Insolvency firm invests £200K in expansion

Forensic accounting and insolvency practice Inquesta is doubling capacity at its Greater Manchester headquarters as the firm celebrates its fifth anniversary.

Inquesta, which was founded in January 2012 by directors Rob Miller and Steven Wiseglass, is investing £200,000 to expand its offices in Radcliffe, near Bury after buying the building next door.

The fit-out of the former dry cleaners at St John’s Terrace on New Road is expected to be completed by the spring.

The two-storey scheme will create a large open-plan office area, two smaller offices and a breakout zone.

It will enable Inquesta to double the size of its workforce to 24.

When Inquesta moved to New Road from the Riverpark Business Centre in east Manchester in 2014, it had just five staff.

The firm’s forensic team advises on contractual and matrimonial disputes, personal injury claims, proceeds of crime orders and fraud investigations, as well as banking disputes such as mis-sold interest rate swaps.

On the insolvency side, Inquesta deals with administrations, liquidations, bankruptcies, company voluntary arrangements and individual voluntary arrangements.

Rob said the office development will enable Inquesta to add to its existing teams and introduce new service lines.

“As the practice grows, we require more office space and it is fitting to embark on the expansion of our premises in the very month we are celebrating five years in business,” he said.

“We have come a long way in a short time, and continue to recruit experienced staff to meet increasing demand for our services.

“Our insolvency division had its busiest-ever quarter in the final three months of 2016 and the forensic practice is seeing significant growth, particularly in relation to banking litigation matters.”

The duo formed Inquesta after becoming close friends when Wiseglass had a back operation and was treated by Miller’s wife Lisa, who is a physiotherapist and Pilates instructor.