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Essentials for protecting your business

February 28th,2013%

Driving a taxi can be a difficult business. While you have the freedom to choose your own hours,which can sometimes mean more time at home with the family,you can often end up working long days and there are a number of factors that can affect your income.
It’s not just as simple as turning up to work and getting on with it. When you’re out on the road and dealing with members of the public all day every day,any number of things can happen. While you have to have your wits about you when driving;some things you can’t always prepare for. But with an appropriate taxi insurance policy;at least you know you’ll be covered.

Choosing the right taxi insurance

It’s not just as simple as getting a taxi insurance quote online,jumping in your cab and getting the customers from A to B. There are various factors to take into account when choosing the perfect policy.

Making sure your custom is covered

Most taxi insurance providers differentiate between public hire and private hire. When deciding on the appropriate policy you need to ensure your custom is covered by your policy.

Checking for public liability insurance

All businesses who welcome customers onto their premises are required by law to take out public liability insurance. This differs slightly when customers get into your cab,but it’s still worthwhile ensuring this is covered adequately by your policy. If one of your customers suffers an accident or a healthcare issue in your cab and brings a claim against you;this will be covered by the public liability element of your insurance policy.

Protecting yourself

No matter how careful a driver you are,you can’t rule out the possibility of an accident happening. And if it does,the effect it can have on your earnings. Personal accident cover should always form a vital part of your policy. If you are injured and unable to drive for a few days,having this form of insurance will cover you for your loss of earnings. It will also be valuable if you’re unable to continue to drive following an accident.

Protecting your cab

If you break down or your cab is damaged,you’re unable to earn money. Having breakdown insurance will ensure your vehicle is seen to as quickly as possible. This is one of the worst things that can happen;so you need to make sure you’re covered.
It’s not the same as any other job;all the special circumstances need to be accounted for.

About your Safestyle team in the Oban area.

November 26th,2012%

Fitting extremely good quality windows for the people of Oban isn’t so much a service as a mission for companies like Safestyle. Whilst the rest of the country likes to whinge about the cold and damp experienced by the British Isle,Oban is the real deal. Although the Isle of Mull sits in the way of the prevailing Atlantic windows that bring in so much wind and rain,it genuinely acts as a poor barrier to the fullest onslaughts of the Gulf Stream. That means,if you live in Oban,double glazing makes a huge difference to your quality of life.

Safestyle’s latest range of Eco Diamond windows are far and beyond the traditional double glazing of thirty years ago. These days the sealed glazing units have more in common with an Antarctic research station than they do with your local glazier. Smart glass is able to regulate the flow of heat from the inside out and vice versa – you wouldn’t be wrong to call it “intelligent”.

So effective are Safestyle’s windows that they have been recommended by the Energy Saving Trust for their ability to reduce heat loss to such a degree that they will lower your heating bills and your carbon footprint.

It is one thing to have a product that far and away outstrips the standard double glazing but time and time again Safestyle’s customers comment on what a pleasure it was to get their new windows from such highly skilled and friendly local fitters. It makes a real difference to know you’re in good hands.

And let’s not forget the thing that made Safestyle famous – the Buy One Get One Free offer that means you can rest assured you got the best possible quality windows at the best possible price…and they’ll even let you have flexible payment options so no one need miss out on this life changing double glazing.

With twenty years behind them,over 1,000 UK homes fitted per week and the peace of mind that they are FENSA registered no wonder they are the number one choice for high quality double glazing.

Here is your link to the “Local To You” Safestyle team for Oban and remember to get your free,no obligation quote today.

Saving for the long term

November 22nd,2012%

Saving for the long term

If you’re saving up for something big like a car or the deposit on a house,there are plenty of savings accounts aimed at long-term savers to help you build up your savings over time.

If you have a savings plan and you know how much you want to save,you could get into the savings habit by opening a regular savings account.
When you open an account,you’ll commit to an amount you want to put away each month and how long you want to save for. The money will then leave your current account automatically on the day you’ve chosen each month.
It means you’ll be saving a regular amount,building up your savings without having to remember to transfer money.

Higher long-term interest rates

If you’re looking to save for a longer period of time you could take advantage of an improved interest rate by locking your money away for a fixed period.

Fixed rate cash ISAs and fixed term bonds both tie your money up for a set length of time and fix the interest rate for the duration.
These accounts are aimed at people who won’t need to dip into their savings during the term.
But don’t forget,you’ll need to be happy with not accessing your account on a regular basis as you’ll be charged a withdrawal fee.
Others stop you withdrawing altogether so you won’t have any access to your money at all until the term of the account is up so your savings are locked away for a set period of time. Fixed terms can last from 6 months through to 4 years depending on the account you choose so make sure you pick one that suits your savings goals.
Some fixed term accounts also have a minimum savings limit so you may need a lump sum to get started. It’s a good idea if you have some money put aside and want to lock it away to earn a fixed amount of interest on it.

Putting your money into stocks and shares

Stocks and Shares ISAs are a great way to save tax efficiently. They invest your money in the stock market and let you pay in up to an annual limit set by the government without paying income tax on any returns you get.

They’re aimed at long-term savers and you should be prepared to keep your investment for a period of 5 to 10 years. Unlike an instant access cash ISA,there may be a charge for withdrawing some or all of your money.
And because your money is invested in the stock market,the value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you originally invested.

Travelling to London:where to go?

September 25th,2012%

Travelling to London:where to go?

Not many cities can match up to the capital of England and the United Kingdom when it comes to attractions. A sprawling metropolis that has played a huge role in shaping the nation and large swathes of the rest of the world,London is now an important commercial and financial centre that boasts some of the most vibrant and exciting cultural events and nightlife spots anywhere in the world.

Whether you enjoy visiting the theatre,visiting museums,catching a game of football or drinking in a historic,traditional pub,it is a great idea to book train tickets in advance and make your way to the city in style. Whether you visit for a day,a weekend,a week or longer,you’ll find that there is plenty to do and you won’t want to leave.

To get you started,we’ve compiled this small guide to the top attractions in the city.

British Museum

The internationally renowned British Museum is home to a fascinating range of exhibits,each displaying the works of man from prehistoric to modern times. There’s a great deal to see and do in the museum;so it’s a good idea to leave a little time to get round and see everything.

Highlights include the Rosetta Stone,the Parthenon sculptures,and the mummies in the Ancient Egypt collection. You’ll find entry is free but some special exhibitions may require tickets.

The British Museum provides a great opportunity see artefacts you’d never otherwise lay eyes on and with cheap train tickets online,getting to London needn’t cost you a fortune.

Tate Modern

Found on the banks of the River Thames,the Tate Modern is Britain’s national museum of modern and contemporary art. Transformed into gallery space from an ex-life as a power station,the Tate always has some of the most interesting exhibitions in the world and incredible artists will often create art specifically for its large spaces.

Natural History Museum

If you are a fan of the T-Rex or remember the scary Velociraptors from Jurassic Park,then the Natural History Museum’s permanent dinosaur exhibition may just be perfect for you. The Museum is also home to a great collection of the world’s biggest,tallest and rarest animals in the world.

Look in awe at the massive Blue Whale,get scared by a 40 million year old spider and marvel at the beauty of the Central Hall;all at this fantastic attraction.

Science Museum

Finally,once you’ve found the cheapest rail tickets possible and made your way down to London,you can’t really afford to miss the excellent Science Museum. With a huge range of exhibitions,many of them interactive,the Science Museum will definitely get you thinking and asking a lot of questions.

Entry is free and there are plenty of interactive activities to keep children entertained whilst ensuring the whole family is educated in a fun and enjoyable manner.

Give your home an energy

June 4th,2012%

Give your home an energy spring clean

Advertorial Feature

The warmer weather is finally on its way,bringing with it longer days of glorious sunshine. As your home awakens from winter hibernation,it’s the perfect time to give your central heating system and appliances a spring clean. We’ve put together some simple tricks and tips to breathe new life into your home ahead of the summer. And they could also help you to save valuable cash next winter.

Update your central heating

Despite a rather wet introduction to spring,it will soon be time to give our central heating systems a well-deserved break. The warmer weather is the perfect time to service your boiler,or even upgrade your entire system. Many suppliers offer a range of cheap boilers during the spring and summer,which could cut your gas and electricity bills drastically next winter. If your boiler is over 10 years old,you could be eligible for the British Gas Boiler Scrappage Scheme,which offers £400 off the cost of a new boiler until 30 June.

Ditch the tumble dryer

Fresh and breezy spring days create the perfect clothes drying conditions. Dig out the washing line and turn off the tumble dryer,which uses nearly two-thirds more energy than the washing machine. Heading outside could save you around £70 a year.

Capture the sunshine

If you’re looking forward to a spot of sunbathing this summer,why not top up your energy levels as well as your tan? Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity to power your appliances,which could help to cut your energy bills by £800 each year.

Vampire power

If you’ve grown accustomed to the little red light on your television,you’re a victim of vampire power. We waste an average of £30 a year by leaving our appliances on standby. This spring,invest in a smart plug to automatically switch off any products that are not in use.

Check appliances

Despite expecting our appliances to work perfectly on every use,we often leave them out of our cleaning schedules. Vacuum refrigerator coils,scrub away oven dirt,and remove lint from around the washing machine and dishwasher.

Light up efficiently

Open the curtains to make the most of natural sunlight during the spring,and invest in energy efficient light bulbs,which last around ten times longer than traditional ones.