Following the successful launch of ‘ten out of ten’, an exceptional industry led training programme designed to inspire young people and create leaders in hospitality, Mallory Court Hotel in Leamington Spa welcomed all hopeful ‘ten out of ten’ applicants to the hotel to run the gauntlet of interviews.

Mallory Court, alongside nine other prestigious hotels in the UK including Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck and Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons, are hoping to find the future stars of the hospitality industry.

The scheme attracted in excess of 80 applications, scrupulously short listed to the most promising 35 individuals who were all invited to attend a full recruitment day at the luxury Warwickshire Hotel on Friday 10^th June.

The day involved applicants taking part in group activities and a networking lunch, observed by industry heavyweights such as Andrew Stembridge, Managing Director at Chewton Glen, who was named Hotelier of the Year 2010/11.  Applicants were then invited to final individual interviews to discuss their skills and knowledge of the industry. The ‘ten out of ten’ panel is to decide on the top ten fortunate people to be offered the opportunity of a lifetime within the industry.

The successful applicants will be rewarded with two and a half years of the best instruction imaginable, working across all sectors of the industry in ten of the best hotels in the country. The training programme will give the lucky few the chance to work alongside Michelin star chefs such as Simon Haigh at Mallory Court plus some of the best hoteliers in the business.  

Mark Chambers, Managing Director of Eden Hotel Collection to which Mallory Court belongs, commented,

‘Mallory Court is excited to be part of ten out of ten and extremely proud to have hosted it. This event was the culmination of two years of hard work, resulting in the best young hopefuls in the industry being singled out and recognised for their extraordinary potential. We set out to find future stars of the industry and hopefully we have done just that’.

University of Oxford philosopher and writer, Marianne Talbot, is donating a percentage of her profits from her highly acclaimed book, Keeping Mum, to Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity. Published last month (April) and featured in the Daily Mail, the book tells Marianne’s deeply moving story of caring for her mother who died with Alzheimer’s two years ago. 

Fifty-five year old Marianne, who lives in Oxford, talked about the book and explained her motivation for supporting Alzheimer’s Research UK:

“I’ve written Keeping Mum for anyone who has anything to do with Alzheimer’s disease or any other form of dementia. By reading it they will know they are not alone. Everyone who buys the book will also help raise desperately needed money for dementia research as five percent of my profits will go to the experts, Alzheimer’s Research UK. 

“When my mum Lesley was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s I looked after her in my own home for five years. Keeping Mum is a chronicle of the fears and frustrations, the love and laughter and the tears and trauma we went through. It also describes the agony of my eventual decision to put her into a care home. 

“Watching mum deteriorate was one of the saddest things I have ever done. So much more needs to be learnt about this cruel disease and this can only be achieved through research.” 

Miranda Mays, Community Fundraising Manager for Alzheimer’s Research UK, added:

“We wish Marianne continued success with Keeping Mum. It is a heart-warming and frank account of caring for someone with dementia with plenty of practical advice too. We greatly appreciate her support and every £20 raised will pay for another vital hour of pioneering research, bringing us closer to finding ways to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure dementia. 

“Over 6,000 people in Oxfordshire are living with dementia today but funding for research lags far behind other serious diseases. We rely entirely on our wonderful supporters like Marianne to fund our world-class dementia research.”  

Keeping Mum: Caring For Someone With Dementiais published by Hay House and costs £8.99. More information is available at www.keepingmum.org.uk

Property Management specialist solicitors Brethertons is pleased to announce the launch of the Property Management Alliance (PMA) Knowledge Hub.

The Hub is designed to provide up-to-date information on legal matters affecting the residential property management sector.  It contains a range of articles, factsheets and newsletters that clients, contacts, students or potential clients can subscribe to free of charge.

Alison McCormack, head of property management at Brethertons explains: "Whether you are a client, contact, student or potential client, we hope that you'll find this a useful and informative resource, our new PM Alliance Knowledge Hub underlines our specialist approach to solving your legal problems."

"We hope that those working in or connected to the residential property management industry, including managing agents, freeholders, developers, suppliers, members of residents associations, directors of RMC's and RTM companies together with members of ARMA, IRPM, ARHM, FPRA and the RICS will subscribe to this new online service."

For a direct link to the PM Alliance Knowledge Hub visit: http://www.brethertons.co.uk/pm-alliance featured factsheets include:

 

• Understanding Collective Enfranchisement
• What is Commonhold?
• Energy Performance Certificates
• Liability of Service Charge after a Flat is Sold
• Consultation Regarding Major Works and Long Term Contracts
• Reserve and Sinking Finds Explained
• Understanding Residents Association
• Understanding the Lease Ground Rent and Service Charge

 

Subscribers to the Hub will also be able to book onto forthcoming webinars, subscribe to Brethertons newsletters and will be able to join the PM Alliance Linkedin group. 

 

Brethertons' property management team operate in the complex area of recoveries, dealing with landlords and residential property managers to recover ground rent and service charge payments.  The team of 23 property managers work with their clients to recover service charge arrears for their sizable property developments throughout the UK. 

 

The team also works closely with the main recognised industry professional bodies, the Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) and the Institute of Residential Property Management (IRPM).  They deliver training sessions to hundreds of ARMA /IRPM members via a series of web based seminars throughout the year and are soon to host the fourth IRPM legal training weekend at which student members attend.

A 1929 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Phantom II Weymann Sports Saloon was one of the highlights of the Collectors’ Motor Cars and Automobilia sale at Bonhams Oxford recently. The car sold for just over £200,000.

   The Phantom II, reputedly the last model that Henry Royce designed himself, was announced in September 1929 with deliveries commencing immediately.

   Immediately after the end of the Great War the recession in the motor trade prompted Rolls Royce to introduce a smaller, cheaper 20hp car to be built alongside the existing 40/50hp Silver Ghost. In 1925, the New Phantom (known as Phantom I) was introduced, taking Henry Royce’s designs from the old Silver Ghost as well as using the developments and modern features pioneered on the smaller 20hp car.

   Unlike its predecessor, which inherited its underpinnings from the 40/50hp model, the Silver Ghost, the Phantom II employed an entirely new chassis inspired by the smaller 20hp Rolls-Royce as well as a new engine.

   The Phantom II chassis provided a platform for some of the truly outstanding designs of its day, and was highly favoured by prominent coachbuilders. The example offered by Bonhams carries Weymann-type sports saloon coachwork by H J Mulliner.

   Taking its unique place within motoring history, the Phantom II’s few owners have been known for their taste in sporting motor cars, one of which affectionately naming the car “The Captain” in reference to it presence and authority. The Phantom II is presented in fabulous condition having received a complete restoration by Alpine Eagle, and is ready to use for high speed road trips and rallies.

   Further highlights of the sale include:

1921 Rolls-Royce 45/50hp Silver Ghost Drophead Coupé with Dickey

£110,000 -130,000

Care will be needed in the run up to the VAT rate increase on 4th January 2011.  Businesses will need to take care to make sure they charge the correct amount of VAT when invoices are raised or payments received around the date of the change.
Anyone using a flat rate scheme will also need to confirm the new rate to be applied.
If you are considering a substantial purchase, perhaps a motor vehicle and are not able to recover the input VAT making your purchase before 4th January 2011 will mean a saving in the VAT you have to pay.
Pension’s limits simplified
HM Treasury announced on 14 October 2010 that the Annual Allowance will reduce from £255,000 to £50,000 from April 2011.
At first glance this would appear to be bad news but in fact these changes had already bitten for most of those affected. Very complex anti-forestalling rules have frozen contributions for people with taxable income above £150,000 since April 2009 and above £120,000 since  December last year.
So most people with the means to pay in more than £50,000 are already limited to what they were paying in before anti-forestalling or £20,000. Therefore, for some, £50,000 in fact reflects an increase over what they were able to pay this or last tax year.
There is also a new rule allowing unused annual allowances to be carried forward from up to three previous tax years. 
Self-Assessment tax returns
Don’t forget it is now too late to file a paper return for 2009/10 as the deadline was 31st October 2010.  Therefore if you have not filed your return and are required to do so, you will need to file electronically – this is something we would be delighted to help you with!
Revenue issue revised guidance on Domicile and Inheritance tax
HMRC have issued guidance on revisions to their practice in relation to non-domiciled individuals.  Domicile is a difficult subject, but an individual may remain domiciled outside the UK if they were born in another country, or have strong links with there.  This can have a profound impact on their exposure to inheritance tax in the UK and any individuals who may be effected should seek professional advice.