Member News

TaxAssist Accountants’ continued success has seen the small business specialist rise three places to 21st in the results of the 2016 Top50 survey published by AccountancyAge, supported by Sage.

The growth of its nationwide franchise network contributed to a 13 per cent increase in revenue which saw the TaxAssist Accountants network generate £33.65m in income – £3.65m more than in 2015.

This stands in stark contrast to a fifth of the Top 50+50 (all 100 firms) who saw their fee income fall, or grow by less than 5%.

Overall, the survey revealed the Top 50 firms collectively increased their fees to £12.8bn, up nearly a billion pounds from £11.9bn in 2015.

Sarah Robertson, Group Operations Director at TaxAssist Accountants, said: “We are delighted to have risen three places in the survey and that our business model has helped our network to provide accountancy services to increasing numbers of small business clients.

“We have been following the government’s Making Tax Digital plans with great interest to ensure TaxAssist Accountants remains at the forefront of the industry. This has included the launch of strategic partnerships with the latest cloud technology, so that keeping their accounts organised has never been easier for our network’s 63,000 clients.”

Kevin Reed, Head of Editorial at AccountancyAge, said: “The survey shows that the UK’s top accountancy firms are continuing to navigate a very uncertain world.

“But their journeys are all different. Many firms have maintained static performance and left their partner numbers unchanged. Others have grown fees, but through acquisition. Yet the Big Four (Deloitte; EY; KPMG; and PwC), which have faced criticism from investors, parliament and governance commentators over their audit, tax and insolvency offerings, continue to invest and grow.”

To see the list of the Top50 firms and an analysis by AccountancyAge click here…

How to make life decisions

It’s 1994 and two managers are at an industry exhibition. Their years had been spent learning the trade and had rested at overseeing projects and personnel at a large inspection company. They were frustrated and were wondering where their careers were headed. Where would they be in 10 years’ time?

That evening, during a lubricated discussion they made a life changing decision – they would go it alone. Perhaps not the best way to choose the direction of your career, but in the cold light of day, the idea still seemed feasible.

Fast forward: January 1995

Those same two men entered a suite of rented rooms; a glorified damp and cold shed all but empty save for a used desk and a filing cabinet. There was a striking coat of red paint trying to disguise a shabby work bench and this was it, there was no going back.

The door opened. The courier had bought them their first job. They stared somewhat anxiously at the two blue packing cases. The silence was broken: “We need to buy some test gear. And now”.

Laying foundations

In the early days, Kim Hastings and Chris Cathles worked tirelessly, repairing and calibrating all manner of equipment. Both being well known and respected in the industry was an enormous help in building a reputable company. As time went on TVC grew steadily.

Local companies were thrilled at having a service company on the doorstep; the fast response and no need for shipping meant less downtime and more profits. A basic hire fleet and the supply of new equipment were added to the portfolio. The manufacture of bespoke equipment followed and the ALX series of welding data loggers was born.

We need a bigger shed

TVC moved into larger premises in 2001 and it was home for the next 13 years. Incorporation was followed by ISO 9001 quality accreditation, further boosting the company’s standing.

Over time, and stretching their capacity to the limit, TVC set about developing its products. Additional staff were hired and renting a space for a mechanical workshop where turning and milling facilities were installed. This also provided a larger area for fully weld testing data loggers prior to shipping.

Weld tested, well-travelled

A network of agents covering industry hot spots globally, allowed TVC to become an international organisation. In supplying the pipeline, welding fabrication and inspection industries through companies local to our global neighbours, who can deal direct with the client base in their own language and knowledge of business customs, TVC equipment can now be found on major onshore and offshore projects. In fact, the ALX and MAL series of welding data loggers are used on some of the most ground breaking projects ever completed. More recently, this includes the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) project currently under construction, and the follow on Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).

The new build

The introduction of welding gas monitoring systems and the license agreement to manufacture subsea MPI inspection equipment again prompted a move to larger premises. Since moving in May 2015, TVC have expanded both their admin and technical workforce to assist with demand.

As with all technology based industries, TVC is ever changing and evolving. New welding data logging systems, pipe purging and welding gas monitoring systems have been launched along with gas condition measurement systems. Many of these items are bespoke, tailored exactly to our customers systems and requirements. In addition, the increasing demand for steel pipe clad with super alloys has opened up further areas for diversification. Our inspection camera systems and unique clad thickness measurement systems are in use inspecting pipe weld overlay internal cladding in countries across the globe.

Quality from the inside out

Yet, it hasn’t stopped there. TVC are ever expanding, catering for the industry’s needs wherever we can. This has led to our calibration laboratory achieving UKAS ISO 17025 accreditation for Ultrasonic Flaw Detection equipment (to BS EN 12668-1). A number of our local clientele required their test equipment calibrating to UKAS. Our clients asked us if we could, so we did.

The benefits for choosing UKAS, give you approved, equipment technicians who have proven reliability and knowledge of your equipment. UKAS can help win or maintain international business as UKAS, and its associated ILAC-MRA mark, are globally recognised. Complex projects require accuracy and safety, with the stringent requirements of UKAS you can prove full traceability for your equipment, in addition to due care and attention for the safety of your staff and clients. TVC can help you do that.

“The controls under UKAS are far stricter, the traceability is far stricter, which only adds credence to the industry and to what we’re doing here at TVC. We will be expanding the UKAS coverage in our calibration services as time goes on.”

– Kim Hastings, TVC

TVC have an outstanding calibration laboratory with greater accreditation, we are now expanding our services even further by offering a three tier service including Standard, Premium and Fast Track services available to assist you even faster and provide that “must have” equipment in the shortest timescales. Booking details will be available on our website shortly but please contact the office for further information in the interim.

On Tuesday 6th September lunchtime, myself and Lewis our Junior Software Developer took to the gym! We took part in a free corporate day offered by The Gym Group on Hall Road. I must say we were dreading it, but I was surprised by the results.

According to numerous studies, exercising is not only beneficial for losing weight and keeping physically fit, but an effective way of boosting productivity within the workplace.

Exercise is a great way to keep you alert. As blood flow to the brain increases so does your awareness, which helps us to be more prepared for those big projects.

As well as alertness, another benefit is having more energy. The more energy goes into a project, the better the outcome. It’s also important to keep up high energy to make you feel more awake at work and to simply perform to the best of your ability.

Exercise is also known as the stress buster. I know that all of us can relate to being stressed at work. Whether you’ve been overloaded with work and you’re struggling to reach the deadline date or if you can’t work out why the printer isn’t printing, we’ve all been there. Try to fit in some exercise as part of your stress management plan.

At the gym we were shown around by one of the Personal Trainers Reuben, taking it in turns to trial each machine. After being shown what to do we were then free to roam around the gym. We then took part in a 30 minute ab session which myself and Lewis are still aching from!

Being a new apprentice in my first job, I do at times feel a little stressed. Leaving the office for just those couple of hours and taking part in these exercises which I don’t get a lot of time to do, I can honestly say I felt refreshed and full of energy ready to work.

I also felt that it’s a great method to build working relationships. As I said I’m still new to Naked Element and taking a couple of hours to humiliate myself around the gym with my colleague Lewis is just what you need to form a team.

I definitely felt the benefits of the corporate day Gym session at The Gym Group and it’s something I’d like you all to consider. Especially during those stressful times.

Thank you to the staff at The Gym Group for this great opportunity and for being so helpful.

Words by Rain

East Anglia’s largest business rescue and insolvency practice McTear Williams & Wood, hosted its first cycling sportive the ‘Tour de Wymondham’ in conjunction with local cycling company Pedal Revolution.

Starting at Wymondham Rugby Club, forty keen cyclists, all professionals from across the region, took to the roads around the picturesque Norfolk countryside, cycling either a 20 mile or a 40 mile route. After all their hard work, the cyclists were rewarded with plenty of refreshments and a chance to recover and compare notes on the routes.

As cycling is becoming increasingly popular as a great way to socialise and keep fit, McTear Williams & Wood are planning to make the sportive an annual event.

McTear Williams & Wood extend their thanks to everyone who took part, especially Pedal Revolution and Wymondham Rugby Club who hosted the event.

After all the excitement with our UKAS accreditation and a new ‘fast track’ calibration service (more on that coming soon!), we’ve not had a chance to congratulate our boy wonder, Charlie Soanes.

Charlie qualified for the British Sporting Championship, the UK’s 2nd biggest sporting event on the shooting calendar on 1st September. This was the second day of the five day event and there were around 1200 shooters, across all age groups.

After shooting a little under par, Charlie was surprised to learn that he had actually come in second on the day in the Colts group which meant he had done more than enough to qualify for the Super Final on the last day.

Charlie shot a fantastic 60 out of 75 targets at the final, giving him 2nd place and a silver podium finish. He was also offered a clay target sponsorship deal!

The way Charlie is powering through his competitions this year gives him excellent experience for moving up to the Juniors groups in the next year – and, it could lead towards getting him a place shooting for his country in the qualifiers in 2017.

Aston Shaw has released a new and improved mobile application for both apple and android devices, which boasts a number of great new features.

Aston Shaw first released an app in 2011 and many of the most-used features have been retained, such as the rather useful tax calculator, tax table, tax tips and a key tax dates calendar.

• Tax Calculator – Using the calculator, you can work out how much tax is payable on taxes such as corporation tax, dividends, income tax and many more.
• Tax Tables – Using the ‘Tax Tables’ feature you can see current taxation rates and benefits, from National Insurance to Vehicle benefits.
• Key Tax Dates – Keeping informed of key tax dates is important, it can be the difference between meeting deadlines or being lumbered with penalties.
• Tax Tips – Receive practical, up-to-date tax tips that can help you save money.

The new version of the app however, has the addition of:

• Blog
• Quickbooks
• Receipt Bank

What do these new features mean for clients?

The introduction of the blog feature means that clients can keep up-to-date with Aston Shaw’s award winning blogs! Blogs cover a range of topics, from industry news to business tips. Clients will also have the option to receive push notifications every time a new blog is uploaded.

The integration of quickbooks into the Aston Shaw app means clients can run their business anywhere by using the number 1 small business cloud accounting platform. With quickbooks you can:

• Create and send professional invoices and estimates (in multiple currencies).
• Download, categorise, and reconcile bank and credit card transactions.
• Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet reports show how your business is doing.
• Attach photos and notes to estimates, invoices, customers, and transactions.
• Receive overdue invoice notifications so you always know who owes you money.
• Customise tax rates for your business.

Do you hate having to keep looking after receipts? With the Receipt Bank feature on Aston Shaw’s app, you can simply snap photos of your receipts or invoices and Receipt Bank will extract all of the information for you. This means you can get rid of all those annoying bits of paper.

The new app also benefits from a quick access link to the client login section of the Aston Shaw website, making it even easier to manage your finances on the go.

The app is available for download now on the Apple App Store and Google Play!

TaxAssist Accountants, the largest network of accountants specialising in providing services to small businesses, has bolstered its board of executive directors as it continues to grow its operations both in the UK and abroad.

James Mattam, previously Senior Business Development Manager, has been promoted to Group Business Development Director, while his predecessor Sarah Robertson will take on wider responsibility as Group Operations Director.

James joined TaxAssist Accountants after leaving university in 1999 and has played a key role in helping to generate business for the TaxAssist network. He has also managed important relationships with suppliers and partners, ensuring TaxAssist remains a leading force in the accountancy industry and the small business market.

His new role will see James responsible for marketing strategy, brand development, shop fronts, practice management and business development strategies for the UK accounting network and international matters.

Sarah has been a director at TaxAssist since 2004 and helped transform the business development department, which included successfully introducing shopfront premises for many franchisees and contributing extensively to the overall development of the business.

With her comprehensive knowledge of the network and skillset, Sarah will bring a different dynamic to the role as she focuses on recruiting new franchisees and making sure that TaxAssist continues to embrace the latest technological advances.

Outgoing Group Operations Director Phil Sullivan will become Group Finance Director, while Karl Sandall and Ray Clarke remain as Group Chief Executive Director and Group Technical Director respectively.

Karl said: “As the TaxAssist network grows both in the UK and internationally, we have ensured our franchisees are able to continue to receive support from a highly experienced and skilled board.

“Sarah’s new role was a natural progression so she can take on wider group responsibilities, and I am delighted we have been able to promote James in recognition of his hard work and contributions to the TaxAssist success story.”

September 2016

The future growth of TaxAssist Accountants in Australia has been mapped out by Master Franchisee Terry Murphy and business partner Celeste Godwin, following a visit by the company’s UK-based International Development Team.

Senior Manager UK & International Franchise Development, David Paulson, and Richard Chatten, International Support Officer, visited Terry and Celeste to provide further support to his Australian business, including its Support Centre staff and three franchisees.

The fortnight enabled David and Richard to provide training and support to staff at TaxAssist practices in Burleigh, Woolgoolga, Taree and Forster, as well as providing them with the opportunity to discuss the overall strategy for the next 12 months. As part of this vision, they were able to highlight any additional training to further enhance franchise recruitment and support.

David and Richard also visited franchisees Avendra Narayan, Panbo Ye and Colin Lua, who are all based in and around the Sydney area, as well as approving a shopfront location in Sydney Central Business District (CBD) territory for Colin.

The duo also met Ian Watt, Senior Business Development Manager Franchising – New South Wales (NSW) and Australian Capital Territory (ACT) of Westpac bank, to further strengthen the relationship with TaxAssist Accountants to benefit new franchisees joining the network.

Terry said: “Being able to show David and Richard our success to date and discuss my business strategy for the coming years with them in person was not only appreciated, but beneficial to us all. Their visit highlights the level of assistance TaxAssist Accountants provides to its Master Franchisee and single unit franchisees globally.”

David added: “Richard and myself have had an extremely productive trip providing further guidance and support as we work together to ensure the success of TaxAssist Accountants in Australia.

“Terry and his team have made a fantastic start, and all of the ground work has been done and it is now just a case of building on these solid foundations. It is a pleasure to see how well TaxAssist is working and growing in the short time since my last visit in March.”

August 2016

The Employer Training Incentive Pilot (ETIP) has been around for a year or two now, and has helped many businesses (including ours!) by funding a proportion of the cost of training. Of course, certain condition apply. The Bad News; the scheme will not accept any new applications after 28th February 2017. So if you’ve been thinking about Level 3 or 4 Health and Safety courses, now is the time to act. The Good News; funding for one learner is now up from £1000 to £1500, and the proportion of funding is increased from 30% to 40%.

This funding will apply to all of our Level 3 and 4 training courses, including Food Safety, Health and Safety & Training Skills (Train the Trainer courses)

Where Can You Find Further Information? Contact us for a flyer and application form, or go to Suffolk Chamber of Trade directly by clicking here Telephone; 01473 694811 Email; etip@suffolkchamber.co.uk And don’t forget to tell them that we sent you!!

This September, accountants from East Anglian Accountancy firm, Aston Shaw will be heading to the Lake District to undertake one of the UK’s most difficult endurance challenges – all in support of local Children’s charity, EACH.

This is not the first time staff members from Aston Shaw have taken on a daring challenge for charity. Last year, the firm committed to raising £10,000 through a sponsored skydive alongside various other fundraising activities.

The 24 Peaks in 24 Hours challenge will be every bit as challenging, if not more so than the skydive. This is an endurance challenge in which teams must reach the peak of 24 mountains/hills in the Lake District within just 24 hours. Over two days successful teams will have covered some 44 kilometers (33 miles) and climbed a total height equal to half that of Mt Everest, all this within a combined time of 24 hours!

Aston Shaw have again committed to raising £10,000 for EACH this year; staff are busy training and raising sponsorships. The event is drawing ever-closer, on Saturday 24th September and Sunday 25th September, 18 members of staff from all 5 of Aston Shaw’s offices will be putting their training to the test as they tackle the long anticipated 24 peaks in 24 hours challenge. You too can help Aston Shaw reach their goal of raising £10,000 for EACH by visiting their JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Aston-Shaw

EACH supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk and relies heavily on donations from fundraising activities. The money raised will largely go towards the nook appeal; EACH is raising money for a new, bespoke hospice to be built in the heart of Norfolk. The new hospice will be much better equipped to provide the services that the children need, and will bring new facilities for the children to enjoy.

Every time a new mobile phone is released, the internet is awash with reviews and comparisons articles. Some people are iPhone evangelists while others stick to their Android guns, but more recently Android have shown an increase in market sales, overtaking Apple by a considerable margin and now account for three quarters of the market share.

One could argue this is because of better User Interfaces, faster hardware, the ability to hold a charge or the fact that iPhones bend permanently, but I think it’s more unconscious than that. In a growing tech-minded world, people just don’t like to be told what to do anymore. Since early 2000s, when Apple’s breakthrough mass market product, the iPod, was plugged into just about everybody’s ears, Apple have been controlling how we live with personal tech. With their shiny white headphones and inaccessible battery, the iPod/Pad/Phone cartel have removed the public’s ability to be unique, their ability to choose.

As the computer nerds of the Eighties have grown up, they’ve gotten used to hacking software, to customising their tech and making it perform the way they want to. As technology becomes part of everybody’s lives, not just the geeks, ordinary people want more freedom too. Not only is it better for the user, it’s also interactive, it’s fun! After all, who wants a dog that can’t learn any new tricks? We’re teaching our children, who are already ten times more tech-minded than we were at that age, to code and to build software. There’s an inherent joy in creating something and watching it perform to your commands. iPhone removes the ability to control our own tech, as if we can’t be trusted to see what’s inside the bright white casing.

Quite simply, Android technology shows more faith in the user. Rather than having to go to the shiny Apple store and speak to a ‘Genius’, Android phones can be serviced by the user. If you’ve created an app, the Google Play store allows much easier access for smaller designers, whereas the Apple app store has Apple-shaped hoops the creator must jump through to comply with their guidelines. Android phones can be customised in a multitude of ways (something Apple has now caught on to), in order to make the phone work for the user, not the other way around.

From being able to service a device yourself to making your UI suit your needs, Android is more user-centred. iPhones remove that trust in the user. In much the same way that new cars cannot be serviced by the owner, but must be taken to a brand-named garage to have a computer run diagnostics, any iProduct must be returned to the all-knowing maker. In short, Apple has little confidence in their consumer, and deems them not smart enough to know what they want or make it happen for themselves. Android on the other hand, gives us free reign, with open source software and says ‘show me what you can do’.

Words by Lauren

Did you enjoy watching the Olympics? Now it’s your time to shine!

September sees the return of the Shake Up September Challenge and this year we’re encouraging you and your colleagues to get active and try out some Olympic and Paralympic sports in Norfolk. Even better, by getting involved and logging activity (through the website or mobile App) on Workplace Challenge during the month you could win some great PRIZES! Could your organisation top the leaderboard and claim the glory? For more information on the Challenge including how you can play Shake Up September bingo with your colleagues and to download the Shake Up September poster to display in your workplaceclick here.

No gold medals but we have some great prizes! Be in with a chance of winning some great local and national prizes by logging your activity on Workplace Challenge during September. For information on national prizes,click here. In Norfolk, we will be giving away prizes every Monday for 4 weeks starting on Monday 12 September. To be eligible to win a prize, just log any activity online during the previous 7 days (or from the 1st September for the first week) then keep an eye out on the news section of the website or Active Norfolk’s twitter page to find out if you are one of our lucky winners. Prizes will include cinema, shopping and restaurant vouchers. Plus – log any active travel during September and you could win a bike worth up to £400!

Travel actively during Shake Up September and you could win a bike! We all rely on cars and public transport, because they make our lives so easy. But making active travel choices can be an easy way to fit activity into your day. It can take a little longer and you may not be able to do it for all your journeys, but you may be surprised where you can swap the car or public transport for two legs or two wheels. If you can walk or cycle instead of driving or taking public transport, it can also be good for your pocket, as well as the environment. So there are even more reasons to give it a go! During Shake Up September, we are encouraging you to introduce some active travel into your regular journeys. Whether you are going to the shop, to visit friends, family or commuting to work why not try travelling actively by walking or cycling, plus any active travel you log on Workplace Challenge during Shake Up September will enter you into a prize draw to win up to £400 to spend on a commuter bike and accessories at Pedal Revolution.

Shake Up September Fit4Work Competitions As part of Shake Up September, Active Norfolk are running two Olympic inspired competitions as part of our Fit4Work Competition Calendar. • Shake Up September – This Girl Can Ladies Fun Gymnastics Challenge at UEA Sportspark on Tuesday 13 September – only 2 team places left! • Shake Up September – Fit4Work Volleyball at UEA Sportspark on Thursday 29 September For more information and to book your workplace a place,click here.

More information:www.workplacechallenge.org.uk/activenorfolk