- "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
Late payment issues 'decimating' SME cashflow
A group of leading industry bodies is calling on the Government to draw up a plan of action to address late payment issues that they claim are decimating small firms' cash flow.
The group, which includes the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, the Food and Beverage Industry Suppliers Association and the Forum of Private Business have written to Business Minister Mark Prisk calling for a number of measures, including:
- Confirming that the EU Late Payment Directive making 30-day payment terms mandatory, in the absence of any specified/agreed payment terms, is being brought forward to 2012 as originally stated and ensure any new legislation prevents suppliers being coerced into agreeing to vary payment terms against their will;
- A clamp down on large companies taking ‘prompt payment discounts' and imposing retrospective changes to payment terms and conditions that are not contractually agreed;
- Pledge to continue with the UK's public sector 10-day and 5-day payment initiatives, and ensure they are embraced by more local public sector bodies across the country;
- Strengthen the Prompt Payment Code, including requesting businesses to sign up to the Code - exploring ways of making it an ‘opt out' rather than an ‘opt in' arrangement - and calling for examples of where it has been breached;
- Require FTSE companies to report more detailed information on their payment times.
The latest data from credit reference agency Graydon UK shows that 76 per cent of those asked do not believe that the Government is doing enough to protect UK businesses against late payment.
The news comes at a time when late payment to small businesses has hit an all-time high, according to payment body Bacs.
Commenting, chief executive of the Forum of Private Business (FBP) Phil Orford said: There is mounting pressure on the Government to crack down on the growing corporate late payment culture, which is already a huge problem for small businesses and is in danger of becoming endemic.
"Late payment and enforced retrospective changes to payment terms and conditions force firms out of business, plain and simple. It is time to tackle the problem once and for all so that prompt payment becomes the norm, unless there are good, justifiable reasons otherwise.
"In addition to the actions we want ministers to take, we recognise there are proactive steps available to business owners, including implementing proper credit management and credit checking procedures, but there is clearly a culture of fear when it comes to naming and shaming large late payers.
"We are also urging anyone subjected to this kind of treatment to tell us about it - we're not afraid to take these companies on."