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How does the law define being self-employed? A self-employed person will run their own business and take responsibility for the success of the business. Self-employed people are more likely to be contracted to provide a service for a client and will not be paid through PAYE. Ultimately only a court or employment tribunal can make a final decision on someone’s employment status. Someone can still be classed as an ’employee’ or ‘worker’ even when they are taxed on a self-employed basis. The court or tribunal will look at the employment relationship between the person and business. Why is it important to determine...
A sunny county show, bustling with people, livestock, trailers, trade stands and show rings is a quintessential English summer scene for many. The county show season is well underway and B&P are proud to be on board as sponsors, attending some fantastic rural events on the horizon… B&P are thrilled to be sponsors at Shropshire’s best one-day show when it returns on Saturday, 14th July. The Newport Show brings together the best in the region’s food, entertainment and agricultural excellence, including a high octane Royal Airforce display and parade of vintage tractors. On Saturday, 28th July B&P are sponsoring the...
When it comes to buying a house at auction it is a case of buyer beware. But with interest rates remaining largely unchanged, more and more people are turning to property as a long term investment and source of a future pension, rather than putting their money into a bank or building society. This, coupled with a rise in the rental market due to the difficulty for young buyers to secure a mortgage, is making snapping up a ‘bargain’ at auction an altogether more attractive prospect. But is it possible to really grab a bargain? Ian Naylor, a partner here...
Why is dress code significant? It can present the professional image of a business, or provide consistency, or can be important for health and safety. But it’s also a minefield in terms of discrimination. In 2016 receptionist Nicola Thorp was sent home on her first day of work at a corporate finance company in the City of London because she refused to wear shoes with two to four inch high heels. She launched an online petition calling for the law to be changed and garnered more than 152,000 signatures. The Parliamentary Petitions Committee and the Women and Equalities Committee did find...
With unemployment at its lowest levels since the mid-1970s, is the writing on the wall for zero hours contracts? Here our employment specialist Tim Wolley looks at this contentious issue. On 23 April the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released figures showing that in November 2017 there were 1.8 million zero hours contracts, being six per cent of all employment contracts. This is an increase of about six per cent over the previous November, and at the same time there has been a similar growth in the number of employment contracts. So the position is at present holding steady. The...
With news of Chinese workers wearing wristbands and helmets to monitor their brainwaves for fatigue, our employment and disputes specialist Tim Wolley, guides you through the law relating to the monitoring of employees. In 2017, Three Square Market, a vending machine company in Wisconsin, started to microchip its employees. The device, the size of a grain of rice, was placed in the hand, and did away with computer logins and security door passwords. But how far can employers go in monitoring their employees? And is such monitoring lawful? Terms and conditions of employment set out the basic ground rules for...
At Bowcock & Pursaill Solicitors we are strengthening our legal team once more with the appointment of commercial property specialist Joy Hancock. An Associate Solicitor, Joy will be based at our Uttoxeter office, and brings with her extensive experience in the property sector having previously worked at Grindeys and Knights solicitors. She has a passion for landlord and tenant matters, property portfolio work, property sales, acquisitions, financing and all aspects of asset management, having originally considered becoming a surveyor as a career until the property market flatlined. Joy said: “I originally studied for a BSc Honours degree in estate management,...
Staffordshire families and couples facing a relationship or marital breakdown are set to benefit from a new service from Bowcock & Pursaill Solicitors which will allow them to resolve their issues outside of court. Our Associate Solicitor Lisa Cogger, has qualified as a Collaborative Family Lawyer, a process which offers a non-confrontational approach to dealing with divorce and other areas of family law without having to go to court. The whole process is led by the client and involves a series of four-way meetings where both solicitors and their clients are present and work together to find a fair and...
The publication of a HMRC report into inheritance tax reliefs and exemptions, followed by a request to the Office of Tax Simplification by chancellor Philip Hammond to review the IHT regime, show that the government clearly has the tax regime in their sights. Here our tax planning specialist Ian Naylor explains why agricultural and business property reliefs are under threat and why there’s never been a better time to review your tax situation. “HMRC has published a paper on the influence of IHT reliefs and exemptions on estate planning, with a particular focus on agricultural and business assets. There have...
Founded in 1927, Bowcock & Pursaill has been our clients’ number one choice for solicitors in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and Cheshire for almost 100 years. We also act on behalf of clients throughout the country.
The firm prides itself on its customer service, offering detailed and bespoke advice to clients thanks to our small and highly specialised team of partners, solicitors and legal executives based in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.
Are you interested in joining Bowcock & Pursaill? We have a friendly and supportive atmosphere, where everyone knows everyone else and there’s a good team spirit.
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