Skipton Team Raise £1,340 for Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice

A 10 strong team from Armstrong Watson’s Skipton office took part in the recent Keighley 10K and between them raised a whopping £1,340 for the Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice.  It's the first time the accountancy firm has put together a team to take part in the Keighley event and all managed to complete the course in impressive sub 1 hour and 5 min times.

Are directors exempt from Auto Enrolment?

There are some instances where directors of business may be exempt from Auto Enrolment responsibilities. This is usually when they aren’t classed as a “worker”. This article therefore discusses what determines whether you are a worker or not.

New ‘RISK FREE’ Commercial Dispute Resolution Service

Escalate, an accountancy-led commercial dispute resolution service, have chosen Armstrong Watson as their Northern Partner. This is a new service offered by Armstrong Watson which includes risk free litigation for clients and is led by our Chairman Mike Kienlen.

Final Call for ISAs this tax year

The end of the tax year is fast approaching, with less than two weeks left to use any annual allowances and exemptions which you may still not have taken advantage of.

Each tax year starts on 6 April and ends on 5^th April the following year and UK residents over the age of 16 get an annual ISA allowance. ISAs are tax free savings accounts and the maximum that can be saved into one is £20,000 per tax year.

Where Will Your Pension Fund End Up?

The Government's proposal to donate dormant pension funds and insurance assets to charity ha sbeen one of the standout headlines of recent weeks. Although they have stressed that every effort would be made to reunite the pension funds with its owner before donating, there wider questions that need to be asked.

Tax Essentials – Guest Houses and Owner Occupied Hotels

The decision to purchase a guest house or hotel can be a stressful time for most, and understanding your options is crucial to achieving your future aspirations.  The day you commit to buy a business is the first day of your commercial journey, from which you should have a clear strategy and be making decisions based upon your eventual goals and ambitions.

Financial Assistance Available to Cumbrian Farming Communities

A new emergency relief fund has been established by Cumbria Community Foundation and the Herdy Fund. The Fund will be administered by The Farmer Network, Penrith supported by the Prince’s Countryside Fund who will be covering administration costs. Farming households suffering hardship caused by the recent extreme weather can apply. This might include farming families that had sheep buried in snow drifts, damage to boundaries, uncollected milk and other uninsured losses or additional costs incurred as a result of the snow storm.

Off Payroll Working and Combating Tax Avoidance

Modern employment practices have resulted in an increase in the number of workers who are not treated as employees.  Many of these workers act through an intermediary company set up for this purpose.

Armstrong Watson welcomes Rob Adamson to Restructuring, Recovery and Insolvency team in Leeds

Robert Adamson has joined the Restructuring, Recovery & Insolvency team in the Leeds office of Armstrong Watson Accountants, Business and Financial Advisers in the post of Restructuring, Recovery & Insolvency Partner.

Commenting Robert Adamson said,

“I am delighted to join the Armstrong Watson Restructuring, Recovery & Insolvency team in Leeds and hope to make a significant contribution to the firm’s growth and continued success

Bainbridge Electrical Ltd Sold in Seven Figure Management Buyout Deal

Cumbria-based industrial, commercial electrical engineering contractors, Bainbridge Electrical Ltd, has been sold in a seven-figure management buyout deal.

The deal sees James Dickinson, the company’s former Commercial Manager, acquire the Kendal-based business from the Bainbridge family, who founded it over 50 years ago.

The corporate finance team at Armstrong Watson brokered and advised on the deal, which was supported by debt funding from Mercia Fund Managers and Nick Hodgson of Cartmell Shepherd provided legal advice.