At least 1200 guaranteed jobs on offer!

This Saturday and Sunday (26/27 November) sees the Australia Employment Expo hosted in Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. The event seeks to introduce Australian employers from a variety of sectors to qualified and experienced Irish people looking to relocate.

More than 30 employer and recruiter stands are expected at this event, many of them from the following industries:

• Health & Wellbeing (including medical & dental care)
• Building & Construction (including Engineering & Architecture)
• ICT (Information & Communications Technology)
• Mining, Oil & Gas

Interested parties will have the opportunity to find out more about Australia as a country, as well as about the employment opportunities on offer, which sectors are hiring, how to apply for a visa and much more. Potential employees will also have the opportunity to meet with several employers who have immediate vacancies to fill and who will be recruiting on the spot. More than 1200 jobs have been confirmed for the event, among them 400 through huge engineering company Hatch. Representatives of Western Australia are also said to have more than 3 000 skilled migration visas available especially for the event.

Keith Seed, International Trade Services Manager at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Western Australia has said that up to 10 000 skilled workers are needed in Australia in the immediate future, particularly in Queensland and Western Australia.

If you’re interested in attending the event and applying for any of the jobs, you must have registered at www.ausemploymentexpo.com and paid €10 prior to the event.

For advice or information on Visas to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa or the UK, visit www.1stcontactvisas.com.

If you’re a contractor working in the UK, you might be wondering how you can up the ante by increasing your turnover and landing the most lucrative contract positions out there. Here’s our simple but effective guide to finding Top Contracts in 2012.

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A targeted unpaid tax crackdown by HMRC has seen five plumbers arrested during raids in London, Hampshire, Surrey, Middlesex and West Bromwich. Read the full story

Around half a million taxpayers did not receive their Self Assessment Tax Forms in time to submit and pay by the 31st of July this year.  HMRC on their website said that “no one needs to worry about this” and apologised for the delay, presumably caused because the Revenue ran out of paper. Read the full story

At those times when money is tight, it’s increasingly important to maximise your earnings.  With the announcement of large public sector cuts and the continued global slow-down of commerce and industry in general, it’s easy to paint a grim picture.  However, many savvy individuals are turning this to their advantage and reaping the benefits of contracting. Read the full story

The AWR (Agency Workers Regulations) come into force on the 1^st of October this year – just a few months away and 1st Contact Umbrella is busy behind the scenes to ensure their clients benefit from the new regulations.

The principle of the AWR is to entitle temporary agency workers “equal treatment” with regards to basic employment and working conditions, if and when a 12-week qualifying period in a particular job is completed.
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If you’re an independent contractor or considering the switch to freelancing, an Umbrella Company might be the most sensible solution for you. Here’s a quick rundown of the benefits of working through a professional Umbrella Payroll Company.

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Tax Penalties are enforced by HMRC for various reasons and are more often than not the direct result of either procrastination or a lack of information.  Ensure you don’t cut into your annual take-home pay by having to fork our hundreds of Pounds for penalties which could have been avoided in the first place. Read the full story

The 2011 budget speech as expected held very few surprises, but did contain a few welcome changes, some of them of particular interest to independent contractors and those considering starting up a small business this year.

“Contracting through a Limited Company has steadily grown in popularity over the years and has become an even more attractive prospect for the 2011/2012 tax year, especially in light of the recent budget speech.” says Liam Collins of 1st Contact Accounting.

A few of the changes include the higher than expected reduction in corporation tax, as well as the additional relief for those investing in start-ups, under the Enterprise Allowance Scheme. The income tax threshold for investment will increase from 20% to 30% from the 6th of April – a measure which will further decrease the risk for investors.

Other measures include the decreasing corporation tax rates for small companies from 21% to 20%; a higher tax free allowance (increased by £1,000); and an increase in the mileage allowance from 40p to 45p.

Prime Minister David Cameron has been actively encouraging entrepreneurs to lead the way in the economic recovery by making changes that will allow the UK to become one of the easiest and cheapest places to run a company. Cameron recently said:

“We need to see a country where new businesses are starting up on every street, in every town; where entrepreneurs are everywhere.”

Plans are underway to expand the scope of the New Enterprise Allowance, which aims to create up to 40 000 new businesses by 2013.

For advice and information about setting up a Limited Company, visit www.1stcontact-accounting.com or call 0808 141 1624 and speak to a qualified and friendly consultant about your own business aspirations!

The annual Budget Speech was delivered by George Osborne on the 23rd of March, some of these changes will adversely affect Independent Contractors from the 6th April.

What to expect

• Employees’ NI contribution rises to 12% (from 11%)
• Personal Tax Free Allowance for income tax (PAYE) rises from £6475 to £7475

No matter how you look at it, the budget changes will have a 1% negative effect on your net take home pay.

How can 1st Contact Umbrella help?

As a contractor, you are able to mitigate the negative effects on your earnings by using a reliable Umbrella product, thereby increasing your net take home pay.

We have a suite of products from which to choose based on your unique situation.  Our qualified consultants are available for a free consultation and to give you the best possible advice on how to ensure your take home pay is the highest it can be, taking all recent tax-related changes into account.

Why 1st Contact Umbrella?

Since 1996, over 100 000 contractors have enjoyed:

• Free consultations with dedicated consultants
• A simple fee structure with no hidden costs
• Claiming for business expenses through our extensive expense policy
• All administration handled on their behalf
• Prompt and efficient payments processed daily
• Quick service
• Professional, Public and Employer’s Indemnity Insurance at no extra cost
• Full statutory employment right, including maternity, paternity, sick pay and holiday pay

Following the economic uncertainties and challenges brought upon by 2009, various market updates and news reports have indicated more favourable market conditions for UK based contractors and small business owners, within more specialised fields. According to 1st Contact, the contractor job market is generally the first to increase when the market heads towards an upturn.

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As has been well documented in the press over the last few months the global economy has been experiencing a sharp downturn recently, a situation that looks likely to continue for some time still. All around London and the UK companies are cutting costs and implementing hiring freezes in an effort to stay afloat in times of great uncertainty. Read the full story

The current economic turbulence that has hit the UK is set to affect the job market as a whole, and there is speculation that this may have a ripple effect on individual contractors. It is during these trying times that expert immigration and financial services group 1st Contact urges contract workers across all industries to wise up in order to continue harnessing the inherent benefits that contracting can bring. Read the full story