Member News

The unique awards are based on feedback from franchisees, highlighting the best franchises on the market.

Following its recent ‘5 Star Franchise Satisfaction Award‘, and as a result of feedback from its franchisees gathered by WorkBuzz, TaxAssist Accountants has been named as a finalist in the ‘Best Franchise £10m + Network Turnover’ category of The Best Franchise Awards 2020/21, sponsored by Lloyds Bank.

Having taken part in the Franchise Satisfaction Benchmark survey in 2020, franchisees were asked to anonymously provide scores for categories including initial training, ongoing support, their relationship with the franchisor and whether they would recommend the franchise to a prospective franchisee.

TaxAssist Accountants was proud to receive a ‘5 Star Franchise Satisfaction Award’ following the survey, an award it has received for eight consecutive years, and hopes to continue its string of successes, having regularly won accolades at previous Best Franchise Awards ceremonies.

Karl Sandall, Chief Executive Director at TaxAssist Accountants, said: “We are delighted to be nominated yet again for a Best Franchise Award. These awards are always extra special because they are based on positive feedback from our network of franchisees.

“In what have been very turbulent and challenging months for everybody, it is highly rewarding for our 60-strong Support Team to have their outstanding hard work and achievements recognised in this way. We’ve had brilliant feedback from both the accountants in the network and their clients on the levels of support we have provided to them and winning this award would be the icing on the cake.”

Steven Frost, CEO of WorkBuzz, said: “The pandemic has put unprecedented pressure on virtually every type of business, including franchises. What makes these franchisors special is how they have shown leadership and supported their franchise networks during difficult times, with many innovating their way out of the crisis. They should be proud of what they’ve achieved and the difference they’ve made to their franchisees.”

Normally, the winners would be announced at the Best Franchise Conference – a physical event packed with best practice seminars. This year, due to the pandemic, the winners will be announced at a virtual awards ceremony on Wednesday 10th February.

More information about the awards is available here.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council is extending the application period for the “top-up payment” for eligible businesses trading within the hospitality, hotel or B&B, or leisure sectors or in the supply trade to those sectors.

This payment was launched before Christmas under the Additional Restrictions Support Grant scheme, and is for eligible businesses that have already received either a Local Restrictions Support Grant or an Additional Restrictions Support Grant.

The application deadline, originally ending on January 11, 2021, has been extended until midnight on Monday, 18th January, 2021 in order to give as many eligible businesses as possible the greatest opportunity to apply.

In addition, the council has extended, until the same deadline, the deadline for applications to the original Additional Restrictions Support Grant, which was first launched during the second national lockdown for eligible businesses.

Click here for the link to the online application forms (where required), information and support about all the grants, eligibility criteria and further business advice.

Support during third national lockdown

The Government has announced financial support for businesses during this current lockdown, which includes additional discretionary funding, the new national lockdown grant and one-off top-up grants for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses worth up to £9,000 per property.

We are awaiting further guidance from Government and will promote these to businesses and make payments as soon as possible. Information will be available on the above webpage

Credo are delighted to be shortlisted for the 6th year running in the category ‘Asset Finance Broker of the Year!’

In 2020 we were thrilled to be ‘Highly commended’ but we would love to win the big trophy in 2021!

For Credo to be in with a chance of winning this National Award we need people to leave testimonials stating why we should win this award. It could be that we have helped you with finance recently or in the past, or that we have had an association with you in someway?

Whatever this may be we would love some positive feedback, and would be incredibly grateful if you would fill in this quick form (remember to tick Credo Asset Finance)

Please complete your testimonial here

Thank you, let’s hope 2021 is our year!

James and Mark return for season 3 with an episode focused on achieving New Year Resolutions. They build on the WOOP model introduced in episode 28, drawing reference to The Science of Wellbeing, Situational Support by J E Painter, James’ sleeping attire and Mark’s new knitting hobby.

If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. Whilst you are there, please like us, and leave a comment. We would love to hear what you are enjoying about the podcast, and it helps others to find us!

Listen here! 

https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/news/2021/01/start-or-grow-a-business-with-the-help-of-your-local-library

The latest lockdown announced on 4 January 2021 means employers and employees will be depending on the furlough scheme until the scheme’s end date, currently in April 2021. Barry Howell, senior manager at chartered accountants and business advisors, MHA Larking Gowen, says businesses can handle the complexity if they follow a few important rules and need to be aware that application deadlines and eligibility criteria have undergone changes since the furlough scheme began.

More employees are now eligible for furlough. Barry said, “If you put in a new furlough application now, you need to bear in mind that more employees are potentially eligible for the scheme as the qualification criteria have changed.”

The current furlough, or Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), now covers employees on a Real Time Information (RTI) return at 30 October 2020. This applies to employees covered by the initial phases of the furlough scheme prior to 30 June 2020, but also applies to new employees taken on after 20 March 2020 and before 30 October 2020, who were included in an RTI return in that period.

Barry continued, “There are also new deadlines. Claims now need to be made within 14 days of the end of the month they relate to AND can only be amended up to 28 days after the end of the month that they relate to. Previously, you could claim months in arrears, so if the last time you submitted a claim was in July and you think you still have plenty of time to put your claim in, think again.

“CJRS is fairly flexible though. Full furlough allows you to furlough an employee for (say) a week where they are not expected to undertake any work at all. Flexi-furlough allows you to furlough an employee for a set amount of time, for example a week, but requires them to work some days or hours in that set time (i.e. that week). For example, instead of eight hours a day, they could work four hours and then be furloughed for four hours.”

However, Barry cautioned that CJRS does not cover National Insurance contributions (NIC) and statutory pension contributions.

“CJRS covers regular, contractual wages up to the 80%/£2,500 per month cap, but this is, in reality, a daily cap with the £2,500 divided by the number of days in the calendar month. It does not cover the associated employer NIC and statutory pension contributions which employers must pay for themselves.”

Barry said employers should also beware of annual leave and furlough calculations. He explained, “Furloughed employees can take annual leave while on furlough, but you must pay them 100% of their pay in line with working time regulations that govern how much holiday pay they are due. This can become complex because a standard furlough claim is based on ‘reference pay’ for the period prior to 20 March 2020 (or 30 October 2020). However, holiday pay is calculated differently and based on a rolling average. This means an employee’s holiday pay could be higher than the reference pay and if so, an employer may not be able to claim 80% of the full holiday pay back.

“If you want employees to use up accrued and unused leave you must give them notice of at least double the time you want them to take. So, if you want them to take a week’s leave, you need to give them two weeks’ notice in advance of this.”

Barry concluded, “Overall, CJRS is still very good news for employees, who may otherwise be formally laid off or made redundant, and is still quite good news for employers. Of course, how much longer employers can support the NIC and pension commitments associated with CJRS remains to be seen. Only a successful mass vaccination programme offers a way out.”

Visit MHA Larking Gowen’s dedicated COVID-19 Hub for regular updates and advice on the ongoing goverment updates. 

A multi-million pound programme of road maintenance will continue into 2021 with major schemes getting underway in Great Yarmouth, Downham Market and Stalham.

The improvements have been made possible thanks to the £22m highway funding for Norfolk that the Department for Transport announced in May 2020, to fund schemes in the 2020-21 financial year.

Norfolk received more than any other local authority in the East of England for maintenance and repairs to the county’s roads, bridges, pavements and cycle paths.

At £1.2m the mechanical and electrical upgrades for the 90-year-old Haven Bridge in Great Yarmouth is the largest scheme to be funded as part of the £22m programme. Some upgrade works were completed in the autumn, but other work, which will resolve many of the issues caused by the lifting bridge’s ageing equipment, is set to start in February and is expected to take 13 weeks to complete.

Cllr Martin Wilby, Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure at Norfolk County Council, said: “Despite the added difficulties brought by the pandemic the highways team has completed an impressive amount of work over the past year. The extra money for Norfolk means we can do more to maintain and improve our highway network to help support sustainable growth.”

Two key resurfacing schemes are due to be starting in March with a £140,000 scheme in Downham Market to resurface the approach to the level crossing on the A1122, and in Stalham, Stepping Stone Lane will be resurfaced at a cost of £165,000. Across the county the maintenance work will not only repair roads but help to prevent potholes opening-up in the future.

The £22m funding award is in addition to Norfolk County Council’s existing highways capital maintenance budget of £38.6m for the year 2020-2021. Two other major road resurfacing schemes on the A1066 near Thetford, and A1122 near Marham were also made possible by a successful bid for £3.5m from the Department for Transport’s Challenge Fund, which was confirmed in February 2020.

• The Hope At Christmas 2020 campaign sought donations such as food, clothing, toys, and vouchers which people across Norfolk generously gave;
• The campaign, run by Hopestead, led to donations made to local grassroots organisations and charities including the People’s Picnic, Food and Beverage Buggies, and StreetVet;
• The campaign is just one part of Hopestead’s work that aims to end homelessness in the East of England.

A charity campaign set up to support those who are experiencing or on the brink of homelessness this winter has led to donations to Norwich based charities and grassroots organisations.

The Hope at Christmas 2020 campaign, run by Hopestead, sought donations such as food, clothing, vouchers, as well as new and unwrapped toys. People also donated via the charity’s Just Giving page.

Organisers from Hopestead were overwhelmed by the generous public response to the campaign and distributed donations to grassroots organisations and charities it partnered with just before Christmas.

25 Christmas gift packs of toiletries and sweet treats, along with Christmas cards and Greggs vouchers were donated to individuals living in hostels across Norwich and surrounding areas. And, thanks to everyone’s generosity, enough donations were also provided to Food And Beverage Buggies (FABB) to enable them to cook meals three times a day, well into 2021.  A representative from FABB said: “We are totally amazed.  We’ll have stock well into next year.  We cannot express our gratitude enough!!”

Sleeping bags, warm clothing, thermal items, and food containers were amongst the items donated to The People’s Picnic. The Hope at Christmas 2020 campaign also allowed Hopestead to gift £300 towards The People’s Picnic’s new van purchase, enabling them to continue their vital work in Norwich distributing warm clothing, sleeping bags and meals.

In addition, pet food, treats, toys, blankets, hi-visibility coats and collars, were given to Street Vets, a charity which delivers free veterinary care to pet owners who are experiencing homelessness.

Marie-Claire Delbrouque, MD of Hopestead commented:  “Last year was challenging for all of us and we have been absolutely thrilled and moved by the generosity and kindness of everyone who donated to our campaign. Thank you so much; I can assure you that every donation makes a real difference.

“This campaign is just one step towards achieving our overall goal of ending homelessness in the East of England.  Now more than ever, there is a vital need to work together with like-minded partners to achieve this.”

The Hopestead team collected donations across East Anglia in December and donated to other organisations in the region, including the Salvation Army which received food, treats, toys and toiletries to distribute at Christmas.  Ipswich Winter Night Shelter and Wintercomfort Cambridge were also beneficiaries of the campaign.

Marie-Claire Delbrouque added: “This campaign has been a huge success and has already made a positive impact across the East of England.  We are grateful to everyone who supported us, donated, and volunteered. 

“We look forward to continuing our work in 2021 and beyond, because we believe that everyone deserves a place to call home.”

You can find out more by visiting www.hopestead.org or Hopestead on Twitter @_hopestead or Instagram @_hopestead and Facebook Hopestead | Facebook

If you have a project that you are thinking about for 2021 or an area of your business that you feel isnt secure enough do get in touch so we can help take at least one trouble off your mind. We specialise in CCTV, Fire Detection, Intruder Alarms & Access Control. If you are unable to be at your premises dont let your work be jeapodised.

Established in 1989, Dragon Security Systems supplies and installs the very latest electronic safety & security systems in Norfolk, Suffolk and the surrounding areas for a wide variety of clients including domestic, public and commercial. 

We specialise in the design and installation of systems to suit any budget, and our work always comes with an extended and lifetime warranty. Our qualified engineers are available on a 24/7 basis to carry out emergency attendance and repairs; this service is also available for systems previously installed by others. As part of our complete service package, our team can also carry out preventative maintenance checks.

Enquiries: mail@dragonsecurity.co.uk

Tel: 01603 783958

Website: www.dragonsecurity.co.uk

Tracey Renshaw, Import Export Support

Speaking at the recent Norfolk Chambers’ Brexit webinar showed me just how important the current situation is to businesses who trade in Europe, and that everyone has a different set of issues to wrestle with.

So I thought it would be useful to share Import Export Support’s answers to the detailed questions asked in the Q&A session.

Q.1  Will any customer outside the UK be zero rated for Sales invoices? B.L.

Will we need to add VAT to our invoices when selling to our EU clients ? P. R.

A. Exports to the EU will follow the same VAT rules as current exports to the RoW with no sales VAT applied to the invoice. However Import VAT will be applied on imports into EU member states, which can only be reclaimed if the importer’s EORI number is that of the owner of the imported goods. T.R.

Q.2  The Gov. website shows conflicting information: one article says we only need to make a Safety & Security Declaration when goods enter the UK, and can raise a supplementary declaration later on. Another article says that we’ll need to complete a simplified declaration as well. Which is correct? M.M.

A. The answer is that both are right. There are a number of easements regarding the submission of declarations available, but these easements do not apply for all movements, all products or all destinations. So for RoW imports, requirements for safety declarations will continue as they are today. For imports from the EU, S&S declarations will be phased in for standard goods only, according to paragraph 3.1.5 of the border operating model S&S import declarations will be required for imports from the EU into GB from July 2021. This will be the same model currently used for RoW trade. T.R.

Q.3 What happens to commodity codes after 2021? R.M.

The UK is moving to the UK General Tariff (UKGT) for all imported goods. These tariffs apply to all RoW imports into the UK. T.R.

Q.4 Our contacts in Spain are telling us that our vehicles will be stop at checkpoints in Europe to be given paperwork for onward travel – is this correct? M.M.

A. Firstly, I would advise asking them to explain why they believe this is the case. You will need to plan the journey to find out in which country your shipment will enter the EU, and the route it will take to its end destination. It will need a guarantee and the customer must discharge the movement when it arrives. As Kevin outlined in the webinar, you might want to consider taking a direct route to Spain using air to sea freight options. Alternatively, you could apply for a registered consignee status to make use of community transit when sending goods overland through several EU countries. T.R.

Q.5 Do the government plan to stop using the CHIEF system after 2021? R.M.

CHIEF will be replaced by the Customs Declaration System (CDS) sometime in the future, the latest date being talked about is autumn 2021. CDS is currently being rolled out to some traders but they are hitting issues which prohibit a wider roll-out any time soon. However, in the shorter term there are plans to use CDS to submit import declarations for goods sent from the UK to NI. T.R.

Q.6 Will our freight forwarders submit customs declarations on our behalf as a standard part of the service? S.G.

A. Some but not all freight forwarders can submit declarations themselves, or they may outsource this to a bureau provider. Your FF will have certain easements/agreements in place with HMRC to facilitate bulk shipments, so ask them what services they offer for exports arriving in EU. This service isn’t always included as part of the freight charges and I have seen some very high quotes from agents to act as a direct representative and submit import declarations, as the complexity of filling in a full SAD/C88 declaration for a large consignment of goods requires time, knowledge and software. Remember, even if your agent acts as your direct representative and submits a customs declaration on your behalf, you are the importer/exporter and fully responsible for the accuracy of the declaration. T.R.

A. LV Shipping offer a full customs declaration service direct, i.e not sub-contracted out, and we also offer the use of a VAT deferment account. Our fees are in line with market rates, but we have seen some very high fees being quoted as a result of Brexit. K.W.

Q.7 If we offer Incoterm DAP (Delivered at Place) to customers, I understand that means we will arrange everything up to the named place of delivery, except for customs clearance and duty. However, I want our customer to cover the freight cost.  What’s the terminology to inform them that we’ll arrange and prepay the delivery, but that we’ll invoice them for it?

A. Incoterms are not obligatory and they can be tweaked by including extra detail in the sales contract. So, in this instance, you can quote Incoterm DAP but add in a sentence to explain that the customer will be required to prepay you for the cost of the freight. T.R.

Q.8 We have had problems gaining indirect representation in the EU for import clearances in our UK company name, do you have any advice C.G.

A. You will need to have an EU EORI number and fiscal representation in the EU to submit an EU import /export declaration and a GB EORI number to submit an UK import/export declaration. For NI you will need a NI EORI number which you can get through the Trader Support Service (TSS). Applications are closed for this, as of 14th December they are supplied automatically. T.R.

Q.9 We buy training equipment from Ireland and the company usually drives over here with the goods. Will this be affected? B.L.

A. After Brexit, full customs declarations will be required for all goods imports and exports shipped between Ireland and the UK. T.R.

Q.10 We receive material from EU customers to which we apply hard coatings and return the product. The material remains the property of our customers. How can we avoid duty on the material coming in and going out of UK and only have duty on our hard coating element? P.L.

A. A customs simplification called Inward Processing Relief is used specifically for circumstances like this where you are importing items for repair/rework/processing before they are re-exported. You can use this up to three times a year without authorisation but for regular use you will need to be authorised. T.R.

Q.11 Our company receives free issue consignment stock from our EU customers to rework. When we ship the product back,  do we put the value of the goods or the cost of our service on our customs invoices. So, for example, if a customers part is worth 20 euros, our service cost is £10, which value do we put on the customs declaration? N.R.

A. Customs valuation is very complex and I’d need full details to answer your question, however you cannot simply declare the value as you suggest. I can see several areas of concern in your query: as the goods being imported is consignment stock, you will not be the owner the imported goods, therefore you will need to establish how you will handle import VAT. On a customs declaration an accurate value for customs must always be declared and this must reflect the true cost of the goods being shipped, including freight and insurance if they aren’t included in the landed cost. If there is no sale then there are five alternative valuation methods, but these must be used with caution and agreed with HMRC. T.R.

Q.12 For suppliers stating DDP (Delivery Duty Paid) I understand that the customer will have to pay the duty and VAT but who would be responsible for submitting the declaration? S.G.

A. DDP is where the supplier picks up the duty and VAT bill, not the customer. This isn’t possible to do without the correct EORI for that country. You will need to ensure that the importer of record’s EORI number is used as the consignee on the import declaration (not always the case with DDP) and that the they have the relevant VAT registrations in that country to be able to reclaim import VAT. T.R.

Q.13 We act as UK distributor for a manufacturer in the USA and they have told us that they understand that, as a result of Brexit, they will need to apply and register for a VAT tax. Are they correct? How might Brexit affect a US company exporting for resale in the UK, and ourselves, collect, pay and reclaim VAT on sales to the UK. R.H.

A. If you are talking about imports into the UK from US then there will be no change. Provided the sale is done from you as the UK entity directly to a UK customer then you as the importer of record will be able to reclaim the import VAT provided that you are VAT registered and you have an original C79. You may like to look into using PIVA (Postponed Import VAT Accounting) which comes into force on 1st Jan 2021. T.R.

These questions raise some important points and I’m sure the discussion will be of use to other businesses. I just want to add that there is rarely a simple answer, so if you need more information please contact me or Norfolk Chambers

More on the IES blog

By Tracey Renshaw, Import Export Support

New rules on wood packaging material for import and export start now, so here is the Import Export Support guide for  businesses who use or supply wood packaging material (WPM) to move goods to or from the EU or the rest of the world.

If you import solid WPM into GB from any country either to move goods or for supply to businesses, from 1 January 2021 it must meet international standard ISPM15. Your WPM can be checked at the border or inland premises to make sure it meets the necessary requirements. If your imports don’t comply with these rules then the WPM could be rejected or destroyed and you will need to make alternative arrangements for the transport of goods.

Note that rules for traders operating in Northern Ireland are different.

ISPM15 will apply to:

Packing cases

Boxes

Crates

Drums and similar containers

Pallets, box pallets, pallet collars and other load boards

Dunnage (loose wood used to protect goods and their packaging)

ISPM15 will not apply to:

Processed, non-solid WPM like plywood,

Raw wood that’s 6mm thick or less

Barrels for wines and spirits

Gift boxes made from processed wood

Sawdust, shavings and cardboard used as packing material

Importers using WPM: steps to take now to prepare for 1 January 2021

It’s your responsibility to use ISPM15-compliant WPM for your goods, including goods from all EU member states, from the start of 2021. GB will continue to take a risk-based approach to checks on WPM at the border or after arrival.

Contact your supplier or the Timber Packaging and Pallet Confederation (TIMCON) if you need more advice on moving WPM from 1 January 2021. (Button)

https://www.timcon.org/default.asp

Exporters using WPM

Find out if countries you’re exporting to require ISPM15 compliant WPM. (Button)

check-future-uk-trade-tariffs.service.gov.uk

WPM rules for Northern Ireland

If you move WPM (for supply or to move goods) from Northern Ireland to the EU, there will be no changes to WPM requirements. These movements will continue as before. If you use WPM to supply qualifying Northern Ireland goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain there will be no changes to WPM requirements. These movements will also continue as before. WPM used to transport non-qualifying Northern Ireland goods must be treated and appropriately marked in compliance with international standards (ISPM15). (Button)

https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/topics/plant-and-tree-health

If you move WPM (for supply or to move goods) from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, your WPM must be treated and appropriately marked in compliance with international standards (ISPM15). Checks will be carried out on a risk-targeted basis only, taking into account that GB to NI movements are very low risk.

Suppliers of WPM

To produce ISPM15 compliant packaging you must be a member of the UK Wood Packaging Material Marking Programme (UKWPMMP) and have 6-monthly assessments of your facility. Apply for membership of UKWPMMP and get email updates on the movement of WPM.

More information here

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/import-or-export-wood-packaging-material?utm_campaign=govuk-brexit-checker&utm_medium=email&utm_source=4d3728cb-818f-4fa8-953f-07a7c6fb1349

More on the IES blog

Julie Grimmer has been appointed as Managing Partner to MHA Larking Gowen, taking effect from 1 January.

She is the first woman to be elected to this prominent role and says that while 2021 will be challenging for many businesses, there is wide scope for optimism as well.

Julie said: “The relationships we have with our clients have never been more important. Supporting our clients to meet their statutory reporting and filing obligations is essential but it is the advice that we can give them personally and in running their businesses that really makes the difference.

“Whether this is helping them to negotiate their way through complex VAT rules, understanding available tax reliefs, advising on funding investment in new plant and equipment, or in buying and selling their businesses, we are here to help as their trusted advisor. We have even produced podcasts to help people meet the challenges that COVID-19 has brought to their personal and business lives.”

Julie continued, “COVID-19 has caused people to re-evaluate the way they work, manage their time and use technology. Some of the changes we’ve made to adapt to the situation are very positive and beneficial.”

Julie’s first day in her role will also see new rules coming into force, affecting the way businesses trade across international borders, as Brexit finally kicks in. While some businesses will need to adapt, it will also signal the end to what has been a long period of uncertainty which can only be beneficial.

Commented Julie, “Undoubtedly, as the economy recovers, there will be tax rises in the future to rebalance public finances. The final Brexit settlement will also shape our future tax and subsidy regime and we will need to see whether our region will benefit from the Government’s levelling up project funding.

“A lot of engagement and planning is required, and the importance of our firm as specialist tax and business advisors will really come to the fore.”

However, while there are changes ahead, there are some things that don’t change in the way an accountancy practice should be run.

Julie explained, “One of the things I am most passionate about is empowering our team at MHA Larking Gowen. Client service, excellence and working collaboratively and supportively will always be a given. We provide a huge variety of different services, with specialists in many fields, but we work together as one team on behalf of our clients.

“Our communities and local connections have always been important to us and this remains the case. We value being connected and embedded in this region. The reciprocal relationship between business, charities and community has been brought into sharp focus by the current situation. We have all relied on our communities for support during the periods of lockdown. Before then, we talked about the importance of community, but now you can really appreciate what it means.”

Julie joined the firm as a trainee in 1984 at the age of 19. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant and worked her way up as a manager and a senior manager, taking two breaks for her children along the way, and was appointed as a partner in 2006.

From the start of her career, she had ambitions to be one of the business’s leaders, and to the firm’s credit then, as today, there was a strong focus on career development and training.

Julie explained, “When I started my accountancy career, there were no women partners and there was what would now seem an air of very old-fashioned formality. You addressed the partners as Mr, rather than using first names, and there was a feeling that they were quite scary and remote. It was even written into the office dress code that women weren’t allowed to wear trousers! Things have changed a lot since those days.

“I’ve had the benefit of a lot of people within the firm supporting my career development. I’m hugely grateful for this and I want to play my part in securing the continued succession of the firm. There is no point gaining experience if this is not shared, and the team supported, to meet their potential to become the future leaders of the business.

“Today, the profile of the firm is 58% women, and there are more women in senior positions in the business than ever before. We have a great team of people at MHA Larking Gowen and I am absolutely committed to our training and development strategy. This strategy is based on inclusion right across the firm. We are going to continue recruiting as well as training and nurturing homegrown talent. I want all of the team to benefit and feel supported and encouraged in the way that I have been over the years.”

Julie concluded, “I’m 100% committed to keeping the firm independent as I believe this is one of the firm’s greatest strengths. We are all personally invested in this region and therefore understand what is important to our clients. We shape our services in response to what our clients tell us. When you join MHA Larking Gowen, you join a firm where you can help shape the future and be master of your own destiny.”