BENEVOLENT FUND

Registered Charity No: 234082

NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS

Eighty-first Annual General Meeting

7 December 2011

Notice is hereby given that the eighty-first Annual General Meeting of the Institute of Financial Accountants and International Association of Book-keepers Benevolent Fund will be held at the Methodist International Centre (MIC), 81-103 Euston Street, London NW1 2EZ on Wednesday 7 December 2011 at 17:00 hours for the following purposes:

1. To receive the report of the Trustees and Accounts for the fund to the year ended 30 September 2010.

2. To elect trustees.

The following trustees retire and are eligible for election:

Christopher Brown

Christopher Morris

Beryl Shepherd

John Chapman

3. To receive a report on progress towards an amended Deed of the Benevolent Fund.

4. To appoint Ensors (Ipswich) as Independent Reporting Examiner until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting, unless replaced by the trustees prior to that date, and that the trustees be authorised to determine their remuneration.

By order of the trustees 19 November 2011

Ann Brown

Secretary

Brantwood,

Post Office Corner,

Stutton,

Ipswich IP9 2TJ

To download the full notice, information and Proxy form, please Click Here 

We have 2 excellent regional seminars arranged for the benefit of members.  The event carries a bonus of double CPD points (2 per hour) reflecting the important content offered over the day.

Speaker                                                                       Topic

Michael O’Brien FIAB                                                      Members’ Handbook Content                  

Julia Booton JBAS Accounting Services                             Compliance Monitoring Visits                  

Richard Ainsworth, Abbey Tax                                         HMRC Record Checks

Paul Baker, Independent Financial Services                      Pensions/NEST              

Charges (including lunch and refreshments) are £65 for Members (including IFA Dual members) and £80 for guests/non members. 

The speakers will be as shown above.  The cost of the day including lunch and refreshments is £65 for Members (including IFA Dual Members) and £80 for guests/non members.

Contact Kelly Lant or Mary-Anne Cook on 01732 897750 or email kellyl@iab.org.uk - for the full Agenda and to book your place.

IAB honours National Education Society International School in India

 The International Association of Book-keepers (IAB) presented a special award to the NES International School at the House of Commons on Tuesday 11th January. The Award, ‘Best New IAB Centre of 2010 – India’, was made after NES successfully launched new bookkeeping and computerised bookkeeping courses and qualifications.
 The courses, designed by NES earlier in 2010 were evaluated by IAB and deemed to meet its exacting standards. NES went on to successfully launch the courses with students passing their examination which are externally moderated by the IAB. The successful students each receive, from the IAB, certificates which are a confirmation to all of the standards that they have demonstrated.
Malcolm Trotter, IAB Chief Executive, congratulated the students, staff and management of NES International School for its achievement saying, ”It is remarkable that the School has developed such vocationally relevant courses providing financial skills that all businesses and organisations require. Not only this, but NES has immediately successfully launched the courses with excellent achievement rates confirmed by IAB quality assurance and international certification.”  He added that, “This award from the IAB is a further confirmation of the performance of the School which in no small part is one of the outcomes of a lifelong commitment and determination of the school founder ,Dr R Varadarajan, to provide quality and relevant education for all.”
The National Education Society, which set up the International School, is not simply an institution but the realisation of Dr Varadarajan’s passionate vision of education for all. He began his educational mission in 1963 and laid the foundation of NES Sunbeam School in the slum area of Bhandup, Mumbai.  Today, the NES & SVB Group of Institutions comprises of 47 institutions catering to student community of Kindergarten to professional courses like management, teacher-training and pharmacy. It is largely the result of the passion of Dr Varadarajan to impart quality education to all segments, from the socio-economically underprivileged to the very elite seeking international education.  His enormous contribution to the cause of education has been appreciated and recognized by numerous local, state, national and international bodies from time to time, including the National Award of ‘Best Principal’ presented to him by the President of India, the Honourable Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma in 1995.
His vision of educating India is one of achieving a fine balance between providing education for the underprivileged through inclusive education and, on the other hand, providing the world’s richest educational programs for the higher aspirants, thus creating a “Knowledge Society” which is critical for the sustainable development of the nation.

TOP BOOKKEEPERS REVEALED AT SFEDI AWARDS CEREMONY

A Salisbury-based organisation has gained national recognition after scooping two awards at the UK Enterprise Support Awards 2010 ceremony, sponsored by FA Simms & Partners and the Institute of Payroll Professionals (IPP); and held at The Kensington Roof Gardens on 15th April 2010.

Sandra Silk, founder of Sandra Silk Bookkeeping & Business Services Ltd, won IAB Bookkeeper of the Year, whilst her team member, Jan Romer-Lee, was recognised as IAB Payroll Professional of the Year.

Sandra, who worked for several employers over the years, took the plunge and established her own company in 2003, offering bookkeeping, payroll and business services to start-ups and small businesses.  Since then she has expanded considerably, recruiting Jan in 2008 after both of them studied – and achieved, Distinctions under IAB tutor Penny Randall.

“I was convinced that there was enough demand and that I had what it took to set up on my own”, explains Sandra, who originally studied for her Payroll examinations in her lunch hour.  “I decided to give it a go and sought the advice of an accountant who not only supported me professionally, but also referred my first client”.

Seven years later, Sandra has dozens of loyal clients, many of whom have been with her for several years. 

“It’s all about support”, says Sandra.  “A good business service provider should ensure that they not only do the job but go the extra mile, without exception.  Obviously, it is vital that a provider should be qualified and experienced, with the ability to save business owners substantial time and resource.  However, our clients value the fact that we actually invest in their firm, proactively offering advice and support and working side by side with them to help their company grow and develop.  Not every business service can do this, but it does mean that once we gain a client, we normally enjoy an excellent working relationship over many years”.

Malcolm Trotter, chief executive of the IAB, was extremely impressed with Sandra’s nominations:  “Sandra’s passion for what she does and her commitment to her clients absolutely shone through.  This organisation provides us with an outstanding example of someone simply acting on their entrepreneurial spirit; ultimately providing a service which rivals – and in some cases even outperforms, many larger companies”.

So what do these awards mean for Sandra and her team?

“To be recognised nationally as the best in the business has given us a real boost, both personally and professionally”, says Sandra.  “We have grown considerably, particularly over the last 12 months, and this will help us to raise our profile even further.  We thoroughly enjoy what we do and hope that more small businesses will realise that there is support out there, and that we will continue to do our very best in helping them drive their company forward”.

INTERNATIONAL EXCELLENCE IN ENTERPRISE PROMOTION

The UK can learn a number of lessons from international examples of different and successful approaches to promoting enterprise. Some of these were presented in two key note addresses from Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion holders at a Dinner held at the House of Commons earlier in March. The Dinner was arranged by the IAB (International Association of Book-keepers) and sponsored by LloydsTSB Commercial.

Both speakers were provocative in their comments. For the UK to progress towards the goal of being the most enterprising place to start a small business, David Irwin identified the need for policy on small business to be “coherent, consistent and comprehensive”. Professor Alan Barrell had another angle, stressing the importance of enterprise learning to the future of the UK economy.

The event, hosted by the International Association of Book-keepers (IAB) and sponsored by LloydsTSB Commercial, was held with the intention of provoking a fresh look at policies and practices within the UK, with regard to its support structures and provision given to assist potential business start-ups.

Malcolm Trotter, chief executive of the IAB, acknowledged existing funding and support systems, but criticised the fact that availability of these provisions currently varies between regions.  He also raised the issues that funding is too often only short-term and that funding information for potential start-ups, provided by government organisations, is not readily available, saying:

“It would seem more than likely that by 2020, perhaps as many as one in four of us will be self-employed or an owner-manager of a small business.  In periods of recession and redundancy, self-employment is a key solution for many.  If the personal and well-being of the nation depends on the success of these small businesses, it is essential then that as a nation, we properly address the skills requirements and support of start-ups and developing businesses”.

Mr Trotter stated that he would like to see enterprise learning becoming a national scheme, given funding priority.  He has suggested a flagship programme, which could be funded by true public/private partnership and would provide a standard level of training and support in every region, which could then be tailored to the individual needs of each business start-up. 

The Dinner at the House of Commons was held with the support of the Small Firms’ Enterprise Development Initiative (SFEDI) and was attended by Tony Robinson OBE, founder of the SFEDI; and senior delegates from several Sector Skills Councils.

Mr Trotter acknowledged the work carried out by SFEDI and Tony Robinson in particular, saying that the organisation was “…uniquely placed to bring together all parties involved in enterprise.  It can work with the government, its agencies and other sector bodies and Sector Skills Councils to raise enterprise skills in the UK.  Indeed, with SFEDI’s continuing championing of the vital needs for enterprise skills and support and its expertise in this area, I am certain that current start-up support is greater than would otherwise be provided and hopes for the future remain bright”.