Accountancy merger to bring best advice

The combined firm will have a turnover of around £12m with 216 staff and offices in Sheffield, Leeds, Harrogate and Chesterfield in addition to the new office in York. Around £1m in turnover and 14 staff are attributable to the York office.

In February 2011, Barber Harrison & Platt merged with Leeds and Harrogate-based Mitchells Group.

BHP managing partner, John Warner, said: “The success of our merger in 2011 with Mitchells in Leeds and Harrogate has encouraged us to expand further into North Yorkshire. Barron & Barron is a very well respected firm in York and has specialist niches that fit in very well with our own expertise.

“The additional services we can offer to both their existing client base and to other local businesses will enable BHP to build upon its reputation as the key independent business advisory firm in Yorkshire.”

Barron & Barron was founded in 1893 and the current partners, Guy Ward and Richard Bailey, and all their staff will continue in the merged business. Mr Ward will be a partner with the combined firm and Mr Bailey will continue as a full-time consultant in his specialist areas of tax and landed estates.

Mr Ward said: “We identified BHP as an ideal firm to merge with, enabling us to continue to provide a full business advisory service to our client base. We share the same belief in the absolute importance of client care and look forward to building upon our established position within the North Yorkshire market.”

The merger will see the firm practise as BHP Barron & Barron in the York area. BHP said that it has no immediate plans for further acquisitions, but wouldn’t rule a future deal out if it fitted with the firm’s overall strategy of “being recognised as the pre-eminent, independent advisory firm in the region”.