Member Article

Wealth of experience on offer at Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest 2011 takes place on Wednesday, October 19th– and with a wealth of advice and support on offer to attendees, promises to be the best yet.

The showcase event, now in its fourth year, gives businesses from the manufacturing and engineering sectors the perfect platform to promote their diverse range of skills. However, a number of professional service organisations have also signed up to highlight the ways in which they can offer business assistance to attendees.

Chartered Accountants Harlands are one of the 90 plus exhibitors taking part. Boasting 30 years in business and recent winners of the Independent Accountancy Award, Harlands bring a wealth of financial knowledge to the event. Exhibiting at Oktoberfest for the first time they are using the event to promote three key financial areas namely, tangible financial savings through Tax mitigation advice and advising on research and development (R&D) tax relief claims; improving the efficiency and effectiveness of existing financial systems as well as sharing their years of financial knowledge and experience.

Philip Murray, Customer Services Director, Harlands, said; “Not only are we exhibiting at Oktoberfest but a number of our clients are also taking part, Datawright, Tyne Valley Plastics and BLS Electronics. This means that we can direct new contacts on to our clients who can talk to them firsthand about how our services have helped their business.”

One such company is BLS Electronics. Fran Williams, Managing Director of BLS Electronics said “We have worked with Harlands for a number of years and during that time they have supported us in a number of financial areas. Our processes have been streamlined and Harlands produce timely and accurate information which has aided us in being able to spot strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in our business.”

“We are looking forward to promoting our transformer design and manufacture services which are suitable for a wide variety of purposes, at the event and also working alongside Harlands as prime examples of networking and inter-trading at its best. We are proud of our heritage as North East manufacturers having traded for 38 years and think Oktoberfest provides a fantastic platform to showcase the North East Manufacturing industry.”

Another exhibitor and client Gill Rice, Managing Director, Tyne Valley Plastics said; “After working with Harlands, who we regard as part of our team, we have a mentor who understands our business and is there to celebrate the successes as well as provide support during the challenges.”

“We are looking forward to showcasing our services and capabilities to prospective customers at Oktoberfest as well as meeting existing clients who might be attending.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about how to get involved in Oktoberfest should contact Engineering Clusters County Durham on 01207 585 816, email info@durhamoktoberfest.org.uk or visit the website at www.durhamoktoberfest.org.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lorraine Schapira .