diff --git a/app/ui/templates/base/layout.html b/app/ui/templates/base/layout.html
index 55fbc20..4b090eb 100644
--- a/app/ui/templates/base/layout.html
+++ b/app/ui/templates/base/layout.html
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-<!doctype html>
+﻿<!doctype html>
 <html lang="en">
 <head>
   <meta charset="utf-8" />
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
         {% if firm_branding.logo_url %}<img src="{{ firm_branding.logo_url }}" alt="{{ current_firm_name }} logo" class="h-11 w-11 rounded-2xl bg-white object-contain p-1 shadow-soft" />{% else %}<div class="flex h-11 w-11 items-center justify-center rounded-2xl bg-brand-500 font-bold text-white shadow-soft">{{ (current_firm_name[:2] if current_firm_name else 'AF')|upper }}</div>{% endif %}
         <div class="min-w-0">
           <div class="truncate text-sm font-semibold tracking-wide">{{ current_firm_name }}</div>
-          <div class="truncate text-xs text-slate-400">{% if full_auth %}{{ current_branch_name }}{% if current_branch_name and current_branch_name != "-" %} Branch{% endif %} • Workspace{% elif domain_context.is_resolved %}{{ current_branch_name or 'Domain Workspace' }}{% else %}Secure Practice Workspace{% endif %}</div>
+          <div class="truncate text-xs text-slate-400">{% if full_auth %}{{ current_branch_name }}{% if current_branch_name and current_branch_name != "-" %} Branch{% endif %} â€¢ Workspace{% elif domain_context.is_resolved %}{{ current_branch_name or 'Domain Workspace' }}{% else %}Secure Practice Workspace{% endif %}</div>
         </div>
       </div>
 
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@
         <details class="group rounded-xl" {% if current_path.startswith('/employee') or current_path.startswith('/alerts') %}open{% endif %}>
           <summary class="flex cursor-pointer list-none items-center justify-between rounded-xl px-3 py-2 text-sm font-semibold transition hover:bg-slate-800">
             <span>My Workspace</span>
-            <span class="text-xs text-slate-400 transition group-open:rotate-90">›</span>
+            <span class="text-xs text-slate-400 transition group-open:rotate-90">â€º</span>
           </summary>
           <div class="mt-1 space-y-1 border-l border-slate-700/70 pl-3">
             {% if can_view_employee_portal(current_user, ui_perms, ui_roles) %}
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@
         <details class="group rounded-xl" {% if current_path.startswith('/partner') %}open{% endif %}>
           <summary class="flex cursor-pointer list-none items-center justify-between rounded-xl px-3 py-2 text-sm font-semibold transition hover:bg-slate-800">
             <span>Partner Workspace</span>
-            <span class="text-xs text-slate-400 transition group-open:rotate-90">›</span>
+            <span class="text-xs text-slate-400 transition group-open:rotate-90">â€º</span>
           </summary>
           <div class="mt-1 space-y-1 border-l border-slate-700/70 pl-3">
             <a href="/partner/dashboard" class="block rounded-lg px-3 py-1.5 text-sm transition {% if current_path == '/partner/dashboard' %}bg-brand-600 text-white{% else %}text-slate-300 hover:bg-slate-800 hover:text-white{% endif %}">Overview</a>
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@
         <details class="group rounded-xl" {% if current_path.startswith('/manager') or current_path.startswith('/employees/work') or current_path.startswith('/employees/progress') or current_path.startswith('/employees/attendance') or current_path.startswith('/employees/leave') %}open{% endif %}>
           <summary class="flex cursor-pointer list-none items-center justify-between rounded-xl px-3 py-2 text-sm font-semibold transition hover:bg-slate-800">
             <span>Team Workspace</span>
-            <span class="text-xs text-slate-400 transition group-open:rotate-90">›</span>
+            <span class="text-xs text-slate-400 transition group-open:rotate-90">â€º</span>
           </summary>
           <div class="mt-1 space-y-1 border-l border-slate-700/70 pl-3">
             {% if can_manage_employee_work(current_user, ui_perms, ui_roles) %}
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@
         <details class="group rounded-xl" {% if current_path.startswith('/billing') %}open{% endif %}>
           <summary class="flex cursor-pointer list-none items-center justify-between rounded-xl px-3 py-2 text-sm font-semibold transition hover:bg-slate-800">
             <span>Billing</span>
-            <span class="text-xs text-slate-400 transition group-open:rotate-90">›</span>
+            <span class="text-xs text-slate-400 transition group-open:rotate-90">â€º</span>
           </summary>
           <div class="mt-1 space-y-1 border-l border-slate-700/70 pl-3">
             <a href="/billing" class="block rounded-lg px-3 py-1.5 text-sm transition {% if current_path == '/billing' %}bg-brand-600 text-white{% else %}text-slate-300 hover:bg-slate-800 hover:text-white{% endif %}">Invoices</a>
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@
         <details class="group rounded-xl" {% if current_path.startswith('/employees') and not (current_path.startswith('/employees/work') or current_path.startswith('/employees/progress') or current_path.startswith('/employees/attendance') or current_path == '/employees/leave') %}open{% endif %}>
           <summary class="flex cursor-pointer list-none items-center justify-between rounded-xl px-3 py-2 text-sm font-semibold transition hover:bg-slate-800">
             <span>Team Administration</span>
-            <span class="text-xs text-slate-400 transition group-open:rotate-90">›</span>
+            <span class="text-xs text-slate-400 transition group-open:rotate-90">â€º</span>
           </summary>
           <div class="mt-1 space-y-1 border-l border-slate-700/70 pl-3">
             {% if can_view_employee_dashboard(current_user, ui_perms, ui_roles) %}<a href="/employees/dashboard" class="block rounded-lg px-3 py-1.5 text-sm text-slate-300 transition hover:bg-slate-800 hover:text-white">HR Dashboard</a>{% endif %}
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@
         <details class="group rounded-xl" {% if current_path.startswith('/system-settings/users') or current_path.startswith('/system-settings/rbac') or current_path.startswith('/services') or current_path.startswith('/clients') or current_path.startswith('/consultants') or current_path.startswith('/email') or current_path.startswith('/notice-cases') %}open{% endif %}>
           <summary class="flex cursor-pointer list-none items-center justify-between rounded-xl px-3 py-2 text-sm font-semibold transition hover:bg-slate-800">
             <span>Firm Administration</span>
-            <span class="text-xs text-slate-400 transition group-open:rotate-90">›</span>
+            <span class="text-xs text-slate-400 transition group-open:rotate-90">â€º</span>
           </summary>
           <div class="mt-1 space-y-1 border-l border-slate-700/70 pl-3">
             {% if "Firm Admin" in ui_roles or is_system_admin_user %}
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@
         <details class="group rounded-xl" {% if current_path.startswith('/domains') or current_path.startswith('/platform-billing') or current_path.startswith('/marketplace') %}open{% endif %}>
           <summary class="flex cursor-pointer list-none items-center justify-between rounded-xl px-3 py-2 text-sm font-semibold transition hover:bg-slate-800">
             <span>Platform</span>
-            <span class="text-xs text-slate-400 transition group-open:rotate-90">›</span>
+            <span class="text-xs text-slate-400 transition group-open:rotate-90">â€º</span>
           </summary>
           <div class="mt-1 space-y-1 border-l border-slate-700/70 pl-3">
             <div class="pt-3 text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-[0.16em] text-slate-500">Domain Configuration</div>
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@
         <details class="group rounded-xl" {% if current_path.startswith('/system-settings') %}open{% endif %}>
           <summary class="flex cursor-pointer list-none items-center justify-between rounded-xl px-3 py-2 text-sm font-semibold transition hover:bg-slate-800">
             <span>Core Setup</span>
-            <span class="text-xs text-slate-400 transition group-open:rotate-90">›</span>
+            <span class="text-xs text-slate-400 transition group-open:rotate-90">â€º</span>
           </summary>
           <div class="mt-1 space-y-1 border-l border-slate-700/70 pl-3">
             {% if can_view_settings(current_user, ui_perms, ui_roles) %}
@@ -400,11 +400,11 @@
                     <div class="font-medium text-slate-800">{{ current_user.full_name or current_user.email }}</div>
                     <div class="text-slate-500">{{ current_user.email }}</div>
                     {% if current_user.qualification or current_user.designation %}
-                    <div class="text-xs text-slate-500">{{ current_user.qualification or '' }}{% if current_user.qualification and current_user.designation %} • {% endif %}{{ current_user.designation or '' }}</div>
+                    <div class="text-xs text-slate-500">{{ current_user.qualification or '' }}{% if current_user.qualification and current_user.designation %} â€¢ {% endif %}{{ current_user.designation or '' }}</div>
                     {% endif %}
                     <div class="text-xs text-slate-400">
                       Your Firm: {{ current_firm_name }}
-                      • Branch: {{ current_branch_name }}{% if active_financial_year %} • FY: {{ active_financial_year }}{% endif %}
+                      â€¢ Branch: {{ current_branch_name }}{% if active_financial_year %} â€¢ FY: {{ active_financial_year }}{% endif %}
                     </div>
                     <div class="mt-2 flex justify-end gap-2">
                       {% if "Consultant" in ui_roles %}
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@
                 </div>
               {% else %}
                 {% if domain_context.is_resolved %}
-                  <div class="mb-2 text-xs text-slate-500">{{ current_firm_name }}{% if current_branch_name %} • {{ current_branch_name }}{% endif %}</div>
+                  <div class="mb-2 text-xs text-slate-500">{{ current_firm_name }}{% if current_branch_name %} â€¢ {{ current_branch_name }}{% endif %}</div>
                 {% endif %}
                 <a class="inline-flex rounded-lg bg-brand-600 px-3 py-2 text-sm font-medium text-white hover:bg-brand-700" href="/login">Login</a>
               {% endif %}
@@ -472,10 +472,20 @@
               </div>
             {% endif %}
 
+
+            {% if is_system_admin_user %}
+              <div>
+                <label class="mb-1 block text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wide text-slate-500">System Wizard</label>
+                <a href="/wizards/system/firm/new"
+                   class="inline-flex items-center rounded-xl bg-brand-600 px-4 py-2 text-sm font-semibold text-white shadow-soft transition hover:bg-brand-700">
+                  + Create Firm
+                </a>
+              </div>
+            {% endif %}
             <div class="text-xs text-slate-500">
               Active Scope:
               {{ current_firm_name }}
-              • {{ current_branch_name if active_branch_id else "All Branches" }}{% if active_financial_year %} • FY {{ active_financial_year }}{% endif %}
+              â€¢ {{ current_branch_name if active_branch_id else "All Branches" }}{% if active_financial_year %} â€¢ FY {{ active_financial_year }}{% endif %}
             </div>
           </div>
           {% endif %}
@@ -547,7 +557,7 @@
     wrapper.className = "overflow-hidden rounded-2xl border shadow-soft " + priorityClasses(alert.priority);
     wrapper.innerHTML = `
       <div class="flex items-start gap-3 p-4">
-        <div class="mt-0.5 flex h-9 w-9 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-xl bg-white/80 text-base">🔔</div>
+        <div class="mt-0.5 flex h-9 w-9 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-xl bg-white/80 text-base">ðŸ””</div>
         <div class="min-w-0 flex-1">
           <div class="text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wide opacity-75">New Alert</div>
           <div class="mt-0.5 line-clamp-2 text-sm font-semibold"></div>
@@ -615,3 +625,4 @@
 
 </body>
 </html>
+
