Monthly Archives: June 2021

News

EU VAT changes – is your eCommerce business ready?

Doing business with Europe has become so expensive and onerous since Brexit that a vast number of UK eCommerce businesses have simply turned off all EU activities. Managing the different VAT thresholds and rates across each EU country has certainly added to the admin burden and cost of doing business – so how much difference will the new Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) make? James Hyde, CEO of James and James Fulfilment explains why businesses need to take urgent steps to ensure they can still trade after July 1st.

Harmonising VAT

As the European Union pushes forward with its plan to change the way VAT is accounted for on cross-border B2C supplies, UK eCommerce businesses need to be aware of the sweeping reforms being introduced on 1 July 2021 by the 27 member states. Designed to make it easier to account for local VAT in the consumer’s country, the new rules are also targeted at cutting loop holes and reducing the substantial value of VAT fraud. 

For UK eCommerce businesses that have wrestled with the need for different VAT numbers – as well as VAT thresholds and rates – in different member states, the creation of the Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) single EU VAT return is broadly welcomed. Allowing businesses shipping goods from their home country to customers across the EU to report all pan-EU sales in one place, the IOSS is an extension of the 2015 Mini One-Stop-Shop (MOSS), which successfully trialled a single EU return for B2C sales of digital, telecoms and broadcast services.

The process is relatively simple – a business simply needs to go online and register for an IOSS number. However, to do so requires an existing VAT number – and if a business does not already have that in place, it will require fiscal representation to acquire the number and currently, this process is taking up to eight weeks.

Reducing Thresholds

The other significant change is the withdrawal of the €22 import VAT exemption on small parcels – something that has been used – intentionally or mistakenly – by companies to avoid VAT in the past.  From July 1st VAT must be charged at the point-of-sale for consignments not exceeding €150.  Companies using the IOSS simply need to ensure VAT is calculated at the point of sale and goods will be automatically passed through customs. However, any company that has overlooked this change and continues to send lower value items into Europe will face a nasty surprise because both VAT and an admin fee will be applied, and the cost will be presented to the end customer.

For those that register in time, the use of the IOSS will create a more efficient process for quick and easy customs clearance – which should reduce delays and avoid unexpected admin fees from both customs and carriers. However, to ensure goods pass smoothly through this new ‘green channel’ UK eCommerce businesses must ensure all commercial invoices include the correct IOSS number. 

Furthermore, much of the burden of compliance to the new EU VAT regulation has been passed on to the carriers, who have only just released their technical specifications, which include electronic invoice formats. Therefore, in addition to ensuring the correct IOSS number has been attained, companies will need to determine how to create invoices in the correct format with the right information to avoid expensive customs delays.

Get Ready

Getting this process right will remove a huge component of the additional costs that have made trade with the EU far less profitable since Brexit. It will avoid the customer experience disaster that occurs when €10 admin fees and unexpected VAT liabilities are imposed on each transaction. The onus is therefore on UK eCommerce businesses to get this right – whether that is attempting to determine the technical expectations of carriers and amending IT solutions in time, or finding a fulfilment partner that can automate the process, ensuring all commercial invoices are created in the correct format, with the correct data.

And time is against UK business. With just a matter of weeks before the changes are made – it is those companies ready on July 1st that will be best placed to exploit the lower cost of sale, rapidly reinvigorating EU expansion plans that have been side-lined since January, to steal a march on the competition.

 

News

Fever Unlimited launches ‘Botanical Banksy’ with floral storyteller Lewis Miller

US floral genius Lewis Miller, Royal floral designer Simon Lycett, Funnyhowflowersdothat.co.uk and Fever Unlimited surprise Londoners with a series of secret ‘flower flashes’ as London opens up. 

Fever Unlimited and Funnyhowflowersdothat.co.uk has partnered with floral heavyweights Miller and Lycett to bring Miller’s famous ‘flower flashes’ from New York to the London streets for the first time to spark joy as the city opens up for summer.

The campaign shows three extravagant floral installations that appear overnight at the iconic Eros statue, the god of sensual love, in Piccadilly Circus, two classic red phone booths, and an unassuming bin. The cultural initiative aims to surprise and delight passers-by and encourage them to pick and create their takeaway bouquets, therefore become part of the installation.

Miller’s New York installations in taxi cabs, trash cans, building sites and hot dog stalls have attracted worldwide attention and praise for transforming everyday parts of the city into interactive floral explosions. It will be the first time he has brought his work to life outside his native New York.

The London flower flashes are part of Funnyhowflowersdothat.co.uk’s latest ‘We Need More Flowers’ campaign which celebrates flowers and reminds us why we need more of them in our lives. With online sales of flowers rocketing by 277% during lockdown, flowers have become a potent symbol of hope and connection.

“This is the first time I’ve created Flower Flashes outside my native New York and it’s a fascinating social experiment to see how Londoners react to them.” Lewis said.

“In New York people flock to take the flowers, will cultural stereotypes prevail and Londoners hang back and be more reserved? I started Flower Flashes back in 2000 with a very simple ambition; to create moments of natural beauty in unexpected parts of the city. Getting the opportunity to ‘flash’ such an iconic landmark as Eros is a career highlight; next stop Buckingham Palace!”

Creative Director at Fever Unlimited, Jo Chappel says: “We’ve been watching Lewis’s Flower Flashes across the pond for a few years now, waiting for the right moment to bring him to London and hoping another brand doesn’t get there first! His mission and work fully embody the spirit of the We Need More Flowers campaign so as soon as we received the brief to amplify the ATL across PR and social we knew this was the right time to bring him to London as a first. It was really important to stay true to the guerrilla and participatory roots of Lewis’s Flashes. We didn’t want neat and tidy floral installations to be admired from a distance, we wanted the public to get stuck in, smelling, picking and sharing the flowers as a powerful antidote to the events of the past 18 months. Watching people coming away with armfuls of blooms beaming was a real thrill – the simple joy flowers can bring in action.”

Chanel de Kock from Funnyhowflowersdothat.co.uk comments: “Our We Need More Flowers campaign seeks to remind people how flowers are central to so many of life’s important moments. After this past year, this seemed like the perfect opportunity to bring a unique style of guerrilla floral street art to London to celebrate the city opening up for the summer. We need more love, more real, more together, and we certainly showcased that to London.”

The floral extravaganzas were on public display at Eros, Piccadilly Circus, two red phone boxes on the south side of Great Windmill Street and East London’s Brick Lane for a short time before all 12,000 blooms were dismantled by flower loving passers-by.

 

News

5 expert predictions for the future of work perks post-pandemic

Following national lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, working from home and flexible start times are no longer considered a perk or something that companies can brag about. They’re the new norm; something that workers now expect as part of their package. 

With this in mind, how can businesses stay ahead of the competition and attract the best talent to their workplace? Claire Crompton, director of Bolton digital marketing agency The Audit Lab and creator of ‘hangover days’, has a few thoughts. 

“Here at The Audit Lab, we’re already ahead of the curve when it comes to work perks – we currently offer 10-4 core working hours, unlimited holidays, and our infamous hangover days. But we’re constantly thinking ahead of what will set us apart from the rest, especially as we’re based in Bolton – we have to stay different to attract the best marketing talent out of the big cities. Work perks are all about making the balance between work and play fairer. No one should have Sunday night anxiety about heading into the office the next day, we want our staff to be excited and inspired instead.”

As a thought leader in work perks, Claire gives her expert predictions on five unique and exciting employee benefits that we may see more businesses offer in the near future.

 

1. Pawternity leave – Welcoming a new furry family member isn’t always easy. Getting your new puppy to settle into their new home can be tough, emotional and time-consuming. Rather than struggle through, pawternity leave allows a week’s paid leave to give fur babies the attention they need, and to allow you to bond. In fact, we had a member of staff take pawternity leave just this month! Our junior PR manager, Sam, took a week off to welcome home her new Labrador puppy, Henry, which she said made the whole process so much easier. 

 

2. Sunshine Days – Who hasn’t Googled what the temperature has to be in order to get sent home from work? There are just some days where the weather is so glorious that all you can do is stare longingly out of the window and imagine what you could be doing instead. Rather than worry about what could have been, Sunshine Days allow staff to work from home on forecasted hot days. That way, staff can cut out the lengthy commute to and from the office, work outside in their own home and clock off straight away to enjoy the sunshine; whether that’s spending some quality time outside with the kids or hitting the beer garden with friends. The British weather is notoriously unpredictable, so let’s enjoy the sun whilst we can.

 

3. Menstrual leave – The topic of menstrual or ‘period’ leave divides people, but many would argue it’s necessary. For some women, their periods can leave them in immense amounts of pain and discomfort, with cramps, back pain, headaches and nausea all forming part of this monthly subscription they never signed up for. But, they soldier on through. An optional menstrual leave policy allows women to have two or so days to get through the worst of their cycle, no questions asked. We would never expect people to work in any form of pain, why is this any different?

 

4. NOMO FOMO –  NOMO FOMO (no more FOMO) means that parents can take short notice time off to attend parents’ evenings, award assemblies, plays, etc. It’s these little moments that form such a huge part of being a parent, and yet so many parents miss out on them due to work. As long as tasks are completed and clients are happy, who are we to ask parents to miss out on these wonderful moments? We pride ourselves on being incredibly parent-friendly here at The Audit Lab. We want to do whatever we can to help parents balance their family and work without one suffering.

 

5. Bucket list payments – We’ve all got a bucket list, something we really want to do in our lives. Whether it’s skydiving, bungee jumping or seeing a Wonder of the World. But saving up and finding time to tick off these tasks can be tricky. Well bucket list payments mean that employers will contribute a certain amount or percentage of a staff member’s salary towards ticking something off their bucket list. The best employers know that having a work-life balance is one of the most important things and, after over a year of being locked down, they will know their staff will have lots of making up to do in terms of personal goals and experiences. 

 

Unsure about what new work perks to put in place? Ask your people! Your staff are the best ones to tell you what they want to see in their job, so ask and be sure to listen.

Marketing, PR and SEO, News

How to market your business – when you really, really HATE social media

Read any guide on the best way to market your business and you’re bound to find social media high up the list — and sometimes, the only thing on the list. But what if the thought of all this posting, sharing, liking, boosting, engaging, following and whatnot else leaves you cold? Should you suppress these feelings and slog over social media anyway?

It may be music to the ears of social media dodgers that, according to Gina Hollands, Commercial Director from creative marketing agency PMW that’s the worst thing you can do. “For marketing to be effective, it needs to be authentic,” says Gina. “If your heart isn’t in one type of marketing and you do it regardless, your audience will see right through it and the outcome won’t be desirable — it could even be detrimental for your business.”

So, in this age of social media seeming to be the only way to win the hearts and minds of consumers everywhere, what’s the alternative if it’s just not your bag? Here, Gina gives her top five tips.

  1. Focus on your strengths

Identify where your strengths lie and focus on these. So, if you’re a great networker, spend your marketing time networking; if you enjoy liaising with the media, then make PR your go-to marketing strategy; if you’re more of a personal relationships type, then make a few appointments to have coffee with people you already know in the industry and see where these conversations take you. When you concentrate on what you do well, your results will be better and you’ll enjoy the process a lot more.

  1. Try it, you might like it

If you just think you might not like social media, but haven’t ever really given it a go, then try it out — you might be surprised how you take to it. There is a lot of prejudice around social media that it’s just a bunch of teenagers dancing around or people sharing pictures of their dinner, but in fact, many a contact can be made and a deal done when you get it right. Consider taking a beginner’s course or asking a friend who knows their way around the platforms to teach you the basics, and go from there. If you still don’t like it after a few months, then at least you’ve tried. But if you don’t try, you’ll never know!

  1. Invest in the experts

Love it or loathe it, it is no secret that social media has propelled many a brand from zero to hero. That’s not to say of course that it’s the only way to market a business, but it is definitely a cost effective and accessible way. It may be that you have absolutely no motivation to go there, however, and if that is the case it’s worth paying someone else to take the pain away. Depending on how far you want to go with your social media, you could enlist the help of a local freelancer to create your pages and make a few posts or, if you want to really get serious with your social and use it as a platform for advertising your brand and providing insight and analysis, then hiring a social media specialist could be the answer.

  1. It’s not the only way!

It may be hard to believe, but you can still market your business without the need to turn to social media immediately. Certainly, once finances allow, it is wise to invest in hiring a third party to undertake your social media if you don’t want to do it yourself, but in the meantime, consider other routes to market, such as trade fairs, traditional advertising, press releases, events and other marketing methods which suit you and your brand.

  1. Pick one thing and do it well

We always say at PMW to do something well or don’t do it at all. Diluting your marketing budget by spreading it too thinly across an array of marketing platforms won’t get you anywhere, other than destination disappointment. It’s better to choose one marketing method which appeals to you, which you can afford and which suits your brand and do it well. Once you’ve perfected that, consider investing the return from this activity into your second chosen platform, and repeating the process.

The key things to remember when marketing your brand are to remain within the realms of affordability and — if you’re doing your own marketing — likeability. When you’re authentic to yourself, your passion will shine through and marketing success should follow.

News, Property News

Devizes development nears halfway mark

Construction work is approaching the halfway stage at Bellway’s Quakers Walk development in Devizes.

When completed, the site will consist of 123 new homes, comprising 86 properties for private sale and 37 affordable homes for rent or shared ownership.

A total of 49 homes have now been built at the development, which is located off Quakers Road.

A further 27 homes have already been sold and are currently under construction. Building work is due to finish in autumn next year.

Christel Hawkins, Sales Manager for Bellway South West, said: “Construction work is progressing extremely well at Quakers Walk, with around 40 per cent of the homes at the development now built and occupied.

“There has been strong demand from a wide variety of buyers who have been attracted by the mix of two, three and four-bedroom houses available, as well as the site’s convenient location just over a mile from Devizes town centre.

“This has been reflected in the fact that almost half of the private homes have already been sold since the development’s launch in February last year.

“A new community is beginning to form at Quakers Walk and we look forward to welcoming more residents into their homes as the development to continues to take shape.”

As part of the planning agreement with Wiltshire Council, Bellway will be making financial contributions towards surface improvements to the Quakers Walk Path and the Kennet and Avon Canal towpath.

Bellway achieved five-star status from the Home Builder’s Federation (HBF) for the fifth year in a row in 2021, after 90 per cent of customers surveyed by the HBF said they would recommend the housebuilder to a friend.

A selection of homes are currently at the development, with prices currently starting at £334,995 for a three-bedroom semi-detached property and £377,995 for a four-bedroom detached home.

For more information on the properties available at Quakers Walk, visit bellway.co.uk or call the sales office on 01380 323532.

 

CAPTIONS –

  • Interior images of The Wroughton showhome at Bellway’s Quakers Walk development in Devizes
News, Security

Heras launches new listening perimeter fencing to give extra security to warehouses and distribution centres with high value stockholding

Heras has launched the next generation of perimeter fencing – including one that listens for break-ins to provide even greater levels of perimeter protection for warehouses and distribution centres with high value stockholding.

Perimeter intrusion detection systems (PIDSs) is the next generation of perimeter fencing that provides even greater levels of perimeter protection for sites with specific high security requirements.

The company – which is Europe’s leading end-to-end supplier of permanent and mobile perimeter protection solutions – is building on the first generation of PIDSs with significant innovations that have resulted in a new, simplified portfolio with next-generation capabilities.

Its new GeoMic and GeoPoint systems – which both have pro versions – are designed to complement and greatly increase the overall effectiveness of both existing and specified perimeter protection fence and gate lines.

PIDSs are usually perimeter fence mounted (but they can also be wall or ceiling mounted) and are installed on the fence fabric to detect any potential intruders attempting to enter the site by climbing over, cutting through or even going under the fence.

When an intrusion at the perimeter meets the alarm criteria, PIDSs will transmit an alarm signal directly to an alarm panel and/or integrated software management system (SMS) so that the onsite security team (or designated staff) can verify, and act upon, the alarm in an appropriate and timely manner.

Heras has identified three critical attributes that will increase the performance capability of its PIDSs. The first is the improved analyser algorithms to deliver added intelligence and categorisation of threats. The second is the multiple configuration options to match the site situation and reduce false alarms. The third is the improved communication and integration options. These improvements mean that the PIDS performs more accurately, delivers better information and can be used in combination with other security measures.

Chief Marketing and Technology Officer Ian Crosby says that the launch of the PIDSs in the UK is part of a strategic, Europe-wide rollout by the company as it brings to market the most advance PIDSs with next-generation capabilities. He added that GeoMic and GeoPoint have been developed specifically for UK sites requiring higher levels of perimeter security, such as secure datacentres or where the nature of a site’s operations may draw protests from the public – such as animal processing for food products.

“Listening to customer feedback and that of our own installers and security integrator partners, we have taken advantage of developments in multifunctional components, coding and IP technology to significantly update and simplify our product range,” he said.

“For the GeoMic products, we maintain the fantastic performance of our alpha cable and now couple this with updated and upgraded analysers to deliver best-in-class performance for perimeter detection. The brand-new GeoPoint products deliver a step up in technology, offering more flexibility and opening up new opportunities for the detection of intrusion or tampering on the perimeter but also inside it.”

GeoMic uses a discreet microphonic sensor cable (alpha) that listens for sounds – such as those generated from an intrusion attempt – around the entire perimeter. These sounds are converted into electrical signals that are transmitted to the GeoMic, which analyses the signal and then generates an alarm output, if the signal meets the configured alarm criteria. The GeoMic Pro in addition, has double the sensor range to cover a greater zone area, therefore being more cost-effective and it has twice the amount of monitored inputs and relay outputs so it can integrate with more third-party security equipment.

The new GeoPoint sensor system utilises multiple sensors that are distributed along the fence line to detect movement and vibration. These sensors can be set up individually with reference to sensitivity and functionality, dependent on the mounting location. The sensors can be grouped into multiple unique zones around the perimeter. This enables more-accurate visual verification of an intrusion when used in conjunction with video security management. GeoPoint is not limited to fence lines only: it can also be used to bring smart detection to critical assets inside the perimeter. The pro version communicates via an IP network and is completely scalable, which is ideal for large sites and those that may grow and expand in the future.

To enable people from all levels of the security industry and for business/property owners to learn more about how PIDSs work, Heras is hosting a free webinar, which will also explore how the PIDSs can be integrated into existing security systems and how they can reduce risk and add value to businesses. The 40-minute session is at 10:00 on Thursday 17th June. To register, go to https://www.heras.co.uk/webinar-pids/

For more information, go to www.heras.co.uk/products/detection/fence-mounted-detection

 

Charity & CSR, News

Family members join skydive challenge in memory of Tunisia terror attack victims

Family members and friends of the 38 people who died in the Tunisia terrorist attack in 2015 will be jumping out of a plane to honour their memories and mark the sixth anniversary of the tragedy. 

The skydive will be held on July 3, just after the June 26 anniversary, and will raise money for Smile For Joel, the charity set up by Suzy Evans and her son Owen Richards who lost three loved ones in the attack. 

Suzy and Owen will be joined by family members of other victims from across the UK for the event.

Suzy, from Wednesbury in the West Midlands, lost her son Joel, 19, brother Adrian, 49, and father Patrick, 78. Owen was just 16 at the time and was on holiday with his brother, uncle and grandad. He survived the attack. 

Smile For Joel was created two years later in memory of Joel, Adrian and Patrick, to help other families torn apart by murder and violence. 

Suzy, Owen and Suzy’s cousin Claire Webb will be taking part in the skydive in memory of Joel, Adrian and Patrick. 

They will be joined by Lee Stocker, who is taking part in memory of his parents John and Janet Stocker from Morden, south London; Jordan Lovett, who is jumping in memory of her sister Carly Lovett from Gainsborough in Lincolnshire and Lewis Burbridge, who lost his grandma Lisa Burbridge, from Whickham, Gateshead, in the attack. 

Another 32 other friends and supporters will also be taking part to ensure each of the 38 victims is represented. 

Suzy, aged 52, said: “We have got Joel’s old teachers from Stuart Bathurst and Wood Green schools and a lecturer from Worcester University taking part. We have two police officers jumping, a representative from Victim Support and members of the public who have joined the team to support us. The response has been incredible. 

“I will be nervous on the day, but I am really excited for the event. It’s going to be the first time we have been able to do an event face-to-face for over 18 months. 

“It will be really special to see the other families. Some people are travelling quite a distance so it means to a lot to me that they are coming to the event. We didn’t want to do it on the actual anniversary, because people will have their own plans for that day to remember those who died, so we arranged it for a week later. 

“We are keeping our fingers crossed we get good weather on the day. The three of them will have the best seats in the house and I’m sure they will be watching with big smiles.” 

Owen, now 22, said he wanted to do the skydive because it had been on his brother’s bucket list. 

“He had spoken about wanting to do a skydive and that’s a big part of my motivation for doing this. I’m taking part knowing that Joel wanted to do it,” he said. 

Donations have topped £28,000 so far and more money is still coming in, which is great news for the charity after income was hit by the pandemic. The jump was due to take place last year on the fifth anniversary, but had to be postponed, along with a host of other fundraising events. 

The skydive will be held at Whitchurch Airfield, Whitchurch, Shropshire, from 8am on Saturday, July 3. 

To donate visit https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/jumpforjoel 

To find out more about Smile For Joel, visit smile https://smileforjoel.com/

Picture caption: 

Suzy with Joel and Owen 

News, Sport

Hereford football team are a stride apart after kit donation from Principality

A local football team in Hereford is set for success after receiving a match kit donation from Principality Building Society.

The kit, donated to Belmont Wanderer’s FC Ladies Team by the Society’s Hereford branch, has recently helped see the team through to third place in the Herefordshire Ladies Development league as well as the semi-finals in the County Cup.

Since its establishment in 2011, Belmont Wanderers FC have been committed to supporting the development of players in Hereford at grassroots levels, with junior and senior teams. The club has grown to provide opportunities for 300 players and 22 teams, with 50 local volunteers on hand.

Chris Tipping, Head of Development & Coach at Belmont Wanderers FC said:

“With the expanding teams we have at our club finding support to buy kits can be a tricky task, heightened even further due to the coronavirus pandemic. Principality stepped in at the perfect time as the ladies were on the cusp of actually buying their own kits, for them as a team it was welcome news! The team look amazing in the new kits. We hope to keep working with Principality in the future, who share our vision for supporting the local community.”

Sarah Caton, Hereford Branch Manager, Principality Building Society said,

‘’Our commitment to the community in Hereford goes beyond the relationships we build with our members and customers in branch. It’s fantastic to see the opportunities Belmont Wanderers FC are providing for all ages and abilities in the Hereford community, which is testament to how quickly the club is growing. We’re so proud to have supported Belmont Wanderer’s Ladies Team with the kit donation and wish them every success for the next season.’’

Creative News, News

Four powers digital and creative offer with acquisition of Cheeky Monkey Creative – Further investment in Wales –

Strengthening its position in the digital and creative market, independent integrated agency Four Communications Group (Four) has acquired south Wales based agency Cheeky Monkey Creative.  Rebranding as Four Cymru, the agency will join Four’s current Welsh operations based in Aberystwyth and Cardiff as well as working as part of Four’s international digital and creative teams based in London and the United Arab Emirates.

Following the deal, Four Cymru will be sixteen strong – a significant portion of the 77-strong creative, digital and performance unit at Four. In total Four has some 315 employees and is one of the UK and UAE’s major independent marketing services groups.

Founded by Bleddyn Edwards in 2001, Cheeky Monkey Creative has provided branding, creative, content, digital, video and animation services to a wide range of clients including National Museum Wales, Institution of Civil Engineers and Welsh Government Energy Service. Bleddyn becomes director, Creative & Content of Four Cymru. He has worked extensively in the Welsh design industry for over twenty-five years and has a thorough knowledge of Welsh culture and vast experience in working with both public and private sector clients as well as those in the third sector. He is a fully bilingual, first language Welsh speaker adept at designing in both English and Welsh, with a thorough understanding of the considerations of bilingual design.

Nan Williams, Four Communications Group chief executive and chair of GlobalWelsh said: “We are seeing huge demand for and growth in digital, creative and content services and Wales has been one of our best-performing units over the last year despite the pandemic. So we are thrilled to invest further in the Welsh creative economy.”

Meilyr Ceredig, managing director Four Cymru said: “We are delighted to welcome the Cheeky Monkey Creative team to the Four family. Today’s announcement ensures we continue to build on our specialism in Wales of placing bilingual creative content at the heart of everything we do for clients.”

Bleddyn Edwards said: “This is a great opportunity for everyone at Cheeky Monkey Creative. We have built a strong team and a loyal client base. Staff will now be able to participate on a larger, more international stage and enjoy the additional exciting opportunities this provides. Our aim has always been to create and develop content that is not only of high quality but responds fully and appropriately to client needs. We pride ourselves on being forward looking constantly in our approach and to join forces with a multi faceted organisation such as Four allows us to take the next step in our development. We are very much looking forward to the future.”

This acquisition is the ninth since Four successfully secured a £10m investment of equity finance from BGF (Business Growth Fund) in 2015 and its 13th acquisition overall. The agency has a strong track record of acquiring and integrating communications agencies which offer complementary services to the Group.

Finance News, Financial Wellbeing, News

How the lessons of financial literacy extend far beyond the classroom

Written by Alan Morahan, Managing Director of EB Consulting at Punter Southall Aspire

Although financial literacy has been part of the National Curriculum since 2014, a report from The London Institute of Banking and Finance states that only 8 per cent of young people said they learned the most about managing money in school.

This is because financial education is often not taught as a distinct subject but is integrated into other subjects, making it ineffective for many.

The same report states that nearly three-quarters of young people in the UK say they get most of their financial understanding from parents and other family members. If those family members have little understanding themselves you can see how money problems can pass from one generation to the next.

With financial stress being a major contributory factor to mental health issues, family break ups and criminality, the time is ripe to raise the importance of financial education to all parts of society and make it an absolutely key part of every child’s education.

At Punter Southall Aspire, we have a firm belief that improved financial literacy would be beneficial to society as a whole and are fully supportive of the aims of My Money Week

This is a national activity week for primary and secondary schools that provides a fantastic opportunity for young people to gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence in money matters to thrive in life.

In line with this objective, we have a long association with The Money Charity, which is the UK’s financial capability charity, proactively providing education, information, advice and guidance to people of all ages, helping them to better manage their money and increase their financial wellbeing. This work has helped people in prisons, the homeless, refugees and many others marginalised by society.

We are the sponsors of The Money Charity’s Student Money Manual, which is aimed at young adults going to university and, perhaps, having to manage money for the first time. We also have a number of colleagues who volunteer to help deliver their community-based workshops. These are often to the parents of school children and we feel that if we can help these people gain confidence in handling money matters then there will be a natural trickle-down to their children.

Many parents who attend these workshops are in low paid work or depend on benefits and often find it hard to manage the little money they have, and their associated schools want to do something positive to help them.

Delivering these workshops can be quite a humbling experience. Some attendees are clearly eking out a living and are often are trying to manage horrendous debt situations on their own, not realising that there are organisations like Step Change or Turn2us that they can ask for assistance.

The situation is magnified when English is a second language or where basic financial literacy is a challenge and it emphasises the real need to tackle this subject, almost from infancy. These already vulnerable people have been hit terribly hard by the pandemic, as they often have no buffer fund and either had no work or were in low paid jobs in sectors that have been massively impacted.

As a part of the government’s levelling up agenda it would be good to see a focus on greater equality of financial understanding and a great place to start would be in our schools.