Avanti review their October highlights

It was a busy October for The Avanti Group, as they exhibited at Birmingham NEC, as well as Felixstowe, Bury St Edmunds and Norwich. This didn’t stop the team at Avanti from offering their unique blend of services, expertise, proactive advice and business networking to their clientele.

Here, Victoria Sharp, MD of The Avanti Group, reflects on October and discusses the surprising budget from Chancellor Philip Hammond, why communication is key and health checks for business.

Autumn Budget Highlights

• National Living Wage (minimum wage for over-25s) to rise from £7.83 to £8.21 in April 2019
• Personal allowances to be increased from April 2019 to that already announced to be from 2020
• Freezing fuel duties again
• £5Bn for NHS over next 5 years
• Income Tax personal allowance (the amount all workers get tax-free) to rise from £11,850 to £12,500 in April 2019
• 40p Income Tax threshold to rise from £46,350 to £50,000 in April 2019
• A new mental health crisis service in the NHS, with 24-hour crisis hotlines
• Review of modernisation of armed forces, an additional £1Bn to the MOD to cover the remainder of this year, and next year.
• £400M for schools for extra kit needed
• £420M for highways to tackle potholes now
• £160M for Counter Terrorism police funding
• £10M for Air Ambulances

Throughout October we have updated you on Making Tax Digital, and Software for accountancy.

Making Tax Digital is still a hot topic for accountants and it should be for you too. Avanti will be updating you as and when information is available, and this month we explained cloud accounting software.

We pride ourselves on providing “modern accountancy with traditional values”, being ahead of the competition and utilising modern technology, but retaining that traditional customer facing service.

We explored why communication is so important to businesses of all sizes

The points outlined below contains simple advice on building relationships with your clients through communicating effectively:

• Listen – if a client tells you they’re going on holiday, ask them how it was the next time you contact them
• Call them by the appropriate name – if they prefer a different salutation, use it in informal communications and take the time to notify your colleagues
• Mirror the tone and speed of others in situations – people who speak slower and in a gentle manner may be put off by someone who is loud and rattles off loads of information
• Avoid negative tones and accusatory language when dealing with complaints

Upcoming next month:

We are excited to be launching Avanti Networking in Dartford on 6th November and Wolverhampton on 13th of November, contact [email protected] to book your seat.

Look out for our health check guide for your business – as the year draws to a close, it’s great time to consider where you want to be this time in 2019. Re-evaluating finances and where your business is today, versus where you want to be, is a great way to start.  We will be bringing you a series of tips to help you with this.

Tax return season is fast approaching, and we are seeing an increase in clients needing our help, from accountants’ certificates for mortgages, to tax planning advice and self-assessment filing, we can help you.

With the self-assessment filing deadline of January 31st looming on the horizon, avoid ghoulish surprises and stay sweet with the tax man by appointing an Avanti accountant. For a no obligation meeting call (08000) 388 799.