Newsletter - Keep in Touch with ATL
If you wish to be keep up to date on the products and services and special offers ATL Solutions provides, please email Lisa lisa@atlsolutions.co.uk and she will add you to the mailing list.
Microsoft Office 2010 released
So, what's new in Office 2010? There is alot! The news release brings a set of important if incremental improvements to the market-leading office suite. Among them:- Ribbon interface and Backstage View across all applications
- Background Removal Tool
- Letter Styling
- New SmartArt templates
- New text and image editign tools
- Screen capturing and clipping tools
- Live collaboration functions
- New animations in PowerPoint
VAT to Rise
As expected, the Chancellor announced an increase in VAT from 17.5% to 20% from 4 January 2011. However, he has confirmed:- that zero rated essentials, such as food and medical items, will remain unaffected.
- Anti-forestalling arrangements have been introduced with effect from 22 June 2010 to prevent artificial arrangements being putin place to circumvent the increase in VAT
- As a result of the increase in VAT, the flat rate scheme percentages have been increased, to apply from 4 January 2011
Corporation Tax increases competitiveness
The UK’s corporation tax rate, which is one of the highest in the EU, is generally seen as a barrier to making the country attractive to large corporations. The Chancellor is aiming to fix this by reducing the full rate of tax from 28% down to 24% over four years, starting with a reduction to 27% from April 2011.The Government is kicking off a full reform of the corporation tax system in the autumn, allowing time to listen to the needs of businesses and take a more considered approach. Overall, the aim is to end up with a broader tax base, with lower rates to improve our competitiveness in the EU.Alongside the full rate decrease, the small rate of corporation tax will also be reduced from 21% to 20% from April 2011.
Business Guides to help you, provided by Business Link
Small business owners need to balance many demands on their time, and training often comes bottom of the list on things to do. This document produced by Business Link shows you how to build a cost effective IT training plan, making sure it fits your business objectives.
This guide produced by Business Link explores the topic of getting the right skills in IT and computing to help your business. Being able to use IT effectively and efficiently will save you many hours a week compared to slower, manual methods.
ATL Solutions celebrates 10 years of success
ATL Solutions was set up at the turn of the Millennium and, ten years later, is still going strong from its base at the University of Warwick Science Park, Coventry. The firm shared cake with staff at the Business Innovation Centre to celebrate its tenth birthday. Helen, Managing Director, puts the success down to moving with the times and responding to clients' needs.
She said: "In ten years, the world has changed dramatically and it is important that you don't stand still or you will fall behind.
"We have placed huge emphasis on working with clients, getting to know their needs and developing solutions for their business. No two campanies are the same and, therefore, their training programmes shouldn't be either.
" Its great to have achieved ten years in business and we are all striving to make the next decade just as successfull." ATL Solutions celebrates raising over £1000 for Cancer Research
After taking on the challenge of walking 5km for the Race for Life, our team is happy to have completed the walk at Coombe Abbey, Coventry to raise money for Cancer Research. The team joined forces to reach their target of £1000 sponsorship and ran through the finish line together in under an hour.
ATL Solutions celebrates contract extension with Learning and Skills Council
The Learning and Skills Council have enlisted ATL Solutions to provide IT user training to their staff through a mixture of remote instructor-led and face-to-face training as they work towards their iTQ - a recognised NVQ in IT User Skills. Charlotte Points, LSC West Midlands Learning and Development Manager said: "The learning method offered by the training programme offers so many benefits to the employer and the learners. Our staff can learn at times that fit in with their individual time schedules - and they don't even have to move away from their desks whilst working towards their NVQ qualification. I really believe its the way forward for future training." To read more about this exciting news email lisa@atlsolutions.co.uk.
Helen wins recognition of contribution Award at UKita Christmas Event
Helen won the award for efforts to the membership drive and the executive group. It was a proud moment for Helen when UKita paid recognition to the continual effort Helen has made to increase UKita membership and the work she carries out as part of her role on the committee group.
This award is given in recognition of the continued focus that both Helen and ATL Solutions have provided in improving the development of the membership base and sustainability of process moving forward. Helen also works with unflagging determination on the UKita Exec Committee to drive the organisation forward, to identify best practise and improve its operational service to the benefit of members and board alike.
VAT changes on 1 December 2008
In his Pre-Budget Report on 24 November 2008 the Chancellor announced that the standard rate of VAT will be reduced to 15% on 1 December 2008.
What you need to do for any sales of standard-rated goods or services that take place on or after 1 December 2008 is charge VAT at the new rate of 15%. This means that cash businesses which currently calculate their VAT using the VAT fraction of 7/47 should, from 1 December, use the new VAT fraction of 3/23.
ATL Solutions celebrates regional Business Awards
Coventry IT training specialist, ATL Solutions, left stiff regional competition standing with its success at the coveted West Midlands ICT Excellence Awards 2008.
The growing and successful local company, which currently employes five people at its head office at Binley Business Park, was highly commended in the Best Private Sector Project Award category for their ITQ Trainng Project.
The ITQ Training Project allows employers to provide online, flexible and bespoke training for each learner, resulting in nationally recognised qualifications. It is a paperless, scalable course, which can offer a whole range of bite-size training modules to suit the business, in one to one or group sessions. The project has also created an online IT qualification community. Employers can deliver real opportunities to their staff with nationally endorsed qualifications that also benefit their business.
Helen Brewster, Operations Director at ATL Solutions, said, “We're delighted to be honoured with this recognition, this will help us to raise our profile in the government funded arena. There is currently a niche in the market for a private training provider to deliver remote training benchmarked to national approved standards; this award will bring us to the attention of the right people. As a result of wider recognition, we’ll also be able to network with other companies and build new relationships. The Cluster conference and awards ceremony offers an excellent opportunity to put that into practice.”
Mike Musson, ICT Cluster Manager, added: “This year we've seen the highest standard of award entries yet and competition has been incredibly tough. The judging process has been rigorous and the panel faced a major challenge in deciding the final winners due to the sheer quality, innovation and excellent service provided by all the finalists. The awards are testament to the quality and diversity among technology companies in the West Midlands region.”
The ICT Excellence Awards were presented at the evening Awards event following the Annual ICT Cluster Conference held at the Birmingham Motorcycle Museum on 20 November 2008.
Email juliec@atlsolutions.co.uk for more information regarding our ITQ and NVQ training.
ATL Solutions becomes an OCR centre
ATL Solutions became one of a handful of private training providers to become an OCR centre. This means that not only does it provide IT training, but learners can be accredited with a formal qualification at the end of their studies.
Julie Craddock, Head of Qualifications, says: "We are in a unique position, as becoming a centre allows our clients to get the best of both worlds. They get to work with the a private training provider, giving them the best customer service, and at the same time they can gain a nationally recognised qualification."
Helen Brewster achieves SFEDI Accrediation
ATL Solutions are pleased to announce that Helen Brewster, Operations Director, has successfully achieved the SFEDI accreditation after meeting the goals and objectives set by SFEDI Business Support standards.This simply means that you can rest assured that the advice, consultancy and support provided by Helen is relevant, of high quailty and appropriate for small to meduim sized businesses. Helen will provide you with independant and impartial business advice helping you to gain the relevant information to grow your business.
Helen says "SFEDI is a badge of quality to assure you that you are receiving the best advice and support available to you. I believe that through my own personal experience of running a business, I understand first hand the needs and issues faced with starting a new business or moving forward to grow a business successfully. Along with my extensive network of contacts I can offer honest and practical business support".
If you would like to speak to us about advice and support for your business please call Lisa on 024 7643 0363 or email lisa@atlsolutions.co.uk.
About SFEDI
Founded in 1996 SFEDI is a UK wide organisation that aims to be like a 'Consumers Association' of learning and skills development available to prospective and existing entrepreneurs. Helen is part of a team dedicated to offering business advice and support to small to medium business enterprises.