MEMBERNEWS IN BRIEF


Professional membership accolade for solicitor


Leicestershire law firm Bray & Bray’s Head of Wills, Trusts and Probate has satisfied the requirements for full membership of a leading worldwide professional body. Andrew Hitchon, a partner at


The Mitchells team are looking to continue the firm’s innovative approach


Accountants celebrate the past by looking to the future


A Derbyshire accountancy firm has marked a milestone anniversary by pledging to “refresh, future-proof and flourish” as it looks to build on 150 years of business growth. Mitchells Chartered Accountants


and Business Advisers, located in Saltergate, Chesterfield, celebrated its 150th anniversary with a brand new look and unveiling a blueprint for future progression – which will see it focus on providing a business growth and funding advisory service. The company, which employs more than 40 staff with over 600


Academy sounds like a great idea


Erewash Sound Academy thrives on giving people the skills and confidence to secure employment, whether pursuing a dream career in the media or developing a career path in the final years of full-time education. Resulting from Erewash


Sound’s application for an Ofcom community radio licence back in 2008, the Academy came to fruition in 2014 to train people of all ages in radio presentation and production. The Erewash Sound


Academy runs dedicated training courses for young people, including 13-week programmes for under 18s, alongside supporting GCSE and A-level students at local schools with the practical content for their Media Studies coursework. It also partners with the


Raising Aspirations programme in Derbyshire, which delivers activities with targeted communities to raise aspirations of young people and their families.


years of combined industry experience, is hoping its innovative approach to 21st Century accountancy will ensure it continues to prosper for the next 150 years. Andrew McDaid, a Mitchells


partner, said: “Our philosophy is to always stay ahead of the game. We don’t want to ever stand still, we want to keep on pushing. Celebrating our 150-year anniversary is not simply a chance to look back fondly on what’s gone, it’s an opportunity to refresh, future-proof and flourish.


“We are a firm that is built with


technology very much at its core and we recognise that in the ever- evolving business landscape, our industry has changed. Companies expect more from their accountants, which is why we do so much more than number crunching. “The next phase of our


development will see us specialising in helping businesses grow, assisting firms of all sizes to overcome big challenges so they can move to the next level of growth, allowing us to provide real value and insight.”


the Market Harborough office, has become a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), a global association for practitioners in the fields of trust, estate and related issues. STEP members are recognised


as the most experienced and senior practitioners in the field, capable of dealing with the most complex issues. Securing membership is evidence of experience in assisting clients with drafting wills and trusts, including administering estates, acting as trustees and advising families on inheritance and succession planning. Andrew said: “The


accreditation is a benchmark for quality in the legal sector and to become a full member in the UK is great. The course was extremely challenging, but the hard work has been worth it.” As a full member, Andrew will


be able to use the post-nominal initials ‘TEP’ (Trust and Estate Practitioner) and be described as a Registered Trust and Estate Practitioner. Being a TEP is regarded within the industry as a mark of expertise, assuring clients of high levels of professional qualification and experience.


Cowens undergoes restructure and rebrand


Train staff track down wide range of awards


East Midlands Trains employees were among the winners at the annual Stagecoach Group Champions Awards. The awards – now in their ninth


year – recognise excellence over six areas including safety, health, community, customer service, environment and innovation. East Midlands Trains’ staff


received three gold awards, one silver award and two bronze awards and employees were rewarded in the categories of safety, environment, community and customer service, with the team that responded to the fire at Nottingham Station among those recognised.


East Midlands Trains Managing


Director Jake Kelly said: “I am delighted for the Champions winners from East Midlands Trains and would like to congratulate them on their awards which are thoroughly deserved. “I would like to thank them, and


our many other hard-working staff, for the part they play in delivering high-quality services to our passengers.” Winners at the event represented


Stagecoach Group’s bus, rail, and coach businesses in the UK and North America. All received a trophy, cash prize and a two night stay in London incorporating the award ceremony.


Two of the East Midlands’ leading financial services companies have announced they are restructuring to become unified under one brand. Chartered insurance broker


Cowens Survival Capability and chartered financial planners Cowens Financial Architects will now come under the umbrella of Cowens Group, with a new management structure in place. The two Mansfield- headquartered companies will consolidate their five associated service offerings – Risk Solutions; Financial Architects; Employee Benefits; Survival Capability and Private Clients – under the Cowens Group name. The Managing Director of


Cowens Survival Capability, Paul Chaplin, will now become the CEO of Cowens Group and Director of Financial Planning at Cowens, Tony Duckworth, will step up to Managing Director of Cowens Financial Architects and Employee Benefits.


business network December 2018/January 2019 19


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  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84