Archives October 2023

How to control access at your next big event
Managing the flow of your attendees is essential to a well run secure event where your invited guests can enjoy themselves without worrying about the risk of unauthorised individuals gaining access.

No matter if those trying to access the venue without a ticket have malicious intentions or simply want to see the event itself they are still a serious safety risk.

It’s not only thew fact they could harm other attendees or disrupt the event but if no-one knows they are there non-one will know to ensure they have evacuated the building in the event of an emergency and they could do themselves harm accidentally.

access technology

All your health and safety plans will also have been based on a set number of visitors and if more people are on-site than are meant to be there could be issues with congestion or overcrowding.

At the end of the day, controlling access at your event is critical and there are a few select access control top tips that you can follow to enable you to do just that.

Top tips for event access control

Check tickets

The most obvious and important security tip for any event. You have issued tickets for a reason so make sure to check them properly before granting any attendee access to the venue.

You could do this manually or hire security guards to check tickets but in the modern world scanners are by far the quickest and most effective way to evaluate if a ticket is genuine.

Depending on the event in question you might decide to ask for identification on the gate as well as a ticket and ensure that the names match up.

This is a good way to avoid the touting or theft of tickets as it ensure that only the buyer of the ticket or the desired recipient of an invite is able to use the ticket.

Manage queues

A smooth and orderly queuing system is the key to a calm and secure entry process at any event. Queue control can take many different forms but will usually involve fencing and some form of signage showing your attendees in the right direction.

Security Searches

A preliminary search by security guard might be a good idea if you are worried about illicit items being brought into your event. Legally, both male and female security guards must be available for this if you decide it is something you want to do.

Sniffer dogs are another great asset to have as they can detect drugs and other illicit substances far more efficiently than a human guard.

Metal Detectors

Airport style metal detectors at the entrance to your venue will pick up any suspicious items such as knives or guns and reassure visitors that they are safe once inside the venue. Of course this isn’t something that is required at every event and can cost a decent amount of money but it is certainly a good option to have available.

The future of the construction industry

The construction industry has always moulded itself and adapted to the ever changing needs of society.

In recent times, this has involved the adoption of new technologies and investment in more environmentally friendly practices and procedures.

As the threat of global warming grows more and more severe each and every day, further change is required in this vital sector to help reduce the impact that construction projects have on our planet.

There are already new regulations being introduced in the UK in regards to new build properties with mandatory electric car chargers and a ban on gas boilers coming into place in 2025.

The construction industry has always been an exciting one to operate in due to its ever changing nature and the fact that no two days, never mind two years are ever the same.

There is always someone innovating or optimising their processes and it is vitally important that you keep up if you want to be a success.

construction

What does the future of construction look like?

Bright but very different would be the easy answer to this question. There is no doubt that the construction industry is one of the most heavily impacted by new environmental regulations and there will need to be even more significant changes to manufacturing processes and technology in the future.

There has already been much work done in this regard and embracing technology is the first step you simply have to take if you want to be an industry leader in the new world.

Virtual Reality

OK, so we aren’t all living in a VR world just yet, but VR can certainly help us to imagine what the world we want to live in will look like.

3D and 4D modelling are already major parts of the construction planning process, and are used to plan and design construction projects of all shapes and sizes.

Creating models of a building before construction begins is not only a valuable tool for determining how it will look but also how complex the building process will be and what sort of materials and resources will be required.

Of course, scale models of construction projects aren’t new, but 3D modelling has certainly made them a whole lot easier to produce and can save a lot of time in the planning process.

Security Technologies

Another area of construction where technology has already started to take over is security. Access control gates, CCTV towers, and motion detection alarm systems are already common sights on construction projects up and down the UK, protecting building sites from vandalism, arson, theft and more.

If you are serious about building your construction company for the future, construction site security systems should be right atop your priority list and these technologies ensure you have the best possible chance of protecting your assets and most importantly your staff.

Overall, embracing and adapting to new technology is an absolute must for the modern security company and being one of the first to harness it will give you the boost you have been looking for.

FBT exempt novated lease: FBT Exempt Novated Lease For Electric Vehicles

FBT isn’t payable on payments for eligible electric vehicles up to the Luxury Car Tax threshold; this could provide employees with significant income tax savings compared with a standard car loan.

Salary packaging an electric vehicle through vehicle-solutions FBT exempt novated lease may make salary packaging an attractive tax change option for those considering purchasing one. Read on to discover its advantages.

Reduced tax burden

Vehicle-solutions FBT exempt novated lease enable employees to salary package their car through salary packaging, with lease payments deducted from pre-tax income. It creates a Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) liability that can be reduced or eliminated by making after-tax contributions towards running costs for the vehicle.

An FBT exemption introduced in 2022 allows eligible electric vehicles and PHEVs to be salary packaged without FBT payable on lease and running costs, significantly lowering both upfront costs as well as ongoing running expenses, thus encouraging uptake among employers and employees alike.

With a novated lease from ORIX, all vehicle financing and operating costs are combined into one simple monthly payment that’s collected (partially or fully) from an employee’s gross salary, helping reduce taxable income while optimising take-home pay. It provides an alternative to taking out personal loans or paying in cash upfront for the car; for more information, see our user-friendly guide to novated leasing.

Environmental benefits

Starting on 1 July 2022, FBT for all-electric cars up to the luxury car tax threshold ($89,332 in FY2023/24) was removed. It also applies for novated leases on these EVs, meaning you could salary package your purchase and cover running costs such as registration, insurance and charging with pre-tax money – saving thousands each year in taxes!

Electric vehicles (EVs) are more efficient and cost less to run than their traditional counterparts, helping reduce your carbon footprint and environmental impact. Opting for one with FBT exemption through novated leasing can further boost your green credentials while yielding substantial financial savings.

Tax-free incentives for employees

Vehicle-solutions FBT exempt novated lease is a three-party arrangement between you, your employer and a novated leasing provider to finance your new car through finance lease and salary sacrifice agreements, with lease payments plus running costs (fuel, servicing, insurance and registration) collected pre-tax from wages for collection by novated leasing providers – ultimately decreasing taxable income and maximising take-home pay.

Understanding novated leases and FBT works requires professional advice from your financial adviser. A specialist can assist in helping you understand its benefits and risks as compared to alternative financing solutions like car loans.

Financial case

Novated lease payments typically come out of pre-tax salary (or entirely pre-tax for eligible EVs). It lowers your taxable income and can increase disposable cash; however, FBT must still be paid on its taxable value using either the Statutory Formula Method (or using vehicle running costs as the basis) as per the Vehicle Operating Cost Method (VECM).

Employers that offer vehicles through salary sacrifice agreements may incur fringe benefits tax (FBT). The employer will owe this tax based on any taxable benefits provided to employees or their associates from such arrangements.

Employees can reduce the risk of FBT by making post-tax contributions towards running costs for their novated lease car, such as fuel and servicing costs. These contributions can then be claimed back as GST credits to reduce their taxable value and your FBT liability at year’s end. Seek professional advice, if necessary, on how this can be accomplished.

The tax man may not be on everyone’s Christmas card list, but he could make an appearance this year if you get a novated lease on an electric vehicle. The Australian government has recently passed legislation exempting Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) on EVs and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which makes them more affordable for employees who purchase them through salary packaging arrangements such as a novated lease.

It is a significant financial saving and could potentially make the case for an EV more compelling than ever. However, it’s wise to seek advice from a qualified accountant before making any decisions.