The contents of Alistair Darling’s pre-budget report would suggest that Gordon Brown and Co. are far more interested in party politics and winning the favour of the electorate ahead of the impending general election, than in actually fixing the major problems of UK plc.
They have attempted to appeal to their core voters with a gimmicky “Bash the Bankers” tax, a one off tax on all bankers’ bonuses above £25,000 (which applies to all banks operating in the UK).
But while Gordon continues with his strategy of “Class Wars” and “Policies dreamt up on the playing fields of Eton” to try and create clear blue water between themselves and the Conservatives, it would appear that Labour now believe the “Toffs” to be anyone earning more than £20,000 a year (surely an own goal).
Personal income tax allowances, basic rate limits and NIC thresholds have all been frozen at 2009/10 levels rather than giving the customary increase, making everyone feel a little worse off. Additionally, the higher rate band (currently £37,400) will be frozen in 2012/13 (moving more taxpayers into the higher rate band over the next few years – another stealth move).
In addition, the previously announced ½% hike in National Insurance (additional income tax by any other name) was doubled to 1% and will take effect from April 2011 (thus increasing employee contributions from 11% to 12% and employer contributions from 12.8% to 13.8%). And VAT returns to 17.5% from 1st January 2010. So all in all, a bloody nose for almost everyone.
Of course, as we already knew, a new tax band of 50% comes in from April 2010 for what Labour believe is the super-rich i.e. everyone earning above £150,000 per annum – sounds like another attempt at a vote winner from the core labour supporters as £150,000 pa does not make you super-rich (and is not likely to increase the tax take by the treasury significantly either).
And what of the economy overall? Well, we are still technically in recession, inflation is on the increase, we have a borrowing requirement now up to £178bn this year and £176bn next year, with no solid plans from the government about how this huge level of borrowing will be repaid (well, not before the general election, anyway), Gordon Brown wanting to carry on spending within the Public Sector and the amount of strikes and industrial unrest on the rise.
Could this be another “Winter of Discontent” similar to that in the late seventies which sounded the death knell of a previous Labour government bereft of ideas and bankrupt on policy? In the early stages of 2010 ahead of the next General Election, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a dash to the labour heartlands of the left, and Old Labour tendencies, in order to try and shore up their crumbling vote.
It’s about time that the people who want to lead this country stop playing party politics and start setting out an agenda for getting this once great country out of its difficult current situation and back on track towards sustainable recovery and prosperity.
Thursday, 31 December 2009
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Merry Christmas from Intervallum Limited
I would like to take this opportunity to wish a very Merry Christmas to all of our clients, suppliers, colleagues, contacts and friends.
Have a great festive period and a Happy New Year, and here's hoping that we all have a prosperous 2010.
Have a great festive period and a Happy New Year, and here's hoping that we all have a prosperous 2010.
Monday, 30 November 2009
Intervallum Limited nominated for “Best New Business in the Midlands 2009”
I am pleased to report that at the recent Midlands Business Awards Ceremony & Dinner held at the Aston Villa Football Stadium, Intervallum Limited was short listed in the “Best New Business in the Midlands 2009” category.
On what proved to be a packed event, I had the honour of walking down the red carpet to join the other businesses short listed for an award on the evening. Although Intervallum didn’t eventually win the New Business award, it was a tremendous achievement to have been recognised as one of a handful of the most highly regarded business start-ups of the year.
A fabulous evening was had by all.
On what proved to be a packed event, I had the honour of walking down the red carpet to join the other businesses short listed for an award on the evening. Although Intervallum didn’t eventually win the New Business award, it was a tremendous achievement to have been recognised as one of a handful of the most highly regarded business start-ups of the year.
A fabulous evening was had by all.
Friday, 27 November 2009
Digby Jones On Form at BBBC
The recent meeting of the Birmingham Business Breakfast Club, held at the Botanical Gardens, was packed to hear what Lord Jones had to say on how the recession had effected his beloved West Midlands (in fact so popular was this event, the BBBC had stopped taking bookings well ahead of the date). And if you know Digby then you will know that he always has plenty to say; sometimes controversial, often colourful, but always entertaining.
The last time I heard him speak was last year at the 100 year anniversary celebration of the Territorial Army, just after he had left government. He certainly let rip into the governing party (which they richly deserved) and once again gave us an insight, via a story or two, as to what it is like for a business person to have to work alongside the civil service (which didn’t sound like a pleasant experience).
In November 2009, Digby’s main concerns were predominantly based around the skills shortage in the West Midlands – once the home of UK manufacturing. He was concerned that if these skills continue to be lost to the area then there is every chance that soon they will be lost forever and the West Midlands may never fully recover.
To emphasise the skills issue he quoted the statistics that one in four of the adult population in some parts of Birmingham were unable to read and write to the level expected by an 11 year old within the National curriculum. He pointed to the fact that if, as an adult, you can’t read and write, then it is highly unlikely that you will have books in your home. The result of this will be very little hope for your children’s literacy, and so the cycle will continue and repeat itself again and again. We have to break this cycle now, or pay the price in the future.
Lord Jones was very critical of the government’s normal routine of handing out more and more benefits to immigrants who come and live in the West Midlands, citing the old Chinese proverb that if you give a man a fish he will be fed for the day, but if you give him a fishing rod and teach him how to fish then he will be fed for life (again, the focus being on skills development, innovation, motivation etc).
He also had a very interesting ambition for the political landscape in the UK – more independent (and accountable) MPs, the electorate voting for who they want to lead the country rather than a political party (i.e. more in a US Presidential style), and the new leader appointing a cabinet of experts in each discipline. After all, you wouldn’t want someone without the correct qualifications and experience operating on your brain just because they had been voted in to be the brain surgeon, so why would you want a Chancellor of the Exchequer who had no finance background, or a Minister for Business who had only ever worked in the Civil Service? And he has a very good point.
The last time I heard him speak was last year at the 100 year anniversary celebration of the Territorial Army, just after he had left government. He certainly let rip into the governing party (which they richly deserved) and once again gave us an insight, via a story or two, as to what it is like for a business person to have to work alongside the civil service (which didn’t sound like a pleasant experience).
In November 2009, Digby’s main concerns were predominantly based around the skills shortage in the West Midlands – once the home of UK manufacturing. He was concerned that if these skills continue to be lost to the area then there is every chance that soon they will be lost forever and the West Midlands may never fully recover.
To emphasise the skills issue he quoted the statistics that one in four of the adult population in some parts of Birmingham were unable to read and write to the level expected by an 11 year old within the National curriculum. He pointed to the fact that if, as an adult, you can’t read and write, then it is highly unlikely that you will have books in your home. The result of this will be very little hope for your children’s literacy, and so the cycle will continue and repeat itself again and again. We have to break this cycle now, or pay the price in the future.
Lord Jones was very critical of the government’s normal routine of handing out more and more benefits to immigrants who come and live in the West Midlands, citing the old Chinese proverb that if you give a man a fish he will be fed for the day, but if you give him a fishing rod and teach him how to fish then he will be fed for life (again, the focus being on skills development, innovation, motivation etc).
He also had a very interesting ambition for the political landscape in the UK – more independent (and accountable) MPs, the electorate voting for who they want to lead the country rather than a political party (i.e. more in a US Presidential style), and the new leader appointing a cabinet of experts in each discipline. After all, you wouldn’t want someone without the correct qualifications and experience operating on your brain just because they had been voted in to be the brain surgeon, so why would you want a Chancellor of the Exchequer who had no finance background, or a Minister for Business who had only ever worked in the Civil Service? And he has a very good point.
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Higher Rate Tax in this Green and Pleasant Land
Is it fair that because you earn more money than other people that you should be expected to pay a higher rate of tax? Or is this just the age old way that governments squeeze the pips out of middle England to pay for the mistakes that they have made while in office?
Whilst I believe that Britain should have a solid social infrastructure of Police/Fire/Ambulance services, a free at point of use NHS and a good state school system etc. it always seems inequitable in who has to actually pay for it the most. The analogy that springs to mind is of two families having identical meals in a restaurant, but one family is asked to pay more for their meals because their annual income is higher than the other family’s. Surely the fact is that if you earn more than someone else, you are already paying more tax into the system even at the same rate of tax.
Although governments are always ready and waiting to tax you to the hilt once you become financially successful, where are they when you are struggling on a low salary whilst studying for professional qualifications or attempting to start-up your own business? Where is the support then, when you really need it?
The taxation system as it stands, is completely unfair to the creation and maintenance of innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation, because you’re unfairly penalised for success when, in reality, you are already contributing so much to the economy. And this more flexible and entrepreneurial sector of the business community is vital to economic growth - after all, recent research showed that 51% of UK GDP came from Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs).
The recent credit crunch was the first recession that made a large number of professional people, managers and white collar workers redundant. After the shock of being in full employment for so many years, and then being unexpectedly made redundant, an even greater shock was waiting for them on their first visit to the Job Centre Plus. Aside from the lack of jobs and any meaningful help, they had to cope with the realisation that the only short term assistance that they would get would be the Job Seekers Allowance of a little over £60 per week, the same amount that other people who had lost their jobs and who had paid much less tax (and probably tax in a lower band) into the system were receiving. This does not seem fair or equitable.
And how did our government deal with this crisis? By announcing a new, even higher, tax banding (50%) for all those earning more than £150,000 per annum (from April 2010). This band is far too low - these aren’t the super rich. A Premiership footballer, film star or television personality could earn this sum in a little over a week. It will, however, hit many business people who are working hard to help Britain escape out of recession and attempt to build a sustainable recovery for our economy. It is no coincidence that we must have a General Election in 2010 – hitting the perceived high earners is always going to be a vote winner for the masses, particularly the long term benefits claimants who perhaps don’t want to work…….after all, continued taxation (particularly at a higher rate) of those who contribute most to the economy is how they derive their income!!!
Whilst I believe that Britain should have a solid social infrastructure of Police/Fire/Ambulance services, a free at point of use NHS and a good state school system etc. it always seems inequitable in who has to actually pay for it the most. The analogy that springs to mind is of two families having identical meals in a restaurant, but one family is asked to pay more for their meals because their annual income is higher than the other family’s. Surely the fact is that if you earn more than someone else, you are already paying more tax into the system even at the same rate of tax.
Although governments are always ready and waiting to tax you to the hilt once you become financially successful, where are they when you are struggling on a low salary whilst studying for professional qualifications or attempting to start-up your own business? Where is the support then, when you really need it?
The taxation system as it stands, is completely unfair to the creation and maintenance of innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation, because you’re unfairly penalised for success when, in reality, you are already contributing so much to the economy. And this more flexible and entrepreneurial sector of the business community is vital to economic growth - after all, recent research showed that 51% of UK GDP came from Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs).
The recent credit crunch was the first recession that made a large number of professional people, managers and white collar workers redundant. After the shock of being in full employment for so many years, and then being unexpectedly made redundant, an even greater shock was waiting for them on their first visit to the Job Centre Plus. Aside from the lack of jobs and any meaningful help, they had to cope with the realisation that the only short term assistance that they would get would be the Job Seekers Allowance of a little over £60 per week, the same amount that other people who had lost their jobs and who had paid much less tax (and probably tax in a lower band) into the system were receiving. This does not seem fair or equitable.
And how did our government deal with this crisis? By announcing a new, even higher, tax banding (50%) for all those earning more than £150,000 per annum (from April 2010). This band is far too low - these aren’t the super rich. A Premiership footballer, film star or television personality could earn this sum in a little over a week. It will, however, hit many business people who are working hard to help Britain escape out of recession and attempt to build a sustainable recovery for our economy. It is no coincidence that we must have a General Election in 2010 – hitting the perceived high earners is always going to be a vote winner for the masses, particularly the long term benefits claimants who perhaps don’t want to work…….after all, continued taxation (particularly at a higher rate) of those who contribute most to the economy is how they derive their income!!!
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Digby Jones and Other Great Midlands Networking Events Before Christmas 2009
There are some great networking events taking place in the Midlands that are well worth getting to prior to Christmas 2009, with my pick of them being: -
Thursday 29th October – “Networking Made Clear”, Edge Creative are holding the latest of their excellent networking events at The Jam House in Birmingham, commencing at 6pm, this time in association with Clear Solutions. Email info@edgecreativesolutions.com for more details.
Wednesday 11th November – Lord Digby Jones is the guest presenter at the Birmingham Business Breakfast Club’s November meeting at the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham from 7am to 9am. This will be a very popular event – for more details check out www.bbbc.biz
Friday 20th November – The Midlands Business Awards Dinner & Ceremony, the Holte Suite, Aston Villa FC. From 7pm until late, this Black Tie evening promises to be one of the events of the year, co-sponsored by the South Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry and raising money for the Midlands Air Ambulance. The website can be found at www.themidlandsbusinessawards.co.uk or call Jo Bailey on 07725 575282 for details.
Monday 30th November – Institute of Directors West Midlands AGM and Networking Event. 5.30pm to 8pm at the Royal Bank of Scotland, International Banking Centre, Fourth Floor, 2 St Phillips Place, Birmingham, B3 2RB www.iod.com
Wednesday 2nd December – “Yogi Bear’s Guide to Inspirational Leadership” by Steve Richardson, tour of Stoke City FC’s Britannia Stadium and AGM of CIMA North West Midlands commencing at 6pm. For more details contact julie.witts@cimaglobal.com
Tuesday 8th December – Cooper Parry Corporate Finance Networking Breakfast, Dave Mackay Suite, Pride Park Stadium, Derby 8am to 9.30am For more details visit www.cooperparry.com
Wednesday 16th December – Lunch with the IoD Director General, Miles Templeman, 12.30pm, Derby County Football Club, Pride Park Stadium, Derby DE24 8XL More information and booking details at www.iod.com
Thursday 29th October – “Networking Made Clear”, Edge Creative are holding the latest of their excellent networking events at The Jam House in Birmingham, commencing at 6pm, this time in association with Clear Solutions. Email info@edgecreativesolutions.com for more details.
Wednesday 11th November – Lord Digby Jones is the guest presenter at the Birmingham Business Breakfast Club’s November meeting at the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham from 7am to 9am. This will be a very popular event – for more details check out www.bbbc.biz
Friday 20th November – The Midlands Business Awards Dinner & Ceremony, the Holte Suite, Aston Villa FC. From 7pm until late, this Black Tie evening promises to be one of the events of the year, co-sponsored by the South Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry and raising money for the Midlands Air Ambulance. The website can be found at www.themidlandsbusinessawards.co.uk or call Jo Bailey on 07725 575282 for details.
Monday 30th November – Institute of Directors West Midlands AGM and Networking Event. 5.30pm to 8pm at the Royal Bank of Scotland, International Banking Centre, Fourth Floor, 2 St Phillips Place, Birmingham, B3 2RB www.iod.com
Wednesday 2nd December – “Yogi Bear’s Guide to Inspirational Leadership” by Steve Richardson, tour of Stoke City FC’s Britannia Stadium and AGM of CIMA North West Midlands commencing at 6pm. For more details contact julie.witts@cimaglobal.com
Tuesday 8th December – Cooper Parry Corporate Finance Networking Breakfast, Dave Mackay Suite, Pride Park Stadium, Derby 8am to 9.30am For more details visit www.cooperparry.com
Wednesday 16th December – Lunch with the IoD Director General, Miles Templeman, 12.30pm, Derby County Football Club, Pride Park Stadium, Derby DE24 8XL More information and booking details at www.iod.com
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Who are the Institute of Leadership and Management?
I am delighted to have recently achieved a Fellowship with the Institute of Leadership and Management and am proud to now also add the designatory letters FInstLM after my name.
After telling a few business colleagues about this great news and gauging their responses, I began to wonder how many people out there in the business world are actually aware of the ILM and what they are all about? The ILM first came to my notice one Sunday morning when they were commenting on a business leadership issue on the BBC News; so even if I was not previously aware of them, the BBC most certainly was (along with their almost 120,000 members).
In their own words, “The Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) supports, develops and informs leaders and managers at every stage of their careers. Through our broad range of industry-leading qualifications, membership services and learning resources, ILM provides flexible development solutions that can be blended to meet the specific needs of employers and management professionals”.
The levels of ILM membership is: -
Affiliate (AInstLM)
This grade is for you if you have a management related qualification at level 2 or at least 10 days’ CPD in the last 3 years or if you’re a newly appointed manager with less than 3 years’ experience or if you’re hoping to become a manager and you have a development plan.
Associate Member (AMInstLM)
If you have at least 5 years’ management experience OR a management-related qualification at level 3 or above or at least 20 days’ CPD within the last 5 years, this is the grade for you.
Member (MInstLM)
ILM’s most popular membership grade is for you if you have at least 5 years’ management experience AND a management-related qualification at level 3 or above or at least 20 days’ CPD within the last 5 years.
Fellow (FInstLM)
This most prestigious membership grade is reserved for those who have at least 7 years’ management experience including 5 years as a senior manager AND a qualification at degree level (level 5) or above or at least 35 days’ CPD within the last 7 years.
If you don't yet know who the Institute of Leadership and Management are, then perhaps you should find out. You can check out their website at www.i-l-m.com or email membership@i-l-m.com or call them on 01543 266886.
And once you have found out who they are, remember where you heard it first!!!
After telling a few business colleagues about this great news and gauging their responses, I began to wonder how many people out there in the business world are actually aware of the ILM and what they are all about? The ILM first came to my notice one Sunday morning when they were commenting on a business leadership issue on the BBC News; so even if I was not previously aware of them, the BBC most certainly was (along with their almost 120,000 members).
In their own words, “The Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) supports, develops and informs leaders and managers at every stage of their careers. Through our broad range of industry-leading qualifications, membership services and learning resources, ILM provides flexible development solutions that can be blended to meet the specific needs of employers and management professionals”.
The levels of ILM membership is: -
Affiliate (AInstLM)
This grade is for you if you have a management related qualification at level 2 or at least 10 days’ CPD in the last 3 years or if you’re a newly appointed manager with less than 3 years’ experience or if you’re hoping to become a manager and you have a development plan.
Associate Member (AMInstLM)
If you have at least 5 years’ management experience OR a management-related qualification at level 3 or above or at least 20 days’ CPD within the last 5 years, this is the grade for you.
Member (MInstLM)
ILM’s most popular membership grade is for you if you have at least 5 years’ management experience AND a management-related qualification at level 3 or above or at least 20 days’ CPD within the last 5 years.
Fellow (FInstLM)
This most prestigious membership grade is reserved for those who have at least 7 years’ management experience including 5 years as a senior manager AND a qualification at degree level (level 5) or above or at least 35 days’ CPD within the last 7 years.
If you don't yet know who the Institute of Leadership and Management are, then perhaps you should find out. You can check out their website at www.i-l-m.com or email membership@i-l-m.com or call them on 01543 266886.
And once you have found out who they are, remember where you heard it first!!!
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