Latest News

MSI Presentation - Parisian Showcase

In future I am going to insist all presentations should be practiced over cups of tea in a Parisian hotel after spending a lovely day in Versailles. It certainly took the edge off presenting to 150 delegates from around the world for me and my collaborator Emma Ginguay from Synerga last October.  

So why was I lucky enough to be in Paris – when I’m usually to be found in the less glamourous surroundings of Penrith? Well, it’s all thanks to the work we do with MSI Global Alliance. 

Appointment of Administrators to Benfield Shrink & Seal Limited

Mark Ranson and Mike Kienlen of Armstrong Watson’s Restructuring, Recovery and Insolvency practice were appointed Joint Administrators to Benfield Shrink & Seal Limited on 17 January 2017,
The Company, which is based at the Port of Tyne in South Shields, has used the trading style Benfield Pack and Wrap since 2014.  The Company provides contract packing services to a number of well known manufacturers of consumer products and has achieved BRC accreditation in Consumer Products.

Our RRI team saves more than 350 jobs

Our RRI team have safeguarded more than 350 jobs at Earn Extra, a payroll specialist based in Brighouse, Yorkshire. The team, led by Mike Kienlen and Mark Ranson have secured the jobs since finding a buyer for both the business and assets after being appointed as administrators on 23 January.

Earn Extra 139 was founded in 2006 and is a large payroll provider in the region. 

The payroll company delivers Umbrella, CIS and PAYE Payroll services for the telecoms, construction, overhead power lines, utilities and civil engineering sectors.

Cumbria Family Business Awards

The majority of businesses we work with and advise at Armstrong Watson are predominately family business owned, managed or influenced and as a strategic adviser to many business owners, I needed to gain a greater insight into how they manage and motivate themselves and the loyal team of people who work with and for them. 

Xero in on your business

Following on from my previous article where I wrote about the success of Team GB cycling I thought I’d take this opportunity to follow up on one of those success tips, the successful capture and use of data.

Preparing for the changes to the VAT flat rate scheme

Following the surprise announcement by Philip Hammond in the Autumn Statement, major changes to the flat rate scheme will come into effect from 1 April 2017.  It is therefore vitally important for any business currently using the flat rate scheme to review their position as soon as possible.

Is it time to consider Short Life Asset elections?

Unless your business’s capital expenditure on plant and machinery falls within the Annual Investment Allowance (‘AIA’) limit for the period in which it is acquired (currently £200,000 per annum from 1 January 2016), tax relief will be obtained through claiming capital allowances.

At the current 18% rate of main pool writing down allowances it takes eight years to relieve 80% of the expenditure incurred, even if the asset has been sold at a loss or scrapped within that period.

Would you accept an increase in Council Tax to pay for social care?

The social care system in the UK is under significant pressure and with more than a million more people aged over 65 today than there were in 2010, it’s easy to see why calls have been made to put more money into the UK’s care system.

Social care funding does not fall to the Government through the NHS, instead it is the responsibility of local authorities to provide care to those who need it and as you may expect, money is tight.

Filing 5 Tax Returns every year - Making Tax Digital

HMRC's initiative titled "Making Tax Digital" means that most businesses and landlords will be required to submit a quarterly tax return together with their usual annual tax return. Here's everything you need to know...

Who is affected?

Every business, landlord and small company with income over £10,000 will be caught under these new rules, but the dates are staggered according to the size of your business activities, as follows:

Revealed...the most bizarre excuses for underpaying the national minimum wage

Last week I wanted to raise the issue on the importance of paying the National Minimum and National Living Wages.  I stated excuses were not acceptable, but some employers do try.  HMRC has published some of the worst excuses given which include:

1. The employee wasn’t a good worker so I didn’t think they deserved to be paid the National Minimum Wage.

2. It’s part of UK culture not to pay young workers for the first 3 months as they have to prove their ‘worth’ first.