business focus 45


Chartered accountants Haines Watts presents a series of articles based on its blogs. It offers analysis, reviews and comments and welcomes your feedback at www.hwca.com/blog


of the month


Finding and keeping talented recruits is increasingly becoming an issue for companies of all sizes – especially in the M4 corridor and the South East.


Apprenticeships – the underrated option? writes Jane Wills, partner at Haines Watts


provides motivated employees who are eager to learn – apprenticeships.


This is a concern at all levels of experience and skill but there is action which can be taken to help matters; some of it will involve focusing on pay levels, flexible work arrangements, benefit packages and other incentives.


Attracting the right trainees to progress through the business is vital though and is as important as employing the correct senior staff.


Traditionally the more highly- skilled employees have been recruited as university graduates but nowadays there is another option to consider, which


Apprenticeships allow a business to provide experience and training for school leavers and young people up to age 25. What they learn can be much more ‘tailor-made’ these days and the range of available apprentice training programmes has expanded significantly.


Recent studies have shown that investment in apprenticeships can benefit a business in many ways:


• Ability to teach sector-specific skills – with government funding available to cover some training costs.


• A cost-effective way to increase the skills base of a business.


Five top tips to help your tenants protect your property


Three in 100 households in the UK became victims of a domestic burglary in 2014/2015, according to a crime survey. Protecting your property is paramount to your business as a landlord, so encouraging your tenants to take as much care and attention as you do, to keep it safe, is vital


You can avoid costly damages from burglaries by following our five handy protection tips.


1 Remember to lock the doors. Whilst it might be a small distraction, or leaving in a rush, leaving the door unlocked leaves your property and tenants at risk from opportunist burglars. Encourage your tenants to remember to lock doors, switching on any alarms and never leaving keys in sight from the outside.


One fifth admit leaving their front or back door unlocked when they are out* and 29% of householders admit they leave spare keys outside the property.


2 Consider installing timed lights outside of the home, in the garage, or any other outbuildings.


59% of domestic burglaries occur in the evening or at night, so these lights really do make a difference.


3 Make the property look occupied, share tips with your tenants on how to do this when they are away from the home. Highlight the importance if your tenants are students and are likely to be away from the home for long periods of time, outside of term time. Again, installing timed lights will help.


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – MAY 2016


4 Speak to your tenants about keeping valuables out of the view of windows. Jewellery and watches are the most commonly stolen items in incidents of domestic burglary in a dwelling, according to ONS.


5 Are you adequately covered? Make sure both you and your tenants are covered suitably by the correct insurance policy.


www.businessmag.co.uk


For more information and a free insurance health check to keep your property and tenants safe, visit the website or call Simon Corderoy or Adam Jeffs.


Details: Simon Corderoy 07980-894917


Adam Jeffs 07748-647673


www. jelfgroup.com *Source: ONS


Jelf Insurance Brokers (Reg No. 0837227) is part of Jelf Group plc (Reg No. 2975376) and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Registered address: Hillside Court, Bowling Hill, Chipping Sodbury, Bristol BS37 6JX (Registered in England and Wales). Not all products and services offered are regulated by the FCA. JIB088.04.16


• Higher employee retention and satisfaction.


• Less disruption to business processes.


Apprenticeships are being offered by more industries than previously; not just in the traditional manufacturing or construction sectors but across the entire range of businesses, from SMEs to large multinationals. They are no longer considered the poor relation and are seen as an important way of finding the skills needed for the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders.


To see the wide range of opportunities on offer log onto the Government apprenticeship website: www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/


For further information regarding this or other financial matters visit the Haines Watts' website.


Details: www.hwca.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68