Staff

The government is considering new powers to give businesses more protection against late payments of invoices. Carly Davies Debt Recovery Manager provides an update. Figures provided by Pay UK show that £23.4 billion worth of late invoices are owed to small firms across Britain, impacting on their cash flow and ultimate survival. Small Business Minister Paul Scully has announced a new set of proposals to ensure these firms are paid…

“Welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter. It’s been an odd year! Despite it all, our property and agricultural teams are busier than ever and we welcome our newly-qualified Emma Blamire to the team of solicitors. Tim Cartmell gave me some advice at that stage of my career – “keep learning until you die,” which was both characteristic and spot on. The icing to the cake is that both…

The pros and cons of working from home will be the focus of a business webinar on Tuesday (November 17). With many businesses continuing to operate remotely due to Covid-19 restrictions, the NXT.V webinar will centre on how employers and employees are adapting to the changing work environment. The Working from Home vs The Workplace webinar will feature Carol Fish, Serious and Catastrophic Injury Solicitor at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, and…

Joanne Stronach Director and Head of Employment & HR shares some useful information in a post Brexit world. Brexit will impact on your workforce in a number of ways, including: From January 2021 there will be a new immigration regime EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who wish to live and work in the UK Recognition of qualifications Travel (visa requirements, passport rules) Existing employees of UK companies who are EU nationals will need…

The government is planning changes to the shared ownership scheme to make it easier for people to buy more of their own home, including allowing them to buy in 1% increments. Linsey Hayes Conveyancer provides an update. At present, they have to buy an increased share in 10% chunks, which can be as much as £45,000 each time. This process of increasing the stake until the property is bought outright…

For newly qualified solicitor Emma Blamire, living and working in Cumbria is the best of all worlds. Having grown up on a farm just outside Carlisle, she loves the outdoor life and is now combining that with her chosen career in law. Emma, 24, qualified as a solicitor in September and is now part of Cartmell Shepherd’s Agriculture and Estates team, one of the leading agricultural law departments in the…

Sam Lyon Head of Corporate & Commercial shares another useful tip in a post Brexit world. Some of the terms in existing contracts may no longer be relevant post-Brexit or may raise legal or practical questions in the future. If your contracts – e.g. terms of business, sale of goods, employment contracts – make reference to the UK being a member state of the EU or rely on EU regulation, then…

The Treasury is introducing new rules on how businesses should construct letters sent to people in debt. Carly Davies Debt Recovery Manager provides an update. The emphasis will be on helping customers to better understand and manage their debts, reducing distress and supporting mental health Default Notices are designed to give people who are falling behind on their debts fair warning before lenders take further action, but much of the…

Key questions to consider to help run your business from Sam Lyon Head of Corporate and Commercial. Conflicts in family businesses can be considerable and, unlike other businesses, there is usually even more than just the commercial success of the business at stake. Thinking about things in advance, particularly some of the most vulnerable and sensitive areas, can allow family businesses to plan ahead and reduce the risk of issues…

Now that the clocks have changed and darker nights are here, it’s a timely reminder to think about staying safe when you and your loved ones are out and about. Of course everyone’s focus is understandably on ‘staying safe’ from coronavirus right now and doing what we can to limit the spread of the virus. But at this time of year, with the arrival of darker afternoons, we also need…