STEP Employer Partnership Forum examines best practice in employee engagement

Leading industry practitioners speaking at last week’s STEP Employer Partnership Programme (EPP) Summer Forum discussed how to understand employee engagement, and put new ideas into practice. Particular topics for discussion included flexibility in the workplace, and understanding gender diversity and inclusion. The day was chaired by STEP CEO, Mark Walley and hosted by RSM at… Read More STEP Employer Partnership Forum examines best practice in employee engagement

July 2, 2019July 2, 2019 STEPeditorLeave a comment

EW to extend online probate service

The online system for England and Wales probate applications is to be extended further, after a Statutory Instrument was laid before the House of Lords last week. The Non-Contentious Probate (Amendment) Rules 2019 updates previous legislation to allow solicitors and probate practitioners to apply for grants of probate without an invitation from a registry. It… Read More EW to extend online probate service

July 2, 2019 STEPeditorLeave a comment

EW probate delays and disruption: an update

STEP met HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) this week, together with The Law Society and Solicitors for the Elderly, to obtain an update on the delays and disruption to the Probate Service in England and Wales. HMCTS gave us the following update on work undertaken since our last meeting on 14 May: It has… Read More EW probate delays and disruption: an update

June 27, 2019June 27, 2019 STEPeditor2 Comments

A welcome return to STEP Canada to attend the 21st National Conference

It was an absolute pleasure to be back in Toronto, Canada for the 21st National Conference, the STEP Canada Board meeting and AGM. I had visited in February, early in my tenure, given the importance of the region to STEP overall and to learn more about how we operate in different parts of the world.… Read More A welcome return to STEP Canada to attend the 21st National Conference

June 13, 2019 STEPeditorLeave a comment

What can you do to improve employee engagement?

We all know that employee engagement is important, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to get right. Next month’s STEP Employer Partnership Programme (EPP) Summer Forum will look at this key area, and help you devise a strategy that works for your organisation. Employee engagement can mean different things to different people. Some will see… Read More What can you do to improve employee engagement?

May 16, 2019May 16, 2019 STEPeditorLeave a comment

STEP meets HMCTS to discuss EW probate delays

STEP met HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) this week to discuss the backlog of applications and continued disruption to the Probate Service. HMCTS representatives explained its old database needed to be upgraded, which had prompted the decision to move to digital software. The new system was scheduled to go live in January but was… Read More STEP meets HMCTS to discuss EW probate delays

May 16, 2019May 17, 2019 STEPeditor18 Comments

What’s happening with the EW probate fees order?

Update 18 July: The probate fees order has not been scheduled for debate in the week commencing 22 July. As this will be the final week before the UK Parliament rises for its summer recess, and the end of the parliamentary session, the order cannot now be debated or passed until parliament returns on 3… Read More What’s happening with the EW probate fees order?

May 10, 2019May 3, 2022 STEPeditor1 Comment

5AMLD consultation: STEP’s view

The UK Treasury has published a consultation paper on the transposition of the EU’s Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (5AMLD), which expands upon the scope of registration for trusts and widens the accessibility provisions to the beneficial ownership records. The 5AMLD Directive provides for public access, but it is up to each Member State to decide… Read More 5AMLD consultation: STEP’s view

April 25, 2019May 3, 2022 STEPeditorLeave a comment

HMRC’s five traps to avoid with CRS/FATCA reporting

HMRC has identified the most common errors made by financial institutions (FIs) when filing their Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) returns, which include Common Reporting Standard (CRS) and Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) reportable information. 1. The FI misunderstands what constitutes an undocumented account FIs are wrongly reporting accounts as ‘undocumented’ on the basis… Read More HMRC’s five traps to avoid with CRS/FATCA reporting

April 10, 2019April 25, 2019 STEPeditor1 Comment

How to win a STEP Private Client Award 2019/20

Entries are open for the 2019/20 STEP Private Client Awards until 30 April. The Awards are widely acknowledged as being the premier event in the private client industry calendar. Winning an Award is a very clear and recognised hallmark of excellence. How then, do you go about winning an Award? John Barnett TEP, Chair of… Read More How to win a STEP Private Client Award 2019/20

February 12, 2019February 12, 2019 STEPeditorLeave a comment