Investment Management Company is First to Host Corporate Event at New Plymouth Restaurant

L – R: The Lord Mayor Michael Wright 

Brian James, Head of Office Brewin Dolphin Plymouth

Councillor Mrs Mary Aspinal

William Wills

Local wealth management company, Brewin Dolphin Plymouth based in Langage Business Park, was the first in the City to host a corporate client event at the newly opened Rhodes @ The Dome Restaurant on the Hoe.  The Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Michael Wright joined 200 guests to celebrate the company’s 250th anniversary.  

Clients, dignitaries and associates were welcomed with wine and canapés prepared by celebrity chef and restaurateur Gary Rhodes and his dedicated team of professionals.  Brian James Head of Office Brewin Dolphin Plymouth gave a welcome address looking back at Brewin Dolphin’s long history as one of the founding firms of The London Stock Exchange and their original links to an old Devonian company, Westlake & Co. which was established 150 years’ ago in George Street Chambers by Francis Hole Westlake.

Brian James Divisional Director – Brewin Dolphin Plymouth says: “To be in business for 250 years is a feat that very few firms accomplish.  Our success is built on time-honoured values – relationships built on trust and confidence, bespoke service and the desire to accommodate each client’s priorities and aspirations.  Staying true to these traditions gives us a strong platform for continued growth.  As a result we wanted to celebrate this extraordinary milestone at a special venue and we were delighted when Rhodes @ The Dome were able to accommodate us.  The food was delicious and Gary Rhodes and his team were both professional and friendly.  The feedback from our guests on the new restaurant was extremely positive and very complimentary.”

Captain Charles Howeson RNR, Chairman of the Plymouth Area Business Council (PABC) spoke on behalf of the whole business community and private sector stressing the historic significance of the occasion and the values and local roots represented by Brewin Dolphin as a major stakeholder in the City of Plymouth.

He commented that "Brewin Dolphin represent all that's best in a huge financial concern that has kept closely aligned to the service values associated with its founding fathers and local roots, namely a very personal specialist service to its customers combining great care and attention in all that they do around the complex world of the provision of financial services advice."  He continued by saying that: "The whole Plymouth Business Community were proud and grateful to have Brewin Dolphin still here with offices in the City, 250 years after being founded, and 150 years after its Westlake offices were first opened".  He concluded by saying that "This represented a symbolic and historic record for which Plymouth is undoubtedly deeply honoured.”

www.brewin.co.uk/plymouth 

Barristers’ Chambers Fundraise For Medical Charity

St. John’s Chambers based in Victoria Street and the largest Set in the South West with over 80 barristers, host a ball in aid of their ‘Charity of the Year’ Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) which is celebrating its 30^th anniversary.

The evening raised funds of more than £6,000 for the independent charity, which promotes better patient safety and justice for people who have been affected by a medical accident.  Earlier this year the chambers organised a golf day at The Bristol Golf Club sponsored by Withy King which raised £4,000, bringing the total monies to-date to over £10,000 for this worthy cause.

Foot Anstey, Frenkel Topping and Wesleyan for Lawyers were the main sponsors of the event held at The Marriott Royal Hotel.  Supported by the ‘good and the great’ of Bristol, the Ball attracted more than 180 guests who enjoyed a drinks reception, dinner and live music from ‘Limited Edition’.  

Derek Jenkins, Chief Executive St. John’s Chambers says: “We feel that it is important to put something back into the community and the monies raised for AvMA has surpassed all our expectations.  Our expanding Clinical Negligence team is developing a strong reputation for its excellent service across the region which has been recognised by Chambers UK 2012, so we felt it appropriate to support a medical charity. The event was well received and I want to take this opportunity to thank all our sponsors, supporters and local businesses for their generosity in donating such wonderful prizes for the charity raffle.”

Peter Walsh Chief Executive AvMA says: “The funds raised for AvMA by St. John’s Chambers will directly support local families and patients across the South West who have been traumatised by a medical accident and will help to ensure that patient safety remains high on the agenda in the region. Without the tireless fundraising efforts of St John’s Chambers and others like them the impact of AvMA’s patient safety work would be significantly reduced and we are hugely grateful to them”.

www.stjohnschambers.co.uk

Local Chartered Accountants Celebrate Further Exam Success

Southernhay-based Chartered Accountants Haines Watts specialising in the owner managed business sector, announce that Fern Stephens, a member of the audit and accounts department is now a fully qualified Chartered Accountant having passed her exams.  This success follows the triple celebration in 2012 when three other members of the firm, Andy Chant, Emma Banfield and Ryan Lewis passed their individual accountancy exams in various areas of the business.

27 year-old Fern joined Haines Watts Exeter in 2005 when she began studying for the AAT qualification. Fern continued her studies with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) advanced stage and is now fully-qualified as a Chartered Accountant.   In addition Fern has been promoted to the role of Accounts and Audit assistant manager looking after a portfolio of a variety of clients and her main area of responsibility is preparing the annual accounts and tax returns for small to medium sized owner managed businesses, partnerships and sole traders.   Fern also oversees a number of audits including small and medium sized companies, pension schemes and solicitors, since gaining her ICAEW qualification.

“I am happy that the studies are now over so I can put everything I have learnt to practical use. It’s proving an interesting role working with very different types of business. I particularly enjoy the extensive variety of clients that we have at Haines Watts and looking forward to building new relationships,” Says Fern.

Ben de Cruz, Managing Partner Haines Watts says: “I am delighted that Fern is now fully-qualified as a Chartered Accountant.  She has fully applied herself to gain her qualification and we are very proud of her and indeed all our staff; in particular the younger team members who are all working hard at their studies.  We are investing heavily in supporting the next generation of accountants and means that we can extend the range of services we provide and ensure that our client-base get the very best service and advice.” 

www.hwca.com/accountants-exeter

Healthcare Interior Design Company Organises a Nationwide Charity Fundraiser

Access 21 Care Interiors offering interior design exclusively for the care sector and specialists in dementia design created a fundraising activity involving their suppliers across England to raise funds for Alzheimer's Society.

The Surbiton-based business works with clients across the UK designing across a full range of care schemes including general/extra care, nursing, learning disabilities, supported living, palliative and dementia.  The company is well known for its style of creating a ‘home from home’ atmosphere, ensuring optimum comfort and safety for residents, whilst avoiding an institutional look and feel by offering a relaxing and stimulating environment.  

Eda Brooks, Projects Director of Access 21 came up with the innovative idea of inviting their suppliers to join in a fundraising activity with a difference.  She donated £10 in cash to each of the company’s 10 main contacts, inviting them to use the funds to create an innovative and fun way of raising further funds for this worthy cause.  The fundraising campaign which took place at business premises across the country raised over £500 in total for the Alzheimer's Society.  As an added incentive Access 21 also offered a prize of £25 worth of M&S vouchers to the most creative money spinner.  The overall winner was Mark Dean and the team at Taplow-based furniture and office supplies company, Jolly Office Limited.  Mark got his customers in a spin by setting up a roulette wheel at their Head Office in  Taplow and inviting visitors to donate a £1 a go for the chance to win £20 in cash if their selected number came up. 

Eda Brooks Projects Director, Access 21 Care Interiors says: “We believe that it is important for businesses to give back to the community and this was a great way of involving our national contacts.  In view of the fact that we are designers working exclusively for the healthcare sector with specialist knowledge in dementia, the Alzheimer's Society was a natural choice.  The idea was well received with our suppliers and created a great team spirit.  The charity was very grateful not only for the much needed funds but also that this helped to raise their profile nationwide.” 

Anita Avery, Community Fundraiser, Alzheimer’s Society, South East Office says: “We are very grateful to Access 21 Care Interiors for not only raising over £500 but helping to raise awareness about dementia.  Currently 1 in 3 people over 65 years of age will develop dementia.  The support services that we are able to offer people with dementia and their loved ones in our local communities, relies heavily on fundraising events such as this.   We would like to thank Access 21, their suppliers and clients for enabling us to continue providing that support.”

www.a21interiors.co.uk