Paul Jenks

HM Revenue & Customs: Tax and National Insurance on tips and bonuses Nice and simple, as you'd expect.

What he said

What Stephen said. Different authorities work in different ways. Some have a very ad hoc attitude. Many, now, have an overall contractor who manage the road network for them, (Carillion, Skanska, Interserve etc.), who either have their own teams or sub-contract the work out. The work for these big boys you typically have to be AA approved and beyond. We recently sent 70+ working documents and policies to Skanska as part of their on-going PQQ contracting system.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CEIQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Farbtalk.co.uk%2Fforum%2Fattachments%2Fgeneral-chat%2F33945d1271405744-crown-thinning-verses-crown-reduction-dynamic-loading-trees.pdf&ei=f5eeU--mEYftO8qwgPgI&usg=AFQjCNHy0KwhnolUUK-LLqnI4GDj_C9g2w&sig2=xjXygJOitAC5vrHuO69UxQ Dynamic loading of trees

In the same way you would ask why a web-developer would try to cut down and dispose of a tree, why would a tree surgeon try to build and run a website? For simple operations it's fairly straightforward, though time-consuming and therefore at a cost. For more technical solutions, it's going to cost more, and the pain of getting it wrong can be, well, painful. We use these guys, though most of the SEO, news and page building is done inhouse. Website Design Oxfordshire

Proper training for WAH with a chainsaw, Proper training for FA, Proper training for aerial rescue. And you realise how futile most of this is if you have a big injury. Make sure your rope is clear each time you make a cut, ready for quick self descent, and be careful not to cut yourself. I carry a big wound dressing in my trousers. It'd be ok to treat others. Not sure how I'd get it on me. I've always thought training and a hand is the best 'real' first aid one can have.

We've got a 57 ranger, 04 Nissan, 62 hilux, 12 hilux, and a new L200. Anything is prone to break. Our last Nissan did 160k+ until it hit something hard. great tool. Ranger is good to drive. Hiluxs are good, Mitsy is OK but I'm comparing with my Shogun so a bit biased. Just get one and hope.

If you drop something out of the tree, (unintentionally), ask yourself why. Also, think of the consequences if.... A branch or a chog smashing a greenhouse, fence or bouncing across the tarmacadam might cost the company a bit. If it hits someone, it'll cost a bit more. Concentrate and be aware.

If you want to stay within legal weight limits, don't get a crew cab. Put any van you test drive over a weigh bridge before buying. The little Timberwolfs are fine. Just keep the blades and feed roller sharp and look after it. When you want to upgrade, keep hold of it for a spare.

Setting up TM for a 60mph road should start at about £100-£200 for the day including sign rental for a straight stretch of road using give and take/priority. Lights will add another £150-£250. If they are going to stay onsite to monitor it'll be about £30-40/hour. All plus vat of course.

3650kgs

Couldn't have put it better myself. In fact I couldn't put it that well.

I understand your view and concur wholeheartedly when there is a need for flexibility. This should only apply to a small percentage of the time worked by the entire workforce. (This stands scrutiny even when there are only 2-3 people involved as the lions share of the work is carried out by the main person or people with the extra load taken up by the other.) If there is a desire to continue their employment on a more regular basis they should be employed permanently,(assuming they want to). The ZHC phenomenon has evolved from freelancing/sub-contracting. As a short-term business tool it works. My fundamental issue is with companies that use it as the main way of employing people, ostensibly to give everyone flexibility whilst actually reducing security for the employee and increasing the ability of the company to defacto dismiss staff, by not giving them work. With a ZHC there is no mutuality of obligation. Therefore, if a person is employed regularly to perform duties they are technically an employee. What are zero-hour contracts? (and do casual workers ever become employees)

As usual Huck you appear to have leapt in with comments before wholly understanding what I've written. I know you have quite fervent and forthright views on certain subjects. Maybe, as a moderator, you could pass on your views and experiences, as I endeavour to do, in a more moderate way. If my comments, which are, after all, only my point of view, lead you or anyone else to a misunderstanding, which then meant you, or anyone else, allowed themselves to get a little hot under the collar, then I apologise. One of the companies I help run, a social enterprise, uses some ZHC. I don't like them, though I understand the business and employee case for using them. They, ZHC, may the current, or near current, topic for hate. I have never used them and will never. They don't suit my business model or my mindset. Acas - Zero hours contracts As ACAS says, zero hours contracts can be used to cover a temporary need. Acas - Zero Hours Myth Busting When there is an ongoing requirement for someone to work regular hours they should be considered for permanent employment, whether full or part time. I agree that ZHC can offer a very good level of flexibility for both employer and employee. For some this works well. As a long-term business model I think it sucks, you clearly don't. I'm going to cry into my beer now. (Not really, I secretly enjoy your zealotry)

I can understand the business case for a zero hours contract. I do personally think they are an awful concept in general business. There are limited situations where they can be used positively and, as is usually the way, they have been hi-jacked by companies to allow hiring and firing in another guise. The skill of the business owner/entrepreneur is his or her ability to find work and get it done. This usually leads to more work than one person can reasonably handle and hence employment results. (I doubt this next bit applies to you Hodge so please don't take it the wrong way). If a business has so little faith in their ability to either deliver more work for their people or their people to be able to deliver it, people should choose to work elsewhere. Either commit to someone by employing them permanently, (part or full time) or use them as a sub-contractor as and when. The zero hours concept is a bastardized construct to allow employers to get around tax and use people for their earning potential[like plant] rather than working to grow them as human beings within a developing and caring organisation.

You should spend some time working out hours and costs. There is no reason why you cannot employ someone part time and they spend the rest of the time working either employed or subcontracting for someone else. Employing is always tricky as, as you have alluded, guaranteeing the work can be a challenge. I have always worked hard to ensure there is enough work to keep the business, and those working within it, busy and usefully employed. This creates its own challenges. The ebbs and flows of workload become larger and if you want to serve your clients you have to work harder or employ more to commit to the work. Then you have to work to ensure your pipeline to feed the business. Some see this as a vicious circle. This is, however, part of business growth, and should be embraced. You'll have to work out holidays, NI and employees insurance, contract, PPE etc see how this is affordable within the current budget forecast and cashflow spreadsheet and work with it. Work with the chap you want to employ too. Involve him in some of the discussions so he knows your challenges. If he sees this as a weakness in you and tries to manipulate the situation he is not the right person for you. If he understands and wants to help, and be rewarded without being manipulated himself owing to his care for your situation, he may be the right person.

From HMRC Employment status - whether you're self-employed or an employee - is covered by general law. Your own employment status will depend on the terms of each engagement you undertake. It's quite possible to work as a self-employed subcontractor on one contract and then as an employee on the next. When you're working for someone else, it's important to know whether you're working as a self-employed contractor or as an employee. The HMRC's website has guidance to help people decide their employment status, including an employment status indicator tool. HM Revenue & Customs: Employment status If someone is employed under the direction of the employer or another employee he or she is an employee, regardless of how many other companies they work for and in whatever capacity.

Hiflex are what we use, used to use Hiax, (I really liked them), but the quality went, so now everyone uses the Meindle boots. Hiflex and Meindle are reasonably comfortable, reasonably light and offer a good deal of protection. At some point comfort compromises safety. Nothing in tree work is particularly comfortable or light once you start to get a bit tired.

Most half decent tree surgeons can tell the difference between a field maple, an oak and a sycamore. Most half decent crooks can tell the difference between low cost alarms and the real deal, boron chains and B&Q, dummy cameras and internet linked cctv. It takes them little more than a minute to case a site. Make it difficult for them to take a good look and make sure if they do get a look, it looks awkward to get in, get the gear and get out again. I said earlier cheap is ok, I should caveat that with if you go cheap you'll need more layers.

Yup. Busted. Didn't see the petrol bit. We have company credit cards. They're handy, though the £5k spend limit wouldn't come close to covering the fuel and sundry extras. They're not actually credit cards, they're a hybrid between a credit and debit. It's so much easier, if at times more expensive, to manage fuel separately using fuel cards. The petrol we have to use the credit card and buy using jerry cans. Don't want too much petrol kicking around the place.

In my opinion, if someone wants your stuff badly enough they'll get it. The idea with most security is to make it difficult and time consuming so the likelihood of being apprehended is increased. A collection of security devices to get past or through should suffice. cheap is ok. Relying on one or 2 formidable locks won't usually do it. They'll come through the wall. Make sure the security provision is what your insurers want and that you have a contingency plan for when the inevitable occurs so you can carry on working and get the place reasonably secure quick smart.

Open A Fleet Fuel Card Account Although the email notifications we have on the system shows .com as opposed to .co.uk We have a card for BP and one for Shell in each vehicle. Weekly VAT invoice and a monthly statement.

Self-employed subcontractor tax deductions TaxAid

Why shouldn't a company run 6 vehicles. We have 9 and this is set to rise. The key advantage with fuel cards is the convenience, for which you pay. We have changed cards in the past, but in the end it comes down to needing the trucks filled anywhere they go. Relying on the guys to fill up every night is not always an option, especially when the nearest station is several miles away. Getting your own fuelling station has it's own drawbacks. Theft, internally and externally, safety, fuel quality, ( Solving Diesel Fuel Problems ), and keeping the area clean. Not to mention the stock, cleaning and security costs.

Hi Andrew Just tried filling in the survey for you. Notwithstanding the dualistic question/answers with no opportunity to give balanced and sensible answers to some, it wouldn't save my answers. My issue with surveys is the leading nature of some of the questions. I.e. Not all our quotations comply with the BS. If a client wants a tree monolithed, we advise as to the likely short, medium and long-term outcomes and will still carry out the works if they ask us. Send me the questions as a word document and I'll give you some answers that reflect the reality of commercial arboriculture and the way the BS affects it and the way it improves what we do.