Global Excellence 2019

74 Acquisition International - Global Excellence 2019 Jan19470 40 Issue 3 2019 Jan19470 and development as part of our drive to ensure all of our team reach their full potential. “Training never ends, even for partners/directors, as such every member of our team has their own personal training/development plan with at least five days’ training annually, which includes continued professional development courses. Everyone is encouraged to achieve their full potential, regardless of background/qualifications.” Over the several years, Lamont Pridmore has doubled in size, due to a mixture of organic growth and acquired fees. Looking ahead to what the future holds, Graham signs off by revealing the exciting plans which lie in the pipeline for the firm, especially following their recent success in Acquisition Intl.’s 2019 Global Excellence Awards, where they were righteously awarded the accolade Independent Chartered Accountants and Business Advisory Firm of the Year 2019 – UK. “Moving forward, we must meet the industry challenges detailed below through greater efficiency, new approaches to jobs using new technologies and increasing our marketing & market share in order to attract more clients who will require more responsive, quicker, higher- quality levels of service. “One of our greatest assets is our excellent team who provide highly professional personal service to clients, our clients are not just numbers, they are real people and the family feel of our organisation appeals to them. “Lastly, our enhanced customer care programme and range of added value services run by specialists will ensure that we continue to grow. Additionally, it will also help to ensure that we help our clients to increase their profits, their cash flow and their business value; as well as enable them to invest their wealth wisely.” Lamont Pridmore is a family-run firm of Chartered Accountants, Tax and Business Advisers with three partners, 53 staff and eight offices across Cumbria and Lancaster. Recently, we caught up with Chief Executive, Graham Lamont who provided us with a detailed insight into their forward- thinking, innovative approach to demands of the business world. ince their inception in 1894, Lamont Pridmore’s traditional family values remain at the forefront of everything the team do, but they deal with the future rather than the past. With their main geographical focus on Cumbria and the North West, Lamont Pridmore acts for aspirational and successful businesses together with wealthy individuals who the firm advise about wealth management, IHT and estate planning. Additionally, the firm has a number of specialities in niche sectors. The majority of their award- winning work comes through small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and as for the areas they specialise within, Graham begins by informing us of the diverse range of services they provide their clients. “Here at Lamont Pridmore, our added value specialist services include tax planning and tax saving services, profit and performance improvement, finance director and management information services and a Private Client Service for wealthy individuals including developing a Life Wealth Plan. “Our specialist sectors include owner-managed and family businesses, tourism and hospitality businesses and specialist services for McDonalds franchisees as well as corporate finance.” Lamont Pridmore deals with a diverse range of clients, from large corporate entities to small micro businesses and everything in between. Whilst on the topic of their clients, Graham touches on the vast range of sectors Lamon Pridmore caters to as well as how the team ensure that they deliver a service which not only meets their requirements, but also surpasses their expectations. “We serve a wide range of sectors ranging from hospitality through to manufacturing, while our personal services, such as asset and wealth management support both entrepreneurs and high net worth family estates. “As such, the team here at Lamont Pridmore take client care very seriously and our client-care-programme guarantees clients at least four meetings/telephone conversations each year. These include pre-year-end tax planning review, annual accounts/audit meeting, six-monthly meeting to check progress and benchmark performance against competitors, and a pre-April fifth meeting to discuss personal tax, investment, ISAs, Capital Gains Tax and Inheritance Tax planning.” Working behind the scenes to ensure that deadlines are met, and goals are achieved is the dedicated, passionate team of talented individuals who form the backbone of Lamont Pridmore. When discussing the internal culture, Graham is delighted to highlight the significant role the team play in the overall success of the award-winning firm. “At Lamont Pridmore, we recognise that our staff are one of our most important assets, which is why we continue to invest in staff training Focused on the Future S Contact: Graham Lamont Company: Lamont Pridmore Address: Arkle House, Carlisle, Cumbria, United Kingdom, CA1 1BJ Telephone: 08002346978 Web Address: www.lamontpridmore.co.uk