Danbro, the specialist accountancy firm for contractors and freelance workers, has once again been shortlisted in the ‘Small Firm of the Year’ category at this year’s Accountancy Age Awards.
This is the third year running that the firm has been a finalist for the title, and the fourth time overall. Danbro has also been shortlisted twice in the ‘Best use of Internet’ category, which did not run this year.
Now in their 15th year, the awards – organised by the magazine of the same name – are recognised as one of the main indicators of good practice in the UK accountancy industry.
The winners will be announced at a spectacular gala dinner, which is due to take place at London’s Battersea Park arena on 17 November.
Danbro managing partner Damian Broughton said: “The small firm award is always one of the most keenly-contested categories, so to have been shortlisted for the third year in a row is a fantastic achievement.
“It is a tribute to all of our staff who have put in a great deal of effort to provide our clients with new and innovative services, as well as providing the highest standards of help and support at all times.
“We are all looking forward to the awards ceremony in November and hope that we can go one better and win the title this year.”
Danbro may be in the small firm category, but it has big plans for the future, having featured on the Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 list of the country’s fastest-growing companies for the last three years.
The past year has also seen Danbro launch a range of financial products and services designed especially for contractors, receive a licence to operate in Germany and set up a new jobs board listing the latest temporary vacancies for its clients.
For more information contact Danbro on:
Head Office: 01253 600140
London Office: 0207 836 84000
Manchester Office: 0161 228 7841
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( 0 / 0 )When you are caught up in the excitement of moving house, it can be easy to forget that you need to insure your new home as soon as you exchange contracts because that is when your liability begins.
We want to ensure you don't leave yourself unprotected, which is why our in-house IFA ContractorFinancials, have negotiated with a leading insurer to give Danbro clients the first two months cover free. They can keep the costs down further for cash strapped first time buyers who benefit from a further 15% discount off of the policy after the 2 months is up.
Not moving house? If your existing home insurance policy is up for renewal then you can still benefit from the first two months free and they will even price match your renewal premium so you can benefit from this award winning cover.
Why is building and contents cover important?
Building and contents insurance is one type of cover that you can’t afford to live without. After all, if you were to fall victim of a crime, fire or flood, could you afford to repair the damages and replace all of your belongings? This is where buildings and contents insurance can help.
We are aware that during the hectic and expensive process of moving house, insurance is probably the last thing on your mind but it doesn't have to be difficult to arrange.
Have you had building and contents cover before?
If you already have a building or contents insurance policy at your old property then you may have built up a ‘no claims’ record. This scheme will offer you a discount of up to 30% depending on the length of your no claims period and this can make a significant difference to the price that you pay over the coming year once your two months free period is taken into account.
If you are a first time buyer then you needn’t worry about not having a no claims discount as they also offer new homeowners the opportunity to benefit from a 15% discount at outset.
Existing policy up for renewal?
You don’t have to be moving up the ladder to benefit from this comprehensive insurance. If your existing policy is up for renewal then it is definitely worth getting in touch as this insurer has promised that if cover does not work out cheaper than your existing provider, they will match your renewal quote up to a total discount of £85 per annum, or they will give you two months free cover.
Currently renting but with contents to insure?
Whilst homeowners need to insure both their home and its contents, if you are renting you will still want to insure your belongings against loss or damage. You will probably find that your landlords insurance won’t cover the contents so furniture, clothes or equipment such as your computer will need protecting. The good news is that you too can benefit from the two months free cover or from the price match on your renewal.
Everyone can benefit
The insurer has an independent 4 Star Defaqto rating and last year they won the ‘What Mortgage 2009’, ‘Best Home Insurance Provider’ and ‘Best Overall Provider’ award. The contents cover that is on offer via ContractorFinancials also includes:
- Up to £40,000 of contents insurance on the “Basic” level of cover and up to £60,000 of contents insurance on the “Extra” level of cover. You can choose which policy is best suited to your needs
- Up to £1,500 digital information insurance
- Up to £2,000 garden contents cover (including up to £1,500 plant cover)
- No cancellation fees
- No additional charges for monthly premium payments
- Cover for theft and loss of keys
- Freezer contents insurance
A no brainer
If you choose not to start paying for cover after the two months free period expires, then you simply cancel the policy.
To arrange your two months free cover today call Chris James in the first instance on 01253 600140 or email chris.james@danbro.co.uk
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( 0 / 0 )Debt collection agencies will be used by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) during 2010-11 to collect an additional £140m of tax debt.
HMRC will be working with Commercial Collection Services Ltd, Credit Solutions Ltd, Fairfax Solicitors Ltd and ivory Recovery Services Ltd on the project.
In the June 2010 Budget, it was announced that, following a successful pilot, HMRC would use debt collection agencies (DCAs) operating under industry and HMRC standards to boost HMRC’s debt collection capacity and help pursue lower value debts.
Nick Lodge, HMRC’s director of debt management and banking, said: “We do understand that some businesses and individuals are not in a position to pay what they owe and we have put procedures in place to help those who are genuinely struggling.
“But those who simply refuse to pay have to be pursued, and our partnership with DCAs ensures they will be.”
HMRC will write to the debtor providing a final opportunity to pay or reach an agreement with the department before referring a debt to a DCA.
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( 0 / 0 )Employers are reminded that new national minimum wage rates (NMW) will come into force from 1 October. The new rates are:
- £5.93 an hour to workers aged 21 and above (the main rate)
- £4.92 an hour to workers aged 18-20
- £3.64 an hour to workers aged below 18 who are no longer of compulsory school age
Changes to the NMW from 1 October 2010 include a reduction in the age threshold for the main rate from 22 to 21.
For the first time, a NMW rate also applies to apprentices. Apprentices under the age of 19 or apprentices over the age of 19 in the first year of their apprenticeship must be paid at least £2.50 an hour.
Employers who provide living accommodation for employees are able to offset the NMW by £4.61 for each day that accommodation is provided.
LINKS: National minimum wage – the basics
The Low Pay Commission is carrying out consultation to help it make recommendations for NMW rates from October 2011.
The commission is seeking feedback on questions including how firms are coping with the minimum wage as the economy emerges from the recession and how the NMW affects the competitiveness of small firms.
LINKS: Low Pay Commission consultation letter
From 1 January 2011, employers will need to ensure that they pay workers the NMW in addition to payments for travel to a temporary workplace.
The move follows consultation earlier in the year and is designed to prevent what the government describes as “potentially exploitative arrangements” affecting some temporary workers paid at or near NMW.
Many temporary workers take part in travel and subsistence schemes operated by certain types of business that take advantage of tax relief on travel from home to a temporary workplace, by agreeing that some of the pay that would be subject to tax and national insurance contributions (NIC) is replaced with expenses payments, which provide tax and NIC savings.
In its consultation paper, the government says that such arrangements can adversely affect NMW workers access earnings-related contributory benefits and that travel and subsistence schemes seen by HM Revenue & Customs leave them only slightly better off in terms of take home pay. It also says that in some schemes, it is the business employing the workers who enjoy the greatest financial benefit.
LINKS: Travel and subsistence expenses consultation
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( 0 / 0 )HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is warning taxpayers to be vigilant following reports that thieves are making phone calls pretending to be the taxman.
The fraudsters tell taxpayers they are due a tax rebate and ask for bank card details over the phone. They then attempt to take money from the account using the details provided, with victims also running the risk that their personal details will be sold to other organised criminal gangs.
HMRC director of customer contact Chris Hopson said: “We only ever contact customers who are due a tax refund in writing by post.
“We never use telephone calls, emails or external companies in these circumstances. We strongly urge anyone receiving such a phone call not to give any information to the caller, but report it to the police straightaway.
“If customers receive an email claiming to be from HMRC, we recommend they send it to us for investigation before deleting it permanently.”
HMRC strongly advises customers to:
- Check the advice published at www.hmrc.gov.uk/security/index.htm to see if the email received is listed
- Forward suspicious emails to HMRC at phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk and delete it from their computer/mail account
- Do not click on websites, links contained in suspicious emails or open attachments and follow advice from www.getsafeonline.co.uk
- If they believe they have been the victim of an email scam, report the matter to their bank/card issuer as soon as possible. If in doubt, please check with HMRC at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/security/fraud-attempts.htm
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