Deloitte reports return to growth

ACCOUNTANCY firm Deloitte reported a return to growth within its North West region during the year to May 31 after posting a 7% rise in revenues to £121m.

The firm said that it achieved growth across all four of its business divisions. Audit and financial services added new clients such as Salford-based ENER-G, while its tax division grew revenues advising the entrepreneurial market and on research and development.

It said that growth in demand for consulting services grew strongly during the second half of the year, fuelled by demand from the financial services sector specifically and the private sector more generally.

Its corporate finance division has also started to show signs of “sustained improvement”, advising on the Thomas Cook/Co-operative Travel merger, BetFred’s takeover of the Tote, British Salt’s sale to Tata Chemicals and Endless’s sale of Darwen-based Crown Paints.

Its reorganisation services division was also appointed as administrators to Homeform Group and to Liverpool-based Ethel Austin Investment Properties.

Patrick Loftus, practice senior partner at Deloitte in the North West, said: “This is a good performance in highly competitive markets. The economy remains extremely challenging, and we have placed a clear focus during the year on investing in our people, graduates and new partners in order to broaden and deepen the range of expertise and services that we offer to our clients.”