10 new positions were created, with appointments of experts in accounts, audit, VAT and corporate and personal tax, just a few months after 25 new jobs were filled.
There is also a strong commitment to developing its existing staff, with more than 5,000 hours of training and upskilling opportunities offered to employees over the last 12 months.
Andrew Jones, Partner at Haines Watts Birmingham, said: “Owners are looking for even more support as they try to navigate the uncertainty of global disruption and the continuing presence of Covid-19. They are doing all this against a desire to grow and meet market demand and this sits perfectly with the way we work, as we invest heavily in getting to know each client and ensuring we deliver tailored accounting and auditing services."
With these latest positions, we will have created in excess of 35 jobs and we’re also exploring how we can develop the next generation of talent by building strong relationships with local colleges and universities.
Haines Watts partnered with Building Self-Belief, in Consett, County Durham, who work with schools across the region to improve their wellbeing and build their self-belief. They support children and young people by putting strategies in place and offering support and advice as they embark on adult life.
The project hosts workshops and programmes for schools which include team building activities, cultural projects, creative writing, and self-reflection to support pupils. The latest project saw year 12 business students from Cardinal Hume Catholic School in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear visit the office of Haines Watts in Newcastle. Students attended workshops on how to write CVs, created LinkedIn profiles and also took part in mock interviews.
Christine Thomas, education consultant and chief executive said: "The team made our young people feel very welcome. The students got a brilliant insight into a modern workspace. Plus, the workshops provided them with advice and experiences that will undoubtedly help them create the right professional image to support their future careers.”
The new appointment comes as the team continues to expand its pipeline of corporate finance work across the North East, Leeds, Manchester and Humber. Lee is the second senior corporate finance appointment over the last 12 months, with Maria Mckenna having joined as Manager earlier in the financial year.
Speaking on his new role, Lee said: “Despite the ongoing restrictions of Covid, Haines Watts has put a significant amount of time and thought into welcoming new starters. This, along with a number of familiar faces from previous jobs, has made settling into new surroundings very easy.
“Having previously worked with both Chris and Maria, I have seen their drive and determination first hand. I am delighted to have joined the team at such an exciting time and I am looking forward to finding new opportunities to build the service line further.”
Saskia wanted to start on a career path that would offer her an abundance of opportunities and after reading that many CEOs started off as accountants, joined the Newcastle office to kick start her ambitious plans.
Talking about her goals for the future, and she said, “My short-term goal is to finish my ACCA qualification and for my long-term goal, I want to keep working hard and climb the career ladder to hopefully end up in a senior leadership position.”
Georgia started at the Leeds office on a training apprenticeship to gain her ACA qualification whilst working in practice to gain a breadth of experience early on in her career. Georgia explained, “I always enjoyed working with numbers and liked the idea of learning on the job.”
She added, “I like that Haines Watts offer the opportunity to work in all areas, Accounts, Audit, Payroll, Tax, Management Accounts etc. rather than just specialising in one area. I think the best part was being given the opportunity to continually learn whilst still being paid to work. I also really enjoy working with clients monthly to assist with their management accounts and VAT Returns.”
Now well into the throws of his Haines Watts journey, Liam shared his experience of progressing from apprentice to manager, from newbie to mentor, and everything in between.
When talking about what led him to start his apprenticeship at Haines Watts, Liam commented, “I had no idea what to expect when I started an apprenticeship with Haines Watts in the summer of 2017, if I had known then what I know now, I wouldn’t change a thing”. He then concluded saying, “Accountancy might not be for everyone, but you would be surprised at the variety of roles available in the modern workplace.”
Last year, the Haines Watts team sponsored the U14 Swindon Spitfires football team which included providing a team kit for the girls, their coach and manager.
It also sponsored, donated prizes, and entered a team in the annual Wrag Barn Golf Day in Highworth for HFT which is a national charity, founded to support adults with learning disabilities. This event raised more than £8,000. It exceeded the charity’s objective of building a recycling facility for one of their
communal housing complexes and they were able to fund three other recycling facilities.The team offered its office as a safe collection point for the Swindon Christmas Toy Appeal which provided more than 3,000 toys and books to 923 children in the town – 200 more children than the previous year, as well as contributing to a donation of £1,250 for Save The Children for Christmas Jumper Day from Haines Watts nationally.
Partner Sue Plumb, who specialises in working with, and supporting, charities and the not-for-profit sector, explained many organisations have struggled for funding over the last two years with planned fund-raising events and campaigns being cancelled, postponed or taken online because of Covid. She said, “As we work with charities on a day-to-day basis, we were all acutely aware of the unprecedented challenges they have faced during the pandemic."
The new advanced office spaces offer state of the art technology and a range of wellbeing initiatives, reinforcing the business’s commitment to offer great spaces to work to allow employees to thrive in their roles and offer the best service possible to clients and build a strong company culture.
With the face of the workplace shifting, Haines Watts has adapted and challenged what the working environment looks like for their teams, creating spaces fit for the future. The firm ihas taken advice from teams of experts, including behavioural specialists to create the optimum workspace.
Michael Davidson, Group Managing Partner said: “Our new office upgrades are taking an almost ‘half café, half library approach”, says Davidson, explaining that staff research showed a spectrum of fresh thinking around noise levels, collaboration hubs or modern flexi options. George Style, Managing Partner of Haines Watts Oxford said: “Our investment in new premises forms part of a firm-wide project to reimagine our working environments. Our goal is to create dynamic workspaces that meet the changing needs of our people and clients.
