8


news Index reflects BDO‘s own optimism


UPCOMING FEATURES UPCOMING FEATURES UPCOMING FEATURES


Mergers & Acquisitions


The M&A market is tricky, with deals taking longer to reach completion. However there are positive signs, as our special section


reveals


Focus on M27 and Southampton


The M27 is the ‘link‘


that keeps the Solent region moving – linking Southampton and


Portsmouth with Dorset. It is also the home of diverse


and growing businesses


Dining & Your Business Great places to eat – including Christmas hospitality venues


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features in the September issue, contact


Sara Reynolds at sara@elcot.co.uk


www.businessmag.co.uk


Following the recent merger between accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP, which has a strong, established presence in the Solent region, and PKF, Malcom Thixton looks ahead with confidence


Heading the 160-strong team from Ocean Village, Thixton regards the merger as an excellent fit; one that creates mid-market leadership across almost all sectors for BDO, including retail, manufacturing and TMT, as well as confirming the firm‘s position as the leading adviser to AIM businesses.


BDO‘s international network is also a big pull for ambitious businesses in the region, operating across 138 worldwide with revenues of $6 billion, it is the largest global accountancy organisation aimed at the mid market.


“Working across international markets is no longer just for the largest of companies. There is a concentration of businesses in the region that are increasingly focused on exports and international expansion. Although entering new markets can be difficult, if businesses take the right steps and have the right network of advisers on the ground, they will reap the rewards in the long term.“


BDO is a founding member of the Solent LEP and committed to supporting it, along with other organisations, including Business Solent and the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce. Thixton believes that these are all well placed to help businesses drive local growth following the announced £6b of Government funding to drive money back into the regions.


“As a region, we have not suffered as much as other areas; our experience is that it dipped, but recovered quite well. We work with several motor retailers, for example, and sales are good among


prestige brands, in fact they are surprisingly strong in the current climate,“ he continued. “Businesses have cut costs and streamlined as much as they can and are now focusing on their growth strategies, which increasingly involve acquisitive action.“


BDO has a leading school leaver and graduate recruitment programme and keenly supports its people as they qualify and develop their careers within its training environment. Staff have exposure in dealing with the firm‘s ambitious, mid-market client base and experience the importance of providing excellent client service first hand.


“Internally, it is crucial our people feel empowered and confident to advise clients and deliver the very best service around. The external market works in a similar way too. Business performance is most definitely impacted by business confidence. We are starting to see a real uplift in sentiment.“


Thixton referred to the latest BDO Business Trends report, which saw business confidence at its highest point since last May, pointing to improved conditions for the rest of 2013.


The Optimism Index, which predicts business performance two quarters ahead, moved up for the fourth consecutive month, and is in turn feeding in to businesses‘ hiring intentions.


“It‘s encouraging to see that business confidence has continued its upward trend.“


Clarke Willmott makes four new lawyer appointments in Southampton


National law firm Clarke Willmott LLP has announced the appointments of Lawrence Furlong, Jasvinder Sahotay, Tim Forster and Daniel Boyle as solicitors in its corporate, commercial property and private-client practices in Southampton, following the recent addition of two new partners, Ruth Morris and Anthony Whitwell.


The appointments follow a strong period of growth for the Southampton office. Since the start of 2012, 22 new people have joined, increasing its total staff to over 70 and further reinforcing Clarke Willmott‘s strong reputation in Southampton as a dynamic, full-service law firm.


Clarke Willmott has recently been involved in major client work across the full range of its areas of practice, including advising on one of the largest acquisitions of the year – the £250 million purchase of nine motorway service properties by the Extra MSA Group. The firm has also been advising on an intellectual property dispute involving Fred Perry. The


social housing sector is a key area of growth for the Southampton office following a number of new local client wins such as One Housing, Moat Group and Greensquare Group.


Kelvin Balmont, partner and head of the Southampton office, said: “We have seen signs of the economy strengthening in recent months and are confident about the outlook. These appointments further strengthen our team, in terms of improving the level of service we can provide to existing clients and also in supporting the continued growth and development of our business.“


Clarke Willmott has six offices nationally and more than 70 partners. Altogether it employs over 450 staff across its offices in Birmingham, Bristol, London, Manchester, Southampton and Taunton. It delivers a wide range of legal services for businesses and private clients, including corporate and commercial, real estate, intellectual property, employment and HR consultancy, planning, construction, dispute resolution, insolvency and debt recovery.


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – JULY/AUGUST 2013


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