Crowe Clark Whitehill takes second Cheltenham office to support outsourcing success

The growing success of its global business solutions service has prompted national audit, tax and advisory firm Crowe Clark Whitehill to relocate its 22-strong team into town centre offices in Cheltenham.

Crowe Clark Whitehill has taken the entire first floor of 4,100 sq ft in Festival House in Jessop Avenue, Cheltenham.

The majority of Crowe Clark Whitehill’s Cheltenham staff will remain at their long established base in Lypiatt Road.

Cheltenham office managing partner Richard Austin said the global business solutions team, which helps predominantly US firms establish themselves in the UK and Europe, had now outgrown its office space there.

“This is extremely good news both for Crowe Clark Whitehill and Gloucestershire.

“It demonstrates that there is a real demand for our outsourcing services from abroad and reinforces the message that Gloucestershire firms can deliver a global service.

“It also gives us room to expand our audit, tax and advisory teams in Lypiatt Road and we anticipate this may lead to further jobs being created,” he said.

Partner Azeem Zafar said: “Outsourcing has been one of the fastest growing service lines within the firm and I am pleased that we will now have the space within which we can continue to grow as we continue to win new business.”

Crowe Clark Whitehill’s global business solutions helps US start-up companies establish themselves not only in Europe but throughout the world.

Mr Zafar explained that they will set up the right entity, whether limited company, partnership or joint venture in the relevant jurisdiction and then ensure that all monthly and annual accounts, VAT returns where applicable and all compliance requirements are met.

“Essentially we provide everything that a back office accounting service would provide, but live from day one and then ongoing as the business establishes itself in its new territory.”

And he praised local professional firms for their assistance in enabling the move into Festival House which will see the new office open on schedule on Monday, January 19..

Crowe Clark Whitehill engaged property agents John Ryde Commercial to search for the right premises, and Mr Zafar said they had dealt extremely professionally with a demanding client.

“We knew what we wanted in terms of space, but not what was available and John Ryde Commercial partners Tim Smith and Paul Maguire worked hard to find us the right match in terms of location, services and the space and flexibility we required.”

The Cheltenham office of Charles Russell Speechlys acted for Crowe Clark Whitehill and law firm Shoosmiths acted for the landlords Formal Investments.

Since 2008 Festival House has been extended from 44,000 sq ft to 62,000 sq ft and refurbished to offer Grade A office accommodation and the building sits in the heart of Cheltenham’s business quarter.