Member Article

Thorntons Accountants celebrate 30th Anniversary

In the summer of 1984 the miner’s strike reached its peak with the Battle of Orgreave, unemployment levels in the UK topped 3.25 million – the highest since the great depression – and in a small Barnsley village, Eric Thornton opened the doors of a new accountancy practice.

Over the past thirty years, Cudworth-based Thorntons Accountants has provided financial and business advice to many Barnsley-based entrepreneurs, but during the late 1980s and 1990s the company used much of its expertise to help ex-miners use the skills they had developed in the colliery to establish successful businesses of their own.

Today, many of those fledgling businesses have gone on to become household names in their respective industries and as a result, Thorntons has grown from a business employing just one accountant in 1984 to a busy practice with ten full time members, including three partners.

Gavin Spencer, Steve Heeley and Mathew Parsons all began their careers as trainees with the firm, steadily progressing through the ranks and going on to secure senior positions in the business. Today, the company’s ethos of encouraging staff to develop and grow remains an important part of the business and Thorntons is planning further expansion by recruiting a new apprentice to the firm.

Steve Heeley, Partner at Thorntons Accountant said:

“Since 1984 there has been a dramatic transformations in the local economy . When the company was formed, few people considered self-employment as a career option, but as the mines and steelworks closed, many were able to lay the foundations of a wide variety of new businesses.

“Some of the businesses we have helped to nurture over the years have gone on to become very successful in their own right, responsible for employing hundreds of people throughout the region and we continue to represent some of the businesses that first starting using the firm when it opened its doors.

“All of our senior staff members began their careers as trainees in the firm and it would be terrific to see the apprentice we’re hoping to appoint follow a similar career path, perhaps in 30 years time they’ll be running the business!

“We have experienced many highs and a few lows over the past thirty years, and even receiving a few unusual requests along the way – a particular memorable one being when a client tried to pay our bill with a Doberman! Thirty years is a significant milestone for any business to achieve and we’re all very much looking forward to seeing what the next thirty will bring!”

Thornton Accountants provides a comprehensive range of tax advice and support to businesses and individuals throughout South Yorkshire. The company provides a free initial consultation for anyone looking for help and advice in managing their financial affairs. To book an appointment tel: 01226 716793 or email info@thorntonsaccountants.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Thorntons Accountants .