Parker PR

SIL Solutions, the trading arm of Sheffield Information Link is launching a brand new childcare payment service that is set to save South Yorkshire companies and their employees thousands of pounds a year.

Businesses need to have a childcare payment system in place so they can make use of credits provided by the Government but research has shown that businesses may be losing critical staff because of poor childcare arrangements.

"Employers are looking at every opportunity to save money in these tough trading conditions. At the same time publicity in the media has highlighted the struggles families are facing with the high cost of quality childcare. A recent survey, carried out by the Daycare Trust showed that as many as a third of people looking to return to employment are turning down jobs because they cannot afford childcare, whilst about 40% of working parents are considering leaving their current jobs as they are unable to meet their childcare costs. The new system makes massive savings in money, time and frustration caused when parents look for the right childcare provider," said Trudie Smallwood, Managing Director of SIL Solutions.

Many businesses run what are known as "employer supported childcare" schemes where they provide employees with vouchers to offset against childcare costs in return for savings in tax and National Insurance contributions. These schemes can be very attractive for both sides but the administration of them is often complicated and unwieldy. The SIL Solutions service streamlines the whole process, making it far more cost effective and far less hassle.

The new system will be launched at the North of England Business to Business Exhibition at the MegaCentre in Sheffield on February 9th. There will be a special free seminar at 11.30am to launch the Childcare Payment Solutions and Sheffield businesses are being invited to attend to find out more.

"We are inviting Finance and HR Directors to join us at the free seminar so they can find out just how much we can save them with the new system and make sure they hang on to their best employees" said Trudie Smallwood.

Businesses do not need to have a childcare payment system already in place to be able to use this new system and the new one can very easily replace any old voucher scheme already being used.

The new system differs from the traditional voucher schemes already used by hundreds of businesses and employees by taking away the middle man and directly supporting employers to manage their own schemes successfully in-house. The Childcare Payment Solution is an on-line system managed through salary sacrifice where employers contract directly with their employees' childcare providers.

SIL Solutions also has additional benefits to bring to businesses and employees because of its connections with Sheffield Information Link (SIL), the city's independent provider of family information services.

"We have access to a massive database of childcare providers right across South Yorkshire which means we can put employees in touch with appropriate local childcare services. The choice of provider as always rests with the parents/carers. With employers struggling to save money and keep the right employees, we are in the perfect position to help. What's more, 100% of all our profit is donated back to SIL, which is a charity, to continue to support the most disadvantaged families in the city, so anyone using the new service will be supporting others while saving themselves money too," said Trudie Smallwood.

ENDS

Parker PR is a Public Relations Agency based in Nottinghamshire. Contact us at Suite 8, The Business Place, Langford Road, Mansfield, NG19 6QG

Sheffield Information Link (SIL) and its "ask Sid" service is offering four teenagers the chance to win the best day out possible for  best mates in Sheffield with an action packed, fun-filled day of activities.

 Ask Sid is running the ultimate "best mates" competition for Sheffield teenagers aged 14-16 as  part of SIL's Silver Jubilee celebrations thanks to sponsors Sheffield Ski Village, The Edge, Fired  Arts and Pizzatainment.

 To be in with a chance of winning the Best Mates' Day prize all entrants need to do is go on the  ask Sid Facebook page (www.facebook.com/asksid.net) and nominate their best mate by  explaining in 150 words why they are their best mate. It may be something they have done to  help them out at a tough time, it may be just being there for them or it may standing by them  when others turned their backs. People will then get the chance to vote for the person they think  has been the best mate. There will be two prizes, one for boys and one for girls.

The Best Day for Best Mates prize includes:

 Skiing or snowboard at Sheffield Ski Village
 Bowling at Sheffield Ski Village
 Making pizza's with Pizzatainment
 Making your personalised mugs at Fired Arts
 Rock climbing at The Edge
 Cinema tickets for a film of your choice
 Lunch and all drinks throughout the day
 Transport in the Ask Sid taxis all day

SIL's Chief Executive, Sharron Baroudi says the competition is a celebration of 25 years of helping young people find great things to do in Sheffield and of the support young people give each other. "We wanted to do something to recognise how young people stand by and support each other. Our ask Sid website is packed with information for young people on things to do in the City and advice on education and health matters – we like to think of ask Sid as being every young person's best mate. All the prize activities can be found on ask Sid and we are really excited about the amazing time four lucky winners will have on Best Mates' Day," said Sharron Baroudi.

The competition is open to any 14-16 year old living in Sheffield, the closing date for voting and entering is February 10th. Best Mates' Day will be held on February 17th, so all entrants have to be available on that day.

The as Sid service is provided online at www.asksid.net and provides young people and families with a host of invaluable information about family services. Young people and teens can find advice on health and education matters as well as wide range of activities from arts & crafts to sports and days out. All the activities in the Best Mates' Day can be found on ask Sid.

Pupils at Waterthorpe Infants School in Sheffield were given a very special school assembly this week when Sheffield Information Link's "ask Sid" tour dropped in to give them a demonstration on Street Dancing.

The five to seven year olds were put through their steps by Beighton based dance instructor Hayley Draper of Draper Dance who showed them how to dance with "attitude" as well as do Zumbatomic, a dance/exercise created just for children.

The ask Sid service is a website that provides children, young people and families with a wide range of information and advice. It is provided by Sheffield Information Link, the City's designated Family Information Service that responds to over 140,000 requests for information each year by Sheffield families and professionals.

During the "ask Sid" Tour, the children are told about the Children's and the Young People's Zones on the website where they can find a host of information about all sorts of activities. They are also shown the section called "Who do I talk to?" where they can find links to people they can talk to about issues such as bullying, health and problems at home.

"Kids need all the help they can get while going through their formative years. There are so many pressures to deal with that it can be hard to know where to turn. The "ask Sid" website is a great place to find answers and connections to people who can help as well as great things the kids can do in their spare time," said Sheffield Information Link Chief Executive, Sharron Baroudi.

The ask Sid tour has visited over 20 different schools in Sheffield since the start of the academic year.

ENDS

Parker PR is a Public Relations Agency based in Nottinghamshire. Contact us at Suite 8, The Business Place, Langford Road, Mansfield, NG19 6QG

The business growth investor, already offering low interest loans locally, is searching for growing companies in North Lincolnshire that need loan or equity finance in excess of £25,000 to fund their business plans.

To make it easier for the businesses, UK Steel Enterprise is offering a subsidy of 50% towards the cost of professional fees for business planning services provided by a firm of accountants or a similar professional advisor. The subsidy has a maximum value of £1,000 and is not restricted to any professional business service provider.

Keith Williams, UK Steel Enterprise Regional Manager says the subsidy is another example of how the company is trying to boost the economy around Scunthorpe; "We often find that businesses need help from a professional advisor to complete a business plan and application for funding. Our subsidy means that businesses can now access high-quality help at affordable prices which in turn should help the application process go smoothly and quickly. We really hope to see lots of businesses taking up this opportunity and professional service providers promoting it to their clients."

The business planning subsidy works in conjunction with UK Steel Enterprise's offer of low cost loans from £25,000 for companies creating jobs. The loans are fixed at 5% interest over the term.

UK Steel Enterprise is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Steel. It provides business finance in amounts from £25,000 up to £750,000 to a wide variety of companies with the aim of encouraging business growth and job creation in areas affected by changes in the steel industry.

ENDS

Parker PR, is a Public Relations agency based at The Business Place, Langford Road, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England, NG19 6QG Telephone 01623 638023