Staff

A HIGHLY experienced legal expert who has been working at the heart of the Cumbria business community for 16 years has landed a top job with a leading law firm. Sam Lyon, 39, has joined Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors as Head of Corporate and Commercial. Sam, who has senior experience at both Burnetts and Cumberland Building Society, is looking forward to working with businesses of all shapes and sizes, including SMEs…

COLLABORATION continues to be key for Cumbrian businesses – and a popular webinar returns this week, looking at how redundancy impacts on mental health. As the furlough scheme winds down further and more businesses look to restructure and potentially make redundancies NXT.V’s latest webinar discusses the impact on mental health for both employers and employees. Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors’ Head of Employment Law and HR Joanne Stronach is among this week’s…

The government has issued guidance on employment rights for people who have to go into quarantine when returning to the UK from abroad. By Joanne Stronach Director and Head of Employment & HR Currently, people returning must self-isolate for 14 days unless they’re travelling from a country with a quarantine exemption. The list changes regularly so it’s best to check before travelling and before returning. The guidance, issued by the…

The High Court has settled a dispute between a couple who were separating and needed to value the shares in their company. By Mark Aspin Director & Head of Dispute Resolution The case involved Solent Garage Services Ltd and its two directors, Claire Lewis and Philip Clarke. The couple had established the garage while living together and bringing up their three children. They were equal shareholders. Their relationship broke down…

The government has announced that landlords will have to give six months’ notice if they wish to evict tenants who are struggling to pay their rent during the Covid-19 pandemic. Natalie Tatton Solicitor in our Dispute Resolution Team provides an update. It has also extended the ban on evictions until 21st September. The six-month notice rule will apply in all cases except those involving serious issues such as anti-social behaviour and…

Thinking it over with Carol Fish Director & Head of Serious and Catastrophic Injury… A RISE in accident claims involving cyclists has been the downside of a welcome increase in the amount of people taking to two wheels during the Covid pandemic. Across the board, we’ve seen an overall decline in general claims relating to various types of accidents, which busts the myth that we have a compensation culture. We…

Businesses that have offered payment holidays to customers may be damaging their own chances of survival, according to the Chartered Institute of Credit Management (CICM). By Carly Davies Debt Recovery Manager. A survey by CICM of its members suggests that of the 83% of firms who had offered a payment holiday, two thirds (66%) said there would be a negative impact on revenues and profits. Of those, a quarter (25%)…

Over recent months the government has announced a number of changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – more commonly referred to as ‘furlough’. From September the government contribution towards wages is reducing from 80% to 70% up to a maximum of £2,187.50 per month; in October this reduces further to a government contribution of 60% up to a maximum of £1,875. From November the government will not make any…

The Affordable Homes Scheme, which is designed to get more families on to the property ladder, is being extended for a further year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Linsey Hayes Residential Conveyancer provides an update. It’s estimated that the building of 53,000 new affordable homes has stalled due to delays in the construction industry caused by lockdown. The Government is stepping in to safeguard funding and make sure these homes…

CUMBRIA has a brilliant business community full of inspiring business people achieving amazing results across a whole range of sectors. Whether it’s in advanced manufacturing or energy, hospitality and tourism, professional services and agriculture, right across the board in a broad range of industries including new and emerging technologies, we have businesses who are always looking to innovate. From young entrepreneurs to established business leaders there’s also a real willingness…