Devon chartered accountancy firm Simpkins Edwards has announced the appointment of Jonathan Hayes as Director of Rural Services. Jonathan joins from PKF Francis Clark, where he held a similar Director position in its Exeter office for the past eight years. Jonathan’s appointment further strengthens Simpkins Edwards’ specialist agriculture and rural business team. Jonathan joins Partners Lynn Woodward and Mary Jane Campbell, and fellow directors, Jo Tope and Julie Rose, who together head up the firm’s rural client work, supported by Tax Partner, Chris Bowker. Jonathan grew up in a farming...
Rob Bedford, Partner at Simpkins Edwards’ Okehampton Office, is stepping down from life as an Accountant after 43 years with the firm. He will celebrate his last day before retirement on 07 September 2018 – the anniversary of the date he joined the business in 1975 at the age of 18. Commenting on his retirement, Rob said: “This year marks 43 years with the firm and the 50th Anniversary of Simpkins Edwards. Over this period, the firm has expanded and changed with the times, providing a complete range of services including probate, corporate finance and litigation support in addition to the...
With less than a year to go until HM Revenue and Customs’ flagship ‘Making Tax Digital’ project becomes mandatory for businesses, new research from the British Chambers of Commerce has highlighted that almost a quarter of UK businesses have never heard of it. Worryingly, two thirds of the respondents claim that although they know Making Tax Digital by name, they are only aware of some details. To help address this concerning lack of knowledge, local Chartered Accountancy firm Simpkins Edwards is staging a series of free seminars to help get businesses up to speed. Events will take place in...
Chartered accountancy firm Simpkins Edwards, which has offices in Exeter, Okehampton, Holsworthy, Bovey Tracey, Honiton and Barnstaple, has marked its 50th Anniversary this year with a host of volunteering days across the county this summer. From clearing Himalayan Balsam on the banks of the River Tale, to painting Exeter’s iconic cast iron bollards black and gold, dozens of staff from the firm have been out and about, making a positive difference to local communities.
n June, a team of nine joined The Tale Valley Trust to clear the banks of the River Tale of the invasive Himalayan...
Summer Sunday trains to and from Okehampton will return later this month.
The Great Western Railway (GWR) service, funded by Devon County Council, will run four trains each way between Okehampton and Exeter every Sunday, from Sunday 20 May to Sunday 9 September.
The service, which launched in 1997, is part of the ongoing efforts to re-introduce regular services on the line.
The Summer Sunday train announcement follows the recent second successful special trip of the “Royal Oke”, organised by OkeRail in partnership with GWR, to highlight the demand for regular...
Christopher Hunt, 34, from Dartmouth has been unemployed for an extended period of time after being diagnosed with stomach cancer. After receiving the all clear, Christopher was keen to get back into the work place.
Christopher explains, “My experience with cancer has made me think more seriously about my life. It has completely changed my outlook and perspective. I have a completely different attitude on goals and what I want to do with my life. I knew I wanted to return to work but with no usable references or experience I struggled to find employment.
The countdown to the end of the tax year is well under way, but it’s not too late to focus on tactics to minimise tax liabilities before the 05 April deadline. Simpkins Edwards’ respected team of Chartered Tax Advisers are set to provide top tax tips at its free ‘Spring Clean Your Tax Affairs’ event, which is being held on Thursday 22 March at the Okehampton Business Centre, starting at 8.00am and ending at 9.30am.
The session, which is aimed at individuals and all business owners, whether sole traders, partnerships or limited companies, is designed to help individuals and...
Judges have this week announced Okehampton-based business Forest Fuels as a finalist in their inaugural national Green Energy Awards.
The news follows 12 months of dramatic developments at Forest Fuels, which started life 11 years ago at a single location on a farm in Devon. Now, with 45 depots across the UK and a turnover of more than £20 million per annum, the biomass woodfuel distribution firm has been successful in developing an environmental business that can compete alongside fossil-fuel suppliers.
“This is exciting news,” said Peter Solly, managing director of Forest...
Hospiscare’s Light Up a Life event takes place annually in the run up to Christmas, a particularly poignant time of year for many bereaved people. The services offer a time and space apart to remember and honour loved ones who are no longer with us. With a blend of readings, poetry, music and the opportunity to join voices in singing carols, these occasions bring at least as much joy as sadness and are never less than uplifting.
This year’s series of services will culminate at Exeter Cathedral on Sunday, 17 December. Hospiscare’s Karen Turner said: “Everyone is invited to attend...
