HMRC make it an 'appy' New Year for jobseekers

WITH the New Year a popular time to change job, those seeking a career change can join the 1.2 million people a month already saving precious time with an essential app download for 2024.

The HMRC app which was opened over 80 million times in 2023, allows people to quickly find their employment history and National Insurance number to pass on to a new employer. They can even save their National Insurance number to their digital wallet on their phone; making it nice and handy when applying for or starting a new job.

With just a few taps, customers have downloaded their employment details almost 200,000 times via the app during 2023. However, HMRC still receives around 3 million calls a year, with people waiting on hold for information they could quickly access digitally at a time and place to suit them.

During January, when HMRC's helpline experiences a surge in enquiries about employment history, HMRC is encouraging customers to download the free and easy to use HMRC app instead, which provides secure access to personal tax affairs, saving an unnecessary phone call and a potential long wait listening to hold music.

Nigel Huddleston MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said:- "When people apply for a job the last thing they want to be doing is wasting time on the phone to HMRC to find their National Insurance number or tax code, which is why I encourage jobseekers to save themselves effort in the future and join 1.2 million monthly users and start using HMRC's fantastic app."

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Director General of Customer Services, added:- "With the new year bringing new opportunities and career aspirations for many, our app is a great way to securely access your tax code, National Insurance number, and employment details - information a new employer may ask for. A few taps will save you a call and the information is accessible at any time."

App users will need to create an account or sign in if they already have 1 to access their personal information. If you need to set up an account, the app will guide you through the process.

The app can be used to access income and employment history, salary information, National Insurance number, tax code, and more whenever it's needed. You can quickly download and print much of this information through the app within seconds, eliminating the need to call HMRC to ask for it or to be sent in the post.

University scholarship helps Wigan karate ace pursue international competition ambition

EDGE Hill student Grace Baron achieved her dream of competing in the karate equivalent to the Champion's League thanks to a university scholarship.

Recently, Grace competed in the Karate Youth Premier League in Venice in Italy; a competition which sees around 4,000 athletes from over 81 countries competing for the top spot. Grace believes she is the 1st English, female, Shotokan athlete to make it through to the second round of a World Karate Federation (WKF) international competition.

The 20 year old from Wigan said:- "The competition is for the best of the best from across the world. When you walk out into the packed arena you can't explain the feeling that comes over you. The years of training, setbacks and determination all come down to moments like this and it's something that you never forget."

Grace has been training in martial arts for over 13 years, starting in Primary School initially due to her low confidence. Her Dad used to train when he was younger and promised Grace he would start again with her as a beginner. The dynamic duo worked their way through the grades and are now both senior instructors and ranked third Dan Black Belt. Grace's younger sister Izzy also represents the English Karate Team and competed alongside her older sibling in Venice. Karate clearly runs in the Baron genes and Grace describes Izzy as:- "a fantastic young athlete in her own right."

Confidence is no longer an issue for this sporting trailblazer. Since starting out as a complete beginner, she has gone on to representing the JKS England karate team where she won world and European titles and now represents the English Karate Federation's National Team, a pathway for top Olympic athletes. Grace has also been a Sensei instructor for the past 4 years and a Cadet leader for 10 years.

Competing in the under-21 female Kata category, the second year BSc Sports Coaching student made it through to the second round of the international competition. While she didn't win, Grace made an incredible progression for English Shotokan athletes on the international stage. She only missed out on going into the third round by just 0.2 of a point.

Among the hundreds of competitors in the same age category, many of whom are paid athletes or are sponsored by their national teams or Governments, Grace has now been ranked 92nd in the world, and finished 25th in her category of 76 in Venice.

Grace added:- "I'd just like to say thank you to the Scholarship Team and for the support from the University in allowing me to make English karate history, not only for myself but also in allowing me to show other competitors in my position that they too can achieve on the international stage."

Grace has big ambitions for after graduation; she is hoping to work in elite sport as a performance coach though her ultimate goal is to work in Formula 1 as a driver and team performance coach, combining her love of travel, sports and the outdoors.