Case Studies

Case Study: Cricket club screens summer of live sport thanks to IT investment

Penrith Cricket Club has upgraded its WiFI network so that customers can make the most of future big sporting events such as live international football tournaments and cricket fixtures, along with the Olympics, Rugby World Tours and other large scale competitions. The upgraded system allows the club to show different matches at the same time, meaning sports fans won’t miss a kick, pass or catch, while also delivering uninterrupted Wi-Fi access throughout the club’s Tynefield Park ground, including the beer garden.

Case Study: Holiday park owner receives almost £500,000 from HMRC thanks to unique VAT methodology

Cotterhill Limited operates eight Maguires Country Parks across Northumberland, County Durham and North Yorkshire, primarily offering holiday homes and residential homes across its impressive portfolio of sites. 

VAT Director Alex Nicholson made the clients aware of an opportunity to reclaim overpaid VAT thanks to a unique methodology he has devised for valuing the removable contents sold as parts of caravans and lodges.

Case Study: English Marquee Company creates foundations for its future during pandemic

The English Marquee Company has quickly established itself as a classically stylish brand and fixture in the UK Event scene over the past four years.  

The family-owned and operated events company, based in Harrogate, was founded by brother and sister duo Sam and Tor Peters in 2017 as a division of parent company BHP Associates Ltd, which liaises with tour operators throughout the UK and Europe to promote Canadian holidays.

Case Study: Outsourced bookkeeping and preparation of group management information for international company

Exus Software Limited (Exus) is a global leader in debt collection and recovery technology, with headquarters in London and operating R&D in Athens. They designed, and now implement and monitor, a unique software in the financial services sector. Exus Financial Suite (EFS) is a comprehensive suite of software applications that manages credit risk along the whole lifecycle of accounts, from the moment of disbursement until write-off or debt sale.

Case Study: Solvent liquidation - Group of companies

Background 

An existing client of Armstrong Watson was planning to sell their business and had been approached by a competitor with a significant offer for the trade and business. 

They were keen to ensure that the potential return of the capital back to members – all of which were family – was maximised and engaged the services of our Restructuring and Insolvency Team and Tax department to assist.  

Case Study: Client Focus - Ice Creates Ltd

The ICE story started in 1999 when two brothers, Stuart and Ian Jackson, and Amanda Madden united to launch a communications and design company in Merseyside. Today, 22 years later, ICE is a UK leader in behaviour change, with 62 teams across the UK, creating positive impact through research, experience design, behavioural science and communications and marketing. 

Case Study: A long term relationship pays dividends

Our clients, a farming husband and wife partnership, have been long standing accounting clients of Armstrong Watson. Over the last few years they have been reducing their farming business taking the opportunity to sell land. Two years ago our Financial Planning Consultant, together with a Tax Consultant, were introduced to advise on potential capital gains and inheritance tax issues because some of the land had development potential.

Case Study: Succession - Who do you Trust?

“In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Never a truer statement, yet trying to plan for the inevitable can seem like you are tempting fate!  Still, please do not underestimate how succession planning in the caravan park industry, as in many family businesses, can without a doubt be complicated.

In many estates, the assets of the mother and father can be released into cash and so this can be easily divided between the children.  Where only some of the next generation wish to continue in the business, estate planning can be much more complex.

Case Study: Project Varnish - Managed wind-down using administration

Armstrong Watson were instructed to assist with the closure of a double glazing business following the settlement of a dispute. The business had been assessing its options due to the nature of the dispute, and was looking at rebranding to move forward. The way forward, including its potential downsides, had been discussed with employees and sales consultants and, following this meeting, many of the self-employed sales consultants took the decision to leave the business.

Case Study: Project Diamond - Sale of business through pre-pack administration

Project Diamond was a company that dealt with IT infrastructure which had encountered some cash flow difficulties, such that the director did not want to continue with the business. However, whilst he no longer wanted to be involved with the management of the business, it was felt that there was a viable business if the historic debt could be dealt with. Accordingly, Armstrong Watson were engaged to assist the director in trying to find a sale of the business through a “pre-pack” Administration.