Digital Edge specialises in creating digital and online solutions tailored to the unique needs of our clients across various sectors. In essence, we are a full-service digital agency that offers a comprehensive suite of services. Our core offerings include website design and development, marketing support, software solutions including bespoke CRM’s, secure login areas and system management platforms and a highly skilled design team that creates captivating visual elements, including brochures and branding materials. We live by our values, Collaboration, Creativity and Outstanding Value. We make it our commitment to strive to provide each element in every interaction.

What makes Digital Edge great?

We have established ourselves as leaders in the website industry as Wix specialists, with an impressive track record. As a testament to our expertise, we’ve earned the distinction of Wix Enterprise partners, allowing us to collaborate on web and development projects with enterprise level clients around the world. Recently and most Notable, we completed a project involved building the website and development of Entuitive, a national leading construction company based in Canada. Our global presence spans regions such as Australia, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and beyond. The word has spread across the planet that we are world leading Wix website and development specialists. We were recently shortlisted for New to Export during the Northern Export Awards. However, our aspiration is to bring our wealth of experience and innovative solutions back to the North East, our home region, and contribute to its digital transformation.

What is your 5 year plan?

Digital Edge’s ambitious five-year plan centres on establishing Wix as a prominent brand across the United Kingdom. Building on our strong partnership with Wix Enterprise, we aim to improve the profile of Wix throughout the UK, emphasising its capabilities for website development and low-code, no-code software solutions. Wix, in our view, represents the best-kept secret in software solutions, with an unbeatable website offering, notably enhanced by the launch of Wix Studio. As early adopters of these cutting-edge products, we believe we can play a pivotal role in advancing the platform and effecting significant change across the UK. We want this to start right here on our doorstep in the North East of England.

What are you looking for from your EMN membership?

Our EMN membership is vital in supporting the engineering and manufacturing sector in the North East of England. We are eager to showcase Wixs’ latest capabilities within the digital platform, both for website development and software solutions, to empower businesses in this region. Our expertise extends to Wix Studio, a high-end web design platform seamlessly integrated with an intuitive client management system, making it incredibly user-friendly. Moreover, we possess the capability to design and develop bespoke management systems tailored to diverse needs, including sales, marketing, inventory management, and process optimisation. We know we can support local manufacturing  and engineering companies with their online.

What information do you want to get out to members?

We want to emphasise our commitment to being a valuable resource for engineering and manufacturing services across the North East. As an organisation deeply versed in digital and online solutions, we encourage members to consider us a valuable point of contact for discussions and consultations relating to their specific digital needs. We’re here to provide guidance and support in navigating the digital landscape effectively.

What are you going to offer back to the community?

Digital Edge is dedicated to giving back to the community by offering informative and educational training sessions on all things digital and online. We believe in starting with an in-house approach, ensuring that organisations are equipped with the knowledge and tools to manage their digital presence effectively. Our goal is not to take over but to integrate seamlessly with existing digital activities, promoting a collaborative and empowering approach to digital transformation.

The post Spotlight On: Digital Edge – Ian Proctor appeared first on The Engineering & Manufacturing Network.

The firm were delighted to win ‘Contractor of the Year’ at the National Solar and Storage Live Awards last month. The event held in Birmingham was hosted by newsreader Krishnan Guru-Murthy and recognised the most innovative and impactful solar and storage projects and contributors throughout the UK. The awards were attended by the country’s biggest players in the industry which makes AR Power’s achievement outstanding considering the fierce competition from industry leaders with national footprints.

AR Power was cited as having exemplary best practice, outstanding customer service and a trail of brilliant, completed projects. Some of the company’s recent projects include the installation of 11 solar systems at key buildings owned by Newcastle City Council such as swimming pools and the Theatre Royal. In addition, the new installation at drawer manufacturers BHK (UK) in Peterlee was the firm’s largest project to date and ranks amongst one of the largest rooftop installations in the North East with 2344 panels and a staggering 1.3MW Solar PV power output.

Technical Director Mark Dunville said “We are delighted to win this major accolade. It’s all about our team and the way we focus on quality workmanship and customer service, which comes down to our people and the culture we’ve created. We always pay attention to detail and put the same amount of care into every project regardless of its size or scale.”

AR Power have also teamed up with Zestec, the specialist clean energy investor arm of Octopus Group, to install solar PV systems at no upfront cost to the end customer. This is done under a Power Purchase Agreement (“PPA”) whereby Zestec will fully fund the cost of the installation and sell the power generated by the solar panels back to the business or organisation at a fixed reduced cost, saving them money in the long term.

More good news for AR Power is that they have recently appointed Phil Armstrong as their Operations & Maintenance Engineer. Phil will look after the ongoing maintenance of commercial solar systems with a view to growing the capabilities and service offerings in the near future. He will also oversee a growing demand for annual service checks whether AR Power have installed the system or not.

Annual checks are important to ensure everything is working correctly and providing the best return on investment. Phil’s role will be to oversee site inspections, carry out safety checks and report signs of wear and tear, heat damage, discolouration, and unusual smells, and conduct a visual inspection of internal components for corrosion, wear, and damage as well as a comprehensive roof condition report.

“It’s been a great year for AR Power with our award, new staff and a new work stream. We’ve come a long way in the industry and I’m very proud of the team for their dedication to getting us to where we are now,” added Mark.  “We are very much a nationally operating company now and we’re looking forward to installing more systems and creating excellent working relationships across the industry.”

Find out more about AR Power on their website at arpower.co.uk

The post North East Solar Company Wins National Contractor of the Year Award appeared first on The Engineering & Manufacturing Network.

Many UK taxpayers will be unaware of the tax implications and Self Assessment (SA) filing requirements that have been created by HMRC. This is due to HMRC moving the goalposts through the reduction of certain allowances/exemptions and the increase to the SA threshold for PAYE taxpayers from 2023/24 onwards from £100,000 to £150,000.

The recent tax changes mean more people will likely be required to file tax returns and pay tax on their investment income/gains. It is predicted that those who fall under this widening tax net will face bills of up to £2,000 over two years.

Why has this happened?
Basically, the additional tax liabilities have been caused by the following:

• Dividend allowances are going down
• Capital Gains Tax (CGT) annual exemptions are going down
• Interest rates are going up

Dividend allowances – The dividend allowances were reduced in April this year to £1,000 from £2,000, and they are set to reduce further to £500 from April 2024. As a result of falling tax-free allowances, more individuals will be required to pay tax on dividends.

Capital Gains Tax (CGT) – The annual exemptions recently reduced to £6,000 from £12,300 and will go down further to £3,000 from the 2024/25 tax year.

Interest rates – The increase in the Bank of England base rate will in many cases result in increased interest income from savings held in deposit accounts and the like. Coupled with increasing salaries to assist with the cost of living crisis at a time when income tax bands have been frozen, this is pushing more individuals into higher rates of tax. Subsequently this may require more individuals to file a SA tax return.

The above impacting factors are explored further in our related insight piece.

Further consideration
With the reduction in the dividend allowance outlined above, many individuals and shareholders of small to medium family businesses, for example, who tailor their profit extraction from their businesses through the utilisation of the annual dividend allowance and basic rate bands, the changes will most likely increase their tax liability and administrative burden significantly.

As a result, many will need to review their dividend strategy and look at tax remuneration planning comparing dividends versus salary.

Related announcement for Self Assessment regime leavers
With effect from the 2023/24 tax year the threshold for PAYE taxpayers to remain outside of the SA regime will increase from £100,000 to £150,000. The increase in the self-assessment threshold announced will remain unchanged for the 2022/23 tax year, i.e. at £100,000.

However, should any PAYE taxpayers meet any of the other SA criteria they will still need to file a personal tax return. The other criteria being as follows:

• In receipt of self-employment income over £1,000
• In receipt of untaxed income
• Liability to the high-income child benefit charge
• Partner in a business partnership

One concern here is that those who make private pension contributions or have allowable expenses may miss the opportunity to claim tax relief unless they are aware of these aspects and seek advice.

Should a taxpayer be unclear on whether they meet the criteria for self-assessment or not, HMRC has this online tool to check whether they need to submit a tax return.

However, those who are considered to fall outside of the regime will be notified after their 2023 Tax Return has been filed via a SA Exit letter.

The post Azets: Moving goalposts for Self Assessment criteria: Will you be affected? appeared first on The Engineering & Manufacturing Network.

Our Bang the Drum Episode 12: ‘Entrepreneurship and Mental Health‘, is live now, wherever you get your podcasts – including Apple and Spotify. If you missed Episode 11: ‘Rise of the Franchise‘, you can listen here.

Listen | Episode 12: Entrepreneurship and Mental Health  

How can entrepreneurs spot the signs they may be approaching burnout? What positive habits can they adopt to achieve a better work-life balance? And what other support is available to them if they feel they need it?

LISTEN TO EPISODE 12

The post Bang the Drum | Episode 12: Entrepreneurship and Mental Health appeared first on The Engineering & Manufacturing Network.

13th June

For some time, it has generally been the case that dividends have offered company owners and directors a cost effective and flexible remuneration option compared to a bonus or salary.

However, the gap between the two has narrowed and it can no longer be assumed that a simple dividend option is the most effective route to take. Every individual’s personal and business circumstances are different, and a remuneration review allows you to plan around your particular situation and ensure optimal tax position.

Recent tax changes, including the corporation tax increase, have been influencing factors. As such, assessing ways to manage the impact of this hike to 25% on taxable profits over £250,000 could be beneficial.

Join our panel of experts as they discuss:

• Steps to help entrepreneurs, business owners and directors efficiently plan their remuneration
• Managing the increased corporation tax burden

Writing off business investment through the full expensing regime and deducting some or all of the value from profits before tax is paid

The post Azets Webinar | Corporation Tax Rise: How to manage the impact on companies and shareholders appeared first on The Engineering & Manufacturing Network.

Our Bang the Drum Episode 11: ‘Rise of the Franchise‘, is live now, wherever you get your podcasts – including Apple and Spotify. If you missed Episode 10: ‘Investing in Innovation‘, you can listen here.

Listen | Episode 11: Rise of the Franchise  

This episode is all about franchises, with Anytime Fitness. We’re discussing how you decide whether franchising is for you, how to find the right franchisee, some of the common mistakes to watch out for, and the financial parameters to have in place.

LISTEN TO EPISODE 11: RISE OF THE FRANCHISE

The post Azets: Bang the Drum | Episode 11: Rise of the Franchise appeared first on The Engineering & Manufacturing Network.

For some time, it has generally been the case that dividends have offered company owners and directors a cost effective and flexible remuneration option compared to a bonus or salary.

However, the gap between the two has narrowed in the past few years, and with the recent Corporation Tax rise from 19% flat rate to an upper rate of 25%, it can no longer be assumed that a simple dividend option is the most effective route to take.

With a new personal tax year recently starting, now is an ideal time for directors and shareholders to assess their remuneration plans.

Why is there no clear cut answer?

Simply, every individual’s personal and business circumstances are different. Add into this the following tax changes coming into play in this new tax year, there are a number of influencing factors:

Corporation Tax

• Increased from flat 19% rate on all taxable profits to 19% on taxable profits up to £50,000 and 25% for taxable profits over £250,000

Marginal Corporation Tax Rate

• Effective rate of 26.5% on taxable profits falling between £50,000 and £250,000

Income Tax  

• Tax-free Dividend Allowance cut by 50% to £1,000
• Additional (45%/47%) Rate threshold cut from £150,000 to £125,140
• Personal Allowances frozen

Scottish Residents

• Remains more complex as Income Tax rates are up to 2% higher within each band and there are five instead of three rate bandings

The most effective remuneration plan will also be affected by ancillary matters such as age (no employees National Insurance for those over 65), pension contributions, salary sacrifice arrangements and benefits in kind.

If you haven’t reviewed your remuneration recently, we urge you to do so now to make sure you have the right plan for your circumstances, particularly in view of the significant increase in complexity of the tax system and the effective increase in tax rates.

The post Azets | Salary or Dividend: Which is best for company owners and directors? appeared first on The Engineering & Manufacturing Network.

Our Bang the Drum Episode 10: ‘Investing in Innovation‘, is live now, wherever you get your podcasts – including Apple and Spotify. If you missed Episode 9: ‘Getting Payroll Right‘, you can listen here.

Listen | Episode 10: Investing in Innovation  Exploring the world of R&D tax reliefs and capital allowances. Our experts break down the complexities and benefits of these tax incentive schemes and explain how they can help SMEs boost business innovation.

The post Bang the Drum | Episode 10: Investing in Innovation appeared first on The Engineering & Manufacturing Network.

Deadline approaching for completion and submission of P11D forms
Benefits in kind and certain taxable expenses provided by a business to its employees need to be reported to HMRC each year, with tax and National Insurance Contributions (NICs) payable.

As the reporting deadline is looming, we explore the requirements below to help ensure timely compliance and avoid any financial penalties.

How to report
Reporting is dealt with by completing and submitting forms P11D and P11D(b):

P11D – completed per employee to report the benefits/expenses provided. HMRC use this to adjust the employee’s PAYE code (to collect tax at source via ongoing earnings). The employee will need this to complete their tax return if applicable.

P11D(b)– the employer’s declaration that all P11Ds are correct. This also confirms the total Class 1A NICs due (calculated at 14.53% for 2022/23 on the total benefits provided).

A guide on how to complete can be found here.

What falls under the scope of a P11D form?
Some of the more commonly reported items include:

Company cars and fuel
Interest-free (or low interest) employee loans
Private medical insurance
Living accommodation
Home broadband/phone costs
Assets used by or transferred to employees
Non-business expenses by the company (e.g. gym membership, personal expenses)
Deadlines & penalties
P11D & P11D(b) forms must be filed by 6th July following the end of the tax year (i.e. 6th July 2023 for the 2022/23 tax year). Late P11D forms attract penalties of £100 for every 50 employees per month.

The resulting Class 1A NIC must be paid by 19th July, with interest charged on any late payments.

Payrolling benefits
Businesses also have the option to payroll their benefits in kind, as an alternative to submitting P11Ds for each employee. This ensures that the correct tax is deducted in real time on benefits and can avoid some of the confusion that can occur with PAYE coding changes. Overall, payrolling benefits in kind can significantly reduce P11D reporting requirements, reduce risk, and free up valuable administration time for the business.

With the exception of beneficial loans and accommodation, all other benefits can be payrolled. An employer can payroll all benefits or just certain ones.

Employers must register to payroll their benefits before the start of the tax year via their HMRC account and select which benefits they wish to payroll. If this is not done, then employee P11D forms will still be required.

Where benefits are successfully payrolled, the employer declaration form P11D(b) will still be required in order to report the Class 1A NICs due.

Any businesses considering registering to payroll benefits should start planning now for the 2024/25 tax year to ensure all appropriate administrative hurdles are taken care of.

The post Azets | Deadline approaching for completion and submission of P11D forms appeared first on The Engineering & Manufacturing Network.

Employee Share Schemes: You may have reporting obligations by 6 July 2023

Employment Related Securities (ERS) return reminder

An ERS return is required each tax year to record share issues or share option movements during the year to employees/directors or their family members.

If you operate an employee share scheme or have awarded shares to employees in the tax year to 5 April 2023, you will need to register your scheme online, and file an annual return in relation to the scheme with HMRC by 6 July 2023.

It is likely that you will have reporting obligations if any of the below apply to your business for the tax year:

• Issued shares to employees/directors or the employees/directors family members
• Granted share options to employees/directors or the employees/directors family members
• Have an existing scheme or set up a new ERS scheme in the period
• One-off transactions such as a director or employee acquiring shares by reason of their employment

In summary, companies with any type of employee or director share plan or incentive scheme are likely to be required to register plans and submit annual returns online. This includes Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) schemes, non-tax advantaged schemes or awards, a Company Share Option Plan (CSOP), Save As You Earn Scheme (SAYE) or Share Incentive Plan (SIP).

No transactions
It is important to remember that you must file an annual return for any schemes registered on HMRC’s online service even if there have been no reportable transactions in the year. A nil return is required until a plan is formally closed on the HMRC system.

Avoid filing penalties
There are penalties for late filing and also for incorrect returns. It is therefore important that due care is given to the information to be reported.

Further information and guidance on submitting an ERS return can be found here.

The post Azets – Employee Share Schemes: You may have reporting obligations by 6 July 2023 appeared first on The Engineering & Manufacturing Network.