NOVEMBER 2018 | 19
News
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
PRO SKILLS
New Installer
Training Courses
Launched By GGF
On the 9th of October the
GGF launched its new quality
mark training programme
for installers with great
success. Twelve trainees
attended the course, keen
to hone their skills and
focus on the core output
of the training: delivering
quality installations with
exemplary customer service.
The training is the
How to comply Moving to digital
There are three ways
installers can comply:
• Send information
regularly to their
accountant who acts
as their agent and re-
cords the information
in their accounting
system and performs
the submission to
HMRC.
• Record all sales
and purchases in a
spreadsheet where
the VAT return is
calculated and sub-
mit these totals via
“bridging software” to
HMRC. Use the same
method for profit and
loss returns in 2020.
There is a rumour
that this method will
only be allowed for
12 months.
• Run a system of their
choosing to generate
and capture sales and
supplier invoices and
submit electronically
to HMRC from there. Already 98% of VAT re-
turns are submitted through
the internet either directly
by the business or by their
accountant. However cur-
rently only 8% of VAT reg-
istered businesses use their
own accounting software to
file their VAT returns.
There are some reasons
why moving to a digital
platform can be good for
installers:
• If all information is
generated from a system,
many things like quotes
and invoices can be done
faster and numbers are
always up to date. That
should save time, help
chase any debt as well as
manage the business.
• Once people are famil-
iar with a system, there
is less work and cost
than doing it manually.
That’s why computers
are so prevalent in so
many businesses.
• The paperwork can look
more professional.
There are some potential
issues for installers with
adopting software:
• A lack of familiarity
with new software may
create issues.
• There is a possibility
they will be dropped in
the deep end with no
support.
• Additional cost.
The way to address these
issues is:
• It’s important that
installers receive a full
demonstration of any
software they plan to
use so that they can
see for themselves how
difficult or easy it is.
• Talk to other users to
hear what their experi-
ence is.
• Choose a supplier that
provides excellent sup-
port and specialises in
the trade industry.
• As a result, weigh up
the cost versus the
benefits that should
accrue.
targeted
‘ fines
for
those that
fail to
comply
’
MTD versus GDPR
Both MTD and GDPR are
supported by the law. The
difference between the two
is the need to do something
specific to comply with
MTD and the targeted fines
for those that fail to comply.
So, there is a distinct differ-
ence.
Having said that, for
anyone not VAT registered,
implementation is some
time away. Also, HMRC
seem to be promising that
enforcement will be gentle,
at least initially. My hope
is that this article will help
with your planning and
I would like to wish you
good luck!
www.powerednow.com
first part of the GGF’s
focus on quality.
Members who send
installers and survey-
ors on the course can
progress to achieve the
GGF Quality Installer
Award and GGF Quality
Surveyor Award. This
also involves an on-site
inspection and submis-
sion of a portfolio of
two jobs.
There was a buzz in
the training room as
Andy Clegg, a veteran
of the glazing industry,
delivered the training
with a degree of under-
standing that engaged
all present. There was
no escape from admit-
ting to those little tricks
and all recognised that
they will become a thing
of the past, as they
committed to delivering
quality outputs for the
benefit of the custom-
ers and business.
The GGF will be
launching its first train-
ing courses for survey-
ors on 25th October.
https://www.ggf.org.
uk/training/training-
installers-surveyors/