- "In the last 20 years our business has changed considerably…and as the focus of our business has changed, Bird Luckin have moved with us."
Alex Tanner, George Tanner (Shalford) Ltd - "Bird Luckin has looked after us incredibly well for over 60 years, they are pro-active and innovational - meeting all our needs to help us achieve our aims."
Richard Stubbings, Cliffords Limited - "I can honestly say that Bird Luckin are the best firm of accountants and auditors I have ever dealt with - and I don't say that lightly!"
Colin Webb, Walthamstow Stadium - "It's important for us to know that we will always be able to contact the right people to give us the right advice and support."
Jane Bennett, Bennetts Funeral Directors - "Although we deal mainly with one Partner … we also know that if we need to contact someone else who is a specialist in another area, we can get the advice we need quickly and easily"
Jeremy Ruggles, J.S. Wright & Sons Ltd - "Bird Luckin got us to a stage which would have taken us months - if not years - to reach on our own, and they got us there in a matter of weeks"
Matthew Sullivan, SNC Ltd - "You can be a good accountant, but if you don't have an understanding of the industry it can be very difficult. "There are two or three people we have regular contact with at Bird Luckin who know our business well, and it makes a difference.""
Robert Church, W A Church (Bures) Ltd - "The work which Bird Luckin has done for Boddingtons over the past few months has helped shape our future direction for the better."
John Warner, Chief Executive, Boddingtons Ltd - "Bird Luckin has acted for us since our inception 10 years ago. They have a very 'can do' yet highly professional attitude - we are very appreciative of their support and advice over the years."
Marlon Fox, Outlook Property Ltd
£100 million of SME funding open to alternative lenders
The Government has opened up £100 million in funding to alternative lenders wishing to invest in small businesses.
It is the second round of funding worth £500 million as part of the Government's Business Finance Partnership (BFP) scheme. The remaining £400 million in this round will be invested by the Treasury through managed funds that will lend directly to medium sized business.
The BFP aims to ease the flow of credit available to small businesses by widening the sources of finance available. It is hoped the scheme will encourage alternative co-investment, such as peer-to-peer lending and supply chain finance, and move away from the current reliance on hard-to-obtain bank finance.
Any businesses model operating in the UK with an average turnover below £75 million over three years can benefit from the scheme, in which the Government will invest a maximum of 50 per cent into any fund or channel.
Business secretary, Vince Cable, said: "It's important we make finance available to small businesses through alternative lending channels to help firms access the support they need to start and grow.
"The Business Finance Partnership will help to develop alternative channels in the mid-term so businesses have access to more diverse finance options, and help to reshape the UK's finance landscape to better serve the needs of ordinary businesses."
The BFP forms part of the Government's £21 billion pledge in last year's Autumn Statement to ease credit conditions for businesses, which includes the £20 billion National Loan Guarantee Scheme, and the £1 billion BFP.
The first round of bidding in January attracted 24 proposals from managed funds. This year's Budget also confirmed a shortlist of seven funds inline to potentially receive up to £700 million in investment through the BFP.
Commenting on the scheme, Chancellor George Osborne said that the Government was passing on Britain's 'creditworthiness' - including low interest rates -on to businesses.
Interested lenders should submit proposals to HM Treasury or to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).