A timely reminder that as from the 1st October 2011 the National Minimum Wage goes up. Please make sure you adjust your payroll for the new rates from tomorrow…
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- The main rate for workers aged 21 and over will increase to £6.08
- The 18-20 rate will increase to £4.98
- The 16-17 rate for workers above school leaving age but under 18 will increase to £3.68
- The apprentice rate, for apprentices under 19 or 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship will increase to £2.60
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There has been so much happening here over the last two months that I have let the regular posting commitment that I made slip a little.
I am currently writing a post about joined up thinking in business and in the public sector. I have seen so many examples of chaos that could so easily be avoided with a little forethought and system planning that I feel small businesses can learn from the disastrous confusion of many large organizations.
Anyway, more on this soon!
~Ray

I am a qualified Certified Practising Accountant having passed my final exams way back in 1981. I actually can’t believe that was 37 years ago!! Anyway, I am now in my 60’s and I have been running my own business since May 1983. And before you ask, no, I have never regretted a moment of it!
Part of the membership requirements of my professional body now dictate that I spend quite a lot of time on “CPD” - continuing professional education (one of their better ideas) - and over the last two years I decided to study business growth and marketing.
I have learnt such a lot and that knowledge has radically changed my old “accountants” approach to business. It has made such a difference to the way I work and operate I feel that I just have to pass on this knowledge. It is simply too powerful to hold back!! - but I will try and do it in simple terms rather than expecting you to spend hours, as I had to, working through the difficult language that trainers seem to use to pass on their concepts.
I hope you find the blog a useful resource and interesting place to visit as the months pass. I will do my best to keep up the flow - but if there are any topics you would like me to cover, then please let me know.
Ray Stewart