Seeking a job or looking for advice over a career change or training opportunities?

Then don’t miss Employment and Skills 2013, which takes place at the Villa Marina in Douglas tomorrow (Tuesday).

Hosted by the departments of Economic Development and Education, it provides the largest annual gathering of employers held locally.

A range of information and advice will also be available from the JobCentre, Careers Guidance Service, Disability Employment Service and the Training Services teams.

John Loughton, who won Big Brother Celebrity Hijack in 2008, will also be attending.

The youth leader, social entrepreneur and campaigner said: ‘What I have learned from 14 years of campaigning and hard work is how important it is to develop leadership skills, treat people positively and maximise every opportunity you have. That’s what I think this event is really about.’

The free event runs from 9am to 7pm, and students from the department’s secondary schools will be attending.

A new website designed to be a one-stop shop for careers and employment in the Isle of Man will be launched this week.

Employed.im provides guidance on career related issues for anybody seeking advice, from students and school leavers through to people considering a mid-career change or a return to work.

Members can also use the website to manage their CVs, application forms and connect to potential employers.

Employed.im builds on the success of PDMS’ Manx Graduates website, which went live in 2009 with the primary goal of encouraging graduates to return to the Isle of Man.

However, that site attracted as many experienced professionals as it did newly qualified university students. ‘The wide profile of its users rendered the site’s name something of a misnomer,’ explained Chris Gledhill, managing director of software company PDMS which developed the website.

‘So, in collaboration with the Department of Economic Development and the Department of Education and Children, we decided earlier this year to redesign the site to considerably broaden its scope.’

The easy-to-navigate employed.im site will also serve as a networking portal for students, job seekers and employers.

‘Employed.im is designed for its members and serves the combined interests of employers, students, jobseekers and government agencies equally. Built on a secure platform it can be used to establish lasting relationships. A place to start an ongoing conversation about your career,’ said Mr Gledhill.

‘It has been designed to be of use to anyone interested in employment and training in the Isle of Man - be they a graduate seeking a new job or anyone wanting to improve their employability skills.

‘Companies and organisations in the Isle of Man are always on the lookout for talented, ambitious people - employed.im will enable them to match potential employees with available positions.

‘School leavers will be able to find out about the world of work, get tips on job hunting and will soon, also be able to source the best places in the island to get work experience.’

Members can post their CV on the site and receive notifications on jobs that match their profile. With employed.im we can quickly and easily put application or other related forms online – key information from a member’s profile will automatically be added to the form, saving valuable time and effort.

Members can also save and store their own personal copy of these forms. The site, which will carry job adverts from local employers, will also become a gateway for training opportunities in the Isle of Man.

FIRST PORT OF CALL

‘It will be the first port of call for people looking to make a career change, get back into the workplace after a career break or get on the first rung of the career ladder,’ said Mr Gledhill. The project has also been developed in close consultation with the Employability Group, a government and cross-sector industry group, set up to help prepare young people for the world of work. Annette Baker, chair of the group, said: ‘Feedback from last year’s Employability Conference confirmed that there was an urgent need for easily accessible, up to date information on careers, jobs and work experience opportunities on the Isle of Man.

‘We are delighted at the launch of employed.im in this new format, which we feel has the potential to provide excellent support for students, teachers, employers and indeed anyone who is looking at developing their own career or the career of others.’

Laurence Skelly, MHK, Political Member for the Department of Economic Development said: ‘The Department of Economic Development has worked closely with PDMS to ensure that employed.im supports the important work of the Job Centre, careers advisors and training services.

‘This is an excellent opportunity for joined-up working between Government and the private sector in order to support job seekers and those wanting careers advice or training opportunities.

‘We look forward to continuing to work with PDMS as this important initiative develops.’

Further enhancements are planned in the coming months, including video profiles for members and the ability for employers to carry out video interviews; a feature developed in collaboration with another local company – the Needle Online.

Employed.im will be officially launched tomorrow (Tuesday) at the Isle of Man Employment and Skills event at the Villa Marina. There will be a presentation in the Broadway Cinema, starting at 1.15pm.

A new principal has been appointed at the Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education.

Geoff Draper will take up the post in January.

Mr Draper was previously principal at the Royal National College for the Blind, had a 30-year career in the army, where he achieved the rank of colonel.

He succeeds Professor Ronald Barr, who took up the post of chief executive officer of the Department of Education and Children in September.

The college in Homefield Road, Douglas, offers degree courses as well as further education, professional, vocational and leisure and recreation courses.

It has 5,000 full and part-time students and a budget of £11 million.

Victoria Kiver, Taryn Pyle and Hannah Skillicorn, who all work at Simcocks, are celebrating after successfully passing the Manx Bar exams.

Simcocks chief executive Phil Games said: ‘On behalf of all at Simcocks I would like to congratulate Victoria, Taryn and Hannah on their achievement.

‘It takes determination and hard work and they should all be proud of their success.’

Victoria, a former head girl of Queen Elizabeth High School and Lancaster University graduate said: ‘Simcocks has been tremendously supportive, providing me with some great training opportunities.

‘I am especially grateful to everyone at the firm for mentoring and encouraging me throughout my study.’

Taryn, who joined the company in 2008 as a Paralegal said: ‘As part of my training I have gained valuable experience in litigation, with the private client team and in Simcocks’ conveyancing department which has all complemented my study.

‘It was a great boost to get the help and advice of my colleagues.’

Hannah, a former pupil of Ballakermeen High School and Lancaster University graduate gained vocational experience with Simcocks while still at school and continued her association with the firm as a student.

She said: ‘It has been incredibly hard work but I was thrilled to have passed all the exams first time.

‘I am very appreciative of the support from my colleagues who helped me prepare for the exams by giving me feedback on the past papers I did.’

Female business owners are coming together inDecember to offer women of the Isle of Man the opportunity to come down and join their Christmas Pamper Party.

The Christmas Pamper Party will showcase different women’s businesses in the Isle of Man, with amazing special offers exclusive only to the event.

There will be stalls with all sorts of goodies and girly pamper deals, with businesses from the clothing, health, fitness and beauty sectors represented.

Heading up the event is Karen Hanly, managing director of Warehouse Fitness Ladies Only Gym and Laura Faulds, managing director of Love My Figure, Love My Fashion, who have joined together to organise the event.

Karen Hanly said: ‘We are delighted to be hosting our first ever Christmas Pamper Party with Laura.

‘It’s a great opportunity for all women to come down, take a look at the stalls, and discover some amazing shops you never even knew existed on the Isle of Man.

‘We love to support local retailers, while also offering women a chance to get some exclusive deals at the event, in time for Christmas’.

Laura Faulds said: ‘Christmas shopping can be very stressful and what better way to have a relaxing shop while supporting local businesses, than to have a nosey at our Pamper Day this December.

‘It’s easy to forget the small retailers in the Christmas rush, but we have a fantastic line up for our Pamper Day’.

A Christmas raffle will also be hosted, with tickets available at £1 per strip, with all proceeds going to the Manx Eating Disorder Support Group.

Top prizes for the draw are a dress of your choice from Love My Figure, Love My Fashion’s online shop, and two weeks’ free membership to the Warehouse Fitness Ladies Only Gym.

The event will be held at Warehouse Fitness Ladies Only Gym (next to Hanly’s on Westmoreland Road) on Saturday, December 7 from midday to 2pm.

Entry to the event is free and there is easy parking around the site.

To find out more or to register your interest for a stall, contact Karen on 460038, Laura on 408304, or ‘like’ the event’s Facebook Page ‘Isle of Man Christmas Pamper Party’.

Police are investigating a burglary that occurred some time over the weekend.

Island Aggregates on the Jurby Industrial Estate was broken into and various personal items were damaged and stolen.

The police want to speak to anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area. Call Ramsey police station on 812234.

The Isle of Man Newspapers Awards for Excellence took place on Thursday night at the Villa Marina in Douglas.

During the glittering ceremony, hosted by comedian Hugh Dennis, winners were announced in 16 categories.

After picking up each award, representatives of the winning firms were then interviewed by Julie Blackburn.

Featured on the attached video are:

Canaccord Genuity Wealth award for Excellence in use of Technology - Riva Financial Systems

Thomas Miller Investment award for Teamwork - Manx Independent Carriers

Domicilium award for Innovation and Independent Thinking - Strix

Boston award for Corporate Social Responsibility - PokerStars

Tynwald Mills award for Small Enterprise - SmartHR

Continent 8 Technologies award for Public Sector Achievement - Manx Electricity Authority

Isle of Man Bank award for Young Achiever of the Year - Sarah Linehan

AXA Wealth International award for Medium Enterprise of the year - Family Library

Cheers and tears at the Isle of Man Newspapers Awards for Excellence ceremony

The winners in Isle of Man Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence

The island has received another major boost for its international reputation after getting a top rating by the global body reviewing tax transparency around the world.

We are one of only 18 jurisdictions out of 50 reviewed so far to be rated fully ‘compliant’ by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

In contrast, the UK, the US, Guernsey, Jersey and even Germany are rated ‘largely compliant’.

The rating is based on a peer review assessment carried out by a team of experts on behalf of the OECD’s Global Forum, which involves 120 countries including the Isle of Man.

Chief Minister Allan Bell said: ‘The rating announced by the OECD’s Global Forum puts the Isle of Man into the premier league and yet again confirms its position as one of the world’s leading international business centres.

‘The standard required to achieve a top rating is very high as can been seen by the number of jurisdictions that have not yet made the grade. This is an achievement the Isle of Man is rightly proud of. It is yet further evidence of the island’s international standing and reputation and that the island can no longer be referred to as a “tax haven”.’

Meanwhile, the Isle of Man has become part of an international network of more than 75 countries co-operating on tax matters. We are the first Crown Dependency to join the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, a multilateral agreement providing for tax co-operation between its signatories. The net effect will be to bring the Isle of Man 38 new tax treaty partners, mainly developing countries.

The island confirmed its commitment to joining the OECD/Council of Europe Convention ahead of the G8 Summit in June this year.

Tynwald approved enabling legislation in October, and the Manx Government then formally asked the UK Government to extend the application of the Convention to the island. This was done at a ceremony held during a meeting of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes in Jakarta last week. It is expected to enter into force in March.

Mr Bell said: ‘The Convention adds significantly to the Isle of Man’s existing network of bilateral taxation agreements.’

Manx Gas has announced the emergency closure of the small one way section of Orchard Road, Port Erin, between Church Road and Station Road while a gas leak is repaired.

A spokesperson for Manx Gas said this section of the road would be closed to traffic for 24 hours but would remain open to pedestrians.

Businesses in the area whose deliveries will be affected have been contacted.

Isle of Man Railways will be offering what its marketing staff have called ‘ultimate driving experiences’ in 2014.

They give members of the public the chance to drive one of the historic electric trams between Laxey and Ramsey or a steam locomotive between Castletown and Port Erin. The experience lasts a whole day with recipients given safety, history and theory briefings prior to getting to drive on the railways.

Co-ordinator Marieanne Bridges said: ‘Ultimate driving experiences make an amazing present for anyone looking for an unusual experience on the island’s heritage railways.

‘This year was the first time experiences were offered on the steam railway and they have proved enormously popular.

‘Next year will be the fifth season we have arranged them on the Electric Railway. Due to operational requirements there are limited dates available for ultimate driving experiences and bookings are made on a first come, first served basis.

‘This really is the ultimate present for the boys who thought they had played with all the toys.’

For more information and to book contact Marieanne via email Marieanne.bridges@gov.im or phone 697419.

Damage sustained by an undergound power cable means a number properties and businesses in the centre of Douglas will be without electricity from 6pm this evening while repairs take place.

The Manx Electricity Authority will be undertaking the repair after a third party contractor damaged the cable earlier today.

The following information was released on the MEA’s Facbook page this afternoon: ‘The Victoria Street outage will affect properties between the Jubilee Clock and Fort Street Junction. Supplies will go off at 6pm this evening as a result of third-party damage to an underground cable in the area.

‘Work is being undertaken at this time in order to allow businesses in the area to prepare. We apologise for the inconvenience this has caused, however, this [situation] is outside of our control and for safety reasons needs to be addressed as soon as possible.’

A marathon eating competition will take place on Wednesday at Grill in the Park in Noble’s Park.

‘Beat the Clock, The Big Challenge’ will start at 7.30pm.

Entrants need to eat 12 beef sliders in the fastest time possible. The winner gets theirs free.

Entry is £20 with all proceeds going to Naseem’s Manx Brain Tumour Charity.

For further information contact Geri Pishvaie on 642428.

I am obliged today to trouble my non-Manx readers yet again with matters concerning the Manx Perspective.

I have had a letter from Allister Anstey who apparently supports the validity of the Manx Perspective saying: ‘Love your sense of humour, respect your status as the Grand Old Man of the Manx media, salute your prodigious output. Your Manx Perspective is a delight also. There are so many worthies with Manx names. But the odd thing is this: all the ones you quote seem to have emigrated.

‘So who shows the greater attachment to this wonderful island, the Manx worthies who emigrate or the comeover worthies who immigrate, who come because they love it? Oops! Did I say something wrong? Please don’t issue me with a “TICKET FOR THE BOAT IN THE MORNING”.

‘To be named with a name that suggests some blue blood

‘Does not make you more handsome or less of a dud

‘And across the wide water they’ve learned it’s a myth

‘That a fellow called Smythe has more smarts than a Smith

‘But right here in the island some centuries back

‘(When the names of the peasants all started with Mac)

‘A young toff called MacIssack, to break from the rest

‘Made the change to just Kissack and thus it progressed

‘So if you would climb to the top of the tree

‘Your last name must begin with a K or a C

‘Any other will mean that your chances are few

‘Unless it should happen you start with a Q

‘And so happiness to be Kewley or Quayle

‘While a Cubbon or Crowe has the world by the tail

‘To be Corlett or Cowley or Corkill is fine

‘And such bliss to be Clucas or Quiggin or Quine

‘But I fear the mere fact that the plumber’s called Craine

‘Does not prove a good flush with each pull of the chain

‘And a sailor called Christian, despite a good try

‘In the end was no match for a sailor called Bligh.’

Thank you, Mr Anstey.

Anstey?

---------------

Meanwhile, I have been sent a cutting from the sports pages of the Daily Telegraph by Alan Bell, my former colleague in journalism, which refers to a man called Chris Kermode, managing director of the ATP World Tour and a big man in the world of professional tennis.

Kermode? Manx, of course, perhaps the brother of Mark Kermode, that other famous Manxman.

Picky people might challenge the right of a man called Bell to espouse the Manx Perspective.

Well, his full name is Alan Kewish Bell.

There we see a Manx name with enormous historic resonance.

In 1872 John Kewish was the last person to be hanged for murder in the Isle of Man.

This week, Muriel Garland – chair of Zero Waste Mann – explains how simple it can be for us all to make a difference

---------------------

Please don’t put aluminium cans, aerosols, bottles or batteries in your wheelie bin. Recycle them.

A recent visit to the incinerator reminded me that we need to do more to explain the concept of zero waste.

Here at Zero Waste Mann, we’ve been trying to get the message over for 13 years – but looking at the pit full of ‘rubbish’ at Richmond Hill incinerator, I realised that people are still putting aluminium cans, bottles and cardboard in their wheelie bins. Some people just don’t get it.

As our host Jon Garrad, operations manager at SITA, explained, they don’t want any cans and bottles because those items don’t burn – and they could cause problems for the machinery. All your cans, aerosols and bottles should be recycled. It’s easy to do through the kerbside boxes or the communal bring banks.

Committee members of Zero Waste Mann were invited to tour the incinerator after I had queried the amount of electricity that was being produced, and the length of time taken for maintenance during a recent shut-down.

We had a very thorough two-hour visit with Jon and two members of the SITA team, who explained things clearly and answered all our questions.

As a company, SITA is heavily involved with recycling in other places. They run more than 100 household waste centres (civic amenity sites) and have more than 20 years experience collecting recycling and waste from residents in the UK. In the Isle of Man, they receive and store all the paper from the kerbside collections before it is shipped off to England for recycling. They are very supportive of recycling generally.

So, how can we explain Zero Waste more clearly? Well, the basic idea is that we are using up the world’s natural resources too quickly – and we should be taking better care of our planet. We could, and should, be much less wasteful and more efficient in our use of resources.

We’re not just talking about wood and steel and glass, but about all the materials we use every day. Waste just doesn’t make commercial or environmental sense.

Getting to a position where we have absolutely no waste seems like Utopia – but it’s a great target to have. Becoming a Zero Waste Island is now part of our government’s waste strategy.

Waste is defined as something you don’t want. But that doesn’t mean somebody else couldn’t make good use of it. You only have to see how much goes to our local charity shops to realise the truth there.

It makes more sense to pass ‘stuff’ on to other people who can get more use out of it. At the same time, charities are able to make some money from our waste.

So we’ve got part of the message. We can see how other people could use our old furniture or clothes. But it seems that most people don’t yet see steel and aluminium and wood and glass as valuable resources, which should be retained within the loop.

But aluminium cans take a lot of energy to produce, and can easily be recycled. It doesn’t make any sense to put them in your wheelie bin and send them to be put through the incinerator. Aluminium cans, steel tins and aerosols can all be placed in your kerbside box or in the bring banks. They will be sent across to England for recycling.

Batteries can be recycled, too. They can be taken to any branch of the Manx Co-Op, or to the Green Centre opposite Iceland in Douglas (open Saturday 10am-4pm and Wednesday 10am-2pm). In Europe, any shop that sells batteries is obliged to take them back and send them away for recycling. Unfortunately we don’t have that law here on the island (yet) – but the government does enable old batteries, including hearing aid batteries, to be shipped away and recycled.

Cardboard can be taken to any civic amenity site for recycling. Unfortunately, the Eastern site in Middle River and the one at St John’s were designed the wrong way round – so you come to the skips first and the temptation is to throw everything in there.

A more logical design is to have the re-use and recycling containers first, and then the skips. But when you drive down the ramp at the far side at Douglas and St John’s, you will see a container for collecting cardboard packaging. Please use it.

The layout of the civic amenity site in the north is more logical. There, the re-use and recycling come before the skips.

The concept of zero waste has been around since the 1970’s, when Dr Paul Palmer started a company named Zero Waste Systems for recycling chemicals. If you Google ‘zero waste’ these days, you’ll come up with hundreds of articles on the subject. Our charity, Zero Waste Mann, was actually inspired by a speaker from Australia who came to Onchan to give a talk in 2000.

After 13 years, it’s disappointing to realise that we haven’t been able to get our message across to everybody in the island. And that’s why I thought I would write this column to spell out the ABC of Zero Waste.

Please recycle your aluminium cans and aerosols, batteries and cardboard.

And please make sure you are doing everything in the waste hierarchy before you start sending ‘stuff’ off to be burnt.

Our order of priority should be:

Avoid creating waste

Reduce the amount of waste you make

Re-use as much as you can

Recycle as far as possible

Make compost from food and garden waste

Incinerate through wheelie bin or skips

Landfill

Once you get your head round ‘zero waste’ you’ll never look at things in the same way again.

It should be as simple as ABC!

www.zerowastemann.org

A vital business tool which could help Manx firms forge links with China has been released by Grant Thornton.

The Thoughts of Chairmen Now is a new book written by Jon Geldart, global head of marketing at Grant Thornton International, and David Roth of WPP.

They hope to dispel many of the myths and misconceptions of doing business in China, applying what they have learned, alongside in-depth interviews with 14 of China’s business leaders giving valuable insight into doing business in China, insight many Chinese business leaders believe the west lacks.

Grant Thornton senior partner in the Isle of Man Dennis McGurgan said: ‘The potential for strong business associations between China and the Isle of Man is well-known and the opportunity to develop mutually beneficial trade and investment links has been highlighted by Chief Minister Allan Bell.

‘This year the Chinese Ambassador has twice visited the island and an Isle of Man trade delegation to the country earlier in the year has already brought success with the launch of the joint venture Linso Europe.

‘The opportunities are there, but for some Manx companies a barrier to creating these links is a lack of familiarity with the Chinese way of doing business.’

He said: ‘This book could be a really important tool for Manx firms.

‘It contains remarkable insight into what Chinese business leaders think, but also how they think and why deeply understanding business in China requires viewing it through the prism of Chinese history and culture.

‘Topics covered include attitudes of management and the workforce and how they’re shaped by China’s history and culture, opportunities and barriers facing Chinese brands as they expand at home and abroad, challenges of rapid growth, such as the need for an educated workforce qualified to deal with complexity and change, values guiding business leaders, including honesty, hard work and serving both individual and communal wellbeing, and leadership approaches for fostering staff devotion and more open communication.’

He Fulong, chairman of ITG Group, summed up the views of those interviewed for the book when he said: ‘People misunderstand China.

‘Some people take a political position and demonise China.

‘Others take a more cultural view and mythologise China. Both of these perspectives are limited and distorted.

‘The reality is in the middle. China is moving forward continuously.’

Author Jon Geldart said: ‘China represents a fantastic opportunity for businesses. It is no longer just a place to get things made, but a place to get things sold.

‘However, without understanding how Chinese business people think and approach commerce, businesses in the West will struggle to grasp the real opportunity.

‘Western businesses need to better understand the way Chinese business leaders think, their values and their priorities.

‘These are different from the rest of the world.

‘Those we interviewed wanted to help set the record straight and dispel some of the myths, misconceptions and misunderstandings they felt the West has of doing business with the Chinese.

‘China business leaders are open and interested in western management. They are looking for much more collaboration but it is to understand and not to copy. They see blending and mixing western and Chinese management techniques as the way forward, to use the ‘‘best of the best’’ to meet the ever changing dynamics of the Chinese marketplace.’

With 35 million households earning an income over $10,000 and 221 cities with populations of more than 1 million by 2025 and the growth of the middle classes, China presents a market no company can ignore.

To understand more visit www.thethoughtsofchairmennow.com.

The book can be purchased via Amazon.co.uk.

China is rebalancing after 30 years of unprecedented economic growth. Those seeking to do

business in China need to better understand the motivations and drivers of those who lead

successful Chinese businesses or they may fail to apply the right cultural lens to their efforts.

ENDS

Word count - 636

For Further Information:

Dennis McGurgan, Grant Thornton Isle of Man Tel: 639494

Issued By:

Philip Thomson, Isle of Man Advertising & PR Ltd Tel: 620440

Should the State step in to give more help to home owners who fall on hard times and can’t keep up with their mortgage payments?

That was the question raised in Tynwald by backbencher Bill Henderson (Douglas North) who called for people with mortgages to be entitled to the same level of benefit as those in rented accommodation or social housing.

Mr Henderson suggested there was an imbalance - although he accepted that benefits should not be used to help someone acquire a capital asset.

Social Care Minister Chris Robertshaw told Tynwald that the issue was one that would be addressed in the root and branch review currently being carried out of the island’s social security and housing policies.

He explained help was currently provided with interest payments on the basis that a home owner should be able to arrange for a temporary capital-repayment holiday with their mortgage provider in the event of their losing their job. But he said the changing economic environment had created problems.

‘In a growing economy, with no credit restrictions, it was reasonable to assume owner-occupiers could agree revised terms with their lenders. However, we now have a risk-averse banking system, pressure on house prices and lower availability of jobs - all of which serve to make it harder for owner-occupiers to renegotiate their mortgage commitments,’ he said.

Tynwald heard there are currently 224 owner-occupiers claiming Employed Person’s Allowance but to date only one has raised concerns that it does not provide adequate support. ‘We will revisit the EPA scheme rules to try to ensure they deliver the desired outcome,’ he added.

A crackdown is being launched on a growing problem of tax avoidance through the use of personal service companies.

New legislation, currently progressing through the branches of Tynwald, will outlaw the practice and ensure anyone working through personal service companies pays tax in the same away as other employees.

It is thought there are just short of 100 people using such companies to reduce their tax liability but that number is growing.

The practice is currently legal but will be outlawed from April 1 next year, if the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, due for its third reading in the House of Keys this week, is passed.

The amended Act will also introduce a new criminal offence of fraudulent tax evasion, putting income tax on a similar footing to both National Insurance and VAT and which could result in a jail term following conviction.

Treasury Minister Eddie Teare said it was all a question of fairness. He explained that a person earning £40,000 a year directly employed by a local company would pay £13,144 in National Insurance and ITIP but someone on the same salary using a personal service company could reduce their tax bill to just £636.

Mr Teare, who flagged up the change in his Budget this year, said: ‘Although the island’s income tax regime is favourable compared with other countries, there are still individuals who try to avoid or reduce their liabilities. I want to make sure that our tax system is fair and that all employees are treated the same whether or not they work through a company.’

In recent years there has been evidence of planning to delay payment of tax by individuals providing services to clients via companies owned by the individual, instead of directly as an employee. As the service is provided through a company, the payment for the service is made to the company. It is not considered to be remuneration of the individual and therefore not subject to ITIP.

Mr Teare said: ‘The change to the legislation will mean that if a client employs an individual it will not matter whether their services are provided through a company, trust or any other structure. The amount paid for their services will be treated as remuneration of the individual and subject to income tax with an ITIP deduction.’

Mr Teare said personal service companies were also used for National Insurance planning and he intended to introduce an order shortly to address that too.

Meanwhile, island-based businesses which employ staff working in the UK are being urged to make sure they are paying the correct National Insurance contributions.

The warning follows the conclusion of legal proceedings against a local firm found to owe £3.2 million in employer NI contributions, ultimately payable to HMRC in the UK. The case against Penfolds Limited centred on the Social Security reciprocal agreement with the UK.

In August 2008 HMRC informed the Manx government the company was not making the correct deductions of employer Class 1 National Insurance contributions.

Penfolds appealed against the decision but the appeal was dismissed in the Manx high court. The Privy Council refused leave to appeal.

Mr Teare said: ‘Using the Isle of Man system to try to avoid National Insurance payable under the reciprocal agreement is not acceptable.’

The scrapping of universal child benefit in the Isle of Man is the third hit on middle-income families.

That was the warning to the government from Michael MHK Alfred Cannan, as Tynwald approved means testing the benefit from April 7 next year.

It follows the privatisation of pre-schools in 2012 and the introduction of university tuition fees.

Mr Cannan described the proposal as ‘balanced, reasonable, fair and expected’, but added that it may result in a drain of talent from the island, as ‘working professionals may feel they and their families are more welcome elsewhere’.

Social Care Minister Chris Robertshaw MHK disputed that the move would have this effect, saying: ‘We are making a better job of it here than in the UK.’

Howard Quayle (Middle MHK) said he was supportive of the motion.

But he added: ‘We need to be careful moving forward with cuts based on income that we don’t create a cliff edge where it may be more beneficial for one person to stay at home and save on nursery fees rather than work.’

Douglas West MHK Chris Thomas was one of a number of members who pointed out that families with a household income of £60,000 – above which there will be a phased reduction of child benefit payments – were not necessarily ‘rich’.

He said it depended on their circumstances.

Zac Hall (Onchan MHK) questioned whether the age of the child had been taken into consideration as a means of phasing child benefit payments.

He said that payments could reduce as the child got older, which would be fair as it would coincide with many mothers returning to work.

Mr Robertshaw said that means-testing ‘was enough of an issue to face without unnecessarily complicating it’.

From April, families with a household income of £90,000 and above will lose their child benefit.

This accounts for 10 per cent of families.

Families with an annual income between £60,000 and £90,000 will have their child benefit reduced by 25 per cent for every £10,000 band of income above £60,000.

Those with an annual income below £60,000 – 70 per cent of the total – will continue to receive benefit at the maximum rate.

Total income will be based on tax records.

The move is expected to save £2.5 million a year. Some £500,000 of this is earmarked to provide extra help for families to pay for their nursery fees.

Pre-school voucher payments may possibly double from the current £350 per child to about £700.

Current spending on child benefit is £16.5m a year, paid to about 9,500 families in respect of around 16,500 children and qualifying young persons.

£20.40 per week is paid for the eldest or only child, with £13.50 paid for second or subsequent children.

Mr Robertshaw has said that as the Manx government works to balance the budget by 2016, it can’t continue to pay child benefit to people who don’t need it.

He believes the system being proposed is ‘fair and equitable and will require only a minimal amount of resources to operate’.

The Minister told members that regulations detailing how the scheme will operate will be brought before Tynwald ‘at the next or subsequent sitting’.

Could an Isle of Man TT money-maker undermine the island’s bid for sporting glory in next year’s Commonwealth Games?

That’s the claim from the chairman of the Isle of Man Athletics Association as it emerged there are plans to erect a TT campsite at the NSC again next year.

David Pryke says this will mean training facilities for track and field athletes will be restricted just one month before they represent the island at the Commonwealth Games – and argued this could damage their prospects in what will be the biggest sporting event of their lives.

The campsite provides five-figure revenue for the cash-strapped Department of Community, Culture and Leisure.

But the DCCL insisted the Manx Harriers and Commonwealth Games Association had both been consulted and given their backing – and while access to the running track will be limited during the TT, training sessions could still be arranged in advance.

Earlier this year, Mr Pryke urged athletes to object to plans for a tented village on the infield within the running track – arguing it would affect training in the build-up to the Island Games. German motorcycle tyre manufacturer Metzeler provided free tents at the campsite to its customers as part of its 150th anniversary celebrations.

Now Mr Pryke, who is a committee member of the island’s CGA, claims the 2014 TT campsite will hit preparations for the Glasgow Games taking place in July and August.

He said: ‘Offering restricted access to the track and field facilities during this period, one month before our athletes turn out to represent the island in what for all of them will be the biggest sporting event of their lives, can only be damaging for their prospects. Income from the campsite is more important than helping our athletes prepare for the Commonwealth Games.’

However, the DCCL said income generated from the campsite is ploughed back into local sport.

A spokesman said: ‘The department makes significant investment in local sport both in terms of infrastructure and Isle of Man Sport grants such as the £15,000 awarded to IOM CGA to help with preparation for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

‘Whilst we appreciate that the TT campsite limits access to the running track, with pre-arrangement and by working with local athletics clubs, specific training sessions on the track will be arranged.

‘The main user group for athletics, Manx Harriers, were consulted prior to planning being sought and have already confirmed that they will work with the department during this period. The IOM CGA were also consulted prior to planning and were supportive of proposals.

‘As the department explained during this year’s festival, the TT is traditionally a very quiet period for the NSC. Without the TT campsite, track revenue was in the region of £500.

‘The sponsor’s campsite generates five-figure revenue and as was proven this year, the hirer looked after the facility extremely well and no complaints were received from sporting bodies. This revenue provides a large investment in local sport and helps to contribute to the international reputation of the TT festival, NSC and Isle of Man.

‘Similar concerns were raised by the IOM Athletics Association during TT 2013 prior to the NatWest Island Games and the performance of athletes was such that the Isle of Man topped the medal table for the first time since 1989. This was testament to the quality and dedication of our athletes as well as the years of hard work and investment from everyone within the island’s sporting community.

‘During TT 2014, similar arrangements for track access and alternative facilities will be in place and athletes competing in the Commonwealth Games will be well catered for their training needs.

‘Isle of Man athletes have access to world class facilities at the NSC and regional venues all year round and have done for many years. This access to unparalleled training facilities is the platform to allow our competitors to thrive in international competition.’

A fire station to serve Castletown and Ballasalla can be built on Ronaldsway Industrial Estate, planners have ruled.

The Department of Home Affairs want to replace the current facility in Castletown as it is ‘ageing and lacks the space and training facilities required to function as a 21st century fire station’.

It identified the site on land next to Forrest House as its preferred location because it will bring the fire station closer to the ‘major risks’ in its area – in the Ronaldsway and Balthane industrial estates.

Planners approved the application (13/91065/B) with a number of conditions.

Development can’t take place until details of the hard and soft landscaping, as well as the building’s external finishes, have been approved.

In addition, the fire station can’t be occupied until the two new vehicular accesses, eastern and western paved areas, and the 18-space parking area are completed.

Facilities will include changing facilities, offices, a canteen and a training room.

The two fire engines currently at Castletown fire station will be accommodated in appliance bays.

The project will involve a capital investment of approximately £950,000.

Work is due to get under way in April 2014, with an estimated completion date of December 2014.

The station would then be operational by early 2015.