The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 50: Aug/Sept 2020 | Page 9

FINANCE GOING FOR GOLD Tech-led accountancy firm Purple Lime has been awarded Gold Champion status by software brand Xero. Based in Corsham, but working with clients across the South West and London, Purple Lime is a tech-based accountancy practice which puts Xero at the heart of its operation. Founder Oli Thomas decided being a Xero partner was essential even before he started the business with former director Angela Ashworth. Oli said, “When Xero appeared on the scene, I knew it was a gamechanger for the sector and it was one of the reasons I decided it was time to leave my previous employment and set up Purple Lime. “Xero was a disruptive technology which is modern, responsive, provides real time data and showed early on that it would be compatible with a range of apps to help business owners access their numbers on a daily, hourly or even second by second basis if needed.” When Oli set the business up in 2016, his small team were early adopters of Xero. They have now been given Gold Champion Status which means the team have increased the number of organisations using the software through the firm and have shown a commitment to continuous training to keep up to date with innovations in digital accounting. Xero will continue to assign an account manager to work directly with the team ensuring they have a direct line in to Xero’s support, marketing and development teams. Purple Lime has now expanded to a team of ten – usually based at their HQ at Hartham Park. Currently the team are fully operational working mostly from home. Oli added, “It’s been a busy time for us, though we appreciate there are many businesses which are having a very difficult time at the moment. I’d like to thank all of our team for knuckling down and helping us achieve this ‘moment’ at one of the most challenging times the UK economy has ever faced.” Purple Lime provide an outsourced finance department for SME business owners using cloud technology enabling them to have real time financial data when making important strategic decisions. @PurpleLimeAcs To find out more contact Oli and the team by visiting: www.purplelime.uk.com or call: 01249 691 360 LAUNCH OF NEW FINANCE HUB One of the South West’s most influential business leadership organisations, Business West, has launched a finance hub to help businesses faced with an increasingly complex lending landscape to decide what sort of finance options work best for them before they consult an investor or lender. With business finances pushed to breaking point as a result of lockdown, the Business West Finance Hub provides an impartial and unbiased information and signposting service. Business West Finance Hub is a comprehensive resource for South West businesses, laying out in a straightforward and easy to understand way the funding options that are available and how to access them. Business West’s access to finance specialist Ed Tellwright works alongside innovative companies to help them secure the finances needed to fund business growth and expansion. He said, “From crowdfunding and venture capital to the range of new government finance options available due to Covid-19, the marketplace for business finance is complex and confusing. “Choosing the right financial option when considering a new venture, acquiring stock or a capital investment can be complicated, and many businesses often end up with the wrong financial solution which is not entirely right for them in the short, medium or long term. “Responding to this need, we have launched the Business West Finance Hub to help guide businesses and point them in the right direction, by answering key questions regarding finance options, eligibility for schemes and applications, as well as providing detailed information on how to access less mainstream forms of finance such as peer to peer lending. “The Business West Finance Hub provides honest and impartial business advice minus the confusing jargon or hard sell. “With many businesses’ finances now on a knife-edge due to Covid-19, a resource like this from a trusted source such as Business West is needed now more than ever.” To access the Business West Finance Hub and learn what finance options are available for your business visit: www.businesswest.co.uk/finance-hub | I N V E S T M E N T P L A N N I N G | I N T E R G E N E R A T I O N A L P L A N N I N G | T A X & E S T A T E P L A N N I N G | R E T I R E M E N T P L A N N I N G | L O N G T E R M C A R E P L A N N I N G T: 01225 742644 | M: 07894 876784 | E: [email protected] | W: www.queenssquarewealth.co.uk THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2020 9