• Swindon & Wiltshire Awards
• Friday November 15 2024
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Charlton Baker scoops small business title at Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards

South West accountancy firm Charlton Baker has been named Small Business of the Year at the prestigious Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards.

Hosted by Woman’s Hour presenter Anita Rani and attended by 1,000 business leaders, the glittering awards ceremony at London’s Grosvenor Hotel was the cherry on the cake for the Devizes-headquartered firm’s 2024, which has seen it on the acquisition trail.

The firm’s team has doubled in size – up from 45 to nearly 90 this past 12 months – with turnover rapidly increasing, up from £2.64 million in March 2024 to an expected £6 million in March 2025.

The firm saw off competition from nine other finalists to win their category on Tuesday, November 12.

In June, the firm secured a long-term partnership with alternative finance provider ThinCats. With financing in place, Charlton Baker acquired Melksham-based A&N Accountants, Trowbridge-based Innervision Accountants in June, before expanding into Bristol with the acquisition of Elliott Bunker Chartered Accountants, and Tyler Redmore Accountants, and the recent acquisition of Inca Accountants in Wantage.

With hundreds of award applications across all the categories, and despite a very strong set of finalists in the Small Business of the Year category, Charlton Baker “absolutely smashed it and thoroughly deserved the win” according to the judges.

Managing director Scott Sartin (pictured centre), who joined the 40-year-old company in 1996, said: “Being crowned the winner of the Best Small Business category is an absolute honour and is testament to what we have created.

“We set a vision for ourselves in 2016 and that was to be recognised as a firm that has helped to change the face of accountancy.

“Being told by highly respected business leaders that we have created the best small business in the UK is the best recognition we can get and the pinnacle of our achievements so far.

“It makes us even more ambitious to continue making Charlton Baker uniquely brilliant and the best place to be for our team and clients.”

COO Victoria Greenard added: “It’s an amazing achievement to win such a prestigious national award. Everyone across the firm works so hard, so this a very proud moment for us all.

“To be in such great company at the awards ceremony, listening and chatting to so many inspiring people and business leaders, was a great indicator of the mindset, passion and determination of British Business.”

With offices in Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Bath, Bristol, Charlton Baker provides a range of services including accounting, audit and business tax; bookkeeping and payroll; business and tax advisory; personal tax; wealth, wills and probate; and crypto tax.

It has also recently added ESG and Sustainability Advisory and Reporting to its list of services.

Tom Vaughton and Vicky Walker of Varn

… and a Highly Commended accolade for Varn

Meanwhile, digital agency Varn came second in the same category, with a Highly Commended accolade.

Based in Bradford on Avon, the company has scaled from a small team to a network of 28 professionals offering SEO and digital marketing expertise.

The company’s commitment to planting trees and offsetting its carbon footprint resulted in the creation of its ‘woodland office’ which promotes employee wellbeing and is used as a venue for the firm’s VarnFest business events.

CEO Tom Vaughton said: “Being recognised in The Small Business of the Year category at the Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards 2024, is a proud moment for me and the team.

“The process of compiling our award entry, made me reflect on the last few years, how Varn has grown, how fortunate we are with our team and how much I’m personally enjoying the journey.

“I now realise, this is really quite something after running Varn for over 14 years.”