Accountancy firm calculates bright future at The Hub

4 October 2016

Stephen and Julie Relf of Applause Accountancy who have moved their business from home to The Hub in Washington

Established North East accountancy firm, Applause Accountancy Services Limited has relocated its business to The Hub in Washington to support its growth plans.

The family business is run by husband and wife Stephen and Julie Relf who have been operating from their home in Birtley for the past nine years but now felt it was the right time to move in order to help them expand.

The Chartered Accountancy firm, which helps small to medium sized businesses with their accounting and taxation enquiries, works with clients nationally as far as London and Scotland. They have seen a steady growth in clients particularly over the last two years and employed their first member of staff, Charlotte Lilley in June this year.

Director Julie, 38 said, “The business has grown considerably over the last couple of years and we recently took on a new member of staff so we needed to find office accommodation that was still close to home but offered us the flexibility to grow.

“We visited The Hub which is just along the road from where we live and it was ideal. It’s a four-person office located less than one minute from the A1 and offers fee car parking which is ideal for clients visiting. The Hub is also part of the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) in Sunderland so we know we have access to additional business support should we require it in future.”

Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Advisor, Stephen, 41 commented: “The business is at a stage where we felt it was the right time to move. We are taking on more clients and brought Charlotte in to help us with general day to day book-keeping and admin. We have plans to employ more staff in future and The Hub gives us the potential to achieve that.”

Jillian Coleman, Centre Manager at The Hub said, “We receive a lot of enquiries from small businesses similar to Applause Accountancy Services who are operating from home but are at a stage where they need to grow their business and require larger premises.

“Rather than taking on a huge asset like an office, we can provide flexible managed office space allowing businesses to grow but without the headache of additional costs and hidden charges. We already have a waiting list and when this office became available, it was ideal for Julie and Stephen to move straight in. All monthly rental fees include gas, water, electricity, free car parking, air conditioning and access to communal facilities such as a kitchen, meeting rooms and breakout areas.”

The Hub is situated in three acres of development land, spread over two floors and consists of 17 modern, air-conditioned offices with a provision for meeting space, conference facilities as well as help and advice to start up and established businesses.

Located less than two minutes’ drive from the A1 and A19, the centre provides businesses with road access to major regional towns and cities including Gateshead and Newcastle in the North to Durham, Darlington, Newton Aycliffe and further afield in the south. Offices at The Hub range from 150sq.ft. to 1,000sq.ft.