All the latest news from Caunce O'Hara http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news/index The firm’s commitment to advising those actively involved in the Renewable Energy sector means that Steve Lewis and Adrian Stewart will be attending   www.all-energy.co.uk  in Aberdeen next week. http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=4353 Own goal as HMRC publish IR35 guidance HMRC has missed a great opportunity to end 12 years of confusion, disarray and worry over IR35 with their business entity test guidance published http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=4343 The firm has always been active in assisting and advising  those in the recruitment profession on insurance matters and we insure hundreds of agencies across the UK. We are now pleased to announce that we are affiliate members of  www.apsco.org  – The Association of Professional Staffing Companies. http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=4333 We are established in the provision of liability insurance for UK freelance energy sector professionals via our on – line scheme    www.energycontractors.co.uk   http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=4103 Managing risk in your business may well save what you value from serious and avoidable loss. Moderate losses may impact on insurance premiums you pay but  major losses can have catastrophic consequences for assets, personnel and could, in some cases, result in the cessation of the business. Caunce O'Hara's dedicated risk management surveyor, Steve Haines, will identify the hazards and perils that affect your business and recommend appropriate plans of action to prevent serious loss. Our service incorporates an initial http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=3133 The new regulations came into force from 6 April 2012 and restate the earlier regulations as follows: Existing asbestos material may be left alone if in good condition and needs to be monitored and managed to ensure they are not disturbed. The commercial property owner has a duty to manage asbestos material. During t http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=4323 Welcome to Employ! As the relentless April showers continue, welcome to the May edition of Employ! In this edition we have case law decisions on discrimination and social media, together with an interesting and frequently raised query about fixed term employees in our question and answer section. We also have an exciting update about our next HR Exchange event which will be held on Wednesday 13th June 2011. Make sure y http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=4313 2nd May - We have had IT problems   Apologies for poor communication issues today. We have our IT engineers on the case. Should you have sent e mail instructions to us today and not had a reply please be assured we will act on those instructions as soon as we are back on line.   If you need to contact us please phone on 0161 833 2100. If you have encountered difficulties in making on - line applications we can help - just call us on 03333 211403. If there are issues regarding " Going on cover" and we've not seen your ins http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=4303 Does your broker understand your business? Insuring Umbrella Companies put simply is a specialist area requiring a special unique policy wording and not a general industry policy wording aimed at covering recruitment companies or indeed any other profession. It is essential that the responsibilities, activities and exposures of the Umbrella Company are understood and this formed the basis for us to write a bespoke policy wording for Umbrella Companies. We are the market leaders in this area and have been now for over 12 years, our policy wording is the wides http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=3543   The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires any occupier of a premises to have "a suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment" in place. Failure to have a Fire Risk Assessment in place could lead to a fine, imprisonment or the closure of a premises by the Fire Officer. At present, your local Fire Officer is targeting businesses where there is a significant risk of a fire occurring such as restaurants, cafes, pubs and hotels. As a specialist Health & Safety Company with a wealth of knowledge and experience, we have developed a http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=3813 Yesterday was the launch of a challenge panel that will scrutinise 'risk-averse' or erroneous decisions by non-regulators as another vehicle that will bring "common sense" back to Health & Safety. Operational from 11th April, the Myth Busters Challenge Panel, set up by the HSE will look into complaints regarding the advice given by non-regulators and seek to publicise whether this guidance reflects what the law actually requires. The Challenge panel has been created in a direct response to concerns that the reputation of Health & Safety is http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=4293 From the 6 April 2012, the reporting requirement in RIDDOR for over 3 day injuries has changed.   The trigger point has increased to over 7 days’ incapacitation (the employee is incapable of attending work) and does not include the date on which the accident occurred.   http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=4283 We’re approaching our financial year end and it’s been another great year for Caunce O’Hara!   Our success is built on the firm foundations of offering our clients ser http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=4273    We’ve been offering on – line insurance schemes to clients for over twelve years enabling us to become an award winning firm.   http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=3993 Readers of our Press Office will note that Health & Safety(H&S) topics have featured of late and that the services  we offer ( through our in-house Risk Manager, Steve Haines)and through our preferred H&S consultants     www.themissupport.co.uk    perfectly complement the activities condu http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=4093 CHAS is established as the market leader for Health & Safety pre-qualification in the UK. It is a non-commercial scheme available to suppliers and to organisations looking for suitably competent suppliers. CHAS isn't just for construction companies, it assesses Health & Safety for a whole range of suppliers, from care services to demolition contractors, designers and consultants. Increasingly CHAS is being used by organisations as a benchmark to assess the competency of its suppliers and potential suppliers.  Themis can put together your proposal and guide you though the applic http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=3463 Those reading this bulletin will doubtless associate the phrase "due diligence" as a procedure undertaken by accountants and solicitors when advising on corporate merger and acquisition matters. This, of course, is absolutely correct but the wider context means that due diligence exercises are conducted by insurance brokers to determine accuracy of insurance programmes in place and to be put in place by commercial clients. So often, serious "gaps" are identified when a skilled broker has the opportunity to review clients' insurance policies and strategies with common fa http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=3773 Welcome – non-domestic permitted development rights! In October 2011 the government introduced permitted development rights for domestic microgeneration installation, which allowed householders to install certain types of small-scale microgeneration equipment (including wind http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=4263 PCG Newsletter: 12th April 2012    Getting off on the right foot in the new financial year http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=4243  We have, for many years, provided bespoke on – line insurance solutions for freelance professionals. Today we insure thousands of consultants in hundreds of occupations and professions.  Not only do we provide professional indemnity and other liability insurances for our clients but we’re experts in offering on – line schemes that can be white labelled (at no cost) by institutes and associations.  If you’re heading up a UK based institute, association or trade body and http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=3903 The Chancellor has promised that 84 % of Health & Safety regulation will be scrapped or improved, according to this year's Budget. Last year, in its response to the Lofstedt review, the Government said it is committed to reduce Health & Safety regulation by more than half. The latest figure announced in the Budget takes into account last year's Red Tape Challenge, which asked the public and business for their suggestions on which laws could be amended, or revoked entirely. It is thought that "167 of the 199 Health & Safety regulations considered a http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=4233 Invitation to help PCG shape the future of IR35 As you will be aware, PCG is a member of the IR35 Forum - http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=4223 Welcome to Employ! In this edition, we feature age and marital discrimination, TUPE - service provision changes (again), some Budget bullet points and direct you to the HMRC’s guidance on dual contracts. Thanks to all of you who attended our HR Exchange event on Social Media and the Law and of course to our expert speak http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=4213 Summer 2012 sees the exhibition of Europe’s finest footballers with the European Championship 2012 followed by the pinnacle event of the athletics calendar with London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.   But what challenges could employers face in ensuring that productivity http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=4203 PCG Newsletter: 29th March 2012   PCG Blog: Stop fighting mythical dragons George and let Small http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=4193 DWF Anita Gupta Head of Energy & Infrastructure Sector Group http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=4183 An analysis of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.   Summary   http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=4173 PCG Newsletter: 22nd March 2012 http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=4163 We’ve made a number of improvements to our     www.tradesmaninsure.co.uk    site. http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=4153 We are often asked by clients whether we can recommend the services of a reputable mortgage broker. We are not authorised or regulated to advise on mortgage matters but recommend PMS of Manchester. The attached news story sets out developments in the mortgage market:    One area where the impact of the credit crunch has been felt most dramatically is by the self employed, directors and contactors who are trying to obtain a mortgage, particularl http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=4143