Our blogs

10 tips for building client relationships

10 things you can do to build stronger client relationships

Building Client Relationships Building strong client relationships with your customers is key to any business’s success. I have been fortunate over the years to work with many company business leaders, teams, and suppliers during my career, helping shape managed payroll...

Blog - payroll tips for new businesses

Payroll tips for new businesses

Payroll Tips from Ascend Starting your own business is exciting, but hiring staff also means stepping into the world of payroll. And let’s be honest, it’s probably not the bit you were most looking forward to. Payroll might not be...

NMW and sleep-in shifts

National Minimum Wage and sleep-in shifts – understanding workers’ rights

The complex relationship between sleep-in shifts and the National Minimum Wage In certain sectors, many essential workers provide round-the-clock care in roles that include “sleep-in shifts”. These are periods where they must remain on-site overnight but can sleep when not...

Guide to IR35

A guide to IR35 (off-payroll working)

The IR35 off-payroll working rules have significantly changed how businesses engage with contractors in the UK. These regulations, designed to tackle what HMRC calls “disguised employment,” affect both contractors and the organisations that hire them. It’s a complex area, and...

Payroll Simplified - Pension calculations

Understanding pension calculations and different contribution methods

Pension calculations – How do they work? When it comes to workplace pensions, understanding how your contributions are calculated can significantly impact take-home pay and retirement savings. In this blog, we’ll explore the different pension calculation methods, with particular focus...

Blog - Navigating Salary Sacrifice

Navigating salary sacrifice without falling foul of HMRC

Salary sacrifice arrangements have become increasingly popular as a way for employers to offer attractive benefits while potentially reducing both employer and employee tax and National Insurance contributions. However, in 2017, new rules were introduced that created a complex web...

Beyond the acronyms - what sales-driven businesses are missing

Beyond the acronyms – what sales-driven businesses are missing

In the world of sales and service businesses, it’s hard to escape the acronyms: CAC. MQL. CLV. SQL. They fill slide decks and dashboards, promising precision and predictability. They give teams targets to chase. They give managers metrics to report....

Blog - Charities and Employment Allowance

UK charities and Employment Allowance

We are often asked, “As a charity, are we eligible for the Employment Allowance?” The simple answer is yes. For UK charities managing tight budgets while fulfilling their missions, every financial relief opportunity matters. The Employment Allowance represents one such...

Payroll Simplified - Alabaster Ruling and Maternity Pay

How the Alabaster Ruling changed Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)

The “Alabaster ruling” refers to the landmark case of Alabaster v Woolwich plc and Secretary of State for Social Security (2002). This European Court of Justice case fundamentally changed how Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is calculated in the UK, ensuring...

Ascend Payroll - Why we say no to clients

Why we only work with clients we like

Ascend Payroll – How we create a personal service There’s a certain kind of shop that makes you smile the moment you walk through the door. The lighting is warm, the music is thoughtfully curated, the layout is considered, and...

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