Citation featured in Business Desk red tape debate
31st March 2011
CITATION, which provides businesses and professionals with employment and health and safety law advice, is predicting a record year amid strong demand for its services as published on the Business Desk on 27th June 2011.
Bosses at the Wilmslow-based company, who expect 2011 ebitda to hit £4.5m on £15m turnover, believe that by 2014 these numbers can grow to £8.5m and £20m.
Expanding into new locations and offering existing clients new services are both on the agenda Citation said.
Chief Executive Lindsay Hill said the company's growth was being driven by not only a rising tide of new rules and regulations from Europe, but also the more rigid, and in some cases "crazy" application of existing regulations by local authority procurement officials.
In one instance a taxi company was forced to meet health and safety rules designed to prevent accidents on construction sites just to be able to tender for council work.
"It's not that the regulation is bad or not well thought out, it's that it is being used in the wrong way," Mr Hill said.
New regulations coming into force this autumn relating to the default retirement age being scrapped and to agency workers are driving customer numbers and call volumes to Citation's 24-hour helpline.
Mr Hill, who began his career as regulatory lawyer with London firm Fox Williamson, says that despite pledges by successive governments to cut red tape and free small firms from regulatory burden, there is little they can do to stem the tide of new rules from Brussels.
"The reality is the regulatory framework is forever being enlarged and the majority of it is coming from Europe."
Citation has around 210 staff. As well as the Wilmslow base, which opened in 2009 after a relocation from nearby Knutsford, the firm has bases in Cardiff and Glasgow.
As well as small businesses Citation's broad client base includes many independent dentists, doctors and vets' practices, while another strength is in the care homes and education sectors.
It serves around 6,500 clients and is growing at a rate of around 100 per month, finance director Julie Moran said.
Contact Citation for more information
0845 844 1111
enquiries@citation.co.uk
www.citation.co.uk
back to top
Childcare Vouchers, do you know the changes?
29th March 2011
Do you know about the changes to Childcare Vouchers which come into force in April 2011?
Childcare Vouchers are an employee benefit which employers can make available to all eligible working parents.
Working parents can exchange part of their gross salary for Childcare Vouchers. The exchanged part of the salary is exempt from tax and National Insurance contributions.
Childcare Vouchers can be used to pay for all types of “registered” and “approved” childcare including day nurseries, crèches, childminders, out of school clubs, holiday schemes, activity clubs and qualifying childcare offered by schools.
April 6th 2011 will see changes to the tax exemption on Childcare Vouchers to even the amount of tax savings available for all employees regardless of the tax rate they pay. As a result, higher and additional rate tax payers will see a reduction in the savings available from the scheme.
Currently all working parents can claim tax relief on £55 exempt income for each qualifying week. After the changes, higher and additional rate tax payers will have their relief reduced to £28 and £22 respectively.
Important facts
- Changes only apply to higher and additional rate tax payers who join the scheme after 6th April 2011
- Parents already part of an approved scheme will see no changes to the savings that can be made
- Higher and additional rate tax payers with a child, not currently on the scheme but think they may use childcare in the future should consider joining the scheme before the 6th April 2011 to secure the higher level of savings.
Citation’s Employment Law Consultants and 24/7 Helpline advisors have advised clients on the recent changes. If you are worried that your business is not properly conforming to current employment law, then a Citation employment law Consultant can help.
Operating throughout the UK since 1995, Citation provides professional advice and compliance packages to business clients. Independently endorsed at the highest level its market leading services provide guaranteed protection in the high risk areas of employment law and health & safety regulations.
For more information about Citation and the services it provides, visit the Citation website at http://www.citation.co.uk/employment-law or call 0845 844 1111.
back to top