Vantis - Think success

Dec 11 2006 By The Journal

A group of professional business advisers and intermediaries came together this month for the inaugural meeting of a new business club with a small "by invitation only" membership and a large potential to benefit businesses across the Tees Valley.

The latest initiative from the North-East offices of accounting, business and tax advisory group, Vantis plc, the Tees Valley Tax Club will meet once a quarter to brief its members on the latest business and personal tax issues.

Where appropriate, Vantis will bring in the group's specialist tax advisers to answer members' specific questions.

While the club is an innovative addition to the region's business support services, it is based on a model that has been tried and proven by the Vantis group in other areas of the country. It also capitalises on Vantis' unique strengths as an organisation that specialises in helping growing businesses, high net-worth individuals and other professionals.

Vantis is the AIM-listed top-13 accounting, business and tax advisory group, with more than 1,000 staff operating from 19 locations throughout England.

As an entrepreneurial organisation with entrepreneurial clients, it is constantly finding new ways to help clients achieve their objectives. It recognises that new sources of support need to be found and different skills need to be learned every step of the way as businesses expand and develop.

In the North-East, Vantis has more than 60 staff based at offices in Darlington, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool. Clients working with Vantis have access to their wide-ranging professional skills and extensive experience and knowledge of the North-East business environment.

They can, however, also draw upon the detailed, sector-specific knowledge of Vantis industry groups or take advantage of specialist business services developed to help them bridge the gap between existing expertise and the expertise needed to realise their goals.

Clients can tap into these services when different needs arise as a business expands and develops. For example, Vantis Asset Finance can ease cashflow by arranging a variety of hire purchase and leasing solutions for business and personal assets.

If clients want to expand by buying a business or want to sell the business they have developed, Corporate Finance can provide comprehensive lead advisory and transaction services.

If they are facing a financial challenge, Business Recovery will support and guide them through their crisis.

Vantis Tax specialises in providing tailored tax mitigation solutions, which help individuals, businesses, companies, trustees and investors obtain maximum savings through relief, exemptions etc.

Vantis' independent financial advisors provide personal financial advice, investment and pension planning as well as advising on corporate financial planning and employee benefit schemes. Clients can outsource their accountancy and payroll responsibilities to Vantis and, if they are in a period of rapid growth, tap into a detailed management information and financial reporting service that keeps them in control of the situation.

Other specialist services includes Custom House, which provides experts to work with clients to minimise the duty payable on imported goods or to reclaim overpaid import duty on a "no-win no-fee" basis.

Forensic Accountant and Dispute Resolution comprises dedicated experts who work with the legal profession, insurers etc, in the pursuance and defence of claims.

Through its industry groups, Vantis can also offer expertise and provide solutions tailored to the specific circumstances of clients operating in a number of different industries. For example, the Construction Group has initiated a service to help construction industry clients prepare for changes to the Construction Industry Scheme which, from April 2007, will seek to tackle tax evasion by introducing new reporting procedures to establish the employment status of workers.

Vantis is also one of the only major accountancy firms to offer the services of a Sports Group - a team of professionals chosen from relevant specialisms throughout the Vantis group. It provides organisations and individuals involved in the world of sport with a range of specialist services and products.

With the UK accountancy market undergoing dramatic changes as a result of current concerns about auditor independence, regulatory developments and increased client expectations, it is not so surprising that the range of services developed for practising accountants has also been extremely successful.

Among the sectors where Vantis has established dedicated teams and specific services are charity and not-for-profit, hospitality and leisure, landed estate, manufacturing, media, travel, retail and the public sector.

Tees Valley businesses in these and several other sectors have the significant advantage of dealing with skilled, local professionals supported by dedicated teams of specialists.

• For further information about Vantis, visit www.vantisplc.com.