Better Out Than In

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Dust and fume extraction systems are essential for many industries where the presence of dust and fumes can have an adverse affect on the health and well being of those who work in such environments. Bronchitis, emphysema and some lung and intestine cancers are caused by breathing in dust and fumes and in light of this, adequate extraction systems must be installed in order to comply with health and safety regulations.

 

Dust and fume extraction works in three stages; those being capture, convey and collect. In the case of a woodwork shop, dust is captured as it is cut either by gravity or vacuum. It is conveyed via a vacuum hose or ducting and collected in a bag or hopper (much like a domestic cylinder vacuum cleaner but on a much larger scale). In the case of a mechanic’s workshop, car exhaust fumes are captured and conveyed via a vacuum pipe attached to the exhaust pipe, but instead of being collected, are filtered and ejected out of the building into the atmosphere.

 

In the UK, James Dyson is largely believed to have developed the cyclonic vacuum cleaner. However the ancestor of the ‘Dyson’ is in industrial dust extraction systems, which have been using the cyclonic principle for many many years. In fact, the first patent for the cyclonic vacuum was granted in 1928. Dust and fume extraction is essential not only for keeping those who work in dusty of fume ridden environments safe, but also to keep a whole range of contaminants out of the atmosphere.

By Carl Liver

 

The Future’s Bright With Fuel Cards

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Petrol

This month we’re going to look at how using fuel cards to pay for petrol and diesel purchases can help save money in spite of ever increasing fuel costs.

 

With the price of petrol and diesel fuel being more upwardly mobile than a weather balloon, it’s a wonder why anybody can afford to drive a car, let alone run a fleet of vehicles. Back in 1983, the average cost for a gallon of petrol was £1.67. Taking inflation into account between 1983 and 2011, that figure would be equivalent to around £4.64. However the average cost of a gallon of petrol in 2011 was a staggering £5.90. Of course we fully expect prices to rise over the best part of thirty years, but when prices rise over and above the rate of inflation, it’s a bitter pill to swallow. And bearing in mind that for the most part our monthly pay packets haven’t quite kept up with inflation, the rising costs of fuel purchases is taking even more out of our monthly budget.

 

For those who run a single car on a daily basis, you will no doubt be aware just how difficult rises in fuel duty or the price of oil can adversely affect your pocket. However for the fleet manager being responsible for a number of vehicles, these pennies very quickly add up to hundreds if not thousands of pounds. For the fleet manager, watching every penny and every drop of fuel is as big a part of their job as ensuring the drivers are in on time, their fleet leaves on time and everything runs on time.

 

One way of keeping a close eye on the pennies is by issuing each driver with a fuel card. These have a variety of benefits over cash payments for fuel; the most attractive to the fleet manager being the slightly lower than pump prices on each litre of gallon of fuel. In addition to slightly reduced prices on each litre drawn, the fleet manager can also keep a close eye on when, where and how much fuel has been drawn by each individual driver or vehicle. This data can be invaluable as it can highlight where drivers are running their vehicle uneconomically.

 

In previous months we’ve discussed how changing driving habits can help save fuel and increase overall efficiency throughout your fleet. Better, smoother and less aggressive driving not only saves fuel, but can vastly reduce wear and tear on the vehicle, therefore reducing maintenance costs too. By adopting a better driving initiative, coupled with the use of fuel cards can help many companies in a wide variety of industries and trades to keep their vehicles on the road whilst keeping running costs to a minimum, helping them through the economic crisis and driving safely towards a brighter future.

By Carl Liver

Fuel Card Fraud

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Fuel Gauge

Although fuel cards are designed to help businesses streamline their fuel payments process and lower overall fuel expenditure, reports of fuel card fraud are on the increase and if your company or business is a victim, you’ll be paying much more for your fuel than you should be. These days, card security is far more robust than it has been in the past. For example, before the swipe style or more recent chip and pin fuel cards were introduced, the simple heavy paper cards which bore the fuel providers name, the company name and the driver name or vehicle registration number could easily be forged. And by forged, we mean photocopied on to a similar weight card. The only way of stopping the old cards being forged or misused was purely down to the diligence or honesty if its user, meaning dishonest users could easily con their employers out of tens, hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

 

However since card security was tightened with chip and pin, fuel card fraud does still occur, although much more rarely than a few decades ago. What is worrying is that in the last couple of years, more and more cases of fuel card fraud have been brought to light. In 2009 a lorry driver was caught on CCTV filling up fuel canisters with diesel immediately after filling his fuel tank. It could have been argued he was just buying some emergency fuel, but the fact the canisters were in the boot of a second vehicle alerted forecourt staff that something wasn’t right. Other cases have come to light where fuel cards have simply been left in rented vehicles and unscrupulous ‘finders’ have used the card for as long as they can.

 

Only last month (March 2012) a couple of villains were given suspended sentences after a vigilant forecourt worker spotted a forged fuel card. He noticed the card was the wrong shade of green and the logo was in the wrong place. As the transaction processed, he took down the vehicle registration plate, the card number and a description of the van and contacted the police. Within 5 minutes the two villains were caught and the extent of their scam was finally brought to light. Not only were they purchasing fuel using a forged card, the van they were using had additional fuel tanks fitted giving it a total capacity of 2,000 litres.

 

Although cases of fuel card fraud do appear to be on the increase, the crooks behind the scams are not getting away with it for long. Some fraudulent acquisitions are being spotted immediately and the rest are discovered within a few days. There is no such thing as a 100% secure card, but thanks to vigilant forecourt staff and diligent fleet managers, fuel card fraud is quickly discovered and stopped, minimising the costs of this kind of fraud to businesses throughout the UK.

By Carl Liver

UK Business Insurance: What Types Do You Really Need?

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modern business glass facade

Generally speaking, in the UK there are three types of business insurance; Public liability, Product Liability and Employers Liability Insurance.

Of the three, only Employers Liability Insurance is required by law; and this only applies if you have any ‘employees’ working under your direction. Although you may not consider yourself to have any employees, you would do well to check as the definition of an ‘employee’ to insurers is very, very wide. Some individual cases where successful claims were made were highly tenuous and can include family members or friends working under you for very short periods of time. So consider freelancers, contractors, sub-contractors, interns or anyone doing paid work, even if it’s only as a favour. To be more certain of your own position, contact your accountant or HMRC.

By law, the minimum legal coverage your business should have should be up to £5,000,000; although many business insurers will provide up to £10,000,000 in cover and others will combine both employers liability cover with both public and product liability into one comprehensive policy.

The slightly less essential public and product liability covers protect you from more general incidents. If you offer products or services, such insurance cover should protect you from any claims that result from illness, injury or damage caused by your products or services, such as a customer injuring themselves whilst using your product or perhaps someone claiming food poisoning as a result of your catering services. Some authorities and committees will require that you have some form of cover when working with them to protect themselves, this is common for businesses that use a tender process as part of their supplier selection process. This is perhaps a problem to service providers; those who sell an isolated product usually have a fair idea of the risks involved, services however are often tailored to particular circumstances and clients, and they have a tendency to change over time. So if you design websites for example, a client could misuse the solution you put in place, ruin their site and their brand, and later blame you for a lack of training.

Although these cases are rare, they do occur. It’s because of this rarity that many businesses neglect to insure themselves, but the problem is that when they do get sued, the costs are never small when the claim is successful. It’s like playing on a monopoly board where Mayfair has three hotels, it’s unlikely that you’ll land there… But when you do the costs can lose you the game, or bankrupt you in real terms.

The same applies to Public Liability. This protects you from the public at large, should they fall down some stairs in your premises, scald themselves using a tap or should they trip over your doormat, you’re covered. Many businesses believe that they shouldn’t have to pay out for their customer’s stupidity or lack of bodily coordination, but the simple fact is that if they injure themselves on your premises and make a claim, you stand to lose a lot of money if you’re not insured; relying on their goodwill and their acceptance of their own clumsiness and lack of awareness is unlikely to get you very far.

That said, it is prudent to take out this cover anyway. Many smaller businesses could never afford to pay the damages resulting from a claim, but they may well find a commercial business insurance policy to be within their grasp. As the English proverb goes, it’s better to have it and not need it, that to need it and not have it.

For a quote or advice, contact a specialist Business Insurance Broker.

Here at ABA we believe in offering only the best insurance products and services to businesses, ensuring you get only the cover you need and not excessive policies that you’ll never make use of. As the economy begins to find its feet again, insurance will continue to be a cost that many companies will try to skimp on. Cut back on policy price, not quality. If you need business insurance help or a very specific for of coverage, speak to us at: http://www.abagroup.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Graham_Webster

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UK Tax Information: 5 Tax Deductible Business Expenses

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Tax

You may be currently calculating this year’s tax return, but while taxes and accounting is fresh on your mind, it’s the perfect time to begin thinking about your tax preparation for next year. If you are aware of allowable deductions, you can plan out large purchases for years with higher earning levels. First, you’ll need to be aware of what’s allowed or considered an allowable deduction. We’ve got the information you are looking for.

Tax Deductible Expenses for Your Business

Before we discuss what expenses you can deduct from your taxes, let’s take a moment to discuss what qualifies as a tax deductible expense, according to the HM Revenue and Customs, and what the term tax deductible means.

A tax deduction reduces the amount of income you can be taxed on. It does not add to your refund, but rather reduces the taxpayer’s total taxable income by a certain percentage. Many individuals confuse this term with a tax credit, which reduces the amount of taxes a person owes.

According the HM Revenue and Customs, expenses that can qualify as tax deductions must be expenses directly related to your business. They must be used for yours or your employee’s work and nothing else.

So, what expenses can be used as tax deductions? Here are just a few to consider.

 

    • Office Uniforms- Do you want your employees to bring a more professional appearance to your business? A new office uniform can help with that, and, according to the HM Revenue and Customs, you can use any type of corporate clothing or office uniforms as a deduction on your taxes.
    • Travel Expenses- Business travel can become very expensive. You may have to pay for airline fees, hotel expenses, rental vehicles, and food. Those are obvious and usually not missed. But what about the occasions when you drive a client to the airport or send a fruit basket to an employee’s hospital room when he was injured on the job? Can these be used as deductions? As long as all of the expenses are truly related to your company’s business needs, these can be deducted from your taxes.
    • Capital Allowances-Capital expenditures, or purchases made for the benefit of your business, can be tax deductions. Such items may be new filing cabinets, new desks, new computers, or a new copy machine.
    • Business Mileage-Do you need to take the company car out for a business meeting? You can deduct the fuel or mileage you use for this purpose, as long as the commute is for business reasons.
  • Professional Fees-If your business is part of an organization that requires membership or registration fees, you may be able to deduct this cost from your taxes. Only certain organizations approved by the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) can be used, however. You can find a list of approved organizations at the HMRC government website.

 

If the amount of taxes you are paying in this year has you feeling discouraged, you may want to begin planning ahead for next year. Take advantage of tax deductions by purchasing a new office uniform selection, joining HMRC approved organizations, and buying new capital expenditures for your office. This time next year, your taxable income will be much less, thanks to your deductions.

Brook Taverner offers an office uniform line especially for female staff members and executives. Our line of corporate wear will bring an air of confidence and professionalism that will take your business to the next level. From convenient and easy to care for washable suits to a more business casual options, Brook Taverner has the look you want to project.

Creating the right business image starts with your staff’s contact with the public. Make every encounter a positive one with Brook Taverner’s sophisticated, professional lines.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=M_Hammersley

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Company Formation in the UK

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Business Man

Start-ups in the United Kingdom can choose to operate as a sole trader or they can register as a limited company. The latter option is a popular choice for many entrepreneurs as it provides a legal format in which to operate and offers protected liability for the shareholders of the company.

Having chosen to form a company you now need to decide where to locate the business. The United Kingdom consists of four different countries. You can choose to register your business in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. The location of your company is determined by the official registered office recorded at Companies House. It is important that you choose the correct location when registering the company as it is not possible to move the registered location once the incorporation is complete.

There are several options for the registration of your firm. At one end of the scale you will find accountants and solicitors that will charge a premium for their advice and consultation. Whilst the fees of an accountant or solicitor are typically above one hundred pounds it may be argued that their advice is worth the higher costs. They can discuss share allocation, director’s responsibilities and may even suggest the use of a limited liability partnership as an alternative for start-ups with at least two people involved.

A popular alternative is to enlist the services of a company formation agent. The charges of an agent are considerably cheaper than an accountant and you can still draw upon the knowledge of the service provider during the formation process. There are many online websites packed with advice and the incorporation can also be completed electronically in just a few hours. Fees vary between agents but in general the formation should cost just a few pounds.

The last option is to try to create the company yourself using Companies House directly. This can be done by completing manual paperwork and posting the application or by using the online service introduced more recently. The online service has one main advantage that it is cheap. However, you will not be offered detailed advice as the registrar is a record keeper not a business advisor. If you have questions about share structure or what rights to issue to shares then it may be better to seek assistance from a professional.

Whether starting a company in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland or England the process is essentially the same. The legal incorporation will occur in either Glasgow, Cardiff or Belfast as English companies are also registered in Cardiff. If unsure about any part of the process it is recommended that you seek advice from a professional before making mistakes. There is wealth of information online and many service providers will offer basic free advice.

Consider seeking advice from a professional when starting a Scottish company. Shop around and research how to form a company and find the best company formation agent for your requirements.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_D_Harris

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Starting a Home Business in the UK

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Starting a Home Business in the UK

FACT: There are literally millions of people in the UK that feel unfulfilled in their job.

Perhaps you are one of them?

Seven Things to Keep in Mind When Starting Home Based Business in the UK

1. Choose Your Products or Services Wisely.

Put simply, you need to sell stuff that people want to buy. You also need to sell stuff that makes you money. Make sure the profit margins are there.

One reason why I love information products so much is because people will always want quality information and be prepared to pay for it.

Example: You might be passionate about 3 Legged, Albino Hamsters from Outer Mongolia…

But I very much doubt you will find a viable market for your ‘How to Care For 3 Legged Albino Hamsters From Outer Mongolia’ action guide.

2. Go to Work. When you work from home, there is a great temptation to not treat work seriously. Things like taking too many breaks and stopping to watch Coronation Street can quickly undermine your chances of success.

In my own home based business, I often go out in the morning – even if it is just to grab a newspaper so I can come home and experience the feeling of ‘going to work’

It sounds silly but it works. It helps me get into the right mindset.

3. Use a Daily Planner. This one thing can transform your results from mediocre to spectacular. You will also get far more done in a lot less time.

4. Focus on Marketing. I often tell people who attend my Home Business Seminars, that in business it is not the THING it is the MARKETING of the thing that makes all the difference in the world.

 

  • I believe that marketing can help you solve just about any problem you face.
  • Do you need an assistant? Marketing can provide the money to hire one.
  • Do you need more equipment? marketing can help you afford it.

WARNING: Unless you focus on marketing, you will always be caught in the trap of working IN your business instead of ON it. 

You will never have a business that serves your life. Without marketing, your life will serve your business.

You will be like the proverbial mouse on a wheel – running like crazy but never getting anywhere.

5. Network to Get the Right Resources Sometimes, working from home in the UK can make you feel as if you are living on a desert island – even if you are surrounded by millions of people.

It is easy to become overwhelmed thinking that you have to do everything with little help or input from others.

One way to overcome this feeling is to seek out and join networks of other UK home based business owners.

Ideally, such networks should provide you with access to a wide range of easy-to-use tools and training resources to help you succeed in your business.

This is particularly important in relation to promoting your UK home business on the Internet.

I know from personal experience that the net can be a very lonely place and what a great encouragement it is to meet and network, ask questions and share ideas with other home based business owners in an online community.

6. Never Lose Sight of the Reasons Why. Even the best home based businesses will face their bad days and hard times and it is in moments like these that you might be tempted to quit and go back to working 9-5 for someone else.

When that happens to you, you need to remember the reason why you started a home based business in the first place. I personally have my reasons written out an posted on the wall in my office. I make it a point to remind myself every day why I am doing what I do.

7. Ignore the Internet at Your Peril. In the last seven years, I have made hundreds of thousands of pounds online. Last year alone I was able to travel overseas about 10 times – all because of my Internet business.

Yet my first 12 months online were a stinking nightmare.

The learning curve was enough to make a dictionary feel lost for words.

These days, it is a hundred times easier to succeed online than it was 7 years ago.

HINT: Look again at point number 5.

There are sites that offer action guides, training videos, reports, articles and forums where you can network with other UK home based business owners and cut years of your learning curve.

These seven points are by no means exhaustive but they should give you some food for thought.

Starting your own home based business in the UK is not mission impossible.

You can do it. You can achieve your goals and get that better lifestyle you dream about.

And once you do – trust me you will never look back!

Chris Bloor provides literally hundreds and hundreds of resources to help people start a home business in the UK at his comprehensive UK Home Business Website: [http://HomeBusinessActionPlan.com] where he offers a free 10 day trial membership to existing or potential home business owners.

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Doing Business in the UK – Culture, Customs and Etiquette

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The United Kingdom (UK) is comprised of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It is important not only to be aware of these geographical distinctions but also the strong sense of identity and nationalism felt by the populations of these four countries.

London skyline

The terms ‘English’ and ‘British’ are not interchangeable. ‘British’ denotes someone who is from England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. ‘English’ refers to people from England. People from Scotland are referred to as ‘Scots’. People from England are not likely to take offence at being called “English”, whereas a Welsh, Scots, or Northern Irish person will.

Cultural Diversity

Formerly a very homogenous society, since World War II, Britain has become increasingly diverse as it has accommodated large immigrant populations. The mixture of ethnic groups and cultures make it difficult to define British as looking or acting in one particular manner. People may sound British and retain the cultural heritage of their forefathers while others may become more British than someone who can trace his/her lineage to the 5th century. The fact that the nation’s favourite dish is now a curry sums up the cultural mish-mash that is modern day Britain.

Doing business in the UK

The British are rather formal. Many from the older generation still prefer to work with people and companies they know or who are known to their associates. Younger businesspeople do not need long-standing personal relationships before they do business with people and do not require an intermediary to make business introductions. Nonetheless, networking and relationship building are often key to long-term business success.

Rank is respected and businesspeople prefer to deal with people at their level. If at all possible, include an elder statesman on your team as he/she will present the aura of authority that is necessary to good business relationships in many companies.

British communication styles

The British have an interesting mix of communication styles encompassing both understatement and direct communication. Many older businesspeople or those from the ‘upper class’ rely heavily upon formal use of established protocol. Most British are masters of understatement and do not use effusive language. If anything, they have a marked tendency to qualify their statements with such as ‘perhaps’ or ‘it could be’. When communicating with people they see as equal to themselves in rank or class, the British are direct, but modest. If communicating with someone they know well, their style may be more informal, although they will still be reserved.

Business meetings

Punctuality is a very British trait. It is especially important in business situations. In most cases, the people you are meeting will be on time. Always call if you will be even 5 minutes later than agreed. If you are kept waiting a few minutes, do not make an issue of it.

How meetings are conducted is often determined by the composition of people attending. If everyone is at the same level, there is generally a free flow of ideas and opinions. If there is a senior ranking person in the room, that person will do most of the speaking. In general, meetings will be rather formal and always have a clearly defined purpose, which may include an agenda. There will be a brief amount of small talk before getting down to the business at hand. If you make a presentation, avoid making exaggerated claims. Make certain your presentation and any materials provided appear professional and well thought out. Be prepared to back up your claims with facts and figures. The British rely on facts, rather than emotions, to make decisions. Maintain eye contact and a few feet of personal space. After a meeting, send a letter summarising what was decided and the next steps to be taken.

Basic Etiquette Tips:

Business Dress

* Business attire is conservative.

* Men should wear a dark coloured, conservative business suit.

* Women should wear either a business suit or a conservative dress.

Greetings

* Shake hands with everyone at a meeting upon arrival.

* Maintain eye contact during the greeting.

Titles

* Only medical doctors and the clergy use their professional or academic titles in business.

* Most people use the courtesy titles or Mr, Mrs or Miss and their surname. (Mr and Mrs are words in the United Kingdom and do not require a period after them as they are not abbreviations.)

* If someone has been knighted, they are called ‘Sir’ followed by their first and surnames or ‘Sir’ followed simply by their first name.

* Wait until invited before moving to a first-name basis. People under the age of 35 may make this move more rapidly than older British.

Business Cards

* Business cards are exchanged at the initial introduction without formal ritual.

* The business card may be put away with only a cursory glance.

Business Gifts

* Business gift giving is not part of the business culture.

* If you choose to give a gift, make certain it is small and tasteful.

* Good gifts include desk accessories, a paperweight with your company logo, or a book about your home country.

* Inviting someone out for a meal can be viewed as a gift.

Neil Payne is Managing Director and Middle East trainer at the London based consultancy Kwintessential. For more information on their services please visit Cross-Cultural Communication

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