Welcome
Well, didn’t June bring the heat! We hope you stayed comfortable and weren’t too impacted by challenges as the good old British infrastructure struggled to cope. In and out of the office, ICS kept our cool, whether on the road visiting clients, partners and employees, cheering on our national sports teams (not just football, and not just the men’s!), as well as finding inspiration to add even more core benefits to ICS Umbrella – scroll on to read all about it!
Convening and Collaborating
Colin set the alarm early to attend CMR Recruitment’s very timely Manchester breakfast seminar focusing on the landscape post Joint and Several Liability (JSL). Great opportunity to catch up and network, as well as thought-provoking presentations from a panel including Josh Bramhall, Daniel Moss, Sebastian Sauca and Hannah Morrison. Uplifting to know that responsible agencies’ early compliance groundwork is paying dividends for employees in terms of trust, care and transparency.
Helen enjoyed representing ICS at the Lancaster & Morecambe Chamber of Commerce’s June networking event. With lots going on in the area, including the landmark first “spade in the ground” of the Eden Project Morecambe, it was a vibrant, positive sharing of information, plans and ideas.
Travel Diary
Record-breaking temperatures or not, our sales and partnership support teams were travelling the land, combatting train strikes, melting railway lines and intermittent air conditioning! Sales Manager Alison led the charge, travelling to Manchester and London, where she was joined by Account Manager Kieran.
Fantastic to see the enthusiasm for our new Umbrella Plus package, especially the inclusion of Bupa healthcare for all umbrella contractors (see more below). Whether it’s our Northern heritage, but we love direct and face to face contact with our clients, partners, contractors and employees, so get in touch to find out when ICS are in your area, or schedule a visit.
People News
Hugely pleased to announce Jodie Mace’s promotion to Associate Director of Compliance & Operations. No-compromise adherence to compliance and consistency is our watchword at ICS Accounting, and throughout almost 15 years’ dedicated service, from Customer Service to the last 7 years as Head of Compliance, Jodie has been instrumental in developing the watertight policies and procedures that protect our business, agencies, clients and contractors. MD Colin says: “Jodie has become one of the rocks our business is built upon and I’m excited to see how she will continue to positively influence in this wider role.” Congratulations, Jodie!
Well done also to Luke, passing the next level of his ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) Financial Management exams. Congratulations to Deborah Gardner at our partners Hanley & Co. Accountants, who has welcomed a new grandson. And clearly not put off by the heat, some of the team have been beating the Lancaster University Trim Trail in preparation for taking part in Born Survivor in September, we’ll share their progress (from the sidelines!)
Windows onto Gratitude
When the world can seem confusing, and life hectic, it’s always worthwhile to slow down and really notice the small details, like family moments, pets or walks. This is the tenet of our Gratitude Gallery initiative, facilitated by professional photographer and former NHS mental health services occupational therapist Ginny Koppenhol. Capturing informal smartphone snaps of appreciation from everyday life for our office gallery also helps us connect as individuals rather than job titles.
Beautifully illustrated by this moment of observation from Jodie:
“I spotted a painted stone in my garden that my son and I made during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Despite the uncertainty we all faced, I’ll always treasure the extra time and simple moments I had with my little boy. With recent industry and legislative changes, life can feel hectic, so seeing that little painted stone was a good reminder of the importance of staying centred. Sometimes the smallest things bring the biggest perspective.”
Summer of Sport
You can’t have escaped that there’s been a certain football competition going on. While we dream of scoring the winning goal, our Men’s World Cup sweepstake, with prizes including lunch for the whole team, is hotting up ahead of the final.
Before then, we have the final of an equally exciting competition for skills, thrills and upsets, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. One of the most open contests in years, with the school holidays approaching, it’s enthusing many of us to get out on the pitch, park or playground with our own little sports stars.
Umbrella+
We’re always striving to offer ICS Umbrella Employees more than “just” trusted, compliant and seamless administration and delivery of your salary, tax, deductions, pension and benefits. So we’re thrilled to have launched Umbrella+, a significant upgrade that includes:
- BUPA Cash Plan, for everyday healthcare costs like dental check-ups, eye tests, and physiotherapy
- Greater pension flexibility with no increased margin or admin fees for SIPP contributions
- £100 emergency pay advance facility for unexpected situations
In addition to:
- Discounted retail cards from over 120 brands
- Up to 60% off cinemas nationwide
- Over 500 vouchers and promotions from the best brands updated weekly
- Discounts at leading events and attractions
- Huge discounts at hotels worldwide
And of course:
- Full employment rights
- Dedicated UK-based support
- SafeRec verified payslips
- FCSA accredited services
- Your information and records available 24/7
- Easy access to your personal ICS advisor
So, if you want to check you’re getting the full benefit of ICS support, or are interested in discovering more about any of the outstanding bespoke contractor, accountancy and umbrella solutions we offer across a wide range of sectors and specialisms, just get in touch.
Wishing you a Goldilocks July (not too hot, not too cold, please!),
Your ICS Accounting Team
