Martyn Jones, vice president of ICAEW, addressed around 160 financial and other business professionals at the Humberside & District Society of Chartered Accountants’ annual dinner held at Hull’s award winning visitor attraction The Deep, whose chief executive Colin Brown was the after-dinner guest.
Martyn Jones said: “I know that the economy is top of the agenda for everyone – but we need to remember that we are not in the Eurozone and there is need for commentators to avoid talking the economy down and do their bit to develop economic growth confidence and jobs.
“With this in mind, I want to talk about what ICAEW is doing to help business. And indeed help you help business, which, as chartered accountants and skilled business advisers, is what you do best.
“Throughout the country people who are trying to start up or grow business are turning to ICAEW members and in doing so creating the seeds for the growth that our economy needs. This is what one person who’s benefited from our members’ advice says: “Our Chartered Accountant has benefited the business enormously in many, many ways …and has opened our eyes up to what’s out there and what’s available.” And there are many more examples.”
He described a number of initiatives which ICAEW is introducing to help business, including BAS, the Business Advice Service launched nationally last month which offers free, impartial business advice to SMES from ICAEW members, the new Chartered Accountant campaign which aims to raise awareness of the range of skills an ICAEW Chartered Accountant can offer and also, working with UKTI, an updated guide to exports to help SMEs, “Exporting - an Accountant’s Guide” – to help business export more.
He said: “Exports are one of the bright spots in the economy. As you know our exports are currently largely aimed at Europe (around 50%) rather than the high-growth economies beyond, and that’s a balance that will need to change. Exports matter to a region such as Humberside.”
His final point was on widening access to the profession.
He said: “We have always tried to attract a wide range of people from all backgrounds to this profession. It’s part of our tradition. Our current and two past presidents all entered the profession direct from school. I myself am a product of state education and a tough part of South Wales.
“And we need to carry on attracting the most talented people wherever they’re from. It’s not just good for us - social mobility is good for economic growth.”
HDSCA President Jane Mather is pleased to add that the Dinner, which was supported by Santander and Edwards & Pearce, raised over £1600 for The Deep and Humber Rescue.
Humberside & District Society of Chartered Accountants’ Annual Dinner 2011:
HDSCA President Jane Mather with Martyn Jones