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Business Risk Services
Our Business Risk Services team deliver practical and pragmatic solutions that support clients in growing and protecting the inherent value of their businesses.
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Corporate Finance and Deal Advisory
We offer a dedicated team of experienced individuals with a focus on successfully executing transactions for corporates and financial institutions. We offer an integrated approach, with our corporate finance specialists working seamlessly with tax and other specialists to ensure that every angle is covered.
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Economic Advisory
Our all-island Economics Advisory team combines expertise in economics and business with a wealth of experience across the public and private sectors.
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Forensic Accounting
We have a different way of doing business by delivering real insight through a combination of technical rigour, commercial experience and intuitive judgment. We take pride in delivering responsive and tailored solutions to all our clients, capitalising on the wealth of experience housed within our Belfast and wider Forensics team
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People and Change Consulting
The Grant Thornton People & Change Consulting practice works with clients on these issues as well as on all aspects of how they attract, retain, engage develop, deploy and lead their people.
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Restructuring
We work with a wide variety of clients and stakeholders such as high street banks, private equity funds, directors, government agencies and creditors to implement solutions which provide the best possible outcomes.
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Technology Consulting
Motivating and assisting our clients to pursue, maintain and secure the benefits of digital solutions is at the core of our Digital Transformation teams' agenda and goals. We work with business leaders to deliver efficient digital strategies and operating models that provide new or enhanced capabilities.
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Corporate and International Tax
Northern Ireland businesses face further challenges as they operate in the only part of the UK that has a land border with a country offering a lower tax rate.
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Employer Solutions
Our team specialises in remuneration and incentive planning and works closely with employers, shareholders and employees to ensure that business strategies are aligned and goals achieved in the most tax efficient, cost-effective manner.
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Entrepreneur and Private Client Taxes
Our team of experienced advisors are on hand to guide you through any decision or transaction ranging from the establishment of new business ventures, to realising value on exit, to succession planning and providing for loved ones.
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Global Mobility Services
Grant Thornton Ireland offer a different approach to managing global mobility. We have brought together specialists from our tax, global payroll, people and change and financial accounting teams across Ireland and Northern Ireland, while drawing on the knowledge and insights of our global network of over 143 offices of mobility professionals to provide you with a holistic approach to managing global mobility.
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Outsourced Payroll
Our outsourced service provides valued service to over 150 separate PAYE schemes. These ranging from 1 to 1000 employees, working for micro, SME and global employers. The service is supported by the integrated network of tax and global mobility teams and the wider Grant Thornton network delivering a seamless service. Experienced staff deliver a personal service built around your business needs.
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Tax Disputes and Investigations
Our Tax Disputes and Investigation team is made up of tax experts and former HMRC investigators who have years of experience in dealing with a variety of tax investigations. Our expertise and insight can guide you through all interactions, keeping your cost at a minimum while allowing you to continue with the day to day running of your business.
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VAT and Indirect Taxes
At Grant Thornton (NI) LLP, our team helps Northern Ireland businesses manage their UK and global indirect tax risks which, as transactional taxes, can quickly become big liabilities.
Incentivise your employees the smart way
04 Oct 2016Engaged employees play a vital role in successful business growth. However finding, motivating and retaining the right people is a struggle for many companies.
Employee share plans, particularly HMRC approved Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) plans, are a proven way to attract staff and successfully boost employee motivation.
Recent studies show that companies encouraging employee share participation outperform the others by 30%. It is therefore not surprising that there has been an increase in the number of companies adopting employee share schemes. The latest HMRC figures show that the number of companies operating EMI plans has more than tripled since the year 2000.
The popularity of EMI plans is due to their flexibility and tax efficiency, along with the fact that they are well understood by investors and easily communicated to employees.
Tax Efficient
Unlike a share transfer, there should be no upfront cost on receiving EMI options for employees. When the shares are sold in the future, employees should benefit from lower rate of tax on the growth (10% instead of up to 47% tax if paid as salary). Employers can also claim corporation tax relief.
Flexible
Some business owners express concern over the thought of giving away value or control. However, this can be addressed through harnessing the flexibility of EMI, making it an attractive choice:
- firstly, current value can be retained. An EMI plan can be structured so that the employees are granted an opportunity to participate in the future growth of the business, meaning existing shareholders retain the current value;
- secondly, control does not need to be relinquished. A new class of non-voting shares can be created for employees, meaning existing shareholders retain power; and
- in addition, EMI plans can be structured so that options can only be exercised on a sale of the company, meaning the employees only ever hold growth value and would have no shareholder rights leading up to the sale.
There are a number of requirements that the company and employees need to meet to qualify for EMI treatment, including limits on the size of the company and its trading activities. In the event that the conditions are not met, there are many other alternative employee share plans on offer.
By exploring share incentives as an alternative to salary, many Northern Irish companies could enjoy positive growth in business, driven internally by a highly motivated workforce. There is nothing more powerful in the marketplace.