L-R: Stephanie and Jonathan
A Tamworth accountancy firm is celebrating its fifth anniversary, with its owners looking ahead to the next five years as they focus on business development.
Jonathan Ashford and Stephanie Green both left other Midlands accountancy practices to establish Ashford Green in September 2018, with a focus on cutting through jargon and providing trusted and transparent accountancy advice and expertise.
The concept proved a success, resulting in the Ninian Way-based business acting for a national portfolio of clients, with Jonathan and Stephanie now aiming to grow the team further to continue to provide the first-class professional advice and customer service Ashford Green has developed a reputation for.
“Taking the plunge to launch your own business is a huge step, but having made the commitment to do so, we’ve never once looked back,” said Jonathan.
“It’s a conversation we regularly have with new start-ups as they retain our services; how daunting the decision can seem, how rewarding it ultimately becomes, and the importance of being prepared for any challenges that lie ahead.
“Like every other business, it’s fair to say that the past five years have brought more challenges than we could possibly have imagined – our second year was largely spent supporting clients through the Covid 19 pandemic, identifying any government assistance available to them and providing support through the furlough system – and we’ve subsequently provided guidance around their concerns raised by the energy crisis, cost of living crisis and escalating interest rates, among other things.
“In light of those challenges, it’s easy to forget how many businesses haven’t survived, and we’re proud to have made it to what we see as a milestone anniversary. During that time, our business has consistently developed through organic growth, and we pride ourselves on the strong relationships we’ve formed with our clients which have helped that happen,” he said.
“Our clients range from sole traders to well-established national businesses, and we feel privileged that they continue to look to us for support and in turn, we take a real interest in their progress and watching them thrive,” he added.
The business now has its sights set on the next five years, with plans to grow its team further to continue to support its increasing client base, without compromising the friendly ethos the company thrives on.
“We believe that the key to our success is the relationship we have with our clients, and that having a small team is a pivotal part of forming those relationships. While it’s essential that we grow to ensure we’re able to provide a full complement of services to them all, it’s important to us that we retain their trust, and that emphasis on client service and maintaining strong relationships will be at the forefront of our minds when it comes to our expansion,” said Jonathan.
