4


businessupdate News…


Financially speaking


Five South Wales law firms operating as part of the QualitySolicitors franchise, including two in Gwent, are taking part in amulti-million pound national campaign, designed to shake up the legal world and help make solicitors’ services more accessible to everyone. Ruben Lewis O’Brien, with branches in


Cwmbran and St Mellons, and HPJV, which is based in Newport, are part of the £15m campaign, which kicked off with a 90-second TV advert screened in a


primetime slot during the live final of ITV’s Dancing on Ice, on March 25. QualitySolicitors’ national network of


lawyers consists of 350 branches across England and Wales, including 150 Legal Access Points in WHSmith stores. QualitySolicitors is on course for its target of expanding to 1,000 locations by the end of 2012. Chief executive of QualitySolicitors


Craig Holt said: “Our aim is to revolutionise legal services, giving people


Tuesday April 3, 2012 Lawyershelp in nationalcampaign


local advice they can trust with the reassurance that comes from asingle, national brand. We want to make going to your local solicitor as simple and straightforward as going to the supermarket, and tackle people’s apprehensions about seeking legal advice, which can seem adaunting and stuffy process. QS’ mission is to provide consumer-friendly legal services through expert, leading local law firms –not unqualified staff in remote call centres.”


By Adam Davies, director and business protection expert at Seer Green Financial Planning


Looking after the staff is one of the most important jobs of any business owner –and that means taking care of them in death as well as life. ARelevant Life Policy is an alternative way of


providing lump sum death benefits for an employee without needing to set up acostly group life scheme. They also represent atax- efficient way of arranging death-in-service benefits for both employer and employee. Generally, where an employer provides life


cover for the personal benefit ofamember of staff the cost of the premiums paid will constitute a benefit in kind (a non-cash benefit subject to income tax). However, where an employer provides an


employee with aretirement or death benefit – even where this is not included as part of a pension scheme –the provision is exempt from income tax. In other words, the premiums on aRelevant


Life Policy will not constitute abenefit in kind as the policy will be providing retirement or death benefits. And there’s the added benefit for the


employee that the payments of the premiums will not be subject to National insurance Contributions. As for the employer, he or she should be able


to claim tax relief on the premiums paid and there will be no income tax, corporation tax or capital gains tax implications when the policy pays out, provided the policy is held in a‘Declaration of trust for aRelevant Life Policy.’ Typically, Relevant Life Policies are suitable for


small businesses with not enough employees to qualify for, or feel the need for agroup life scheme; some high-earning employees with substantial pension funds who don’t want their group life benefits to form part of their pension lifetime allowance; and members of group life schemes looking to top up their benefits. The maximum sums assured with Relevant


Life Policies is age dependent –from 25 times salary up to the age of 29, to 10 times salary for ages 56 and over, and most policies are portable and can be transferred into apersonal plan on leaving employment. As ever, seek specialist expert advice first. Gwent-based leading corporate pensions,


business protection and financial planning specialists Seer Green. Contact Adam Davies, Director, on Newport 01633 816522; e-mail Adam.Davies@seerg.com


Musicalfirm is still in tuneafteradecade A


decade on, and Wales’ largest musical instruments supplier is still hittingahigh note. Sutherland Trading, bought by Gareth Jones in a£500,000


Management Buy Out ten years ago with the help ofUKSteel Enterprise, is very much in tune with the fast changing world of music. Anew John Lennon limited edition


harmonica is being marketed by the Bedwas-based company, and Sutherland is working with South Wales rock star Andy Fairweather-Low to develop anew Stonebridge guitar to suit his needs. The company’s customers range from


primary schools to the world’s top performers. “We look after AC/DC, Katie Melua,


Van Morrison, the Super Furry Animals and many other famous names. At the same time we are aleader in the schools instrument market, helping the stars of the future,” said Gareth Jones. “We cover all the bases, and this has


helped us continue to flourish even when times are harder,” he said. Sutherland’s American operation,


launched in 2004, has proved ahit, opening up theUSmarket. “The move was very successful for us,


“said Mr Jones. He praised the flexible approach of


investorUKSteel Enterprise, asubsidiary of Tata Steel. “UKSE cornerstoned theMBOten


Gareth Jones of Sutherland and UK Steel Enterprise’s Glyn Thomas


years ago when Ibought the company from the owners, Hohner. They then helped finance the move to theUSwith a£60,000 loan. They have understood what Iwanted to do with the business and have always been there when I have needed them,” he said. “In that time the business has flourished


and we have become the leader in Wales in the music instrument market, and enjoy a worldwide reputation.” Sutherland has an excellent rapport with


many famous performers. Katie Melua buys the Crafter guitars she


uses from Sutherland, and Van Morrison is supplied with harmonicas. Andy Fairweather- Low, who has toured with Eric Clapton, is working with Sutherland to develop a Stonebridge guitar for him. The new John Lennon harmonica is


expected to have ahuge appeal to Beatles fans all over the world. “This is alimited edition, the royalties of


which will go to John’s widow, Yoko Ono.We expect there will be astrong demand for them, and this is aproject we are very excited about,” added Mr Jones.


Glyn Thomas, of UK Steel Enterprise, said


the relationship with Sutherland was agood example of the flexible, long-term approach, the organisation liked to take. “We helped to launch the business and


have stayed with it over the last decade. This means that when an opportunity arises –such as the move into the US–weare ready to help.


“We find that this collaborative way of


working benefits our clients, and it is excellent to see Sutherland thriving and being involved with many exciting new projects.”


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8