Blog
How happy is your workplace?
Posted 22nd January 2020 at 2:17 pm
This week started with what is said to be the ‘most depressing day of the year.’ Whether or not this is correct, the down period after Christmas with its dark winter days and unpredictable weather is pretty miserable for everybody, and can be a trigger for those of us with mental health issues. In the workplace this can lead to low morale, less productive staff, and increased sick leave. So how can we make our workplaces happier and healthier? Spruce up your office It may be grey and miserable outside, but that doesn’t have to extend to the inside... Read more
Are you up to date on your Payroll know-how?
Posted 14th January 2020 at 6:54 pm
Did you know? Eligible employees for Auto Enrolment must receive a total minimum contribution of 8%. Of this, a minimum of 3% must come from the employer. Did you know? Payslips must show the total number of variable hours worked. This means that if employees have worked overtime, or if they get paid differently for working certain hours, these variables must be detailed on their payslip. Did you know? Employers must calculate all deductions, issue employees with payslips, and report to HMRC on or before payday each month. Did you know? Payroll reports must be kept for at least 3... Read more
Are New Year’s Resolutions bad for you?
Posted 7th January 2020 at 4:43 pm
We’re a week into 2020, and some of us will already have broken our New Year’s Resolutions, with others struggling to go the distance until the end of January, let alone the end of the year! For many of us, and particularly for those with mental health issues, resolutions can become yet another thing to fail at, causing us to feel bad about ourselves. However, given that on average, 80% of resolutions are abandoned by February, is it really the person that is to blame, or the whole idea of resolutions that is inherently faulty? Willpower is finite The... Read more
A poem for those with election fatigue
Posted 11th December 2019 at 8:00 am
On the eve of the election We send God a little prayer (Even those of us who don’t believe that he is there) God save us from the tax raises that send our business spinning (Whichever of the parties is the one that ends up winning) Please God, sort out Brexit In whatever way you choose (And thank you for not placing us inside the PM’s shoes!) Please God fund our NHS, our road networks and schools Give us, God, a government that don’t take us for fools Help us heal our differences, and make a... Read more
Three ways to make the most of your tax benefits this Christmas
Posted 2nd December 2019 at 8:34 pm
1. Reward your staff with Trivial Benefits of up to £50 in value Did you know that if you reward staff with Benefits in Kind, you can save tax on these by meeting certain conditions? This means that as an employer you can buy gifts, pay for meals, or give shopping vouchers to your employees as a Trivial Benefit, exempt from tax. To find out more about Trivial Benefits click here. 2. Claim up to £150 per head for your Christmas party Tax rules allow an exemption for an annual staff social event, such as a Christmas party. So... Read more
Black Friday & Cyber Monday: How to cope as a small business
Posted 27th November 2019 at 9:36 am
Alongside pumpkin spiced latte and the commercialising of Halloween, the biggest Autumn trend to hit us from the US in recent years has to be Black Friday and its online sister, Cyber Monday. What are Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Black Friday made its way over here in 2014 and has become increasingly popular with the larger retailers including supermarkets and department stores, as well as with online retailers. This year Black Friday falls on 29th November 2019. Cyber Monday is an online sales event which falls the Monday after Black Friday. This year it therefore takes place on... Read more
Making sense of the General Election 2019
Posted 22nd November 2019 at 5:02 pm
This year’s General Election is probably the most complicated in living memory! There are so many different party and individual MP stances on Brexit to take into consideration alone, not to mention all the other issues that politicians are supposed to focus on! With so many MPs stepping down or changing parties, it’s no wonder that many people feel they have no idea who they want to vote for! Fortunately, the lovely people at Sky News have put together an interactive manifesto-checker so that you can compare at a glance the different party stances on the issues that matter to... Read more
5 Top Tips to manage sales over the Christmas period
Posted 14th November 2019 at 3:41 pm
Christmas is fast approaching – from the look of some supermarkets you’d think it started 2 months ago! Whether you are the type of business that expects to see a rise in sales over the Christmas period, or one that needs to manage customer expectations due to staff leave, we have all the tips you need to manage your sales during the festive period. Be clear about last order dates and Christmas closures Some of us are forward planners (hello from someone who bought their Christmas cards in the summer holidays!) and some of us are last minute panic... Read more
Are you prepared for a Cyber Attack?
Posted 6th November 2019 at 9:59 am
More than 50% of British firms reported cyber attacks in 2019, and on average there is a hacker attack every 19 seconds in the UK. Many small businesses believe they are too small to be targeted, so don’t have cyber security in place. However, just like a house without a burglar alarm, an organisation without cyber security is more likely to be targeted by criminals, regardless of size. So what security measures can you put in place to protect against a cyber attack? Secure your internet connection with a firewall A firewall creates a buffer zone between your IT... Read more
The future is cashless
Posted 29th October 2019 at 4:51 pm
In 2017, debit cards overtook cash as the number one retail payment method in the UK, aided by the rise of contactless technology. Being able to tap and go makes contactless more convenient than either cash or chip & pin payments, and with phone payment now available you don’t even need to get your wallet out! At the current rate of decline, the British Retail Consortium predicts that cash use would end in 2026, which feels extremely soon! However, as the shift to a cashless society is a big step, it is likely that we will see cash being... Read more