Entries for 2018 Merseyside Innovation Awards now open
Entering its 22nd year, the Merseyside Innovation Awards (MIA) are now open for submissions, which will see one applicant win £10,000 in the accolades’ final later in the year.
Renowned for celebrating creativity across Merseyside, the MIA has a long history of contributing to the economic development of multiple businesses and the region as a whole.
An inclusive award, the MIA commends companies both large and small. The Awards see a monthly winner selected between January and May. Three entrants are then selected for the final in July, where the selected winner will receive a £10,000 cash prize. The runners up each receive a cash prize of £2,500.
Last year, Marlan Maritime claimed the prize, narrowly beating gas safety-monitoring company Gas Tag and virtual reality social media app, vTime.
Commemorated for its coastal surveillance and innovative use of radar in monitoring tidal patterns, Marlan Maritime provides engineers, conservationists and councils with up-to-date information about the ever-changing patterns of shorelines.
Discussing how the MIA has impacted Marlan Maritime, Managing Director, Alex Sinclair, said: “Interestingly, winning the MIA in 2017 has fundamentally changed our perception of what we are doing. Prior to the award, we believed in what we were trying to do, we believed that it is going to make a positive impact to people living on and working with the coast. After winning, we knew that other people believed it too.”
2018 will also see the return of the Prestige Award, specifically for larger businesses with a turnover of £1m to £25m, which in 2017 was awarded to EMS Healthcare, a mobile healthcare provider, in recognition of the vital services they provide to users across the region.
Brian McCann, MIA founder and partner of Mitchell Charlesworth, commented: “The breadth of innovation and creativity within the MIA continues to astound myself and the judging panel. Year-on-year, dynamic innovations from multiple industries are put forward with the potential to be genuinely impactful to our region and I am eager to see what 2018 has in store for the MIA.”
For further information about the MIA and to find out how you can apply in 2018, please visit: http://www.merseysideinnovationawards.co.uk.
Potential applicants can also discover more about the MIA by attending a networking lunch on Tuesday 10th April at Sci-Tech Daresbury. To register your interest, please email bookings@mitchellcharlesworth.co.uk
Mitchell Charlesworth is proud to sponsor the Merseyside Innovation Awards.
Kreston members Awni Farsakh and Mitchell Charlesworth collaborate to host UAE VAT Seminar in Dubai
We are a North West-based firm but our reach is global. As a member of Kreston International, we are able to connect with a global network of independent accounting firms to share knowledge, best practice and technical know-how and offer a global service delivery to our clients.
We recently joined forces with fellow Kreston firm, Dubai-based Awni Farsakh & Co. to deliver a seminar on the introduction of VAT in the UAE and also to assist each other with our respective clients in the region. Alison Birch, Director of VAT at Mitchell Charlesworth, travelled to Dubai and presented to 53 delegates from over 34 companies on preparing for the launch of VAT.
The seminar was well received and a number of clients asked for follow up meetings and proposals to prepare for VAT. Coverage of the event on social media also led to another enquiry from a UK business with an entity in the UAE wanting support with the introduction of VAT. As a result of the partnership, we were shortlisted for a Kreston International Collaboration Award.
Mitchell Charlesworth climbs the ranks in Accountancy Age Top 50+50
Mitchell Charlesworth has been ranked as the 61st largest accountancy firm in the UK in a top 100 league table compiled by Accountancy Age; jumping up 3 places from last year.
The Top 50+50 is published each year and ranks UK accountancy firms by total UK fee income. Mitchell Charlesworth increased fee income to £9.2m in 2016-17, the highest since the firm began in 1885.
Managing Partner Paul Wainwright said: “We are thrilled to move up the Accountancy Age league table which is a reflection of the hard work and commitment of our partners and staff who consistently deliver a first rate service to our clients.
“The firm has experienced strong growth over the last year and we have continued to increase our client base in the region. As always, our priority is the success of our clients and we are focused on delivering technical expertise, sector specialisms and a broad range of advisory services for businesses and individuals. Our clients not only want quality accountancy and taxation services but we are seeing increased demand for support in specialist areas such as wealth management, corporate finance and payroll.”
New client wins
Following a competitive tender process Mitchell Charlesworth was chosen to support multi award-winning charity, Autism Together, with a range of specialist advice, including audit, accounts, tax and VAT services.
Robin Bush, CEO, Autism Together (pictured on the right of Sue Stubbs and Philip Griffiths) said: “We’ve a busy and exciting few years ahead of us as we work to fulfil our ambitions. I’m sure our whole autism community – our service users, our families and carers and our staff – will benefit from having Mitchell Charlesworth as part of the team.”
School Lettings Solutions (SLS), one of the fastest growing sport and leisure companies, has appointed Mitchell Charlesworth to provide accounts, payroll, corporate tax, personal tax and VAT services, as well as forecasting and financial management advice. The firm’s corporate finance arm, MC Vanguard, will offer SLS additional guidance on achieving its growth strategy.
The appointment comes as part of SLS’ ambitious growth plans, after the company secured a six-figure investment to support its expansion, with the help of MC Vanguard.
Scott Warrington, director at School Lettings Solutions, commented: “We are the largest school lettings provider in the country and our staff, customers and partner schools deserve the best when it comes to our services. By working in partnership with Mitchell Charlesworth, we feel we can achieve this and continue our growth towards 200 schools and beyond over the next 12 months. The expertise, practices and support Mitchell Charlesworth provides us with will give us strong foundations to achieve success and we’ve been hugely impressed with their team so far.”
Mitchell Charlesworth boosts corporate recovery and insolvency team
Mitchell Charlesworth has boosted its corporate recovery and insolvency team with the appointment of Julie Webster from RPG Business Recovery.
Julie, who joins as an associate in the Manchester office, has nineteen years’ experience in restructuring and insolvency across a variety of sectors including retail, leisure and construction. A licensed insolvency practitioner, Julie qualified with BDO and has undertaken secondments with Royal Bank of Scotland and the Co-operative Bank, working in their debt recovery teams.
Mitchell Charlesworth reveals charity monies raised in 2017
2017 saw a busy fundraising year for staff at Mitchell Charlesworth. All five of their North West based offices took part in various charity days held throughout the year raising a huge total of just under £6,000!
The charities included Macmillan, Children in Need, Genetic Disorders and Parkinsons UK to name but a few. Staff got involved in the charity days by participating in dress down, donating prizes for staff raffles, baking delicious treats to sell and getting stuck into some competitive games! Christmas jumpers for charity
As well as raising money on the designated charity days, Mitchell Charlesworth also participated in the annual Peel Ports Dragon Boat race in support of Claire House and Alder Hey Hospital. Profits from the annual North West Housing Conference, which is co-organised by Mitchell Charlesworth and Brabners LLP, were donated to homelessness charity Crisis.
Staff across the firm’s offices also took part in the Trussell Trust’s Christmas campaign by donating a large amount of food and seasonal items for special Christmas packages for distribution amongst the charity’s North West foodbanks.
Mitchell Charlesworth extends a very special thank you to all staff for their continued support and generous donations to help raise as much money as possible for these worthy causes.
As part of its CSR strategy, Mitchell Charlesworth is looking forward to another successful year of fundraising for both National and Local charities in 2018 which includes two brave runners participating in the London Marathon this April in support of both National and Local charities…watch this space for updates!
