Carpenter Box Blog

Let’s do business!

May 17th, 2012

Carpenter Box Partner Chris Coopey will be greeting prospective clients later today (Thursday 16th May) at the ‘Let’s do Business’ show at Brighton Racecourse. Chris commented:

“it’s a great show, and I’m looking forward to meeting new businesses who can benefit from our services, as well as those who already are. Let’s do Business is a great forum and it’s also a good opportunity to catch up with friends and contacts, which I’m looking forward to”.

Chris will be at the show with Katie Snegrove who is close to completing a one year marketing internship with the firm before returning for her final year to university.

Posted in General | No Comments »

Training training and more training…

May 9th, 2012

Here’s a photo from our latest walk in preparation for the challenge… Going to need to do a lot more with only 44 days to go!!

Thanks again for all those who have donated, if you haven’t already done so you can go to www.bmycharity.com/345challenge to donate now!

Posted in The 3,4,5 Challenge! | No Comments »

Paul Archer Completes 3 Peak Challenge…

May 9th, 2012

… tackling Cissbury Ring, Chanctonbury Ring and Highdown Hill on the South Downs.

Paul has taken training for the challenge very seriously. This 13 mile walk was just part of the strict training regime he has taken and lets be honest the team need all the training that they can get!

Posted in The 3,4,5 Challenge! | No Comments »

Banks launch loan appeal process

May 4th, 2012

The British Bankers Association’s campaign Supporting UK Business has resulted in the major banks introducing an appeals process.

If a business loan request is turned down, an appeal can now be launched to review the application.

Each bank has its own process to handle these appeals, but Britain’s largest banks have developed a set of commonly agreed principles that aim to ensure such appeals are handled fairly, promptly and transparently.

Lloyds for instance, are happy to receive written, verbal or email appeals from their customers and there is no application form to complete.

Alan Goward, Lloyds Banking Group’s commercial appeals manager commented: ”For each successful appeal where we overturn the decline decision we also award a goodwill payment of £150 to our customers.”

Each bank will have its own appeals process, but those whose applications are refused should receive a copy of the appeals procedure which they will then have to follow. Appeal decisions will be communicated within 30 days.

The process will be monitored across the participating banks by an independent panel who will issue an annual report.

Posted in Accountancy and Audit, Contractors, General, Solicitors, Tax and Wealth Management | No Comments »

All tied up…

May 4th, 2012

Members of staff at Carpenter Box recently organised a Wacky Shirt and Tie day to raise money for charity. As you can see, there were some stunning combinations, although it was commented that many of the Partners taking part looked more normal than usual! Over £70 was raised, which is being donated to our local Age UK branch.

Posted in Charity, Community, General | Comments Off

Landmark forced retirement ruling – clarity arriving?

May 2nd, 2012

The UK Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal from an older worker who was forced to retire, in a landmark ruling that may establish new ground rules for employer powers regarding the treatment of older employees.

» read full article

Posted in General | Comments Off

Keep calm and carry on…..!

April 25th, 2012

So the UK has double dipped into recession with a sharp 3% fall in construction activity being blamed for the 0.2% contraction in the economy following on from last quarter’s 0.3% drop .

Despite the Office of National Statistics’ dampener there is some cause for optimism with many businesses in the the south east out-performing the market.

These negative results may well further damage the government’s credibility on the economy. It may also strengthen calls for the government to be clearer about its strategy, following criticism from Bernard Jenkin MP, Chair of the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC). Mr Bernard Jenkin spoke yesterday following the publication of a highly critical PASC report in which a lack of strategic thinking was blamed for the problems which have plagued the government since the Budget last month.

The Head of MHA’s Manufacturing Group and Carpenter Box Partner, Chris Coopey highlighted the lack of a national manufacturing strategy last month in a letter to Vince Cable, a theme echoed in the recent PASC report.

Posted in Accountancy and Audit, Charity, Contractors, General, Solicitors, Tax and Wealth Management | Comments Off

Exporting and R&D Seminar: Reap the Rewards – Avoid the Risks

April 24th, 2012

A Seminar for the Manufacturing Sector

Date: Wednesday 20 June 2012

Time: 2:30pm – finished by 5pm

Venue: Roffey Park, Forest Road, HorshamWest Sussex RH12 4TB. Follow link for map.

If your business is involved in R&D (and many are without realising it) then book the afternoon of Wednesday 20 June 2012 to come along to this R&D seminar designed to help you reap the rewards of your time, ingenuity and effort while reducing your risk. The seminar will be divided into four sessions covering practical aspects of R&D from concept to international commercialisation with the following presentations and Q&A sessions.

R&D: Many companies in our region don’t recognise that they are able to claim tax relief when they spend money on Research and Development (R&D). That means they are still missing out on the opportunity to significantly reduce their corporation tax bills (or even claim refunds). Carpenter Box LLP Head of Tax, Stuart Noakes, will outline what qualifies for R&D Tax Credits and how to make sure your company benefits.

R&D: Maddison Ltd is a product design consultancy based in West Sussex with many years’ experience in taking projects from invention to manufacture as well as mentoring inventors/start-ups through the product development process. As part of the seminar, David Maddison will explore the potential risks faced by R&D engaged businesses and look at practical ways of overcoming those risks.UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is the government organisation that supports UK companies to develop their business overseas.

Exports: One of UKTI’s International Trade Advisers will give a presentation on the government support available to R&D intensive companies to take their products to international markets including financial support, selecting the right markets, research, planning and developing an export strategy.

Exports: If you are looking to increase your business overseas there are financial risks. As a global bank, HSBC understands the challenges of trading in new markets and will focus on making sure you get paid for your sales and protect profitability. This will include understanding your terms of trade, effectively assessing the strength of your debtors, having clear terms within contracts and the correct systems to ensure receipt of payments in a timely manner to aid cash flow and avoid bad debts.

There is no charge for this event which will suit FDs business owners and/or higher management but you will need to book your place in advance. Please follow this link to book your place.

Posted in Accountancy and Audit, General, Tax and Wealth Management | Comments Off

Chestnut Tree House

April 18th, 2012

One of the charities that will benefit from the 3,4,5 Challenge is The Chestnut Tree House and the walkers were recently lucky enough to be shown around this wonderful facility.

Anyone who knows about the heart rending work done so well by the staff at Chestnut Tree House will understand that the walkers are now more determined than ever to meet their challenge.

To see more about the Chestnut Tree House follow this link but please HELP by donating to the 3,4,5 Challenge team NOW!

Posted in The 3,4,5 Challenge! | Comments Off

Chichester Chamber Quiz raises the roof (and funds for St Wilfrid’s)

April 13th, 2012

In a rip roaring quiz which saw 17 teams and over 100 team members compete, the 2012 Chichester Chamber Quiz brought out the competitive spirit as well as a sense of fun from all those involved.

Quizmaster and Carpenter Box Partner Chris Coopey presented his annual mix of the cerebral and the comic, which stumped and amused the teams in equal measure. Held at the Chichester Park Hotel (which put on a fine spread), the quiz raised several hundred pounds for St Wilfrid’s Hospice, Chichester.

The eventual winner, by just 2.9 points was ‘Martin’s Mixtures’ captained by Martin Troy, St Wilfrid’s Trustee and Partner at Miller Paris solicitors in Worthing. They picked up a box of wine whilst second placed ‘Armchair Olympians’ were rewarded with chocolate. The misnamed ‘Dunces’ were a very creditable third just 5 points away from victory.

LBC who, by dint of hard effort, achieved last place, were rewarded with plaster meerkat models – ‘simples’!!