FPS Members News Update

FPS Umbrella launches Social Media Blog site

To accelerate global conversation about the issues, legislation and challenges involved in working as a contractor or temporary worker in the UK, FPS Umbrella has launched its fully social blogsite.

"Our FPS blog site will cover the current issues facing temporary and contract workers and offer advice and tips for best practice," says Jen Monro, Marketing Manager at Charterhouse Group International, the parent company of FPS. "Rights for temp workers, job market trends, legislation updates and industry news are all welcome on our blog.

"We want the blog to become the voice of the community and a virtual meeting place where individuals can exchange tips and find out the latest industry news and expert information on the ins and outs of contracting. Social networking has really exploded and a blog provides a great way to connect with customers."

Future plans for the blog include featuring podcasts and video; FPS also wants to encourage guest bloggers to provide different angles, and would be very happy if one of these was a recruiter.

Visit our blog today at www.fpsumbrellablog.com.

Smooth Group Launches Online Job Spot for overseas candidates

This may not be suitable for you, but you may know someone looking for a job in the UK. Tell them about our new job spot and they could get a head start finding a job in the UK!

Visit www.mysmoothlanding.com and click on Job Spot. It's easy to register with this secure site and upload your CV. Our Recruitment partners regularly review the site and will contact you directly, so please make sure you include contact details on your CV. A mobile phone number or email will suffice.

"The Job Spot is a quick and easy facility where our members can upload their CV to be reviewed by a select group of highly respected UK recruitment companies that place candidates in a wide range of industries" said Nerys Roberts, Group Commercial Director.

Give yourself the best chance of securing work in the UK by logging on to www.mysmoothlanding.com today.

Changes to your personal allowance and basic rate tax band in September 2008

The Chancellor announced that the basic Personal Allowance for the 2008-09 tax year will increase by £600 from £5,435 to £6,035. At the same time the basic rate tax band (the amount of taxable income you can earn before paying higher rate tax) will reduce from £36,000 to £34,800.

The changes will only benefit basic rate tax payers and will take affect from the first pay day on or after 7th September 2008. The changes will equate to a tax saving of approximately £120 over the course of the tax year.

HMRC will send us the information to increase your tax code by 60 - giving you the extra £600 of allowances announced by the Chancellor. We will adjust your tax code based on what HMRC send us and then calculate the updated amount for you. For example the tax code 543L (showing the current Personal Allowance of £5,435) would change to 603L, taking your new Personal Allowance to £6,035. All payments after the 7th September will be based on this new code.

If you have any queries regarding this please visit the HMRC website which contains lots of information to help you understand the changes. http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/employers/epa-understanding.html