Six new Trainees recruited at ‘Platinum’ Accountancy Firm

West Sussex and Gatwick-based chartered accountants, Carpenter Box, have appointed six new trainees, who have joined the firm’s Platinum Accredited programme on the road to the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants’ (ACCA) qualification.

Joshua Roberts joined following graduation from the University of Sussex. Ruth Burrows from the University of Southampton and Jevan McCrae from the University of Chichester.  Jennifer Morton joined from Worthing College, Alaina Clarke from the University of Winchester and Katie Sanders from the Angmering School Sixth Form.

Carpenter Box Practice Director, Chris Coopey, welcomed the trainees on board, commenting: “Training the next generation of accountants, tax and business advisers is a responsibility we take seriously. We have always invested heavily in emerging talent and our latest intake need look no further than our current Managing Partner for inspiration – Alan Edwards joined the firm as a trainee 23 years ago.

“We have always aimed to give our students the best possible start to their careers which has been underlined by our accreditation as a Platinum employer, ACCA’s highest global standard of excellence.”

The new trainees will undertake a comprehensive training programme working in the Business Services, Tax Services and Assurance and Advisory Groups at Carpenter Box. As well as on the job training, they will also be required to sit up to 14 exams over the next three to four years as they work towards their ACCA qualification. 

(Image – Five of the six new trainees, from left to right: Joshua Roberts, Jennifer Morton, Ruth Burrows, Katie Sanders and Jevan McRae)

New Ideas for New Technologies

A Hitch-Hikers Guide to Innovation

 Following on from the Opinions Debate: Innovate or Fail – your choice, Prof. Seamus Higson will be giving a public lecture with New Ideas for New Technologies: A Hitch-Hikers Guide to Innovation. He will share a personal account of how his research and commercialisation has led or contributed to the development of ‘smart’ wound dressings, technologies for sensors for use within the water sector, and biosensors for the early screening and detection of a number of life threatening conditions, including a number of cancers and strokes. 

Join us for this free event on the 13th October 2016 at 6.30pm in The ShowRoom, Bishop Otter Campus, PO19 6PE. Click here to book.

Full details about the talk can be found here. 

Highdown Gardens wins Gold at South & South East in Bloom awards 2016

The team at Highdown Gardens have been awarded their third award of the year, Gold winner at the South & South East in Bloom ceremony 2016.

Nestled amongst the idyllic South Downs, Highdown Gardens is spread over 8.5 acres of land, It’s a highly recommended place to visit particularly in spring or early summer, where the garden offer a succession of colour and variety.  Situated between Ferring and Goring, these stunningly beautiful chalk gardens on Downland countryside, overlook the sea and are a tranquil haven for all to enjoy.

The gardens are also home to The National Plant Collection of the Plant Introductions of Sir Fredrick Stern - a unique collection of plants and trees, with many unusual plants to be discovered all year round.

South & South East in Bloom judge remarked "From one's arrival at the entrance it is clear that here is a little hidden horticultural gem, tucked away on its chalky south facing slope. The garden established by Sir F Stern VMH in 1909, is a wonder. ...it is, without a doubt, one of the most important gardens in the region."  

Jo Hooper, Head Gardener Highdown Gardens adds  “All of the team at Highdown are thrilled to have won a gold award at South & South East in Bloom this year, the first in the Garden’s history.  It was only made possible by the hard work and dedication of all of the staff and our wonderful volunteers.   I would also like to personally thank everyone for their efforts in making Highdown Gardens the beautiful place that it is and many congratulations to you all."

Councillor Clive Roberts, Worthing Borough Council Executive Member for Environment said “I am delighted, that once again, the hard work, expertise and commitment of the talented team at Highdown, along with the dedicated volunteers who together lavish such great care and attention at Highdown, has once again been recognised at such a high level.  Many congratulations to all involved.”

Photo: Great British Gardens

Apprenticeship Levy Newsletter - September 2016

Developments this Month

 There are rules governing what an apprenticeship is. The main ones are: 

• The apprentice must be employed in a real job.
  
• They may be an existing employee or a new hire.
  
•  The apprentice must work towards achieving an approved apprenticeships standard or framework. 
  
• The apprenticeship training must last at least 12 months. 
  
• The apprentice must spend at least 20% of their time on off-the-job training.
  

What can the Apprenticeship Levy be Spent on?

 Digital funds & government funding can be used for:

• Apprenticeship training & assessment.
  
•  Against an approved framework or standard.
  
•  With an approved training provider & assessment organisation. 
  
• Up to the funding band maximum for that apprenticeship.
  

Digital funds & government funding can not be used for 

• Wages. 
  
• Travel & subsistence costs. 
  
• Managerial costs. 
  
• Traineeships. 
  
• Work placement programmes.
  
• The costs of setting up an apprenticeship programme.

New Funding Information Released 

• 16-18 year old incentive payment (£1000 to employer, £1000 to provider).
  
• Highest level of qualification held by the individual no longer a barrier.
  
• 15 funding bands for frameworks & standards.
  
• Reduced funding for frameworks. 
  
• Government pay for English & Maths training.

How Technology is changing the role of Accountants

Recent developments in online software are transforming how accountants are recommending products to their clients as business owners can now automate every aspect of their workflow across their business and benefit from real-time office-to-field connectivity. 

For a number of years, West Sussex and Gatwick-based chartered accountants, Carpenter Box, has been one of the leaders in promoting and

 distributing cloud based software to their clients. They are, in fact, UK Accounting Partner of the Year and the second largest distributor of Xero accounting software, behind only KPMG. However, as Carpenter Box Partner, Nathan Keeley explains:

“For progressive businesses Xero is just a starting point, the foundation if you like of an efficient and deployable accounting system. Over the years a number of ‘add-ons’ have been developed which enables Xero to be tuned to a business’ unique needs.  Clients need us to understand what these ‘add-ons’ do and to recommend the best of breed to them. 

As such, in our view, accountants now need to have a wide knowledge of what cloud accounting is and how it can be tailored to help businesses understand and manage their finances in a way that was not possible, even a few years ago.” 

In our view the role of the accountant should very much be around being the trusted business adviser, rather than end-of-year number cruncher. In our case, in retail for instance, by using software such as Xero with Vend point of sale software as an ‘add-on’, all a retailer needs is an iPad, a lockable cash drawer and a blue tooth scanner.  There is therefore no capital spend on items such as tills, instead just an easy to use and responsive cloud based system with stock control and management tools as standard for a manageable monthly fee.

Nathan concludes: “The add-ons and specialist software now available have enabled us to understand more about our clients and recommend suitable solutions whilst allowing our clients to operate more efficiently in terms of time spent on business administration. They see savings in terms of both time and money, so it’s a real ‘Win-Win’ situation all round!”

Adur & Worthing Councils Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee (JOSC) meeting on Thursday 22nd September

At this public meeting, agenda item 6, will review Southern Rail ticket office closures and general levels of service, with representatives from Southern Rail / Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR),  RMT Trade Union and Brighton Line Commuters group present.

The Committee also wish to discuss the recent problems with the general level of rail services being provided by Southern Rail which are adversely affecting local residents, businesses and visitors to the area.

JOSC have the ability to review public services and make recommendations only with a view to influencing outcomes. JOSC, however, does not have the power to make the rail company act in a particular way. As part of its fact finding/investigative role, JOSC will have the opportunity to put questions to GTR/Southern Rail representatives and to the RMT representatives.

The meeting is open to the public without prior arrangement but places are only available on a first come basis.  Doors open to the public at 6pm, with the meeting starting promptly at 6.30pm.

Public question time is limited to 30 minutes only and all public questions must be submitted in writing no later than two days before the meeting to mark.lowe@adur-worthing.gov.uk.

Adur District Council public consultation on future of Adur Outdoor Activity Centre

Adur District Council are running a public consultation to seek residents views, thoughts and suggestions (via a short simple survey) about what types of activities they would like to see taking place at the Adur Outdoor Activity Centre in the future.

The Council are committed to getting the centre up and running again and make it a vibrant, multi-purpose activity centre for the community.

Every single response, request, comment and idea will greatly inform the centre's future and their new owners.

Adur Outdoor Activity Centre has been closed since November 2015, when it was forced into voluntary liquidation.  A process is underway to select a new management team and the reopening of the centre in the new year.

The closing dates for all completed surveys is Monday 10th October 2016 and can be found on the Adur & Worthing Councils website  http://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/aoac-survey/.

Councillor Emma Evans, Executive Member for Environment Adur District Council adds “It is vitally important that the local community fill out this survey, so we can best reflect their needs for a vibrant, busy and well used activity centre.  I know that the closure of the AOAC for the past year has been a huge loss to the local community, however the Council are fully committed to opening it as soon as possible, with the best team in place to run it and with a programme of activities the community has asked for.”  

Spofforths Kreston Reeves Extends October Finance Focus Seminars

Further seminars provided on recent business, tax and wealth developments for company directors and financial controllers  

Accountants and financial advisers Kreston Reeves has extended its programme of popular Finance Focus updates, with six seminars taking place across the South East during the month of October.