Fifty attendees listened to our informative speakers and enjoyed the spectacular surroundings of The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy at the monthly Breakfast network meeting.
We are trying to start gathering at 7.15 enabling more networking coffee time before the 8 am breakfast and this seemed to work very well this time. Once everyone had enjoyed the excellent buffet breakfast, President Craig welcomed all and reminded them of the August 29 trip to the Bournemouth Air Show VIP Networking Party. He also shook his Weldmar fundraising bucket to encourage him in his fitness campaign to raise money for the Charity.
The meeting sponsor Albert Goodman Accountants provided a presentation by Clare Blackmore and Tom Hawes on Making Tax Digital and what every business needs to know. The Government’s aim is to reduce the £9 billion Tax gap by avoidable mistakes! Clare said ” Albert Goodman have over 700 clients and her job is to make their business life easier with the use of good software”.
“All VAT registered businesses and organisations with taxable turnover above the VAT threshold of £85000 must maintain their accounting records digitally and submit thier VAT returns to HMRC using a compatable software product that can access HMRC’s API platform.”
Tom Hawes gave a demonstration of the Xero software package that can be used available at only £20 per month. Tom said, “The software enables you to generate better quality management information to assist with the running of your business.”
The Princes Trust Team Program was presented to the attendees by Nick Harper and Lily Markwell. The 12 week free course if for 16-25 year olds not in employment and is designed to develop work skills and confidence to improve the chances of getting a job. This includes team building, community projects, a residential trip and work placements and tours of local businesses. Tax free loans are available and mentoring for those wanting to set up on their own and it was pointed that several now famously successful people had done just that. So Nick and Lily appealed to the Chamber for anyone who would be interested in helping and possibly taking on an apprentice, as members Blueberry Wealth have done with great success, enabling young people to gain confidence and build a great CV with good references for employment.
Next meeting on September 2nd will be at St Aldhelm’s Church Rooms with Battens kindly sponsoring and presenting.
