Brief Case.

LIVERPOOL insurance and financial services company Swinburne James is expanding into Preston with a new office specialising in financial services.

``We already have existing connections among the professionals there so the decision to have a permanent base in Preston makes sense from a strategic point of view for the growth of the business,'' said Stephen Darcy, managing director of the privatelyowned company which employs 31 professionals and also has offices in Manchester and Burnley.

BOSSES of Merseyside firms could be missing out by not taking advantage of new tax rules this April relating to intangible assets, says Neil Sturmey, tax partner at Grant Thornton in Liverpool and Warrington.

He said that medium-sized companies with a maximum turnover of pounds 11.2m are entitled to a 40% first year allowance on qualifying computer software expenditure, but only if an election is made to do so. Small companies with a maximum turnover of pounds 2.8m can claim 100% first year allowances.

MICHAEL Wilkinson has been appointed development manager with Laserfix, the specialist supplier of pre-packed nails and fasteners which employs 55 staff and has two warehouses in Rock Ferry.

The pounds 5m turnover firm has a 20% market share and Mr Wilkinson said: ``I see Laserfix as the perfect vehicle for continuing to develop new products.''

SMALL firms employing less than 200 staff are invited to enter the Royal Mail Winning Post awards, which recognises businesses who have succeeded by using direct mail as part of their marketing policy.

Closing date for entries is November 29 and details are available on 0845 7950 950.