Shorts

New hires and promotions announced for Chesterfield Champions

Three Chesterfield businesses have announced new hires and promotions in recent weeks.

Banner Jones Solicitors, Shorts Accountants and Pinelog Ltd. have all bolstered their teams, showcasing further growth of their respective organisations.

Read more about the new team members from across the town’s network of Chesterfield Champions below.


Pinelog welcomes new Production Manager

Steve Betts - Pinelog

Steve Betts has joined Chesterfield-based timber lodge manufacturer Pinelog Limited as Production Manager.

He brings a wealth of experience in manufacturing, engineering and fabrication to his role at Pinelog, one of the UK’s leading designers and manufacturers of luxury timber lodges and buildings.

Within his new role, Steve will support Pinelog’s detail driven process, from design conception, manufacture, delivery, installation, and customer handover.

Steve commented: “I’m a process driven person, with years of experience in fine tuning production and developing teams’ skillsets. I’m excited to see how I can support Pinelog’s vision.”

Steve’s employment background spans a number of blue-chip companies, including Toyota in both Derby and Japan for 17 years. Most recently, Steve worked in a consultancy role for a modular building manufacturer in the north of the UK.

He explained: “I first became aware of Pinelog when I visited Mercia Marina holiday park in Derby in my previous role and saw one of the company’s timber lodges. I was impressed by Pinelog’s quality.

“I am delighted to now be working for a company with such high standards of design and production. The attention to detail is unrivalled. Pinelog’s products stand apart in the timber lodge market.”

As well as the production of complete timber holiday lodges, in his new role Steve will also be overseeing the production of the commercial buildings designed and built by Pinelog which are also manufactured at the company’s Chesterfield site.

Steve’s appointment is just one of a number of new management appointments Pinelog has created following its move to a new, larger site in Chesterfield in 2023. Earlier this year Pinelog appointed Judy Barwell to the position of Sales Account Manager.

Welcoming Steve to the role, Nick Grayson, Chairman of Pinelog Group, said: “Steve’s comprehensive background in production and management within a number of industries provides us with a springboard for further developing our own best in class processes.”


New recruit bolsters Business Legal Services team at Banner Jones

 Tim Barley Banner Jones

Regional law firm Banner Jones has welcomed back Property Executive Tim Barley who returned to the firm in August.

Tim has commenced a 2-year Trainee Solicitor Apprenticeship with Banner Jones and begins studying for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), following which he will be a fully qualified solicitor.

Originally joining Banner Jones in 2018, Tim will now work alongside Head of Business Legal Services, Andrew Fielder, to support with both commercial property and corporate work.

Having previously specialised in residential property matters including leasehold enfranchisement claims for landlords and tenants, his return to the firm will see him further his expert knowledge in a range of Business Legal Services.

Andrew Fielder, Head of Business Legal Services at Banner Jones, said: “We are really pleased to be welcoming Tim back to the firm, and to be supporting him with his apprenticeship.

“He is an extremely passionate and capable trainee, and we know he will be a huge asset to both the team and our clients.”

Further commenting on Tim’s return to Banner Jones to complete his Trainee Solicitor Apprenticeship, Andrew said it was ‘indicative of the firm’s commitment to investing in talent’, adding: “As a firm, we see the huge value in company-funded training to enable our employees to achieve their ambitions.

“This is evidenced in the fact that we currently have nine Trainee Solicitors on the 2-year LPC route based across our offices in Chesterfield, Mansfield and Sheffield, as well as 2 Chesterfield-based Trainee Solicitor apprentices and various others undertaking CILEx and Licensed Conveyancing qualifications.

“We are delighted that not only are we helping our staff reach their potential, but also providing our clients with a high quality of service.”

Tim Barley added: “It feels great to be returning to such a great firm and to be assisting Andrew Fielder.

“The firm as a whole has an unrivalled reputation for delivering accessible, customer service-led legal services and that’s something I am equally passionate about.”


Shorts promotes Kirstie Wilson to Audit and Accounts Director

Shorts Kirstie

Shorts has announced the promotion of Kirstie Wilson to the position of Audit and Accounts Director with immediate effect.

Since joining Shorts in 2016 as an Audit and Accounts Senior, Kirstie has demonstrated exceptional dedication and aptitude, earning promotions to Manager in 2018 and then Senior Manager in 2021.

Her progression to Director is testament to her exemplary skills and continued commitment to excellence, and to the active role she has played in the development of our corporate team during that time.

On confirming her promotion, Audit and Accounts Partner Howard Freeman said: “Kirstie’s promotion is very much deserved, and she has worked hard to achieve it.

“As Director, Kirstie will take on the role of Engagement Leader on a portfolio of our clients, will hold Responsible Individual (RI) status, and in due course will be able to sign audit reports on behalf of the firm, in addition to leading non-audit work.

“A fantastic achievement, as Kirstie will be the first non-partner to hold this position in Shorts. She will also take on the role of engagement leader for most of our charity clients, having obtained the ICAEW Diploma in Charity Accounting earlier this year.”

Kirstie said: “I am delighted to have been promoted to Audit and Accounts Director at Shorts, and I’m proud to take the next step on my professional journey.

“Shorts provide an excellent environment for learning and development, and my promotion demonstrates the genuine commitment within the firm to support the team with structured career paths.

“I am very much looking forward to working with existing and future clients and helping to contribute to the continued success of the firm.”

Kirstie is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and holds a Diploma in Charity Accounting. She is a Xero certified adviser, proficient in many cloud-based accounting systems, such as Xero and Sage and has experience working with both incorporated and unincorporated businesses.

In December 2022 Kirstie was also appointed the youngest ever Trustee at Ashgate Hospice. She can be contacted by calling 0114 2671617 / 01244 559955 and more information can be found at shorts.uk.com.


Find out more about why Chesterfield is the ideal location to base your business here.

Pinelog, Banner Jones Solicitors and Shorts support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , ,

Accolades for Shorts Accountants and Banner Jones Solicitors at South Yorkshire Dealmakers Awards

Teams at two Chesterfield firms are celebrating successes, after wins at the Insider South Yorkshire Dealmakers Awards last week.

It has been a great year for the Corporate Finance team at Shorts, and the firm is delighted to have won four awards at this year’s ceremony. The winners were announced at a black-tie event hosted by comedian Fred MacAulay, at Sheffield City Hall on Thursday 8 June.

The wins included:

  • Corporate Finance Advisory Firm of the Year
  • Deal of the Year (£10m+) Management buyout of Wincro Metal Industries
  • Innovation Investment Award: Investment in Sitehop by Mercia
  • Dealmaker of the YearAndy Ryder

Following the successes of the evening, Andy Ryder, Corporate Finance Partner at Shorts (who also went on to win Dealmaker of the Year), said: “It is the expertise and committment of the Shorts team which we see reflected in these successes.

“Last year was a record-breaking year for the Shorts Corporate Finance team, with some fantastic transactions completed, and we are beyond proud to see that hard work being recognised. We have a great team and with an exciting pipeline of opportunities, we are looking forward to another successful year.”

Dealmakers Awards 2023 873

Elsewhere, leading regional law firm Banner Jones has won the National/International Deal of the Year award alongside Translink Corporate Finance at this year’s prestigious event.

The announcement sees the firm’s Business Legal Services department receive recognition for the role it played in advising the shareholders of Chesterfield-based The Corrugated Case Company (CCC), in a major acquisition deal with the UK arm of the global packaging specialist, Tri-Wall, which completed last summer.

Andrew Fielder from Banner Jones’ Business Legal Services department – supported by colleagues Tim Barley, Katie Ash and Sara Patel – advised the sellers on all aspects of the share disposal, and of the separate sale of the businesses trading premises.

Commenting on the award win Andrew Fielder from Banner Jones’ Business Legal Services department, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have received recognition for the work carried out on the CCC acquisition deal, alongside the team at Translink Corporate Finance.

“The South Yorkshire Dealmaker Awards provide a unique opportunity for the local deals community to get together to celebrate our successes, and we are thrilled to have taken home the grand prize in the National/International Deal of the Year category.”

Banner Jones and Shorts supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Dealmakers awards banner jones

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Home, Love Chesterfield, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , , , , ,

Shorts Accountants named finalists for 5 Yorkshire Accountancy Awards

Chesterfield-based accountancy firm Shorts are finalists for 5 Yorkshire Accountancy Awards (2023).

The Yorkshire Accountancy Awards has rapidly grown to be one of the most prestigious accountancy awards ceremonies in the industry, celebrating the success and achievements of the best accounting firms in the Yorkshire region.

The five categories in which Shorts have been named finalists are:

  • Employer of the Year
  • Team of the Year
  • Support Staff of the Year (for Shorts’ Payroll team)
  • Consultancy / Advisory Service Award (for Shorts’ Genus team)
  • Rising Star Award (for Matthew Lewis, Audit and Accounts Manager)

Upon learning of his nomination for the Rising Star award, Matthew Lewis said: “I’m thrilled to have been nominated for the award and I’m looking forward to celebrating with all the finalists at the ceremony in February. Thanks to everyone at Shorts for their continued support in my professional development.”

Shorts is no stranger to the Yorkshire Accountancy Awards, with several previous wins across different service lines:

  • 2022 Corporate Finance Service Award winner
  • 2021 In-House Finance Team of the Year
  • 2020 Accountancy Team of the Year
  • 2020 Corporate Finance Team of the Year
  • 2020 Support Team of the Year
  • 2018 Advisory Firm of the Year

The winners of this year’s Yorkshire Accountancy Awards will be revealed at the awards ceremony on February 23rd, 2023.

Shorts has traded in Chesterfield since SE Short established the practice in 1890. The company has an established reputation as reliable and forward thinking accountants, taxation and business advisers.

The company comprises of a team of specialists all pulling in the same direction. With a long-standing heritage of over 130 years, we’ve grown from a local business to a nationally recognised award-winning firm.

Find out more about Chesterfield’s great range of professional service businesses here.

Shorts supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , ,

Shorts and MD Law advise on sale of BN Gibson Limited

Chesterfield-based finanical advice firm Shorts recently teamed up with MD Law to act as lead advisors and legal representatives on the sale of a nearby ambulance service.

The two companies provided advice to to Alison and Anthony Corbett on the sale of Nottinghamshire based Ambulance Services, B.N.Gibson Limited to Tim and Rebecca Hawley as part of a Management Buy-In (“MBI”) transaction.

Alison and Anthony will remain involved in the business for a period to ensure a smooth and successful transition.

B.N. Gibson is one of the longest established private ambulance services in the UK and has an established reputation for high standards and reliability.

Andy Ryder, Corporate Finance Partner with Shorts comments: “We are delighted to have advised Alison and Anthony on the successful completion of this transaction. The sale of the business to an MBI candidate whom they have known for a long time feels like a perfect route to ensure the continuing success of the business under new ownership whilst maintaining the well-established ‘family’ culture of the company .”

Corporate Partner at MD Law, James Burdekin, said: “It was a pleasure to assist Alison and Anthony with the successful transition of the business to new owners and, we are very confident that the business will go from strength to strength under its new ownership.”

Anthony and Alison Corbett said “We cannot thank Shorts enough for the support and advice they have provided over the last 8 years. Shorts have guided us through the sales of two businesses which was our long term goal and have been there for us every step of the way.”

With a long-standing heritage of over 130 years, Shorts has grown from a local business to a nationally recognised award-winning firm. The company is home to some incredible expertise – specialists have joined Shorts from some of the world’s leading firms, bringing years of experience that they have shared and continue to hone.

Shorts supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , ,

Shorts announces Radius promotions and team expansion

Shorts is pleased to announce the promotion of two key members of its Radius team, which advises on R&D and Patent Box tax reliefs.

Darryl Hoy has been promoted to the position of Technical Director within the Radius team, while Emily Hurdley has been promoted to manager.

Furthermore, the Radius team continues to grow with the announcement that Matthew Pierce has joined the firm, also as Manager. Matthew’s appointment will augment the team’s continued growth and client service.

This news caps off a successful year for the Radius team, despite a challenging business climate throughout the UK and across the world. HMRC investigations into R&D tax relief claims are due to increase as the treasury seeks to bolster tax revenues. As such, it’s vital to offer expert advice to claimant companies.

Scott Burkinshaw, Tax Partner at Shorts and Head of Radius, said: “Radius is committed to making sure that the region’s innovative companies are able to claim their full entitlement to government backed R&D tax reliefs. The talent and expertise of our team is central to this, and the performance and contributions of Darryl and Emily have been consistently excellent.

“They will continue to play a critical role in delivering and improving the Radius service. I also am delighted to welcome Matthew to Radius; his knowledge and experience will further solidify Radius as the leading R&D specialist in the region.”

Shorts has traded in Chesterfield since SE Short established the practice in 1890. Now the largest independent accountancy firm in Chesterfield, Shorts has an established reputation as reliable and forward thinking accountants, taxation and business advisers. Find out more about the company here: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/our-champions/shorts-chartered-accountants/

Shorts supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 190 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , , ,

David Robinson promoted to Tax Partner at Shorts

Shorts are delighted to announce the promotion of David Robinson to the position of Tax Partner, with effect from 1 April 2022.

Responding to a decade of sustained growth, David will join Chris Chambers and Scott Burkinshaw in leading the firm’s tax offering and will divide his time working across both the firm’s Sheffield and Chesterfield offices.

An experienced Chartered Tax Adviser with national firm experience, David joined Shorts in 2015 as Senior Tax Manager and was promoted to Director in 2018. The promotion to Partner recognises David’s continued commitment to growing the department and underpins the firm’s continued development and strength.

David will continue to advise his clients on all areas of UK taxation with a particular focus on transactional work, including acquisitions & disposals, corporate reconstructions, and advising international businesses on their expansion into the UK (through the firm’s membership of The Praxity Alliance). Going forward, his role will transition progressively in taking a more active role in the leadership and strategy of the firm.

David said “I am absolutely thrilled and honoured to be promoted to Tax Partner at Shorts, joining a partnership that has been in existence since 1890.  The promotion is the culmination of years of hard work, and I’m proud to take the next step on my professional journey.  I am very much looking forward to working with existing and future clients, as well as the rest of the partners, to help drive forward the continued success of the firm”.

Chris Chambers, Senior Tax Partner at Shorts, said “Since joining us in 2015, David has played a key part in the growth and success of the business, and this promotion is just reward for his hard work and effort.  He’ll be a fantastic addition to our partner group, and I am confident that with David on board, the firm will continue to go from strength to strength”.

Scott Burkinshaw, Tax Partner at Shorts, added “I am delighted that David has agreed to join us in the Partnership.  We have enjoyed significant growth over the last few years, and this appointment further strengthens our position as we head into the next chapter of our long history.  We reward talent and effort here at Shorts, and we had no hesitation in asking David to join us to continue to drive the business forward”.

Shorts are a nationally recognised award-winning firm with a long-standing heritage of over 130 years.  They can be contacted on info@shorts.uk.com or by calling 0114 2671617 or 01246 559955.

Shorts supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in Business, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , ,

Shorts hires Lynne Gill as senior VAT manager

Chesterfield Champion, Shorts Chartered Accountants, are delighted to announce the appointment of Lynne Gill as Senior VAT Manager.

An indirect tax specialist with over 35 years’ experience, Lynne joined the Shorts Tax Planning Team at the start of October 2021.

Lynne’s previous roles have included 27 years at HMRC, where she worked as a VAT inspector dealing primarily with small and medium enterprises, before later moving on to large national businesses.

Following her time at HMRC, Lynne worked for a large, independent regional accountancy firm, before working for a company providing specialist VAT advice and VAT compliance services to the healthcare sector.

Scott Burkinshaw, Tax Partner at Shorts, said: “We’re delighted to welcome a highly experienced specialist such as Lynne on board. VAT is a tax that pops up everywhere, often without people realising, so bolstering our VAT advisory capacity is very important to enable us to continue to offer our clients high quality, comprehensive tax advice.”

Speaking about her appointment, Lynne said: “I am delighted to be joining one of the most reputable and ambitious Chartered Accountancy firms in the region, and very excited to be working with such a talented and dedicated team. I’m looking forward to bringing my experience and knowledge of VAT to a tax team which has proved to be highly effective in helping regional businesses reach their goals.”

Shorts is recognised as an award-winning, leading regional firm, using deep knowledge, technology, and expertise to find new ways to make clients’ business better and their personal finances stronger.

This appointment will further strengthen Shorts’ reputation for excellence in tax planning and advice, and will solidify the firm’s position as a regional leader in all things VAT.

Shorts Chartered Accountants supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , ,

Shorts launches new microsite to support businesses with R&D tax relief

The Radius team at Shorts Chartered Accountants has launched a new R&D tax relief microsite to help boost the finances of local businesses.

The microsite is designed to help raise greater awareness of R&D tax reliefs, which are generous, government-backed tax breaks for innovative companies. This tax relief is often worth around 25% of qualifying R&D expenditure.

As the region’s business community continues to adapt to the ongoing difficulties presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, Radius is encouraging businesses to check their eligibility, which they can do for free by way of a 30-minute consultation.

R&D tax relief is one of the most significant government-backed tax reliefs available today, but many companies do not realise they qualify.

Whether local SMEs innovated in order to survive repeated lockdowns, furloughed staff and remote working infrastructure, or if they plan to develop innovative new products, services or solutions to bounce back for 2021-22, R&D tax relief is an incredibly valuable cashflow tool.

Chesterfield and wider Derbyshire businesses can visit the new microsite for detailed information of how R&D tax relief works, information on whether their business qualifies, and a free calculator to estimate how much of a tax saving they could make.

With a long-standing heritage of over 130 years, Shorts has grown from a local business to a nationally recognised award-winning firm. Find out more about the company here.

To find a wide range of business support available in Chesterfield, including details on how to access the innovative Chesterfield Digital High Street scheme, go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/business-support/

Entrepreneurs and start-up businesses can also receive funding through the Vision Derbyshire scheme, as part of efforts locally to encourage more people to set up their own companies.

Shorts supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 190 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , ,

Shorts wins ‘In-house finance team of the year’ at prestigious accountancy awards

The finance team at Shorts Chartered Accountants has been named ‘In-House Finance Team of the Year’ at the Yorkshire Accountancy Awards 2021.

The annual awards ceremony, which took place on August 19th, celebrates the achievements and successes of the region’s best accountancy professionals.

The accolade is one of several gained by Shorts in recent years, showing substantial recognition from industry peers. They include:

  • Advisory Firm of the Year, Yorkshire Accountancy Awards Winner 2018
  • Mid-Tier Firm of the Year, British Accountancy Awards Finalist 2016
  • Insider Dealmakers, Corporate Finance Firm of the Year – Shortlisted 2016, 2017 & 2018
  • Insider Dealmakers, National / International Dealmaker of the Year – Shortlisted 2017 & Winner 2018
  • Insider Dealmakers, Mid-Market Dealmaker of the Year – Winner 2017 & Shortlisted 2018
  • Insider Dealmakers, Deal of the Year up to £2.5m – Winner 2018

Prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Shorts finance team was already producing regular and detailed information across the whole firm and partner group. However, the work they completed during the COVID period was essential to ongoing stability, enabling sound business decisions to be made during an extremely uncertain period.

The team demonstrated excellent standards of work and improved efficiencies, including production of revised budgets, and enhancing many internal reports.

Michelle Frost, Practice Director at Shorts said: “Our finance team blows me away with their enthusiasm and drive for continuous improvement. And when any of them have the available capacity, they will always offer a helping hand to other team members. True gems.”

According to the judges of the event: “Shorts Chartered Accountants demonstrated a focus on continuous improvement, carrying out a transformation programme that really impressed the judges, and showed how they were integral to the overall success of the business.”

With a long-standing heritage of over 130 years, Chesterfield-based Shorts has grown from a local business to a nationally recognised award-winning firm. With over 120 staff, the company is one of the largest practices in the region.

Shorts Chartered Accountants supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 190 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , ,

Keep up to date

Dont miss out on all the latest news, updates & special offers.

Signup to our newsletter