As promised, all the staff are more than willing to help with any query, and the speed of answer to problems is always excellent. Since we have started working with WG we have been able to delegate much of our tax planning and payroll to them, and with their advice on the rationalisation of systems we have been able to focus on the core aspects of the business. Overall the relationship between WG and ourselves is extremely beneficial and proactive.
Leading chartered accountants offer free business development opportunities to local business owners.
WG Chartered Accountants, a leading accountancy firm in Cheltenham, has launched a brand new series of business development seminars, to be delivered throughout the year, to help businesses grow and move forward.
The first seminar “What is Your Plan for the Future?” is to be held on 28 February at the National Star College, starting at 8.30am, and can be registered for by visiting wgca.co.uk/wgba.
The WG Business Academy is a series of eight cutting edge business development seminars run by a team of WG’s business development and tax experts. These experts will be combining their seventy years of business experience to provide seminars on a range of topics including planning for the future, growing the business, marketing, personal development, understanding the numbers and measuring progress.
This comprehensive range of business seminars is being delivered at the National Star College throughout the year. Each seminar, free of charge to attend, will begin at 8.30am and finish by 12midday.
Brian Gibb, a director at WG, says, “We have a proven track record of working with ambitious businesses individually, so we thought why not do so on a larger scale? Business owners can choose which seminars they would like to attend, and our experts will guide them from where they are now, to where they want to be.”
Business owners can visit wgca.co.uk/wgba to find out more about all eight of the WG Business Academy seminars.
Director of leading chartered accountants nominated for Women in Business award
THE director of a leading chartered accountants firm in Gloucestershire has been nominated for the Rising Star of the Year category in the 2012 Citizen and Echo Women in Business Awards.
Kate Baines, of Cheltenham-based accountancy practice WG Chartered Accountants, is one of a team of 10 people catering to clients' needs, including protecting profits, minimising tax and ensuring clients stay compliant with HMRC and Companies House.
Kate has climbed the ladder from trainee accountant to her current role as director in seven-and-a-half years. She said: "I have been included at senior management level from day one, which has enabled me to be a very integral part of the team and gain their respect in a very short time.
"I actively network in the business community, which provides me with new contacts on an almost weekly basis. I did find this very hard at first but the more you get yourself out there and start talking to people the easier it gets, and now at most events I see someone that I recognise. Networking is very much about building relationships over time rather than getting new business there and then from a new contact, and over the last three years at WG I feel I have made some great contacts."
WG runs events and seminars for business owners, bank managers and independent financial advisers. Kate has been responsible for making these events happen.
She helped WG on to the social media scene, getting other directors on to LinkedIn and setting up Twitter and Blogger for the business. She was also partly responsible for the launch of the business's new website.
Since Kate started with WG she has used a secure online portal for clients to approve tax returns, which is linked to its website.
"I was responsible for implementing this and for preparing the materials to show clients how to use it, which can be seen on our YouTube channel," she said. "I am very IT literate and although we do have an IT worker we can call when there are major issues, I have become known in the office as the IT manager. When it comes to the everyday computer blips that occur in the office most of the time I am able to fix it for them."
She added WG was continuing to embrace new technology to make things easier and more efficient.
At the moment the company is looking into online bookkeeping solutions for clients.
After gaining a 2:1 degree in retail management, and a diploma in logistics from Oxford Brookes University Kate went into retail management.
She initially worked for Mothercare as a sales manager, before moving to Primark. At the age of 25 she decided to change career and registered with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
She became a trainee accountant with West Midlands firm Kendall Wadley where she qualified as an accountant and was promoted to audit senior. After two years in industry she decided to move back into practice and started with WG in 2008 as a client manager. In September this year she was promoted to director.
"I believe I am a good leader and team player," she said.
"From what I've been told the team feel a lot more updated on things that are happening in the business since I have been onboard, I seem to have been a good elastic band between the accounts team and management. I am dedicated to my position at WG, and love the team I work with. I hope to be with WG for many years to come."
New Appointments At WG Chartered Accountants
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT Kate Baines has been appointed as a director of Cheltenham based WG Chartered Accountants. Kate has been an integral member of the team in her three years with WG, forming valuable relationships with clients and bringing a practical approach to the team.
Brian Gibb, WG’s managing director, said “We are delighted that Kate’s and skills and enthusiasm will be part of our long term strategy.”
Kate’s appointment has come at a time of growth for WG who have recently bought out another accountancy firm and taken on new employee Ian Gibb as Marketing Co-ordinator.
Brian added, “By appointing Ian as Marketing Co-ordinator we will take on more business and, with our policy of meeting regularly with our clients, will help them thrive in this economic climate.”
Giving county businesses the edge
WG CHARTERED Accountants has launched a new executive forum aimed at making Gloucestershire businesses become more successful.
The Cheltenham firm hopes its Business Edge Forums will help transform the county’s economic prospects.
The first event took place on February 25.
Director Brian Gibb said: “The Business Edge Forum is a self-help group for forward thinking local business leaders.
“Rather than bringing in expensive outside business gurus, it makes the most of the best consultants in the world – other local business leaders who are willing to get together for two hours every month to share ideas and insights to help each other become even more successful.
“The whole thing is facilitated by our team of business coaches, who use their experience and insights to kick-start the proceedings and make sure the forum always addresses the issues members decide are most important.”
The Business Edge Forum has been launched in conjunction with the Added Value Network, of which WG Chartered Accountants is a founder member.
The next meeting takes place on Wednesday next week in the Hospitality Suite at Cheltenham Town Football Club, in Whaddon Road.
It starts at 11.45am for 12pm and finishes at 2pm.
Tickets cost £25, including lunch.
WG Chartered Accountants is based in Fairview Road.
