Since the introduction of restrictions to Mortgage Interest Relief for buy-to-let mortgages (Section 24), there has been a huge leap towards investing through a limited company for buy-to-let landlords – but is this always the best way forward for investors?
From April 2020, private landlords are unable to. deduct any mortgage interest as an expense against rental income, instead, tax relief is given as a 20% tax credit off your tax bill, regardless of your marginal rate of tax. This restriction only applies to personally owned properties and since interest is fully allowable in a limited company and the fact that Corporation Tax rates are comparably low, setting up a limited company has become quite popular.
However, as well as the many advantages there can also be disadvantages of investing through a limited company, here are just a handful of them as suggested by Calculated Ltd, who specialise in tax advice and planning for property investors.
What is a limited company?
A limited company is a form of business that is separated from its owners and shareholders legally. In the UK this must be incorporated at Companies House so it can confer that it is a legal ‘ separate person’ from the people who own the company.
In the Uk, there are three different types of limited companies. A private company that is limited by shares, a public limited company, and a private company limited by guarantee.
As by law, a limited company is separate from its directors it means that it:
Can enter into contracts under its own name, including the employment of staff
Is liable for its own actions, and can sue and be sued
Has the right legally to the money made from sales, including profits
The company is responsible for the payment of debts
Pros
Mortgage Interest is fully allowable as the restriction doesn’t apply to limited companies. By purchasing through a limited company, the mortgage interest payments can be fully deducted from company profits as an expense.
Corporation tax rates are much lower than income tax. Profits are taxed at 19% (current corporation tax rate), regardless of your personal income tax rate which is currently 40% for higher rate taxpayers and 45% for additional rate taxpayers.
Easier to pass shares in your property company to the next generation as opposed to gifting the actual investment property.
Cons
Mortgage costs tend to be higher (higher interest rates and arrangement fees), as there are a limited number of mortgage products available and generally more difficult to get a mortgage.
Professional fees, e.g. Accountancy and Legal are higher in relation to purchasing and ongoing accountancy and tax filing for the company which is more onerous than preparing personal tax returns if the property is purchased in a personal capacity
If you wish to draw the profits out of the company, there will be additional tax charges if taken as a dividend, above the annual dividend allowance of £2000. Assuming an individual has used all their basic rate tax threshold, the dividend rate will be 32.5% if you are a higher rate taxpayer and 38.1% if you are an additional rate taxpayer.
It’s imperative to note that purchasing through a limited company may not be for everyone. It is therefore important that you seek professional advice based on your individual circumstances so that you can assess what the pros and cons are for you personally.
At Calculated Ltd, people can book a 45-minute consultation, where experienced advisors will walk you through everything you need to be aware of and advise if a company structure is right for you.
As the country’s leading provider of renewable energy and energy-efficient solutions for low-to-moderate-income property owners, PosiGen has seen a lot of growth and development over the last few years. At the top is leadership from PosiGen CEO, Thomas Neyhart who also is the co-founder of the company. The company is set to help more people than ever get into the solar energy solutions that are sure to create energy savings and financial support for those who need it.
What Is Thomas Neyhart Creating?
PosiGen offers a unique way for property owners to gain access to renewable energy that is not only good for the environment but is also a good way to cut costs. A good example of the work the company is doing came after Hurricane Katrina struck the south. When many people worked to rebuild New Orleans, they choose energy-efficient and solar programs to help them rebuild more efficiently. The problem is that many low- to middle-income families didn’t have that type of access. Quite often, they lacked the necessary FICO score or household income to qualify for programs that could help them get these solutions in place.
That’s when Thomas Neyhart decided to create a new solution, one that allows for access to renewable energy options that are clean and good for the environment but also within reach of those who have a lower income threshold. The move to provide solutions to this sector of the market was an effort by Neyhart, who easily saw that this was a segment of the population that had been overlooked. The result was significant growth of the company.
What Makes PosiGen So Different?
There are a number of factors that make Thomas Neyhart and his plan so different? What the company offers is much different than the competition. First, there is no FICO score required for property owners. There is also no minimum income required to obtain solar energy. The company also does not look at the debt to income ratio. All of these are limitations and barriers to accessing green, clean energy for homeowners.
Instead, the company requires that those who utilize the company’s solutions be a homeowner and be current on their electricity bill. With those qualifications, property owners may be able to get a fixed monthly bill for the entire 20 years they are with the company.
PosiGen is the only company to guarantee savings – something that is virtually unheard of in this segment. The company not only guarantees production, but it also guaranteed savings. The company is recognized as the only for-profit solar company that focuses on helping this specific segment of the population. It specifically aims to support low- to moderate-income property owners and communities of color.
At last check, PosiGen and Thomas Neyhart are achieving those goals. They state that 75 percent of the 18,000 solar systems and energy-efficient upgrades they have made have been in this segment of the housing population. It goes further as well. The company is diverse and inclusive with over 65 percent of those on the team being a person of color and/or female.
What Does PosiGen Have to Offer?
The company’s framework seems solid, but the question is, what are they providing to customers? PosiGen offers a combination of efficient energy with solar technology. It works with each property owner to create an individualized solar power solution that fits their needs and meets their financial goals. That type of flexibility is also rather unique in the industry.
The process is easy – the company’s system uses solar panels to take in sunlight. It then transforms that light into usable, renewable energy for the home to use. It is kinder to the environment and far less expensive than traditional electricity, creating a win-win scenario.
Thomas Neyhart on the Company’s Changes
Over the last year, PosiGen has seen a significant amount of change and updates, many of which are creating opportunities for the company to further its goals and reach more people.
In April of 221, the company landed support from Mizzen Capital, LP, a private credit fund. Mizzen made an investment in PosiGen. Mizzen led the financing in the company, providing $8 million of a $24 million term loan to serve as working capital for PosiGen. The goal of the fund was to help accelerate its growth in its efforts to connect more low and moderate-income homeowners with energy-efficient upgrades and solar power. Other investors included Stonehenge Capital and Reinvestment Fund, each providing $8 million to do the same.
At the time of the investment, Thomas Neyhart said, “PosiGen is a company devoted to creating good jobs in underserved communities, to enable equitable access to clean energy, and to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the families we serve. We couldn’t be more pleased to have these three organizations help us advance those goals in a sustainable and scalable fashion now and well into the future.”
Later the same month, PosiGen announced the second close of its Series D growth equity financing. The effort led to the addition of a $27 million investment from leading private equity investors. Among those investors were Kayne Anderson, Activate Capital, and SJF Ventures. This second closing of the fund brings the total round to $60 million.
At that point, Thomas Neyhart stated, “PosiGen couldn’t be more pleased to complete our Series D equity raise with these seasoned investors joining the company as true partners.” He continued, “Each brings deep experience to the table, not just in the renewable energy sector but also with respect to helping high-growth companies reach their potential. At this inflection point in PosiGen’s own growth story, I am confident we have now assembled an investor group that can help us fulfill our mission to our customers across the national footprint we are seeking to achieve.”
Leadership Changes from the Top Down from Thomas Neyhart
In May of 2021, the company announced that Josh Storrusten would take the position of Vice President of Operations for the company. Storrusten has a long history in solar energy that he brings to the table to support the efforts being made by PosiGen.
Most notably, he served as the operations leader of a renewable energy corporation that provided residential and commercial properties with solar, storage, and energy-efficient products. Neyhart said of the change in leadership, “His leadership and experience prepping companies for scalability will be invaluable as PosiGen experiences rapid growth into new markets. Under Josh’s leadership, PosiGen will truly be building the next generation of green energy professionals.”
Also important is the company’s announcement in November of a change in the chief legal officer. PosiGen announced that it was adding Dan Black to the company to serve as Chief Legal Officer. There is no doubt of his qualifications having worked as a general counsel with extensive experience in the energy sector specifically. His history includes work at one of the largest residential solar companies in the country, where he served as Chief Legal Officer, Executive Vice President, and Secretary.
Speaking of the move, Thomas Neyhart stated, “As PosiGen continues to experience significant growth into new markets, our priority is to continue to add strong team members who understand and support our mission to make solar available to everyone.” He continued, “Dan’s past experience with solar combined with his legal expertise make him the perfect fit for our team.”
Get to Know Thomas Neyhart
Behind the growth and change at PosiGen is its co-founder and CEO, Thomas Neyhart. He founded the company in 2011 with the specific goal of making a positive financial impact on the lives of the customers he served by providing them with access to green energy solutions. From the start, the company’s focus on low to moderate-income families was the goal. And, it has helped more than 10,000 people in the New York, Florida, Connecticut, and Louisiana area achieve these goals.
Since the company’s founding, Neyhart has helped the company see numerous changes, including becoming the fastest-growing energy company in the country in 2014. It was awarded the Patriotic Employer Award by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and a Blue Ribbon Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce the same year.
The company continues to have a very specific focus – in serving those who would otherwise not have access to the cost-savings opportunities that come from solar energy and energy efficiency in general. Today more than ever, those who are looking for a way to access energy-efficient solutions can gain access thanks to the work of this company and its investors in providing access to solar. The company continues to see a significant amount of interest from investors, especially those who are also pursuing ways of supporting access to green energy in low- to moderate-income homes and communities throughout the U.S. There is no doubt this company will likely continue to expand with confidence.
The concept of working remotely was once a perk offered by a small percentage of businesses. But, it’s now almost the norm coupled with variations of hybrid and Work From Home (WFH) options. In fact, it’s something that more and more employees want from their employers – to have flexibility in where they work from and to have a better work-life balance.
There are certain industries where working remotely can be more of a challenge, such as those in the legal field, but it’s certainly not impossible. With these tips, legal teams can find winning ways to work effectively from remote locations without compromising on the standard of their work, staff flexibility and overall productivity.
Communicate changes regularly
Shifting from a traditional law firm process to a remote one can take some getting used to, but communication is at the heart of your success. Any changes in policies or updates with clients need to be communicated clearly and quickly, so that everyone is on board and working to the same information and deadlines.
But, it’s also important that you communicate to your clients that you’re working remotely for a better client experience, as this will help to manage expectations and identify the best channels for clients to reach you on. Video conferencing can be ideal for hosting meetings remotely and also enables invitees to add notifications to the calendar for convenience. Clear communication makes the transition to remote working smoother and benefits employees and clients alike so they can adapt to the new way of working accordingly.
Use the right technology
Technology is essential to remote working, so legal teams need to have the right software and tools available to them to do their job successfully. Not having technology set up for flexible working can be incredibly demotivating to staff and can slow productivity. Make sure that documents are stored securely on the cloud for quick and easy access from any location, and utilise software to manage cases flexibly, which will keep all files in place and streamline operations. Any paper documents you may need should be digitised and stored in the cloud for safety, but also so that your colleagues can access them, as paper files aren’t conducive to successful remote working.
Remain in touch by phone and socially
Regardless of whether you have an office or not, your clients are still going to want or need to reach you by phone. So whether you’re working remotely on a temporary basis or it’s your permanent set-up, you will need to have a way for clients to get in touch. Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) services enable you to make phone calls from your computer, which can be a convenient way for legal professionals to stay in contact with colleagues and clients from any location. There are also virtual reception services your team can use to take messages and field calls for a professional service that’s both efficient and flexible. A headset can also ensure your calls are clear for greater sound quality. When you’re working remotely, however, make sure that you’re keeping your colleagues and clients updated on your working hours so that you’re still delivering a good customer experience and a professional service.
With remote working, there might be a tendency to overlook the social benefits that a physical office provides. To maintain and even improve a healthy workplace culture for your employees, organise regular meet-ups, team events and incentive programmes for your legal firm.
Set up a VPN
Remote-access Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, enable employees to connect to private networks securely from any location. Legal professionals need access to sensitive data and client information, so a VPN is an essential tool to make sure that the information and files they’re accessing are protected.
A VPN means that whether your legal team is working from their home office, a collaborative workspace or a public space, data is kept secure yet accessible. Data protection and cybersecurity is a critical issue, for all businesses but especially in the legal sector where there are so many threats present, which a VPN can help to alleviate.
Legal professionals can make remote working work for them, with the right tools and systems in place. Today’s digital age makes it easier than ever to work flexibly, regardless of the industry you work in, and with the likes of case management software, VPNs and VOIPs, you don’t have to compromise on security or the service you provide to your clients. Providing your team is trained on how to use these tools properly, and clients are aware of how your team is carrying out tasks, remote working can be just as efficient and professional as working from an office.
For the second time in as many years, the government has cited low productivity as a problem in the UK. And, the statistics suggest this could be true, with productivity growth showing a downturn since the 2008 crisis. While the UK is far from alone in this decline, the shortfall is twice as bad here as in other economies. But what is the cause of this downward spiral of productivity and what can be done to combat it?
The causes of the issue
The UK’s ability to improve its standard of living and build up the economy comes from its ability to boost productivity of its workers. But the growth of productivity has stalled for several reasons, and the events of the past few years have created further problems in this regard, from Brexit and the pandemic to the shift in the skills young people are leaving education with.
Skills shortages
One issue that has posed a problem for businesses is the skills shortage which has impacted a number of industries in the UK, making it hard for companies to expand and develop. In fact, on a broad scale, over 16% of adults of working age in the UK are estimated to have very poor literacy skills, something that could cost workers 20 months worth of lost earnings over the course of their lifetime. And in specific industries such as construction, there’s the issue that young people aren’t gaining the skills to fill roles left behind by an ageing workforce.
Studies have found that businesses, recruitment agencies and public sector organisations stated barriers to filling vacancies include applicants lacking the technical skills and knowledge for the role, work experience and industry knowledge. This is particularly prominent when it comes to AI and digital skills. But the likes of commercial awareness and communication skills are also lacking in many applicants. Industry-specific skills are also in short supply, as the recent shortage of HGV drivers and tradespeople has proven.
Staff morale and health
Something that’s often overlooked when it comes to productivity is morale and worker health. The link between health and economic growth can’t be overlooked. Employee stress plays into this, and it’s an issue that connects closely with long working hours and demanding roles. With the UK guilty of some of the longest work hours per worker in Europe, it’s a problem that has a big impact. Improving work conditions and providing resources for staff to combat workplace stress and anxiety are essential to boosting productivity and happiness in the workplace.
Brexit and immigration
Politically-speaking, there’s also been the challenge of Brexit, with many industries losing workers due to the change in immigration ruling, and the fact that wages have remained low in the post-crisis period. Businesses have been keen to invest in recruitment rather than their business processes, resulting in more cheap labour being taken on to fulfil workloads rather than companies spending money on the tools to enhance productivity in the long run. So, what can be done to tackle the problem?
Invest in training
Training staff for available jobs to ensure that the workforce has the necessary skills is essential to productivity, not only for individual businesses but the UK as a whole. The government has been pressing ahead with investments in skills and infrastructure to make it easier for people to gain the skills required for different jobs. But it’s also something that businesses can adopt for themselves by providing an incentive for applicants through bespoke training programmes to build up skill sets across the team. Focusing on boosting skills and retraining applicants can help to alleviate some of the burden placed on businesses who have lost workers due to Brexit, as well as aid career progression for existing employees.
Re-optimise processes
The shock of the pandemic could well provide a much-needed boost to businesses. Not only has the past year given businesses time to reflect and either pivot in a new direction entirely, or it’s provided a chance to reconsider how to operate in a more effective and productive way. The time spent closed for business, for many business owners, was a positive in the sense that upon reopening, companies have had the opportunity to re-optimise and improve in areas where they may have been lacking before. The burst of innovation and adaptability, whether out of necessity or a change of heart, could support productivity in the future.
R&D to drive innovation
One area where the UK is letting itself down is on research and development, which is a big driver for innovation and productivity in businesses. In fact, the UK spends considerably less on R&D than many of the world’s largest economies. Economists are in firm agreement that the root of growth is innovation, so there’s every chance that a partial cause of the UK’s struggling productivity rates is the lack of research and development investment in both public and private sectors.
In summary
The productivity dip isn’t exclusive to the UK – it’s a global problem that’s been exacerbated by the pandemic and other challenges. But skills, processes and technology are at the core of resolving this problem, and are connected to one another. The skills are necessary to meet the demands of evolving technology, which in turn will improve processes and drive productivity. There’s no simple answer to this problem, but lifting the UK out of this issue can be achieved with the right investments.
Learning management systems (LMS) aid in the delivery of training materials and the organization of skill development inside your company. Learning Management Systems is excessively beneficial for the learners however, it has been seen that many LMS’ can also be complex to use. It’s difficult to know which LMS features will assist and which will be a hindrance because there are so many.
A learning management system (LMS) is a software tool that helps businesses organize and offer opportunities to learn. The greatest learning management systems should assist drive an organization’s training modules by streamlining the requirements, similar to the various pieces of software we all use every day, such as Google Docs for writing content or QuickBooks for accounting.
While there are numerous advantages to employing a learning management system, such as cost savings and reliability, the primary goal of a learning management system is to administer and manage learning and eLearning efforts in one space.
Here are some amazing features that will help your enterprise software development companies to empower sales and team building.
Course Creation Features
Although it appears that every LMS software would have this, the most essential idea of an LMS does not include a course authoring module. Some features need you to supply your native content, which indicates you’ll have to create films and material in a different system and then import it into the software. Finding an LMS with course design options can assist you in streamlining your procedures.
Skills & Certifications
For practically every type of user, skill and certification tracks are amongst the most significant LMS elements. It’s great to retrain your personnel, but if you’re not documenting skills growth and accreditations, at the absolute least, course completion—you’ll have no foundation for gauging performance and development. These capabilities can help you comply with government regulations by combining all of your accomplished and ongoing accreditations into one extractable spreadsheet. You can also evaluate employee success by monitoring skills taught and certifications completed, demonstrating an instantaneous return on your investment.
Effective Personalization
An effective LMS should give content depending on a learner’s past within the software, as well as their position, to stimulate wider acceptance. If we talk about an example, if you are working in a sales team, you should be able to quickly access the overall sales-related training content in the LMS. This is the perfect example of personalization. Users will be able to prioritize improvement areas using customizable assessments and quizzes that evaluate a learner’s progress all throughout the course. Individuals become more invested in the activity if an LMS is more tailored to their learning preferences and/or job functionality.
For both students and teachers, a tailored learning experience can improve engagement and effective educational objectives. Each training program might deliver a customized educational experience for your learners depending on their educational pursuit and schedule with the correct personalization elements. It’s critical to assist them in progressing more quickly through the lessons and, as a result, increasing the chances of success of your educational modules. As a result, you’ll see an increase in student applications and profits over time.
Video Conferencing Feature
Students who require one-on-one attention or who have complex inquiries can benefit from an LMS with video conferencing capabilities. While correspondence and message threads may handle the majority of your interaction goals, video conferencing allows you to have challenging talks. Your firm will embrace the fact that you won’t have to pay for an external contract to speak with your pupils face-to-face.
eCommerce Subscription
Many LMS modules allow you to share your content with a larger audience, allowing you to monetize what you’ve previously created. Look for an LMS that allows you to gate learning content in this instance. Users must submit their email addresses, make a one-time purchase, or commit to a monthly subscription in order to finish a course or learning module. Using your pooled expertise to create a subscription course and add it to your website is a terrific method to generate passive income. We must say, ecommerce software solutions are the new trend!
M-Learning Features
It’s shocking to hear that some people don’t have access to a computer at home, but mobile-ready learning can help them avoid this stumbling block. Learners can engage in courses from any place using whichever smartphone they own if your LMS has mobile capabilities, such as responsive design or integrated mobile apps. This is particularly useful for qualifications that demand learning beyond working hours, or for distant teams where learning can take place in between calls or visits.
Social And Community Learning Formats
Another significant feature of an online learning platform for educational organizations is social learning. Peer-to-peer learning has the potential to help people remember what they’ve learned. It can potentially help students to acquire faster, especially those who are younger. They might ask peers’ ideas and engage their accomplishments to gain social acknowledgment. It’s a fantastic method to tap into support from the public and improve student learning outcomes.
Knowledge is social, like so much of what we are already doing, and your LMS should contain tools that allow your learners to learn from each other as well. This not only improves the learning experience but also relieves stress on your coaches. Your students can ask each other questions in a discussion format by incorporating messaging rooms and social learning tools. Allowing your pupils to instruct each other is the finest method to demonstrate your understanding of the subject.
Test-Out Options
Even for seasoned L&D experts, determining what your learners already know can be difficult. Simultaneously, bringing new employees up to accelerate as quickly as feasible allows them to contribute benefits to the organization sooner. As a result, allowing learners to ‘test out’ of a training module can cut down on training time while also providing learning practitioners with a better knowledge of where individual learners are in their learning path.
You can still give participants the course resources they need to finish their education, but a test-out feature allows them to perform a final verdict instead of taking an entire eLearning session. There’s no need to take or retake, in the case of some annual compliance training at the coaching if they pass the exam.
Final Words
For a company with respectable educational activities, a learning management system is a must-have tool. It’s a one-stop shop for creating courses, organizing and delivering training, tracking student progress, and overseeing the entire learning process.
In short, if you’ve been individually monitoring your learning activities, an LMS can completely revolutionize your learning system. It has the potential to increase learner engagement by leaps and bounds while also providing amazing efficiency for your educators. Furthermore, an efficient LMS might provide improved administration over your operations, greater adaptability to meet your organization’s objectives and long-term cost savings.
The advantages of a learning management system (LMS) are not restricted to conventional instructional institutions such as schools and colleges. Businesses, governmental organizations, non-profit organizations, e-course providers, and entrepreneurial instructors can all benefit equally from it. We have mentioned the must-have features for you before you go and pick the right LMS for your organization!
Affordable Prices or spending capability are the prime factors for most people to choose a home for their holidays or go in for a static caravan. It is crucial to pay the premium for static caravan insurance to keep your mind in peace. Moreover, when you have invested a hefty amount for a static caravan, the insurance for it must be on the priority list.
Many insurance companies are offering different features in their insurance product. You must spend time researching the best policy that may be ideal for you. Information about insurance products is easily available online, however, you can click for more details on static caravan insurance. Never buy insurance unless you know all the fine details and other policy terms.
It is better to know initially the pros and cons of the insurance rather than running behind the company at the time of claim. Below are some important reasons for insuring your static caravan.
1. Financial Help through Insurance Policy
Buying all-inclusive insurance protects your static caravan against any financial loss arising out of vandalism, theft, fire, and accidents. Sometimes things are not in your control, and for that, you get financial support through insurance in case your caravan or its parts are destroyed, stolen, or damaged.
The insurance company may offer you financial assistance at times of repair or in replacement of your static caravan in the situation of an accident, fire damage, vandalization, theft, or any natural calamity. You may not receive financial help automatically, but only after the inspection of the underwriter who assesses the actual damage to sanction or reimburse the coverage cost.
Many customers of the static caravan insurance have confirmed that the insurance policy was helpful to provide them financial help when needed.
2. Few CampSites Demands
Most parks allow entry to caravans only if they are insured fully. In most cases, they will demand to check the insurance certificate before letting the caravan park on their site. Insurance of your static caravan is a statutory requirement for a few campsites, and they protect against damage due to flooding and storm. Also, cover repairs that go up to $3000.
Many park owners may not allow your static caravan inside the park if you have not taken the insurance policy. It is mandatory to have full insurance if the caravan value is high.
3. Absentee Owners are in Peace of Mind!
It is natural to worry about your static caravan if you are not present. However, the insurance cover for your static caravan takes away the burden from your mind. It offers protection against risks like fire or vandalism that cost you dearly for repairs.
There is no need to stress yourself if something wrong happens to your unattended static caravan. An Insurance company takes full responsibility to cover the repair cost.
Static caravan insurance is a must for people for whom it is impossible to be on the site of their caravan. The insurance policy gives them coverage against many incidents like smoke damage, storm, theft, and accidental damage.
4. Covers Damages when on Lease
Insurance of Static Caravan is famous among owners ready to give their caravan on rent in the summer months. It is the best idea to rent your caravan when not in use, but how do you handle it if anything goes wrong? The best way is to have static caravan insurance to protect it against the damage that can occur if a hirer takes your caravan for a holiday.
When you give your static caravan on rent, make sure you have the coverage for damage by the hirer. You will feel completely chilled out knowing that the static caravan insurance policy is in place to cover any damage cost.
5. Public Liability Coverage
A caravan is an extraordinary household asset. It is massive and heavily loaded with special equipment that can be dangerous once it moves back on a downward slope on its own. Public liability coverage in static caravan insurance protects the one and all who suffered injuries because of the caravan.
It is crucial to have public liability coverage. If a person who got injured decides to put a claim against you, public liability coverage can cover the legal fees and compensation costs involved.
Live in Peace
Static Caravan Insurance is a must if you need peace of mind. Make sure that your policy gives protection to your static caravan as well as to the motorhome and its contents, it needs to be fully comprehensive. By buying comprehensive insurance, you can cover replacement and repair costs.
There are more things such as cover for personal possession and glass breakage that you can select in the insurance policy. Insurance is essential to lead a stressful and happy life.
The global COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the importance of establishing flexibility through cloud computing. As companies were forced to move their employees to work-from-home set-ups due to lockdowns, those with cloud computing capabilities have had an easier time weathering the disruption.
The ability to provide new services in a cost-efficient manner
The smooth transition to new work models, such as moving from co-located to remote work environments.
Unsurprisingly, the aftermath of the pandemic has led to a surge in interest in cloud services. According to a Gartner forecast, global end-user spending on public cloud services is expected to grow 18.4% in 2021, reaching $304.9 billion.
If you’re like many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), you’re probably considering migrating some of your applications, data and workloads to the cloud. Statista data shows that as of 2020, 35% of global SMEs spend up to $1.2 million on public cloud services each year.
But this doesn’t mean these transitions to cloud computing environments are successful.
What Are the Challenges of a Cloud Migration?
Despite the availability of cloud hosting providers, platforms, tools and resources that make a cloud migration more accessible than ever, the actual migration process is still fraught with risks caused by four factors:
1. Lack of Training
Not all IT departments have expertise in cloud security, virtualisation, and software architectures — essential skills for successful cloud migration. Many SMEs don’t even have a dedicated IT team, relying instead on a single person to oversee the company’s network of computers and software systems.
2. Issues between Legacy Infrastructure and Cloud Services
Organisations with legacy IT systems typically experience problems adopting new technologies such as cloud-based software. This is particularly true for legacy infrastructure no longer supported by its original vendor — a common problem in banking and the government sector.
Gartner forecasts that through 2024, almost all legacy applications migrated to the cloud will require some form of optimisation to be cost-effective. Local applications can be migrated to a hybrid cloud environment — an amalgam of on-premise and cloud-based services. Although not completely efficient, this solution can work for organisations that wish to keep their critical applications on-premises and move less critical workloads to the cloud.
3. Cybersecurity Concerns
A cloud migration not guided by a concrete strategy puts you at risk of leaving your data and systems exposed to a gamut of security risks, ranging from compliance violations and data breaches to insecure APIs and misconfigured servers.
While SME owners may think they’re too insignificant to be the victim of a cybersecurity attack, this relaxed view can make them susceptible to fraud and data breaches. McAfee reports that as many as one in four organisations keeping data in the public cloud have experienced data theft there.
4. Unexpected Downtime
Depending on your organisation’s size and the types of applications involved, your cloud migration may require taking your servers offline temporarily. You can avoid long downtimes by implementing an offline copy migration. This involves bringing down your on-premises application, migrating that application database to the cloud and bringing the application back online in the cloud. If you have small datasets, any necessary downtime shouldn’t take too long.
If you’re migrating a mission-critical application that can’t tolerate downtime, consider looking into data virtualisation. Some providers offer multi-cloud or hybrid infrastructure, in which application databases can reside in a combination of cloud-based and on-premises systems. This allows you to migrate datasets gradually.
France-based Trace One is a world leader in complex supply chain collaboration between retailers and suppliers. Meeting with Antoine Daviet, product marketing director of Trace One, Mr. Daviet shed light on Trace One’s watchful position in a “world that moves very quickly,” and how the company ambitiously and accurately “detects retail developments in advance” and aims to prepare the entire sector for the changing demands of consumers.
The world of mass retail has changed at a record pace over the past decade. Faced with evolving consumer habits–driven in particular by the mass digitization of commerce but also due to an emergence of new concerns on the part of consumers–retailers must constantly review their strategy. They must be ready to adapt to the expectations of their customers, whether those be arising from a concern over well-being, the environment, transparency, local economies, or something else.
Trace One’s business solutions provide a solid foundation for companies in the midst of this permanent whirlwind of trends. It has pioneered the development of powerful software tools customized for retailers and manufacturers alike. From that initial idea to products hitting the shelves, Trace One’s digital solutions facilitate and streamline collaboration between supply chain partners every step of the way. They also open an invaluable communication pipeline. “Some trends take,” says Daviet, “others don’t. Things are on the move all the time, and we have to distinguish between underlying trends and each other’s communication strategies, ” he explains.
“Retail is a very fast moving world. Our job is to adapt to changes, to anticipate them, and to provide data-driven information to our customers on emerging themes.” Daviet also notes that the main trends of the moment relate to eco-packaging, digital and local commerce, product scoring, and new trends in market digitization. Trace One is receptive to these potentially transformative themes, and continues to “position itself upstream” in order to give its retailer partners that same forward-thinking perspective.
Daviet returns in particular to the question of packaging, which has become central to retailers in recent years. In five years, the world of retail (including industrial sectors) has had to reckon with looming environmental concerns and consider questions of packaging recyclability, plastics use, and how ultimately to reduce plastic packaging altogether. “Our role is to support our partners so that they initiate new programs as early as possible,” says Daviet, adding that Trace One supports French retailers who have signed the National Pact on plastic packaging.
“We focus on certain themes and constantly expand our solutions options,” continues Daviet. This is especially important, as trends can feed off each other, like the current boom in product scoring applications, best known of which is Nutriscore. Among the enumerable areas of commerce that scoring has already established itself, the Trace One team expects in particular to see scoring soon expand further into the domain of product packaging and recyclability. “We are extremely attentive to it,” says Daviet. As soon as we see something take hold, we will be ready to update and further develop our applications “.
“We are always looking for opportunities to better understand customers and to offer new services”, summarizes Daviet. The quest is made all the more exciting because these new paradigms are aimed at a better quality of life and a healthier environment. “Now is the time to find solutions that offer concrete improvements to the retail model. And that gives meaning to what we do, ” he concludes.
Children’s cabin beds can be a great option for saving space and a good night’s sleep but they can also be a great way to introduce and encourage imaginative play. If your house is a little cramped or you don’t have access to much outdoor space, it’s important your children’s bedroom is designed so they can use their creativity and imagination. Imaginative play is crucial in your child’s development as they learn to play roles, act out experiences and practise social skills. Whether their cabin bed is a pirate ship, dragon’s lair or designer boutique, we take a look at how you can encourage imaginative play at home.
The benefits of imaginative play
Imaginative play is a skill learned by children of all ages, through making up games and creating adventures, whether based in the real world or a made-up one. This type of play has been used for centuries and it has a number of benefits including
– Emotional development
– Learning to negotiate
– Developing listening skills
– Encouraging storytelling
– Developing social skills
– Understanding the world
By encouraging your children to play make-believe and create exciting adventures without using screens, you are teaching them valuable life skills and building their confidence in a safe space.
Indoor adventures for winter
As the winter gets colder, going outside to play can be harder for busy parents and kids! Try and have a range of exciting and engaging activities prepared for indoors. If your children are full of energy, climbing up and down the cabin bed ladder can be a great way to get them tired, or maybe hang sheets over the bottom rail to create a stage for enthusiastic performances or puppet shows. There are also a variety of kids cabin beds that have built-in desks, storage drawers for toys and even slides for hours of fun! Use the space underneath your children’s cabin bed to create a den, cave or secret hideout, and encourage them to add details and move around.
Space for bedtime stories
Reading to your children is one of the most important ways you can encourage their development, teaching them to enjoy the written word and imagine new worlds. It can also be great for relaxation after a busy day and help with building a beneficial bedtime routine. You can encourage your children to engage more with reading in cabin beds, with some that have plenty of space for books and snuggling down. Choose a cabin bed with a built-in bookcase or shelves so that selecting a story is the fun part of their nightly routine.
Using kids’ furniture for play
Children have always been using their bedroom furniture to create magical worlds, but in the modern world, we often forget the importance of just playing with our little ones. Host a wonderful tea party for all of your children’s teddy bears, pretend to make breakfast in a fabulous kitchen or turn their cabin bed into an aeroplane ready for taking off. As your children get older their interests and needs will change, but make sure to prioritise some screen-free time in their bedroom where they can read, play and create. If your child needs a new bed, look for a cabin bed that has lots of space for playing and storing toys or a fun theme they’ll adore.
Shop cabin beds
If your little one is ready for a new bed and you need some more space for play, a cabin bed is the perfect solution. Enjoy hours of adventures at home playing shops, aliens, pirates, princesses, whatever they can imagine, and remind them that they can be anything they can dream of.
Van wraps have recently become a popular marketing solution for businesses of all sizes. If your property is overlooking a major road, you may see any number of wrapped vans daily, their popularity propelled over recent years due to their affordability and potential for advertisement. However, this isn’t the only benefit to getting your van wrapped and there are a range of benefits for doing so that you may not be aware of, in order to find out more about van wraps and the benefits it can provide in order to help you make an informed decision on whether it’s the right choice for you and your business, read on below.
Branding Solution
The leading reason behind many getting their van wrapped is due to the advertising it can provide while the car is out on the road. If your business answers call outs and sees your van traveling regularly, the impressions that it may gain along the way might be greater than anything you would achieve by advertising online or on social media. At Evowrap we offer bespoke van wrap printing to ensure that your branding is not only aesthetically pleasing but also adheres to your tastes and preferences. When considered as a marketing solution, van wraps can be incredibly cheap based on the impressions and conversions they may carry out and when used regularly can build you a local reputation, something that money can seldom buy. The average lifespan of a high-quality van wrap is around 3-5 years, a period over which your van may garner the attention of many people.
Protecting The Vehicle
Vehicular wraps serve as an additional layer of coating for your vehicle and while the wrap itself can sustain wear and damage with constant use, this would not actually affect the paintwork and body of your car underneath. While your wrap may need to be replaced every several years after it endures a certain amount of damage, this would be cheaper than replacing bodywork or dealing with major issues with the van itself.
Looking Like a Bigger Business
Many people who may see your wrapped van out on the road are unsure of how much vehicular wraps may cost and if your wrap is carried out to a high level it will give your business an air of credibility that may lead to people believing that your business is bigger than it may be. By appearing like a larger business more people are likely to look to you when they need assistance in your field leading to more conversions.
About Evowrap
Our team at Evowrap are specialists in providing numerous window film solutions for a variety of residential and commercial properties also encompassing vehicular wrapping and tinting. To speak to a member of our team regarding any one of our products, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0800 107 7965 or drop us an email via sales@evowrap.co.uk.
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