News
Smiles - The Lord Lieutenant opened the
new Finchale Group premises in Durham.
PAYROLL MAKES
THE DREAM ROLL
Forces charity’s new HQ gets royal seal of approval
A
leading independent charity
specialising in support and training
for the Armed Forces community
across the region has gained the royal seal
of approval following its move to new
headquarters.
Finchale Group, which provides specialist
employment programmes and support
across the region for people with complex
barriers to employment, officially opened its
new premises at Richard Annand VC House
in Mandale Business Park, Durham.
Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of County
Durham, Sue Snowdon, cut the ribbon to
honour the move to a building named after
the charity’s South Shields-born founder and
war hero.
She said: “If you look, as I did, at the
history of Finchale, the core values are still
the same. The core values which are most
definitely at the heart of all that Finchale
Group does.
“And that’s why the trust, respect and
reputation that Finchale Group has, has
been earned through hard work and
professionalism.
“Your new home is first class, a fantastic
facility which will enhance your clients and
community experiences, making this group
stronger than ever.
“You’re providing a foundation to get out
there, reach out and touch lives and find new
ways to support people and families.
“I’m absolutely overwhelmed and full of
enthusiasm and admiration for the huge
impact you are making and pay tribute to
everyone involved in the organisation. You
are doing a great job here and long may it
continue.”
Step Forward Tees Valley is among the
Finchale Group partners and together they
support people in the area to overcome the
complex barriers preventing them from
finding work, such as physical or mental
ill-health, a lack of self-confidence, a gap in
skills, a conviction, or an addiction.
Over three years, Step Forward Tees Valley
will work with 2,500 people across Tees
Valley by supporting them to take advantage
of existing voluntary or employment
possibilities, as well as working with local
employers to create new opportunities.
The project helps people in Tees Valley
to build on their strengths and aspirations,
using the skills and expertise of partners and
local employers to achieve their goals.
For 75 years Finchale Group was based
near Finchale Abbey on the outskirts
of Durham and its Finchale College
headquarters was a hostel as well as an
educational facility, but a costly one to
maintain.
Finchale Group was originally set up by
Richard Annand VC to help ex-veterans
disabled in the Second World War, after
he was forced to retire from military
service through injuries he sustained, and
it maintains strong links with the Armed
Forces community with support and
education programmes.
The group is now branching out and
expanding and in attendance at the opening
were beneficiaries of new initiatives
launched this year, including the Security
Industry Authority Training course and
families from the Female Force Programmes
and Family Force Programmes, which is
funded by the British Legion to bring force
families together and provide support, such
as activities leading to better mental health
and positive attitudes.
The Lord Lieutenant Sue Snowdon’s
bouquet was presented by Forces wives who
learnt floristry together as part of the LIBOR
Programme, which provides case-managed
assistance to the Armed Forces community.
The move to the new premises comes
as the charity goes through its own
transformation and expands into the
commercial sector, as well as continuing and
developing its renowned charitable work.
Finchale has also started its commercial
contract with RT AAA Caretakers and
Mandale, who provide ground maintenance
for Mandale Business Park.
A
s businesses begin implementing
their strategic planning in 2020,
many will be looking at one of
the essential building components of any
successful company.
Question: What is one of the most
constantly overlooked areas of the business
world but yet the first to be noticed if
something goes wrong?
Answer: Payroll.
We’ve become so familiar with
politicians talking about the ‘magic money
tree’ that many of us could be forgiven for
beginning to believe there is actually such
a thing.
And yet, while you might expect to be
mocked for falling for an arboreal fantasy,
you’d be surprised how many workers of
the world view payroll in such a similar
light: wages appear in their account every
week or month, like clockwork, on time, as
if by magic.
The reality is, as any business knows –
small, medium or large – that the business
of payroll is a challenging one, often time-
consuming and occasionally it can be full
of pitfalls and even legal problems.
The solution for more and more
companies is outsourcing payroll functions
rather than having the expense of an in-
house department.
With the additional administration of
RTI and pensions Automatic Enrolment
(AE), there has never been a better time to
outsource payroll.
Outsourcing, however, does not mean
losing control.
Whatever payroll provider you might
ultimately choose, make sure their service
is built around your needs and they are
flexible to any changes you wish to make.
Have a great New Year.
Rico Liverani
Managing director, DCS Payroll
wear.business – the voice of business for the Wear region
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