FRP opens new Preston office after swooping to hire Begbies Traynor trio

Business advisory firm FRP has opened new a new office in Preston with the appointment of three new partners – all recruited from sector rival Begbies Traynor’s office in the city.

David Acland, Steve Williams and Lila Thomas are spearheading the new operation alongside seven other business restructuring advisers.

The trio bring more than 80 years of corporate restructuring and advisory experience to FRP Advisory with a deep rooted connection to businesses and lenders across the broad north west region.
 
FRP continues to recruit to grow further its 10-man team based in Winckley Square, Preston, in response to demand from companies, partnerships, high street banks and alternative lenders for the full range of business advisory services ranging from corporate restructuring to pensions advisory and corporate finance solutions.
 
Acland joins FRP Advisory with over 30 years of restructuring and turnaround experience across company sectors of all sizes, after a 25-year career with Begbies where he ended up as a regional managing partner based in Preston, after a stint in the firm’s Leeds office which he helped set up.

Acland initially trained with Arthur Andersen and John Fairhurst & Co where he qualified as a chartered accountant. He is a licensed insolvency practitioner.

He brings particular expertise advising manufacturers, real estate and related property-based business, construction and football clubs.

Williams addes more than 30 years of his corporate restructuring experience from a career forged locally at Begbies.

He has strong connections across the regional financial community, working with both management and lenders across all industries, with a deep knowledge of the property and hospitality sectors, and is renowned for his expert advice in investigative bankruptcy cases and fixed charge receiverships. Williams is a licensed insolvency practitioner.

Thomas who, with 24 years’ experience in corporate rescue and recovery, has also joined from Begbies.

She is well known in the debtor and creditor communities and while she is adept across company sectors, she has been in demand in recent years for the care homes and related services industry, construction, property and retail sectors. Lila is a licensed insolvency practitioner.

Acland said: “Steve, Lila and I are thrilled to have joined FRP Advisory and bring the team’s breadth and depth of sector experience to the various business and lending communities across the North West and beyond.

“We have nine people already on board at our new offices at the heart of Preston and a tenth professional advisor joining shortly, all to meet the demand for the full range of business turnaround, financial advisory and corporate finance solutions offered at FRP Advisory.

“Our team is already active, working often in tandem with colleagues from the Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham offices, across Lancashire up into Cumbria to the Scottish borders, south into Cheshire, North Wales and the Midlands and east into Yorkshire.

“With the opening of a Preston office, we bring an established connection to the business community in Lancashire and further afield as part of FRP Advisory’s consolidation of its northern regional service.”
 
Geoff Rowley, senior partner at FRP Advisory, said: “Dave, Steve and Lila are all strategic hires and testament to the demand for FRP Advisory’s solutions-driven advice for management teams, equity partners, other investors, lenders, and key institutions we advise.

“We are delighted they have joined FRP Advisory and opened a new office in Preston with a highly experienced and regionally-connected team that has hit the ground running – all part of a long-term plan to have an on-site presence in selective key regions across the country whilst delivering the same consistent quality of service.
 
“Over the past three years, we have tripled the size of our northern England presence to 10 partners in response to demand for FRP Advisory’s services.”