CSR

With major changes to data protection and information security rules set to come into effect in the UK later this year, Palmers Solicitors, in conjunction with Rochford District Council, is offering local businesses the chance to get up to speed with best practice.

Lawyers from our firm will present at the Rochford District Business Breakfast on Wednesday 24 January.

The event comes just months before major changes to the UK’s data protection rules are enacted when the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into effect on 25 May 2018.

Our specialists will discuss the steps that businesses need to take immediately to ensure they are compliant with the new regime and will outline the potentially steep penalties associated with breaches.

Meanwhile, the ever-present threat of cybercrime will also be on the agenda at the event, with a discussion covering how criminals operate, the impact of cybercrime and what to consider from an IT, training and insurance perspective.

Carey Jacobs, a Partner at Palmers Solicitors, said: “Information is so ubiquitous that it can be easy to overlook quite how much of it even the smallest businesses possess and process on a daily basis.

“However, it is important for business owners and managers to be mindful of the information they are storing and processing, as failing to properly manage it can lead to significant reputational, regulatory and financial damage.

“With the enactment of the GDPR on 25 May 2018, the potential costs of failing to properly manage business information will dramatically increase, with courts able to issue fines of €20 million or four per cent of annual turnover, whichever is greater.”

She added that, on top of this, businesses will also need to be alert to stricter rules on gaining explicit consent from individuals about how their data is used, rather than relying on so-called ‘implied consent’.

The event is set to be oversubscribed, so anyone wishing to attend should visit https://rochforddistrictbizbreakfast.eventbrite.co.uk today to secure their place.

Three Rayleigh businesses are in the frame this Christmas after they were announced as the winners of the town’s annual shopfront competition, which this year has been sponsored by Palmers Solicitors.

We are one of the newest arrivals in Rayleigh town centre, having opened our office at 105 High Street in July, our fourth office in the county.

Adam Davis, a Partner at Palmers Solicitors, joined Councillor Carol Pavelin, Chairman of Rayleigh Town Council, on Thursday 21 December 2017 as they visited each of the winning shopfronts to make a presentation.

The Dogs Trust was the winner in the Charity category, Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe was the winner in the Commercial category, while the Spread Eagle was the winner in the Public House category.

Adam Davis said: “Decorated shopfronts help bring the Christmas spirit to our town, adding to our sense of community and drawing in visitors.

“Here at Palmers Solicitors, we are enthusiastic supporters of Rayleigh’s business community and, as a business that is new to the High Street this year, we could think of no better way to showcase our neighbours than by sponsoring this competition.

“All of us here at Palmers Solicitors would like to congratulate the three winners on their efforts.”

Our team has raised hundreds of pounds to support young patients at two local hospitals by donning Christmas jumpers.

Members of the team a raised the funds in support of our firm’s charity of the year, the Polly Parrott Appeal, which supports young patients at Basildon and Thurrock hospitals.

In total, staff raised £212.95 by holding a raffle and by wearing Christmas jumpers and other Christmassy paraphernalia into work on Friday 15 December 2017.

Gina Newman, Practice Manager, said: “The Polly Parrot Appeal makes an immense difference to young patients at Basildon and Thurrock hospitals, so we are always keen to do what we can in support.

“Our team enjoyed the opportunity to mark the countdown to Christmas in this way while raising funds for the Polly Parrot Appeal.

“I would like to thank all who took part for their generosity and, of course, Polly Parrott herself for making an appearance!”

We have held various events in support of the Polly Parrot Appeal this Christmas, including a competition at the switch-on of Rayleigh’s Christmas lights and a collection at the firm’s annual Carol Concert, organised by Palmers and Rickard Luckin Chartered Accountants.

We are marking the countdown to Christmas by raising funds for Lakeside’s Give a Gift initiative and the Thurrock Young Carers initiative.

Members of our team had a stall at Warren Primary School’s Christmas Fete, where they raised a total of £31, before holding a Give a Gift day at their offices, raising a further £29.

In addition, the office raised further sums from its Christmas Jumper event.

The £287 total will be put towards purchasing sixteen stars from the Give a Gift Tree at Lakeside which will provide Christmas presents for underprivileged children in the local area and the remainder towards the Thurrock Young Carers initiative.

Partner, BJ Chong, said: “Here at Palmers Solicitors, we are committed to making a difference in our local community.

“I am delighted that the team has been able to raise funds for sixteen stars from the Give a Gift Tree and to give something back to those unsung young carers in the local community.

“This will help transform this Christmas for the children and the young carers.”

Young patients at Basildon Hospital are set to benefit this Christmas from our firm’s Carol Concert.

Alongside accountancy firm, Rickard Luckin, we will be holding the annual Carol Concert at St Martin of Tours Church in Basildon on Thursday 14 December 2017 at 8pm in support of the Polly Parrot Appeal and the Essex Community Foundation.

The Polly Parrot Appeal was recently named as our Basildon office’s Basildon Office Charity of the Year for 2017-18 and raises funds for the children’s wards at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals.

The concert will be led by the Southend Brass Band and feature the Basildon Choral Society, before concluding with mulled wine and mince pies.

The collection from the concert will go to the Polly Parrot Appeal and the Essex Community Foundation.

Lee McClellan, a Partner at Palmers Solicitors, said: “Engaging with and supporting our local community across South Essex is very important to us as a firm.

“Our annual Christmas Carol Concert with Rickard Luckin is a significant part of that and is well attended by our staff, clients and contacts, as well as local people, each year.

“We were delighted earlier this year when we announced the Polly Parrot Appeal as our Basildon office’s Charity of the Year, and it is wonderful that the collection at the concert will support its work with young patients in Basildon and in Thurrock.”

Anyone wishing to attend the Christmas Carol Concert should RSVP to Holly Lambert by calling 01268 240000 or by emailing HollyLambert@palmerslaw.co.uk.