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Business funding: Finance options and advice for business investment or debt

Client Testimonials

​​James Cropper creates some of the world’s most distinctive and technically advanced paper products, using materials from cotton and wood to carbon fibre. We support industries from packaging to inkjet media and aerospace with products that are at the cutting edge of performance.

  • Specialist paper and nonwoven materials group with a turnover of £88M.
  • ​6th generation family business started in 1845.
  • The Group operates through: James Cropper Paper Products, James Cropper 3D Products, and Technical Fibre Products.
  • Over 540 Employees worldwide
  • Exporting to over 50 countries
  • Experts in low volume manufacture of deep coloured papers and boards
  • Creators of sustainable moulded paper packaging, a true alternative to plastic
  • Innovative manufacturer of high performance nonwoven advanced materials

Armstrong Watson have a visible presence in the R&D tax scene in the North West, close to James Cropper’s head office. Our Company benefits from informative newsletters, articles in magazines, and talks at networking events. It is easy to approach Armstrong Watson and sound out ideas and useful to explore ways in which we could benefit from the changing opportunities on the tax landscape. Armstrong Watson’s key strengths come from their expertise and administrative support in claiming for R&D.  

Our Engineers, Technical Teams, Project Managers, Research Scientists, Laboratory Assistants and Operation Managers focus on the business and routes to drive growth and profitability. Armstrong Watson provide administrative support, subject matter expertise and credibility to our claims. For Armstrong Watson do this successfully they have to understand our business, and optimise what we can simply claim, providing the clarity and confidence with minimum disruption to the business. Armstrong Watson is a natural choice for James Cropper.

Isabelle Maddock, Group Finance Director, James Cropper PLC

We moved to Armstrong Watson due to their specific legal sector expertise and knowledge.  We have been very pleased with the quality and efficiency of the accountancy, tax and financial advisory services provided by Andy Poole, Graham Poles and the rest of the AW team.  We value the fact they truly understand our business and the legal sector as this enables them to provide us with pro-active valued added advice and suggestions to make our business and strategic business planning even better.

Carl Newton, Managing Partner, Myerson

Armstrong Watson have looked after our payroll for a few years now and have been an absolute pleasure to work with.  The service is prompt and efficient, there's always someone available to answer any questions and it's great to know that they're looking after everything.  We wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.

Aimee Scaife, Aftersales Manager, David Hayton

David, our VAT consultant was invaluable in helping us prepare for a VAT inspection. He checked all of our records with care and advised appropriately and answered queries with the VAT inspector on our behalf, saving me time and effort. 

Emma Arnold, Financial Controller, Leeds Business Improvement District

I would like to thank the Yorkshire Corporate Finance Team at Armstrong Watson for assisting me in the sale of my business. They identified an appropriate buyer and negotiated a deal to meet my objectives for an exit with continued involvement for a certain period. Throughout the sale process they were always available to provide straight talking advice and took much of the strain out of what, at times, could have been a stressful process allowing me to continue to focus on the running of my fine wine business and ultimately securing me a successful outcome.

Mr Simon M Wrightson, Richmond Fine Wine

We engaged the Armstrong Watson legal sector team to provide outsourced FD services and to assist us through a period of transition following the departure of our previous in-house FD.  Their knowledge of the issues and bespoke recommendations have helped to refocus our management thought process and implementation of our strategy.  Armstrong Watson has refreshed the output of our accounting function and that has allowed our management team to focus attention where necessary. We use their user friendly KPI focused management information and this allows for a joined up approach with our strategy and informed management decisions.  All in all, we are delighted with our decision to outsource our FD function and wish that we had done it long before.

Peter Stafford, Managing Director & Head of Business Services, Cartmell Shepherd

Grant Smith from Armstrong Watson took over our Accounts last year and has been like a breath of fresh air. It’s easy as a business owner to get bogged down by the daily grind of running the business and sometimes you need to look to the bigger picture. I’ve found Grant to be invaluable in this sense. He is both insightful and practical and is a great asset to our continued growth.

Greg Kelly, Business Owner, Ultimate Security & Investigations Ltd

It was in February 2015 that I made the decision to sell my business. I spoke to my accountant at Armstrong Watson who informed me that they had a department who dealt with the sale of businesses.

I met with Alison and Catherine and a portfolio was put together describing my business.

My biggest concern was that my competitors and those that commissioned services would find out that I was selling. Alison and Catherine assured me that everything was done confidentially and the name of my business would not be released until it was absolutely necessary.

True to their word nobody found out about the sale of my business until it was signed sealed and delivered.

There are times when I would have given up if it was not for the support of Alison and Catherine. They dealt with the purchaser making it as easy a process as is possible. If ever I should have another business to sell I would certainly use them again and recommend them to anyone wishing to sell their business.

Jane Bowler, Owner, JB Skillcare Ltd

Discussing matters of succession planning with family members is a challenging but necessary process if you wish to try and minimise inheritance tax. In recent years, with the help of Helen Thornley and the rest of the team at Armstrong Watson, we have been able to take proactive steps to manage our family’s affairs to the point where we are now confident about the future.

Charles Lowther, Owner, Askham Hall

“I approached Nigel after having read an article he had written in Taxation magazine concerning EBTs. He helped me through the process of dealing with my tax enquiry with HMRC and I am very grateful for his guidance and support, and delighted with the result.”

Mr V O’Kelly

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Armstrong Watson LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales, number OC415608. The registered office is James Watson House, Montgomery Way, Rosehill, Carlisle, CA1 2UU where a list of members is kept. Armstrong Watson LLP is regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for a range of investment business activities. Unless otherwise indicated, either expressly or by the context, we use the word “partner” to describe a member of Armstrong Watson LLP or an employee of Armstrong Watson LLP in their capacity as such.

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Armstrong Watson Financial Planning Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Firm reference number 542122. Registered as a limited company in England and Wales, number 7208672. The registered office is James Watson House, Montgomery Way, Rosehill, Carlisle, CA1 2UU. Armstrong Watson Financial Planning & Wealth Management is a trading style of Armstrong Watson Financial Planning Limited. Armstrong Watson Trustees Limited is a limited company registered in England and Wales, number 84495656. The registered office is James Watson House, Montgomery Way, Rosehill, Carlisle, CA1 2UU.

MyRetirement is a trading style of Armstrong Watson Financial Planning Limited.

Armstrong Watson is a trading style of Armstrong Watson LLP, Armstrong Watson Audit Limited and Armstrong Watson Financial Planning Limited.