2009 - October
Measuring greenhouse gas emissions
The government has released yet more information on how to measure the volume of greenhouse gas that your business emits. What’s the legal status of this document and is the methodology one you should adopt?
Although most companies are taking a sensible approach to going green, it’s fair to say that some are going to extremes. What have we uncovered, and what can you learn from others’ experiences?
You’ve heard that there’s a legal requirement for all construction waste to be segregated into appropriately colour-coded skips. If this is really the case, how should you organise things?
Boris’s green procurement scheme
The Mayor of London has recently been promoting the Green Procurement Code. What’s it all about, who can get involved and is it really worth looking in to?
Discharging AFFF fire extinguishers
Apparently, “AFFF” fire extinguishers contain toxic chemicals which, if released, will cause significant environmental damage - for which you could be held liable. Is this really the case?
Can an energy broker secure a cheaper, greener deal?
With predictions of energy prices set to rise 17% because of the government’s desire to fund green energy projects, you’re trying to future-proof your costs. Can an energy broker help to secure the best deal?
The Carbon Trust has recently increased the size of the loan pot available to small business. What’s on offer and could it be good for you?
Pensions for the younger generation
Thanks to Mr Darling’s complex scheme for partially scrapping tax relief on premiums, we’ve given pensions a bit of a hard time of late. But there’s one aspect we think is worth further consideration. What is it?
Must your company train its first aiders annually?
Another director has come to you in a panic. They’ve heard that under new rules, all employees who are first aiders must now undergo annual refresher training with an accredited trainer. How can you put their mind at rest?
It’s a couple of years since the Taxman famously lost his court battle over income splitting. As a result he’s now looking closely at the level of salary paid to directors’ spouses. Is there a solution to this problem?
That’s a great website picture
A stock photo agency has the perfect picture for your company’s website. But to use it you’ll need to buy an expensive licence. You’ve discovered that the same image can be download from the Internet for free. Is this a wise or risky move?
When the Chancellor dropped his higher rate tax bombshell it didn’t take long before avoidance schemes appeared. One such idea was for directors to borrow money from their company instead of taking salary. Could this work for you?
Conflict of interest could be costly
A fellow director holds another directorship elsewhere. But now that the Companies Act 2006 is well and truly in place, what’s the position should a conflict of interest arise? And can you ever permit it?
It could get personal with a phoenix
Starting a phoenix company isn’t plain sailing. As one director discovered, a simple mistake like using the wrong name could be disastrous. What’s the story?
You can find thousands of free fonts on the Internet, but are you sure you can also use them in your official “commercial” publications? If you’re looking for a good font for your brochure or catalogue, it’s best to play safe.
Would you like to design an eye-catching logo for your business, club or product? There are several online services and tools that can help you. Here’s our selection.
Presto: quick launch for your computer
You’re probably satisfied with Windows on your computer, apart from start-up, which often takes too long, especially if you want to look something up quickly online or check your webmail. Presto has the answer.
What can be more annoying than surfing wirelessly on your laptop and suddenly finding that the level of your battery is much lower than you’d thought? Here are two handy battery monitors to prevent surprises.
Picasa 3.5: worth the upgrade?
Google Picasa, the excellent free software for managing and editing large numbers of photos, recently released a brand-new version, 3.5. Is it necessary to download it?
A new virus scanner by Microsoft
Microsoft recently released a free antivirus and antispyware program for Windows: Security Essentials. Is this an effective tool and does it slow down your system performance?
Feedback through online surveys
Would you like to know what your customers think of your products, service, staff, website, etc.? Why not organise an online survey? Here are a couple of handy tools.
All your webmail in one e-mail program
Suppose you have several addresses at webmail services (for instance Gmail, Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail), but you prefer using traditional e-mail software such as Outlook or Thunderbird. How can you combine the two?
Shortening URLs can be convenient, as this allows you to turn long Internet addresses into very short links. However, there are some risks in clicking on such a short link. Fortunately, a few tools will come to your aid.
Wanted: hotel with a good reputation
With Christmas coming up, you may already be planning a city trip or a holiday abroad. Which sites can help you to find a hotel that has received a positive rating by others? For instance, how helpful is the new TrustYou?
Music downloads - the best deals
CompareDownload.com was launched to help music fans get the best price for downloads; now Spotify has joined the party - for a fee. What are the best options?
Although you might assume that dermatitis is nothing more than an annoying or uncomfortable rash, a recent case has proved otherwise. How serious can this condition be and how can you prevent staff from suffering with it?
Must you have your electrical installation checked?
You’ve been told that you must employ an electrician to carry out a thorough safety test on your electrical installation. Do you actually have a legal obligation to do this, or can you assume that everything is safe?
If your business is served with an improvement notice, you must complete the necessary work within a prescribed timescale. But what if you know that you aren’t going to make it - is there anything you can do?
We’re certainly not advocates of changing equipment for the sake of it, but making a hose that carries extremely flammable gas last for nearly 30 years is not wise or safe. When one company did just this, what was the result?
Insurance company audit of safety arrangements
Recently, many insurance companies have started making demands to check health and safety arrangements before they’ll offer cover. Why is this happening and what can you expect if you’re lined up for an audit?
Should you let staff choose their own PPE?
One of your managers is convinced that if you allow staff to choose the style of personal protective equipment (PPE) issued, you stand a better chance of them looking after and wearing it. Is this an option you should consider?
You’ve been approached by a first aid training provider telling you it’s necessary to retrain staff immediately. Why is this, and must you do it?
“Don’t even think about getting pregnant again!”
One of your employees has just returned from maternity leave and, if you’re honest, covering her work was a right pain in the neck. So could you make light of the situation and joke that she’s not to do it again?
What’s suitable for “in-house” mediation?
Mediation is being promoted as a good way to avoid a costly trip to tribunal. So, can all types of workplace dispute be resolved this way, or should some be avoided? Also, can you take the DIY approach, or do you need an expert?
Reasonable adjustments during interviews
A job applicant has indicated that they’re disabled. But they’ve also said that “no special arrangements are needed” during their interview. Does this statement exempt you from making any “reasonable adjustments”?
Your dismissal date is in the post
You’ve sent a letter to an employee ending their employment and know they have three months to try it on with an unfair dismissal claim. But when does this time limit actually start to run - on your posting or their reading it?
British Airways has announced it will not be awarding any pay rises for the next two years. Not a popular move amongst staff but one it says is necessary. So, if you’re tempted to do the same thing, what would you need to bear in mind?
Using casual staff instead of temps
Reports suggest that some employers intend to get around the Agency Workers Directive by using their own “in-house” bank of casual staff instead of temps. Sounds good, but are there any problems with this approach?
The High Court has now ruled on whether it’s legal for you to force staff to retire at 65. So, can you safely show them the door, or do they stay put?
Are recycled products a worthwhile investment?
In the past, the only recycled product worth considering was paper - and even that wasn’t great. But times have changed, so are products made from recycled materials now something you should consider?
Ozone-depleting air conditioning
If your air conditioning system contains any ozone-depleting substances, new legislation requires that engineers who work on it need to have certain qualifications. What’s to know?
Display Energy Certificates for all
Previously, we informed you that all public sector buildings have to show Display Energy Certificates, which rank the energy performance of the building. However, moves are afoot to extend this to the private sector. What’s the situation?
Prosecuted after botched fuel theft attempt
Following a break-in that led to oil pollution, it wasn’t the would-be thieves who were held accountable, it was owner of the site. What can be learned from this case?
During the summer energy bills are traditionally much lower. However, many fail to make the most of potential savings by forgetting to change settings, etc. What should you be doing to minimise your usage?
The carbon offsetting quality mark
In a bid to get rid of the cowboys, Defra has introduced a quality mark to the carbon offsetting industry. So does this make offsetting something to consider, or should it remain on the “avoid” list?
According to NetRegs, 95% of large contractors are more likely to employ your business if you can show that you’re green. So what ticks the right boxes?
The hidden dangers of the flat-rate scheme
The Taxman likes to promote the VAT flat-rate scheme as a time and money-saving arrangement for traders. But one of our subscribers found out the hard way that there’s more to it than meets the eye. What was the problem?
When is the right time to pay for equipment?
If you need to buy some new equipment for your business but your company’s financial year-end is fast approaching, how can you make sure you get the earliest tax deduction possible for this expenditure?
Personally paying for expenses
You may have incurred expenses in getting your business up and running before setting up your company but the receipts for these will be in your name. Can the company now claim a tax deduction for these, and will this affect your tax?
Many businesses’ accounts are now showing signs of the recession in the form of bad debts. Getting tax relief at the earliest possible stage can help to reduce the pain. What can you claim for and when?
The holy grail of tax planning for owner-managed businesses is to keep tax low during the trading years, and when the time comes get your money out as efficiently as possible. Here’s one idea that might work for you.
Is a deed of variation worthwhile?
Deeds of variation have been a common Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning tool for many years. But following a change in IHT rules, there are conflicting views on whether they are worthwhile. What’s the answer?
Online VAT registration, a good idea?
Businesses are under increasing pressure to use the Taxman’s online services, including to register for VAT. Apparently, it’s more efficient. True?
On October 1 2009, new regulations came into effect that place restrictions on the name a company can use. So what do the new rules say?
They’re struggling to pay your rent
Your company has been renting out a commercial property to a tenant and so far everything’s been OK. But you’ve now found out that they’re in financial difficulty. What are your options when it comes to getting the rent?
Are you missing out on interest relief?
It’s not uncommon for directors to use their personal credit card to pay for business expenses. When the company repays the debt that will balance the books. But are you overlooking a tax break?
In black and white, but what does it mean?
Your company entered into a written contract and there’s now a dispute over how one of the terms should be interpreted. The other side insists that in this situation you must consider the pre-contract discussions. Are they right?
Promoting your business - what you can’t say
You want to spruce-up your online advertising. One of your co-directors suggests adding a few testimonials to your website about how fantastic your company is. He’s even created a few examples for you to use. Is this legal?
To improve its image, the BBC says it wants to hire a “female newsreader in her late fifties”. So if you’re looking to replace a director and want to recruit someone 50+ is it really risk-free?
You’ve decided to pay someone to give you and your staff training to improve information and communication technology (ICT) skills. Is there an opportunity to get a tax-free benefit from this arrangement?
You probably work with your favourite browser: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, etc. The free Lunascape browser lets you use several “browser engines” simultaneously. How exactly does this work?
Add Google content to your website
Would you like to attract more visitors by offering lots of interesting free content to your website? If so, why not check out the Google Web Elements, a range of “widgets” which you can pick and choose from to suit your needs.
Confidential files - such as product propositions or an internal price list - are best protected with a password. This means that they can be opened only by trusted people you give the password to. What are the possibilities?
An electronic newsletter or e-zine is an excellent tool for keeping customers, colleagues or the members of your association or club informed. We tried two web-based services which help you to create and distribute e-zines.
Create your own films using Windows Live Movie Maker
Microsoft recently released its new Windows Live Movie Maker. You can download this program free of charge. What exactly does this video-editing program have to offer? And how is it different to Windows Movie Maker?
Mac OS X is equipped with Time Machine, a service which automatically makes a backup of all your files and allows you to revert to previous versions. Genie Timeline aims to offer Windows users something similar.
Can’t you open a DOCX or XLSX file?
More and more people are using Office 2007, but perhaps you’re not one of them yet. As a result, you will sometimes receive Word or Excel files which you can’t open. How do you solve this?
Alternative webmail services: GMX and Fastmail
Webmail service GMX is becoming increasingly popular, whilst Fastmail’s peculiar approach also succeeds in winning over many users. Do they offer something for you too? Let’s find out if the services can match the “big shots”…
Comprehensive computer protection
Antivirus programs have been part of the standard software of every computer for some time; however, better protection is ensured by a security suite containing a firewall and anti-spyware as well. Which “version 2010” suite is the best buy?
The international headlines collected
Major news sites such as BBC News and CNN show up-to-the-minute international headlines. However, sites which collect all these sources are even more convenient. Does the new Google Fast Flip offer any extra value?
Christmas markets - getting there
Christmas markets will start in six weeks’ time. If you fancy going abroad for a long (or short) weekend, we check how the Web can help with your planning.
HSE pushing for employee involvement
The HSE has used its website to urge employers to consult with their employees on health and safety matters. In its view, doing so will help you to create a safer workplace and make managing health and safety issues easier. Is this likely?
Should personal music players be banned?
An aerospace company has recently banned the use of personal music devices, such as iPods and MP3 players, on health and safety grounds. Why was this decision made and should you follow suit?
Finally, the HSE has authorised the changes to its approved first aid training courses. To reflect the new system, we’ve updated our free sample first aid policy statement. What’s new?
Failure to maintain a scissor lift
When a scissor lift failed in a Tesco store it led to a visit from an environmental health officer and subsequent prosecution. What defects were identified and why did the case end up in court?
Is a harness required whilst erecting a tower scaffold?
Although you’ve never seen any reason to instruct staff to wear a safety harness whilst erecting a mobile tower scaffold, one of your clients recently insisted that they should. So, must you change your policy?
Why are we being told to replace extinguishers?
You’ve been informed that changes to a British Standard mean that you need to replace all extinguishers that have a plastic headcap. Is this really the case, or is your information wrong?
The HSE has recently published updated guidance on managing staff who work on their own. Are there any significant changes you need to be aware of?