VAT imposition on private schools could lead to widespread closures
The government’s decision to impose VAT on private schools could lead to a closure rate of between 10% and 20% within three years, says a Yorkshire-based sector specialist. Jonathan Amor, who is a licensed insolvency practitioner and partner based in Leeds with UK top ten accountancy and advisory firm Azets, said: “There is not enough…
Yorkshire Building Society partnership with Citizens Advice wins gold in Customer Service Awards
An innovative partnership between Yorkshire Building Society and Citizens Advice has been crowned the Gold Winner of the Customer Service Improvement Award at the Collaboration Network Awards 2024. According to the organisers, the award recognised the organisation that has done the most to improve customer service in their operation, whether that be a specific initiative…
Improve financial education to boost resilience in young people, Yorkshire experts say
Charity leaders, think-tank representatives and members of parliament came together on Friday (Friday, 13 September) to discuss the financial resilience of young people, as part of an event held by Yorkshire Building Society. The event, to mark UK Savings Week (9-15 September), was hosted by the Society’s director of savings Chris Irwin, and Luke Charters,…
Schofield Sweeney invests in lawyers of the future
Award-winning law firm Schofield Sweeney has welcomed a new cohort of solicitor apprentices and trainees this month. The firm is recognised as a Sunday Times Best Place to Work and saw a record number of applicants this year for its pathways into law. The firm advocates social mobility, ensuring its workforce is diverse and inclusive…
Hard work adds up to success for accounting technicians
Talented young accountants from Azets UK will fly the flag for Yorkshire after winning through to the national finals of a prestigious contest. Matthew Cooper, Izzy Thompson and Tom Lalley are aiming for the number one spot in this year’s WorldSkills UK Accounting Technician Competition after battling through tough regional heats. The trio will be…
AAB announces leadership transition on the island of Ireland
Leading professional services firm across Ireland and the UK, AAB, has announced a new Head of Office within its Island of Ireland operations. Teresa Campbell is set to step into the role as Head of Ireland, succeeding Feargal McCormack, from 1 October 2024. Currently employing c. 1,000 people across 12 offices globally, AAB is ranked…
Azets signals wealth management intent in Yorkshire
Top ten UK accountancy and advisory firm Azets has launched ambitious plans to break into the wealth management market in Yorkshire. It has recruited experienced financial planners to lead the new service from its three offices in Leeds, Bradford and York for private clients and business owners across the whole of the county. The firm…
Bulls file accounts up to Nov 2023
Bradford Bulls have filed their latest set of accounts covering the 12 months up to 30th November 2023. The accounts show that the club made a small profit of £22k on a turnover of £2,131,000. Commenting on the 2023 out-turn, chairman Nigel Wood said “The club’s board does try to run the club sustainably, because frankly,…
Azets strengthens audit team with financial services specialist
UK top 10 accountancy and advisory firm Azets has bolstered its Yorkshire audit and assurance offering with a strategic new hire. The growing Financial Services (FS) sector and increased demand from clients have led the firm to appoint Alain de Braekeleer as a financial services audit partner. Based in Leeds, Alain is a seasoned FS…
AAB strengthens Virtual Finance team with new Leeds Partner
Second new Partner in Leeds office in as many months Appointment marks a further expansion of services out of Leeds, following launch of Corporate Finance division in the city 25% growth in Virtual Finance clients in the past year AAB, a leading professional services firm across the UK and Ireland, is pleased to announce the…
Azets UK welcomes new graduates and school leavers
Azets, the international advisory, outsourcing and compliance group, has welcomed 35 new graduates and school leavers in its three Yorkshire offices. The have embarked upon their careers with the UK top 10 accountancy and advisory firm in Leeds, Bradford and York. In total, Azets has recruited 333 new graduates and school leavers across its UK…
Yorkshire Building Society partners with Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture
Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture has announced Yorkshire Building Society as a Major Supporter. The partnership will see the 160-year-old mutual work with the programme over three years to help support its aim of increasing employment opportunities and skills across the district. Yorkshire Building Society has a long heritage in the Bradford area. One…
Yorkshire Building Society appoints new Chief People Officer
Yorkshire Building Society has announced that Holly Rankin will become its Chief People Officer from December 2024, subject to regulatory approval. Holly brings more than 28 years’ experience in human resources, including 16 years in financial services. She will join from Barclays Bank, where she has been Managing Director HR. She previously held the roles…
Emma and Ruth lead promotions at Rollits
Leading York law firm Rollits LLP has announced its latest round of promotions with two new partners and four more lawyers stepping up a level. Ruth Maltby-Sinkler in the commercial property team and Emma Hamilton in private capital have both been promoted from Associate to Partner and John Ashworth in dispute resolution becomes an Associate….
Andrew Jackson advises specialist manufacturer on sale to US adhesive giant
Regional law firm Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP is delighted to announce that it has advised the shareholders of HS Butyl Ltd, the UK’s largest manufacturer and distributor of high-quality butyl tapes, on their disposal to NYSE-listed H.B. Fuller, the largest pureplay adhesives company in the world. Family owned and founded since 1964, HS Butyl has…
Lawyer makes the move from grandfather’s firm to join Rollits
A solicitor who took her first steps in the legal profession with the practice founded by her grandfather has made the move to join the property department at leading Yorkshire law firm Rollits LLP. Georgina Gibbon joins Rollits from BG Solicitors LLP, a firm which traces its roots back to 1944, founded by Tom Beetenson…
Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation unveils £1 million grant programme to boost employability in Bradford
Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation has unveiled a new £1million grant programme for charities that support employability in Bradford and is calling for relevant groups to submit an application for funding by 29 September 2024. Yorkshire Building Society has a long heritage in the Bradford area. One of the mutual’s founding organisations, the Bradford Self…
Bradford businesses targeted in HMRC crackdown on National Minimum Wage compliance
Small and medium-sized businesses in Bradford are being targeted as part of a crackdown by HMRC on perceived non-compliance with the National Minimum Wage (NMW). Bradford is one of 11 locations being specifically targeted by the tax authority. Businesses found guilty of non-compliance will be ordered to pay NMW arrears to workers in addition to…
Azets UK announces new partner and director promotions in Yorkshire
Azets, the international advisory, outsourcing and compliance group, has announced 22 promotions across its Yorkshire business. Richard Oddy (Restructuring, Leeds) has become a partner while Becky Dawson (Technical Accounting, York), James Durham (ABAS, York), Kim Major (Tax, Leeds), Naveen Sahney (Tax, York) have been promoted to director. They are among 12 promotions in Azets’ Leeds…
Blacks Solicitors supports Heywood Homes in the development of 35 “Low Carbon” homes
Blacks Solicitors has advised Heywood Homes on the acquisition and development of a site in Holmfirth, which will boast 35 “Low Carbon” homes with a gross development value of almost £13 million. The development of the site is being facilitated and supported by the £5 million of finance from Homes England with Blacks providing advice…
Andrew Jackson advises Flamingo Land on lease for Alpamare Waterpark
North Bay attraction reopens its doors to the public after several months’ closure Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP is delighted to have advised Malton-based leisure company Flamingo Land on the lease of Scarborough’s Alpamare Waterpark, which has recently reopened to the public in time for the summer tourism season. Earlier this year, North Yorkshire Council named…
New non-executive director appointed at Yorkshire Building Society
Yorkshire Building Society has confirmed Peter Bole has will join its Board as Non-Executive Director on 1 September. Peter has over 30 years’ experience in financial services and has held the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Tesco Bank and Virgin Money, where he went on to become Group Integration Director. In his current…
LGSCO releases annual figures for City of York Council
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) has published their annual review report alongside their performance data for all local authorities. The performance data relating to City of York Council, shows a year-on-year reduction in cases they have received about the council. This shows that of 9 cases investigated, 78% (7) were upheld, comparing against…
Will you be caught by HMRC trying to bridge a £40 billion tax gap?
Whether it’s a knock on the door, a phone call or a letter with the tell-tale HMRC logo, there’s little that will strike more fear into the heart of any individual or business owner than an unexpected enquiry from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). No matter the scale of the business, there will be common…
Andrew Jackson advises the Kexgill Group on refinance facility for student accommodation expansion
Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP is delighted to have advised the Kexgill Group (trading as the University Quarter®), one of the largest privately owned providers of student accommodation in the UK, on a refinance facility provided by Aldermore Bank. The substantial transaction involved the refinancing of seven residential properties recently acquired by Kexgill as part of…
Leeds-based Sagars becomes AAB in strategic brand consolidation
FPM, Sagars and May Figures to become AAB On track to achieve £100million turnover in 2024 Leading accountancy and business advisory services firm, Sagars, has become AAB, in a move which consolidates the business’ five brands across the UK and Ireland. This strategic alignment forms a cornerstone of AAB’s six-year plan to strengthen and expand…
Yorkshire Building Society puts forward five opportunities for the new government
Yorkshire Building Society is calling on the new government to support first-time buyers, savers and the mutual sector. The Society also wants to boost skilled jobs outside London and is proposing that all primary school children in England should have lessons on managing money. The mutual is contacting MPs and sharing its five ‘Opportunities for…
Real estate team reports strong performance in first half of 2024
Award-winning law firm, Schofield Sweeney, has announced a busy and successful first half of 2024 for its real estate team. In what is perceived to be an unsure market, the team continues to manage and conduct significant transactions, reflecting both the robust market conditions and the team’s expertise in handling complex real estate deals. This…
What does this historic election result mean for UK taxpayers?
The result of the 2024 General Election will come as no surprise to pollsters, with Labour securing 412 seats – a landslide majority ending 14 years of Conservative rule. Inevitably taxpayers will be considering how this sweeping change in the political landscape will affect them. During the campaign, Labour did not provide particularly detailed tax…
AAB augment corporate finance service in Yorkshire
New appointments to deliver end-to-end service across North of England AAB, a leading professional services firm across the UK and Ireland, is expanding its corporate finance offering across the North of England with the appointment of two new key team members based in Leeds. Patrick Lynch joins as Corporate Finance Partner, alongside Harris Jones as…
Andrew Jackson strengthens employment team with senior appointment
Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP is delighted to announce that Gillian Markland has joined the firm’s employment team as a partner. Gillian brings several years’ experience acting across a broad range of employment matters. She regularly advises both public and private sector employers on a range of matters including contracts of employment, handbooks, disciplinary and dismissals,…
Mandale Industrial Park purchased by MDP NE29 Ltd
MDP NE29 Ltd have successfully acquired Mandale Industrial Park, located on Wallsend Road, North Shields for a purchase price in excess of £10 million. The estate comprises 39 units, including 24 hybrid units and 14 industrial units. Nigel Arnott, Head of Compliance/Industry Development for MDP NE29 Ltd, commented, “The acquisition of Mandale Industrial Park is…
AAB announces key promotions during period of strategic growth
AAB, a leading professional services firm across the UK and Ireland, has today announced the promotion of five team members into key leadership roles. This move not only underscores AAB’s dedication to fostering talent and commitment to excellence but also signals a continued trajectory of growth with 150 team members promoted across the 12 AAB…
Further growth for Andrew Jackson’s Property team: Leanne Stefanovic joins as an associate
Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP announces that Leanne Stefanovic has joined its property team as an associate, strengthening the firm’s client services offering across the region. Having assisted clients across a range of residential conveyancing matters for over 10 years, Leanne’s experience covers all aspects of residential property sale and purchase, as well as transfers of…
Taxing times in the election campaign
Last week marked a key milestone in the race for Number 10, with many of the major political parties releasing their manifestos for the next term of Government. Each of the parties’ fiscal projections include plans for various tax rises and cuts, inevitably stirring apprehensions around how such changes could impact your personal tax position….
Yorkshire Building Society joins network helping less advantaged progress
Yorkshire Building Society has joined a network of organisations aimed at making sure colleagues can progress in their financial services careers, regardless of their background. The announcement comes ahead of Social Mobility Day, on 13 June, which aims to promote opportunities at work for all and show people from less advantaged backgrounds they can progress….
Keeping a cool head during election fever will pay dividends
By Gunhild Dam, Private Client Partner Politicians up and down the land are currently pounding the campaign trail, following the Prime Minister’s shock announcement of a General Election of 4th July. The sense of impending change is inevitably unsettling for many, particularly as the election of a new ruling party (or parties) could entail a…
AAB raises over £100k at second AABIE charity ball
FPM, an AAB Group Company, hosted over 450 guests at the AABIE Charity Ball, held for the first time in Newry on Saturday night (June 8) Held in the city’s Canal Court, the Ball raised a remarkable £100,369 for the AABIE Charitable Initiative (known as ‘AABIE’) with all funds going directly to the charity. Feargal…
Specialist Yorkshire wholesale food and drink business becomes employee owned
North Yorkshire-based wholesale distributor Crofter’s Foods Ltd has become the latest company to transfer its entire shareholding to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). More than 10 staff have become part-owners of the artisan food and drink business. Founded in 2005 by Grahame and Jane Armitage, the specialist company works with small local suppliers to distribute…
Latest acquisition boosts AAB Wealth Assets Under Advice to £800 Million
Award-winning chartered financial planning firm, AAB Wealth, has today announced the acquisition of Synergy Financial Planning, based in Bishopbriggs, Central Scotland. Having experienced year-on-year growth since the firm was established in 2011, following this latest acquisition, AAB Wealth will have assets under advice (AUA) in excess of £800 million. The combined team of 37 are…
Yorkshire Building Society colleagues clock up 6,500 hours for good causes
Colleagues at Yorkshire Building Society gave over 6,500 hours of their time to good causes in 2023 and the Society hopes that even more will get involved with community activities this year, the mutual has said ahead of Volunteers’ Week (3-9 June). Yorkshire Building Society allows each employee up to 31 hours of volunteering time…
Council support for struggling households
Ahead of Government financial support ending in September 2024 for households battling the cost of living crisis, residents are urged to claim all they are eligible for and see where they can get discounts and lower their bills. The reduced Household Support Funding for York of £1,037,906 is available until 30 September, and will provide…
Navigating the complexities of VAT in a digital world
The e-commerce landscape has evolved significantly over recent years, revolutionising the retail sector by enabling businesses to reach global markets. However, the rise of digital services and online shopping, both B2B and B2C, has generated some complex tax implications, in particular relating to Value Added Tax (VAT). VAT—a consumption tax—is generally applied based on where goods and…
Melissa Butler joins AWB Charlesworth Solicitors
Melissa Butler has joined AWB Charlesworth Solicitors as paralegal in the Wills, Trusts and Probate department. AWB Charlesworth’s work in this area is growing, and they now have a team of eleven, including five solicitors and a specialist probate and trusts accountant. In turn, the department works closely with other departments in the firm: Residential…
£100,000 fund opens for applications to support ward residents
Following £100,000 of support having been successfully awarded to support ward residents in January 2024, a further £100,000 is now available this year. At the beginning of 2024, 37 organisations from across the city applied for a share of funding and 16 were successful. This next £100,000 pot will be offered in two lots of…
It’s question time for businesses on the Humber
Humber Business Week event brings together some of region’s leading business figures Regional law firm Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP will host a ‘Question Time’ panel discussion next month, which will bring together a panel of the region’s leading business figures to discuss some of the big questions from the audience in an hour of discussion…
Andrew Jackson facilitates Casper’s latest vessel purchase
Regional law firm Andrew Jackson Solicitors announces that it has recently assisted Immingham-based Casper Chartering Limited (”Casper”), on its purchase of the cargo vessel “MV VESPER” (formerly “ATLAS”), from Norwegian owners. MV Vesper is the latest vessel to join Casper’s growing fleet, which now comprises seven ships. Built in 2006, Vesper is 88.60m LOA (length…
Interest rates held, for now – Economist’s view
Commenting on the Bank of England’s decision to hold interest rates today, Max Shepherd, Group Economist at Yorkshire Building Society, said: “The Bank of England has agreed to leave the base rate unchanged, at 5.25%, as expected. Andrew Bailey has said he is optimistic things are moving in the right direction, implying interest rate cuts…