- "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
Number of people working beyond state pension age doubles in 20 years
The number of people working past the state pension age has almost doubled in the past two decades, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show.
There are now 1.4 million older people in employment, a rise of 85 per cent from 753,000 in 1993.
The ONS said a number of factors had caused the jump in people working into their 70s, including improved health of this group, financial pressures, longer-life expectancy and wanting to remain active in society.
It may also have been attributed to the phasing out of the default retirement age which began in April 2011. Prior to this, employers could force retirement on employees once they reached the age of 65.
The majority of people working over the state pension age are doing so part-time (66 per cent), as opposed to full-time (34 per cent). It said this was viable as they were 'possibly helped by the financial support of their state pension and other pension arrangements, which allows them to fit their work around other engagements.'
Those working in shorter roles are generally doing so with the same employer, with eight in every ten older employees working with their employer for five years or more.
Around 39 per cent of the 1.4 million older workers are men, compared to 61 per cent of women, although it said that two thirds of those working men were doing so in higher skilled jobs.
Director general of Saga Ros Altmann, said: "Many older people are increasingly choosing to stay at work, often part-time so that they ease more gently into retirement. If they feel fit and healthy and want more money, and are able to work, they are choosing to do so."
According to research from Saga, many over 65s continue to work for other reasons, including underperforming state and private pensions. It said Britain had entered a 'redefined age of retirement'.
Ros Altmann added: "By embracing and in fact welcoming the opportunities of working during part of these bonus years, we can help boost our ailing economy, ensure less reliance on the state and ultimately make retirement more fulfilling."
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