The voice of business in the Tees region | 91
Direction – chartered accountants Baines Jewitt are led by
Mike Bigley and Don Adams (standing), Jed Lester, Anne
Cowley and Trevor Cook (sitting).
“It is easy just being on the end of a phone but that trust
in business comes with knowing someone. That’s why a
more personal approach is still so important in business.
People do business with people.”
demand for help with cloud accounting and
digital record keeping.
The firm can trace its history back to 1907
with the establishment of Jewitts. Baines
Goldston then started out in 1923 and the
two operated separately but in next door
offices until the partners decided to merge
in 2004 under the name Baines Jewitt.
In the early days, between them the firms
had a high proportion of farming clients and
managed the affairs of many larger family
businesses in the Stockton area. Over
the years, the client lists grew to include
retailing and manufacturing as well as
service and professional firms – many now
in second- and third-generation ownership.
The company has a long and proud
history – but that doesn’t mean its services
are rooted in the past. Anything but.
New ways of working are wholeheartedly
embraced and knit into the core values
Baines Jewitt takes pride in. Accounting
software and business apps are part of life
in 21st-century commerce and have been
well received by clients too.
“Ways of working have changed,
technology has changed and our systems
continually shape and adapt to meet client
needs,” says Trevor.
“Staying ahead of developments is part
of our role. We have moved to Xero cloud-
based systems for accounting so we can
help our clients – this is a big change for
some but it works very well and our clients
now see it as being very positive.”
Offering business advice to clients is part
and parcel of the job at Baines Jewitt.
“There has been a lot of change within
our profession. It is our job to give advice to
clients and to make sure their systems are
up to date.
“Each of our teams is director-led, but
we also have that flexibility to move across
teams – it is about assigning the right
person for the right job. We always look to
keep continuity of staff. It works because
each person knows their job role and that
building relationships between our teams
and our clients is key.”
Staying ahead of professional
development is also important, with tools
like webinars proving extremely useful.
Membership of professional groups, such
as the UK200 Group, is also invaluable for
sharing best practice, keeping knowledge
and skills up to date and offering support on
issues from corporate finance to tax within
the SME business sector.
“The firm is rooted on Teesside – that’s
where its home is and that’s where it will
stay,” says Trevor.
Support for the local community has
always been an important part of Baines
Jewitt life. The company has backed
talented Teesside swimmer, Olympian and
Commonwealth champion Aimee Wilmott
and supported initiatives to help local
children from deprived areas experience
trips to the theatre. There has also been
backing for Teesside Music Society and
teams at Stockton Town Football Club and
Stockton Cricket Club. Staff also take part in
regular fundraising and support for cancer
research charity initiatives.
Professionalism, quality of service and
integrity have remained watchwords at
Baines Jewitt – and coupled with an open
and straightforward approach, they will
no doubt continue to drive the company
forward into the future.
Baines Jewitt Ltd, Barrington House, 41-45 Yarm Lane, Stockton-on-Tees TS18 3EA.
Tel: 01642 632032 Email: [email protected] Website: bainesjewitt.co.uk.
You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.