About us: testimonials
Emergent Crown may not be a household name to most of us, but the company is a major player in the world of office furniture. Across the UK, its desks, chairs and storage units can be found in thousands of offices, including medical centres and police stations.
The business can trace its history back to 1945, when metal and woodworking specialists Ernest Gill and Son began life in the village of Northowram, near Halifax. Emergent Crown itself was formed in 1988 in a collaboration between The Crown Suppliers (TCS), a government body supplying office furniture to the public sector, and Ernest Gill, to offer TCS goods and services to the private sector. Today clients include leading purchasing organisations, acting on behalf of consortia of Police Authorities, Health Authorities and Universities.
The two Halifax-based companies, which employ a total of around 80 people and have a combined turnover of several million pounds, are still family-run. That continuity also applies to their relationship with Lambert Roper & Horsfield.
Philip Gill joined Emergent Crown in 1988 and for as long as he can remember, the accountancy firm has been part of the business, dating back to the days when he recalls his father, Ronald, working with Keith Roper, father of David Roper, who deals with their affairs today.
With the day-to-day finances handled in-house, it is for expert advice and support on issues including accounts, audit and tax that Emergent Crown and Ernest Gill turn to Lambert Roper & Horsfield. Philip says: “We speak regularly, probably on a monthly basis, and there is always something to discuss or refine.
“For example, our accounting system is part of an integrated package based on manufacturing software, which also deals with issues like stock control. As a result, we can get variations that need a degree of interpretation and we will use David’s expertise to ensure that the information we have extracted is correct.”
David’s specialist knowledge is also useful in technical areas.
For example, following a substantial investment of hundreds of thousands
of pounds in a new piece of equipment, he will advise on setting cost recovery
rates for the machine as well as its depreciation and overheads rates.
Lambert Roper & Horsfield’s advice is also called on when new
business opportunities are under consideration. A few years ago, Emergent
Crown was considering the acquisition of a competitor firm and although
the company eventually decided not to proceed, David’s support was
in the process was valuable.
Philip says: “Working with Lambert Roper & Horsfield means we benefit from the personal touch. They have an in-depth knowledge of our companies and the unique set of circumstances that make us different from the next business.”
