- "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
Government publishes potential business contracts worth £70 billion
£70 billion worth of potential future government contracts have been published by cabinet office minister Francis Maude and business secretary Vince Cable, in a bid to boost UK economic growth.
The data, which includes the details of planned future procurement contracts likely to be signed over the next five years, spans across 13 different sectors including the construction and property sectors. It is hoped that new businesses will come forward to work with the public sector which could include new opportunities for suppliers of police and medical equipment.
The listing allows suppliers advance notice of what opportunities might be offered by the public sector in the future in order to plan accordingly. Users are able to refer to a 'confidence' level alongside each notice, as well as finding out the yearly value and total capital cost of potential opportunities.
Forming part of the Procurement Pledge which was launched in autumn 2012, the Government hopes to work in collaboration with the industry to spot investment gaps, provide businesses with greater confidence to invest, and safeguard UK competitiveness and growth.
Vince Cable, said: "By publishing details of our expected future requirements ahead of time and adopting a strategic approach, we can help give UK suppliers the confidence to invest in people, plants and technologies here at home so they can compete for and win these government contracts, as well as seek new opportunities abroad."
17 key industry bodies and suppliers, including the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and the UK Contractors Group, have signed up to the pledge. Welcoming the publication, industry bodies have now called for the Government to turn its procurement pledge into a reality, particularly for small and medium sized enterprises.
Responding to the publication, Adam Marshall, director of policy for the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: "Businesses of all sizes will welcome ministers' renewed commitment to improve procurement. On-going communication with government on what it wants to buy, when it wants to buy, and how it wants to buy will give many companies the confidence to invest, grow, and compete for contracts."
"Whitehall needs to move swiftly to attract more small- and medium-sized companies as suppliers by providing better practical information, simpler access to opportunities, and shorter, clearer timescales.
"Small firms are most likely to compete for local contracts. Yet businesses say these are often the contracts that come with the most tick-box questionnaires and bureaucracy. Smarter procurement must become the norm for the whole of the public sector, not just central government departments."