EDWARDS HARVEY PR & MARKETING BACKS CAMPAIGN TO RAISE FUNDS FOR CHILDREN'S HOSPICE SERVICE
Staff at a Maidstone consultancy are helping to raise funds for a unique hospice service that provides care for sick children in their own homes.
Why use managed IT services? From Managed Services Centre (MSC)
Over the last few years, it's safe to say that the majority of companies have been affected by the global recession in some
form or another. Whether you have lost customers, gone through restructuring or been forced to make budget cuts; it has been an unsteady time for the UK economy. While it seems that perhaps the upturn is on its way, companies must still pay acute attention to their finances and put strict budgeting in place.
When it comes to budgeting for IT, many large organisations simply axe their costs as a way to survive the economic downturn. However, this approach can leave these companies behind the times in regards to new technologies and security measures when finances are stable again. The strategy that most SMEs are taking, which is by far more efficient and successful, is to turn to managed IT services. Managed IT services provide companies with access to the latest technologies and management expertise while keeping certain areas of company costs down; allowing companies to get more from their IT budgets.
The Edwards Harvey team helping to load the charity's van with all the collections.. Pictured (l-r) are Michael DeFroand, Rachael Collard,
Vicky Pilcher, Mick Taylor, Amy Lawrence, Leah Taylor and Jeff Sims.
Edwards Harvey PR & Marketing collected 12 sacks of donated clothing, linen, toys, games, books and bric-a-brac for 'chYps', the Children and Young People's Service of the EllenorLions Hospices, after organising a De-Clutter Day.
All the items will be sold to help fund the service, which will enable children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions to stay with their families and receive clinical care and support at home.
Edwards Harvey managing director Pip Clarkson said: "chYps aims to raise £248,000 in the next year, which will enable it to support at least 100 children and their families. For our De-Clutter Day, we all brought in a sack of unwanted items and the charity sent a collection van to our offices - it couldn't have been simpler.
"Our De-Clutter Day was easy to organise and is something other businesses should consider along with any other kind of in-house fund- raising event, sponsorship or a straightforward donation."
chYps has been providing full hospice care to families in Swanley, Dartford, Gravesham and Bexley for nearly 20 years. Now the charity is working in partnership with the NHS West Kent to extend the service to Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks. It's the only service in the area to offer 'at home' hospice care to children and people under 18.
chYps is already helping 19 children in the new catchment area and estimates that a further 200 need its support. But more funding is required before the organisation can roll out full 365-day, 24-hour care.
For more information and ideas about how to support chYps, visit
www.chyps.org
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Managed IT services are quick, easy and cost effective to deploy. They allow companies to take advantage of the latest developments in technology and security and enable their business to grow. Companies that use a managed service provider can boost their in-house IT effectiveness by enabling key employees to spend less time tackling day-to-day IT issues such as email, viruses and spam and instead focus their skills on projects that will deliver real results.
The main benefits that can be achieved by deploying managed IT services are: * Cost reductions (in service calls, hardware, operations and network transport). * The ability to focus on core business operations. * The alignment of IT with business needs. * The assurance of instant adoption of new technology-enabled business processes. * Increased levels of support (without the requirement of additional staff). * Access to an enhanced technical skills base. * Continual monitoring and management of IT services; 24/7/365. * The ability to build in security and control. * Constant monitoring of internet security; safeguarding business reputation and finances. * A reduction in power costs and waste, and the performance of IT devices are managed - pro-longing their life and keeping them running efficiently.
Overall, companies that use managed IT services could experience a greater return on investments and are safe in the knowledge that the IT side of their company is being managed by experts; allowing complete focus on core business activities.
Contact MSC today for further information and expert advice about improving your business with managed IT services.
Contact Us: 0333 55 55 247
info@msc247.com www.msc247.com @msc_247
New CIS Penalties from HMRC
Important changes to penalties for late Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) returns came into effect this month.
From 6 October 2011, CIS contractor monthly returns will be liable to a new penalty regime: * a £100 fixed penalty if the return misses its due date (the 19th of each month);
* a second £200 fixed penalty if a return is two months late;
* a tax-geared penalty if the return is not filed six months after its due date - the greater of 5% of any deductions shown on the return or £300;
* a second tax-geared penalty if the return is still outstanding after 12 months - the greater of 100% of any deductions or £3,000 if withholding of information was
deliberate and concealed; the greater of 70% or £1,500 if it was deliberate but not concealed; or the greater of 5% or £300 for cases where information was not withheld;
* an upper limit ('cap') on the amount of fixed penalties charged to new contractors that have not filed their first returns on time; and * interest on any penalty paid late.
The first return affected will be for payments made to subcontractors in the month ending 5 November 2011, which is due on 19 November 2011.
For further information, visit HMRC's website at
www.hmrc.gov.uk/cis/news/penalties.htm
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