BTG Tax acquires VAT consultancy

Birmingham-based BTG Tax, part of the Begbies Traynor Group, has acquired a VAT consultancy in Bristol as it looks to expand its operations across Britain.

It has bought the Chesham Consultancy, adding a fourth UK office to those in Birmingham, London and Manchester.

It is currently looking to Scotland and the North-east for further opportunities.

“Despite all the financial gloom we are bucking the trend and taking people on,” said Andrew Shaw, national tax managing partner.

Chesham Consultancy is a sole trader business run by Mark Chesham, but the aim is to build it up into a fully-fledged centre.

Chesham was launched in 2005 and specialises in financial services and the insurance sector.

BTG Tax, based in Edgbaston, Birmingham, is the former Shaws tax advisory firm, which was acquired by the group earlier this year.

The group in Birmingham has 14 people in corporate recovery, four in corporate finance and around 50 in tax.

Mr Shaw said: “We are certainly planning to grow our new office in Bristol, where Mark will work with our existing corporate recovery team.

“His invaluable expertise in VAT issues will further strengthen the wide range of services the firm offers.”

Mr Chesham said: “I had been looking for a way of expanding and developing the business. Now we can take it forward.”

His previous jobs have included working for HM Customs & Excise, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

BTG Tax also has offices in Nicosia, Cyprus, and in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.