Your Voice

The latest Your Voice feature, giving LBV members a platform for their views on the current business landscape in Leicester.

Founded 170 years ago, Hawsons Chartered Accountants are a medium size accountancy firm with offices based in Northampton, Sheffield and Doncaster covering the Midlands and a wider global presence. The Hawsons team reflect their core values, with each value leading to growth, a key part of why they do what they do. David Cairns, Senior Tax Partner has extensive knowledge and experience with a wide skillset making him a senior tax specialist.

How would you describe what your business does?
Hawsons provides a premium partner-led service to our clients, offering accountancy, audit, tax, payroll and corporate finance services. Our team have specialist areas that allow us to support clients from a variety of sectors, and with their vast experience they can help you achieve your financial goals both locally and internationally.

What are the biggest opportunities for your business?
As a member of HLB International, a global network of accounting and advisory firms, we are able to provide specialist tax advice to clients across the globe. We have clients as close as London and as far reaching as California, Dubai and Australia for example. HLB gives us the opportunity to work with fellow member firms and provide country-specific strategic business and taxation advice supporting clients on their international ventures.

What are the biggest challenges for your business?
The biggest challenge we are facing in the financial sector is resource, as a growing business we are finding recruiting candidates to join our team difficult. It is vital that we keep searching to grow our team alongside our increasing client base.

What would you identify as the key strengths of Leicester and Leicestershire?
Leicester has a well-connected and supportive business community; the network is always open to make new professional connections locally as well as opening doors to a wider region and globally. Leicester is well located with central transport systems such as by car, rail and air. Overall, Leicester is a great place to build friendly connections.

What are the top three ways in which Leicester and Leicestershire can develop to support the business community?

1. By promoting the city for its business community to wider areas, by shouting more about what goes on amongst the Leicester business leaders.
2. For businesses to share expertise amongst each other with an urge to create a developed collaborative network.
3. Focusing on the next generation of business, their skills and development to not only maintain but grow the future of Leicestershire business.

Why is LBV important to you and your business?
I have long been involved in the Leicester business community, since starting work a long time ago with Newby Castleman and KPMG. LBV is important to maintaining my network and meeting new like-minded individuals. Living in Oadby, I have a personal outlook on the city and I am a keen supporter of both Leicester Tigers and LCFC as a season ticket holder. Not only does Leicester have a great business culture, but a personal one too. Being part of LBV is important to growing our firm’s profile in the area.