Langricks Chartered Accountants in Wilmslow has offered career opportunities to several young professionals and is now seeing that belief rewarded at a time of increased demand for financial and accountancy professionals and a marked lack of available skills.

According to research and insight specialists IHS Markit the private financial services sector is showing the highest increase in vacancies for permanent workers (January 2018) while at the same time availability of candidates has dropped at the fastest rate for two years.

Chris Langrick commented: “It is certainly the most challenging picture I have seen, hence our focus on bringing through enthusiastic, younger individuals who we can shape and develop.”

The move reflects a wider trend of non-graduate entry into the accountancy profession with firms picking up students much earlier and offering them an alternative ‘earning while learning’ route into the sector – a strategy supported by Chris who also took this way in, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant at the age of 22.

Senior Associate Will Sant, 26, will qualify as a Chartered Accountant in July 2019 and describes his working and studying journey at Langricks as a new lease of life.

He said: “I completed my AAT training in 2014 and took a couple of years off studying but now I know what I want.  At Langricks there is a clear career path with plenty of variety and responsibility and constant support along the way. I am already involved in a portfolio of clients  – it’s great to work for many businesses. I want to continue doing that and get to a stage when I can use my knowledge to add real value and help companies grow. “

Associate Lizzie Hill, 21, has re-joined Langricks on a level 7 ACA apprenticeship after becoming Level 3 AAT qualified at another accountancy firm, which followed a stint with a leading pension provider.  She is now studying towards her own ACA qualifications at the firm  – due to qualify in March 2021 – while working for clients preparing annual accounts and VAT returns.

She says of the atmosphere for young people: “It’s a relaxed, friendly place to be studying and working for clients and we are certainly made to feel appreciated. Langricks make plenty of investments in young people and it’s clear they believe in us and think it is a great route into the profession.”

Junior Associate George Yates, 20, is currently studying for AAT qualifications with Total People in Middlewich and is well on his way, passing recent exams first time. He said: “I aim to be a qualified accountant by the age of 25.”

Langricks’s newest recruit is 18-year old Tilda Tobias who has just joined as an Associate after completing A levels at Aquinas College in Stockport.

Director Chris Langrick said he was delighted with progress for all: “In the face of shortages in the profession and yet increase in demand for our services we are building a workforce for the future. Will, Lizzie and George all show immense potential. It is important that we as employers recognise this and give opportunities when we can.”

The Bridge in Prestbury, Cheshire has officially revealed their new-look at a special launch party on Thursday 11^th October. The evening was attended by over 180 guests.

Earlier in the summer, The Bridge was bought by Flat Cap Hotels, a Cheshire-based hotel group, who have successfully renovated The Vicarage in Cranage and The Courthouse in Knutsford.

Flat Cap Hotels was set up by brothers Dominic and Oliver Heywood in 2015. The team embarked upon restoring The Bridge to its former glory and reinstating it back into the community three months ago.

The grade II listed building has been lovingly restored, with a host of original features uncovered during the refurbishment including stone and parquet flooring and wooden beams throughout.

The first phase of the relaunch includes a new bar and restaurant, a Garden Room, along with a new-look lobby and reception area.

Guests were greeted with a glass of fizz on arrival and invited on a tour of The Whiteside Suite which was dressed for a wedding by Butterfly Events. Prestbury Flowers provided beautiful Christmas wreaths for a selection of tables to showcase the festive dining available at The Bridge.

Moving back into the bar and restaurant, guests were treated to live music by Christie Bratherton. The restaurant has taken inspiration from the beautiful gardens at the rear of the hotel, which overlook the Rover Bollin, with jewel-toned chairs in peacock blue and emerald green, plus a bright, light-filled Garden Room facing the terraced gardens with botanical print chairs and parquet flooring.

Savoury canapés including beetroot blinis with horseradish sour cream, spiced tiger prawns, and chicken and apricot terrine were served, along with dessert canapés of mini mango cheesecakes and mini eclairs with chocolate, pear and ginger cream.

Guests were given a gift of ‘Prestbury Pounds’ to take home – money off vouchers to revisit The Bridge for drinks, dinner or afternoon tea.

To find out more information on The Bridge and upcoming events, visit thebridgecheshire.com or call 01625 829326.

Acclaimed chef, Aiden Byrne, has been announced as the guest speaker at this year’s North East Cheshire Business Awards.  From a career that started at the Stanneylands Hotel in Wilmslow, Aiden has worked in professional kitchens throughout the country and was the youngest chef to ever receive a Michelin star aged just 22.

Along with owning The Church Green gastro pub in Lymm, Aiden is now Executive Chef at 20 STORIES, D&D’s first restaurant in Manchester, which boasts a fantastic dining room in the sky and a wealth of fantastic reviews!

Alongside his hugely successful restaurant career, Aiden has been a familiar face on a host of popular culinary TV shows – from Masterchef to Saturday Kitchen to Great British Menu … and more!

With his second book now in the pipeline, Aiden’s adventurous and varied career will provide lots of material for a thoroughly entertaining appearance at the North East Cheshire Business Awards.

Whether you have entered the awards or not, book your tickets here for an evening of celebration, glamour, fun and a taste of celebrity chef!

You can also contact the Awards team on 01625 665940 or via email at info@necbawards.co.uk

Webbox Ltd, with their WebRTC product atap2chat are one of the 2,000 worldwide start-up businesses that have been selected from 20,000 applicants to attend Websummit Lisbon 2018 in November on the Alpha Start-up Program.

 atap2chat is the next big thing to hit the global real-time communication software and personal WebRTC market. atap2chat inspires businesses to be more person-focused with instant, flexible communications whilst saving time and money having five products within the one atap2chat software.

Webbox Ltd is an innovative technology company based in Macclesfield owned by Jon Hunter and Fabio Mazzieri. The company has an exciting future ahead as their development team is expanding to meet demands of bringing new products to the market to solve worldwide technology needs.

Fabio and Jon commented “We are very excited about attending the Websummit in November. Websummit has become Europe’s largest and most important technology marketplace, a crossroads for the world’s largest buyers and sellers of technology, alongside many of the world’s most disruptive emerging technology companies. We are very proud to be exhibiting there and flying the flag for start-up businesses based in Macclesfield.”

If you are currently using multiple software products for online customer engagement, internal business communication and training and wish to save time and money whilst increasing customer engagement and online sales by 22% then contact sales@atap2chat.com, visit the website www.atap2chat.com or call Fabio on 01625 344030.

The UK’s leading spa resort group Champneys announced on 1st October 2018 its purchase of Mottram Hall. The acquisition of the 18th-century Grade II-listed Hotel and Spa is the latest addition to the Champneys Group’s expanding portfolio of properties.

Champneys, owned by Dorothy and Stephen Purdew, has purchased Mottram Hall from real estate investment company Aprirose. The asset was previously part of the QHotels portfolio. Champneys are planning a £10 million refurbishment programme, including a £5 million redesign of the hotel’s current spa facilities.

The redevelopment will include a 20 metre swimming pool, new wet and thermal experiences, plus the addition of 18 new treatment rooms.  There are also plans for new conference facilities, an extension to the club house on the Championship golf course, and an increase in the number of bedrooms from 120 to 150. Work is due to be completed by the end of 2019.

Champneys’ owner Mr Stephen Purdew said, “Mottram Hall gives our brand a broader geographical spread with a presence in the North West.  It’s a fantastic property and we’re delighted to be adding it to our collection of properties within the Champneys Group.  We’re now planning a considerable investment project which will take place over the next year.”

Champneys current properties are primarily based in the south of England, with four spa resort locations at Forest Mere, Henlow, Springs and Tring; six city spas in the South East; along with its hotel and spa at Eastwell Manor in Kent and spa on the Marella Explorer cruise ship.

Alan Whiteley, Managing Director at Champneys said: “Mottram Hall is a property I know well from my De Vere days, and a hotel that Stephen and I put on our radar four years ago.  It’s our ambition to make Mottram Hall the number one destination hotel and spa resort in the North West.”

Gary Jones, Chief Operating Officer at Aprirose said: “It has been a pleasure working with the team at Champneys. Mottram Hall is a fantastic asset which they will no doubt evolve to the next level.  We look forward to developing our relationship further with Champneys in the future.”

Built in 1721 by Nathaniel Booth, Mottram Hall was converted into a hotel in 1940. The property has been owned since the mid 1970’s to 2014 by the De Vere group and underwent a £6 million refurbishment during 2012/2013. In November 2014 QHotels secured ownership of Mottram Hall.

Mottram Hall’s General Manager, Deirdre Billing, said: “The hotel has a strong reputation in the region as Cheshire’s finest golf resort. I’m delighted the investment from Champneys will allow us to strengthen our offering and continue to position Mottram Hall within the luxury spa market.”

For further enquiries contact Hayley Mountstevens at Champneys on 01442 291310 or email hayley.mountstevens@champneys.com

North Cheshire Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise held one of our regular ‘Meet the Chamber’ breakfast events last week at the lovingly restored Charles Roe House in Macclesfield, home to Pinches Medical; a private GP surgery offering personal healthcare to families and businesses throughout Cheshire. We were joined by local MP, David Rutley, as guest speaker.

At the well-attended meeting, which was kindly hosted in collaboration with Ian Pinches, David updated local businesses on the opportunities for companies arising from the ongoing initiatives to regenerate Macclesfield town centre, as well as the positive role that the local business community can play in taking forward these vital plans.

David also spoke further with the group on the positive progress that continues to be made in promoting the Cheshire Science Corridor, including the recent £20 million investment at Jodrell Bank, to develop its new ‘First Light’ heritage and discovery centre, to help inspire the next generation of scientists. Representatives from local businesses then had the opportunity to ask David about a range of local and national issues affecting business.

Ian Pinches provided a passionate overview on the history of the iconic Charles Roe House building and took guests on a tour, showcasing not only the GP surgery on the second floor, but also the Arts Cafe on the ground floor and the spectacular Copper Room on the first floor which can be hired as an event space.

On the day, David was also pleased to once again meet with the Chamber’s Chief Executive, Sue Bowden, to discuss the Chamber’s ongoing and exciting work to attract yet more local companies to join this dynamic network of local businesses.

Speaking after the meeting, David said, “It was great to once again have the opportunity to speak to local businesses about the real and positive economic potential in Macclesfield and North East Cheshire, and to see representatives from so many local firms present. It is clear that the Chamber continues to go from strength to strength, and I hope yet more local businesses will look into the benefits of being part of this exciting and growing organisation.”

If you would like to learn more about the Chamber and the benefits of becoming a member, contact Claire Dunlop at claire@northcheshirechamber.co.uk or 01625 665940.