From news on the Charity Commissioner Chair to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, catch up with what’s been going on over April. Click here to give this NCVO article a read.

The Centre for Ageing Better and Get Yourself Active have launched a publicly accessible collection of 300+ free photos depicting older and Disabled people getting active!

Ageing Better created the age-positive image library as a way of showing ‘positive and realistic’ images of people aged 50 and over. The library provides an alternative to commonly used pictures, which are often offensive and unrepresentative.

Ageing Better is urging the public to use these new photos to challenge negative stereotypes. Find out more.

The past few years has affected every business in so many ways. Any business can be prone to tough times but how do you survive those difficult times and whether through the storm post Covid 19? It is crucial to ‘be prepared’ just like the boy scouts would say.

So what steps can you take to be prepared as a business.

Below are ten useful tips that have proven useful to many businesses in these extraordinary times.

1) Cash Flow Management

Making sure your customers are invoiced regularly and promptly is key to maintaining a healthy cash flow. Needless to say it is vital to chase up all late payments to ensure credit terms are not exceeded. Similarly, expenses have to be kept in check to avoid unnecessary spending. A good bookkeeping/accounting system should be in place to keep track of both income and expenditure

2) Credit Control

All credit customers must be credit checked to avoid bad debts and high-risk customers. If their business fails it will most definitely affect yours. The same goes for suppliers as well. You need reliable suppliers to avoid letting down your own customers.

3) Cutting Costs

Look for areas of wastage in the office such as paper usage and consider going paperless or by using cloud solutions. Also review energy consumption, internet and telephone providers. Is it possible to switch to a cheaper provider without losing quality? 

Staffing costs can also be reviewed to increase efficiency or promote working from home, part-timing and flexi-working. All these could reduce costs in the long run.

4) Marketing Strategy

There is a temptation to cut down on marketing during difficult times but the truth is there is a lot of competition out there. You cannot therefore afford to cut-down on marketing but you can consider switching to a more effective marketing system that best suits your business.

5) It is good to talk                                                

In difficult times, the temptation is to keep mute and under the radar. The reality is you must keep in touch with your bank, suppliers, customers and employees. They can help you identify problems before they arise, and also help them feel confident in your business. It is good to talk.

6) Get Online Get Noticed

It goes without saying that a business with no internet presence is planning its own funeral. The internet can be an inexpensive way of advertising your company. Websites, twitter, Facebook, monthly newsletters, WhatsApp, Instagram can all help promote your business. Keep them updated and you could be in for a pleasant surprise!

7) Pricing

A regular review of your pricing to make it more competitive can help you maximise your profits and stay competitive.

8) Spend wisely

Avoid the temptation to buy on impulse things that you probably do not need or may never use in your business. Sometimes what you have currently can do the job just as well. Leasing equipment can be a useful way of buying new without splashing out too much. Besides the costs are all tax deductible.

9) Expand Your Customer/Supplier Base

It is always a good idea not to put all your eggs in one basket. Make sure that as with a wider customer base, you also have a range of suppliers. That way you are not vulnerable to the whims of a particular supplier or customer for that matter.

10) Don’t Wait, get assistance now

Finally, don’t wait until things have reached a crisis point. At times like this you need an ally that can help with planning and putting the right structure in place.

We at Maisanda & Co Chartered Management Accountants are ready and willing  to work with you and your business to identify any areas of concern for effective resolution and regular monitoring. We specialize in SMEs and have a vibrant team based in Sobus, Freston Road Hub, Kensington.

Please feel free to contact us for all your accounting, payroll, tax and business advisory needs.

Article written by: Ily Maisanda ACA, ACMA, CGMA, M.Sc. CEO, Maisanda & Co

ily@maisanda.com

Tel: 02089613888

You will be able to download lots of free business advice and subscribe to our monthly newsletter from our website.

https://www.maisanda.com

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The Charity Commission says charities need their governing documents to permit them to hold official meetings remotely.

Since April 2020, the regulator has allowed charities in England and Wales to hold meetings remotely outside of what was permitted in their official documents because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But the commission has updated its online guidance for charities on Covid-19 to say that charity meetings such as AGMs, member or trustee meetings must be held in person unless the organisation’s governing documents permit otherwise.

All registered charities will need to ensure that their governing documents permit them to hold official meetings remotely if they wish to continue doing so after 22nd April 2022.  

H&F registered charities are strongly encouraged to check their governance document to see whether it includes that meetings can be held remotely.  

 

Paul Latham, director of communications and policy at the Charity Commission, said: “We’ve taken a flexible and supportive approach to regulation during the pandemic, being understanding when charities have had to hold meetings outside of the terms of their governing document.

“As restrictions have been lifted it’s right that charities return to meeting the requirements of their governing document or making the necessary changes to allow them to hold meetings in the way that works best for them.”

Submitting returns to the Charities Commission:

The regulator said it also wanted to remind charities that they no longer had an automatic right to apply for a Covid-related filing extension for annual documents, which was introduced during the pandemic.

The ability for charities to do this was removed last year, meaning charities must again submit their annual returns within 10 months of the end of the financial year, but the commission said it was still receiving applications from charities for such extensions.

Nadine Dorries, Culture Secretary, has named Orlando Fraser as the government’s preferred candidate to be the next chair of the Charity Commission. Click here to read the full article on the Civil Society website.