In Brief: BDO; Leeds and Partners; Haines Watts

THE top 150 businesses across Yorkshire received high praise earlier this month at the Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons, as deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, and  Conservative MP Nigel Adams applauded the “great achievements of businesses in Yorkshire”.

The House of Commons’ discussion follows the launch of BDO’s Yorkshire Report 2013, which analyses the financial performance of the largest 150 companies across the region.

It showed that businesses in Yorkshire have seen an increase in revenues by £5bn to £88.8bn and have increased investment by an extra £500m to £3bn in the 12 month reporting period.  It also found that exports to emerging markets were up by almost 50% and that 10,000 new jobs had been created by the region’s elite.

Nick Clegg said: “As an MP for a great Yorkshire city, I of course want to join my hon. Friend in celebrating the great achievements of businesses in Yorkshire, particularly the rebirth of so many great manufacturing companies.”

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INWARD investment body for the Leeds city region, Leeds and Partners,  has welcomed a report published by the London Finance Commission, which maintains cities are engines of economic growth in the UK.

The report also argues that civic leaders across the UK’s major cities are the best custodians of their future.

Leeds and Partners has been working with the London Finance Commission in the lead up to the report – Raising the Capital.

Collaboration with the commission follows a successful presence at MIPIM 2013, after which further links have been built with London and the core regional cities, with Leeds and Partners being invited to provide input into a commission panel focused on raising the profile of the financial and related professional sectors at a national level.

The commission, which was set up in July 2012 to examine the potential for greater devolution of taxation and control of resources in London to promote jobs and growth, believes the devolution of financial powers will help drive economic growth in the capital and the core cities.

Chief executive of Leeds and Partners, Lurene Joseph, said: “This report rightly recognises that civic leaders and local stakeholders are better positioned to make the decisions needed to sustain cities with the investments required to meet their economic and social needs.

“We acknowledge that London’s growth is important for the economic health of the whole country, including Leeds, which is a leading financial centre within the UK.”

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HAINES Watts is celebrating after scooping an award for  Auditor of the Year in the SME category for a second time at the annual FDs Excellence Awards.
 
The awards recognise the service providers that support Britain’s finance community using the results of an annual survey, in which 1,380 FDs and financial decision-makers recorded their opinion.

Managing partner at Haines Watts Leeds office, Peter Bancroft, said: “It’s great to see Haines Watts win such a prestigious award for the second year in succession. 

“This type of award really matters to us because it’s voted for by business people and not by an academic panel of experts.

“Our core client base is owner managed businesses, so to get this endorsement from SME businesses means a great deal to us.  We are proud of all of our staff who do an outstanding job for our clients day to day and who have contributed towards us winning this award.”

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CHARTERED accountancy firm Clough & Company has been celebrating 60 years in business.

The company’s founder Harry Clough paid a visit to the company’s offices to kick start a summer of celebrations and to enjoy a milestone of his own, his 90th birthday.

The launch of the jubilee celebrations saw the firm bury a time capsule, enjoy a fish & chip lunch and present Mr Clough with national newspapers from the day he was born.

Further events taking place throughout 2013 will include a charity ball, a three peaks challenge, a triathlon, a trip to York Races and a range of internal competitions that will raise money for Bradford Cancer Support and Marie Curie.