Accountants merge staff in new HQ
AN ACCOUNTANCY firm has brought together its two Birmingham offices following expansion and increased demand from owner-managed and family-run businesses.
Haines Watts, which said it had seen more than ten per cent growth in the region during the past year, has taken 7,000 sq ft of grade A office space at Calthorpe Estates’ Greenfield Crescent development in Edgbaston.
Earlier this year, it acquired Jewellery Quarter-based Michael Kay & Company so this new office consolidates those staff and Haines Watts’ employees at its old Edgbaston office into one location.
The new base accommodates more than 45 staff over two floors with additional space to house new staff as part of recruitment plans and further possible acquisitions.
Darren Holdway, managing partner at Haines Watts in Birmingham, said: “2018 was a good year and, following the recent acquisition of Michael Kay & Company, we needed a new Birmingham home that could house the larger team and help us with planning for future growth.
“The Greenfield Crescent office provides our staff and clients with a modern place to work, meet and host best practice seminars. Our Birmingham practice has grown by 27 per cent in terms of staff numbers and this includes several new and future high-profile appointments that strengthen the senior management and client-facing teams.”
The Birmingham office is the largest of the firm’s five bases in the West Midlands. It also has staff in Hereford, Tamworth, Wolverhampton and Worcester.
Expert: Henry Briggs
Title: Partner, Haines Watts, Birmingham
Contact: 0121 456 1613 or fhbriggs@hwca.com
Website: www.hwca.com/ accountants-birmingham
Q The Government is telling the civil service and business to prepare for a no-deal Brexit. As an SME that trades solely in the UK, and is unlikely to export our services, how should we be preparing for such an eventuality? A Some ten per cent of SMEs export – meaning the majority do not, but even though your business may not be in the front line, all of us could be affected through our suppliers and customers.
This makes it harder for businesses such as yours to prepare and we can only make intelligent guesses.
Imports may suffer from a sudden interruption of supply, and demand from export markets may fall. Costs, through tariffs, may well increase. The GATT default ones generally stand at ten per cent (which may be less than the fall in the pound).
Funding (through grants and aid) and cashflow need to be monitored closely, with back-up sources in the event of these drying up.
The Government is suggesting that European funds will be replaced by UK funds.
Employees who are EU nationals will need to apply for settled status.
Businesses reliant on EU workers should investigate measures they could take to boost staff retention.
All of this means not taking unnecessary risks.
Talk to customers and suppliers who are at greatest risk to establish their position.
Secure short-term vital supplies including those from third parties that might find imports dry-up or are delayed.
There are websites set up for businesses by HMRC and Birmingham Chamber of Commerce to support both those who trade directly with Europe – and the vast majority of business which does not.
As Benjamin Franklin said: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”.
If you have a question contact Tony Williams on 0121 234 5262 or send it to tony.williams@reachplc.com