Unsworth Sugden Group

Huge congratulations from all here at Unsworth Sugden to the five trainees at client Chartered Accounts, Newby Castleman, who have all passed their recent accountancy exams.

Dipesh Joshi, Michael Frost, Catherine Driver, Michelle Rickard and Lisa Doyle are celebrating after their success and PR Account Manager Dave Toyn interviewed them for a press release.

Lisa joined the firm this year and has passed two papers which form part of her Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification studies.

Dipesh has been with the firm since 2009, training on the job instead of studying at university and after completing his Association of Accounting Technicians qualification looks forward to passing his final ACA exams in November, before fully qualifying as a chartered accountant.

Michelle, from Northampton, has been training with Newby Castleman for two years since graduating from Loughborough University, whilst Michael and Catherine enjoyed work experience at the firm so much they joined the team right after finishing their studies at the University of Leicester!

Proud Managing Partner, Chris Castleman says, “We’re very pleased with the latest exam results and wish to congratulate Dipesh, Michelle, Michael, Catherine and Lisa. All five have proved to be extremely hard working individuals and we wish them the best of luck as they continue their studies.”

Michael and Catherine with Chris Castleman

Hugglescote Social Club- the new name for the Hugglescote Working Men’s Club, is enjoying a new lease of life since opening its doors to the wider community. With the help and advice of client Newby Castleman Chartered Accountants, the club, open since the 1920s, changed its name and status to a social club at the start of the year.

Bob Watson, from the Social Club, explained to us here at Unsworth Sugden how the financial difficulties faced by the working men’s club in recent years led to the decision to rebrand. “We’d heard another working men’s club had made a successful transition to a social club so with Newby Castleman’s guidance we were able to make this move ourselves at the start of the year.”

David Hastings, partner at Newby Castleman’s Loughborough office comments that the change has “removed lots of business ‘red rape’ and the old fashioned stigma that a working men’s club possesses” and states that they have managed to turn a £6000 deficit into an £11,000 surplus. Cheers to an all round success!

Bob and David at the Club

August’s PR pic of the month comes from Action Bootcamp, based in East Leake.

The PR team spotted a growing trend in new ‘cadets’ signing up to try the popular new work out, and sent photographer Lionel Heap, with our client Newby Castleman’s brave Annalise Lovett (left), the latest in a surge of over 100 new recruits, to have a go.

Yvonne Radley, also photographed, and Paul Eaton started the company 18 months ago and are enjoying the successes of Action Bootcamp, which recently opened new sites and had to increase its workforce to 10 people, and say they feel confident their accounts are being well taken care of by Newby Castleman- “we know our finances are fighting fit”- just like Annalise!

Client Newby Castleman continues to enjoy great success with its free smartphone and tablet app after it was named one of the best apps on the market by the Leicester Mercury.

Prior to the launch of the brand new iPhone the paper has used space within its free Business Monthly magazine to review the apps which people should be downloading, from the serious to the quirky.

Newby Castleman’s accountancy app has been given a fantastic four stars which is the same rating as global hits such as Words With Friends and IMDb, and a higher rating than other popular apps like TimeLapse, TuneInRadio and Draw Something.

Readers of the article can also see the app for themselves as the review includes one of our photos of marketing manager Raquel Lesta holding an iPhone with the app on it.

This great review comes after the app experienced global success just a fortnight after its launch, being ranked first at the time in the Finance category for iPads and also eighth in the most downloaded accountancy app category for iPhones.

The Unsworth Sugden team has played a pivotal role in helping Newby Castleman generate interest in its app both locally and further afield. The PR team has secured a number of mentions in the Leicester Mercury and pieces in other titles such as Chamber News, Accountancy Live and Global Accountant. Meanwhile the creative team has designed emailers, press ads, web banners and flash animations for the website, email signatures and small iPhone mailers to sit in reception and be handed to clients. In short, there isn’t much we haven’t done!

To download the Newby Castleman app please follow these links to either the App Store if you have an iPhone and / or iPad, or Google Play if you have an Android phones and / or another tablet computer.

Ian Fawcett, Tax Partner at Newby Castleman

Olympic torchbearers who are considering selling their torches on eBay after the historic relay came to Leicestershire earlier this week, are being warned by client Newby Castleman Chartered Accountants of possible tax implications. The eagled-eyed Unsworth Sugden PR team noticed this national news story and have been able to bring awareness of it to a local audience.

The Olympic Flame is currently a few weeks into its 8,000 mile journey around the UK but
already the iconic metre-long torches have appeared on the online auction site eBay,
attracting bids of up to £150,000.

Some of the 75 or so people, who carried the torches through Leicestershire, may be attracted to selling their torches on websites such as eBay. However, it has become more apparent that they need to be aware of the tax they may have to pay if they do sell it.

Ian Fawcett, Tax Partner at Newby Castleman, comments “Should a torch bearer sell his or her torch for more than £6,000 then this will be classed as a chargeable gain and could see them paying Capital Gains Tax (CGT), depending on what other gains they have accumulated in the tax year. This rate will be charged at either 18 per cent or 28 per cent, depending on their total income for the year.”

Anniversaries are an excellent time to celebrate and promote our clients to a wider audience. They provide the PR team with an opportunity to show customers that little bit more about our clients and how well established they are in their region.

Milestones convey a company’s ability to come out on top even when times may be tough financially – and that has certainly been the case over the past two years.

However the recessions of past have not put a stop to staff and guests at Newby Castleman enjoying a celebratory dinner commemorating the firm’s 60^th anniversary.

Managing partner, Chris Castleman, commented: “We are delighted to have celebrated the firm’s 60 years with this anniversary dinner among employees and friends.

“Since it was established the firm has certainly developed a solid pedigree within the region which is something we look to build on.

“We have strived to retain the caring and personal touch, not just among our clients but also our employees. This is clearly reflected in the long service provided by so many members of staff, some of whom have been with the firm for over forty years.”

The event held at The Case saw employees and their guests join the partners of the firm to toast 60 years past and the next 60 to come.

“While looking back at these 60 years with pride we will continue to move forward with confidence and there’s no reason why Newby Castleman won’t be here in another 60 years.” Chris added.

Here at Unsworth Sugden we hope to continue to celebrate each and every milestone and tell the world all about our clients’ achievements.

Happy Anniversary to Newby Castleman!

CLIENT Newby Castleman is extending the deadline for youngsters to sign up to their apprenticeship scheme and have a gleaming future in accountancy ahead of them due to the amount of applications they have received.

With the rise in tuition fees coming in to effect this year, it is undoubtedly a daunting prospect for the majority of 18-year-olds applying for university.

That is why Leicester firm Newby Castleman is extending their offer to one lucky year 12 A level student for a fast track opportunity with their apprentice-style role.

But students need to act fast if they are to meet the new February 29^th deadline.

The contract will offer training for an Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) qualification, which the student will train for while working for the firm and have a guaranteed employed position at the end of their two years as an apprentice.

Every year hundreds of applicants, including school leavers and university graduates, contact Newby Castleman in an attempt to scoop one of its annual trainee positions, but this competition is the only opportunity that guarantees a place within the company and a fast-track route into the accountancy profession.

To enter students must be from Beauchamp College, Leicester Grammar or Loughborough Grammar.

Students need to submit a two-page application letter, instead of a CV, explaining why they are interested in the role and why a career in accountancy would suit them.

Shortlisted pupils will then gain a first-hand glimpse of accountancy during a week of work experience at Easter, before the winner is announced prior to the start of Year 13 and their final year of studies.

More information about the training contract competition is available by contacting the Leicester office on 0116 254 9262 or emailing info@newbyc.co.uk. Visit Newby Castleman for more details.

Newby Castleman Managing Partner Chris Castleman

As the latest unemployment figures reveal a worrying leap in the number of young people looking for work, a Leicester firm are looking to buck the trend by offering one lucky candidate a bright future in accountancy.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show the number of 16 to 24-year-olds now out of work stands at the dizzying height of 1.04 million - a rate of 22.3% - but accountancy specialists and client Newby Castleman has a fast-track opportunity guaranteeing training and employment for one Year 12 pupil from a local school.

The Regent Road-based company are running an exciting competition which will see one A Level student selected for an apprentice-style role, but as the 31^st January deadline looms, those with a head for numbers are being urged to enter or avoid missing out.

The training contract competition will provide one young person from Beauchamp College, Leicester Grammar or Loughborough Grammar with training for an Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) qualification, which they will train for while working for the firm.

Training will take place over two years, while the chosen candidate enjoys the added comfort of job security, as Newby Castleman guarantees a role within the company upon completion of their qualification and the possibility of further training in the future.

With more than one in five young people now seeking work and soaring costs of university education putting many off higher education, Newby Castleman believes this exciting opportunity will make a huge difference to the life of one A Level pupil.

Chris Castleman, Managing Partner at the firm, which also has a branch in Loughborough, comments: “We’re delighted to be able to offer one student a place at the firm on completion of their A Level studies – an opportunity that guarantees both training and employment. Spiralling tuition fees and the high levels of debt that accompany the university experience are putting many young people off higher education, so it’s not surprising they’re seeking other ways to get ahead. We’ve already had a huge response from young people who are keen to grasp this exciting opportunity, but I would urge anyone who hasn’t submitted their application to do so before the deadline, as this really is your last chance to enter.”

Every year hundreds of applicants, including school leavers and university graduates, contact Newby Castleman in an attempt to scoop one of its annual trainee positions, but this competition is the only opportunity that guarantees a place within the company and a fast-track route into the accountancy profession.

To enter, pupils need to submit a two-page application letter, rather than a CV, explaining why they are interested in the role and why a career in accountancy may suit them by 31^st January. Shortlisted pupils will then gain a first-hand glimpse of accountancy during a week of work experience at Easter, before the winner is announced prior to the start of Year 13 and their final year of studies.

More information about the training contract competition is available, simply call the Leicester office on 0116 254 9262 or email info@newbyc.co.uk. Visit Newby Castleman for more details.