Income tax system 'ill-suited to freelance creatives

The Parliamentary Select Committee of MPs from across the three main political parties has published a recommendation in Support for the Creative Industries that the freelance nature of creative employment should be better recognised in the UK (http://www.sherwincurrid.com) income tax system, and that the government should signal its acknowledgement and response to the problem. It is a development that will interest many creatives making use of a Guildford accountant.

The recommendation was just one of several made by the committee on the creative sector, which heard that tax-induced problems were often encountered by freelancers, of whom so many are creative people. It heard that these issues were not addressed very well by the present income regime. Andrew Chowns, the chief executive of Directors UK, explained in his evidence to the committee how much of an issue HM Revenue & Customs' 'nine-month rule' was for freelance film directors.

The HMRC Film Industry Tax Guidelines state that if a freelance worker in the film and TV industries has a contract ending beyond nine months, they are deemed to have PAYE tax status. However, such workers dependent on a Guildford accountant find that the contracts that they are therefore handed by producers and broadcasters only last for nine months at most, even if the natural life of the project is a year or more. This forces an "artificial" period of unemployment for such workers, including directors.

Mr Chowns added that freelancers hired independently on different projects, with different production teams at the helm but the same umbrella employer, such as a large independent production firm or the BBC, were also adversely affected by the rule. He said: "This measure was originally introduced, we believe, to prevent the avoidance of PAYE by workers who claimed to be self-employed, but in practice now it is having the effect of an additional and unfair penalty on workers who are clearly freelance and have no claim to employed status."

Directors UK added that while greater flexibility had been provided by the taxman making some alterations to the rule, it remained confusing to both employers and freelancers and should no longer be applicable to freelancers working in film and TV. Mr Chowns was asked whether the removal of the rule may result in people simply opting for self-employment as a "bit of a tax fiddle", but played down the likelihood of this, not least on the grounds that self-employed freelance status is already the case for most within the industry.

Doubtless that many a Guildford accountant  and their creative clients would agree with Mr Chowns in declaring that "In my opinion, this tax rule is only having a perverse effect of creating three months' forced unemployment…It would be an easy thing to fix. At the moment it looks like freelance creatives are being discriminated against by this peculiar piece of tax legislation." The committee agreed, too, ultimately calling for an acknowledgement and response to the issue from ministers, ideally in the form of income tax and tax relief reforms.

Editor’s Note: Sherwin Currid (http://www.sherwincurrid.com) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

How those with dementia can keep active and involved

Inevitably, with the development of dementia comes compromises to the affected person's ability to carry out certain activities. However, this does not mean that the person with dementia should completely abandon such activities. Indeed, many of those receiving home help in Gloucestershire from Bramble Home Care (http://www.bramblehomecare.co.uk) greatly appreciate staying active and involved in activities that interest them, from everyday tasks to long-time hobbies.

It is often the most simple, everyday activities - such as folding clothes or setting the table for a meal - that can be most beneficial to those receiving domiciliary care in Gloucestershire. However, a link to hobbies and interests that the person enjoyed prior to their dementia diagnosis can also help them to feel that their life is still meaningful. Such activities as walking, cooking and painting can assist in the preservation of that person's dignity and self-esteem, giving them a continued connection to normal life and in some cases, emotional connections too.

When a person with dementia keeps stimulated and occupied in everyday life, they can improve the quality of their life as well as that of their carers. Such activities can introduce fun and playfulness into their lives, making them feel free to communicate with others and express their feelings. These activities help to maintain social inclusion for those with dementia, as well as encouraging independence - as we know is a major priority for service users of our respite care in Gloucestershire. Carers, family and friends often benefit from an improved relationship with their loved one as a result of taking part in activities with them, which can also give them a break from the stresses and strains of everyday care.

By talking to your loved one with dementia about what they enjoy, you can soon establish suitable activities for them. Don't be afraid of making a mistake first time around, as you may find the right activity in the process. Above all, you should ensure that the person for whom you care enjoys the activity and feels that it is meaningful for them, rather than focussing on the 'result' of that activity. Many of those with dementia find meaning simply in talking to others, for example, while others may like to partake in relaxing creative pastimes like drawing, painting, woodwork and knitting.

Exercise can also be greatly beneficial to those with dementia and their carers, with potential examples including walking, gardening and swimming. For those with limited mobility, a seated game of bowls or chair aerobics could be a good activity. There are so many other activities that can be suitable for those in receipt of our dementia care in Gloucestershire here at Bramble Home Care (http://www.bramblehomecare.co.uk), from puzzles, games and listening to music to simple reminisces about the past. There should also be many community-oriented events in your local area, in venues such as art galleries, pubs and churches, that can give the person with dementia an even greater sense of belonging. 

Editor’s Note: Bramble Home Care (http://www.bramblehomecare.co.uk) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

The substances that do - and don't - protect your hair

Getting up on a morning and finding hair on the pillow or on their brush may be the moment that so many men dread, but perhaps the first thing that such a man should know is that the fate of their hair is largely down to their genes - with hereditary reasons accounting for 99 per cent of prematurely thinning or balding scalps. But that does not mean that there aren't also certain substances that either encourage the balding or combat it, with Gentlemen's Tonic (http://www.gentlemenstonic.com) certainly offering no shortage of male grooming gifts in the latter category.

But some of these substances are easier to address than others, with the male hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone), thought by medical researchers to be the biggest single cause of baldness, often only able to be reduced after discussion of the best course of action with a dermatologist or trichologist. However, recent studies have pointed to the formation of DHT in the scalp being blocked by zinc sulfate, saw palmetto extract and azelaic acid, so there may well be hope for you, beyond the use of Gentlemen's Tonic's traditional male grooming products.

But of course, it's impossible to forget the role that diet can have in slowing or accelerating hair loss, with dryness of the hair and scalp often caused by deficiencies in such important minerals as zinc and iron. In many ways, ensuring hair health is about ensuring all-round body health, with the likes of fresh vegetables and salads more advisable than acid-making foods such as breads, potatoes and milk and dairy products, given how they alter the body's pH value.

The healthier the food you eat, the stronger and more durable your hair should become. But be wary of substances that can both help and harm. For example, recent studies have shown copper to have a very positive effect on the hair, but your hair and scalp can also be unduly dried by high levels in your water. Plus, there are always the usual vices - like smoking and alcohol - to be aware of, plus various drugs that can lead to hair loss in some patients, including certain Parkinson medications, ulcer drugs and cholesterol-lowering drugs.

But there are certain other beneficial substances to be aware of - namely, those in such Gentlemen's Tonic offerings as the Mayfair establishment's Protein Conditioner. A wide range of key ingredients, including yucca vera extracts that help to penetrate the hair shaft, wheat protein that improves hair strength and the moisturising and healing agent that is hydrolyzed silk, assist in detangling, protecting and strengthening male hair, leaving it feeling soft and manageable.

Combine this highly rated product with men's traditional shampoo and Sculpt hair styling products consisting of natural waxes and ingredients, such as beeswax and bentonite, and it's clear that Gentlemen's Tonic's (http://www.gentlemenstonic.com) master barbers know all about the substances that best help hair, rather than hinder it. These have consequently been incorporated into some of the market's highest quality traditional male grooming products.

Editor’s Note: Gentlemen's Tonic (http://www.gentlemenstonic.com) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

Oriel Systems - specialising in the most cutting edge SCADA software

If there's any acronym that will be more than familiar to those in such industries as water and waste control, energy, oil and gas, telecommunications and transportation, it is SCADA, referring to supervisory control and data acquisition. This is the term for a computer system that gathers and analyses real time data from industrial processes, as has such fundamental importance in the monitoring and control of a plant or equipment. Certainly, Oriel Systems (http://www.orielsystems.com) is noted for the high standard of its own AWAX SCADA software, which is as cost-effective as it is cutting edge.

SCADA systems are types of industrial control system (ICS) that have been historically distinguished from other such systems by the large scale processes involved, potentially encompassing very large distances and multiple sites. Examples can include industrial processes like manufacturing, fabrication, production, refining and power generation, or public or private infrastructure processes like wastewater collection and treatment, oil and gas pipelines, large communication systems and water treatment and distribution.

Also potentially covered by SCADA systems are facility processes in various public and private buildings, ships, airports and space stations, with the likes of ventilation, heating and air conditioning systems being monitored and controlled. There are various subsystems that tend to make up a SCADA system, including the human-machine interface or HMI that presents the human operator with processed data, which enables the monitoring and control of the process. Other subsystems include a supervisory (computer) system that acquires data and sends demands, as well as the remote terminal units (RTUs) that connect to sensors, converting sensor signals into digital data that is then sent to the supervisory system.

When people talk about SCADA, they are generally referring to centralised systems for the monitoring and control of entire sites, if not complexes of systems of a large geographical spread. So the term could refer to the processes of one industrial plant, or an entire nation. It is the RTU at which the remote monitoring systems begin acquiring data, with the resultant meter readings or equipment status reports being communicated to SCADA as required. This is followed by the compilation and formatting of the data in such a way that supervisory decisions to override or adjust normal RTU controls can be made by a control room operator making use of the HMI.

Those with an interest in the most reliable, scalable and powerful telemetry systems - of which AWAX SCADA software can be a key part - are advised to get in touch with Oriel Systems' (http://www.orielsystems.com) technical team. The company's own SCADA software connects to its own range of remote units, as well as to most programmable logic controllers (PLCs)and various other hardware types, including the remote units of other vendors. Continual program development has seen the introduction of greater functionality to the software, so that it embraces the most recent technological advances and remains absolutely relevant to current needs.

Editor’s Note: Oriel Systems (http://www.orielsystems.com) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

Severe rental arrears at lowest level for two years

Amid so many signs of an improving economy and with it, increased financial security for landlords and tenants alike, landlord rent guarantee policyholders have even more reason for cheer with the news of a sharp fall in the number of tenants with severe rental arrears, to the lowest level in two years. That is the headline finding of the latest Tenant Arrears Tracker of LSL Property Services, which might just embolden a few Advanced Rent (http://www.advancedrent.co.uk) clients into investing further in their portfolio.

The third quarter of 2013 saw a 25 per cent decline in the number of tenants behind on their rent by a period exceeding two months. It means that there are now just 69,000 tenants in severe arrears, which is 23,000 lower than the figure recorded in the second quarter. It's the lowest level of severe rental arrears that the Tenant Arrears Tracker has recorded since the third quarter of 2011, which is obviously very good news for rent indemnity policyholders.

Paul Jardine, Templeton LPA director and receiver, described the figure as "an important landmark", adding that "Tenants in these most severe situations could face eviction whereas the majority of arrears cases are resolved much more easily." He said that there was "a qualitative difference which makes this particular improvement so important. Such a dramatic fall in the number of people potentially losing their homes is not just an excellent signal for the private rented sector but for the entire UK economy."

All other relevant figures point to an economic environment that is increasingly conducive to landlord rent insurance policyholders choosing to add to their portfolios. Tenants in severe arrears now account for only 1.7 per cent of all tenancies in England and Wales, compared to the previous quarter's 2.4 per cent. The improvement is even more dramatic when judged on an annual basis, with 34 per cent fewer tenants being in severe arrears in the third quarter of this year compared to the same quarter in 2012.

But there has also been a more general improvement in tenant finances for landlords involved in a rent guarantee scheme to savour,  with LSL's most recent Buy-to-let Index having also revealed a fall in overall tenant arrears in August, in which 7.8 per cent of all rent was late or unpaid - compared to the previous month's 8.2 per cent. Even the number of tenants facing eviction through court order has plummeted, with the 26,759 tenants that faced eviction notices in 2013's second quarter representing a 9.7 per cent improvement on the previous quarter's figure.

With our acclaimed Rent In Advance and Rent Guaranteed products, here at Advanced Rent (http://www.advancedrent.co.uk), we can further assure you of financial security as a landlord, an assurance that goes hand in hand with the real improvements in the state of the buy-to-let sector over the last year or so. Contact us now to find out more.

Editor’s Note: Advanced Rent (http://www.advancedrent.co.uk) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.