Parent and son franchisees David, Anne and Ben Dixon, and their team of seven staff, look after over 900 clients across their four TaxAssist Accountants offices in Epping, Bishops Stortford, Harlow and Brentwood. David joined the franchise in 2002 with his son coming on board as a franchisee in 2014 as the business expanded. A qualified Chartered Management Accountant, David worked as a Group Financial Controller for a listed motor dealership group before joining the franchise. “I was initially attracted to TaxAssist Accountants because of the significant support – the whole package is incredibly solid which I found very reassuring,” states David. “The initial training taught me new approaches to accounting while reinforcing what I already knew. It gave me the confidence that I would be able to bring success to the business – refocusing my existing skills to ensure I had a full understanding of the TaxAssist Accountants’ model. “Being a part of the franchise over the last 16 years has been incredibly helpful. The rate of development with TaxAssist Accountants is strong and there’s a great deal of potential there for franchisees. “It’s been an enjoyable journey since 2002 and we’ve met many interesting people and businesses over the years. It was a great decision to join TaxAssist and we have built up a substantial practice which we are incredibly proud of. “We look forward to welcoming more clients and helping them navigate through the many changes ahead with the advent of Making Tax Digital in 2019.”
In this months blog article we showcase three current interior design trends that highlight the ways in which employers can help their teams successfully return to the workplace. We explore how updated approaches embrace the positives of home working and eliminate drawbacks in ways that nurture employee well-being, collaboration and engagement.
Oyster Pier are residential moorings that offer the same luxury you would expect from a five-star hotel, all whilst floating on the South Bank of the river Thames. This unique community is made up of custom-designed barges that have access to a wide range of facilities.
Oyster Pier wanted to add reliable high-speed internet to this list by improving the resilience of their existing bonded FTTC service. They also needed a solution that would support their CCTV system that is required for the security of the barge residents and the Thames Clipper river services at Plantation Wharf.
The solution required would have to present the same public IP address for each tenant, including the CCTV system, regardless of which resilient internet service connection was providing access at any given time.
The Solution
To solve the problem, we carried out our first 5G installation!
We programmed a 5G router to mimic one of our SimRush outdoor units and paired it with a standard SimRush controller. The SimRush controller enabled us to setup a Static Public IP address service for the existing MikroTik router, to build a tunnel to our London Datacentre.
Adding in the Static IP service enabled remote access to the network, meaning Oyster Pier can view their CCTV footage from anywhere.
Both the existing bonded FTTC service and the new 5G service run a protocol OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) for the routing back to our London Datacentre, providing a fault-tolerant internet service with the same Public IP addresses to the site, should a failure in the primary circuit occur.
With the 5G installation acting as backup failover, Oyster Pier never have to worry about their tenants going offline.
The Result
Implementing this bespoke SimRush configuration has meant that Oyster Pier can now offer reliable broadband to residents living on the barges. Not only that but they can also achieve blistering internet speeds of 150mbps download and 50mbps upload.
Being able to remotely view their CCTV footage, has also provided them with further peace of mind as they can constantly monitor onsite activity.
If you’re thinking about revamping your workplace, chances are you’re brimming with ideas and raring to go. But before you start throwing out furniture and ripping up carpets, there are a few key considerations to make before engaging the services of an interior designer.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled 6 top tips to get your project off on the right foot. They’ll help to define what you want to achieve and the people involved so your designer can hit the ground running – saving you a lot of time and money in the process. Read the full article HERE Layrd Design Ltd. www.layrddesign.co.uk 01223 952992
TaxAssist Accountants has moved from 23rd to 21st in Accountancy Daily’s Top 75 Firms Survey 2020.
A key factor behind the continued growth of the TaxAssist Accountants franchise network was its 9.2% increase in fee income, up from £41.5m at Year End in December 2018 to £45.3m in 2019.
Karl Sandall, Group Chief Executive Director, said: “It was pleasing to see TaxAssist Accountants move up two places in this league table, reflecting our network’s strong performance and continued growth of franchisees, client numbers and fee bank increases.
“The survey results reflect the industry mostly before the Coronavirus pandemic hit and we are likely to see growth falter for most firms in next year’s survey, however, in spite of the last unprecedented year, our growth rate remains healthy and we are continuing to see positive signs.
“The management board made a bold decision in April 2020 to pause a number of costs from the franchisee network for three months. The franchisor contributed over £200,000 directly into the national marketing budget to protect the network from any potential downturn and keep the advertising momentum going.
“The extra work that was put in during 2020 has already started to generate a huge amount of brand loyalty from our client base and that, in turn, has developed new advocates for our brand who are recommending our services by explaining to others how we’ve helped them through these challenging times.
“The TaxAssist franchise model remains resilient and the support we provided in 2020 is evidence of our strong culture to support our network no matter what happens.”
With over 400 TaxAssist shops and offices across the UK, the network still has some prime territories available. Discovery Days are the perfect starting point for anyone that is thinking of branching out on their own to run and grow an accountancy practice. We help accountants and finance professionals understand the TaxAssist business model, the support on offer and provide an opportunity meet the senior TaxAssist team. Visit the website www.taxassistfranchise.co.uk to find out more.
PRESS RELEASE Norfolk Feather Company Relocation to Snetterton, Norfolk One of Diss’ oldest employers is closing its facility and relocating 47 staff to brand new Headquarters in Snetterton. After 50 years in the town, the Norfolk Feather Company, who provide quality feather and hollowfibre products to homes across the UK, will relocate all of its operations to Snetterton from September this year. The Diss factory site has been sold to Michael Howard Homes who have been specialising in the strategic planning, property development and construction of individual properties of style and distinction for over 30 years. Managing Director of the Norfolk Feather Company, Peter Crellen said: “whilst we are sorry to be leaving Diss after so many years of being synonymous with the town. The long term vision and strategy for the company has changed and that is to streamline manufacturing to meet the demand for high-quality, sustainable textile products. Our new “state of the art” building will provide better working conditions for all staff, including more space, a modern factory facility, larger warehousing, offices and a showroom. The new facility is an exciting prospect for Norfolk Feather, who with the support of its staff, are looking forward to the transition”. Peter Crellen Managing Director Photograph – Peter Crellen (left) and Patrick Hockley – Michael Howard Homes (right)
Ashtons Legal is delighted to announce the appointment of two new Senior Associates and 12 new Associates from within the firm.
Promoted to Senior Associate level are Annabel Mayer and Faye Stolls. Annabel works in the Disputes team in Bury St Edmunds and Faye is also based in Bury in the firm’s Lifetime Planning team.
The new Associates are Joanna Baker, Karen Collins, Craig Fiddaman, Victoria Harnett, Roger Loomes, Sameena Manzar, Stefan Mitham, Kate Palombo, Jessica Piper, David Sloman, Amanda Smitherman and Emma Starr.
Working in Ashtons’ Bury St Edmunds office are Joanna Baker in Disputes and Kate Palombo who is a part of the firm’s Project Management Team.
In Ipswich, the new Associates are Karen Collins and Roger Loomes from the top-tier Personal Injury Team, Craig Fiddaman from Corporate and Commercial and Emma Starr who is the firm’s Lead Business Systems Analyst.
Based in the Norwich office are David Sloman in the Corporate and Commercial Team, Victoria Harnett in Commercial Property and Jess Piper in Employment Law.
In Cambridge, the new Associates are Sameena Manzar from the Family team, Stefan Mitham who heads up BD and Marketing and Amanda Smitherman who works in Lifetime Planning.
On route to their promotion all completed the Becoming an Effective Leader and Leading Effective Teams programme that Ashtons’ deliver internally.
Ashtons CEO, Edward O’Rourke says: “I would like to congratulate all on this achievement, which is richly deserved. It is always rewarding to be able to promote talented team members from within the firm and this cohort is no exception”.
He adds: “These appointments demonstrate the commitment we have to investing in the professional development of our staff and take the number of associates in the firm to 47. Together with our 36 partners, they are working to meet a wide range of legal needs across the region and beyond.”
Pictured are: (l-r) Annabel Mayer, Craig Fiddaman, Roger Loomes, Faye Stolls, Karen Collins, Joanna Baker, David Sloman, Stefan Mitham and Sameena Manzar.
TaxAssist Accountants is happy to report that it now has 25 franchisees operating from 2 or more shop front premises.
One of the key features that marks out TaxAssist Accountants from other accountancy practices is our contemporary, open and welcoming shops. Specifically designed to be accessible and visible to our target market of small businesses and the self-employed, the shops have proven to be extremely successful since the launch of the first shop in 2002. There are currently 175 shops around the UK and 27 in the Republic of Ireland.
The franchisee that hit the 25th spot is Alex Smith (left) who operates his shops from Peverell and City Centre, Plymouth (pictured below), Devon. Alex, who runs his franchise with his wife Sarah and 5 members of staff, joined the franchise in 2006 when he was 30, deciding to move from Guildford in Surrey to Devon to start a new life and a new business. 9 years and two children later he hasn’t looked back!
Alex comments “It was a big decision to leave a good job, with a steady income to join a franchise and start from scratch in a totally new area, but I can honestly say TaxAssist have provided me with everything I needed. I am happy to report I have taken on over 300 clients operating from my first shop, and I am looking to repeat this success in my second shop.”
Prior to joining TaxAssist, Alex who is an ACA qualified accountant, operated as an accountant in industry and also an auditor in a Big 4 practice, but decided to make use of his accountancy skills and the TaxAssist brand name and support to establish his own business.
If you would like to find out more about running a franchise why not give us a call to see if your ideal territory is available and learn how TaxAssist could help you establish your own accountancy practice. Call 0800 0188297 for a confidential chat.
Regional accountancy and business advisory firm, Larking Gowen, has appointed a new partner to its Corporate Transactions team based in its Norwich office.
Jack Minns qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2011, and joined Larking Gowen in 2013, working his way up to become a Director in 2020. He will become Partner on 1 April.
Jack, who grew up in Beccles on the Norfolk/Suffolk border and studied in Norwich, has wide experience of corporate transactions including business sales, acquisitions and management buy-outs with deal values ranging between £500k and £20m.
He says it was an interest in the idea of what makes things sell that attracted him to Corporate Transactions. “It’s interesting and exciting work. Whether it’s buying or selling, these are landmark transactions, and you’re dealing directly with the business owners and decision-makers,” he said.
Jack continued, “Primarily, our aim is to help businesses in East Anglia with their growth and succession plans.”
Larking Gowen was a natural choice for Jack as a sound base to pursue his chosen career. He says the firm has “an open and empowering culture.”
“Teamwork is very strong at Larking Gowen, and the Partners are very accessible and happy to speak to people on all levels within the business. The firm is ahead of the curve in employee wellbeing and engagement,” he explained.
As well as his role in Corporate Transactions, Jack says he is looking to contribute to the firm’s expert witness and forensic accountancy work, and has been working towards this under the guidance of former Managing Partner, Jon Woolston.
Corporate Transactions and Business Advisory Partner, James Lay, said: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Jack into the Larking Gowen partnership. Having worked closely with him for many years, I know first-hand how he puts the delivery of great client service at the front and centre of everything he does.
“Jack has earned a well-deserved reputation for advising numerous business owners on buying, selling and valuing private businesses. We’re proud to have Jack in our firm, and I’m sure he will continue to advise on many more successful deals in the years to come.”
On this week’s episode of Impromptu Business Chat, Mark and James welcome special guest, TEDx Talk presenter and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) legend, Owen Fitzpatrick! They chat about the language of leadership, the science of decision making, reframing the language we use to motivate and positively influence ourselves and those around us, and how this applies to businesses!
As a qualified psychologist, Owen has coached more than 10,000 clients and worked with numerous large global corporate brands to help them perform more effectively, including professional sports stars, Olympic athletes, and billionaires!
Owen shares a fascinating insight into self-talk, practical neuroscience and the world of neuro-linguistic programming (NLP). This chat really encourages you to think about your own strategies and which words and phrases work for you personally and professionally. Understanding how these language patterns can motivate us also applies to how your team operates and can even be used in your sales and marketing strategies.
This is a must-listen for all business owners, or anyone wanting to learn more about how understanding ourselves better can help us work smarter!
TaxAssist Accountants, the UK’s largest network of accountants, founded in Norfolk, is celebrating another landmark in its success story – the opening of its 250th shop.
While many brands have been forced to close stores over the past year, TaxAssist Accountants, which last year won ‘Business of the Year’ at the Norfolk Business Awards, has continued to grow its network by opening 20 new tax and accounting shops across the UK between July and December 2020, and seven so far in 2021.
Since the very first shop opened on Aylsham Road in Norwich in 2002, their branded offices have continually proven to be one of the largest sources of client growth for the network, because of their highly visible locations and their open and welcoming atmosphere along with décor designed to reflect the friendly, modern service on offer by the accountant.
Each practice is independently owned by over 240 franchisees across the UK and in the last few years, further shops have opened up across Norfolk, in Attleborough, Kings Lynn and the latest on Ber Street in Norwich in 2019.
The network’s 250th shop was opened by Caterham-based Karthik Vasanthakumar, who only launched his accounting practice in October 2020, having quickly found and fitted out his shop, and is already making a real difference in his local community.
“It has been a long-held dream to build my own practice and I’m really enjoying the client interactions I’ve had so far. With footfall now increasing, and lots of positive comments from clients on the look and feel of the shop, I’m confident it will continue to be a draw as I look to grow the business.”
James Mattam, Group Business Development Director, said: “It is fantastic news that we have been able to continue to open many shops especially during such an unprecedented year, and that more businesses will be able to benefit from our first- class service offering.
“With growing interest in joining the TaxAssist Accountants network and an increased demand for our services from clients, the indications are that the network is set for further substantial growth through our unique shop model.
“Our entire business model has always been centred around what clients want. We decided nearly 20 years ago that clients want a retail experience where they could get away from their own business and focus on their finances with our advisers. They often take comfort from the fact that their TaxAssist Accountant is on their side and a part of their team to ensure their finances are managed well and their tax bill is reduced wherever possible and our shops provide that safe space to address these matters.”
The network, which was founded 26 years ago, has grown consistently year on year since opening their first shop in Norwich. Globally, it now services more than 83,000 business clients with a fee bank of more than £57 million from 435 shops and offices. As well as operating in the UK, TaxAssist Accountants has successfully launched in the Republic of Ireland, Australia, Canada and the USA, with further expansion planned in the short term.
If you have a background in finance and share a passion to help local independent businesses, a TaxAssist franchise provides the systems and support you need to be successful. Regular Virtual Discovery Days are available to attend, where you can find out more about the technical, marketing and business development support on offer. Call 0800 0188297 for an initial conversation or submit an enquiry here, to register your interest.
Paralympic swimming champion, Jessica Jane Applegate MBE, has become a keen cyclist during the pandemic lockdowns and is urging local cyclists to sign up to the Norwich 100 which takes place on Sunday 6th June. This year funds raised for Big C will go towards the charity’s new cancer support and information centre in the heart of Norwich.
Jessica-Jane who lives at Burgh Castle near Great Yarmouth, said, “I am a local girl and I love supporting local causes. Big C is a great charity doing so much to help those in our community with cancer and their families. The new centre in Norwich will be a fantastic facility that will provide support for many. Depending on my training commitments, I am hoping to ride the Norwich 100 on their behalf and I would encourage any keen cyclists to do the same and raise much needed funds for the charity.
“I am new to cycling and it will actually be my first cycling event! I have discovered that Norfolk has a wonderful cycling community, I didn’t know it could be so much fun! What I like about the Norwich 100 is that it is a fun challenge and you don’t have to push yourself too hard if you don’t want to. It’s a lovely scenic route too.”
The Norwich 100 starts from Norwich City Hall, taking riders on a mighty 100-mile journey through picturesque countryside, passing landmarks such as Horsey Mill and Blickling Hall. There is also an adventurous 60-mile option or more relaxing 30-mile route available. The finish is located at Norwich Cathedral where they’ll be music, a beer tent and delicious food options to help everyone refresh, replenish and celebrate! All cyclists will receive a medal at the finish.
The cycle ride is fully Covid compliant and supported with clearly signed routes, marshals, medical cover, cycle mechanics and pick up vehicles.
Tom Holmes, Events and Engagement Manager at Big C, said, “The Norwich 100 is one of our first in-person events taking place since Covid restrictions have started to lift and we couldn’t be more excited! A big thank you to Jessica Jane, our wonderful sponsors and everyone else who is supporting Big C. We are extremely grateful to anyone who signs up and decides to fundraise for our charity and those affected by cancer locally. Whether you sign up for the 30, 60 or 100 mile ride every pound you raise will go directly towards the build and development of a vital new cancer support centre in Norwich.”
The main sponsor for the event is Loveday and Partners Independent Financial Planners. Mark Loveday, director of the company, said, “We chose to sponsor this event and continue our support of Big C because they contribute significantly to the improvement of cancer prevention, diagnosis, care and treatment in our county. Proactively working to improve these areas is essential and Big C funds a significant amount of scientific research, whilst also providing practical support in our community when it is most needed. We also chose to support Big C this year in memory of Ted Hare, a trustee of Big C who recently passed away.”
Also sponsoring the event are long term supporters of Big C, Norwich Accountancy Services. Jon Hook, Director of Norwich Accountancy said, “It’s a privilege to sponsor Big C cancer charity and the Norwich 100! I’m supporting this event in memory of a great man, Michael Hook, my Dad who sadly passed away from cancer earlier this year. He was my hero and will be greatly missed.”