About us: testimonials

Wetherby Building Systems Limited

A decade after Wetherby Building Systems started life, the Warrington-based business is going from strength to strength. The same is also true of the company’s relationship with Lambert Roper & Horsfield.

Launched in 1998 by a team of business partners with vast experience in the trade, Wetherby specialises in manufacturing and distributing a wide range of external renders for new build and refurbishment construction projects. With climate change putting energy efficiency into sharp focus, its insulated renders are particularly popular with clients ranging from large private developers to local authorities seeking environmentally-sustainable building solutions.

As for any business, carving out a niche in a competitive marketplace can be challenging at times. Lambert Roper & Horsfield have shared Wetherby’s journey to success from the start, following a recommendation of the firm to Wetherby by a professional contact, and that’s something director Steve Smith appreciates.

He said: “We are approached by accountants all the time, offering us quotes for their services, but we’re not interested. Lambert Roper & Horsfield understand our business and understand what we’ve been through, including the trials and tribulations.

“They understand our market too and the way that it fluctuates – after all, any accountant would understand that if you made Christmas trees, you’d be busy in November and December, but our business is a bit more complex than that.”

Steve looks after the day-to-day bookkeeping and finance for the company, which has grown to a workforce of 40, with Lambert Roper & Horsfield’s Nick Frost and his team providing specialist support.

That includes supplying management accounts and dealing with wide-ranging tax matters, from corporation tax and personal tax for some of the directors to benefits and expenses returns and VAT. The firm also assists with forecasting and cash flow projections and carries out Wetherby’s annual audit.

Steve values the confidence of being able to call on Nick’s advice when specialist advice is needed – “It’s ideal knowing he’s there, as and when we need him,” he says – which is complemented by Lambert Roper & Horsfield’s proactive approach.

He cites an example from three or four years ago, when Wetherby’s directors were growing increasingly unhappy with the approach of their existing bank. Steve says: “Our bank just wasn’t interested but Nick could see where our business was going and introduced us to Lambert Roper & Horsfield’s own bank and relationship manager, whose forward-thinking approach is perfect for us. That has worked very successfully.”

Wetherby also reaped the financial rewards of a referral by Nick to a tax specialist when they moved premises around a year ago, who was able to secure them a tax rebate on fixed assets running into several thousands of pounds.

Steve sums up: “We appreciate the fact that Lambert Roper & Horsfield go a bit further than just looking at the numbers. They do what they’re good at – and that helps us to do what we’re good at.”

To find out more about how we can help you, please contact LRH accountants in Halifax.