After a very busy 2014 developing outsourced services for the Accounting Profession, Edinburgh firm Alcore are now extending their Cloud based services to Businesses. “By developing relationships with key Cloud Accounting software providers FreeAgent and Xero, we are now in a position to extend our fully managed Finance Administration and Bookkeeping services to businesses of all sizes” explains Rob Jackson, Business Development Director at Alcore.
Rob explains further, ”We aren’t a firm of accountants, we are an experienced Finance Department that can take on all of the ‘day to day’ accounting tasks, like bookkeeping, invoicing, expenses and payroll, ensuring they run efficiently. Most importantly, we don’t expect our client’s to carry out this work themselves. The FreeAgent and Xero packages allow us to collaborate online with our clients, carry out all the number crunching on a regular basis and give them access to up to date reporting and dashboards. It really just leaves these businesses to get on with what they do best, as well as giving them access to the financial information they need to make decisions. So much valuable information is often hidden away in a ‘box’ or old spreadsheet that is handed in to an Accountant once a year. We want to help our clients get away from the expense of just complying with accounting rules and start giving them regular, valuable insight in to their business.”
Rob concludes,” With the chancellor nodding towards a move away from annual self-assessment, we expect an increase in the relevance of up to date records and that reporting could be on a much more regular basis.”
Edinburgh headquartered law firm Gillespie Macandrew LLP will open its first office in Glasgow on Monday, 30th March, at 69 Buchanan Street. Initially the firm will have two staff based here, with hot desk facilities available to provide a base for staff from other Gillespie Macandrew offices who are delivering additional support for clients in the West of Scotland. The firm expects to further develop its presence in the area over the coming months and beyond.
Gillespie Macandrew has seen another robust financial performance over the last year, with an unaudited fee-income figure of £9.9 million for the 2014-15 financial year, up just over 3% from the previous year.
Managing Partner Ian Turnbull states: “We’ve had a particularly strong fourth quarter in both feeing and cash recovery, building on the preceding quarters, and we have also experienced a number of significant client wins in the second half of the year. This means we are in a very sound cash position at the outset of the new financial year, during which we will complete repayment of all term funding by November 2015. We are now looking towards a significant period of growth and our new initial office in Glasgow is just the first step in this plan.”
Looking for a new and exciting way to engage your workforce this summer? Get your team together and come along to the fifth annual Leith Dragon Boat Challenge – the ultimate team-building activity – on Sunday 7th June at Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh.
This fun-filled, adrenaline pumping, sport-water activity is an ideal choice if you are looking to: develop organisational productivity; provide an ice breaker session for new employees; corporate competition; social club activity and raise vital funds for charity. Not only this, it will provide a fantastic networking opportunity as we are hoping to attract around 30 corporates and social clubs teams to the event.
What is Dragon Boat Racing?
Teams compete in Dragon Boats which are large canoe-like vessels fitted with ornately carved dragon’s heads and tails. Crews of 16 people sit in pairs and paddle to compete in multiple timed races over distances of around 250m. Each boat has a drummer beating time to keep the paddlers in unison (also part of the team), and a professional helmsperson in the stern to guide the boat.
Who can take part?
Dragon boating appeals to people of all abilities and no previous experience is necessary as full training will be given on the day. You must be a minimum of 16 years old on the day of the event to take part.
Fees and prizes
The registration fee is £20 per person, and we ask that you aim to raise a minimum of £75 per person in sponsorship.
There are prizes on the day for best overall fundraisers, best fancy dress and first overall team.
We’re delighted to announce that Barnardo’s is the official charity partner for the 2015 event. To celebrate this, we’ve organised a special prize for the best Barnardo’s fundraisers. We’re giving away a FREE ticket, to every team member of the winning team, to our Barnardo’s Big Comedy Benefit at the Edinburgh Fringe in August.
Here is a link to a video of the York Rotary Club event, to give you a flavour for the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qHmlkvv9jM#t=164
Barnardo’s believe in the abused, vulnerable and neglected – take up our challenge today and help turn their lives around.
For more information or to register your interest please get in touch with Jordyn by email jordyn.armstrong@barnardos.org.uk, or by phone 0131 446 7021.
Through the Scotland Food & Drink Skills Academy, Scotland’s £10.4 billion food and drink manufacturing industry can now benefit from a single point of access to leading-edge workforce training, study and skill upgrades designed to boost productivity, profitability and innovation.
As a Champion Provider for the National Skills Academy (NSA) for Food & Drink, Parity Professionals has delivered Leadership and Management development solutions for some of the UK’s most prestigious Food and Drink Manufacturing companies including Associated British Foods (ABF), Premier Foods, Foyle Food, Moy Park, Dovecote Park and Baxters Food Group.
Parity Professionals has been doing business in Scotland for the last 25 years and is currently delivering Talent Sourcing Solutions to the public and private sector. Parity Professionals has recently combined its Talent Sourcing and Talent Development lines of business to bring a unique offer to the Scottish market, in particular, the Food and Drink sector.
Scotland is now becoming one of the world’s leading food and drink nations, boasting the country’s largest manufacturing sector employing over 43,000 employees.
Vivien Weldon, Head of Client Solutions at Parity Professionals said: “We are delighted to be working alongside the Scotland Food and Drink Skills Academy to further develop world-class leadership and management capacity and capability within the food and drink industry in Scotland.”
NSA CEO, Justine Fosh, said: “In a rapidly changing industry, astute leadership and smarter management are critical to every business in the search for ever-more productive, leaner and greener ways to operate. Parity Professionals’ track record in delivering real business improvement through leadership and management skills enhancement makes them an ideal leader of future Academy provision.”
A young entrepreneur is heaping praise on Edinburgh’s newest independent commercial property agency for helping her relocate within the city’s New Town. Archipelago Artisan Bakery has agreed a 10-year lease in the former New Town Store at 39 Dundas Street in a deal brokered by IME Property Ltd. Bakery owner, Caroline Walsh, had to move out of her basement premises on Queen Street at short notice and is full of praise for the way IME Property helped her quickly find a new base.“Many of the other property firms were slow to respond, but IME understood my situation and the whole deal was concluded within a month,” explained Caroline.
It is the second deal IME Property has concluded in the New Town in a matter of months with Securicorps Security Management moving into an office on Northumberland Street in January. IME Property Managing Director Iain Mercer says they are enjoying working with young entrepreneurs keen to find business space in the centre of the Capital. “Working with Caroline at Archipelago Bakery and James Magee at Securicorps shows IME’s versatility and our ability to provide the right space for young, growing businesses,” said Mr Mercer.
A large wooden clock made by residents at Rossie Young People’s Trust, a centre near Montrose which helps some of Scotland’s most challenged youngsters, will take pride of place in the reception area of Gillespie Macandrew’s Edinburgh office. It marks the on-going relationship between the two organisations, which, over the past 18 months, has seen teams from Gillespie Macandrew work alongside the Rossie youngsters and staff on a series of environmental improvement projects to develop the 150 acre site where the Trust is based.
Martin Brown, Estates Manager at Rossie, explains the background:
“We were asked by Gillespie Macandrew if we could make a clock for their reception area after some of their staff had seen the work which our CDT teacher, Ryan Ritchie, had been doing with our young people. In the workshop Ryan teaches our youngsters various skills of working with materials including using different types of wood to create their name, which then gets fixed to a wall as a reminder of their time with us.
They had never tackled anything like a clock before, but as much of the work the Gillespie Macandrew teams do here is working in our woodland, making a network of pathways and building bridges, we thought a clock made from Rossie wood was a great idea.”
Tom Murray, Chairman of Gillespie Macandrew comments:
“We are very pleased with the clock and proud to display it in our reception area. The relationship with Rossie is beneficial to both organisations. Martin tells us that the youngsters – and the staff – at Rossie really do look forward to our visits and the joint working parties, while our staff genuinely enjoy going there and it is a tremendous CSR programme from our point of view. The really good thing is it’s on-going and is evolving as we go forward.”
Donald Winskill, an Associate in the firm’s private client department who coordinates the Gillespie Macandrew work parties, adds:
“There is a very good forward plan developed by Rossie groundsman, Roy Balfour, and one of the Rossie volunteers which will see us carry out a series of environmental improvement projects. We’ve been working on the pathway network, which is enjoyed by locals who can now get much better access to enjoy the Rossie estate, and the next set of projects will improve various habitats to encourage the local flora and fauna.”
The UK press launch for the all-new Jeep Renegade took place at Winton House throughout last week. The versatility of the new Renegade is being tested out on a specially designed, off-road, 4×4 course by journalists from the automotive press from across the UK.
James Maynard, General Manager at Winton House, says: “We’ve constructed a technical, off-road course in woodland close to the house to try out the 4x4s on demanding terrain. Visitors have been testing their driving skills on steep, slippery slopes, across water features and even over piles of logs.“As a hospitality venue, Winton hosts a range of entertaining and challenging activities in the gardens and grounds, from miniature hovercraft and laser tag, to clay pigeon shooting and highland games. We now plan on running other 4×4 events using the new course.”
Damien Dally from Jeep UK adds: “Jeep has designed a fabulous off-road course which makes full use of the grounds at Winton. Most importantly, it has been very well received by our guests from the media.“Winton House is a lovely and inspiring venue which is perfectly suited to an event like the Jeep Renegade launch.”
The new Jeep Renegade has been designed for people who are young at heart and want to get the most out of life. It is expected to be particularly popular with mountain bikers, snowboarders and other outdoor enthusiasts. The Renegade is Jeep’s first entry into the small SUV segment. It is also the first Fiat Chrysler Automobiles car to be jointly developed by Italian and American engineers, and the first Jeep to be built in Europe but sold in the USA.
Survival of the fittest depends on the ability of businesses to adapt. Hear our guest speakers draw from personal experience on the importance of adapting, collaborating and being innovative to suit social and environmental trends. They will share how their companies have gained competitive advantage by doing so, and how you can too.
Guest Speakers:
Kennedy Miller, Technology and Sustainability Manager, Brand-Rex Ltd, https://www.brand-rex.co.uk/
Anna West, HR Director, CMS Windows http://www.cmswindows.com/
Amey http://www.amey.co.uk/
Karen Davidson, Scottish business in the Community http://www.sbcscot.com/
Event Details
Title: Profiting From Culture Changes
Date: Tuesday 31st March
Time: 9.00am – 11.00am (includes breakfast)
Venue: Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BOOK YOUR FREE PLACE: Please click here or email scotlandevents@strategem.com or call on 0141 275 4842.
If you need any further information please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Rapidly-evolving attitudes on how best to serve the rotator population in Aberdeen were revealed as Crown World Mobility hosted a seminar in the city.
Rotators, who by their very nature never spend too long in one place, have often been seen as vital but nevertheless under-valued players in the oil and gas industry.
Working on short-time assignments, often only 30 days at a time, they don’t feel part of the wider business and consequently retention rates are notoriously poor – not least because rival companies are willing to exploit the situation by offering higher remuneration packages.
Rotators can also work in dangerous roles, be given very little time to become immersed in a community and often suffer family problems from spending so long away from home.
But Crown World Mobility, a company that helps corporations manage global talent and makes it easier for talented individuals to perform on the world stage, believes things are beginning to change.
During a four-hour seminar at The Marcliffe, Aberdeen, attendees discussed burning issues around how to change the way rotators are seen and provided for.
“It’s a topic that isn’t discussed very often,” said Crown World Mobility business development manager Suzie Provan. “But Global Mobility Managers and HR professionals are telling us it is time for change, and that global companies are increasingly looking at ways to improve retention rates and to bring rotators into global mobility schemes.
“It was a very well-received seminar and what was interesting was that so much of the talk was about how to improve the experience for rotators. We discussed mentoring schemes, for instance, in which older rotators helped younger workers acclimatise when they arrive in a new location. You really felt there is a new focus in the industry.”
The session was led by highly respected Glasgow-based management consultant and leadership mentor Alastair Wyllie with the help of Graham McKechnie, Global Tax Director at activpayroll.
http://www.crownworldmobility.com/
The crowds were back in force at Thomson Cooper’s two Budget Briefing events on Friday 20th March to discover what George Osborne’s last Budget before the General Election in May meant for them. Partners Andrew Croxford and Alan Mitchell shared their initial analysis of the Budget and what planning points their guests could consider to boost their personal and business finances. They were of course careful not to cross the line into “aggressive tax planning” or tax avoidance!
The Chancellor claimed that Britain is now ‘Walking Tall’, but who did benefit from this Budget? There were much called for tax reductions for the oil and gas industry which it is hoped will help boost oil production in the North Sea and protect jobs in that sector. However, the banking sector again bore the brunt of tax rises with an increase in the Bank Levy and a tax deduction disallowed for miss-selling fines.
For smaller businesses, there was continuing help with the cost of being an employer as there will be no employer’s National Insurance payable for employees under 21 from April this year and for apprentices under 25 from April 2016. They will also benefit from the extension of the Small Business Relief for business rates until April 2016, with inflation-linked increases to business rates being capped at 2%.
Farmers should also benefit in the future, as the Chancellor announced the start of a consultation to look at implementing averaging farmer’s earnings over 5 years rather than just two as they have at the moment.
From an individual’s point of view, the one big announcement was the end to the tax return as we know it. Over the next parliament, digital tax accounts will be introduced for 5 million small businesses and 10 million individuals. These digital tax accounts that will be prepopulated with data from HMRC, and taxpayers will be able to view their tax affairs in real time, see how their tax is calculated and check how much tax they owe. It will be just like online banking according to the Chancellor.
This use of “big data” will be challenging to get right, as even minor errors will directly impact on individual taxpayers. As one of the key information sources will be the employers’ returns under Real Time Information (RTI), the efficiency and accuracy of RTI will become even more important. Whilst banks and building societies will not need to deduct 20% income tax on interest payments from April 2016, because of the implementation of the new personal saving allowance, information will still need to be provided to HMRC for inclusion in the individuals tax accounts. People can appoint an agent to manage their digital accounts, so the staff at Thomson Cooper don’t expect to be hanging up their tax calculators any time soon.
At the Briefings, Andrew and Alan covered these topics and also provided information on the changes to personal allowances, tax rates and bands, and the changes to pensions.
The firm, who expanded into Edinburgh last year, were delighted with their record attendance. Andrew Croxford said, “This is the first year we’ve run the Briefing in both Edinburgh and Dunfermline and we are delighted that around 200 guests supported the events. We also hosted a seminar on auto-enrolment on the same day so it was a great opportunity for all of our clients and business associates to meet up. The feedback we’ve had has been very positive.”
Thomson Cooper has produced two free publications that are free to download from their website www.thomsoncooper.com, a concise Budget Report and compact Tax Allowance Card.
Thomson Cooper – Andrew Croxford and Alan Mitchell
