Our blogs
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Alison Clynes
When Sandra Marshall joined Jerry Green Dog Rescue as their Finance Manager nearly four years ago, payroll was already outsourced. But what started as a convenient solution had gradually become a significant source of stress. “The level of customer service...
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Richard Rowell
Last week, we shared some exciting news: Ascend Payroll has been certified to three international quality standards. ISO 9001 – the standard for quality management ISO 27001 – Information Security Management System ISO 27701 – Privacy Information Management System (PIMS)...
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Stewart Waddell
From 1st April 2026, we’re launching Ascend.Education – our dedicated payroll and pension service for schools, academies and MATs. Why we’re doing this Education payrolls are notoriously complex. Pay scales, backdated pay awards, and staff juggling multiple roles with different...
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Paul Chappell
Choosing between a car allowance and a company car is one of the most significant decisions employees face when negotiating their benefits package. Both options have distinct financial implications, particularly when it comes to tax and National Insurance contributions. In...
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Stewart Waddell
On the anniversary of our first birthday, we’re delighted to welcome Lucy Brewitt to the team as our Pensions Specialist. Lucy brings over 15 years of pensions experience to Ascend, with a deep understanding of the complexities and regulatory requirements...
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Stewart Waddell
If you work in education payroll, you already know it’s complicated. If you’re considering switching providers or bringing payroll in-house, you might be underestimating just how complicated it gets. Education isn’t just another sector. It’s a unique combination of public-sector...
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Stewart Waddell
The warning signs you ignore at your peril Outsourcing your payroll should make your life easier. That’s the whole point. You hand over one of the most compliance-heavy, time-consuming parts of running a business to experts who eat, sleep and...
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Stewart Waddell
It starts small. An email takes a day longer to get answered. Your regular contact has “moved on to new opportunities.” You get introduced to someone new – again. They seem capable enough, but you can tell they’re still getting...
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Paul Chappell
If you’re hiring temporary workers through agencies, you need to understand the Agency Workers Regulations 2010. These rules aren’t just bureaucratic red tape, they’re designed to ensure temporary workers get fair treatment. Getting it wrong can lead to tribunal claims,...
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Paul Chappell
If you’re earning over £100,000 in the UK, you might be surprised to discover you’re facing an effective tax rate of 60% on a portion of your income. This isn’t an official tax band you’ll find on HMRC’s website, but...
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