I love creating innovative solutions to problematic rooms, so to go from heading the team here at Brunel, back to the coal face and working one-to-one with Snelling clients will be really exciting.”
Founded in April 2003, when the company recognised a gap in the market for the design, supply, installation and support of high-end commercial audio visual systems, combined with the outstanding service for which the Snelling name is now so well known, Snelling Business Systems has seen growth year on year. It has been shortlisted for a prestigious AV Award for the last four consecutive years and has recently been shortlisted by the Eastern Daily Press for the Business Award for Business Development.
In September 2010, the company was appointed ‘Top Ranked Supplier’ within the Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium, which lets and manages framework agreements on behalf of its member universities across the south of England and this has seen Snelling Business Systems’ revenues double between 2010 to 2012. As a result, the need has been identified to open a satellite sales office for London and the South, and premises have been secured in Uxbridge, giving excellent access to the M25, M40 and M4.
Toby Wise, Managing Director, said :
“We are extremely excited about the new satellite office and the appointment of Sheila Egan to this senior new role within the company. These developments really set down a marker of our intention to expand and continue the strong growth we have enjoyed over the past few years and we believe Sheila’s outstanding knowledge of the market and experience with AV will continue to consolidate our reputation as market leaders in our field.”