Software Industry Yet To Take Full Advantage Of Tax Laws

Bristol is one of the major software and research centres in the U.K. The city is becoming a leading silicon design centre and, according to Science City Bristol, is second in size only to Silicon Valley in the U.S.

Its nearest rival in this country is the city Cambridge. Furthermore, in the last ten years new businesses in South West England have attracted more than $550 million in investment funding. From that, shareholders have reaped more than $800. Examples of successful start-ups include XMOS. This firm is developing a microchip that will be at the heart of many electronic devices in decades to come.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the country in the North East of England, the University of Teesside in Middlesbrough is establishing itself as a software centre and all kinds of companies are springing to take on the graduates available each year.

One Middlesbrough software business called Sapere Software has produced two ground-breaking apps for phones. One is a multi-platform system for remote control of home security while the other lets users safely and securely control their finances.

The first one lets the user view camera footage from their home, adjust the angle of cameras, and check on pets and home workers. The product has been expanded to include Android, Windows Mobile 7, Blackberry and Symbian platforms.

These are examples of companies that are eligible for R&D Tax Credits and hopefully they are taking full advantage of this relief. This is especially important because the government revealed recently that the software and IT sector is failing to claim more £280 million worth of R&D Tax Credits.

It is suspected by industry experts that the reason for this is that Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) guidelines for submissions of applications for this are complicated and also complex. In fact, one industry expert described them as, in some instances, being contradictory. This in turn means that some companies are not interested in applying for the benefit because the find the process off-putting.

According to research the money recovered could in fact massively change the sector in a positive way and transform it. It could be more competitive in the global market, which is being impacted by activity in North America and newly emerging Eastern economies.

Experts determine the level of unclaimed amount by comparing the United Kingdom with Canada. This comparison is made because that country is considered to be saturated when it comes to this.  To reach the same level, domestic claims would need to go to£3.9bn per annum from today’s £1.1bn. So currently we can see that we have an almost shocking shortfall of £2.8bn for all sectors here.

Currently information technology, including the software industries, is approximately 10 per cent of the overall figure. Experts calculate that the sector is not claiming roughly £280 million a year. The picture is a little bit different in Scotland where an independent study of the small and medium enterprise start-ups in that Northern country show different variances amongst different sectors.

There are also variations across Britain.

Right from the start, looking at this industry, it is clear that investors and entrepreneurs are very smart and aggressive when it comes to their industry. But when it comes to tax issues and legislation there are in dire need of help. They need to be turning to their accountants or consultants to get this sorted out and to make their legitimate claims so that they can reinvest even more funding.

There is also an important link that needs to be made between the sector and the financial services people. One of the points that has arisen is that many bookkeepers and some firms are not fully clear what their clients are doing and the specialist nature of the developments. If this is the case, it's a certainty true that the correct advice is not forthcoming and savings cannot be made. Some accountants do not understand the technology, and some are generalists, understanding only a little about the real subtleties of the legislation. The result is either no claims can be accessed.

A number of organisations have struggled in these demanding economic times and they tell their banks over and over again that cash turnover is a problem. It is likely that if they were 100 per cent aware of how much money they could access through this scheme they would be very surprised and also extremely grateful.

Take Control Of Your Marketing Today

Is your marketing strategy one of trial and error?

This is how some businesses operate:

‘The Haphazard Plumbing Company’ decides that they should be targeting households within a 10-mile radius of where their business is based. Let’s say Leeds for example. So they buy in a mailing list of 20,000 names and they mail their A4 direct mailer to everyone on their list.

Then they wait patiently  . . . for a response . . . only . . . the uptake is a disappointing 0.008%. And they’ve wasted a ton of money on the design, the printing, the postage. So what to do next?

Then we have the ‘Savvy Plumbing Company.’ With the help of a hands-on marketing consultant they can be confident in their approach.


They will then analyse the response levels and fine-tune the letter which attracts the most favourable response. This will be the company’s ‘control’ letter.

They may even decide to pit this version against another one still – as a direct marketer you should never stop testing. But what they won’t do, is send an untried mailer out to 20,000 people – and neither should you.

So what kind of ‘sales letter’ elements might you test?:

• Headlines
• Subheads
• Bullet points
• Body copy
• Your offer
• Payment terms
• Guarantee
• Graphics & charts

The difficulty for many business owners can be objectivity. Frequently they become so attached to their businesses, they will blindly pursue avenues that are clearly not bringing in quality results for them.
By using sampling in your direct marketing strategy you will pretty quickly be able to determine whether you have a winning direct mailer, or something that could do with a little more tweaking. Either way, you will not be wasting money on something that might or might not work for you.
A marketing consultant can be a genuine help in producing winning sales materials for your business. But whether you decide to go down the DIY route, or invest in some professional help, you will need to establish a ‘control’ sales letter. That is, a sales letter that your potential customers will respond to – one that will allow you to take control of your company’s marketing results.

How Your Company Could Benefit From The Latest CAFM Software

In this increasingly hi-tech, high-pressured age of commercialism, company owners need solutions that will simplify their business processes, rather than complicate them.

All major organisations are expected to focus on cutting costs whilst maintaining the same or better standards of quality. It’s a tough ask. That’s why many of today’s savvy professionals rely on the latest technology to help their companies run more efficiently.

So if you are someone who is currently considering Computer Aided Facilities Management solutions for your business, but you are stalling on making a commitment because:

1. The software sounds like it might be unduly complicated
    and
2. The costs could be prohibitive
     then kindly read on because I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

CAFM originated in the late 1980s, providing facilities managers with the tools and systems to plan, track, manage, and report on complex data within their organisation.

Thanks to CAFM software today’s facilities management professionals can employ real-time data to help their companies to become more productive by utilising people, buildings and systems effectively – after all, less waste equals less costs.

As a result your company will become more transparent and it will be easier to prove compliance with legislation and regulations.

Another thing, using the latest software to automate and simplify your processes will help you and your colleagues counteract stress. Did you know that stress in the workplace costs the UK £1.24 billion a year according the Health & Safety Executive (HSE)?

And although the HSE states that between 2010-2011 there were some 400,000 reported stress-related illnesses, it concedes that many employees are citing other reasons for their absenteeism, rather than the underlying reason.

As a responsible and ambitious business owner, no doubt you will want to do everything within your power to ensure you maintain a happy and healthy workforce. When people enjoy their jobs they are more likely to ‘shine’ – plus improved moral means that staff turnover rates will improve considerably too.

If you would like to find out more about the potential of computer aided facilities management software to help your business run more efficiently and effectively, improve your decision-making processes and reduce workforce stress, then your friendly helpful CAFM experts will be delighted to arrange a no-obligation consultation.

Please be assured that this software is extremely user-friendly (you’ll receive all the training you need to get you up and running) and it also provides a genuine investment for ‘go- ahead’ businesses of all sizes.

How A Director or CEO Can Improve Communication Skills

An executive, director or the head of any kind of business or organisation must have excellent communication strengths in order to be able to manage. You could be called upon at any point in time to talk to people. This could be in an informal setting such as a group of employees, a more formal situation where you have to speak at a conference or a shareholder event or being interviewed by a journalist.

Being able to express yourself isn't just about speaking or talking to individuals or groups. It also encompasses being able to write well. This means sending clear memos or emails. It also implies the ability to produce precise policy documents and reports. So having good writing skills is important too.

If your career goal is to be at the head of an organisation in any kind of capacity, even as a volunteer, it's important to take a look at how you present and improve upon your existing level of talent.
This article highlights some of the key areas required for great presentation and expression.

PowerPoint presentation: People say this can be boring, but there's no getting away from the fact that it's still an essential tool for anyone who has to give an overview of any kind of situation or an inspiring speech at an event. The key to using PP successfully is to understand that it's vital not to have too many slides. At the same time users mustn't have too much text on each screen. Make one display last between five and seven minutes and ensure that you use bullet points and that it's readable. Additionally, remember to make copies available for your audience.

Email: It may seem odd that we’re including this because, after all, email has been with us for more than 15 years and most folks use it. But not everyone uses it correctly. Firstly there is the problem of people copying in multiple recipients, many of whom don't need to know. In fact, it's quite common now for employees in large organisations to not even read CC’d emails. If you want to ensure that your message is read send it only to the people who truly need to receive it. Keep to the point. Don't include confidential information; emails can be forwarded and therefore you can't control who eventually could receive it. Never use emails to impart major or serious decisions or highly personal details.

Report writing: This is a fundamental thing that everyone should master. Even if the document is only a few pages long, it's good to be able to form something properly so that it looks professional and well done. There are plenty of books and websites that cover the basics of this. In a nutshell, your document should have a cover title page, a table of contents, an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Obviously, longer documents require more. If you quote from an individual or use previously published information, be sure to attribute this and list all sources.

The press: Dealing with journalists is not as frightening as it potentially sounds. Despite their reputation in the UK most reporters are fair and balanced and want to get a story done quickly. Your organisation should have a policy that governs how this aspect is managed. It should list official spokespersons, what can be said, and how it should be framed.

Obviously each situation is different and members of the group should meet to talk to each other and decide what information is given first, especially in serious or sensitive situations. In larger centres such as London media training is on offer and is in fact invaluable. These experts will reveal how the industry works and what is expected of you when you are giving an interview. In places like London media training will also explain how to handle tough interviews and how to get your side of the story across.