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On average, most working people stay in one job for up to five years before moving on to the next. However, here at Bowcock & Pursaill we are something of an anomaly, and collectively our experienced staff have been with our firm for an incredible 297 years! Many work anniversaries and milestones have come and gone for the workforce here at Bowcock & Pursaill, with 11 of our employees well over the 10-year mark. The longest standing member of our team is Carol White, who has recently celebrated her 46th work anniversary. Based in Leek, Carol has been a legal secretary to...
What is a redundancy? Redundancy is one of the potentially fair reasons for dismissal. A redundancy occurs when: The business for which the employee is employed is ceasing The business in the place where the employee is employed is ceasing There is a reduction of a particular kind of work an employee carries out Redundancy can also take place where a site or office is closing, where a particular department or function are no longer required or where a business restructure identifies a need for a reduced headcount. This can be because the duties can be absorbed elsewhere, or have...
The amount of unclaimed or unregistered land (this refers to land, buildings or both) in the UK has rapidly decreased, and according to HM Land Registry more than 85% is now registered. Our commercial property specialist Ian Naylor looks at why it is important to register your home and property. Ian says: “One of the key reasons to register your land is so that everyone can see who owns it which is key when someone is looking to buy it or wishes to acquire a right over it such as installing a pipe or cable for the supply of services...
Following recent reports of one of the biggest data breaches to date involving a UK company, Dixons Carphone, which is now thought to affect 10 million records, our disputes and employment specialist Tim Wolley looks at what is classed as a breach and what you should do if your business discovers a breach. What is classed as personal data? Any information relating to a person or data subject, that can be used to directly or indirectly identify the person is affected. In addition to the usual suspects (name, picture, email address, contact number), GDPR also includes an individual’s computer IP address and...
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...
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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