Tees Business Tees Business Issue 20 | Page 91

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.