- "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
HMRC business record checks halted
HMRC has announced it will delay the implementation of its business records checks (BRC) programme, following a review with trade and professional bodies' representatives.
The pilot programme began in April last year but has been heavily criticised over recent months because it subjects small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) to spot checks on their business records, potentially issuing fines up to £3,000 for incorrect paperwork.
Business leaders, MPs, and business groups such as the Federation of Small Businesses, had all voiced concern over the programme's potential to affect thousands of SMEs already struggling with HMRC red tape.
The internal review found that HMRC over stated how much the initiative would collect for the Treasury and acknowledged that it should be working in closer consultation with representative bodies as to what constitutes inadequate record keeping. It also said that further work should be done to agree on a reasonable penalty tariff.
2,437 BRCs had been carried out up until the 4 January 2012, with HMRC finding that 28 per cent of businesses had some issue with record keeping, with a further 11 per cent of these requiring a follow up visit.
However, HMRC will now postpone the scheme which was due to roll out in April this year and will instead launch a 'revamped' approach in the 2012/13 financial year.
HMRC's director of local compliance, Richard Summersgill, said: "Four out of ten businesses had an issue with their business records, and of those that required a follow-up visit, we found that some 90 per cent subsequently improved their record-keeping.
However, after reviewing the pilot programme and listening to the views of businesses and representative bodies, we acknowledge the need for a fresh approach to business records checks."