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To help influence driver behaviour and enable more people to drive to their destinations safely; Norfolk County Council Public Health’s Road Safety team are launching a campaign offering businesses and drivers free online training and resources to improve focus whilst driving.

With more than 1 in 3 traffic collisions in Norfolk being caused by distracted drivers the new campaign will feature a ‘Stay Focused’ toolkit supporting individuals and businesses to encourage safe driving habits amongst those who: drive for work, commute to and from work or drive for leisure.

The tool kit includes a series of free road safety tools to improve driver focus:

• Free access to online driver training modules Autopilot, distracted driving and  fatigue with Drive iQ
• A stay focused podcast to help train your brain to keep focused when driving
• An interactive driver quiz to assess how distracted you are as a driver
• Tips and guidance to make you a safer more focused driver

All tools and information can be accessed here Staying focused at the wheel – driver guide

As part of your Brexit planning, our advice is to remember compliance is key. We can be sure that HMRC will be hot on compliance next year, we see they have recently updated the notice on penalties.

Why it’s worth checking compliance  

The list of penalties is eye-watering, ranging from £1,000 to £2,000 per instance. It will be the trader, the importer or exporter, who will be penalised, not the person submitting the declaration on your behalf. They make it clear that excuses such as I didn’t know or We didn’t check won’t wash. In HMRC’s world, ignorance is never bliss! The good news is penalties can be avoided if you discover the contravention before HMRC and report it straight away. HMRC say:

“You will not receive a penalty if you discover and disclose a contravention voluntarily”    

Our advice is to ensure your Brexit planning includes an emphasis on checking compliance at every stage.

Details on penalties here: HMRC penalties Who will be liable for what here: HMRC information We can expect further developments on this and other import and export systems, we will endeavour to keep you updated. As always, please call or email me with comments or questions, we’re always happy to discuss individual issues, click here: Import Export Support site

At the time of an individual passing, there are processes of administration of the individual’s estate which should be followed. This could be administered as per the Will of the deceased, or if the individual dies intestate (without a will), an executor will need to administer the estate as per the intestacy rules.

If you are administering an estate, you may be quite sure you have identified those who should inherit from the estate. But what if someone is missed from inheriting? This could cause a great deal of problems further down the line, even long after the estate has been administered.

This is why Genealogy research is so very important when administering an estate.

We have seen first-hand from our legal clients where estates are believed to be quite straight forward but thankfully, they have verified this with genealogy research.

A case study for you;

Our solicitor client requested we verify the family tree of a deceased individual Mrs C. Our client was certain there was just one beneficiary of a cousin to Mrs C, as that was also their client.

We began our research, assuming we would be verifying the information provided by the client. Mrs C had no children, no living parents and no living siblings. We looked at the aunts and uncles of the deceased, and Mrs C had many aunts and uncles all who had died before her. From these aunts and uncles, it became clear that Mrs C had a number of cousins, all living in the UK.

In total there were 67 beneficiaries identified. Not 1 as our client initially suspected.

A full tree and report was provided to the client along with the relevant certificates of birth, death and marriage to support the findings. We also traced addresses for each beneficiary for our client to make contact with them.

The case of Mrs C was a large estate and it was all inherited correctly as the genealogy research and beneficiary tracing was completed.

If you need assistance for any of our genealogy or tracing services, get in touch!

• Genealogy Research
• Family Tree Construction
• Identify Missing Beneficiaries
• Tracing of Missing Beneficiaries and Person Tracing
• Verifying Family Trees
• International Bankruptcy Searches

www.taylorinvestigations.co.uk | enquiries@taylorinvestigations.co.uk | 01603 904031

What is the scheme

Chamber Energy is designed to help Norfolk Chamber members who are looking to reduce their carbon footprint and / or switch to a ‘green’ energy supplier. With access to a wide array of tools and resources, Indigo Swan are offering Chamber members free advice and support to help them on their low carbon journey.

Indigo Swan work with an array of energy suppliers so from finding the right supplier, to checking and negotiating contracts we are here to help your business be greener.

Who are Indigo Swan?

Indigo Swan are a Norwich-based energy consultancy who since they started in 2009 have helped businesses all over the UK make quick, easy and well-informed decisions about their energy. They offer their clients a bespoke service to suit their needs.

In 2019 they were crowned ‘Most Trusted UK Energy Consultancy (SME)’ at The Energy live Consultancy Awards (TELCA) and were also recognised among the top 3 UK employers to work for at the Employee Experience awards.

Recently they won the regional British Chambers of Commerce ‘Workplace Wellbeing’ award highlighting their dedication to creating a happy environment for their team to work in.

To find out more get in touch with them hello@indigoswan.co.uk or phone them on 01603 625522

Let’s help get Norfolk on its way to becoming Carbon Neutral.

We’re delighted to introduce you to the newest member of the BDH Tullford team, Accounts Manager Sam Chisnall. Working four days a week, she is responsible for the financial aspects of the business now that long-standing Accounts Manager, Pamela Powell, has retired. “I’ve worked in finance for most of my career, so I’m looking forward to the new challenges that this role will bring,” says Sam. “The whole team, especially Pamela and Becks on Reception, have been generous with their knowledge and have helped me to settle in quickly.” Sam has held finance positions with a variety of organisations in Norfolk, most notably Hughes Electrical, where she worked alongside her husband, Trade Director Paul Chisnall, for a number of years. 

Family Business

While Sam may be a new starter, she’s certainly not a new face at Europa Way. In fact, her father was one of the original founders of the company back in the 1960s. Chester Fox and his brothers started BD Studios, which joined forces with current Director David Hutchins creating business that evolved into BDH Tullford. “My cousin [BDH Tullford Director James Fox] approached me when Pamela announced her decision to retire and asked if I would be interested in joining the business,” she continues. “I wasn’t looking to leave my previous employer, but James offered me an opportunity to support a business close to my heart. “I hadn’t considered joining the business when I left school. There wasn’t a position for me at that time either, because Pamela was managing the accounts. But this feels like the right time; I feel like I’ve come home. There are pictures of my dad on the wall beside me, which is lovely. I’m really comfortable here.” Adds Director David Hutchins: “We’re thrilled to have Sam on board with us. Her skills and experience, along with her passion for BDH Tullford, are real assets to the business and we look forward to many happy years working together.”    Call 01603 620780 to speak to Sam Chisnall about invoices and accounts at BDH Tullford.

This week’s draft legislation to change the UK R&D regime will go too far too fast if it is implemented from April 2024, according to accounting and business advisory firm BDO.

Commenting on the draft legislation, Tim Goram-Smith, Associate Director and R&D Lead in East Anglia at BDO, said:

“Following the review of R&D reliefs launched in Rishi Sunak’s 2021 Spring Budget, the government has taken many steps to reduce the costs of the UK’s R&D scheme to get better ‘value for money’ – while this is understandable, I’d argue that this latest move is going to prove the most disruptive yet.

“Given the very high rates of error and fraud that HMRC now estimates occur under the current SME scheme (£1,060m in 2020/21 compared to just £90m under RDEC¹) it is no surprise that if a new combined single R&D scheme goes ahead it will be based on the RDEC rules. However, the government has already changed R&D relief rates from this April and HMRC is imposing new claim requirements, in the form of an Additional Information Form, from 8 August this year to tackle the error and fraud issue. Given all the recent changes, creating yet more uncertainty by changing the R&D regime again for accounting periods beginning on or after April 2024 could risk turning innovative businesses away from investing in the UK.

“The current SME and Research & Development Expenditure Credit (RDEC) schemes offer different rates of relief with the SME scheme being more generous – even after the reductions in tax relief from 1 April 2023. Under today’s proposals, many start-up and growing businesses will be concerned that they will get even less tax relief under a combined scheme – although the higher relief for R&D intensive businesses looks set to continue – albeit running alongside the new scheme.

“In the long term, many agree that there are practical benefits to aligning the way R&D relief is claimed. For example, the combined scheme would be based on the current RDEC rules which help to raise the prominence of the R&D function within a business by recognising the R&D incentive in a company’s pre-tax income. But the government must remember that not everyone claiming under the current SME scheme is a fraudster – on its own estimates 75% of claimants are compliant and the impact on them of moving to a new combined scheme needs to be managed carefully so as not to damage their growth prospects and the wider economy.

“The draft legislation includes design proposals many will welcome. The original proposals on who claims relief where R&D work is subcontracted could have caused problems for many businesses. Thankfully, the draft legislation allows outsourcing costs to be claimed where the work is outsourced to a UK company. Although loss making companies will still be capped on the amount of R&D relief they can claim, the proposals adopt the PAYE/NIC cap currently used in the SME scheme (which is more generous than the RDEC cap).

“Probably the most significant downside, is the new rule that any R&D project which is subsidised, (including via a grant), cannot be included in an R&D claim. This will have a wide-ranging impact on many businesses, particularly given HMRC’s recent, extremely broad definition of ‘subsidised R&D’. The new rules will also likely make it impossible for contract research organisations to claim UK R&D relief on work they carry out for client companies. This will change have a big impact on many companies’ pricing and contractual arrangements.

“In addition, the rules as drafted could potentially prohibit companies outsourcing work to the self-employed and personal service companies as these companies can only claim such costs if the ‘externally provided workers’ fall within PAYE.

“Businesses understand that government will move the goalposts to make it harder for fraudsters to win tax reliefs from HMRC. But making radical changes to tax law at short notice not only creates uncertainty for compliant businesses but also risks introducing new rules with loopholes that fraudsters can exploit further down the line. The government has not made a final decision to push these changes through from April 2024 and I believe the changes should be delayed until at least 2026 so that they don’t damage the R&D investment the relief is supposed to support.”

 

Ed, a Caterham road car enthusiast, has taken his passion for driving and motorsport to the next level by joining Alpha 7 for personalised driver training. His journey began a few months ago when he decided to explore the thrill of a track day in a Caterham race car. After his first exhilarating experience at the Snetterton Circuit, Ed was hooked! He completed several more track days, including a day at the challenging Cadwell Park in mixed weather conditions.

Last week, Ed returned to Snetterton with a new goal, to earn his racing license through the Association of Racing Drivers Schools (ARDS) test. The ARDS test is a critical stepping stone for aspiring racing drivers, consisting of both a theory and a practical examination. It ensures that candidates possess the necessary knowledge and skills for safe and competitive participation in motor racing events.

The theory portion of the ARDS test covers essential topics such as flag signals, racing etiquette, and the fundamental principles of racing safety. After successfully passing this portion, Ed proceeded to the practical test. This involved a session in an MSV pace car with a professional race instructor who assessed his driving skills. Key areas of focus included mastering racing lines, cornering techniques, and demonstrating an awareness of safety protocols on the track.

Ed’s performance impressed the instructor, who was thoroughly satisfied that he had gained the required competence and confidence. With the successful completion of both the theory and practical components of the ARDS test, Ed officially earned his racing license.

Now, Ed is eagerly preparing for his first competitive race, scheduled for August at Snetterton with the Alpha 7 racing team. This marks a significant milestone in his journey from a road car enthusiast to a budding racing driver.

For those inspired by Ed’s story and interested in pursuing motorsport, Alpha 7 offers a range of tailored programmes to help newcomers experience the thrill of driving on a track. Whether you’re looking to test the waters or aim for a racing career, Alpha 7 provides personalised driver training programmes, including race car hire for those without their own vehicle.

Congratulations to Ed on his achievements and best of luck as he embarks on his racing journey!

If you’re interested in joining the world of motorsport or simply want to enjoy a track day experience, Alpha 7 can help. Get in touch to learn more about our personalised training programmes and services.

 

Regional rail travel transformed with more comfortable journeys and industry-leading performance

Greater Anglia (GA) has marked the 5^th anniversary of its first new train entering passenger service today.

Monday 29th July 2019 saw the first of GA’s brand new, Stadler-built, bi-mode trains in operation on the 07.47 from Lowestoft to Norwich. It marked the start of a new era for rail travel in East Anglia and the beginning of a positive transformation in the service provided for customers and communities across the GA network, which now sees all GA services in the region operated by new trains.

Passengers are benefitting from greater comfort, increased seating capacity, better accessibility, and other features, such as plug/USB points and fast, free wi-fi. They’ve also helped GA deliver record-breaking punctuality and reliability, with Greater Anglia consistently the best-performing train operator in the UK, and timetable improvements on a number of its routes.

5th Anniversary Event Attendees at Lowestoft Station. Credit: Greater Anglia

To celebrate the anniversary of the beginning of this major upgrade for train services in the region, GA invited stakeholders and media representatives to an event which started at Norwich station and included a special trip to Lowestoft and back on one of its high-quality bi-mode trains (in fact the specific train that operated the first service – 4 carriage Class 755 bi-mode train, number 755410).

At Lowestoft there were speeches from representatives from Greater Anglia, Stadler, who built and maintain the bi-mode trains, and Rock Rail who own them, along with refreshments and photographs. The special trip then returned from Lowestoft to Norwich.

Key achievements linked to the introduction of new trains on Greater Anglia services across East Anglia include:

• All Greater Anglia services now operated by new trains
• Greater Anglia consistently the best-performing train operator in the UK with annual performance over 94.3% on both the Public Performance Measure (arrival at destination within 5 minutes of time) and the Time to 3 (arrival at every station served within 3 minutes of time) and 86% on the On Time measure – the best results of any UK operator in each case.
• A number of regional routes – specifically the lines from Norwich to Sheringham, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft and Marks Tey to Sudbury – have annual punctuality of over 96.5%
• Customer numbers recovering well across the region, as passengers see the benefits of new trains
• Major accessibility improvements – especially on regional, Intercity and Stansted Express routes, where the “level boarding” option provided by Stadler-built trains with low floors and retractable steps have set a new benchmark for accessible rail travel in the UK
• More comfortable journeys with nice seats, bright, air-conditioned interiors, plug/USB points and fast free wi-fi
• Increased seating capacity on all routes, including on 3 and 4 carriage trains on regional routes which were mostly operated with 1 or 2 carriage trains before
• Journey times on some routes reduced – especially intercity services which are now mostly 6 or 7 minutes quicker
• Timetable improvements, such as Norwich to Stansted Airport direct services, more frequent Sunday services on many regional routes and some later last evening trains
• Greater Anglia’s fleet of bi-mode, intercity and Stansted Express trains have now collectively travelled over 33 million miles

Jamie Burles, Managing Director, Greater Anglia said:

“Five years on from our first bi-mode train entering passenger service, train services in East Anglia have been successfully and positively transformed, with state-of-the-art, comfortable trains, excellent performance, better services, and new journey opportunities. Passengers and stakeholders alike have welcomed the step change in service quality and customer numbers are rising as a result.

“Looking ahead, we can reassure customers and communities across our network that our plans are not just to maintain the high standards of rail travel and performance we have now set, but to keep on improving services in line with local needs, as rail plays an ever more crucial role in the region’s sustainable development.”

Urs Bikle, Business Development Director at Stadler, added:

“The fifth anniversary of the first bi-mode entering commercial service is a highly significant landmark and cause for celebration. Designed with the 21^st century passenger in mind, these trains have taken rail travel in East Anglia to a new level. They have transformed the customer experience, improved performance, increased seating capacity, delivered ground-breaking accessibility benefits and enabled the delivery of other service improvements. Industry surveys and performance measures show Greater Anglia excelling in a range of measures, including reliability and punctuality as well as passenger satisfaction. We are thrilled to have been part of this journey with partners Greater Anglia and Rock Rail and look forward to working with them in future, as we continue to enhance the services we provide.”

Matthew Allen, Chief Investment Officer at Rock Rail, added:

“We are delighted to see first-hand the transformation of rail services in East Anglia which has been achieved as a direct result of the Stadler FLIRT trains introduced by Greater Anglia and Rock Rail.  We look forward to working with Stadler and Greater Anglia to build on the successful introduction of these trains, continuing to grow the industry leading performance, and further enhancing the customer experience throughout the life of the fleet.

“These fantastic state-of-the-art trains for Greater Anglia are financed through public sector and private sector pension funds and insurance companies. This long term investment has already delivered significant benefits for passengers and the environment over the first 5 years of the trains being in operation.”

Lowestoft Station. Credit: Greater Anglia