Category Archives: Business

Business, Cardiff, Events

Cardiff Business Club signs Armed Forces Covenant

At its latest event, Cardiff Business Club signed the Armed Forces Covenant alongside Cardiff Bus, with speaker Major General Duncan G Forbes, the Royal Navy’s Director of Strategy and Policy and Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff.

Sponsored by RFCA Wales, the Major General addressed the Club, shouting out his old captain and mentor Brigadier Jock Fraser as he retires this summer, before fittingly highlighting his lecture’s theme of legacy.

Promising to talk with no agenda or spin, but using the occasion to tell stories, kindle relationships and rest, the Major General began by discussing the broad strategic context of the Navy’s current work, touching on the UK’s support to Ukraine, the rise of China, politics, and the situation in Gaza, which he highlighted as the most worrying and important issue right now following Israel’s actions over the weekend.

He then moved to discuss what the Navy is doing right now, thanks to taxpayers’ money. He discussed the SSBN in the North Atlantic, a recent £44m drug bust, and the naval support for Ukraine. Having been involved since day one, he stated: “It will get worse before it gets better. If Ukraine lose, we all lose.”

The Major General then proceeded to look forward, highlighting the importance of young servicepeople and the confidence he has in them, but acknowledging that old systems need to be changed to be bolder, more creative, and take more risks. However, whatever they do to change the approach must maintain the key driving force of being in service to the nation, as that is what the Navy is intrinsically built on.

Touching on the Navy in Wales, he stated that they recruit twice as many marines and sailors from Wales than the wider population, and that those recruits serve for longer than average. They then almost always return to Wales after service, with the right traits to support business growth. He mentioned the HMS Cardiff which will be fully operational later this decade, and the Ministry of Defence’s investment into Cardiff and across Wales.

Lt Colonel (Retired) Craig Hampton-Stone, Director at Cardiff Bus, gave the vote of thanks, before he, Major General Duncan G Forbes and Phil Jardine, Chair of Cardiff Business Club, signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Covenant is a voluntary pledge made by businesses, designed to allow organisations to express their support the armed forces community and commit to ways in which they can provide it. All Covenants have to be approved and registered with the MOD Armed Forces Covenant Team.

Phil said: “We’re so pleased to have signed the covenant, especially alongside such a decorated guest as Major General Duncan G Forbes. Formalising our recognition and appreciation for the armed forces was an easy decision, and we’re pleased to have taken the step alongside Cardiff Bus.”

Appointments, Business, Employment, Energy, Job Opportunities, Jobs

250 new jobs created at Consumer Energy Solutions

SWANSEA-BASED energy efficiency firm Consumer Energy Solutions (CES) has recruited 250 new staff so far this year as it experiences growing demand for its products and services.

The recruitment drive follows the opening of two new offices in Swansea’s SA1 waterfront area at the end of 2023 as the company addresses those growing demands.

The fast-growing company now has a workforce of more than 700 people, supporting customers in energy-proofing their homes to reduce their carbon footprint, and ultimately, their energy bills.

The new hires span across various departments, including administration, customer service, finance, people services, heating, insulation, renewables and electrics.

Lewis John, Managing Director, Consumer Energy Solutions, said: “At CES, we are deeply committed to fostering economic growth and prosperity in the regions where we operate.

“Our investment in expanding our workforce underscores our belief in the potential of local talent and our commitment to providing meaningful employment opportunities.

“By nurturing a skilled and diverse team, of which we have massive ambitions to grow even further, we not only strengthen our ability to deliver exceptional service to our customers but also contribute to the vitality of the communities we serve.

“We firmly believe that by investing in people, we can drive positive change and make a lasting impact on both the environment and the economy.”

Established in 2016, Consumer Energy Solutions (CES) delivers money-saving energy efficiency improvements to homes across South Wales and the South West.

 

Current Consumer Energy Solutions career opportunities can be found here: https://careers.consumerenergysolutions.co.uk/

For more information, visit: https://www.consumerenergysolutions.co.uk/ 

 

Business

Connectus expands nationwide reach with second acquisition in six months

BUSINESS managed service specialists Connectus has acquired tech specialists IT For Growth, it can be announced today.

The deal is the second in the space of five months and forms part of an “aggressive strategy for growth” which Connectus has planned for 2024 and beyond.

By acquiring the Grimsby-based firm, Connectus, which has offices in Salford and Doncaster, will be able to extend its reach into North East Lincolnshire.

This will allow them to connect to more customers boosting the plus 500 plus client base they are already servicing across the north of England and in the Midlands.

Announcing the acquisition, Roy Shelton, the CEO of Connectus, said: “This is another major chapter in the story of Connectus. As we continue to scale, we will continually explore potential acquisitions to ensure we can provide our range of fully managed services to as many businesses as possible.

“This acquisition will allow us to extend into North East Lincolnshire and beyond. The MSP space is experiencing huge consolidation at the moment and as we continue to remain focussed on sustainable growth and outstanding customer services. As a result we will be aiming to complete several more transactions this year.”

The deal comes five months after Connectus acquired Mango Tech. Outlining his future vision for Connectus, Mr Shelton added:

“At the heart of the service Connectus delivers is the Connect- Protect-Collaborate mantra. We can now extend these principles into new areas, offering clients cutting-edge and industry leading services. We have an ambitious growth plan, which is focused on delivering quality outcomes to businesses that mitigate cost, lower complexity and reduce risk. This acquisition will further help to deliver that.”

Commenting, Jonathan Cozens, the CEO of IT For Growth, said:

“I’m delighted to confirm this acquisition. Connectus demonstrated to me that the support, growth and long term development of our customers are of the highest importance to them. They offer a notably better support level than we can deliver at our current size. Although we have been very successful at delivering a first class customer experience over the last seven years, the limited size of our team means we don’t have the breath strength in depth to deal with the size of the opportunity around our client base and the local area.“

“Connectus’ superior scale means they will be able to provide an ongoing technology partnership for your business as you grow. Their track record in enterprise IT systems means they can advise from a position of authority on how best to achieve the commercial outcomes you want, regardless of intended size.”

IT For Growth has helped scores of small to medium businesses looking to improve and grow their income. They specialise in enterprise business support and business workshops which deliver structured training systems which enable firms to make the correct choices for their business and deliver optimum growth.

Business, Energy

How Running Costs Are Affecting Small Businesses

Small businesses face many challenges, not least of which are spiralling running costs that can often threaten their very survival. These costs encompass a wide range of expenses, from rent and utilities, to staffing and inventory, each carrying its weight on the balance sheets of small businesses.

As margins are squeezed and profitability becomes harder to maintain, understanding the impact of these costs and seeking innovative solutions to mitigate them has never been more crucial.

The Rising Tide of Expenses

For many small businesses, rent is one of the most significant fixed costs, with prime locations demanding premium prices. Coupled with the increasing rates of business taxes and insurance, the financial burden can be substantial. Moreover, the fluctuating costs of utilities such as electricity, gas, and water only add to the uncertainty and complexity of financial planning. These variable expenses, sensitive to both market conditions and consumption patterns, require constant vigilance and management.

Utility Costs: A Variable Challenge

Utilities, in particular, represent a category of running costs that can fluctuate wildly, influenced by external market forces and internal consumption habits. The volatility of energy prices, for example, can have a direct impact on a business’s operating costs. When wholesale prices rise, small businesses often find themselves facing increased energy bills, which can erode profits and disrupt cash flow. 

During these periods, it’s important for business owners to understand how much they’re spending each month on utilities and take control of their energy bills. Getting a smart meter for business can help with tracking energy use. Smart meters automatically send regular readings to energy suppliers, and with some suppliers, this means that businesses using smart meters can track their energy use online. Tracking energy use in this way is an essential first step in managing utilities more effectively. 

Labour Costs and the Quest for Efficiency

Staffing is typically a substantial cost for small businesses. With the minimum wage in the UK on the rise, small businesses must navigate the delicate balance between having a large enough workforce to meet the business’s demands and managing payroll expenses. The challenge is compounded by the need to invest in training and development, ensuring that employees are skilled and motivated.

To mitigate these costs, many small businesses are exploring automation and digital tools that can streamline operations and reduce the need for manual labour. From automated inventory systems to customer relationship management (CRM) software, technology offers a pathway to efficiency and cost reduction.

Inventory and Supply Chain Pressures

Inventory management is another area where costs can spiral. Holding too much stock ties up valuable capital, while too little can lead to stockouts and lost sales. The volatility of supply chain costs, including transportation and raw materials, adds another layer of complexity. 

Small businesses must be adept at forecasting demand, managing suppliers, and navigating the uncertainties of global trade dynamics. This is another area where businesses that commit to tracking and monitoring, as well as keeping robust records, will see benefits in the long term. 

Navigating the Challenges

The landscape of running costs for small businesses is complex and fraught with challenges. Investment in innovation and strategic management, leveraging technology and embracing digital tools, will help small businesses to weather the storm of rising running costs in the long term.

A proactive approach to financial planning, alongside a keen eye on market trends and cost-saving opportunities, can make all the difference. It’s about being nimble, resourceful, and, above all, resilient in the face of adversity. The road ahead for small businesses is undeniably challenging, but with the right strategies and tools, it is possible to thrive even in the most difficult of economic climates.

Beauty, Business, Cardiff, Cardiff News, Education, Employee Motivation, Hair and Beauty, Job Opportunities, Jobs

Cardiff teen lands her dream job through Jobs Growth Wales+

A 17-year-old apprentice from Cardiff is flying to Budapest after support from the Welsh Government’s Jobs Growth Wales+ programme to land her dream role as a Hairdresser.

Darla Wathen recently completed her Level 1 NVQ qualification in Hairdressing and is currently working at Henderson & Co. as a Junior Stylist.

When discussing her route to employment, Darla said: “I wasn’t very academic at school, but I’ve always been a creative person. I decided to meet with Working Wales to scope out my options and Jobs Growth Wales+ appealed to me because of the work placements and hands-on training that were incorporated into your learning.

“Back then I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my future, so I attended a few taster days to explore different career pathways. The courses on offer varied from childcare to beauty to construction and animal care, but it was hairdressing that I discovered I had a passion for.”

Having found her feet, Darla excelled on the programme and quickly proved to her tutors that she was a talented and dedicated learner.

Darla said: “My tutor, Charlotte, played a huge role in how comfortable and at ease I felt on Jobs Growth Wales+. I was nervous when I first started the programme, but she spent a lot of time helping me build on my essential skills before looking for employment.

“As well as working with me to improve my CV, Charlotte would act out interview scenarios with me to get me used to a real-life environment. This massively helped with my confidence and was a huge turning point for me.

“My Jobs Growth Wales+ tutors saw my potential. Everyone treated me like an adult, and I could tell the programme wanted me to succeed.”

With the support she received, Darla soon secured her job at Henderson & Co. in Cardiff and is currently thriving as a Junior Stylist.

Darla continued: “Working at Henderson & Co. has been amazing. I really appreciate the advice the other stylists give me, and I’ve already learnt so much in such a short space of time. When I’m not with clients, I’m either on reception, tidying or doing stock take – I love going to work because no day is the same!”

“I’m really keen to specialise in colour and I’ve been lucky enough to practice different techniques – from block colour, balayage, foils and highlights. I even dyed a customer’s hair red the other day.”

This year, Darla will be flying to Budapest with Henderson & Co. to attend a fashion show workshop.

“I feel incredibly lucky to be going with the team to a Kevin Murphy fashion show. It’s another new adventure and an opportunity for me to be taught by the very best influencers and experts in the industry.”

Darla has also got her sights set on gaining more work experience in Australia before returning to Wales to set up her own salon.

Darla said: “I’m hoping to progress with Henderson & Co, and maybe in a few years even live and work in Australia to learn new techniques again. At the moment I’m taking every day as it comes but it would be amazing to set up my own salon eventually.

“My one piece of advice for people who don’t know what they want to do when they’re at school is to talk to others about your options. I felt incredibly listened to and was lucky enough to find a career because of the training and funding provided through Jobs Growth Wales+.”

To learn more about Jobs Growth Wales+ visit workingwales.gov.wales/jobs-growth-wales-plus or call Working Wales on 0800 028 4844.

Business, FInance, Finance News, Wellbeing

Quantum launch SME tailored employee benefit solution

Quantum Advisory, the leading independent financial services consultancy, today announced the launch of a new solution designed with small to medium (SMEs) employers in mind.

The service, which has only been available to a handful of existing clients to now, will advise SMEs on group risk, healthcare and wellbeing solutions tailored to them, and to best meet the evolving needs of their employees.

Commenting, principal consultant Graham Yearsley, who leads the employee benefits team at the firm, said: “Although gradually improving, the experience of small to medium employers in the market is generally still poor – they are often overlooked, cannot access the same resources and opportunities as larger organisations, and the quality of advice and consultancy they receive can be lacking. With SMEs by far the majority of the market, the disparity in service levels is unacceptable.

“According to government statistics, in the private sector 5.51 million businesses in the UK have less than 49 employees – this accounts for 99.2% of the total business population. Around 37,000 are medium sized and have 50-249 employees and only around 8,000 are large at 250 employees or more. And it’s growing, in 2023 there was a 0.8% increase of SMEs from 2022.

“Employee benefits programmes are critical attraction and retention tools – meeting employee expectations, ensuring the wellbeing and ongoing loyalty of staff, as well as optimising engagement. Getting it right is important whatever your size, but for SMEs it’s crucial.

“Recruitment is extremely competitive at the best of times and offering ever increasing salaries simply isn’t an affordable option, and neither does it address the overall wellbeing of staff. Frequent staff turnover can also be a real issue for a small employer, and difficult to manage. An expertly executed benefits package can have a big impact on an employment decision and, by proxy, the quality and loyalty of a team.

“It has to include honest investments in employees’ financial security, total health and career growth. As well, of course, as being accessible and affordable for an employer.”

Yearsley continued: “Our independent status means we can act nimbly and innovatively, creating truly bespoke solutions that are fit for purpose. We are able to access new and interesting things and act upon them quickly without the shackles of external shareholders – resulting in direct benefits to our clients and to their employees.”

 

Business

6 Leading React.js Frameworks for Web Development 2024

In the evolving landscape of web development, React.js continues to be a dominant force.

React.js flexibility, performance, and vibrant ecosystem have made it a top choice for building modern web applications. React.js alone, however, is just the beginning. To further streamline faster development and enhance productivity, developers often turn to many frameworks built on top of React.js. Developers can utilise the features of the React.js framework in creating user interfaces. 

React UI Frameworks

In 2024, several leading React frameworks are shaping how developers approach web development. We would always recommend getting a consultation from several companies first before you decide to hire React JS developers to streamline your growth and begin your next development project.

Let’s delve into six of the most prominent ones:

Next.js

Next.js has emerged as a powerhouse within the React.js ecosystem, providing developers with a robust framework for web app development. Developed by Vercel, Next.js offers a comprehensive solution that simplifies the complexities of server-side rendering, automatic code splitting, and client-side routing.

Next.js excels in providing server-side rendering capabilities, allowing developers to generate HTML for each page on the server before sending it to the client. This approach not only improves initial load times but also enhances search engine optimization (SEO) by delivering fully rendered content to crawlers. Next.js supports static site generation, enabling developers to pre-render pages at build time for even faster performance and lower server costs.

One of the standout features of Next.js is its support for automatic code splitting. By analyzing the project’s dependencies, Next.js intelligently splits the JavaScript library bundle into smaller chunks, reducing initial load times and improving the overall user experience. This feature becomes especially beneficial as applications grow in complexity, ensuring that only the necessary code is loaded when navigating between pages.

Next.js also simplifies client-side routing with its intuitive API. Developers can define routes using the file system, organizing pages as individual components within the project structure. This approach eliminates the need for complex routing configurations and allows for seamless navigation between pages. Additionally, Next.js supports dynamic routing, enabling developers to create parameterized routes that respond to user input or data from external sources.

Furthermore, Next.js integrates seamlessly with TypeScript, enabling developers to write type-safe code and catch errors during development. Its built-in CSS and Sass support streamline styling workflows, while its API routes allow for the easy creation of serverless functions to handle backend logic.

Gatsby

Gatsby has emerged as a dominant force in the world of web development, offering developers a powerful platform for building blazing-fast websites and web applications. At its core, Gatsby is a static site generator built on top of React.js, but its capabilities extend far beyond basic static site generation. Here’s a closer look at what makes Gatsby stand out:

One of the key features of Gatsby is its focus on speed and performance. By pre-rendering pages at build time and optimizing assets, Gatsby sites load quickly, providing users with a seamless browsing experience. This emphasis on performance is critical in today’s web landscape, where users expect websites to load almost instantly.

Gatsby leverages GraphQL, a powerful query language for APIs, to efficiently pull data from various sources. Whether it’s content from CMSs like WordPress or data from APIs, Gatsby allows developers to pull in data and seamlessly integrate it into their websites. This approach enables developers to build dynamic, data-driven websites while still benefiting from the speed and performance advantages of static site generation.

Gatsby boasts a rich ecosystem of plugins that extend its functionality and streamline development. These plugins cover a wide range of features, including SEO optimization, image processing, analytics integration, and more. Developers can easily integrate these plugins into their Gatsby projects, saving time and effort and enhancing the overall quality of their websites.

Gatsby prioritizes developer experience, providing a smooth and intuitive workflow for building websites. Its developer-friendly features, such as hot reloading, comprehensive documentation, and starter templates, make it easy for developers to get started and iterate quickly. Additionally, Gatsby’s integration with popular development tools like Git and CI/CD pipelines further enhances the development process.

With a thriving community of developers and contributors, Gatsby benefits from a wealth of resources and support. Whether developers are seeking help troubleshooting issues, sharing best practices, or collaborating on projects, the Gatsby community provides a supportive environment for growth and learning.

RedwoodJS

RedwoodJS stands out as a comprehensive full-stack React framework that simplifies the development process by integrating React UI framework, GraphQL, and Prisma seamlessly. Launched in recent years, it has rapidly gained traction among developers due to its focus on productivity, maintainability, and performance.

At its core, RedwoodJS promotes convention over configuration, providing developers with a structured yet flexible architecture to build modern web applications. It follows the Jamstack philosophy, emphasizing serverless functions and static site generation for optimal performance and scalability.

One of the key features of RedwoodJS is its opinionated approach to development, which encourages best practices and reduces decision fatigue. By automating common tasks such as code generation, database migrations, and GraphQL API scaffolding, RedwoodJS enables developers to focus on building features rather than dealing with boilerplate code.

The framework’s tight integration with Prisma simplifies database management, allowing developers to define data models using a declarative schema syntax. Prisma’s powerful query engine and ORM capabilities streamline data fetching and manipulation, enhancing developer productivity and code maintainability.

RedwoodJS also embraces GraphQL for efficient data fetching and client-server communication. With GraphQL, developers can define a single schema that serves as a contract between the client and server, enabling precise data retrieval and minimizing over-fetching or under-fetching of data.

Another notable aspect of RedwoodJS is its emphasis on developer ergonomics. The framework provides a consistent and intuitive development experience, with features like file-system routing, hot reloading, and error handling out of the box. Additionally, its integration with popular developer tools like VSCode and GitHub further enhances the development workflow.

Blitz.js

Blitz.js is a groundbreaking full-stack React framework designed to simplify and accelerate the development of modern React apps. Launched relatively recently, Blitz.js has quickly gained attention in the React ecosystem for its unique approach to building applications with zero APIs.

At the core of Blitz.js is its “zero-API” data layer philosophy, which eliminates the need for developers to manually set up and maintain API endpoints for data fetching and manipulation. Instead, Blitz.js allows developers to import server code directly into their high quality React components, enabling seamless interaction with databases and other external services. This approach drastically reduces boilerplate code and streamlines the development process, allowing developers to focus more on building features and less on infrastructure setup.

Blitz.js provides a comprehensive set of features out of the box to enhance developer productivity. It includes file-system routing, authentication, authorization, and database management, all configured and ready to use without any additional setup. This architecture encourages best practices and ensures consistency across projects, making it easier for developers to collaborate and maintain codebases over time.

Blitz.js focuses on performance. By leveraging server-side rendering and optimized data fetching strategies, Blitz.js enables developers to build fast and responsive web applications that deliver a superior user experience. The framework’s intelligent caching mechanisms further enhance performance, ensuring that applications remain performance even under high loads.

Blitz.js also offers excellent developer experience through its intuitive CLI (Command Line Interface) tooling and documentation. The CLI provides scaffolding for creating new projects, generating components, and running development servers with hot reloading, enabling rapid iteration and feedback during the development process. Additionally, the extensive documentation covers all aspects of the framework, from getting started guides to in-depth tutorials and API references, making it easy for developers to learn and leverage Blitz.js effectively.

Semantic UI React

Semantic UI React is the best React framework that combines the power of React.js with Semantic UI, a sleek and intuitive front-end development framework. It provides a set of React components that follow Semantic UI’s design principles, allowing developers to create responsive, accessible, and aesthetically pleasing user interfaces with ease.

One of the key advantages of Semantic UI React is its simplicity and ease of use. By leveraging React’s component-based architecture, developers can easily compose complex user interfaces by assembling pre-built Semantic UI components. These components encapsulate both functionality and styling, reducing the need for manual CSS styling and ensuring consistency across the application.

Semantic UI React offers a comprehensive set of UI elements ranging from buttons, forms, and menus to cards, modals, and grids. Each component is meticulously designed to adhere to Semantic UI’s design language, providing a cohesive look and feel throughout the application. Moreover, Semantic UI React libraries are highly customizable, allowing developers to tailor it to match their specific design requirements.

Accessibility is another crucial aspect of Semantic UI React. The framework ensures that all components are accessible by default, following best practices for keyboard navigation, screen reader support, and ARIA attributes. This ensures that web applications built with Semantic UI React are inclusive and can be used by a diverse range of users, including those with disabilities.

In addition to its extensive component library, Semantic UI React also provides powerful theming capabilities. Developers can easily customize the visual appearance of their applications by modifying the default theme variables or creating custom themes from scratch. This flexibility allows developers to maintain brand consistency and adapt the design to fit different use cases and branding requirements.

React Bootstrap

React Bootstrap is a powerful front-end UI framework that combines the flexibility of React.js with the styling capabilities of Bootstrap, offering developers a streamlined approach to building responsive web applications. It serves as a bridge between the React component library and Bootstrap’s extensive library of CSS styles and components, enabling developers to create visually appealing and feature-rich material UI with ease.

At its core, React Bootstrap provides a set of pre-built React UI component frameworks that correspond to Bootstrap’s CSS classes and JavaScript functionality. These components encapsulate common UI elements such as buttons, forms, navigation bars, modals, and more, allowing developers to leverage Bootstrap’s design language without the need for manual integration or manipulation of DOM elements.

One of the key advantages of using React Bootstrap is its seamless integration with React.js, which enables developers to manage state, handle events, and compose components in a declarative and composable manner. By combining React UI component libraries with Bootstrap’s styling conventions, developers can maintain a clear separation of concerns and build UIs that are both modular and reusable.

React Bootstrap offers extensive customization options, allowing developers to tailor the appearance and behavior of Bootstrap components to suit their specific requirements. Customization can be achieved through props, CSS classes, or by directly modifying component source code, providing developers with the flexibility to adapt Bootstrap components to fit the user interface with the unique design and branding of their applications.

React Bootstrap is actively maintained and well-documented, with a vibrant community of developers contributing to its ongoing development and improvement. This ensures that developers have access to up-to-date documentation, examples, and support resources, making it easier to learn and adopt React Bootstrap in their projects.

 

Business, Housing

Quantum Advisory announces key partnership

Quantum Advisory, the leading independent financial services consultancy whose head office is situated in Cardiff, has announced a key partnership to share its pension and employee benefits expertise with the housing sector.

Quantum Advisory has become a commercial partner of Community Housing Cymru, the trade body for housing associations in Wales. The organisation represents 34 not-for-profit housing associations who provide almost 165,000 homes to 10% of the country’s population.

In addition to securing funding and developing policy frameworks to support its vision to make Wales a country where good housing is a basic right for all, Community Housing Cymru is committed to connecting members with each other, opportunities and industry experts.

As a commercial partner of Community Housing Cymru, Quantum Advisory will build upon their existing engagement with members by sharing valuable market and sector insights at dedicated sessions, exhibiting at the trade body’s conferences and identifying opportunities for tailored solutions.

Quantum’s specialist Housing Association service covers the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), Social Housing Pension Scheme (SHPS), group defined contribution schemes and all other types of pension and employee benefit arrangements. The service includes full scheme reviews, annual pension strategy monitoring, assistance with pension issues surrounding corporate activity, employee financial awareness sessions, and flexible employee benefits and salary sacrifice options.

Stuart Price, partner and actuary at Quantum Advisory, said: “Quantum has enjoyed an excellent relationship with Community Housing Cymru and its members for a long time, so this partnership was a natural next step for us to continue our support for the housing sector in Wales.

“Many housing associations participate in either the LGPS or SHPS and our experience of working closely with these schemes means that we understand the advantages and challenges these arrangements bring to housing associations.”

Louise Price-David, head of member services and partnerships at Community Housing Cymru, said: “It is a pleasure to extend a warm welcome to Quantum Advisory as our newest commercial partner.

“Quantum Advisory is a leading independent financial services consultancy in the UK, specialising in pension and employee benefit services. Their expertise and tailored solutions are invaluable assets to our sector. We are excited to collaborate with Quantum Advisory to enhance financial wellbeing and drive positive outcomes for our members.”

 

Accountancy, Appointments, Business, Investment, Newport, South Wales

Kilsby Williams continues to grow with new appointments

Tax and accountancy specialist Kilsby Williams has strengthened its business services and tax teams as the Newport-based firm continues to grow.

Ken Vargis has been appointed as a manager in Kilsby Williams’ business services team. An assurance professional, Ken will be applying his significant auditing expertise to support the firm’s varied client portfolio.

Ken said: “I am elated to be joining Kilsby Williams at such a pivotal point in its growth. I am looking forward to working with new clients, and adding value to their business by providing robust services.”

Joining Ken in the business services team is Hannah Griffiths, a Swansea University accounting and finance graduate.

In her role as business services assistant, Hannah will be involved in the preparation of accounts for a number of clients and assisting with audits, while working towards the ACA qualification to become a chartered accountant and progress further in the firm.

In the tax team, Cardiff University graduate Luis McCarthy has been appointed as a trainee. He will support the team with the preparation of corporation and personal tax returns and will study towards the ATT and CTA exams to become a chartered tax advisor.

Ataf Salim, partner at Kilsby Williams, said: “We are focused on attracting the best accountancy and tax talent at every stage of their careers and are pleased to share the news of our latest appointments ranging from trainee to managerial level.

“As the largest independent firm in the region, it is exciting to grow even further and we know that Ken, Hannah and Luis’ work will strengthen our services.”

Established in 1991, Kilsby Williams works with clients from across south Wales, the Midlands and London, ranging from sole traders to companies in international quoted groups.

Business, FInance, Pensions

Employers must evaluate Excepted Group Life Assurance arrangements in the lead up to the abolition of the LTA, says Quantum

Quantum Advisory, the leading independent financial services consultancy today urged employers to reevaluate Excepted Group Life Assurance arrangements in the lead up to the abolition of the Lifetime Allowance (LTA) on 6 April, voicing concern that many do not have a full understanding of the potential tax charges going forward.

Graham Yearsley, Principal Consultant at Quantum said: “Many employers have implemented Excepted Group Life Assurance arrangements for their employees, these group life schemes are trust based and provide for a lump sum to be payable in the event of death in service.  As they are not registered pension schemes, they have become very popular with high earning employees as they are not tested against the current LTA.

“Whilst lump sum death in service benefits will no longer be tested against the LTA, members of a Registered pension scheme from 6 April 2024 will be tested against the new Lump Sum & Death Benefits Allowance (LSDBA). As the LSDBA will be subject to the deduction of relevant benefit crystallisation events, of which an authorised lump sum death benefit is one such event, any excess death in service lump sum above the new LSDBA will be taxed at the recipient’s marginal tax rate which could reach 45%. This will make a big difference to both employer and employee.”

Yearsley added: “There is clearly still a need for Excepted Group Life Assurance and it’s very concerning that employers may not understand the potential tax charges associated before making a decision on who should continue to be insured in that arrangement. This could lead to significant issues going forward. Employers must evaluate all potential tax charges soon and decide if they are still fit for purpose as an option for their employees.”

For more information on Quantum Advisory visit www.quantumadvisory.co.uk