Haines Watts Hereford celebrated a significant milestone on in February as the firm turned 10.
A lot has changed since Karen McLellan’s team merged with another practice to form Haines Watts Hereford Ltd.
“We were the new kids on the block,” Karen recalls. “We had to work hard to establish the Haines Watts brand in the early days. Whilst we had the support of the national group, there’s no substitute, particularly in a market like Hereford, for getting out there and letting people know what we can offer.”
The team’s efforts paid off as the firm’s reputation for professionalism and service quality began to grow. Some significant client wins followed and soon Haines Watts Hereford were among the leading practices in the county.
Further growth was stimulated by a move to larger premises in 2016.
“The move to Broadway House was a huge step forward for us. The modern, spacious offices provide a better working environment for staff and help in attracting the best new recruits. Our location in the centre of town provides convenience for clients and we have been able to further develop our network with the many other professionals based in and around Broad Street.
The additional space also allowed for the growth of new specialist teams, most notably R&D Tax. Haines Watts Hereford’s expertise in this field has attracted a significant number of new local clients as well as referrals from other Haines Watts offices across the country. It is one of the leading R&D Tax teams in the Haines Watts Group.
It is not only in R&D where the Hereford office is punching above its weight in the Haines Watts Group. Karen McLellan is one of only a handful of individuals chosen to be a media representative for Haines Watts and is often asked to comment on finance stories for national publications. She has also sat on a number of national sub-committees, most recently as part of a group reviewing the firm’s values proposition.
Reflecting on the firm’s anniversary, Karen McLellan said: “I am extremely proud of what we have achieved at Haines Watts Hereford over the last 10 years. It would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the team so I would like to take this opportunity to thank them. I would also like to thank our clients, many of whom have been with us from day one. It has been a pleasure to help their businesses grow alongside our own and I look forward to many more years supporting companies and individuals in this wonderful part of the world.”