Accountants defy slump and expand

Garbutt & Elliott, which launched its Leeds office from scratch in 1990, increased fee income by 15 per cent in 2009 and has almost doubled its office space.

The firm has marked its 20th anniversary in Leeds by leasing and refurbishing an extra 1,800 sq ft ground floor at its offices at Stable Court, Roundhay.

Director Richard Green, who has helped to grow the Leeds office from when it opened with four staff, said: "The recession has made businesses focus on value for money. We aim to grow Garbutt & Elliott's West Yorkshire presence and our investment in additional space is a commitment to the market place for the next 10 years.

"The first time we opened in Leeds it was during a recession and the decision to invest and expand this time was taken in similar circumstances. It was certainly a good move for us, and our clients, in 1990, and we hope that this will be the case once again."

Garbutt & Elliott, which was founded in York more than a century ago, opened its first Leeds office near York Road and moved to the first floor at Stable Court in 1998. The Leeds office now supports a range of businesses throughout West Yorkshire and the UK.

A team of more than 20 accountants and support staff are based at the Leeds office along with two other directors, Richard Feltham and Nigel Shaw. The office provides a range of services including audit and advisory, corporate finance, private client, tax, property services, forensic accounting, business advisory, VAT and wealth management.

Garbutt & Elliott's Leeds office is marking its 20th anniversary and office expansion with a series of client open evenings on April 20, 21 and 22.