Company Insolvency: What You Need to Know

When a company falls into financial difficulty, it may become insolvent. This can be a difficult time for employees, customers, and suppliers. If you are affected by company insolvency, it is important to understand what is happening and your rights. In this blog post, we will discuss the basics of company insolvency and what you need to do if your business is affected.

What is insolvency?

‘Insolvency’  as a word is used to describe two things; the situation an insolvent company finds itself in, and also how this might be dealt with legally under the Insolvency Act 1986.

Whilst insolvency might be the correct option for a business, there are, however, three circumstances that allow an insolvent company to continue trading. Directors can:

  • contact all creditors to see if they can reach an informal agreement regarding the payment of outstanding invoices
  • enter into a company voluntary arrangement
  • enter into administration, which gives some respite from creditors and allows for the business to be sold or some of the assets to be disposed of to raise cash.

It is also possible to liquidate your company. This means the company is closed and all assets are sold to pay creditors.

Insolvency, therefore, does not simply mean that the business has to close, it can mean that it is able to be rescued with a turnaround plan and that is where the services of an Insolvency Practitioner can help.

How can a company stay open if insolvent?

Enter into a CVA

A CVA is a legally enforceable agreement between a financially distressed firm and its creditors that guarantees payment of all or part of the company’s debts over an agreed length of time. During the CVA, the business may continue to operate. A CVA can only be proposed by the company’s directors, not by its shareholders or creditors.

Come to an informal agreement with creditors

You might be able to work out a deal with your creditors to pay off your debt at different rates. This is frequently used when you’re having temporary liquidity or cash flow issues and there is no imminent danger of formal action from any of your creditors. You should contact your lenders as soon as possible and discuss this option. Make sure you understand what happens if you default on this agreement

An informal agreement is not legally binding and creditors can withdraw from the agreement at any time, leaving the company immediately liable for the outstanding money.

Enter Administration

The administration procedure involves handing your company over to an insolvency practitioner (also known as the ‘administrator’). While the administrator is in command, your creditors will not be able to file legal claims or proceed with compulsory liquidation without court approval.

 

The administrator creates a plan to:

  • make the company a viable trading entity again
  • agrees on an arrangement with the creditors (a CVA)
  • realise assets to pay a preferential or secured creditor
  • sell the business as a going concern

It is up to the creditors whether or not they agree with the administrator’s suggestions. The goals of the plans may provide a better outcome for your company’s creditors as a whole than would be achieved in a liquidation.

Whilst this is by no means a comprehensive view of the entire process, we hope this blog post has been helpful in understanding the basics of company insolvency. If you are affected by company insolvency, it is important to seek professional advice as soon as possible. For more information and support, please contact Irwin Insolvency for impartial professional advice on your options.

Is it safe to store food in plastic containers?

Whether you’re transporting food for an event or simply taking it to work, using a plastic container as storage may be convenient.

Plastic storage containers for food have several benefits over tin foil and clingfilm, such as being easier to seal food in and keep fresh. Are you really doing more harm than good by using plastic before other acceptable materials?

Is it a good idea to store food in plastic containers?

In reality, a lot of the food we consume is produced utilizing plastic materials, sold in plastic packaging, and any leftovers are stored in a plastic container, making it difficult to entirely avoid using the material.

However, there is a very minor but genuine concern that may result from using plastic to store food if hazardous chemicals are used in the material or manufacturing process. If your meal is contaminated with these substances, it has the potential to do harm to people who eat the tainted food.

It’s critical to know which plastics are safe to use. For example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate (PC) and polystyrene (PS) are all unsafe because harmful chemicals are used in their manufacture.

It’s not certain that these chemicals will contaminate the food you store in a container composed of this material, but it’s best to avoid them.

You can safely store food in plastic containers that aren’t made from any of the above materials as long as they are not.

Junk Mail Boxes and Take-Home Organizers, on the other hand, fall into this category because they’re constructed of polypropylene, which is a kind of plastic that’s been shown to be safe for food storage.

You might always go cautious and store your food in a storage container that has been designed for it. Even if you opt to do this, avoid microwaving your dinner inside the container. Although numerous of these plastics claim to be oven or microwave safe, excessively heating a container may cause the plastic to melt and release volatile compounds into your meal.

The same may be said for storing food in a plastic container after washing it with hot water. You might be creating the identical response, and though this isn’t always true, it’s better to wash plastic containers by hand rather than putting them in the dishwasher.

Some experts would argue that no hot or cooked food should be kept in plastic containers, but it is perfectly safe to do so as long as it has been cooled first.

Which plastic containers are safe for food storage?

In 1988, the Society of Plastics Industry (SPI) created a mechanism to distinguish various types of plastic. This is an indication that the material can be recycled and has a number in the middle.

This not only identifies the differences between each material and what they can and can’t be recycled with, but it also aids in the distinction of which are safe for food storage.

At the same time, some chemicals that are safer for food storage in this classification include:

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE)

PET, or polyethylene terephthalate, is a type of plastic that is often used for water bottles, soft drinks, and juice. PET is considered safe to reuse as long as it’s properly cleaned with hot water between uses. However, if your bottle or other goods constructed from this sort of plastic become cracked or hazy in appearance they should be recycled.

High-density polyethylene (HDPE)

HDPE is a more rigid type of plastic that has been used for milk jugs, but it’s also been utilized for food containers and other similar objects.

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)

LDPE is most often used for kitchen items like clingfilm, ketchup bottles, and sandwich bags as a thinner variant of HDPE.

Polypropylene (PP)

PP is frequently used for plastic storage containers, and it’s ideal for food storage since it’s safe, doesn’t leak, and can be recycled.

Bio-plastics

Bio-plastics include plastic cutlery, plates, and cups. They’re formed from starch-rich materials like potatoes, corn, and sugarcane, making them quickly biodegradable.

Food-safe Polypropylene Containers

Venturepak has a wide range of high-quality, food-grade, square plastic containers. Take a look at the products that they offer.

What are open rates?

Email marketing has been a standard component of most marketing efforts for quite some time. With over 4 billion users worldwide, it’s no surprise that email advertising to clients and leads is a popular option among marketers.

It might be tough to stand out in a sea of inboxes these days. We’ve put up this essay to demonstrate how the incorporation of video into your next email campaign can improve open rates.

What are open rates?

The overall campaign’s open rates are calculated by dividing the total number of individuals who opened an email by the total number of emails sent throughout the campaign. This means that bounces and non-deliveries are not factored into the calculation.

So what counts as an open email?

It’s widely accepted that an open rate indicates how many people read an email, but the reality is a little more complex. Email Service Providers (ESPs) need to be able to determine whether or not someone opened an email. Hubspot, for example, adds a single pixel into its email newsletter layouts and monitors when that pixel becomes active.

It might be more difficult to determine whether the email recipient has opened an email if their settings prevent pictures from automatically loading.

We can be confident that a recipient has genuinely opened an email when images and other material are loaded. So, how do we ensure this happens, and why should we use video in our email marketing efforts?

What’s the benefit of video in my email campaigns?

Use video in subject title to increase open rates

Using a CTA like “watch this video” in your email header, you’re providing a clear and engaging order to the reader. It’s more enjoyable to watch videos that are brief, easy to understand, and to the point.

The subject line of your email should contain a short video to entice recipients that want to see the material to view it. This is a very successful approach to improve open rates.

Video always boosts SEO

Google bots love video content over all other types of material, and they will boost your landing page and related links higher up the search engine results pages (SERPs). Make sure your video material is viewable to everyone by including audio descriptions, subtitles, and alternate text.

Videos are more likely to get shared on social media

Although uploading a video to your email marketing campaign is not the only way to do so, it may be one of the most effective.

It’s true that video may appear to be a greater upfront expenditure than static creative assets, but it has a higher ROI owing to increased engagement rates. Using your video across all of your email marketing, sponsored social media, website, and social media will allow you to reach a larger audience. People enjoy uploading online video material as well.

Where do I start with making a video for my email marketing campaign?

Your video should be brief, interesting, and effective. Make sure the beginning or end of the clip has a call to action (CTA). The optimum length will vary depending on the goal of your film. If you’re looking for referrals, keep videos under two minutes long.

Videos shorter than 30 seconds are more effective at entertaining and converting a viewer.

Still Alive and Kicking?

It does not have to be time-consuming or difficult to produce an online video for your email marketing campaign. We enjoy using animation and motion graphics to create interesting content.

It’s simpler to gather video from a person than it is to construct animated videos, although both may be more difficult. A location, film crew, camera equipment, director and actors are all required for live filming.

We can create an effective and memorable piece of content that may be expanded to fit the rest of your campaign in our studio at Tricks Studio. To learn more, contact us.

what is powder coating?

Paint or powder coat? What is the finest finish for your metal fabrication? Why should you choose powder coating finishes over paint?

Painting is a time-honoured technique with several drawbacks. Powder coating, on the other hand, is a more advanced technology. It offers increased durability, lower carbon emissions, and a higher quality look.

WHAT IS POWDER COATING?

Powder coating is a non-corrosive, dry finishing technique for metal that is often used on industrial equipment. Powder coating is applied as a dry powder using an electrostatic method and subsequently hardened with heat. It’s well regarded for its high-quality looks in terms of both function and overall appearance.

Powder coating is a flexible and durable finish that can be used on a variety of surfaces, including metal, concrete, steel, and plastic. It’s appropriate for both indoor and outdoor usage, and it’s one of the most cost-effective finishing choices available.

TYPES OF POWDER COATING

Powder coating is made of two different materials: thermosets and thermoplastics.

When heated, thermoplastic powder coating coatings become liquid and extremely delicate. This prevents chemical bonding. The powder coating is both reversible and recyclable as a result of this technique.

Thermoplastic coatings are thicker and more durable than thermoset coatings. As a result, they can be used for a wide range of applications, from metal to automobile parts to refrigerators.

On the other hand, thermoset powder cannot be recycled since it creates chemical connections once hardened, making it un-recyclable. Because of the links, it is not prone to melting in high heat regions. This variant is significantly less expensive than thermoplastic.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

The first stage in the procedure is preparation, which may be the most important. This step determines how well the powder coating adheres to the metal surface, and there are numerous choices for cleaning and preparing it. A degreaser and/or phosphate rinse followed by a fast water rinse is suggested. A spray gun is used to spray the powder and begin curing.

There are various strategies that may be utilised; however, they are only appropriate for certain tasks.

HOW DOES POWDER COATING WORK ON METAL?

Powder coating is a paint technology that consists of polymer resins, pigments, curative, flow modifiers, levelling agents, and other additives. All substances are melted together before being cooled and ground into a powder. A uniform finish can be obtained by preheating and cooling the mixture.

Powder coating eliminates overspray waste, which is typical with solvent-based paints. Powder coatings function on the principle of an electric charge, as opposed to paint, which requires a glue.

The powder is sprayed with an electrophoric paint sprayer for application. It generates a positive electric charge on the dust and carries it towards the components via an electrostatic charge. Because the links when cured solidify, the coating becomes more durable as a result of chemical bonding.

Powder coatings, like paint on a wall, are easy to apply because they are fluid and can be layered on in many directions. When the powder coating is dry, it can be painted or decorated with decals to create more vivid finishes. More layers may be added to a solidified powder coating for increased thickness if desired. Powder coatings resist

WHAT IS THE DURABILITY OF POWDER COATING?

This is a very durable paint that can be used on a wide range of surfaces, not just metal. The chemical bonds give an excellent coverage that is acceptable for both machinery and daily usage. It resists scratches, abrasions, and chips thanks to its strong chemical bonds.

HOW LONG DOES A POWDER COATING FINISH LAST?

The longevity of the product will be determined by a number of elements. The quality of preparation, type of powder coating utilized, and the environment in which the product is exposed are all factors that influence its longevity. Powder-coating finishes may endure up to 20 years, but because of their regular use, exposure to UV light, and outdoor environment

Different coatings have different lifespans as well. Coatings that contain fluoropolymers and urethanes, for example, can survive longer. They’re made to endure harsh conditions and are better suited to outdoor goods. Epoxy coatings, on the other hand, may last a long time indoors but deteriorate rather quickly once exposed to the

OTHER ADVANTAGES OF CHOOSING POWDER COATINGS

Powder coatings provide a lot of benefits and are therefore ideal for metal fabrication. Apart from their legendary durability, here are some more compelling reasons to consider when choosing a finish.

Reusable and Recyclable: This is an environmentally friendly choice since it is. Thermoplastic coatings in particular are extremely simple to re-form, unlike thermosets. The powder is also used precisely, with minimal waste, unlike paint where you may get a lot of overspray.

You may anticipate about 5% waste, and the fact that they don’t require solvents is a big advantage. Powder coating does not produce hazardous volatile organic compounds that pollute the environment.

Furthermore, it’s less dangerous to utilize, and while wearing protective gear is still advised, it doesn’t pose as much of a health risk as other finishes.

Cost-Effective:

For powder-coated finishes, the initial encounter may be overwhelming and intense for some people. However, after time, the coating is much less compared to other types of finishes.

Polishes Look:

Powder coating metal is simple to achieve a professional look. It’s easy to keep clean since it repels chemicals, moisture, and other particles.

WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES?

Despite the fact that this kind of finish has several benefits, its disadvantages should not be overlooked. The issue is that in order to achieve efficiency and usefulness, the appropriate finish must be utilised.

Less Control Over Coating:

It’s difficult to get a thick finish or regulate the thickness of one. It may also lead to uneven levels of thickness, which has an impact on the overall texture. If the powder coating goes down, it must be re-done.

Getting the Colour Right:

Cross-contamination is a con of recycling and reusing powder coatings. This simply implies that the colours may not come out as planned, lowering efficiency and opening the door for mismatched touch-ups. This may be avoided by carefully storing your powders when they’re not in use.

Take a look at Tomburn if you want to find out more about Powder Coating or would like to discover some of the projects we have worked on.

 

The importance of leadership training

Managers, not employees, are the ones who leave businesses. Managers have a major impact on employee turnover at an organization and also stifle people from being agile, inventive, and productive. The majority of CEOs consider sales, marketing, and operational efficiency as the most important drivers of company success.

\The person who leads the new sales campaign or the team that creates the next great marketing effort is often ignored as a major source of business success. Employees that are engaged and looking to solve a corporate issue come up with these ideas.

According to Gallup, 70% of a team’s engagement is determined by the leader. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, therefore, that Gallup discovered that teams with strong managers earn 27% more revenue per employee.

If you want your team to reach its full potential, you must begin with your managers.

The way our leaders appear is even more significant in this new era of work, where many of us are expected to work and lead remotely but cannot any longer separate our professional life from our home lives.

A good leader, at its most basic level, brings their people together to achieve a shared objective. Without leadership, everyone in the vessel would be rowing in many different directions, resulting in nowhere. Organizations can no longer afford to waste time and resources travelling nowhere.

Investing in the management training of your staff may be one of the first things to get cut when budgets tighten and an organization must become efficient. Managers are already overburdened with more work with fewer employees while also attempting to learn how to collaborate remotely.

It’s more difficult than ever to lead in this new era, and the majority of bosses — around one in ten — don’t have the skills or resources to do so.

What can we do to fix the gap in Leadership Knowledge?

To reduce the time to market, you should ask your managers to increase the skills they need to be great leaders. I’ll reveal how we help managers develop strong leadership behaviours by peeling back the curtain here. To go upstream and change that ratio, assist your bosses in building the abilities required to lead.

  1. Learn the essentials

Teach your managers the required abilities for management. We concentrate on four simple yet difficult-to-implement skills: listening with intent and attention, asking powerful questions, giving and receiving feedback, and having critical conversations.

It’s critical to make sure your leaders know why these abilities are essential and how they will be used when they become leaders. This is the background, the explanation for why your bosses will continue to pay attention and buy into the effort. The majority of trainings devote 90% of their time to this area. Don’t fall prey to that trap.

  1. Put your knowledge into practice.

The most crucial step in the process is when leaders put their learning into action. It’s when executives have a chance to experiment, learn what works and what doesn’t, and make improvements.

Most management training programs devote far too little time to this phase of the learning process.

Make sure to provide people with time and space to practice their new skills in role plays with co-workers and in real-life situations with their team. This is where the development truly takes place.

  1. Reflect and give constructive feedback.

When we try a new skill with a team member and it backfires, hurts, or is embarrassing, we may say, “That didn’t work.” That critical period of discomfort, on the other hand, is when you have the potential to learn. What happened? What didn’t happen? Why did it not work?

Leaders must fulfil their responsibilities and be held accountable for doing so. Leaders may utilize these tools to help them encode their learning and make necessary improvements for next time. The learn-apply-reflect model is intended to assist your leaders in putting new abilities into practice as well as instil long-term habits.

The Best Time is now

The future of employment is shifting, forcing businesses to be more creative and agile. To adapt swiftly, alter course and satisfy market demands, managers must be empowered to learn to lead in different ways. You need administrators who are good coaches rather than just task managers when you don’t see your staff every day.

To survive and flourish, you’ll need a group that is driven and dedicated; one that works together as well as advances on all levels.

Take a look at the Leadership Training courses available with Team Academy. A strong team may make the difference between becoming obsolete and remaining agile and innovative. Is your company’s leadership equipped to guide it into the future?

Top Tips for High School Seniors Searching for the Right College

Your senior year of high school is an exciting time. You already know the ropes when it comes to being able to get through high school, and you are looking ahead to the next major chapter in your life. For many, going off to college is a key part of that chapter.

If you, too, have your sights set on attending college at a four-year university, it is completely natural to find yourself experiencing a bit of anxiety over the entire thing. It is, after all, a major decision that you don’t want to take lightly. Figuring out what school you want to go to might very well be the first major decision that you have ever had to make.

There are many factors to take into account as you are looking for the right school for you. Some are based on your personal preferences for what your education will entail, while others are determined more by your personal circumstances. The good news is that there are several things that you can do to make sure that you choose the right college for you.

That being said, it is important to remember that no decision like this is set in stone. While you will no doubt feel a bit of pressure about it all, bear in mind the fact that you can always make a change to a different school down the line if the one you have selected ends up not being right for you.

With all this in mind, if you are a high school senior who is currently weighing your options and trying to figure out what college you should attend next year, here are a few things that you should take into consideration.

The Type of School

The first thing that you should note as you begin your search for the right college or university for you is that there are several different types of schools out there to choose from. Some are large state schools that offer what most people see as the traditional college experience. With classes on the larger size and study bodies comprised of tens of thousands of students, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by such schools.

Other types of colleges to consider are smaller private universities. Such schools, like Marian University Wisconsin offer smaller class sizes of about 13 students and thus a more personalized feel to your education.

Furthermore, there are also online universities to choose from if you feel that such a learning format is better for you. Aside from being more affordable on average, online learning is a viable option for students who must continue to work their way through school or who have other responsibilities that would make it incredibly difficult to attend a traditional university.

Take some time to consider the type of school that is best suited to your learning style. If you thrive in a smaller classroom setting, then those are the sort of schools that should make their way onto your shortlist. If, on the other hand, the big state school experience is what you have been dreaming of, then that might be the better choice for you.

The Cost of Tuition

The next thing that you need to take into account when trying to find the right college for you is how much it would cost for you to attend a particular school. It is a well-known fact that the cost of attending college is much higher than it once was, so make sure that you have run the numbers and established just how much you can afford to spend on your education.

Remember that the costs associated with going to college are not limited to the tuition and fees advertised by the school you are considering. Rather, you will also need to factor in the cost of room and board as well as how much it will likely cost for you to acquire the necessary textbooks and course materials that you need to succeed.

Some universities allow students to live off-campus regardless of whether they are a freshman or a senior, while others insist that first-year students and even sophomores live on campus in a dormitory. Take the time to do a cost analysis for each school you are considering. If it comes down to cost, then this might make the decision for you.

Another thing to investigate on this front is how much you might be able to earn in scholarships and grants. These can be incredibly helpful when you are determined to attend a school that would otherwise be out of your reach financially. You can even start applying to certain scholarship programs while you are still in high school.

Your Major

Another factor that is going to weigh heavily into your decision about what college you attend next year is the major that you plan on pursuing. You might find that one school offers students pursuing a certain field of study a better education than others. Some schools even pride themselves on the success rates of students who complete challenging majors.

Don’t be worried if you don’t yet know what you want to study. Many students start their college experience not knowing exactly what they want to study, and others end up switching majors at some point or another. Simply have a think about those areas of study that are appealing to you in a broad sense and see what sort of education the schools you are considering offer with regard to those types of majors.

Ways that you can investigate this include looking at retention rates, successful job placement rates, and even reviews of former and current students online. It is also a good idea to peruse a university’s website to see how much information you can gather about the faculty and staff who work in the department that you are likely to study.

At the end of the day, as much information as you can acquire as possible will help you to make the most informed decision about where to attend college next year.

Everything you need to know about recruitment for your business

When you’re running a business, it’s important to have the right people in place to help it grow. Recruitment can be a complicated process, but you can find the perfect candidates for your team with the right advice. In this blog post, we’ll provide everything you need to know about recruitment, from finding job ads to conducting interviews. We’ll also give you some tips on how to choose the best candidate for your business. So, if you’re looking to hire new employees, read on!

Why recruitment matters

When you’re recruiting for a job, it’s essential that you understand what the position entails and why hiring somebody who is right for the role matters to your business. For example, if you’re looking to hire an accountant, they need to manage your accounts and pay bills on time. If they can’t do that properly, then it would hurt your business. So, when thinking of roles that are key for your business, consider their impact on daily operations before recruiting somebody new.

When is it time to hire?

Whether you’re trying to fill one position or 10, you must hire the right people. Here are some key signs that your business may be ready for new employees:

  • If your company is hiring too many temps, see if there’s an opportunity to convert them into full-time roles
  • Is there more work than you can handle on your own? If so, then maybe it’s time to bring in someone else to share the workload with
  • Are customers complaining about how long they have to wait for service? Then maybe it’s time to cut back on current staff and hire more members of your team instead

If all of these situations apply, then now might be a good time for you to start looking for candidates to join your team.

Have a recruitment strategy

Before you begin the search for your new hires, it’s important to have a recruitment strategy in place. A good plan will help you stay organized and ensure that you find the right candidates quickly.

Use online platforms to find candidates

The internet is a great resource for finding the perfect candidates quickly. There are a number of different places where you can post job advertisements and find suitable employees, including:

  • Job websites
  • Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter
  • Specialist recruitment sites that advertise roles in your industry or location
  • Employee referral schemes, which reward existing members of staff if they refer somebody to the company who becomes a full-time employee

All of these options will allow you to publicize your new jobs to a wide range of potential applicants. However, many companies make the mistake of focusing on online applications alone. It’s important not to ignore offline channels, too – it’s always good for businesses to have their own website with details about who they are and what they do, and you can also take advantage of any local advertising opportunities too.

Interview remotely

It’s not just on-site interviews that can be done remotely. Many companies are now using online interviews, where candidates will take part over Skype or other similar programs. This allows you to conduct more interviews in less time and ensures that anybody who wants the job enough is able to get an interview no matter their location! Another benefit of this kind of recruitment is that it gives everybody a fair chance – after all, if somebody has moved for work before, they shouldn’t have any issues with remote interviews.

Consider team interviews

If you’re hiring for a role that will see somebody working as part of a team, make the most of this by having an interview process where all members of your future team are involved. You can ask them questions as a group to get an idea about how they’ll perform as part of the team and discuss any problems or issues together to ensure everybody is comfortable with each other.

Use the right software to track applications

ATS Software is a great way of keeping track of new applicants. Employers commonly use this software to manage the recruitment process and include features that will ensure you can analyze each candidate’s application in detail. You’ll be able to score each person against specific criteria, making it easier for you to find the ideal fit for your position.

Ask questions during interviews

Many companies make the mistake of not asking enough questions at the interview stage. But it’s important that you get a good idea about what kind of colleague each candidate might be – after all, you don’t want somebody who is going to cause problems down the line. Ask questions related to their previous jobs, where they see themselves fitting into your company culture, and also if there are any skills or experience they haven’t listed on their CV.

Narrow down your shortlist

Once you’ve interviewed a number of candidates, it’s time to whittle your list down to your top few choices. Consider a range of criteria, such as technical skills and experience, whether they have the right motivation for this role, and their cultural fit with the team. This will ensure that you hire somebody who is going to be able to do their job really well.

Outline some incentives

If you have a number of candidates who have done really well in the process so far, it’s worth considering some incentives to help you to pick between them. This could include something as simple as giving them an introduction to somebody else at your company or providing extra training, but whatever it is, make sure that they are offered something more than just the job itself.

Consider second interviews

Some companies will invite candidates back for a second interview after their first chat if they really seem like strong contenders. These can work particularly well if the candidate has come from afar – this way, they get another chance to meet everybody, see where they would be working, and give them another opportunity to ask any questions.

However, only do this if you think it will be helpful. If it’s clear after the first interview that somebody isn’t right for your company, there’s no point wasting their time or yours by bringing them back in again.

Is it a good investment?

If you do your homework before beginning the purchase procedure, buying a vacation house to rent may be a wonderful source of investment money. It’s critical to properly furnish and maintain the holiday home once you’ve acquired it.

When looking for a holiday house, it’s important to first figure out who you’re after. Are you searching for a big vacation spot that is suitable for families, a cozy hideaway for couples, or a remote woodland home for hikers?

The answer will help you decide where to site your holiday home, as well as assist with your marketing strategy.

What are the essentials:

Accessibility

If you’re wondering about potential income, consider whether there are adequate public transportation options and amenities in the region, and whether the holiday house will be appealing during all of the seasons.

For tourists, contemporary facilities and high-end features are required. Guests would want modern plumbing and heating, as well as quick internet access.

As a result, it’s critical to conduct routine inspections to ensure that everything is in good working order; a broken thermostat or faulty boiler, for example, might create significant difficulties for visitors.

Another essential aspect of a successful holiday home is its excellent surroundings. Guests will want easy access to transportation options, and there should be plenty of parking.

Find a holiday home that’s near a convenience store, but also near restaurants, bars, and shops for the easiest living possible.

Size

The potential return on investment of holiday homes may be affected by a number of factors, including size and flexibility. Higher rental rates are possible with a bigger property because it can accommodate more people. As a result, the home is more likely to allow bookings throughout the year due to its greater popularity.

Costs

Potential homeowners should be aware of any potential expenditures. Using an agency to manage the holiday property might cost you a commission, which lowers your overall profit. Cleaning, travel to and from the house, home insurance, property maintenance, and utility bills are other factors to consider.

If you want to buy a holiday letting for both personal and commercial usage, make sure to figure out your potential expenditures and inflows; compare the two against one another to guarantee that you can profit.

Legal considerations

There are a number of legal obligations that holiday homeowners must follow in addition to the financial factors.

You must ensure that your holiday rental meets current standards after you acquire it, and you are responsible for the health and safety of your guests.

For example, you must conduct a comprehensive safety inspection of the house and its grounds, highlighting hazardous drops and possible trip hazards. If the property contains gas, you must have the boiler and gas appliances inspected and certified by a Gas Safe engineer.

You should get a fire risk assessment and install items like a fire blanket, smoke alarm, and carbon monoxide detectors in your holiday home. You must obtain public liability insurance with an adequate coverage limit, usually at least £2 million.

Can I live in my holiday home?

In general, not for very long! Your usual home is defined as your primary residence rather than a holiday house.

Of course, you may stay in your house from time to time – it’s yours after all. However, to avoid running afoul of the Furnished Holiday Let regulations, you should keep track of any usage alongside your professional letting usage.

To be eligible as a holiday let, you must follow HMRC’s guidelines, which are:

  • You must let your property as furnished holiday accommodation for at least 210 days a year in order to be eligible.
  • Don’t include any days when you’re staying in the home.
  • To qualify as a holiday home, you must let the property to the public for at least 105 days per year.
  • Don’t count any days when you let your property out to friends or relatives for free or a reduced price, since this isn’t a commercial lease.

What are the financial options available?

When it comes to vacation homes, real estate investing may be difficult. There are a variety of different financial choices depending on the property’s purpose and whether you opt to mortgage the home itself or your primary residence.

If you’re purchasing a vacation property for personal use and intend to rent it out only occasionally, arranging your mortgage will usually be easier. A “second home mortgage” might be a feasible option in this case. If you’re looking to holiday let, however, you’ll almost certainly need a “holiday house mortgage.”

This is a somewhat misunderstood aspect of finance, and it’s not well-known outside the financial community. Such loans are simple to comprehend, but they aren’t available from most high-street banks. Building societies are the primary source for holiday home mortgages (Lenders or intermediaries).

There are far fewer lenders who provide mortgages for vacation rentals than there are for residential houses. Furthermore, lenders will have stringent requirements to fulfill, as well as proof of gross rental income to ensure that the holiday let’s mortgage payments can be met.

Typically, when calculating a stress test at 5.5% interest rates, they’ll want you to produce a rental income that is 14.5% of the mortgage payments.

It’s critical to note that a holiday let loan is not the same as a buy-to-let mortgage. If you already own a buy-to-let property and want to convert it into a vacation house, you’ll most likely have to remortgage it.

Tax Considerations

Income Tax

A holiday let’s profits are subject to income tax. There is no limit on the amount of mortgage interest you can offset against these earnings, lowering your income tax burden in comparison to buy-to-let properties. This may be a huge savings if you have a mortgage on your cottage.

Holiday cottage owners are entitled to capital allowances for items such as furniture and large fittings that are necessary in the property’s operation. All genuine costs incurred while running and maintaining the holiday let may also be deducted from your gross income.

Capital Gains Tax

If you meet the Furnished Holiday Let criteria when you sell your vacation house, you may be eligible for certain capital gains tax exemptions, such as Entrepreneurs Relief, which would cut the tax on sale to just 10% (according to 2018 and 2019 rules).

Council Tax

It’s also worth noting that council tax will be lower on a second property, with a possible reduction of up to 50%. If your holiday home is available for 140 days or more per year, it will be subject to commercial rates, which may save money over council tax.

Stamp duty land tax

Stamp duty is another consideration to consider if you’re thinking of renting a holiday house. If you buy another property, you’ll have to pay an extra 3% in stamp duty land tax, in addition to the current rates. While stamp duty is calculated on a tiered basis, the 3% premium applies to the entire purchase price of the home.

Take a look at StayCotswold if you want to find out more about buying a holiday home.

 

Aluminium for Electric Gates

Why is aluminium such a great option for automatic gates? Aluminium gates are durable, attractive, and free of rust or corrosion. It’s one of Mother Nature’s marvels, but it’s lightweight and easy to cut and shape. It may be welded, bonded, riveted, or bolted together and will last for years without maintenance in all types

Low maintenance and corrosion resistance are some of the reasons why aluminium gates are so popular. They come in a range of colours, from white to cream or brown, and in many different designs.

Why Choose Aluminium for your automatic gates?

Aluminium is readily machined, moulded, and constructed to appear identical to beautiful wooden or steel fences.

The high gloss, solid wood and laminate furniture can be found in a variety of RAL colours like grey, green, white, blue, and black to create a smooth surface in both steel and iron finishes.

Because they are resistant to corrosion, aluminium gates will not rust, bend, twist, or warp and just require a light cleaning with water on a regular basis.

Longevity of aluminium gates

Linkcare aluminium gates are coated with a top layer that provides the finished design and appearance of your selected gates while also providing an extremely durable protective layer. Linkcare’s aluminium gates come with a ten-year warranty as a result of their Qualicoat quality standard for aluminium coatings.

Safety

The fact that aluminium is light makes it possible for your gate motors to open and shut the gates with less force, making them safer and more cost-effective.

Strength of aluminium gates

All aluminium alloys are light and durable, making them superior to steel or wood gates of the same weight.

This implies they don’t require hinges or locks capable of handling heavier gates.

Price of aluminium gates

Aluminium gates are one of the most cost-effective gate materials available, based on longevity, low upkeep, and purchase price.

Why aluminium is the best choice for automatic gates

Aluminium is a great option for gates, as it has the following advantages over other materials used in this application:

Aluminium gates vs wooden gates

Wood, like aluminium, requires regular care to keep its natural beauty. Regularly, wooden gates must have the old flaking varnish removed and fresh varnishes, preservatives, or paint applied.

Wood may also bow, split, decay and warp, making it difficult to open or shut your gates.

Oil is often used with iron and steel fixings on wooden gates to ensure that they move freely and that any rust is treated with an appropriate rust inhibitor. A fresh coat of paint is generally applied at the same time.

Aluminium gates vs steel gates

Steel and iron gates have intricate patterns, making them tough to keep clean and attractive.

Steel, iron, and aluminium contribute significantly more weight to a gate than steel or aluminium. In addition, steel and aluminium require considerably sturdier fittings in order to be installed.

Automated aluminium gates are not as strong as their manual counterparts, so more powerful motors and greater electricity usage must be considered. Because lighter forces are required to open and shut automated aluminium gates, they are safer than wooden ones.

Aluminium is an excellent material for manual or automatic gates in essence.

So why not explore the most cost-effective, attractive, low-maintenance alternative to traditional gate components that will look and function exactly the same?

Contact Stargate to find out more about electric aluminium gates.

What is a Greywater System?

The water supplied to UK homes is clean drinking water (potable water), which enters the mains and leaves through the sewer. Baths, showers, washing machines, sinks, and dishwashers account for between 50% and 80% of a household’s wastewater. Greywater is a term used to describe this waste.

Greywater is the name given to wastewater that has not interacted with human waste. It differs from toilet water, which is known as black water, in that it does not have contact with human waste. Because there is no faecal matter in greywater, it is much easier to treat and recycle. This means that there are no germs or pathogens present in the water, which may be hazardous.

In domestic residences, greywater recycling systems can save approximately 70 litres of water, per person, per day. As a result, greywater recycling technology is one of the most effective methods to cut down on water consumption.

How Does Grey Water Recycling Work?

Even when treated, greywater is never safe to drink. Recycled water, on the other hand, may be used to flush toilets, washes clothes and irrigates gardens.

It’s critical to reduce the amount of drinkable water used for activities that don’t require fresh water. We’ll save more potable water if we can utilize treated greywater instead.

A greywater system removes harmful germs from water, making it safe to consume. There are a variety of methods to treat greywater, some of which are more difficult. The water is treated and then reconnected to the required appliances for usage, thus saving potable water.

The cost of a new greywater system is determined by the system you select, but it will definitely save you money in the long run because all-recyclable alternatives are more sustainable.

Contact OMDI to get more information about greywater systems or to obtain a quotation. We’ll recommend the ideal solution for your property, with over two decades of experience designing Greywater systems for business and residential properties.