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Business
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Getting life back on track
UK adults are taking life milestones more seriously than ever following 12 months of restrictions.
It’s now just over a year since Boris put the UK in full national lockdown (23rd March 2020). Although it might feel like the world has been put on pause over the last 12 months, new data shows that only one in 昀ve UK adults had to put their personal goals or ambitions on hold as a result. Instead, most Brits have reassessed and changed their goals with the world around them (40%) or indeed have remained determined to follow their career, family or property dreams (31%). The research from St. James’s Place indicates that COVID-19 has meant Brits are taking their goals more seriously than before, with a quarter (25%) feeling anxious or worried, having lost a year of time working towards their long-term goals. However, a similar number (22%) also feel more focused, having used the last 12 months to reassess what’s important to them, and now know what they want – whether that be a new car, house, job, or even a baby. It comes as no surprise that the majority of adults valued family and relationships as the most important life focus pre-pandemic (74%), and this remains the same now (78%). However, 59% of Brits now hold personal health as ‘very important’, an increase of 13% from before the pandemic. Research reveals that people are focused on the positives that have come out of the last 12 months, such as being able to cook more (31%) and having more free time to exercise (25%).
Increased savings are a silver lining.
With hospitality venues, beauty and retail closed and travel abroad restricted over the last year, one in three adults (37%) have also been able to save more money, on average pocketing £1,660, although there is a big gap between men and women at £2,040 to £1,300. The biggest savers by age are 25-34 at £2,330, with the worst 45-54 at £840. A quarter of Brits now claim that having a 昀nancial goal is important to them, as a result of the pandemic. However, despite the in昀ux of cash, most Brits turn to family or friends for 昀nancial advice, particularly adults aged 18-24 (family: 61%, friends: 48%), as opposed to a 昀nancial adviser (22%).
Seize the opportunity.
If you’re a member of that fortunate group who saved more during the pandemic, now’s the time to take action. With potential tax hikes on the horizon it’s worth making effective use of the shelters that are available for your money, and checking you won’t pay unnecessary tax on any future pro昀ts. If you’ve already got an ISA, consider whether it’s still aligned to your long-term goals. It’s more important than ever that you’ve got a retirement savings plan in place, your pension is working hard for you and that you know how much a comfortable retirement is going to cost.
Wherever you are on your 昀nancial journey, contact Peter Harding Wealth Management today for a no obligation meeting on 01747 855554 or email peterhardingwm@sjpp.co.uk. We are here to help. Just ask.
The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested. The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time. The value of any tax relief generally depends on individual circumstances. All statistics taken from research carried out by Research Without Barriers on behalf of St. James’s Place, sample size 1,026 UK adults, March 2021. Peter Harding Wealth Management is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products andservices, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. Peter Harding Wealth Management is a trading name of Peter Harding Practice Ltd.
Hot foot it to a feast of fab footwear
By Karen Bate
newsdesk@blackmorevale.net After the passing of two very dear friends, Gillingham girl Sharon Chambers decided life was too short not to follow your dreams. So, with a love of shoes and all things retro, Sharon decided it was time to follow her own dream of owning a business. Born from a love of footwear and retro clothing, Sharon opened her own vibrant boutique Solesistas five years ago in Lincolnshire. A Gillingham girl at heart, Sharon decided to move back to her beloved Dorset and spotted the perfect property tucked away in Coachmans Corner at the end of 2019. Sharon moved back to Gillingham in February last year, and opened Solesistas for shoppers, shoe lovers and fashionistas everywhere. Sharon said: “After the passing of two very dear friends within days of one another, I decided life was too short not to follow my dream of owning my own little business. At the end of 2019, I returned to my home town of Gillingham and found an awesome little property tucked away in the Square Gillingham, which has many independent businesses. “I am a Gillingham girl who moved away, only to return with my boutique last February. I would love to let people know about this
HIDDEN GEM: Sharon Chambers at her Solesistas shop in Gillingham
hidden gem in Gillingham.” Solesistas offers a personal shopping evening event, by appointment only, for small groups of friends and Sharon offers a payment plan service for people who have fallen in love with Sharon’s colourful and quirky brands but want to spread the cost of a purchase or two. Sharon stocks a host of big brands including Irregular Choice, Ruby Shoo, Fly London, TUK and Hey Dude. And men and children are not left out as Sharon can order certain brands for them too. Solesistas is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday and once a month on Sunday. Sharon added: “If you want to buy footwear that makes a statement, come and see us at Solesistas.”
nSolesistas: 1, Coachmans Corner, Gillingham SP8 4AY facebook.com/solesistas10/ Engineering partnership is food and drink for thought
Somerset-based Sycamore Process Engineering has partnered with Alfa Laval to help reduce the carbon footprint of dairy, food and beverage process equipment across the UK and Ireland. The partnership aims to support process solutions that are more cost effective and greener, helping customers to achieve their sustainability goals It is the latest development in a series of collaborations between Sycamore and Alfa Laval, with the integration of a Clean-in-Place system at one of the largest dairies in the UK amongst the most recent projects. The system resulted in significant reductions in cleaning time and increased overall productivity on site. Using tools such as efficiency calculators and other innovative technologies, the partnership aims to deliver increased efficiency and designs across the UK and Ireland.
Business Community buildings getting connected
By Karen Bate
Some 60 community buildings across rural north Dorset will be connected to next generation, gigabitcapable broadband thanks to a Getting Building Fund allocation from Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Wessex Internet. Schools, community centres, a health centre, council depots, farms and adult social care residential homes from Blandford to Sherborne will be connected to world-class gigabit broadband by March 2022. Following a competitive tender process, Blandfordbased Wessex Internet has been awarded the contract to deliver full-fibre to these community buildings. Lorna Carver, Dorset LEP Director, said: “Digital connectivity has been instrumental in helping our communities during the covid-19 pandemic and will be vital in our recovery. “Our local industrial strategy for Dorset states that by 2030 we will lead a digital and cultural transformation across all communities and projects such as this will help fulfil that ambition. “This investment will bring much-needed improvement to broadband speeds in some of Dorset’s most rural areas, greatly benefitting the local economy.” Dorset Council’s deputy leader, Cllr Peter Wharf, said: “This will mean some of our most rural areas, that would never be covered commercially, will be able to access the next generation of gigabit capable broadband. “This is not only good news for the community organisations, all of which provide vital services, but also to the surrounding residents and business who will now have greater access to full-fibre infrastructure.” Building the network to these sites will bring many thousands of homes and businesses within reach of the new Wessex Internet network. Residents and businesses in these areas will be eligible for further subsidy through gigabit vouchers funded by Government, Dorset Council and the Dorset LEP to offset the costs of installing full-fibre. Hector Gibson Fleming,
managing director of Wessex Internet, added: “We’re delighted to have been awarded this contract from Dorset Council and Dorset LEP, not only to connect these important community sites, but to enable us to rapidly expand our network to the rural communities between Blandford and Sherborne, and connect more homes and businesses. “We’re passionate about upgrading connectivity in the countryside and have already connected dozens of Dorset villages and hamlets to full fibre broadband. “This will accelerate our work in this area and continue to expand our rapidly growing workforce in north Dorset.” Furniture firm helping low income households initiative
Mere-based Furniturebox UK is partnering with Wiltshire charity KFR to help the community – donating furniture for resale to lowincome families. The firm says they are ‘beyond excited’ about the initiative: “because no one should be without a bed to sleep on, a cooker or a sofa to sit on.” MD Monty George said: “Family and home are at the heart of Furniturebox UK. “It’s not just about ‘things’, it’s about having a place to feel comfortable, safe, and loved. That’s something we know is incredibly important to everyone, especially after the last year we’ve all had! “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to give back to our community since every family deserves to create a real home. By working with KFR we get to be part of something amazing and reduce our waste and carbon footprints in the process.” Kennet Furniture Project and Refurbiz merged to form KFR The Kennet Furniture Project in 1995, collecting unwanted furniture and selling it low cost. They also trained volunteers and worked to improve the environment. They help thousands of people a year rehome furniture and white goods. Those on a means-tested benefit qualify for KFR’s discounted green price. For those that just love to upcycle and reuse, there is the blue price, which is slightly higher.
Battens
Solicitors
Claiming against an uninsured or untraced Driver
Other driver uninsured or driven off but left you injured? You may still have a claim.
It’s the road user’s worst nightmare – you’re involved in an accident that isn’t your fault, only to find that the other driver isn’t insured or, worse, has driven off without providing their details.
This doesn’t however need to be the problem it may initially appear to be as it is in these circumstances that the Motor Insurer’s Bureau (‘MIB’) may step in. The MIB is a non-profit-making company set up by motor insurers. It enters into agreements with the UK Government in order to compensate victims of motor accidents in such circumstances. It is funded by contributions from every insurer that underwrites compulsory motor insurance; with The Road Traffic Act 1988 requiring these insurers be a member of the MIB and contribute to the funding.
The MIB also works with the police to identify uninsured drivers for prosecution, thereby working towards all our safety on the road, that being all victims of road traffic accidents who are not at fault, including pedestrians and cyclists.
Eligibility - If your claim is eligible and you follow the correct process (outlined below), compensation can be available for pain, suffering and loss of amenity caused by injuries sustained, financial losses suffered (for example a loss of earnings) and for the loss of or damage to any property involved in the accident, including a vehicle.
One of the most important things to remember in relation to eligibility is that a claim must be brought for personal injury, assuming that in most cases like this some sort of injury will have been caused, within 3 years of the date of accident. After this time it becomes “statute barred” and you will not be able to bring the claim. Process - In order to make a claim to the MIB, important steps need to be taken early on and without delay.
Firstly, if you are driving, always report the accident to the police. If another vehicle is involved and they do not provide their insurance details, this must be reported to the police within 24 hours. It is advisable to report the matter to the police within 24 hours in any event. You should also inform your own insurance company.
If you were not driving a vehicle, but were a pedestrian or cyclist, you should report the accident to the police immediately; any delay in these respects could affect your eligibility to make a claim.
Once eligibility has been established, a Claim Form can then be submitted to the MIB, setting out full details of the damage and injury suffered. It is important that this document is complete and accurate in order to ensure that the MIB gives your claim the careful consideration it deserves. Again, there are deadlines so it is important to act quickly.
The process will be different depending on whether the claim is against an uninsured driver or an untraced driver (i.e. a driver who has “hit and run”)- it is important that you follow the right process and understand how it all works so as to give yourself the best possible chance of having your claim accepted, accessing appropriate treatment or rehabilitation that might assist in your recovery and, ultimately, ending up with a fair sum of compensation for the experience that you have had to go through.
enquiries@battens.co.uk www.battens.co.uk Offices in: Yeovil, Sherborne, Castle Cary, Dorchester, Wareham, Bath and London
Battens personal injury team are able to assist you with the process, leaving you to just concentrate on getting better. For more information contact kate Golding on 01935 846072 or email kate.golding@battens.co.uk
0800 652 8373
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Business Lack of transparency gives me the pip
When I was a boy, I had a tape recorder with five buttons: play, stop, fast forward, fast backwards and record. We had a telephone; when calling long distance, pips sounded every three minutes. These devices were simple and provided price feedback. My 1958 Morris Minor had a speedometer and a fuel gauge, both of which provided feedback. Imagine trying to use a car without a speedometer; you would have no way of knowing if you were driving safely for the conditions, let alone observing the speed limit. Imagine using a car without a fuel gauge; you would have no idea how much fuel was left, or how much the journey was costing you based on fuel consumption. Now imagine a global industry where all leading manufacturers successfully lobbied the regulating authorities, so that they were not required to provide such feedback information to customers. Perhaps it beggars belief. No – that’s the present situation with the eight billion mobile phones in use across the world, because it’s vastly profitable for mobile companies to let customers run up charges, with no idea of what each call is costing. I propose that the UK should require all mobile phones to display three pieces of information on the screen throughout every call: price per minute, time so far, and cost so far. There should be appropriate sound signals at intervals. It should also continuously display any other charges such as roaming fees. During the covid lockdown, I have been working increasingly by Zoom, Teams, Skype, WhatsApp, FaceTime and various other methods. A contact in Romania can get FaceTime but has never heard of WhatsApp. Someone in Pennsylvania has the situation in reverse. Every system has its own separate displays, terminology, procedures, assumptions, rules and charge rates. It only takes one inadvertent misunderstanding on one of these new systems to get bitten with a big charge. There is no feedback to warn you. I suggest any budding entrepreneur in Dorset or Somerset who wants to become a multi-millionaire should write an app to display such information, lobby the UK government, and sell it to a target market of eight billion users around the world. OK, we might have to use our phones on speaker, so that we can look at the screen the whole time. But we would be saving ourselves a small fortune.
n Adrian Fisher MBE is an award winning maze designer in Durweston
Recruitment
Water, Waste Water & Civil Engineering Specialists require a Contracts Coordinator/Estimator
You will be based at the Company premises in Dinton, but must be prepared to travel for occasional national contracts if required. Your primary role will involve dealing with the day-to-day reactive aspect of our Water & Waste Water Division, dealing directly with our customers and organising our reactive teams on repair projects. You will be customer facing, have an excellent telephone manner and be able to thrive in a fast paced and constantly changing environment. Ideally you will have experience in estimating and managing water and pump projects as the role will involve visiting our customers, understand their systems and being able to design and estimate to their requirements. We are looking for a driven individual who works well under pressure, and is happy to work as part of a team as well as managing your own projects. You will have experience in the construction industry and understand current health & safety regulations (training leading to a formal SMSTS qualification will be provided if required). Applicants must hold a full driving licence. This is an exciting opportunity for an individual looking for a rewarding career with a well-established yet dynamic company. Completed application forms must be returned by Friday 28th May 2021
Please contact us for an application pack: Jules Simmons M J ABBOTT LTD, Bratch Lane, Dinton, Salisbury SP3 5EB Email: jules.simmons@mjabbott.co.uk www.mjabbott.co.uk
