As the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Government advice continues to evolve, we would like to keep all of our clients and contacts updated regarding our current working practices.
Our number one priority has always been, and continues to be, the safety of our people, our clients and our visitors, and the on-going Coronavirus developments have reaffirmed this and as a firm, we will continue to follow Government advice.
Our offices:
Our offices are not currently closed but following the Government’s latest advice, many of our staff will be working from home. Our existing agile working practices mean that we are very well equipped to continue providing an unparalleled level of service for our clients regardless of whether our staff are physically in the office or not.
Please do not call into our offices without a meeting arranged as there may not be a staff member available to assist you.
Contacting our staff:
Staff are contactable via e-mail, voicemail and/or mobile. When contacting your usual Smith Cooper contact, please phone their direct dial (available in their e-mail signatures), leave a message and we will be in touch. Alternatively, please contact us via e-mail or mobile. For any other enquiries, please call your local office number or our switchboard on 03333 446 306, and you will be put in contact with the relevant member of staff.
Safety is paramount. As such, we will conduct face to face meetings and/or client site visits only when absolutely necessary. Should you wish to schedule a meeting or a conference call with one of our team, we will conduct these using our video conferencing facilities.
How you can prepare:
Adopting an agile working strategy immediately will ensure a continued, smooth working relationship and our client portal can help you do just that.
Our client portal is a way of sharing and storing important documents and the system gives you completely secure anytime, anywhere access to these. If you are not yet using our portal and need assistance, please get in touch with your usual Smith Cooper contact.
Some of the benefits of using our portal include:
- Security – With the rise of cyber crime and identity theft, the protection of your data is of paramount importance to us. Our portal ensures the way we work together and the data we share is secure, protects your personal information and takes into account GDPR legislation.
- Quick and easy access – The Messages & Documents functionality within our portal provides you with a single, secure environment for communication and document exchange with us. All of your information and data will be stored in one place, and you can access it from any internet enabled device.
- More efficiencies – The Data Request app is another great feature of our portal that enables you to upload the information needed for your tax return quickly and efficiently from your mobile phone. We believe this will save you time and money, whilst ensuring you receive your information as soon as it is available.
A full guide on how to register, access and use our portal is also available for download here.
Help and advice
Whilst we are all still unsure how long this uncertainty will last, one thing we do know is that preparation is key. As such, we are urging all clients and business owners to act early. Whether you would like to prepare by improving cash flow, raise finance or have any other concerns, our team of experts are on hand to help.
Our articles below will give you guidance and advice during this period but if you have any specific enquiries, please get in touch with your usual Smith Cooper contact or e-mail [email protected] and your e-mail will be forwarded appropriately.
We will also continue to provide updates on our website which can be visited by clicking here, and on our social media channels LinkedIn and Twitter.
Thank you for your support and understanding.
We will continue to keep you informed as things change, but please do not hesitate to speak to us should you have any questions or concerns.
If it relates to an existing piece of work, please get in touch with your usual Smith Cooper contact. If it is something new, please email [email protected].
This is an unprecedented challenge but by working together, we hope we can minimise disruption to you, keep everyone safe and continue to support you as our clients.