Post on 28-Mar-2016
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Highlights of 2013
January 2013 Guardian Small Business Network Awards
January saw Linda Frier heading
off to The Guardian’s offices in
London to accept her award for
their Small Business Network in
the category, Winning New
Business.
Coalesco stood out from other
entries with an application that
focused on our dedication to
providing the best possible
service, how this attracts and
retains good clients, and
encourages repeat business.
Linda was presented with a framed page from The Guardian which had featured Coalesco
and two other winners of that award. We had a great time, networking with the owners of
some fabulous businesses.
February 2013 Accountants Changing The World
Coalesco became the first
practice in Nottinghamshire to
sign up to the Accountants
Changing The World initiative
which aims to bring on board
accountants from around the UK
with the modest aim of changing
the world.
This demonstrates our commitment to helping our clients in ways that go beyond our usual
excellent accountancy services. We are also now able to offer – for free – these three
services:
• A free profit improvement review
• A free sustainability audit
• A free “good cause” audit
March 2013 RTI – Supporting our Clients
In March, HMRC launched their
Real Time Information (RTI)
scheme which had many small
business owners in dread.
We aimed to take the pain out of
the transition in reporting in as
many ways as possible.
We held two “real world”
seminars for our clients to talk
them through the implications
and give them specific advice.
We also prepared a webinar for anyone who could not make it to the seminars. We have
kept clients up-to-date with all developments and, whilst we can’t make RTI any more
enjoyable for our clients, we hope we have helped to demystify it for them.
April 2013 Business Finance Advice Scheme
In April we became registered
with the ACCA’s Business Finance
Advice Service, demonstrating
that we can provide independent
advice on business finance,
including:
• Releasing personal finance,
• Raising equity from investors,
• Maximising tax incentives,
• Structuring applications for
bank loans or overdrafts,
• Considering the usefulness
and appropriateness of
business support scheme
options.
May 2013 Xero Certification
We had heard a lot about Xero
from prospective clients who
were already using this user-
friendly cloud-based accountancy
software. They raved about it so
we had to see what all the fuss
was about.
We took a look and liked what
we saw and became Xero
certified accountants in May.
Whilst we still maintain our
policy of working with whichever
software or accountancy format
our clients prefer, we have
noticed a strong uptake of this
newcomer because of its many
benefits aimed specifically at the
small business.
A real advantage is that it gives
access to real time financial
information.
But not only that, it allows you to give access to trusted people – such as your accountant –
to that information which, in turn, enables us to collaborate using the same, up-to-date
information.
Since May, a good number of our clients have also become converts and we have been
awarded Bronze Partner status.
June 2013 Client Satisfaction Survey – 100% friendly
Every summer we conduct a
Client Satisfaction Survey to test
how our clients experience the
service they get from us.
This year we were particularly
happy to hear that 100% of our
clients consider us to be
extremely friendly. We know
our clients appreciate our
approach in preference to that
of accountants who might come
across as less approachable or
more intimidating and we’ll
always give everyone a warm
welcome.
100% also said they would
certainly recommend us and this
is borne out by the number of
referrals we get.
The survey feedback was very
positive:
“You look after us amazingly
and we appreciate all you do
very much.”
“I have had a consistently
received an excellent service.
Thank you.”
“Totally happy with all aspects
of your service!!”
“I am always very impressed by how quickly and efficiently you respond to my queries and
really appreciate all of the support and advice that you offer.”
“I believe Linda has her finger on the button at every level.”
July 2013 Coalesco and friends – our new network
We’d been thinking about setting
up some networking
opportunities between our clients
for some time and in July we took
the plunge.
It felt like a risk at first but we
were thrilled with the positive
response.
We found an ideal venue in
Beeston, put on good spread, and
three speakers with plenty to say
of use to a small business. The format worked very well and we’ll be repeating our event,
with fresh new speakers every time, on a quarterly basis. The network is free to attend for
our clients and contacts.
August 2013 Launch of Linda’s New Book
August saw the birth of a new
baby for Coalesco – the book that
Linda had been working on since
the beginning of the year.
Setting Up Your New Business
answers all the questions that
Linda is asked by new business
owners when they first start up
and those questions that linger
through the first eighteen months
or so of doing business.
The book is a wealth of information for the new and young business – and a bargain at just
£10.00. You can get a copy by contacting Coalesco directly or buy one from Amazon.
September 2013 “Tax returns in good time” campaign
September was a time for
planning ahead – and for
encouraging our clients to do so
too.
Every accountant finds January to
be hectic to say the least, with
HMRC’s tax return deadline at the
end of the month.
We decided to start encouraging
our clients to get their paperwork
to us nice and early. The benefits
are well worthwhile, not least the
fact that, if a repayment is due to you, this will be processed by HMRC and in your bank
account sooner. Many thanks to everyone who submitted their records to us in good time.
October 2013 Practice Excellence Awards
This was the first year we had
entered the national Practice
Excellence Awards and, once
again, we need to thank you all
for your support in the first
round. Without your kind reviews
and comments we would not
have found ourselves on the
short list for the Small Firms
category.
A prestigious panel of judges
whittled that list down to three
per category and then we were subject to the public vote. A total of 250 firms around the
country entered so we were delighted when we were awarded this prize at the awards
evening at Vinopolis in London.
November 2013 British Accountancy Awards
Well you can’t say we haven’t
put ourselves forward this
year.
November saw us at the Tower
of London for the British
Accountancy Awards waiting
with bated breath to see how
we had fared.
Although we didn’t bring the
Independent Firm in the
Midlands award back to
Nottingham this time we feel honoured to have our efforts recognised and to have held
our own against competition from much bigger (but, dare we say, less friendly) firms.
December 2013 Guest Blogger for Creating Focus
What a lovely way to end the
year – an invitation to contribute
to Sarah Dale’s blog at Creating
Focus. Sarah has been collecting
pieces on the theme of “What
gets me up in the morning”.
“Coalesco is my world and I love
what I do – I am surrounded by
lovely clients, a supportive team
and a close group of friends and
family. I am not motivated by
money and having been asked the
question “What gets me up in the
morning?” I could respond with
because I love my job but it goes
deeper than that.”
Thank you all for your support over the
past year. All that remains to be said is…
Coalesco Certified Accountants, 156 Russell Drive, Wollaton, Nottingham, NG8 2BE
0115 928 3228 info@coalesco.co.uk www.coalesco.co.uk