We want you to get the most from your software and to ensure this, we release regular updates and improvements.

These updates include:
•    Legislative changes
•    Improvements requested by customers
•    Software fixes
To fully benefit from these updates, you should turn on the auto updates option in your software. Read more >>

To quickly check if you need to install an update or service pack, click Help > Check for updates in your software.

Sage 50 Accounts 2012 Service Pack 1 has recently been released. Read more >>

We have been sent a notification today that Sage will discontinue support for Sage 100, here is what they have said:

Line 100 will reach its End of Mainstream Support on 30 September 2012.
Currently, we offer full Mainstream Support for Line 100, via SALP or Sagecover, which includes legislative software updates for customers and access to Technical and Developer support for Business Partners. From the effective date of this change, 30 September 2012, we’ll be changing the type of support offered for Line 100.
At this time we’ll move into a phase of Extended Support meaning whilst we’ll still provide technical support, enable strings and the facility for existing customers to add users or modules to their systems, we’ll stop producing software updates related to Line 100, we’ll no longer guarantee that Line 100 will be legislatively compliant and we’ll cease to offer support for Line 100 through the Mid-Market Developers Programme.
The table below shows the summary of the changes that we will be introducing:
Mainstream Support to 30 Sept 2012 Extended Support from Oct 2012
Product available for sale (additional users/modules only, no new site licences) Yes Yes
Enable strings (provided to BPs for their linked customers who meet the eligibility criteria) Yes Yes
Technical Support (provided to BPs for customers with a valid support contract, and to a small number of customers who are linked directly to Sage) Yes Yes
Developer Support (offered to BPs and customers with an up-to-date subscription to the Sage Mid-Market Developers Programme) Yes No
Legislative Updates (provided by Sage to maintain legal/fiscal compliance) Yes No
Hot fixes/ Bug fixes/ Patches/ Service packs (provided by Sage for recognised defects) Yes No
Wish list/defect log (open for the registration of defects) Yes No
Why are we making these changes?
These changes will allow us to concentrate our Research & Development and Support resources on the Sage 200 Suite, which has more advanced software features and customisation tools, and which is Sage’s primary solution for mid-sized businesses.
Line 100 started life at Sage in 1992 as our product of choice for mid-sized businesses requiring a sophisticated accounting business suite with highly customisable features (for example: multi-currency, multi-company, multiple stock locations and budgeting by cost centre and department) which could be tailored by BPs and Developers to meet customers’ needs.
The product has since evolved into MMS (in 2003) and Sage 200 (in 2007) and many customers have migrated to these newer solutions, but there are still around 2,500 businesses using Line 100 today.
The technology platform upon which Line 100 was built is becoming more costly and difficult to support, and the operating systems which work with Line 100 are reaching the end of their respective life cycles. By introducing these changes, we will enable our R&D and Support teams to focus on current and future technologies, and pave the way for the next generation of Sage 200.
Furthermore, we are committed to ensuring our customers get the most benefit from their Sage systems – by working with customers to prepare for changes in supported software platforms, or forthcoming changes in Government legislation, we can help you to plan for the future.

The new release of Sage 50 Payroll, version 2011 will be available from Monday November 15th.

New Features of Sage 50 Payroll 2011

• The new features included in the latest release include:

• New Report Designer

• New Starter Management

• New Leaver Management

• New Pay Element Management

• New Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme

• New Automatic Backup & Recover Feature

We hope to get our hands on a copy just before it begins shipping, so will update the blog with our findings.

If you would like to buy a copy from the start of November this year, please visit the Sage 50 Payroll section of our online shop for up to date pricing and to place orders.

Once again Ledger Services have purchased bulk training from Sage, this has enabled us to achieve much higher discount than usual, we are therefore passing these savings on to our customers.  You can book any of the Official Sage Courses which are held throughout the country from us for just £120 for a single days training or £230 for a 2 day course.  (the usual retail price is £265 per day, so that’s less than half price on a 2 day course!)

There are training centres in Reading, Bristol, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Croydon and Newcastle.  Courses range from the standard training courses you would expect from Sage, such as Sage 50 Accounts and Payroll, but also general Bookkeeping and Excel.  For more information or availability on specific courses, please either call us or browse the training section on our main website.

Here is a short video giving a brief overview of how to configure the chart of accounts in Sage 50 Accounts.