Invest NI No Nonsense Guide 11 (PDF) - Invest Northern Ireland

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Premises andhealth and safetyCheck for changes in the lawRegulations, figures and sumsof money may have changedsince publicationAdditionally, you may have topay business rates for the part ofthe property you use for work —it depends on the circumstancesof each case. You would paydomestic rates for the remainderof the property. Check for advicewith Land & Property Services.}Carry out a health andsafety induction for staffand ensure you stay on topof any changes in the law~Employers On Health AndSafety.Contact 01787 881165;www.hse.gov.ukFire protection31Next steps● See Planning consent forbusinesses, opposite● See Your business rates,page 23● Visit www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/homeworkplace● You must check to see if yourequire planning permission.Contact the Planning Servicefor advice: 028 9041 6700;www.planningni.gov.uk● You must check with the Land &Property Services to see if youwill be charged business rates.Contact 101 or 02891 513101;www.dfpni.gov.uk/lps● You should check with yourmortgage lender, landlord and/or freeholder to see if there areany reasons why you cannotbase your business at home● You should check your taxposition with HM Revenue &Customs or an accountant● You must carry out a healthand safety risk assessmentwhen you start trading.See Carrying out a riskassessment, page 36● For more information abouthealth and safety whenworking at home, read:Risk Assessment Simplified.Contact 0800 0320 121;www.hseni.gov.ukHomeworkers: Guidance ForBrian McMahonMcMahon EngineeringA fire can have disastrouseffects. Every business needsto undertake simple steps tominimise the riskA fire risk assessment iscompulsory for almost allpremises other than privatehomes. If you control any part ofthe premises — for example, asthe occupier or owner — you areresponsible for carrying out afire risk assessment.You must take reasonablesteps to reduce the risk from fireand to ensure that people areable to escape safely if there is afire. You must:● carry out a risk assessmentand identify possible dangersand risks;● think about who might beparticularly at risk;● get rid of the risk from fire asfar as reasonably possible;● put in place fire precautions todeal with any remaining risks;● make sure there is protectionif you use or store flammableor explosive materials;● have a plan to deal withemergencies;● review your risk assessmentwhen necessary (for example,if you alter the premises).The No-Nonsense Guide
You also need business adviceThis guide covers regulations.You should also read a guide togeneral business advice — frommarket research to writing abusiness plan32If you employ five or more people,you must keep a written record ofyour fire risk assessment.As a minimum, you must havean appropriate fire detection andwarning system. You should thinkabout safe routes of escape andwhat fire-fighting equipment toprovide.You must provide employeeswith appropriate training so thatthey know what to do in the eventof a fire. You should carry out afire drill at least once a year.Since November 2010,businesses are no longerrequired to hold a fire certificate.Next steps● See Carrying out a riskassessment, page 36● Visit www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/fireprotection● Read: Make Sure You're FireSafe. Contact 028 9266 4221;www.nifrs.org● You can get further guidanceon how to comply with fireregulations from the NorthernIreland Fire & Rescue Service.Contact 028 9266 4221;www.nifrs.orgEnsuring easy accessfor disabled peopleMake sure disabled people canaccess the goods and servicesyour business offers}We needed to makesubstantial changes toour premises to set upin business. Bear in mindmany landlords don't liketenants making changes totheir property~Brian McMahonMcMahon Engineeringgoods or services, who applyto work for you or whom youalready employ.If you provide services tothe public, you must make‘reasonable adjustments’ tothose services if disabledcustomers would otherwise findit impossible or unreasonablydifficult to access them.Making a reasonable adjustmentmight mean you have to:● change a policy, practice orprocedure (waiving a ‘no dogs’policy for customers withguide dogs, for example);● provide an extra aid or service(such as a hearing loop);● arrange goods on shelves sopopular items are at a rangeof shelf heights;● overcome a physical featureof your premises that makesit impossible or unreasonablydifficult for a disabled personto access your service, egby removing it, altering it,providing a reasonable meansof avoiding it or providingthe service by a reasonablealternative method.You are required to makeadjustments that are reasonablegiven the circumstances. Factorssuch as practicality and costare taken into account. What isconsidered reasonable will differbetween larger organisationsand smaller businesses withlimited resources.Next stepsYou must not discriminate against— that is, treat less favourably —disabled customers who use your● See Workers with disabilities,page 71● Visit www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/The No-Nonsense Guide
Page 1 and 2: The No-Nonsense Guide 2012 NI editi
Page 3 and 4: ContentsForming a business 4Sole tr
Page 5 and 6: When you are setting up a business,
Page 7 and 8: It worked for meHow I wentaboutform
Page 10 and 11: Forming a businessCheck for changes
Page 12 and 13: Sorting out your taxand National In
Page 26 and 27: What VAT will meanfor youCheck for
Page 28 and 29: What VAT will meanfor youYou also n
Page 31: All you need to know about the rule
Page 35 and 36: It worked for meHow Imade surewe go
Page 37 and 38: You also need business adviceThis g
Page 39 and 40: 38implement the health and safetypo
Page 41 and 42: All businesses own assets called in
Page 43: It worked for meHow Iprotectedmybus
Page 46 and 47: Protecting yourintellectual propert
Page 48 and 49: Is your business in aspecialised se
Page 50 and 51: Trading regulationsand data protect
Page 60 and 61: Recruiting yourfirst employeeCheck
Page 62 and 63: Recruiting yourfirst employeeYou al
Page 64 and 65: Understandingemployees’ rightsChe
Page 66 and 67: Understandingemployees’ rightssch
Page 70 and 71: Understandingemployees’ rightsor
Page 74 and 75: Understandingemployees’ rightsAar
Page 76 and 77: Understandingemployees’ rightsYou
Page 78 and 79: Understandingemployees’ rights}Re
Page 80 and 81: Understandingemployees’ rightsYou
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Resolving problemswith employeesChe
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Resolving problemswith employees}If
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Resolving problemswith employeesThe
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Resolving problemswith employeesYou
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Resolving problemswith employeeswee
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Government advice andsupport for yo
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Useful contactsNow you have reached
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Useful contactsVenture Capital Asso
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Invest NI No Nonsense Guide 11 (PDF) - Invest Northern Ireland

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