The report by the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) revealed that vast amounts of existing staff, and new employees, will lose out on the scheme because employers want to move staff onto cheaper retirement plans. The annual survey by NAPF showed that 17% of final-salary schemes had become unavailable to existing and new members of staff.
The record jump from previous surveys by NAPF, 7% in the 2009 survey and 3% in the 2010 survey, could mean that is the end of the line for the much-coveted pension scheme. The survey also revealed that a third of employers are planning to make changes to their final-salary scheme by shutting it down altogether or making cuts to benefits that had previously been guaranteed.
It seems that younger staff will be facing the biggest cuts in contributions from employers, as many older staff keep their guaranteed benefits. The NAPF believe that pension schemes have been under huge pressure to cut costs because of market returns and higher life expectancy.
The government has been criticised by unions for letting one of Britain’s most highly regarded private-pension system collapse. In a government review, Lord Hutton will tomorrow issue a report in public-sector retirement plans where he is expected to recommend a retirement age of 65 across the board.
It may come to a point where many employees, especially the younger members of staff, will not have the benefit of building up to a final-salary pension to ensure a good retirement. Contributions will have to be set at the highest level in order for the cheaper alternative retirement plans to provide the same financial security.
For more information, please visit www.glazers.co.uk
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( 3 / 161 )Is Prince Andrew the right man to be representing British business to the rest of the world?
Many have been asking this very question, even the government, who are currently reviewing the Duke of York’s role as special representative for UK Trade and Investment. This is due to the escalating media speculation over his links to controversial business figures.
Recent tabloid headlines have been particularly damaging to the Duke, in particular his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
It is important, of course, that the government does not upset the Royal family. They are currently devising ways to take some of the heat off the situation. However, a recent operation to save Prince Andrew’s reputation backfired after many tributes to a list of “company endorsements”, compiled by his private office to show his performance as special trade envoy, were four years old.
Downing Street has also attempted to dismiss reports that the government were about to downgrade the Duke’s role, with David Cameron’s spokesman stating that the Prime Minister had complete faith in the Duke. This also backfired after No 10 insiders made it clear that his position would become indefensible if more damaging details came out in the press.
Prince Andrew has long been a target of the British press. With having such a high profile role as a trade envoy it is vital that media speculation dies down or else the reputation of British business will be effected. With the UK’s current economic situation, damaging reports over Prince Andrew’s private dealings with various business figures is yet another hindrance.
For more information, please visit www.glazers.co.uk
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( 3 / 147 )Along with the continuous struggle to obtain credit from the UK banks, one of the biggest problems that confront small businesses is the number of regulations imposed by the public sector.
It seems private sector firms have at last gained much needed support from the most powerful political figure in the UK. Prime Minister David Cameron gave a speech at the Conservative Party spring conference in Cardiff where he vowed to personally confront civil servants and other “bureaucrats” who continue to impose needless regulations on private sector firms, with an aim to free businesses from unnecessary red tape.
In the speech, which the majority being devoted to Government promises to help the economy grow, the public sector and Whitehall officials were the targets of Mr Cameron’s confronting criticism, who he believes are “loading costs onto businesses”.
The Prime Minister declared that creating and running a profitable business in the UK is morally and socially right. Mr Cameron also stated that he would be watching UK banks closely to ensure that they are lending more to companies in the UK and changes are made to their business models.
The speech reflects the Coalition government’s frustrations towards the performance of public sector officials, and some ministers privately believe that civil servants stand in the way of their pro-growth policies.
The “enemies of enterprise” are set to be personally challenged by the Prime Minister who believes they are obstructing the path to economic growth by impeding private sector firms.
The speech was thought to be a scene setter for next month’s “Budget for Growth”. The strong words from Mr Cameron will hopefully be followed with strong actions. If this speech was setting the ground for the “Budget for Growth”, it does bring hope that there will be good news for small businesses.
For more information, please visit www.glazers.co.uk
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( 3 / 173 )Bank holidays - they all seem to come at once. Over the coming months we will barely be in the office, what with the Easter bank holiday followed by the Royal wedding national holiday and then the May Day bank holiday.
In a policy paper, the government have outlined the possible scrapping of the May Day bank holiday, replacing it with a bank holiday on St George’s Day in April or on Trafalgar Day in October.
The government believe either day would benefit UK tourism, with St George’s day beginning the tourism season early and Trafalgar Day extending it. It would also mean that bank holidays would be more staggered, and with the winter months having somewhat of a drought of national holidays, it may be a welcome move for businesses who can suffer from a sudden stream of holidays in spring. However, a change in national holidays could cause employers to be face with unwanted disruption, new regulations and red tape.
The government believe a “national day” should be created in favour of celebrating May Day, a celebration that dates back to 4th century, instead having St George’s Day on April 23rd in England and St David’s day in Wales on March 1st.
The possible May Day move has its critics, with the Trade Union Congress saying firms had built schedules around already established national holidays.
There had also been talks about UK clocks being brought into line with Europe’s with an idea for a “double summer time”. This would mean during winter, clocks would be an hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and then an hour further in the summer. It would mean lighter nights but much darker mornings. However, these guidelines were not included in the policy paper, which may have something to do with people in Scotland opposing the idea saying the move would see northern-most areas without daylight until 10am.
If the government begin to move national holidays it will mean that planned schedules within companies could be disrupted and more red tape will be created for employers. Something businesses continue to fight against.
For more information, please visit www.glazers.co.uk
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( 3 / 213 )In these desperate times there are many vulnerable people currently struggling with their personal finances. With news of rogue traders taking advantage of the financially vulnerable, the financial headache is set to get worse for many who have claimed to be a victim of unsolicited offers of debt management and loan services.
A charity has claimed that dishonest credit businesses are ripping people off by offering to find unsecured loans and then charging large upfront fees.
Citizens Advice claimed that people were initially contacted by the fraudsters via text message or a telephone call offering to find them an unsecured loan. After loans often failed to materialise, victims called to complain but were then charged a premium rate.
Citizens Advice has issued a ‘super-complaint’ (which can be made if an issue is “significantly harming the interests of the consumer”) to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) who now has 90 days to give a response. If the OFT decide there is sufficient evidence for a case, a full investigation will then take place.
The aim is to get the OFT to ban cold-calling by credit and debt management companies and for an end for the demand of up-front fees.
The charity said they had received complaints from people in England, Wales and Scotland, who after paying large up-front fees, then received little or no service in return. After making calls to the companies to complain, they were then faced with inundated calls and text messages from other firms offering similar ‘loan services’.
It is vital that the OFT take this case seriously, people who are struggling with their finances need valid help and support and not be faced with these unsolicited offers by companies who are just out to make money out of people’s desperation.
For more information, please visit www.glazers.co.uk
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