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FIXING A DAMAGED COMPANY REPUTATION?
GOT 3 YEARS TO SPARE?
A COMPANY
trying to recover its perception after suffering a damaging event or
catastrophe can expect the process to last at least 3 years,
according to findings from leading research company Ipsos MORI, but
organisations with a good reputation will recover much more quickly.
The findings will be revealed at Ipsos MORI's conference, Reputation
Management for Success, at the Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal
Football Club.
Stewart Lewis, Director of Ipsos MORI Reputation Centre, quoted 'more
than 3.5 years' as the average time it would take to alter the
damage caused by major negative publicity in the media. He
said:- "From our findings, this is the sort of timescale
companies can expect to have to invest to repair a reputation that
has been damaged. This figure will come down considerably for
companies that have already built up a strong corporate reputation
beforehand."
Ipsos MORI's conference will tackle the issues facing all
organisations big and small in a society where news is broadcast 24
hours a day, and a gaffe, no matter how small, can become global
news in a matter of minutes.
The seminar will examine the issues of how to build and maintain
goodwill in a changing world, how to stand out in a sceptical
climate, how threats can be turned into opportunities and how
effectiveness can be demonstrated. The Reputation Management
for Success seminar is expected to attract more than 150 top
communicators from both the private and public sectors.
Speakers will include Philip Dewhurst, Group Director Corporate
Affairs for British Nuclear Fuels; Howell James, Permanent Secretary
for Government Communications; Niel Golightly, Vice President,
Downstream Communications for Royal Dutch Shell and Ben Page,
Managing Director of Ipsos MORI Public Affairs.
Mr Lewis said that there were 5 stages towards building up a strong
corporate reputation; awareness, involvement, connection, persuasion
and action. Awareness is establishing the company's name
('here's who we are'), involvement is the company's purpose ('here's
what we do for you'); connection is how the company meets its
responsibilities; persuasion is establishing the company's public
position ('here's what we think') and action is how this involves
the outside world ('here's what we want you to do').
Mr Lewis also said that:- "The process is easier said than done. But it can
be done! Companies need to hear themselves through their
stakeholders' ears, promise what you can and deliver what you
promise, hit the issues before they hit you, exorcise corporate
speak; and finally, if you are doing good works, tell those people
who are important to you." |
PEP
AND ISA SAVINGS LIKELY TO BE WIPED OUT BY IHT STING IN THE TAIL
THOUSANDS of
families are in danger of being hit for an Inheritance tax (IHT)
penalty because so many elderly parents cling on to ‘tax free’
investment plans, without taking action to protect their estates on
death, warns investment adviser The WAY Group. Based on Office
of National Statistics (ONS) figures for holders of ISAs and PEPs,
combined with its own research, The WAY Group estimates that some
165,000 elderly investors (aged 70 or older) are holding 'tax-sheltered'
portfolios in excess of £100,000. And, based on published
mortality rates, this would mean that some £0.5bn, or 1/6th of the
annual total IHT tax take of £3bn, arises from IHT on PEPs and ISAs.
WAY chairman Paul Wilcox says:- “Investors have been seduced
by the Government into accumulating their investments within a 'tax
free umbrella', but what so many do not realise is that they
will then suffer a punitive IHT sting at death, whereby they and
their families potentially lose a colossal 40% of their hard-earned
savings."
WAY believes that more than 300,000 investors currently hold
substantial equities-based tax free investments within their
portfolios with no provision for their portfolios to be transferred
into an alternative investment scheme sheltering the savings built
up in tax free vehicles. Over half – some 165,000 – of those
with large tax-sheltered investments are aged 70 plus. This is the
age group at the greatest risk of losing out on the tax-free
benefits of their savings strategy, argues Wilcox.
“It is worrying that so many investors at this time of their
lives do not gift their portfolios into a flexible trust for their
beneficiaries. Common sense planning like this means the
clients retain access to their funds and will in all probability
avoid IHT on them. Younger investors will naturally want to
take advantage of the benefits of Isas, to accumulate funds within a
tax-free environment for school fees and such like, but it makes
little sense for older investors who are in the IHT trap.
Over recent years the Government has made it increasingly
difficult for investors to mitigate IHT on their homes. By stealth tactics it is also misleading
investors into thinking there are substantial tax benefits in
retaining PEP and ISA portfolios, while simply ensuring that they
can continue to collect large amounts of IHT from the unwitting and
unprepared elderly investor” said Wilcox.
Southport Sea Cadets
Reunion
SOUTHPORT Sea Cadets are having a
reunion at the Fox and Goose pub Cable Street, Southport,
Merseyside, on Saturday 25 November 2006, from 8pm onwards. All are
welcome to attend.
There will be a live band, and also a
raffle in aid of the local Sea Cadet unit (TS Active), with the top
prize being tickets for 4 to the executive box at an Everton home
match including champagne reception all your drinks and a five
course meal. 2nd prize is a 32 inch flat screen TV HD ready. 3rd
prize is a mountain bike and lots of other prizes with the draw to
be held on 16 December 06.
For more information or raffle tickets ring Steve Boyes on
07887758377. |
