Member News

Due to high customer demand for Contracts Finder.

The deadline for bid submissions is 5pm on Wednesday 20 January 2021. 

Martin Thomas and Sarah Kay join in partnership for new venture at 205 Lavender Hill, London, to operate alongside Martin’s shop in Victoria.

Martin Thomas has been a TaxAssist Accountant for eight years, operating from a hugely successful practice at Victoria in Central London, where he currently looks after 600 clients alongside his six members of staff.

Experienced accountant Sarah Kay has now become a franchise partner alongside Martin to operate the new shop at Clapham Junction, having worked as a practice manager for Martin for the last four years.

“My background is in small business accounting and tax and I think I’m a perfect fit for the TaxAssist business model,” explains Sarah. “The set up suits my strengths and having a proven track record of managing TaxAssist Victoria, means I can join the franchise with full confidence.” “TaxAssist is a fantastic brand, and having seen first-hand the support and expertise available, I think it is miles ahead of a lot of its competition.

“Martin and I make a good team and over the last four years, client numbers have grown which I’m confident will continue, particularly as we are looking to open further shops.”

Addressing the current climate in the pandemic, Martin said: “Clearly London is currently much quieter that it would usually be, but even still, we have continued to sign up a good number of clients and January is proving to be as busy as ever.

“The Victoria shop is a fantastic looking shop in a great location, and we have now replicated this at Clapham, where we are hoping to repeat our success. We have already generated a lot of interest among local businesses and self-employed professions who have arranged appointments for meetings, so we are very much available for business. Clients can contact us for a free initial consultation either by calling us or online as they prefer.”

To contact Martin and Sarah visit their website here www.taxassist.co.uk/clapham-junction If you share a passion to help your local small businesses, a TaxAssist franchise can provide the systems and support you need to be successful. Regular Virtual Discovery Days are being held, where you can find out more about the technical, marketing and business development support on offer. Call 0800 0188297 or submit an enquiry via the button at the top of the page to register your interest.  

Leading business process outsourcing company QX Global Group has been awarded the Master Franchise rights for Canada.

TaxAssist Accountants, the UK’s largest network of small business specialist accountants, and leading tax and accounting franchise, is now launching in Canada. This is following successful expansion to the Republic of Ireland, Australia and the USA.

The Master Franchise rights will cover the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, with the operation headed up by Niraj Mehta, Senior Vice President of Business Operations at QX Global Group. Niraj is a qualified chartered accountant, with almost 20 years of experience spanning various roles in professional service organizations, including 13 years at KPMG.

Karl Sandall, Chief Executive Director of The TaxAssist Group, said: “We are delighted to have awarded our Canadian Master Franchise rights to the internationally known and respected QX Global Group. The team are all highly skilled individuals who share our passion and vision, which, combined with our 25 years’ experience in building and running a leading franchise network, bodes well for future success.”

QX Global Group is expecting a surge of interest in franchising in Canada during and post the coronavirus pandemic, as accountants re-think their professional lives.

TaxAssist Canada will be QX Global Group’s first big investment in 2021. Franchising is an area of strategic focus and continued investment for QX Global Group as it expands capabilities to help accountants in industry, individuals with a financial background, as well as those that already own an accounting practice and wish to develop as part of a global brand.

Chris Robinson FCCA, Executive Chairman and Founder of QX Global Group, stated: “We are constantly exploring strategic opportunities where we can add value, and this partnership with The TaxAssist Group hits all the right buttons. We look forward to building on our long-standing relationship with TaxAssist, and this just seems like a natural progression to establish a new line of services in the North American region.

“Canada has one of the largest franchise industries in the world, and there are currently no businesses in Canada which are offering a uniquely-packaged accounts, tax and advisory service dedicated to small businesses, so Canada represents a significant growth opportunity for the TaxAssist Accountants brand.”

The Master Franchisee team are looking to acquire an existing accounting practice and convert this to a TaxAssist Accountants operation by April 2021, along with launching franchisee recruitment activity and hosting Discovery Days, for anyone interested in finding out more about the franchise model. The team will be engaging with Rina Mancini who has a long standing relationship with The TaxAssist Group.

As you know the UK is now in the middle of Lockdown 3.0. Working with the amazing team at the EC, I have compiled a set of articles which I feel you will really enjoy reading. They’re straightforward, light-hearted and to the point. NO WAFFLE! but help to focus the mind on what is really important in running a business in the current climate. Have a look, and explore the ideas within and let me know what you think… Do you agree? Which one resonates with you in your business the most? Let me know, if as a result of reading these if it stirs any questions that I can help to answer.

Proeon join forces with MacKinnon Construction; OSL Consulting; Pruce Newman to form an alliance

Background on our collaborative partnership:

The formation of our collaboration has risen from the mutual desire from each of our 4 privately owned SME companies to offer unrivalled quality, safety and service to our clients.  We have worked together independently on different projects for our clients over the years, working side by side on site.  Together the 4 companies feel this is the right time to put together this collaboration across our disciplines, enabling us to provide our mutual clients with a bespoke cost-effective turnkey offering. 

Key features of our collaborative offering:

• Operating under one umbrella, reducing the risks to project delivery and long-term service support
• Value for money for our mutual clients
  • Reduction in interface costs
  • Reduction in project management costs
  • Single point of contact contract
• Combined track record, experience and expertise across our disciplines
  • Common standards, practices and management structures

Our multi discipline approach covers all of the requirements for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) delivery of the project.  This includes Front-End Engineering Design (FEED), through to project delivery and commissioning, covering all aspects:

• process
• safety
• mechanical
• electrical
• civil

Proeon Systems is a systems integrator with unparalleled expertise, extensive industry knowledge and a proven track record in the development of high integrity industrial grade control and safety solutions to highly demanding complex and critical industry sectors.

We aim to provide a flexible approach to our client’s requirements and our goal is to provide an unrivalled level of service delivered on time, every time.  In providing our services, we ensure we tailor our offering to fit around our client’s needs.

The company draws on world class engineering expertise, assisting our clients in the realisation of their projects from concept design, FEED, detailed design and manufacture of complete packages, together with providing support, installation and commissioning.  Proeon staff have many years of experience in the development of industrial automation control system, safety and cybersecurity design, implementation and assessment.  We bring our knowledge and expertise to highly demanding and complex industry sectors.  Proeon prides itself on continuing its’ ability to exceed client expectations in the provision of the values and quality of its products and services.

Every industry and business is different. Proeon have the experience to work with clients to determine the best mix of services and assessments to suit each set of unique circumstances.

Richard Miller, Managing Director, Proeon Systems: “Proeon Systems are pleased to be part of this collaboration of like-minded SME businesses.  Our expertise and proven track record within complex and critical industrial sectors, coupled with the expertise and track record of our partners will enable us offer a bespoke streamlined and comprehensive service to our clients”.

Pruce Newman Pipework Ltd are a Mechanical Engineering contracting company working in the Engineering Construction Industry, first formed in 1970 as a partnership, and incorporated in 1973, we have over 50 years of trading history. As the name suggests we specialise in the fabrication and installation of piping systems for the Oil & Gas, Energy, Petro/Pharm/Agri – Chemical, Utilities and Food sectors, but we also carry out the fabrication and installation of bespoke structural steelwork, and the installation and decommissioning of process and utility plant, to enable us to complete entire mechanical engineering construction projects for our clients.

Graham Newman,  Business Development Director, Pruce Newman Pipework Ltd stated:  “Pruce Newman Pipework Ltd are proud to be a member of the collaboration between Mackinnon Construction, OSL Consulting Engineers, Proeon Systems Ltd and Pruce Newman in order to offer bespoke turn key design and build solutions for our mutual clients, and to deliver them best value from our combined expertise in design, civil and mechanical engineering and electrical control and instrumentation services. The collaboration builds on the desire from each of the owner managed businesses to offer unrivalled quality, safety and service delivery and our SME ethos of “doing the right thing” for our clients, staff and the wider community”.

OSL is a successful well-established independent company providing engineering consultancy, design and project management services.  We specialise in high hazard process industry sectors including established ones such as Gas Processing and Transport, Refining, Chemicals, Energy, but are also active in emerging areas such as processes for Waste Conversion, Carbon Capture and Storage, and Hydrogen fuel.

Our multi-discipline team of creative, forward thinking technical specialists, work collaboratively with our clients to fully understand their requirement. We deliver high quality consultancy and design for all stages of a project from Concept, FEED, Detailed Design and through to start-up and ongoing performance enhancement. This stage gate development approach is widely accepted as good practice to ensure the level of design maturity de-risks the next stage of design development and cost outlay.

Alastair Robertson MD of OSL commented: “This alliance of like-minded companies experienced in high hazard industries offers a responsive client focused “one stop” project delivery capability”.

Mackinnon Construction is a private, family-owned construction company that has been building for both government and private clients for over 30 years.

Our ethos is to build long-term relationships with clients, partners and subcontractors, with over 80% of our projects coming from repeat clients.

The key benefits our clients enjoy are:

• Complete confidence the project will be delivered as promised on time, within budget and safely to the highest quality.
• We adopt a competitive pricing structure and a rigorous consideration for alternative client solutions to provide the best possible return on investment.
• Personalised service with a practical, helpful and ‘can do’ attitude and direct access to the owners of Mackinnon Construction.
• Our approach to projects is based on a fully integrated and accredited management system. We provide value and risk management to ensure value for money projects with smooth delivery.

Mackinnon Construction brings experienced and committed teams with the capability to apply their knowledge and skills on all the projects which they deliver.

Alistair MacKinnon MD of Mackinnon Construction commented: “This alliance of highly experienced and proven industry leading companies sets out to deliver a truly “one stop, turn key solution” for the smaller multi-disciplined projects, but managed to one end, a faster, cheaper more efficient service for clients that do not have to commit their own resource to complete.”

The market need we are looking at address is that of smaller based EPC style contracts.  For example, where the client wants the security and expertise of an EPC, but where the size and nature of the project would not be cost effective to approach a major EPC.  Our niche offering would enable the joint expertise of our businesses to provide a cost-effective solution for such clients.

Based within the East of England, this enables our collaboration to provide support to clients across the whole of the UK.

For more information, please contact us:

Dr Dorian Hindmarsh, Business Development Manager, Proeon Systems Limited

DD: 01953 857 663   E:Dorianh@proeon.co.uk    

www.mackinnonconstruction.com   www.oslconsulting.com       www.proeon.co.uk        www.prucenewman.co.uk

MHA Larking Gowen has welcomed Mark Hewitson as a new partner, dealing with Business and Private clients, based in their Fakenham and Holt offices.

Mark, who was previously working at a national firm in Esher, south London, is familiar with the region having been brought up in Suffolk. He attended Ipswich School and played football for Ipswich Town at YTS level before realising his future lay in accountancy.

He qualified as an accountant at a firm in Ipswich before moving to London where he has worked for the past 20 years.

As Mark begins his new role, one of his main focusses will be getting to know clients and tapping into his fellow partners’ knowledge of the local area.

“As far as my clients are concerned, my role is to become the trusted advisor,” said Mark. “You have to be interested in a person, get to know them and their families and learn about their goals and aspirations, both for business and individuals.

“You become an essential part of their business, taking the role of an FD where one doesn’t already exist within the organisation, and I’ve found that has accelerated over the last year. With the growing reliance on remote working, and Zoom or Teams, has come the ability to attend meetings more regularly.

“I think some of these changes to working practices will stick because they are effective touch points,” he continued.

What does Mark think the effects of the economic climate will be on the business over the coming year?

“I’ve been through two economic crises and what I’ve found is that clients need more help from their advisors than ever.

“It’s not just looking at tax optimisation, it’s looking at the wider aspects. For example, working with financial advisors and planners. I like to have the financial advisors on my side, it’s good to bring your thoughts together and present them to the client,” he explained.

“I am very pleased to working with the team at MHA Larking Gowen who have a strong presence in the region and an excellent reputation among their clients. The supportive working environment is an impressive part of the way the business operates, and I look forward to working with our many clients.”

Mark has relocated to north Norfolk with his wife, Johanna, who is a journalist and author, and his two children.

www.larking-gowen.co.uk

The unique awards are based on feedback from franchisees, highlighting the best franchises on the market.

Following its recent ‘5 Star Franchise Satisfaction Award‘, and as a result of feedback from its franchisees gathered by WorkBuzz, TaxAssist Accountants has been named as a finalist in the ‘Best Franchise £10m + Network Turnover’ category of The Best Franchise Awards 2020/21, sponsored by Lloyds Bank.

Having taken part in the Franchise Satisfaction Benchmark survey in 2020, franchisees were asked to anonymously provide scores for categories including initial training, ongoing support, their relationship with the franchisor and whether they would recommend the franchise to a prospective franchisee.

TaxAssist Accountants was proud to receive a ‘5 Star Franchise Satisfaction Award’ following the survey, an award it has received for eight consecutive years, and hopes to continue its string of successes, having regularly won accolades at previous Best Franchise Awards ceremonies.

Karl Sandall, Chief Executive Director at TaxAssist Accountants, said: “We are delighted to be nominated yet again for a Best Franchise Award. These awards are always extra special because they are based on positive feedback from our network of franchisees.

“In what have been very turbulent and challenging months for everybody, it is highly rewarding for our 60-strong Support Team to have their outstanding hard work and achievements recognised in this way. We’ve had brilliant feedback from both the accountants in the network and their clients on the levels of support we have provided to them and winning this award would be the icing on the cake.”

Steven Frost, CEO of WorkBuzz, said: “The pandemic has put unprecedented pressure on virtually every type of business, including franchises. What makes these franchisors special is how they have shown leadership and supported their franchise networks during difficult times, with many innovating their way out of the crisis. They should be proud of what they’ve achieved and the difference they’ve made to their franchisees.”

Normally, the winners would be announced at the Best Franchise Conference – a physical event packed with best practice seminars. This year, due to the pandemic, the winners will be announced at a virtual awards ceremony on Wednesday 10th February.

More information about the awards is available here.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council is extending the application period for the “top-up payment” for eligible businesses trading within the hospitality, hotel or B&B, or leisure sectors or in the supply trade to those sectors.

This payment was launched before Christmas under the Additional Restrictions Support Grant scheme, and is for eligible businesses that have already received either a Local Restrictions Support Grant or an Additional Restrictions Support Grant.

The application deadline, originally ending on January 11, 2021, has been extended until midnight on Monday, 18th January, 2021 in order to give as many eligible businesses as possible the greatest opportunity to apply.

In addition, the council has extended, until the same deadline, the deadline for applications to the original Additional Restrictions Support Grant, which was first launched during the second national lockdown for eligible businesses.

Click here for the link to the online application forms (where required), information and support about all the grants, eligibility criteria and further business advice.

Support during third national lockdown

The Government has announced financial support for businesses during this current lockdown, which includes additional discretionary funding, the new national lockdown grant and one-off top-up grants for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses worth up to £9,000 per property.

We are awaiting further guidance from Government and will promote these to businesses and make payments as soon as possible. Information will be available on the above webpage

Credo are delighted to be shortlisted for the 6th year running in the category ‘Asset Finance Broker of the Year!’

In 2020 we were thrilled to be ‘Highly commended’ but we would love to win the big trophy in 2021!

For Credo to be in with a chance of winning this National Award we need people to leave testimonials stating why we should win this award. It could be that we have helped you with finance recently or in the past, or that we have had an association with you in someway?

Whatever this may be we would love some positive feedback, and would be incredibly grateful if you would fill in this quick form (remember to tick Credo Asset Finance)

Please complete your testimonial here

Thank you, let’s hope 2021 is our year!

James and Mark return for season 3 with an episode focused on achieving New Year Resolutions. They build on the WOOP model introduced in episode 28, drawing reference to The Science of Wellbeing, Situational Support by J E Painter, James’ sleeping attire and Mark’s new knitting hobby.

If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. Whilst you are there, please like us, and leave a comment. We would love to hear what you are enjoying about the podcast, and it helps others to find us!

Listen here! 

https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/news/2021/01/start-or-grow-a-business-with-the-help-of-your-local-library

The latest lockdown announced on 4 January 2021 means employers and employees will be depending on the furlough scheme until the scheme’s end date, currently in April 2021. Barry Howell, senior manager at chartered accountants and business advisors, MHA Larking Gowen, says businesses can handle the complexity if they follow a few important rules and need to be aware that application deadlines and eligibility criteria have undergone changes since the furlough scheme began.

More employees are now eligible for furlough. Barry said, “If you put in a new furlough application now, you need to bear in mind that more employees are potentially eligible for the scheme as the qualification criteria have changed.”

The current furlough, or Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), now covers employees on a Real Time Information (RTI) return at 30 October 2020. This applies to employees covered by the initial phases of the furlough scheme prior to 30 June 2020, but also applies to new employees taken on after 20 March 2020 and before 30 October 2020, who were included in an RTI return in that period.

Barry continued, “There are also new deadlines. Claims now need to be made within 14 days of the end of the month they relate to AND can only be amended up to 28 days after the end of the month that they relate to. Previously, you could claim months in arrears, so if the last time you submitted a claim was in July and you think you still have plenty of time to put your claim in, think again.

“CJRS is fairly flexible though. Full furlough allows you to furlough an employee for (say) a week where they are not expected to undertake any work at all. Flexi-furlough allows you to furlough an employee for a set amount of time, for example a week, but requires them to work some days or hours in that set time (i.e. that week). For example, instead of eight hours a day, they could work four hours and then be furloughed for four hours.”

However, Barry cautioned that CJRS does not cover National Insurance contributions (NIC) and statutory pension contributions.

“CJRS covers regular, contractual wages up to the 80%/£2,500 per month cap, but this is, in reality, a daily cap with the £2,500 divided by the number of days in the calendar month. It does not cover the associated employer NIC and statutory pension contributions which employers must pay for themselves.”

Barry said employers should also beware of annual leave and furlough calculations. He explained, “Furloughed employees can take annual leave while on furlough, but you must pay them 100% of their pay in line with working time regulations that govern how much holiday pay they are due. This can become complex because a standard furlough claim is based on ‘reference pay’ for the period prior to 20 March 2020 (or 30 October 2020). However, holiday pay is calculated differently and based on a rolling average. This means an employee’s holiday pay could be higher than the reference pay and if so, an employer may not be able to claim 80% of the full holiday pay back.

“If you want employees to use up accrued and unused leave you must give them notice of at least double the time you want them to take. So, if you want them to take a week’s leave, you need to give them two weeks’ notice in advance of this.”

Barry concluded, “Overall, CJRS is still very good news for employees, who may otherwise be formally laid off or made redundant, and is still quite good news for employers. Of course, how much longer employers can support the NIC and pension commitments associated with CJRS remains to be seen. Only a successful mass vaccination programme offers a way out.”

Visit MHA Larking Gowen’s dedicated COVID-19 Hub for regular updates and advice on the ongoing goverment updates.