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With the economy still in a very uncertain frame of mind, now has never been a more important time to
ensure that you get the most from your professional advisers, be it for your business or yourself. Nicholas Rudd-Jones assesses a few of them based locally
SOLICITORS
Buckles Solicitors LLP
Peterborough office: Grant House, 101 Bourges Boulevard, Peterborough PE1 1NG
Tel: 01733 888888
Stamford office: 3 St Mary’s Hill, Stamford,
PE9 2DW Tel: 01780 484570
www.buckles-law.co.uk
Buckles Solicitors LLP is one of East Anglia’s pre-eminent law firms, with a team of more than 100. They provide effective and practical solutions to meet the legal needs of business and individual clients.
Hegarty LLP Solicitors
10 Ironmonger Street, Stamford PE9 1PL
Tel: 01780 752066 www.hegarty.co.uk
Established in 1974, Hegarty Solicitors is a forward-looking firm that has developed a reputation for providing first class legal advice for both commercial and private work. Based in Stamford and Peterborough, the firm has a strong regional presence but the calibre of their lawyers has meant they have been highly successful at attracting national and international clients. Their commercial clients range from individuals starting a business through to multinational organisations.
Stapleton & Son
1 Broad Street, Stamford PE9 1PD
Tel: 01780 751226
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www.stapletons.com
Stapleton & Son provide quality-assured legal advice on business and domestic issues to local, national and international clients. Their experienced local staff know Stamford well and are pleased to provide a friendly and personal service in Elderly Client Care, Wills, Probate, Family Matters (including Mediation, Collaborative Law & Pre-Nuptial Agreements) and Education Law in addition to Residential and Commercial Conveyancing. As Members of the Connect2Law organisation there is no legal matter with which they cannot assist, if needs be by introduction to other specialists.
ACCOUNTANTS
Duncan and Toplis
14 All Saints’ Street, Stamford PE9 2PA
Tel: 01780 750888 www.duntop.co.uk
Duncan & Toplis was established in 1925 and is now one of the largest independent firms of chartered accountants in the region. They have an unrivalled knowledge of local business issues and wide experience across many commercial fields. They are also very efficient if you only need to use them for tax returns. The Stamford partners are Tom Hindmarch and Richard Hardy, who know the local community and its businesses very well.
Michelle Feasey & Co
Chartered Accountants and Chartered Tax Advisors
Unit 1, West Street Business Park, Stamford,
PE9 2PL Tel: 01780 751115
Website: www.feaseyaccounts.co.uk
Michelle Feasey & Co specialise in small businesses based in the area, including Local Living Magazines. Michelle Feasey commented: “We aim to provide a very customer-focused value-for money package; smaller companies can lose out by paying for things that aren’t necessary.”
RS Crosbie Accountants
63 High St, St Martin’s, Stamford, PE9 2LQ
Tel: 01780 751700
Dick Crosbie has been an accountant for over 20 years, serving both individual clients and small to medium-sized companies. Dick offers a very personal service and, as well as providing all types of accounting, is also a tax consultant. His views about how to operate in the current economy are clear: “Talk to advisers sooner rather than later. There are ways to spread the load with the big one-off payments such as VAT and Corporation Tax; the tax authorities can be amenable to phased payments.” He sees growth in his own business because of the value he gives and the personal service he provides.
The Young Company Chartered Accountants
Orion House, Barn Hill, Stamford, PE9 2AE
Tel: 01780 758515 or email:
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Bob Young and Sheila Gowans, both partners in the business, are very down to earth and practical people, with lots of experience, having started The Young Company 20 years ago.
They have had a base in Stamford for the last year (their main office is in Huntingdon), and offer a full range of accountancy and taxation services.
“One of the big issues facing business at the moment,” according to Bob, “is cash flow. So many businesses fail in the first three years, but the chances of success can be much improved with careful cash flow planning. At the same time, bank facilities cannot be taken for granted, so forward planning is essential. We also advise that new businesses should look carefully at the terms and conditions in the contracts they win, so that the job is profitable and the risks manageable.”
FINANCIAL ADVISERS
Landmark IFA Ltd
Magnus House, 60 St Leonard’s St, Stamford, PE9 2HU, Tel: 01780 761313, www.landmarkifa.co.uk
Landmark IFA has a professional but informal style that gives one confidence as soon as one meets them. I met with John Kellas-Kelly, who described their three main areas of activity:
Pre-retirement planning: “With so much changing now in terms of retirement age, and with an erratic stock market performance, there can be a huge impact of getting the right advice,” John told me. “On the positive side the pension regime has changed dramatically over the past couple of years producing greater flexibility of income and greater opportunity for doing so tax-efficiently.”
Long term care fees planning is another area of expertise for Landmark, who have two specialists that can assist you through this complex area and help you to think ahead and do it the right way. “We recognise that everyone’s situation is different,” John told me, “both in their existing financial portfolio and their on-going needs.”
Lifelong Wealth Management is their third area of expertise, working with clients to help them plan for their various financial needs at each lifestage.
Landmark has a team of ten and offices in Stamford, Bourne and Oundle. You can make an appointment at their offices, or a member of the team will visit you in your home if you prefer.
BUSINESS ADVICE
Are you having challenges with growth in your business, or perhaps changes in markets that throw up new challenges? There are several good business advisers based locally.
Pro-Negotiations
www.pro-negotiations.com Tel: 01780 755175
Stamford never ceases to surprise, when it comes to the array of talent that exists on our doorstep. From offices in Broad Street, Pro-Negotiations provides training, coaching, consultancy and mediation services to clients ranging from individuals and small to medium sized businesses, through to major multi-nationals.
Founded in 2003 by Ian Stokes, a barrister with 30 years worldwide business experience, the Pro-Negotiations coaching and mentoring team now also includes Sir Clive Loader (former Commander in Chief - Air Command), Sarah Outen (first woman to row solo across the Indian Ocean) and Martin Cliff (former member of the Red Arrows).
“Whether we are doing a deal, resolving a dispute, dealing with colleagues, working with teams or leading others, no matter how strong our professional skill levels may be,” says Ian “it is our human communication skills, which hold the key to achieving business and personal success. Pro-Negotiations coaching is all about looking forward. It is about improving our understanding of what motivates us and how we relate to others around us.”
The Local Living Magazine business had first hand experience of using their services when they ran a strategy day for us. What struck me at the end of the day and the days that followed was just how stimulating and motivating a day we had, and people went away more determined than ever to succeed and re-motivate themselves to find different or better ways to do things. We will write more about this in next month’s issue.
WLP
Call 0845 338 0228 or www.w-l-p.co.uk
As the economy continues to drag itself out of the recession, many businesses are reflecting on what they now need to do to prosper. The following are topical issues from WLP, who describe themselves as listeners, problem solvers and improvers. WLP have been helping owner managed businesses grow since 1990 and their two locally based consultants, Paul Fieldhouse and Brian Tolson are available for advice and guidance.
Business Planning: Key to success in any organisation, the business plan must be an effective, practical and essential tool for every company to develop, maintain, and utilise to manage future growth. Businesses and individuals with a clear vision and achievable goals do best. Often referred to as SMART (Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time based goals) Whether you are a start up or an established business, compelling evidence suggests that most companies which undertake and retain the discipline of a business plan, grow more successfully and achieve more profitable growth. Start with your market and customers and review and update continuously. Remember the old but true cliché – fail to plan or plan to fail.
Routes to market: Tim Warner has a successful van rental business, but he had another business idea - a replica football stadium kit customised to your favourite team. With one mock-up and ambition he was moving into areas beyond his experience. He sought advice from WLP.
There were three issues: how to move from prototype to volume manufacture, how to raise finance for development without selling the idea and how to get product to market.
WLP knew of a DTI scheme for evaluating innovative ideas and the initiative received a grant for development. A detailed business plan was developed and innovative finance plans arranged to ensure progress would not be slowed by a shortage of funds. At the same time suppliers optimised the design, reduced component costs, and sourcing was found in China.
Marketing and distribution was arranged and licensing deals concluded with Manchester United and Chelsea, creating worldwide interest. The business was set up using outsourcing and the web with staffing and overheads at a minimum. Tim is now realising his dream.
Makin it Happen
Need some business coaching or mentoring from a business mentor who has already been successful in business herself?
Liz Makin has worked with many small and medium sized business owners and helped them to make decisions that have made a genuine difference to their business performance.
Liz Makin, Makin it Happen – Coaching, Mentoring & Stress Management. Visit www.makinithappen.co.uk
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