Following a sustained three-year period of significant growth, Shorts Chartered Accountants are delighted to confirm that they have joined Praxity Global Alliance, the world’s largest alliance of independent accounting and consulting firms.

As part of their long-term growth strategy, they wanted to enhance support for those clients who are exploring overseas opportunities, through joining an international association whose members provided a strong worldwide footprint.

Andy Irvine, Managing Partner at Shorts, explained:-

“Increasingly, commerce is becoming ever more global.  This trend, together with UK business starting to adapt to the longer-term implications of Brexit, has resulted in many of our most successful clients actively considering expansion overseas.  Being a member of Praxity will allow us to continue to provide these clients with the high-quality advice they require, confident in the knowledge that our partner firms in other territories are there to support and guide as appropriate.”

“We wanted to join an international alliance which consisted of independent firms very much like our own.  Shorts is focussed on giving the very best advice and service to our clients, whilst ensuring we never lose touch with the fact that people do business with people.  It was clear from the member firms we spoke to, that Praxity embodies these same core principles.”

Welcoming Shorts to the Praxity Alliance, Executive Director Graeme Gordon said:-

“The addition of Shorts enhances Praxity’s presence in the UK and underlines the Alliance’s continuing policy of effective growth based on quality firms in strategic locations. We are unashamedly selective in the firms we welcome to Praxity, each of which retains their own branding, independence and financial responsibility.

“We’re delighted that Shorts has chosen the Alliance to enhance the services it can provide those clients who are considering the opportunities of expansion in an increasingly global marketplace. We look forward to enjoying the distinctive experience and insight their continuing development will bring to the firms in the Alliance”.

Andy Irvine is clear about how Praxity membership can contribute to the future of the firm:-

“Our staff are excited by the news that we have joined Praxity, as this is another significant step in our growth strategy and will help with our goal to be recognised as the go-to firm in our region. The opportunity to work on more international work is one that I know they will find stimulating but they will also be pleased that the individual, independent culture at Shorts is not going to be subsumed into a large corporate monolith.”

Participant firms are handpicked for their size, strength, reputation, financial condition, leadership and strategic geographic relevance. As part of the Alliance, Shorts can connect with 65+ other participant firms and share expertise with the 47,000 people at Praxity firms in more than 100 countries.

Chesterfield Champion VHS Fletchers are celebrating continued growth of their business with a move to a new office building on Beetwell Street.

VHS Fletchers is a client-focused firm of solicitors dedicated exclusively to crime and regulatory law.  The solicitors acquired the criminal department, and its staff, of local firm Banner Jones in the Spring of 2015  in order to offer expert advice across the entire Derbyshire region, in addition to their offices in Ilkeston and Derby. Since 2015 they have shared their Chesterfield offices with Banner Jones.

The move not only marks growth in the business where other local law firms have closed their criminal offices but a desire to Invest in Chesterfield town centre. The new office, 50 yards from the police station, was chosen so that people needing to speak to the police and want a solicitor can simply pop in on their way past to receive expert advice which, at the police station whilst being interviewed by the police, is always free.

David Gittins, Partner at VHS Fletchers, says:-

“We had the choice to go to an out of town purpose built office but deliberately chose to re invest in the town centre for ease of clients and to assist in the regeneration of the town.

“We are also focused on investing in local people having recently recruited well known local solicitor Denney Lau in addition to local lad Ben Strelley who joined us from a Sheffield firm.”

Further to the move to new offices, VHS Fletchers are also extending their services, having taken the step of retaining a specialist full time Crown court department in Chesterfield to provide the full remit of criminal legal advice to the residents of Chesterfield and surrounding area.

A Derbyshire based law firm is celebrating after one of the firm’s trainee solicitors achieved full qualification. Irena Stavrinidou is now well on her way to carving out a successful career in the legal profession.

Irena is now a fully qualified Solicitor working in the private client team at Derbyshire Family Law Chesterfield, where she specialises in matters relating to private law children, care proceedings and injunctions.

The qualification is the culmination of several years’ hard work for the 29 year old who, joined the firm three years ago.

Irena said:-

“I am delighted to have achieved qualification. I am now looking forward to being able to develop my experience further with Family Law Group and continue to assist clients at a challenging and stressful time in their lives.

“I would like to thank all my colleagues, who have been there to guide and support me at every stage.”

Simon Leach, Director at Family Law Group, added:-

“We would like to congratulate Irena on her achievement. Right from when we met Irena over three years ago, we knew she was the sort of person who really saw family law as a vocation. She is an important member of the Chesterfield and Derby team and her qualification is a rich reward for her hard work.”

Chesterfield Champion GCL Products are proud to announce their new status as sole distributor of SoRoTo products for the UK, Ireland and Channel Islands.

The agreement covers the wholesale distribution, service and spares of the complete range of SoRoTo products, including forced action mixers, electric paddle whisks, belt conveyors, table saws, concrete mixers and other machinery and tools for the construction sector.

With 6 years of experience in the supply of materials, machinery and tools into the construction and landscaping sectors, GCL Products have successfully supplied SoRoTo products to the UK market since early 2016. This partnership between the two companies will help to provide enhanced service and spares supply to customers, as well as increasing the product range to both new and existing markets.

Established in 1986, SoRoTo are a market leading manufacturer of tools to the construction industry, particularly for concrete mixers and belt conveyors, and the original manufacturers of forced action mixers. The original SoRoTo forced action mixers, with their patented mixing system, have redefined standards for concrete mixing and have an unbeatable patented technology to ensure a smooth mix with unrivalled efficiency.

Fergus Slack, Managing Director of GCL Products, comments:

“We are proud to partner with SoRoTo, the original manufacturers of forced action mixers and belt conveyors. The UK needs tough, hard working machinery and we look forward to working with resin bound installers, tilling contractors and brick layers to show them the benefits of using the full range of products from SoRoTo.”

On 24th April 2018, GCL Products’ managing director, Fergus Slack, travelled to Paris to visit the concrete trade show, Intermat, and met with SoRoTo CEO Hans Rasmussen to sign the partnership agreement. SoRoTo attend the Intermat trade show annually to showcase their latest innovations and machinery relevant to the concrete industry.

Of the meeting, Hans Resmussen, CEO of SoRoTo, said:

“A good day and picture together that supports the good partnership we have started today in Paris. We are sure it will be a long and successful collaboration for both companies.”

Award winning law firm and Chesterfield Champion Banner Jones has further strengthened its Family Law division with the appointment of senior solicitor Shetal Gudgeon and the promotion of Kelly Parks to Director, who takes on the role of Head of Family Law.

Recognised as a recommended Family Lawyer in The Good Lawyer Guide – the independent guide to solicitors in England and Wales – and possessing a specialist accreditation in children related and domestic violence cases, Shetal brings with her 15 years of experience advising on a diverse range of complex family law issues relating to married, unmarried and same sex couples including divorce, financial, children and injunction proceedings.

She joins from Best Solicitors and will be splitting her time between the firm’s Sheffield and Chesterfield-based Family Law teams.

Her appointment follows the promotion of Kelly Parks’ to Director and Head of Family Law; overseeing all issues relating to personal relationships, relationship breakdown, high value financial disputes and child arrangement disputes.

Director and Head of Human Resources, Chris Sellars, said the expansion of the team’s offering was strategic, and would allow the firm to meet growing demand from family’s seeking advice.

He said:-

“Recognising talent, commitment and dedication is incredibly important at Banner Jones, and so I am delighted to announce Kelly’s promotion to Director and Head of Family Law. With 15-years’ specific family law experience which includes over five years at Stowe Family Law, the largest specialist Family Law firm in the UK, Kelly has become integral to the team and the service we provide our clients since joining us in 2017.

“We are also delighted to welcome Shetal who brings with her considerable expertise, further bolstering our ability to meet increased demand.”

Kelly commented:-

“With increasing scope to be involved in regional, national and international cases I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the Family Law team at Banner Jones during a period of growth and expansion.

“Shetal and I were trainee solicitors together 17 years ago and it’s great to be reunited; she is a welcome addition to our established Family Law team and it will be great to work with her again.”

Shetal commented:-

“This is a very exciting opportunity to join an award winning, ambitious law firm with a long-established reputation for excellence.”

With both companies advised by local Professionals, Chesterfield engineering firm BG Engineering Limited has acquired the share capital of Sheffield based Pentag Gears and Oilfield Equipment Limited (“Pentag”).

Pentag has been operating for over 100 years and designs and manufactures high quality gearing for bespoke projects.  As part of the transaction Martin Wragg and Andrew Larkin will remain with the combined business as it locates to the 40,000 sq. ft. BG facility at Holmewood, Chesterfield.

Pentag was advised on the disposal by Andy Ryder and Ellie Wilcockson of Shorts Chartered Accountants with legal advice provided by John Baddeley at Wake Smith.  BG were advised by Steve Bell and Lisa Ritson of Castle Square Corporate Finance with legal advice provided by Paul Trudgill and James Burdekin of HLW Keeble Hawson.

The transaction follows on the back of Cooper Brown Enterprise Limited’s (“CBE”) acquisition of a strategic stake in BG in April 2017 which was then followed by the acquisition of NiTEC Engineering Limited in August.

Marie Cooper, Director of CBE, said:-

“The opportunity to acquire the Pentag business will allow BG to grow and the acquisition of the complimentary skill base at Pentag will allow us to continue to invest in infrastructure and staff to deliver further growth in existing and new markets.”

Andy Ryder, Partner at Shorts Accountants, said:-

“It has been a pleasure to help Andrew and Martin find a suitable acquirer for this historic company. I look forward to seeing the Pentag business go from strength to strength under new ownership.”

Steve Bell, Director at Castle Square, said:-

“This is the third transaction within the last twelve months that the firm has advised CBE on. The Pentag acquisition emphasises the focus of investing into CBE group specialist engineering businesses in the Sheffield City Region and beyond. We look forward to continuing to work with CBE on this exciting stage of development.”

John Baddeley, who has acted for Pentag over the years, added:-

‘We are really pleased to have advised the shareholders of Pentag on this transaction and assisted in securing the best possible outcome for all parties involved. The shareholders are delighted with the strong message from BG Engineering that growth, support and investment, as part of a bigger company, will be forthcoming.

“We wish Pentag and BG the best of luck in their future plans.”

Paul Trudgill of HLW Keeble Hawson said:-

“It was a pleasure to advise CBE on another strategic acquisition.  The fit between Pentag and BG was obvious and as a combined business the opportunities for both elements to grow are very exciting.”

Ritzy’s Bar, the latest addition to Chesterfield’s nightlife offering opened its doors to great acclaim, with local celebrity and former English, Commonwealth and World Boxing Organisation (WBO) European Champion Ross “The Boss” Berkinshaw on hand to mark its official opening.

Local entrepreneur and owner Justin Fleming was advised on the purchase of his new venture by leading regional law firm Banner Jones Solicitors.

Ian Osborn, commercial property specialist at Banner Jones Solicitors, who advised on the deal commented:-

“Ritzy’s Bar further strengthens Chesterfield’s retail and restaurant line up, supporting the market town’s growing local economy and nightlife scene.

“We were proud to support Justin with the planning, helping to secure the right property, which is crucial to the business requirements. We wish Justin and the team every success with the exciting new venture.”

Justin commented:-

“I am delighted to have opened Ritzy’s Bar Chesterfield and in doing so achieving a lifelong ambition. My thanks to Banner Jones for their support throughout the process as I turned my ‘big idea’ into a thriving new business.”

Guests to the eagerly-anticipated launch enjoyed canapes and Italian prosecco, the trendy alternative to French Champagne, as well as a variety of hand-picked ales, which are all on offer at the newly opened venue.

Ritzy’s Bar Chesterfield will be hosting live music and open-mic sessions every Tuesday, offering 2-4-1 cocktails Tuesday through to Saturday 5pm – 7pm with a real home-from-home atmosphere.

Chesterfield Champions and estate agency, Pinewood Property Estates, received the Gold in the Local Agency 2-5 Branches Group, as well as Gold in the Best Letting Agency in the East Midland Group at the prestigious ESTAS Customer Service Awards for 2018, the biggest awards in the UK property industry.

The winners were announced by Phil Spencer, the TV property expert at a lavish luncheon & ceremony at the Grosvenor House, Park Lane London attended by 1,000 of the UK’s top property professionals.

The awards, celebrating their 15^th year determine the best estate and letting agents in the UK based purely on feedback from customers who are asked a series of questions about the service they have received from their agent, over 36,000 surveys were completed by customers during the competition.

Stacey Davies-Bowler, Managing Director of Pinewood Property Estates, said:-

“We are absolutely thrilled to be recognised at this year’s ESTAS. It means so much to us as we know it’s our customers who have judged our performance.  We take our levels of customer service very seriously because we know clients have a choice.  We have always been very proud of the personal service and this proves we are delivering what we promise.”

Phil Spencer, who has hosted the ESTAS every year since their inception in 2003 said:-

“The ESTAS are special because shortlisted and winning firms are selected purely on the service you deliver to your clients. Real feedback from real customers experiencing real service, I don’t think there can be a greater honor in the industry than to receive an award based on that mantra.”

Estate and letting agents were recognised in 25 regions around the UK.  National Grand Prix Awards were also announced for the Best Single Agent Office in sales and lettings.

Simon Brown Founder of The ESTAS said:-

“At The ESTAS we’re proud to say we believe in old fashioned values like customer service. We know how hard it is to deliver it and that’s why we put the spotlight on property firms who are committed to providing excellent service. The ESTAS brand helps generate consumer trust for all property professionals involved in the home moving process.”

Charlie Bryant, the new Managing Director ZPG’s Property division addressed the audience:-

 “ZPG’s objectives are precisely aligned with those of The ESTAS because we know how demanding consumers are, The ESTAS awards are based on the public votes you receive, so your recognition today is much deserved. Many congratulations to all of this year’s winners and runners up who have been recognised for the excellent standard of customer service they delivered throughout the year.”