Important Information Regarding Sage Payroll

As it is almost the end of the tax year, Sage will be sending out year end packs to Sage Payroll customers with a SageCover contract throughout March. This means that you can complete your year end and begin organising the new tax year.

When you receive the package you must install the update as soon as possible. This means that you can start processing payroll for the new tax year before year end. Ensure that you are using one of the following:

· Sage 50 Payroll 2011 v17.00
· Sage 50 Payroll 2010 v16.01, v16.03
· Sage 50 Payroll 2009 v15.04, v15.06
· Sage 50 Payroll 2008 v14.07, v14.09
· Sage 50 Payroll 2007 v13.10, v13.12
· Sage Payroll v12.13, v12.15
· Sage Payroll v11.16, v.11.18

Sage Payroll v11 will be coming to an end very soon and it will no longer be supported after 5th April 2011. If you are using this version you will not receive a year end pack but you will be able to download a year end guide on Sage’s website throughout March.

Sage Instant Payroll
Ensure that you have processed your final payroll for 2010/2011 tax year and have completed your year end. You must be using Sage Instant Payroll v11.12 or v12.00. If you need to check which version you use click on ‘tools’ then select ‘my instant payroll’.

What the Pack Contains
Each pack will contain a year end guide and a software update for 2011/2012. If there are any problems with the installation of the update you can find help at here or email support@sage.com. For technical support call 0845 111 5555 or for general customer enquiries call 0845 111 6666.

Every customer should have their packs by the end of March 25th, if you do not receive one by this date you can track dispatch .

Don’t Forget...
You must register with HM Revenue & Customs for the PAYE Online for Employers service. You can register by clicking here by selecting ‘Do It Online’ section click ‘Register’.

DISCOUNTED UPGRADES FOR ACT! v2007 USERS

Sage has announced that ACT! v2007 will no longer be supported from 31^st March 2011. This means that those using the product will not be able to add additional users, upgrade or purchase Sage Cover for their software.

We are currently offering a 20% discount on upgrades from ACT! 2007 to ACT! 2011. This offer will finish on 31st March 2011.

ACT! 2011 includes a range of new features and functions. Full details of the product can be found here.

If you would like to upgrade or purchase ACT! 2011 please call 0191 516 6882 or email sales@bond-solutions.com and quote code 'V27' when placing your order.

MOVEMBER IS FINALLY FINISHED….

And we’re pleased to announce that our MD, Derek, has finally had a shave! Movember is a charity event where men are encouraged not to shave for a full month to raise money for The Prostate Cancer Charity. Derek decided to take part in the event and managed to raise £185 for the charity. His group raised over £1500 for this great cause.

We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who donated to the event. If you would like to support the event, you can still donate by clicking here.

Here's an image of Derek during Movember:

We have lots more exciting charity events planned for 2011 and will be announcing further details soon. Thank you for all of your support over the past year!

Thank you Twitter - The 21st Century Community

I have now been tweeting since March 2009 and this article is my 3000th tweet. I wanted to make this a bit of a milestone and decided to write an article about what Twitter has done for me personally and my company. I wanted to pay tribute to all the "Tweeters" who have helped, inspired, worked with us, made us laugh and generally enjoy reading their tweets. I have grouped all these people together in a Twitter list and I would encourage everyone to follow these people and companies.

Twitter and Social Media sites in general are indeed the 21st Century community, it is essentially the equivalent of popping next door and asking for the proverbial cup of sugar and having a chat, that happened many years ago. I must admit I always find it quite funny when people say "why don't you just go and speak to people, there is no need to use Social Networking", that is exactly what people are doing on Social Networking sites, so it may not be physically in person but I am sure people mocked at the invention of the telephone as well!! If you need help with anything you can get it on Twitter from the most unlikely sources, from buying and sourcing a new product, through personal and family relationships and even business advice, its all there. Of course it is only another method of communication and face to face, telephone and email et al all have their place too.

So I mentioned I wanted to pay tribute to some people who have helped or inspired me or simply made me laugh, here goes, for the shortened version just go to my Twitter List.

Who inspired me first

The first person that got me involved in Twitter properly was @glenfeechan, he told me how easy it was to use and update on a regular basis and that the content just flows once you get into it, very true Glen, thanks for that. I was very fortunate that I met someone shortly after that who defined and continues to influence the digital strategy I adopted. She has a fantastic understanding of what is still a very new communications media and that person was @jerri_murtagh and her company @echo23_news.

Good Organisations to Follow

There are a number of companies we admire and follow their tweets regularly, these include @cellsolne who always have good stuff to say and share our own philosophy on Social Media. Other friendly organisations to follow are @leadtransformit, @houghtonint, @gurooltd, @entforum, @girl_geeks, @northeastbic, @1Daylater, @sageuk, @kurodragon, @quay2media @winningsales, @centreforebus, @better_studio, @souterconsults, @sunsoftcity, @b2fanimation, @engleby, @sunderlandsmile and @genicoach. These are just a few of my favourites but the list could go on and on.

Fund Raising

Another great advantage of Twitter is the opportunity to help raise money for charity and we have taken part in Byte Night and I was also part of the Twimmers team earlier this year with @marketingGeni, @easbynow, @canny_lass and @angelfysh. I have also decided to take part in #Movember starting tomorrow, inspired by @easbynow and @christianceriso.

Friends online and offline

These are some of the people I have met through Twitter or know in "the real world" and have grown to know more on Twitter. Again the list is not exhaustive just a snapshot, @thinkfreer, @redboatphoto, @patsyj, @1daveymo, @olivejm, @paul_1daylater, @TunstallM, @ian_farrar, @fari_, @hello_from_U, @oodavid and @_stuartlynn.

I have only been able to include a few names in this article, so sorry if youy have not been mentioned. There are a few more in my Twitter List and there are about 3000 more in my full Following List.

So to anyone who is considering setting up a Twitter account either personally or for business, I would encourage you to do it and take part in the 21st Century community.

Bond Pool Tournament

Here at Bond Solutions, we’re all currently competing in a pool tournament!

To make this competition a bit more interesting we’ve decided that whoever sinks to the bottom of our league table should complete an eating challenge, as voted for by you!

League table as at 30th November

What should our loser eat?
	A chocolate covered scorpion
	A Spoonful of cinnamon
	A chilli
	4 Mars bar ice creams

ACT! 2011 HAS ARRIVED

ACT! 2O11 is now available and, as always, includes a series of new features to improve your experience of using the software.

Sage has improved the initial start up procedure by simplifying the database creation and making it easier than ever to export data from Excel directly into ACT!. There is also now the option to customise the layout of ACT!, meaning it can be adapted to fit your individual preference.

ACT! 2O11 can now synchronise seamlessly with Outlook which allows your calendar and contacts to be exchanged directly between the two programmes. It also now incorporates the function to automate and customise processes, which includes the option to set prompts to contact a customer, schedule calls for other staff members and automate targeted e-marketing campaigns.

In most cases, the information stored in an ACT! database is confidential and you may not want everything to be seen by all staff within your organisation. With this in mind Sage has enhanced ACT!’s security settings, which allows the system’s administrator to define restricted areas and specific user security settings, ensuring that only specified users can see certain information.

Although we love the new features, our favourite addition has to be the mobile integration function, something which is new to ACT! 2011. Available for use with a range of phone handsets, you can now have access to your ACT! database wherever you are. This includes the function to see contacts, calendars, notes and history - perfect for those times when you’re out of the office.

ACT! 2011 still includes our favourite functionality from ACT! 2010, including e-marketing and social networking.

E-marketing provides a cost-effective way to communicate with customers, suppliers and potential leads, and ACT! includes an inbuilt e-marketing tool which allows you to communicate with your customers at the click of a button.

The communications can be pulled together in a short space of time and link to anywhere on your website.

They allow you to promote your business, including any special offers, news or events, to an unlimited amount of people easily and conveniently. The e-marketing tool will translate your results and evaluate your campaign for you, giving a detailed insight into what your customers are interested in, which links they opened and how many times they have viewed the email.

The e-marketing function also allows you to send out surveys to your contacts, with all of the returned data coming straight back into ACT! in an easy-to-view format.

Each marketing campaign will be tailored to your needs and all are basic and simple to set up. You can take a drip marketing approach and even set your emails to send on specific dates and times.

The social networking function was initially launched in ACT! 2010 and provides an innovative way for you to communicate with your customers on a range of different levels and platforms.

ACT! 2O11 links to popular methods of social networking, making it easier to communicate with your customers and encourage a two-way communication, thus helping you understand what your customer wants and how you can deliver this.

When viewing your contact, there is a new tab that shows links to their social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace, helping you discover more about your contacts and what they are up to.

If you would like further information about ACT! 2O11 and its new features, you can contact our sales team at sales@bond-solutions.com or call 0191 516 6882 to speak to an advisor.

We're Moving...

We are excited to announce that we are moving offices in August. Please see our press release below:

BOND IS FIRST THROUGH DOOR AT NEW SOFTWARE CENTRE
A state-of-the-art business location, crafted specifically to nurture software companies as part of the Sunderland Software City initiative, has welcomed its first tenant 2 months prior to its official opening in August.

The new Jupiter Centre at the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) aims to offer the ultimate location for software companies to locate and grow, with a choice of thirteen offices ranging in size from 32- 121 square metres.

The centre’s first tenant, Bond Solutions, specialises in technology-based customer relationship management (CRM) and finance solutions, and support services for SMEs.

Upon hearing of the new development, managing director Derek Curtis was immediately drawn to the location as a base to further grow Bond alongside existing offices in Manchester.

Derek Curtis said: "It is important to me that Bond Solutions’ home is in line with the overall aims and directions of the business: we are ambitious and forward-thinking, and always aim to leave an impression. The outline that the Jupiter Centre already carves on the River Wear matches this perfectly. It’s something not just for the present, but beyond this and into the future."

While its foundations rest in the refurbishment of a former conferencing centre at the BIC, The Jupiter Centre has been constructed to offer the highest technical specification currently available. Tenants will be able to choose from offices with balconies, additional annexes, mezzanine floors, and spiral staircases. There centre will also offer two meeting areas, complete with free WiFi and refreshment areas.

David Howell, director of operations at the North East BIC, said: “Whilst it will be an ideal home for burgeoning software companies to further their growth, The Jupiter Centre is also a major element of the larger infrastructure strategy of the Sunderland Software City project. It will offer a perfect location in terms of both technical specification and support services for software companies in the region.”

Bernie Callaghan, chief executive at Sunderland Software City, said: “A huge part of Sunderland Software City’s work is persuading leading software companies to make our region their home. World class, cutting-edge accommodation is a huge attraction to businesses of all sizes and that’s exactly what the Jupiter Centre offers.

“Bond Solutions are well known to us, and we’re delighted that they want to be part of the Jupiter Centre.”