- "In the last 20 years our business has changed considerably…and as the focus of our business has changed, Bird Luckin have moved with us."
Alex Tanner, George Tanner (Shalford) Ltd - "Bird Luckin has looked after us incredibly well for over 60 years, they are pro-active and innovational - meeting all our needs to help us achieve our aims."
Richard Stubbings, Cliffords Limited - "I can honestly say that Bird Luckin are the best firm of accountants and auditors I have ever dealt with - and I don't say that lightly!"
Colin Webb, Walthamstow Stadium - "It's important for us to know that we will always be able to contact the right people to give us the right advice and support."
Jane Bennett, Bennetts Funeral Directors - "Although we deal mainly with one Partner … we also know that if we need to contact someone else who is a specialist in another area, we can get the advice we need quickly and easily"
Jeremy Ruggles, J.S. Wright & Sons Ltd - "Bird Luckin got us to a stage which would have taken us months - if not years - to reach on our own, and they got us there in a matter of weeks"
Matthew Sullivan, SNC Ltd - "You can be a good accountant, but if you don't have an understanding of the industry it can be very difficult. "There are two or three people we have regular contact with at Bird Luckin who know our business well, and it makes a difference.""
Robert Church, W A Church (Bures) Ltd - "The work which Bird Luckin has done for Boddingtons over the past few months has helped shape our future direction for the better."
John Warner, Chief Executive, Boddingtons Ltd - "Bird Luckin has acted for us since our inception 10 years ago. They have a very 'can do' yet highly professional attitude - we are very appreciative of their support and advice over the years."
Marlon Fox, Outlook Property Ltd
Pension Reforms 2012
Big pension reforms are coming in from October 2012, which will mean that employers must automatically enrol eligible staff into a pension scheme.
Under the reforms, employers must also:
- Make contributions on their workers behalf
- Register with the Pensions Regulator
- Provide workers with certain information about the changes and how they will affect them
Employers will have a choice of providing a pension scheme of their choice, or enrolling qualifying staff into a National Employment Savings Trust (NEST), which has been specifically set up to help employers to meet their duties under the reforms.
What classifies a worker as eligible?
A worker classes as anybody you pay the national minimum wage or more to, or anybody working under an apprenticeship.
They are eligible for auto-enrolment if they:
- Earn more than the minimum earnings threshold;
- Are aged between 22 and state pension age; and
- Work in the UK.
When will the changes come into effect?
The reforms are being phased in over a four year period starting in October 2012.
When it will affect you will depend on how many people you have in your PAYE scheme, the Pensions Regulator has said that employers with the largest number of workers will have the earliest staging dates. Those with fewer staff will have later staging dates, from 2014, and the Pensions Regulator will contact you 6 to 12 months before your date.
What contributions will you need to make?
You must contribute at least three per cent of your worker's earnings, but you can pay more if you wish.
The worker will be responsible for paying the rest, and they will get tax relief on it, but the total combined contribution will be a minimum of 8 per cent.
What if I already have a pension scheme in place?
You will need to check that it is a qualifying scheme. To qualify, minimum contributions need to be made, or it must provide a minimum rate at which benefits will build up.