Tag: Dorset

Leasing a battery electric vehicle (BEV) is cheaper than funding a new vehicle on personal contract purchase (PCP), new research suggests.

Leasing.com analysed pricing data for its 15 most popular BEVs and found that leasing was the most cost-effective option on 13 vehicles. Just the Renault Zoe and Jaguar I-Pace were cheaper using PCP.

The highest cost difference was 31% for an Audi E-Tron, with the average difference in cost being 18%.

David Timmis, managing director of Leasing.com, says that one of the most important challenges the industry faces, with the greater shift towards EVs, is making them affordable.

“Without this, the market simply won’t shift quick enough,” he explained. “Thankfully, leasing provides consumers an alternative route to driving an EV that won’t break the bank and, in fact, will save them money compared to PCP – the current most popular new car finance product in the UK.”

The Finance and Leasing Association (FLA) reported that the value of new car personal leasing grew 27% in the 12-months to January 2021.

Toby Poston, director of corporate affairs at the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), said: “Leasing is the perfect way to finance a new BEV.

“With so much economic uncertainty and technology changing so fast, it is not surprising that more and more people are using this fixed cost, affordable and hassle-free method to fund their leap to electric motoring.”

Leasing.com’s analysis shows that the Tesla Model 3 has a list price of £42,935, however, when leased over four years, the total cost comes in at £25,445.77.

Compare that against a PCP cost of £30,384, and leasing will save drivers 19% over the life of the contract, it says.

The largest saving overall was found when comparing costs for an Audi E-Tron. On PCP, the Audi has a total cost of £43,420.14 at the end of a 48-month contract.

On lease, the same make and model comes in at a total cost of £34,311.50. A total saving of £9,108.64, it says.

Leasing.com compares personal and business car leasing offers from brokers, dealers, motor manufacturers and independent funders.

Battery Electric Vehicle Cost Comparisons: Lease (PCH) vs Finance (PCP)

Identical term and mileage allowances

Source: Leasing.com supplied by FBN Member Andrew Garaway from Dorset Car Leasing

It dawned on us a week or so ago at Dorset Car Leasing, after attending an online training session that there is still a great deal of confusion out there about electric cars, so here is a blog which you may find interesting.

Like it or not, we will all be driving electric cars/vehicles in the not too distant future. 2030 is only nine years away now and the Government has made it very clear to manufacturers what they need to do.

An Electric Vehicle (EV) is deemed to be a vehicle that you can charge externally. Here is a brief outline of the most common types currently available:

· Pure electric cars (known as BEV’s – battery electric vehicles) where the battery is the only power source. (An example of these are – Nissan LEAF, BMW i3, Volkswagen ID3, Tesla, Jaguar i-Pace, Polestar 2, etc).

· Plug-in hybrid (known as PHEV’s – plugin hybrid electric vehicles) whereby they have a battery and internal combustion engine (ICE) with a motor and/or engine providing drive. (An example of these are – Mitsubishi Outlander, BMW 330e, Hyundai Ioniq, Volkswagen Golf GTE, Mercedes A250e, etc).

So, what’s the difference in cost to run compared to a conventional car?

Below are average figures to provide a rough idea of the difference in costs based on pence per mile:

· Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) – 16p

· Plug in Hybrid (PHEV) – 11p

· Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) – 3p

What about charging and how long does it take?

This in one of the questions we get asked the most. Many people are opting to have a home charging unit installed. In our opinion this is a great idea, especially as it is still possible to take advantage of the government grants available. Depending on what type of home charger you go for will determine the cost and how quickly it will charge the car.

For example, a 3.6kW (kilowatt) charger will cost circa £449 (inc VAT and installed) and would fully charge a Volkswagen e-Golf in under 10 hours. A 7kW charger is circa £529 and would charge the same car in under 6 hours. (Please be aware this is just an example and different cars will take different lengths of time to charge).

Some of the fast chargers available at supermarkets, shopping centres and fuel stations could charge an e-Golf to 80% of its capacity within circa 30 minutes. A client of ours who has recently taken delivery of an e-Golf has been charging his car at his local Tesco whilst he does the weekly shopping and has not needed to charge it anywhere else since taking delivery 4 months ago! And the best bit is that there is no charge to do this at Tesco!

Government grants are also available for workplace charging points and a great deal of information (for both private and businesses) can be found here – https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-grants-for-low-emission-vehicles

How can I find out where the charging points are in case I need one when I’m out and about?

There are now 6,382 more devices at 4,087 more locations than this time last year and this will continue to grow significantly over the next few years.

One of the best websites for finding out what is near to you or how you can plan a route if you are going on a journey is www.zap-map.com

It is worth taking a look, you’ll probably be surprised what is just around the corner!

So how far will an electric car travel on a full charge?

There is a phrase known as Range Anxiety – ‘the fear that a vehicle has insufficient range to reach its destination leaving the occupants stranded’.

This is by far the discussions we have the most with our clients and in some circumstances can mean the difference between establishing if an EV is the right vehicle to go for or not. One thing is for sure, EV’s travel a lot further now than they did just a few years ago and the rate at which the technology is moving forward is staggering.

Below are examples of some of the ranges achievable from a variety of different manufacturers:

· BMW i3 – 193 miles

· Hyundai Kona 64kWh – 299 miles

· Mercedes EQC – 259 miles

· Nissan LEAF 3.ZERO e+ – 239 miles

· Peugeot e-208 – 217 miles

· Tesla Model 3 (Long Range) – 348 miles

· Vauxhall Corsa-e – 209 miles

· Volkswagen e-Golf – 144 miles

· Volkswagen ID.3 – 205 miles

· Volvo XC40 Recharge – 250 miles

As you can see there is a big variation in the distances covered, but for most people, there is now an EV available which is suitable and worthy of consideration.

Many forget an EV does not need to be fully charged. Many users “top up” the charge to 80% as this is quick and gives them a sensible working daily distance.

To give you an idea of the growth in registrations of EV’s, in 2013 there were 6,000 on our roads, in 2018 this number grew to 195,000 and by 2023 it is predicted there will be over 1 million.

Are electric cars a good idea for company car drivers?

Potentially, yes, very much so.

The government is very keen to get more and more people into zero emission cars as quickly as possible. One way to encourage people is to make EV’s as tax efficient as possible, therefore, from this current tax year, the company car tax payable for a car which has zero emissions is zero. Yes, you have read that correctly, no matter whether you are a lower or higher rate taxpayer, you will not pay any tax for having a company car if it is pure electric! Even if it is a Hybrid car the tax is very low compared to a petrol or diesel engine car.

There is also a great benefit to the employer as there is no Class 1a National Insurance payable either.

You may be thinking the tax payable will go up in the future which is a fair assumption, but, the government has confirmed the tax payable will only rise to 1% (of the cars P11d value) for the next tax year, 2% for the following tax year and will remain unchanged until 2025.

We have clients of ours who have seen this low rate tax as a way of potentially giving their valued employees a pay rise (by replacing their ‘normal’ car) without actually giving them a pay rise as their net income can increase significantly per month.

What about the cost of an EV, I hear they are very expensive?

Most electric cars are still benefitting from the government grant of £3,000 off the list price and many of the EV’s we supply funded via a leasing contract are now significantly better priced than they were a couple of years ago.

You also need to factor in the fuel savings available. You will recall the client of ours I mentioned previously who has been charging his e-Golf at Tesco for free – he used to spend circa £120 per month on fuel! They also do not need to be serviced as often as a conventional car which is therefore another potential saving. Our industry calls it whole life costs, and all these factors are essential to consider before disregarding the EV option.

Many of our clients have been pleasantly surprised by how well priced EV’s are when factoring in all these considerations and the relatively low leasing payments.

Summary

Hopefully, you have learnt a bit more about electric cars having read this blog. Please be aware this has been written to provide a brief overview and there are a lot of considerations before committing to an EV, but we all need to be thinking about it whether we make the change now or in say 5 years time.

We would love to help and would welcome the opportunity to discuss any vehicle procurement requirements you may have.

We have a great deal of experience in this field and have supplied many local companies with EV’s over the past few years having spent a great deal of time ensuring they fully understand how they can work for them both now and in the future.

Even if you are just ‘dipping your toe in the water’ when it comes to EV’s, please feel free to give us a call here at Dorset Car Leasing on 01202 821354 or e-mail hello@dorsetcarleasing.uk

Our readers are incredibly proud and passionate about where they live. Our local magazines offer a sense of community and serve as an important ‘hub’ where locals can learn about their surroundings… including your products and services!

Do not fall for the myth that ‘print’ is dead. In an age where the online space has a sea of digital ads, your local magazine has far less competition. Thus enabling you to stand out from the crowd!

Web surfers have become weary of clicking on banner ads. Even if they are enticing, they feel there is a lack of security online. With our print magazines the consumer has nothing to fear. This makes your audience more receptive to your message!

While digital ads come and go, print ads have staying power! Our magazines are read countless times. Your advert can be strategically placed to maximise your promotion! Our magazines are placed directly in the hands of your local consumer through door to door distribution. They are also available at large retail outlets with high foot traffic!

Advertising in reputable local magazines like ours allows local people to become familiar with your business. In the long run this encourages brand loyalty and recommendation to others!

Our local magazines are valued and respected publications that build a sense of community among local consumers. As an advertiser, you benefit from this credibility as your ads become much more than ‘just an ad’, they become recommendations from a trusted source.

Did you know that the average reader only spends 15 seconds on a website before moving on? People interact differently with our print magazines, they take their time and linger. This means they fully interact with our content including your ad!

Interested in Promoting your business. Contact FBN member Dorset Publications to answer any other questions you have! Tel Debbie: 01202 894397

One of the main benefits of using us (Dorset Car/Van Leasing) is that unlike dealerships we are fully independent; which means we can supply and advise on any make and model of car or van. 

This not only allows us to offer independent advice based on our years of knowledge within the industry, but we also have access to the best stock available at the best prices from the funders we have available to us.

We can do all the hard work for you; we’ll discuss your requirements both now and for the future to ensure you have the most suitable vehicle(s) for your needs. It saves you having to endlessly search through comparison sites and running back and forth from dealerships.

We are members of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) and therefore adhere to the mandatory Code of Conduct which is there to ensure you benefit from the highest standards of service, fair terms and conditions as well as transparent and accurate information.

We genuinely care about our local reputation and providing the best levels of service to our customers. Much of the feedback we receive, is along the lines of how pleased our clients have been, when we have challenged their initial thoughts on a vehicle they were enquiring about. 

Quite often we sourced a more appropriate vehicle (which they did not initially think about), or a different model within the range which generated a financial saving. 

Alternatively, we can of course, just act on your original instruction and probably still find you the best deal. 

Even if you have already been in to a local dealership and chosen your vehicle, it’s worth giving us a quick call as the chances are we could improve on what you have been offered. 

On the rare occasion that this is not the case, at least you will have benefitted from ‘another pair of eyes’ and if the deal you have been offered can’t be bettered, we’ll not hesitate to tell you.

Please contact FBN member Dorset Car/Van Leasing by phone or e-mail and we will be pleased to chat, discuss your requirements and offer our knowledge to ensure you end up with the most suitable vehicle for your needs.

Email: andrew@dorsetcarleasing.uk

Call: 01202 821354

www.dorsetcarleasing.uk

Back in the year 2000 when we were all told planes would fall out of the skies and our PC’s would pack up and never work again, diesel-engined cars accounted for just 14.1% of the new car market. By 2011, this figure had increased to 50.6%.

One of the main reasons for this rise in popularity was the introduction of Benefit in Kind for company car drivers in 2002, who, at the time were encouraged to choose lower emission cars which diesels were. The change in taxation regime also led to many engineering advances which led to a reduction is CO2 emissions from an average of 181 g/km in 2000 to 120.1 g/km in 2016.

The landscape changed for diesels in 2015 though when reports of air quality concerns started hitting the headlines and what became known as ‘Dieselgate’ led to manufacturers selling 38% fewer diesel cars by the end of 2018 than at their peak. NOx became the new CO2 and we started to see the introduction of Clean Air Zones, increases in Vehicle Excise Duty and supplements to Company Car Tax.

A recent Government statement read ‘cleaner diesel cars and vans can play an important part in reducing CO2 emissions from road transport during the transition to zero-emission vehicles’.

With the introduction of the new emissions testing regime known as The Real Driving Emissions (RDE) test, future vehicles will be tested more rigorously to measure pollutants such as NOx, emitted by cars on the road.

With more and more engineering developments we are starting to see manufacturers produce diesel engine cars which are scoring maximum points for the Green NCAP Clean Air Index, the same as electric vehicles. Whilst electric vehicles produce no pollutant emissions, we are beginning to see diesel engine cars, with proper calibration and effective after treatment, can deliver extremely low pollutant emissions.

In recent test carried out by a German automobile club, one of the diesel vehicles tested did not emit any NOx emissions at all which demonstrates how quickly the engineers are developing clean diesel engines.

Might Diesel cars still be a good choice for company car drivers?

Maybe. The latest RDE2 compliant diesel cars are exempt from the 4% diesel Benefit in Kind (BiK) surcharge which comes into effect from April 2020, meaning they are charged at the same rate as a petrol engine powered car with the same CO2 emissions. Some manufacturers are even producing plug-in hybrid diesels which not only are very fuel efficient, but also benefit from an incredibly low BiK rate.

Neil Carlton, Director of Poole based dorsetcarleasing.uk said ‘over the past couple of years there has been great confusion when it comes to the real situation regarding petrol versus diesel cars. We have had situations whereby companies have switched from diesel cars into petrol equivalents and reported a significant drop in MPG which has pushed their and their employee’s fuel spend up by around 15-20%. We strongly recommend that any future car changes are considered very carefully, and proper advice should be sought’.

Ferndown Business Network Members Neil Carlton and his business partner Andrew Garaway can be contacted via www.dorsetcarleasing.uk or by calling 01202 821354

We’ve announced a number of immediate changes to our support services in response to the coronavirus pandemic. We’re working hard to introduce new services so we can continue to be there for as many people as we can who need support. 

With immediate effect:

• Our four support centres in Chandler’s Ford, Bournemouth, Hythe (Waterside) and Newport, Isle of Wight, will close for drop ins on Friday 20 March
• All support groups have been paused, including MENTalk and the Sing for Life choirs
• Patient transport on our Daisy Buses for people arriving from the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands for hospital treatment at Southampton General Hospital and Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, will keep running with increased precautions

We’ve set up a Facebook group for anyone who needs support. You can request to join here. We’re also in the process of introducing online and telephone support for anyone living with cancer. This will include videos and helpful advice, online streaming of classes and meditation and telephone counselling. We’ll release more information as soon as these services become available. 

We’ve also halved the price of our ‘This Is Me’ journal which has been designed to help you find a way through cancer that works for you personally. Copies are now £7.50 and can be ordered here. 

Cait Allen, our CEO, says:

 

If you have cancer you might be particularly worried about how coronavirus affects you. The most important thing is to follow the advice of your healthcare team. Because people with cancer may be at a higher risk of infection, we’re going to be constantly reviewing and evolving our services to protect the people who rely on us for support, whilst still being there for them as much as we can. It’s understandable that if you’ve got cancer you might be feeling particularly anxious at this time and we’re going to be introducing a number of new things in the coming days and weeks to ensure as many people as possible continue to get help. 

Regular updates will be on our website. 

Please follow official Government and NHS sites for the latest official advice about coronavirus.  

Your immune system is very important. It recognises every cell of your body and helps to fight infection and illness. The immune system can be divided up into two parts: innate response and acquired response. The innate response is the part that decides whether something is friend or foe, and if it decides on foe, it tries to flush out the invader.

Maintaining a healthy immune system is really important in keeping us all healthy, and the best method for supporting it is through regular exercise and eating a healthy diet to ensure your body is getting all the vitamins and minerals it needs. Certain vitamins and minerals contribute to the normal function of the immune system, including copper, folate, iron, selenium, vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc. Some will be more helpful here than others, but that’s why a balanced diet is the best option here, as you’ll get a bit of everything.

Support your healthy lifestyle

We believe that good health begins with good nutrition. The cleansing and purifying nature of Forever’s Aloe gel drinks make them the perfect addition for anyone looking to give their diet a little something extra, and their range of nutritional supplements incorporates nature’s most beneficial vitamins and minerals to help you to promote a healthy lifestyle and support your body’s defences.

Forever Aloe Vera Drinking Gel is as close to the real thing as you can get, boasting 99.7% inner leaf aloe gel, lovingly extracted by hand so that you can experience the true power of nature. Aloe is great for skin, the immune system and it’s an ideal digestive aid, and now this purifying gel also contains vitamin C, which also contributes to the normal function of the immune system. The drinking gels are also available in a variety of flavours so there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Taking vitamin C daily has long been associated with good health, but the human body doesn’t naturally store the vitamin meaning it must be consumed via food, drink and supplements. Forever’s Absorbent-C is bonded with oat bran, a highly soluble fibre, for gradual absorption, and provides 100% of the UK’s RDA of vitamin C, which contributes to the normal function of the immune system. Forever Immublend also helps to support a healthy lifestyle, and is high in vitamins C, D and zinc; which all contribute to the normal function of the immune system.

Men and women require different nutrients and vitamins in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and Forever’s Vitolize for Men, and for Women are designed with those needs in mind. Forever’s Vitolize for Women is high in vitamins D, E, C, B6, B12, folic acid and iron, and Vitolize for Men is high in vitamins D, E, C, B6 and zinc, all of which contribute to the normal function of the immune system. And to make sure your children are getting all the nutrients they need each day, give them Forever Kids. These fun, delicious, chewable multi-vitamins provide children with the nutrients needed each day, including vitamin A, C, D and B12, calcium, iron and zinc. They contain no aspartame, no artificial colours or preservatives, and adults will love them too! Forever Kids is high in vitamins A, D, C, B6 and B12, as well as folic acid and zinc, which all contribute to the normal function of the immune system.

BUY NOW at http://www.wessex-aloe.com or call Ferndown Business Network member ‘Dr’ Peter on 07947 685785

Repeated handwashing can take a toll on your skin if your chosen soap uses harsh surfactants and strips your hands of moisture.

Thankfully, Forever has found a way to actually soften your hands while washing them.  Formulated from 100% stabilized Aloe Vera gel and natural cleansers, the gentle formula in Forever’s ALOE HAND SOAP (Code 523 Price £14.83) cleans your hands whilst also leaving them feeling soft and hydrated.

BUY NOW at http://www.wessex-aloe.com or call Ferndown Business Network member ‘Dr’ Peter on 07947 685785

Protecting your inheritance for future generations is commonly referred to as ‘Bloodline Planning’.   Ensuring that your assets reach your children, grandchildren and other relatives, rather than other people.

Assets distributed to beneficiaries absolutely can be lost

When your assets are distributed to beneficiaries “absolutely”. They receive cash, property or other assets as a direct lump sum payment, so much of it can be lost. Your assets are then considered to be part of the beneficiary’s estate. Being at risk from any future divorce settlements, creditors and taxation.

Use Trusts to benefit your relatives

The use of Trusts can ensure that your children and grandchildren are able to benefit completely from the inheritance you want them to receive.  At the same time protect the family home and other assets from being lost to the costs of Long Term Care.

To find out more about Bloodline Planning please contact Ferndown Business Network David Booth at DB Consultancy on 07949 021118. Email david@dmsuk.info or let’s speak via FaceTime or Skype: theoxfordwillco_1

Many of us consider our gut to be simply an automated food processing system that, at best, does little more than digest our food and at worst, is the source of discomfort and illness. But have you ever considered that your intestine is your largest organ? Its average length is greater than the width of a tennis court and its surface area is approximately 200 times the surface area of your skin. So why is our gut health so important? There is increasing emerging evidence that the size and complexity of our gut plays a vital role in more than just nutrient absorption; it’s also connected to our immune system, mental health and general wellbeing. 

Nutrient absorption – we are what we absorb, not just what we eat  

Taking the food we eat and processing it so that we can absorb and utilise the nutrients is the most obvious role of our gut. Having been broken down by the acidic stomach, the majority of nutrient absorption takes place in our small intestine, but this absorption varies between 10-90% depending upon the health of our intestine.  

Three ways to increase nutrient absorption:  

• Drink a glass of water 30 minutes before each meal. This will prime the digestive system
• Chew your food for longer. This will boost the digestion process and food will taste better
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol whilst eating 

The gut-brain axis – your gut instinct  

Our gut contains a network of neurones equivalent in complexity and size to the brain of a cat, and we all know how intelligent cats are! This neural-network, known as the ‘Enteric Nervous System’, not only controls digestion but it also connects directly to our brainstem to provide two-way communication with the unconscious part of our inbuilt master computer. One of the key messengers in this network is serotonin. In the brain, this messenger is well known for producing feelings of positive wellbeing and happiness, yet approximately 90% of the body’s serotonin is made in the digestive tract.  

This ‘second brain’ in our gut determines not just our digestive health, but it also affects our mood and even the way we think and therefore behave. Maybe our ‘gut instinct’ has a more rational basis than we previously realised!  

The immune system – battling the bugs  

The immune system is our body’s natural defence force. Ready, armed and willing to attack any foreign invaders, the immune cells are housed in our lymphoid tissue. Examples include our lymph nodes and spleen, but 70% of lymphoid is in our intestine which makes it the body’s largest immune organ.  

Our micro-biome – the good, the bad and the ugly  

We now understand that our gut factory is not fully automated, it actually houses a huge workforce! Bacteria are often considered the bad boys of biology causing infection, disease and illness, and whilst for some bacterial strains this is true, there are many other bacterial strains that are vitally important for us to survive. They co-habit in our bodies, living and working in our large intestine – the micro-biome.  

There are over 40 trillion bacteria in our gut, making up 1-3% of our body weight and in fact, there is more bacterial genetic material in our gut than there are human genes in our body! These good bacteria support our immune, gut-brain axis and digestive system in many ways, including producing enzymes, vitamins and hormones we cannot make, and enhancing the absorption of certain minerals. Ensuring we cultivate our good gut bacteria, encouraging their growth and productivity is essential to our overall health and wellbeing.  

Three steps to boost your micro-biome: 

• Exercise regularly 
• Vary your diet with lots of nutrient dense vegetables and berries 
• Avoid refined sugar and processed food. 

Making the right choices on a daily basis to promote good gut health will not only improve your digestive health but it will also support your immune system and mental health. Optimal intestinal health truly is the key to good general wellbeing. 

Further information can be obtained from Ferndown Business Network member ‘Dr’ Peter on 07947 685785 or peter@wessex-aloe.com  or via his website www.wessex-aloe.com  

Choose your distance and get sponsored to run, cycle or swim for Ferndown Business Network member Wessex Cancer Trust this May!

Whether you choose to tackle 5km or 500km, it’s all about getting active and moving more in May. It’s completely up to you how you decide to move it! So whether you’re a dancing queen or tai chi makes you happy, there are loads of ways to get moving and raise money for local families affected by cancer.

Raising just £100 could pay for a month’s supply of the products needed to provide the complementary therapies that we offer in our Cancer Support Centres. Raising £400 could fund a 10 session one to one support package, tailored to the individual, to help manage the emotional impact of cancer.

Sign up to make a difference to families affected by cancer in Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight!

Find out more at: https://www.wessexcancer.org.uk/Event/move-it-may-2020

People put off making a Will for a variety of reasons, either believing that those they would wish to inherit will automatically do so, or because they don’t think it is relevant to them at this particular time.

Life can change immediately

The reality is that life can change immediately, with no warning.  The result being you put off making a Will until it’s too late, creating a complicated situation for the people left behind.  It could mean that some or all of your inheritance either goes to the wrong person or to the state.

Everyone needs a Will

Everyone needs to make a Will, in particular anyone with dependants. Anyone who owns a property or has any type of asset which you would wish relatives, friends or charities to benefit from should also make a Will.

Plan what will happen to your estate

Making a Will enables you to plan exactly what will happen to your property (estate) following your demise. This ensures that those you would like to benefit actually do so in accordance with your wishes and at the same time avoiding any disputes between relatives.

Get some advice

For help and advice on creating a Will please contact Ferndown Business Network David Booth at DB Consultancy on 07949 021118. Email david@dmsuk.info or let’s speak via FaceTime or Skype: theoxfordwillco_1

The first month of 2020 has almost been and gone ….are you all sorted with your staffs’ holiday entitlements for the year?

Here’s some advice and guidance from Ferndown Business Network member, Just Ask Juli

When staff primarily worked Monday – Friday 9am-5pm it was all very straight forward; now however with more and more people working over the weekends, on part time contracts or working compressed working weeks things have gotten a bit more complicated.

It’s our legal requirement as employers to make sure that all our staff receive their statuary minimum holiday entitlement and to make sure that bank holidays are calculated in a fair and consistent manner. Be very careful if your team are primarily part time and you just give them the day off when a bank holiday occurs; you may well be giving more holiday than they are entitled to (which makes you a great boss) or more importantly you may not be giving enough (which makes you an illegal boss)!

So some tips if your work force works differing hours:-

• when calculating holiday entitlement switch from “days” to “ hours”

• make sure its very clear in their contracts as to whether their holiday entitlement includes or excludes bank holidays (note there is a legal minimum that must be observed)

• show clearly on their holiday forms how you’ve calculated their entitlement. Its often useful to show the bank holiday entitlement as a separate figure

• and finally .. remember this year a standard Monday bank holiday has been moved to a Friday so a different calculation may be necessary for some of your team

The HMRC website gives lots of help and useful tools https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights

Need some help? Just Ask Juli!