What does the Energy Bill mean for businesses?

Corporate governance advisers London Registrars (http://www.london-registrars.co.uk/) looks at what the Energy Bill means for businesses in the UK.

The Energy Bill was introduced to the House of Commons by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey on Thursday, November 29^th 2012. The bill is part of the government’s aim of attracting £110bn of investment into the energy sector and creating a low-carbon economy. But what impact does the Energy Bill have for businesses in the UK, and will that impact be positive or negative, asks company formations and corporate support firm London Registrars?

While there is concern that the drive towards low-carbon power will result in higher energy bills for British business (as well as for households), Ed Davey denies this, saying, “Energy-efficiency savings are set to outweigh...the cost of supporting low-carbon electricity generation...The net effect of government policies on energy bills is downwards not upwards”.

Part of the Energy Bill, “contracts for difference”, will see investors in nuclear power and renewable energy compensated if the market price of electricity drops below a “strike price” set by the government (a price which will not be published until next year). Generators will pay the difference back to consumers should prices rise above that set level. In a vital note for some British businesses, the cost of “contracts for difference” will be exempt for those in energy-intensive industries such as manufacturing.

For those businesses not in energy-intensive industries, however, it is perhaps too soon to judge whether Ed Davey’s claim that energy costs will fall and not rise once the Energy Bill comes into force is accurate.

London Registrars can assist with everything from company formations to the provision of company secretary services. Find out more at the website at http://www.london-registrars.co.uk/.

Editor’s Note: London Registrars (http://www.london-registrars.co.uk/) is represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Please direct all press queries to Louise Byrne. Email: louise@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

New compensation limits to come into force in February

Clients of Employee Management Ltd (http://www.employeemanagement.co.uk) will be interested to know that increases have been announced of the limits that apply to certain awards of employment tribunals and to other amounts that are payable in accordance with employment law. Now having been published and laid before Parliament, the increments provided for in the Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2012 will come into force from 1 February 2013.

The main changes include an increase, from £430 to £450, to the maximum amount of a ‘week’s pay’ for the purpose of the calculation of a redundancy payment or the basic or additional award of compensation for unfair dismissal or payments to employees in the event of insolvency. The limit on the amount of compensatory award for unfair dismissal also increases, from £72,300 to £74,200. Meanwhile, a rise will also occur in the limit on the daily amount of statutory guarantee pay, from £23.50 to £24.20.

The increases are applicable where the events that render the employee entitled to compensation or other payment take place on or after 1 February 2013. The exact type of claim that is brought dictates how the date is determined. In the case of an unfair dismissal claim, for example, this date is the effective date on which employment was terminated, whereas as far as guarantee payment claims are concerned, it is the day in respect of which payment is due. The increases will be implemented as a result of the 2.6% rise in the retail prices index between September 2011 and September 2012.

The HR specialists at Employee Management Ltd (http://www.employeemanagement.co.uk) are seasoned at advising clients on a wide range of aspects of the latest employment legislation. Continue reading this blog for more of the latest industry news, or contact us now for pragmatic, user-friendly advice on change management, workplace investigations and more from capable specialist consultants.

Editor’s Note: Employee Management (http://www.employeemanagement.co.uk) is represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Please direct all press queries to Louise Byrne. Email: louise@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

Train to be an NLP Coach or Hypnotherapist with Opt2xl

Time and time again, individuals with an interest in Hypnotherapy or NLP courses in Birmingham have approached our experts here at Opt2xl (http://www.opt2xl.co.uk) and walked away, after the completion of their course, feeling invigorated, inspired and ready to take on the challenges that present themselves in their lives. As seasoned NLP Practitioners, we certainly know about the profoundly positive effects of such training on one’s self-esteem, as do our continually satisfied clients. But what if you are interested in becoming a Hypnotherapist or NLP Coach yourself?

There’s little question that a career in NLP Coaching or Hypnotherapy can be a greatly rewarding career, both emotionally and financially, with earnings depending on exactly where you practice, the market that you choose and how much experience you possess. Fees can be especially high if you opt to work in cities such as Birmingham and London and have built an especially strong reputation. But of course, there are few rewards quite like helping your clients to liberate themselves from the false beliefs that hold them back in their lives – and seeing the fast, effective, long lasting results.

There aren’t presently any UK laws relating to the training and registration of Hypnotherapists or Coaches, although the value of life experience can be an advantage in being able to build rapport and understand people. The range of courses on offer is also wide, and you may be tempted by the various online-only offerings. In truth, these types of courses are great for acquiring knowledge though lack the benefit of putting everything into practice. It really helps to be able to meet, face to face, with those who are providing you with Hypnotherapy and NLP training in Birmingham so that you find everything easy to learn, understand and apply. That’s why, here at Opt2xl, we take pride in the ‘hands on’ training that we provide in a series of courses.

Those who are looking for the highest standard of training in Hypnotherapy or NLP coaching in Birmingham couldn’t hope to do any better than choosing our Accelerated NLP Practitioner Multi Certification Training. Using our blended learning program, following your pre course study, you can be certified in just 8 days. It’s a flexible course that is attended by people of all backgrounds fro a variety of reasons, but which also provides the perfect grounding for a career in Coaching/Therapy, with the freedom to specialise in the likes of Hypnosis, NLP Coaching and Time Line Therapy®. You will also benefit from our unrivalled coaching support to put everything into action following your attendance.

You may then choose to take your skills to the level of Mastery by attending our Master Practitioner Certification Training, which is unique in the UK. As part of the NLP Master Trainer program we assist at the trainings of our mentors, Drs Tad and Adriana James each year in Las Vegas. This allows us to bring back the latest and innovative information and skills taught by them, we are the only trainers in the UK who do this. This means that you get a truly up-to-date NLP Master Practitioner course that does not include any unnecessary extra CDs that simply increase the cost to you. Instead, you’ll simply be trained to the level of Mastery in all subject areas. If you are a practising Coach/Therapist these new skill levels will mean that you can be even more flexible and credible with clients and achieve even faster results with ease.

Contact Opt2xl (http://www.opt2xl.co.uk) now for more information about our cutting edge NLP Coaching and hypnotherapy training in Birmingham .

Editor’s Note: Opt2xl (http://www.opt2xl.co.uk) is represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Please direct all press queries to Louise Byrne. Email: louise@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

Barriers to the successful implementation of a Business Intelligence Solution

According to Gartner, more than half of all business intelligence (BI) and data warehouse projects fail. In an era in which reliable information has never been more important, panintelligence (http://www.panintelligence.com) explains how its dashboard reporting software successfully overcomes many of the issues which lead to the failure to implement, or continue to use, a new BI solution.

Reports take too long to run

Users left waiting hours for a report in response to each ad-hoc query are not likely to continue using the BI solution. That’s why it’s so important for a business intelligence application to consist of well-architected information systems, delivering a response in seconds rather than hours. Ad-hoc queries are very quick to run with the panintelligence solution, as building new charts is easy and only take seconds.

Requirements have changed since the project began

BI projects often suffer from protracted delivery times. The result of which is by the time the solution is finally delivered it does not cater to an organisation’s current requirements. Unlike many of the alternatives, the panintelligence business intelligence dashboard is truly flexible. The world is continuously changing and BI solutions need to be adaptable so that they do not become rapidly outdated. Panintelligence has created a highly adaptable and flexible business intelligence solution that is self-service in nature. It allows users to define their charts, free from dependence on IT to make changes for them.

Limited access to the right information

Some BI solutions are very exclusive, delivering information to a limited number of users, when other people within the organisation would also benefit from having access. The inclusive approach of panintelligence’s business intelligence software allows users with the appropriate privileges to share information with anyone in a number of different ways. Charts can be printed, shared as images and PDFs, or regularly distributed via email on a schedule to key contacts, ensuring everyone has access to the most up to date information.

Users refuse to stop using their existing solution

Some users simply can’t bring themselves to let go of what they are most familiar with, even if they’re only using Excel spreadsheets. By engaging with them involved at an early stage of development, and by demonstrating how quick and easy it is to find answers, panintelligence (http://www.panintelligence.com) has turned many customers into evangelical promoters of business intelligence software.

Editor’s Note: Panintelligence (http://www.panintelligence.com) is represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Please direct all press queries to Louise Byrne. Email: louise@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

How to cope at the beginning of your freelance career

If you read our previous entry on the Freelancer Accounting (http://www.freelanceraccounting.com) blog, then you’ll know that many freelancers become so largely by accident, rather than design. You’ll also be aware, however, of the great earnings that many freelancers can command, while we have also previously covered many of the knotty tax responsibilities with which our accountants in London can assist. For many freelancers, though, just surviving is tough enough.

It is at the start of your freelance career, in particular, that you are especially vulnerable. For those that don’t have any jobs, contacts or clients to begin with, it can feel like an uphill struggle to constantly chase up those opportunities. Indeed, you may wonder whether you’re ever likely to get on a stable financial footing. At worst, you can find yourself trawling for odd freelance jobs on sites that seem to be aimed more at students than long-time professionals.

Try, try and try again

However, it is that word, ‘professional’ that sums up the attitude that you must take in the early months of your freelance career, with ‘persistent’ and ‘patient’ being others. The most successful clients of our small business accountants got to where they are today by taking chances and being more than merely ‘eager’. They had business cards designed and websites developed and generally made the most of every opportunity, making sure that each and every job was done to as high a standard as possible so as to attract recommendations and repeat business.

But of course, even the most altruistic freelancer still needs to eat, which is why many of them take on other part-time work to begin with, so they have a certain degree of financial security for those lean weeks and months when work seems thin on the ground. You’ll also need to ensure that in all of your eagerness to price your services competitively, you don’t find yourself working full-time hours for part-time pay. Be open to the range of jobs that you are willing to do, and view those inevitable mistakes as mere learning experiences.

Look to our highly-rated specialist expertise

A freelancer’s tax matters can be especially daunting, even more so if you’re new to taking care of them yourself after years of employment under PAYE. Things like your self assessment tax return suddenly become deceptively easy to forget about, and subjects like IR35 and limited company formation can confuse even some seasoned freelancers. That’s why it’s such a good idea to seek out a PCG accountant who can guide you on matters like the business expenses that can be claimed against tax.

Give Freelancer Accounting (http://www.freelanceraccounting.com) a call now for more information about our specialist accountancy services for new freelancers. We charge a competitive fixed fee so that you can budget well in advance.

Editor’s Note: Freelancer Accounting (http://www.freelanceraccounting.com) is represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Please direct all press queries to Louise Byrne. Email: louise@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.