12 focus on basingstoke
Business confidence needs a boost, but the outlook is bright for Basingstoke businesses
Business confidence is a continuing problem, despite tangible success among Basingstoke companies. RSM Tenon’s recent quarterly Business Barometer, undertaken by YouGov, showed SMEs in the south are equally divided over post-recession prospects, with 41% of business owners saying that their business has not improved since the downturn and 42% saying they have seen an improvement
However, Nick Parker, managing partner at Basingstoke’s RSM Tenon office, believes that there are real opportunities for businesses in Basingstoke.
Parker believes that “there is a real hesitancy among local businesses to celebrate success. We have a lot of clients who are doing very well given the current economic environment yet they are reluctant to tell anyone about it. The perception appears to be that the public resents success. I really feel that we need to get over this if we are going to start seeing a more positive business outlook.“
Parker is positive that with great links into London and a talented workforce, well-known household names and successful businesses will continue to choose Basingstoke as a base for their headquarters. “Basingstoke has a strong owner-managed/SME base plus a number of large corporates. The market is diverse, from IT startups to well-known privately-owned companies.“
Though many of the businesses in Basingstoke are well established, Parker has seen a steady flow of people wanting to start their own business in Basingstoke in spite of the tough economic climate. Parker believes that start- up businesses and the entrepreneurs behind them are vital to the future success and growth of the UK economy. He goes on to say that it is important for the established businesses
www.businessmag.co.uk
Nick Parker, Basingstoke office managing partner
in the Basingstoke business community to encourage and support the development of these new businesses to help build the local business community and increase employment levels.
Parker is positive that with great links into London and a talented workforce, well- known household names and successful businesses will continue to choose Basingstoke as a base for their headquarters
“Basingstoke has a great business community with access to great advisers. The job market remains tough but history has taught us that local firms can remain robust in these challenging economic times.“
For Parker, there is pride too in his team.
“We are an entrepreneurial, SME and mid- market focused team; very much partner-led and hands-on in our work with clients. We have developed a really good group of professionals who are very happy having broader business conversations with clients covering business issues such as financing the business to business structures. We
provide all the different service lines, and we are a cohesive unit that works together well.“
Great internal communication is high on the agenda at RSM Tenon which is helped by the open-plan design of RSM Tenon’s offices in Vantage, Victoria Street, an integral part of the thriving ’top of town’ area of Basingstoke. When specialist skills are required for client matters they can be easily sourced in such surroundings, not forgetting the firm’s global link to RSM International, the sixth largest network of independent accounting and consulting firms worldwide, with over 700 offices in more than 90 countries.
“Companies want practical professional expertise and experience, a personal relationship with reliable and trusted advisers, and that’s what we provide,“ said Parker. RSM Tenon’s client care programme provides valuable feedback on its performance.
Parker sees RSM Tenon’s Basingstoke team being even busier in coming months assisting with client concerns over the income tax rate for higher earners, the upcoming HMRC introduction of real-time information for PAYE, and automatic pension scheme enrolment.
When specialist skills are required for client matters they can be easily sourced in such surroundings, not forgetting the firm’s global link to RSM International
Parker did highlight that businesses may be concerned about the cost of employing people, and that businesses are failing to make the most of R&D and patent box tax advantages. Parker also added that business funding may remain difficult. “The banks are lending, but they now need the right deals to be supported by well-founded detailed business proposals.“
With the HMRC also shifting administrative responsibilities onto businesses, the need for operational efficiency and cost-effective professional assistance is growing.
Parker concluded: “Despite all the bad news in the press I do believe that the economy is coming out of recession. However, the vital catalyst to this will be to get the public to believe that, and start to spend money in the shops. This will then encourage businesses to start investing the cash that is currently sitting on their balance sheets.“
RSM Tenon offices:
Basingstoke – 01256-312312 Southampton – 023-8064-6464 Reading – 0118-9530350
www.rsmtenon.com
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – NOVEMBER 2012
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44