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Why might a corporate video benefit your business?

By
Elliot Preece
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Whatever the sector in which your business operates and type of customer base it is aiming to build, you shouldn’t look past the promotional merits of video.

Research vindicates the theory that video can engage viewers surprisingly effectively. However, your company might still have held off thoroughly investing in the medium – perhaps out of misconceptions about how effective or easy-to-make videos can be. Allow us to enlighten you…

Information imparted via video is easier to remember

As explained in an Entrepreneur article, molecular biologist John Medina has claimed that video can have a much more powerful effect on human memory than audio alone.

To be more precise, Medina has said that, should a human hear some information, 10% of it will still be in their memory three days later. However, that percentage rises to 65% if the person simultaneously hears information and views an image, as video improves information processing.

Online video is widely watched

The Next Web has shared various figures shedding light on the wide reach of video. These statistics include that, each day, 55% of people watch online videos, while mobile is the platform through which 90% of Twitter videos are watched.

Company videos are especially popular with Millennials. Entrepreneur reports that, in surveys, 70% claim to watch such videos while online shopping – and, thus, yielding their major purchasing power.

A team effort can result in a big success

Before they buy anything from your company, a client will want to see that it has the same values. By gathering various employees for a team video, you can help give a client an insight into your company culture – and, if they like what they see, they could be more tempted to proceed.

Furthermore, for your company, filming team videos can be a lot of fun. Even just planning for it can develop camaraderie – and that could fuel excitement that lasts right through the video’s production.

Your company could become easier to find in search engines

A corporate video can help strengthen your company’s SEO – search engine optimisation – profile, especially if that video will be posted on YouTube, as explained in a LinkedIn article.

When you do this, you can anticipate search engines more easily coming across the video and giving your business higher rankings in the search engine’s results pages. Basically, as a result of all of this, your company can become more easily noticed online.

An effective video can be delightfully cheap to make

In the last decade, mobile phones and tablets have been muscling out desktop and laptop computers in popularity not just as content consumers, but also as content makers.

This certainly holds true in the realm of video. Prices on such devices have dropped over time – meaning that, today, you don’t need to spend too much money to pick up a phone or tablet with which a small HD video camera has been integrated. Nonetheless, if your video-making skills are not quite up to scratch, The Mob Film Company could assist.

From smart meters to security: Clever ways to save money on bills

By
Elliot Preece
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2017 was the most expensive year since 2006 for UK households. In its annual family spending survey, the Office of National Statistics found that the average household spent £554.20 a week last year—over £20 more than in 2016. A few dips aside, this figure has been rising steadily since 2012. Meanwhile, average wages have been falling in real terms, meaning money is tighter than ever for UK families.

With figures like this, it’s no wonder many of us are feeling the pinch. And it’s more important than ever to make sure we’re doing all we can to save money. To help out, we’ve compiled a list of clever ways to save money on your monthly bills.

  1. Install an insurance-approved burglar alarm to reduce premiums

Though this one requires a bit of an initial investment, it can certainly pay off in the long run. According to Compare the Market, a number of factors have contributed to a rise in home insurance premiums in recent years. Upping your home security can help combat this.

Security experts Banham advise installing insurance-approved burglar alarms—such as those that comply with Grade 2 EN50131 standards—as this can often encourage home insurers to lower premiums due to the increased safety they bring. Grade 2 EN50131 alarms are defined as those that cannot be circumnavigated by criminals with “limited knowledge” about alarms and “some tools” to help them. A Grade 3 alarm would defend against those with more knowledge and a full range of tools, and Grade 4 alarms can only be bypassed by specialists.

Compare the Market’s insurance form asks specifically if your burglar alarm is monitored by a company certified by the National Approval Council for Security Systems or another well-regarded security body, as this will keep your home even safer, and therefore lower premiums even more.

While the initial savings may seem only small—especially compared to a burglar alarm which could cost hundreds of pounds—the long term benefit is undeniable. One expert, speaking to Admiral, pointed out that burglar alarms, in reducing the risk of burglary, will also minimise the risk of the premium increases that can come as a result of burglary. This makes them more than worthwhile in the long run.

  1. Switch providers to reduce energy bills

Aside from food and rent, energy bills can be a family’s largest financial outlay. While the majority of us just let our suppliers tell us what to pay year in, year out, it doesn’t have to be this way. The ball is actually in our court. All you have to do is pick up the phone (or laptop) and switch suppliers, and you could save up to £537 a year (according to Energy Helpline).

This level of saving will make a huge difference to your day-to-day life, and making the switch is actually relatively straightforward. As well as Energy Helpline, there are countless other switching services that can help you find a better deal for your energy bills, including uSwitch and MoneySupermarket. These sites show you prices from your current supplier and alternative suppliers side by side, giving you the opportunity to find a cheaper energy provider.

Last year the number of consumers switching energy suppliers reached a record high. Make sure you’re one of them.

  1. Monitor your home with smart technology

 Leaving one light bulb on when you’re not home might not be the end of the world. But the price of forgetting to turn off lights, heating, taps, and mains electricals can all add up over the course of a year.

Because it’s so difficult to be completely sure you’re on top of these things, several affordable smart home devices have hit the market to help you monitor your home from afar. Smart thermostats and lighting control systems work with companion apps on your phone, allowing you to turn the heating up and down, and the lights off and on, no matter where you are in the world. According to The Energy Saving Trust, a smart thermometer could potentially save you £150, not to mention 680kg of carbon dioxide emissions. And if you lower your average room temperature by just one degree, you could save up to £75 and 340kg of CO2. These are significant savings that come from smart devices which are widely available, and very simple to use.

How Important is Networking?

By
Elliot Preece
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Networking is the very foundation of any business process. There are businesses who swear by it and think that their success can be attributed to it, but others believe that networking is a dying art. As a graduate it can be difficult to assess how important something is to be successful. If you want to be successful and get great business connections, then it’s imperative that you find a way to get yourself in front of the right people.

Networking gets you noticed:

When searching for an internship at a law firm, or applying for jobs within your niche after graduation, it would be foolish to believe that your initial interviews will be a walk in the park. There will be so many graduates, who have the same degree, who have the same grades and who are in the same league as yourself. You need to make yourself stand out to potential employers, and there is no better way to do this, than to meet with them face to face in a more relaxed networking setting. Interviews can be intense and can really bring out your less favourable qualities.

Employers in any business will seek to bring people into the team who can bring value to the firm, rather than those who solely have the necessary legal doctrines and qualifications. Having the skill sets and redeemable qualities such as emotional intelligence and business development will take you far with employers, qualities such as this can be refined and tried out in the networking arena. In order to be successful in business development and in order to refine your emotional intelligence, you must firstly have to speak to people, learn how to read them, learn what they want, and how you can take it from them. All of these skills are the core foundations of networking, which take time and practice to perfect.

The art of networking:

Any successful professional will tell you that networking and brushing shoulders with the right people is one of the key elements to career progression. Developing powerful relationships and connections can allow you to gain an insight into the industry you are seeking to become a part of, it can help you to develop the right dialogue, professional conversational style, and above all else, can help you to meet the key people who can push your career forward. Whether you speak to hiring managers, whether you speak to CEOs or like-minded professionals who can give you an industry insight, all of these types of people will sow the seeds of your career and will help you to advance.

Networking relationships need to be a two-way street, those who seek to take everything and give nothing back will soon be found out and turned away from. Instead of solely focusing on what can be gained for yourself, you must first question what is in it for your networking partner. Everybody has something that they can offer, whether this is money, time, talent or performance and in most cases, valuable industry information. It’s important to develop a networking strategy before you enter the room. Find out who will be attending the networking event, consider everybody who could be beneficial to your end goal – whether this is getting industry information, making connections or getting a job. Once you have selected the people you wish to network with, you must now consider everything that you have to offer and refine your conversational techniques in order to “schmooze” with them.

The importance of maintaining a strong and connected network:

The absolute bottom line to securing a job at a law firm or business comes down to how well connected you are – this goes beyond having many connections on Linkedin! Within your respected niche, it is likely that CEOs will know CEOs, hiring managers will know other hiring managers and so on. If you make connections with the right people, and make a positive impression on the right people, then you will be more susceptible to be considered for a job. The law industry is driven by relationships and reputation, the more people you know and make a good impression on, the more successful you will become. Making connections and networking will be an integral part of your career until the day you retire, this is not a fruitful task that will gain you your initial position. Networking can open the door to new employers, new partners and new clients. One of the most well known statistics when it comes to law employments, is that “40% of law positions are advertised, and the rest are filled within a network”. If you want to open yourself to new opportunities, then it’s integral that you put yourself out there and pave the way to your success.

Alice Porter has worked in conjunction with the Employment Lawyers in Manchester to raise awareness for the importance of networking and maintaining networking etiquette.

Legal requirements for starting a new business

By
Elliot Preece
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If you are considering starting a business, then you could be excused for feeling bewildered. After all, there are reams of laws applicable to the process of forming a business – and you may fear that it would take an age for you to discern which of these laws would come into play for you specifically.

For this reason, we have decided to untangle some of the legal complexities of starting a business – and so help you see which legal needs to which you should pay the most attention.

Consider the pressures that a simple agreement will elicit. What’s the difference between a small business agreement and a business agreement in general? Stop dreaming and start relaxing right now! Whether it’s for a relationship or an investment, the aim is the same: to reach an efficient agreement. At Template.net, professionally written, 100% customizable, fully editable, and ready-made Business Agreement Templates to get you started.

What technical form will your business take?

A business can have one of various types of legal structure. However, the majority of businesses are registered as a sole trader, limited company or partnership, says the GOV.UK site. Which of these structures you should choose for your firm can strongly depend on personal needs and preferences.

It would be most straightforward for you to start out as a sole trader; this would give you personal responsibility for the company’s debts and some accounting, too. Forming as a limited company would separate your corporate and personal finances, but also task you with a greater degree of reporting and management.

If you intend to run the business with at least one other person, forming that business as a partnership would be the simplest strategy – and share out responsibility for corporate debts.

Choose a legally sound business name

Your company’s name must be distinct from names of other companies in the same sector. Otherwise, people could be misled into thinking your company is a different one. This, in turn, may lead you to incur a charge of “passing off” that could expensively land you in court.

For this reason, Law Donut advises that you look through the Companies House index of companies before you settle on a name, which also must not already be trademarked.

Will insurance be legally necessary?

There are various types of insurance available for businesses – and your startup is likely to need at least one of these types. If you are an employer rather than handling all of the corporate responsibilities alone, one legal necessity is employers’ liability insurance, as the ABI points out.

This insurance can help you fund compensation payouts to staff if they become ill or injured due to carrying out work for your business. Even if you aren’t an employer but do use vehicles for business use, then this would, by law, require you to hold commercial motor insurance.

There are other forms of insurance that are legally optional, but could still be wise for you to take out, depending on your business. For example, commercial property insurance could assist you in paying for repair or rebuilding of your corporate premises if they incur damage, while cyber insurance can ease your making of financial amends for losses resulting from damaged IT systems.

You could treat a single broker, Be Wiser Business Insurance, as a source for various types of corporate insurance that meet your needs while remaining favourably priced.

Home feeling cramped? Five top tips for creating more space without blowing the budget….

By
Elliot Preece
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With the average cost of moving house estimated at being around £10,000, it’s no wonder many homeowners today are choosing to extend their homes rather than relocate. If you feel that you’ve run out of space, but can’t afford extensive building work, here are some top tips for creating more space within your home:

Look into self storage

The industrial outskirts of practically every city and town in the UK are dotted with self-storage units. These purpose-built facilities provide secure, temperature controlled environments, with many also offering 24/7 access and free parking. In terms of costs, companies such as Blue Box Storage charge from as little as £11 per week for a 10 square foot space. With such easy access and minimal financial outlay, storage needn’t just be for excess furniture or when moving house. Why not consider storing your winter and summer wardrobes, cherished books and memorabilia, or even outdoor furniture/equipment during the winter months? This could free up essential space within your home, helping you cope when conditions are cramped.

Board and convert the loft

Boarding the loft is a great option for adding storage space to your home. However, without the additional floor strengthening required by building regulations for a full loft conversion, boarding will only allow occasional footfall. This means that you’ll create extra storage space rather than a fully usable room within the home. If you require an extra room, loft conversions come in at upwards of £20,000, depending on the extent of the building work required. While the procedure for converting your loft can be lengthy as well as costly, loft conversions are really attractive for homeowners. Not only will the additional floor create essential breathing space for your family, it also means you’ll avoid the stress of moving home. As an added bonus, it will also add over 20% to the value of your home and make your home more attractive to potential buyers.

Get creative with under stairs storage

The under stairs space is often overlooked in our homes, but this empty space can provide excellent storage as well as living areas. Options range from low cost installations such as a built-in cupboard or shelving for a bookcase to more expensive alternatives such as a built-in reading nook, home office or even an additional downstairs toilet. By getting creative with this space you can not only create additional storage but also completely transform your living space.

Install a garden shed

Traditionally the preserve of gardening equipment, garden sheds are seeing a renaissance. No longer damp and draughty spaces relegated to the end of the lawn, sheds today come in all shapes and sizes. They can be anything from a basic wooden shed for storing bikes and equipment to larger spaces with heating and electricity, that are truly an extension of your home – be that a playroom, office or even a spare room. The Posh Shed Company recently reported a 35% increase in sales in London, with the capital making up over a quarter of the company’s entire sales and reflecting the needs of homeowners that have limited space.

Convert the garage

Few people use their garage for storing their car, so integrating this little-used space back into your home by creating another room is an attractive option for many homeowners. Costing from as little as £5,000, a well thought-out garage conversion can add as much as 10% to the value of your home, meaning not only will it add valuable living space to your home, but it will also improve the resale value. If you already use the garage for storage, then you’ll need to invest in additional outside storage. If this isn’t possible, consider a partial garage conversion. By converting just a third to two thirds of the garage, you can still create a small office or playroom, while retaining invaluable storage.

Everything You Need to Know for Medical Emergencies at Work

By
Elliot Preece
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As the saying goes: it’s better to be prepared than sorry. While you may not expect a significant medical emergency at work, accidents will and do happen. If you have provisions in place, however, you stand a better chance at minimising risk for your employees, and maintaining your business reputation.

In 2017, 609,000 non-fatal injuries were reported by workers. Thankfully, fatal injuries are relatively rare, and tend to occur in highly-dangerous industries. However, the common causes for the non-fatal injuries relate to handling, carrying and slips. With that in mind, you can attempt to reduce risks attributed to those incidents.

Risk Assessment

It goes without saying that you need a risk assessment in place. The necessity for a risk assessment is outlined in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, so you cannot avoid the measurement. However, if you don’t know what should be included, you can find templates online. In simple terms, your assessment must analyse all equipment and conditions to ensure they run as they should, and you have provisions in place for any emergency. It should feature:

  • The action determined to resolve any accidents
  • Identify the first aiders in the workplace
  • Highlight any unsafe equipment of conditions, with the aim to resolve all issues

Emergency Accident Reporting

Emergency reporting of any incident is crucial for all businesses. In many cases, staff are not even aware this is part of their duties. You should contact all team members with the action plan in place for all emergencies, highlighting the necessity of incident reporting immediately and the form they will need to fill out.

Potential Hazards

As we mentioned above, the government has conducted surveys as to the most common causes of non-fatal injury in a workplace. As such, you can work to reduce those incidents and identify potential hazards in your office. Of course, you cannot eliminate all risks, but you can work to ensure the safety of your employees.

Handling/Carrying

Handling and carrying incidents accounted for 122,000 of non-fatal injuries reported by UK workers, and there are straightforward procedures you can put in place. One such example is to provide proper training for your employees on lifting boxes etc., and to ensure there are no obstacles in their path. Similarly, make sure the doorways in your workplace are not obstructed.

Slips/Falls

Common incidents relating to this cause can easily be minimised – you just need to follower proper steps, which is where we come in. For example, if there happens to be a spillage, get rid of it straightaway. You should always make sure you provide suitable floor materials and signage.

First Aid Kits

We can’t state this any clearer, but you need several first aid kits in your business. Depending on the size of your team, the number of kits should relate. Your first aiders should also be aware of their responsibilities during an emergency. Your first aid kit should include:

  • Gloves
  • Various types of dressing
  • Eye pads
  • Sharp and blunt scissors
  • Instant ice packs
  • Sports tape
  • Triangular bandages
  • Sterile gauze swabs
  • Crepe bandages
  • Wound wash solution
  • Deep freeze spray
  • Emergency foil blanket
  • Safety pins
  • Resuscitation face mask

Med Plan

Your business should have a med plan in place, and it must feature everything mentioned above. Now you’ve got the basics, we suggest including:

  • Evaluating the particular injury/illness
  • Designate contacts for incident reporting
  • Ensure all first aiders have received proper training
  • Store all first aid certificates in an accessible place, keeping them up-to-date
  • If you have medical facilities near your office, speak to them to see if they could handle any emergency cases that may arise
  • Deliver medical procedures to all staff and ensure they understand the action from each accident
  • Consult with healthcare professionals to provide advice on first aid kit/supplies

Essential Medical Apps

While all of the above is essential, you could even download professional medical apps to ensure you have all information at your disposal. While they are certainly not as accurate as healthcare professionals, these apps will be able to guide you through responding to a medical emergency.

Medical Dictionary

The medical dictionary is as expected. The app boasts thousands of downloads, providing users access to more than 180,000 medical terms, all from authoritative sources. The medical app states that it will offer ‘clear, in-depth definitions of medical terminology’, and they could prove invaluable in a case of an emergency. The app includes features on diseases, drugs, physiology and treatments for specific illnesses.

First Aid by British Red Cross

This medical app is officially produced by British Red Cross, offering excellent guidance for first aiders. Their emergency section provides step-by-step instructions for all manner of incidents, including those occurring due to asthma, allergies, burns, broken bones, choking and even diabetes.

St John Ambulance First Aid

Another trusted app, this time produced by St John Ambulance. It does not replace the need for first aid training, but can help in terms of emergency. Similar to the British Red Cross app, this offers easy-to-follow illustrated guides and voice instructions on specific emergencies, both minor and major.

Instant Heart Rate Monitor

This is the world’s best mobile heart rate measurement app, and is worth installing to your device. The app works by detecting a colour change in your finger, thus calculating your heart rate. It is exceptionally accurate, but should never replace a true heart rate monitor.

Ultimately, if you do put provisions in place for emergencies, you will reduce the risk for staff and even any visitors to your premises. In the long run, that will only serve to enhance your company reputation.

What to do if your Home has a Repossession Order

By
Elliot Preece
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Woman worried about financial problems. Jobless or to many bills

As anyone would imagine; being threatened with your home being repossessed must be one of the most stressful events imaginable, this is your home not just bricks and mortar, it is where you and your family relax, have fun and of course shut out the world.

A word of caution should this ever happen to you, DO NOT ignore it, it will not go away, you need to act to ensure that you keep your home and frankly the quicker you act the more chance you will have of keeping the home you value. If the worst case happens and repossession becomes an inevitability you will still have some options, let’s see what can be done.

What should I do first?

Contact your mortgage company as soon as is possible, if you can do this even before a repossession order comes (because you will know if you haven’t paid your mortgage) then all the better, however, if you receive the formal repossession order, call immediately or frankly proceedings will move very quickly. Always be honest regarding your current situation, lenders do not want hundreds and hundreds of repossessed homes as it becomes a headache for them to dispose of, so they will try and help for both of your sakes. Normally you can come to an agreement with the lender which will be beneficial to both and allow you to keep that roof over your head.

Don’t panic.

In normal circumstances proceedings would take several weeks to come to the stage of actually being evicted, so do not panic, just act, if you do as set out above there would be no need to have to go through a court hearing, it can be sorted with your lender. Of course, if it should get as far as court, the court has a responsibility to protect the assets which of course is the lenders assets as you are actually not the owner until the mortgage is settled. But even taking that into account, the court also has a duty of care for the community it represents which ensures that you can state your case.

If you act from day one by being honest and making calm rational dealings with your lender you can possibly avert any chance of actually ending up in court.

What are my options?

Discuss with your lender the level of repayments you can make, do not pluck a figure out of thin air, do your sums and work out exactly how much you can repay and still live. Your lender will ask for all your incomings and outgoings and between you, come to an agreement that will work for both parties.

If you cannot reach an amicable agreement, well, you might want to think about taking in a lodger for extra income, rent out your property for the amount of mortgage repayment. This must be agreed to by the lender in almost every case as it their property and therefore the “owner” per se.

You could sell your property very quickly though any of the companies that offer immediate cash, meaning you would be able to complete within a matter of weeks, companies such as these normally take care of the whole process from start to finish i.e. legal side, which would give you the relief you have been looking for.

What if none of the above work?

Unfortunately if all the above fail then the chances are you will have to attend court with regards to the repossession, however that is not the end for you, the court may decide to suspend proceedings to allow you some time to try and resolve the matter or the court may find that the correct procedures have not been followed to a “t” and that also will maybe give you a little more time. But don’t let it get that far, use all the resources mentioned above as theoretically if you do reach the courts there is every chance that you will have to vacate your home at a given time as court really is the final stage of repossession.

I have had my home repossessed?

This is obviously not a good situation to find yourself in because even though your home has been repossessed until it has been sold either at auction or privately by the lender you will probably still be liable for the ongoing interest on the initial loan, should you home fetch more money than the debt it has on it then of course you would expect to receive the difference after all debts on it are cleared.

Another point is of course if it does not clear the debt on the property you will still be liable for the remaining amount, and could be contacted by a debt collection agency.

Of course, this is worst case scenario and most repossessions do not reach court, the reason for his can be many, money is attained from another source, you reach an agreement with the lender, you sell the property. But as we stated right at the beginning, do not panic; simply act quickly and state your case and in that way, you are taking control of the situation instead of the other way around!

FJP Investment is a team of investment specialists sourcing a wide range of investment opportunities both in the UK and overseas.

5 Smart hiring Tips for Startups

By
Elliot Preece
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As with any business, the colleagues behind the brand are the foundations of its success. Being able to find the right candidates for the job though can take time, from receiving the CV’s to making the final decision on who to choose for the role.

There are many large brands out there which can be very appealing to candidates on the job search. However, there are still ways for smaller business’ to stand out from the competition and acquire the top people at your company who can help pursue the goals of your startup business. Below are 5 steps you can take that will help with gaining the best individuals for the job through your hiring :

  1. Honesty around what you require and the changes you make.

Unsettled and demotivated staff can be worrying for team morale, especially if they’re unaware of the changes happening. Make sure it’s clear to your staff about what you expect from them for the sake of the business. As with any start up, there will be frequent changes occurring as you continue to grow and adapt to its needs. It’s important that potential candidates are aware of this beforehand so they can prepare for it later down the line, and remain comfortable getting to terms with the changes. Being able to communicate well with potential new members of the team about expectations will help them settle, and can almost make them feel excited about what to expect for the future. Otherwise, you may find that employees will start to become disgruntled in their day-to-day work.

  1. Create a strong rapport with all the candidates.

Whilst candidates are looking for jobs, it can be encouragement to them if they feel wanted by the company approaching them. Coming across as welcoming to job seekers can create an appeal to want to work for you and they’ll feel valued from your initial approach. Investing the time develop the rapport can help with this. If it happens that the candidate isn’t the one you were looking for, as long as the relationship has been built they could help to promote the brand through due to their experience in the recruitment process. It’s always worth asking those who have been rejected for the job to encourage others to apply, perhaps through an incentive of your own like referrals to jobs elsewhere.

  1. Provide benefits that are worthwhile

Initially, start up businesses are hard to predict in terms of their future success so it may not be worth providing false hope about it. Instead, offer other ways to make the candidates experience more enjoyable in the role. Putting an informal twist on development can be a great way to encourage job seekers to jump on board with the business. Anything from social events to discounted courses can help promote morale within the office and continue to challenge employees.

  1. Get help in the hiring process.

Although you may know the ideal candidate you’re looking for to fill the role you’ve advertised, it can be a bit of a juggle sometimes to manage a start-up and search for potential job seekers. For example, you may be dealing with the commercial property management side of things whilst recruiting staff also. You’re a start-up that’s wishing for success and with each individual hired, you’re wanting it to continue the development of the company so far. To make sure you find the right one, you may require further help. Seek help with finding the right candidates for your job advertisement, or understanding interview techniques to make the most of your hiring process.

  1. Continue your manner once they’re hired.

Although the papers have been signed and the candidate’s been on-boarded, continue to motivate them about the opportunities available in the company. Make sure they’ve had an easy process of entering the business so when they first start, they’re motivated and excited about what’s to come. Welcome the new recruit in a positive way, providing support along the way and making sure they have the tools at their disposal to succeed. This way, your company will continue to grow whilst retaining the valuable colleagues who have grown within the business.

When can you contest a will?

By
Elliot Preece
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A senior citizen signing a document.

When someone dies, their estate is dealt with according to their will or, if there is no valid will, according to the intestacy rules. In England and Wales, individuals have considerable freedom to choose the beneficiaries who will inherit under their will. However, potential beneficiaries are sometimes unhappy with a will and may seek to challenge it in the courts. Any such challenge must commence within six months of the grant of probate.

Challenges to a will are usually made for one of two reasons:

(a) the will is invalid; or

(b) the will does not make adequate (or any) provision for a particular person or persons.

Claiming that a will is invalid

There are several potential grounds.

(1) Lack of testamentary capacity

Only an individual of sound mind may make a will. This does not automatically exclude deathbed wills. Provided the testator understood what they were doing and the implications of their decisions, their will is unlikely to fail for lack of testamentary capacity.

(2) Undue influence

Undue influence, or duress, is where a testator is pressured into making a will or is coerced into choosing to make particular bequests to certain individuals or organisations such as charities.

(3) Fraud 

Fraud may have occurred if a will does not reflect a testator’s true intentions. Although this makes it similar to undue influence, there is usually no element of coercion or pressure to fraud. Due to the “behind closed doors” nature of testamentary fraud and to the fact that one of the main witnesses – the testator – is deceased, it is difficult to assess how many wills really are fraudulent. Successful challenges are rare but include cases where the claimant has proved that the testator left money or property to a particular individual as a result of false representations made about that person’s character or personal needs.

(4) Forgery

Sometimes classified with fraud, forgery occurs where someone impersonates the testator in order to draw up and execute a will.

(5) Knowledge and approval

Proving undue influence or fraud can be very difficult. Where the circumstances surrounding the will’s execution are suspicious, it may be easier to argue that the testator lacked the knowledge necessary to understand their will and so did not approve its contents.

(6) Failure to execute the will correctly

This is less likely as a potential ground of challenge if a will was drawn up by an experienced probate solicitor. However, anyone who chooses to draft their own will risks skipping essential procedural requirements, such as the need to sign the will in the presence of two independent witnesses. Failures can lay the will open to subsequent challenge.

Claiming that a will does not make adequate (or any) provision for a particular person or persons

Testators in England and Wales have relative freedom when it comes to disposing of their assets. However, failure to make reasonable provision for a dependent can be contested under the Inheritance Act 1975. There is no exact classification of “dependent” but it may include a spouse, cohabitee, minor child, adult child who was financially reliant on the testator, or anyone who the testator treated as a close family member. A successful challenge does not automatically mean that other beneficiaries will be disinherited. Instead, a judge will decide what amounts to “reasonable provision” for the claimant.

Seeking legal advice

The decision to challenge a will can be emotionally-fraught. Meanwhile, the process itself can be lengthy and often expensive. Nuanced legal advice from an experienced probate solicitor is essential at the outset. Our experienced team at Keoghs Nicholls Lindsell & Harris LLP is here to help you with sensitivity and in confidence.

5 Affordable Cities for Cosmopolitan Living

By
Emily Bennet
-

Do you live and breathe London but can’t afford its astronomical rent prices … not to mention getting on the property ladder? In collaboration with Safestore, we’ve created the ultimate list of British cities you might consider buying a house in if you fancy the cosmopolitan lifestyle without the capital price tag.

Leeds

Ready to relocate to find your perfect location? Welcome to Leeds! This beautiful city located in the northern English county of Yorkshire and has the second largest economy in the UK, making it an excellent choice for anyone seeking a strong job market. You’ll also find the city boasts a rich cultural heritage, with plenty going on to keep you entertained. Plus, the average house price in Leeds stands at approximately £171,000.

Liverpool

Full of great people with even better things to do including exhibitions, shows, concerts and sporting events, Liverpool is a great place to live if you love socialising with your friends and meeting new ones. Liverpool is also the perfect destination for anyone looking to get their foot on the property ladder as it offers reasonable housing choices for less than £125,000.

Manchester

Did you know that Manchester has the highest proportion of 20-34-year-olds in the UK? This might be because of high volume of students who

graduate and decide to stay and enjoy the cosmopolitan aspects of Manchester living.

This beautiful major city of the northwest England is also an excellent choice for first time buyers, who can purchase a 2-bed apartment close to the town centre for as little as £180,000. Need we say more?

Cardiff

If you’re looking for a city that offers both decent nightlife and plenty to explore, then Cardiff is the place to go. Named as the UK’s most sociable city, Cardiff is a great alternative for those looking to get away from the overcrowded London.

Money-wise, the cost of renting in this welsh city are up to three times less than those in the capital..

Leicester

With the average house price of £176,000, Leicester is an exceptional and boutique place to live for anyone seeking an affordable housing as well as peaceful lifetime destination.

Recognised in 2017 as one of the best places to live in Britain, Leicester is well known for its low rent, beautiful green scenery and excellent range of pubs!

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