News Archives

Tees meets criteria for Customer Service Excellence once again

Posted on 15 November 202329 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Tees has once again been re-certified and named as meeting the criteria for Customer Service Excellence (CSE) by the Centre for Assessment (CfA), on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

The assessment report provided to Tees this month (November 2023), pinpoints key strengths as ‘an organisation which very clearly understands the critical role that customer service plays in enabling it to meet its strategic objectives.’ Tees is visited annually by representatives of the CfA to review our practices and this year it has been revealed that we have an extremely good record of resolving the very few complaints that we do receive.

The report also recognises the significant work that goes into us re-achieving this status time and time again. It is clear with our growth strategy ahead of 2028, that we are determined to ensure our client journey is as friendly, easy and hassle-free as possible. We continually reinforce the message that clients are at the heart of everything we do and have worked hard to adapt processes to meet requirements to cater for our clients such as disability, deafness, illiteracy and mental health issues.

Customer Service Excellence is a national quality mark that seeks to recognise organisations that have a truly customer-focused culture and to promote continuous improvement. Certification to the Customer Service Excellence standard is achieved through a rigorous assessment process and an on-site visit to establish whether an organisation meets the scheme’s requirements.

Group Managing Director, Ashton Hunt, said:

“It’s wonderful to be re-certified for Customer Service Excellence again this year. It recognises the hard work of all our colleagues here at Tees to ensure we hit the criteria needed, but ultimately, it’s all about our mantra of depth being in all we do. We are committed to ensuring that all of our clients feel valued and supported by our knowledgeable and highly experienced solicitors and advisers and so it is a real honour to once again be recognised for our efforts.”

The new report states that it ‘was clear from the assessment process that, despite continual change, and ever-increasing competition within the legal profession, Stanley Tee LLP, comfortably re-achieved the high standards necessary to be accredited against the Customer Service Excellence Standard.’

Tees new Senior Wealth Planner now settled and seeing clients

Posted on 14 November 202329 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Tees Financial Ltd has recently welcomed Senior Wealth Planner David Blackman, a role with a key focus on working with the farming community – a first for the firm.

Tees has a long history of working with farming families, going back 100 years, but before now, we’ve not had a senior financial adviser on board who specialises in this area.

With over 32 years of experience in financial services, David is passionate about helping all clients through life events, with a real interest in planning tax efficiency for agricultural businesses and owners. Tees’ financial advisers work with clients to help them pass on their farm and land assets to the next generation in a well-planned and tax-efficient way. This includes taking advantage of Inheritance Tax reliefs (IHT), Business Property Relief (BPR) and Agricultural Property Relief (APR).

Part of David’s role is to help farming businesses make any necessary adjustments in investment activities and to encourage the use of Trusts and other ownership structures to ensure assets can be passed on tax-efficiently.

David is looking forward to advising more clients and said “It’s important that farming families think about putting appropriate plans in place. It can all be confusing with so many options out there, so I’m here to make sense of it all for our clients and advise on the best ways to protect assets and plan for the future. This includes help on pension and retirements too.”

David has a breadth of experience in providing finance advice to the rural community and has joined Tees after previously working for NFU Mutual – a Farmers’ Union insurance composite, so he fully understands the needs and complexities involved in agricultural land ownership and business. As a Chartered Financial Planner and a Chartered Associate of the London Institute of Banking and Finance, David is also able to advise on protecting family wealth and ensuring financial stability in the future.

“I am passionate about helping clients to achieve their goals and it’s so important to me to grow relationships with my clients by regularly reviewing financial plans, instead of just being very transactional. That’s what I love about the job.”

Our specialist financial advisers are based in several sites including Essex, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, but can help anyone in the UK.

If you would like to find out more about our services or speak to David directly, call our team on 080o 015 1165.

Tees Financial Academy marks 2nd year with 2 new starters

Posted on 14 November 202329 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Last year, Tees Financial launched a new adviser academy, with an aspiration to train Financial Advisers who are new to the industry. Last August the team welcomed its very first two participants and now, a year on, we welcome two additional staff members.

The Academy is structured around a two-year apprenticeship programme which combines studying for the CII’s Diploma in Financial Advice, as well as hands on experience as a financial adviser.

New starters Ben Parkhurst and Megan Johns will be studying for their Level 4 Financial Adviser exams at the same time as shadowing the firm’s highly experienced financial advisers. The programme promises to provide Academy members with key objectives to take away from every stage and gives experience across the whole firm.

James Appleby, Managing Director of Tees Financial Ltd, said: “We’re really excited to be welcoming two additional participants to our Academy and are so proud to continue on our promise to harness and invest in the future of up-and-coming talent for financial advice.”

Ben Parkhurst from Chelmsford didn’t have a financial background before joining the Academy but did have friends who were in the industry and who had told him he could be a great fit. He originally planned on pursuing a career in engineering, “I completed an apprenticeship to become a mechanic before I came to Tees. I thought I wanted to go further in engineering, but then I changed direction and went into logistics. It was here that I realised I love client work, problem solving and talking to people.”

Ben came across Tees this summer and decided to apply for the Academy once he saw the volunteering and charity work the company get involved in, because it aligned with his personal ambitions. He plans on studying further to Level 6 once he has completed his Level 4 exams.

Another of our latest recruits Megan Johns who hails from the Bishop’s Stortford area, where the Tees headquarters are based, joined in August this year and has already completed her first exam on the Level 4 course. “At first it felt daunting to study and work at the same time, but I’m actually really enjoying it and have found it easier in a way because I get real experience in the office alongside one study day a week.”

Megan joined Tees originally as an admin adviser and although she liked the job, she became interested in The Academy at Tees Financial Ltd, once she learnt you don’t need any particular A Levels to be accepted and do well in the role. She said “I’m from the local area so I always knew about Tees but didn’t necessarily know too much about the financial side of the business until I joined. It really interests me, and I hope to progress to become a long-term member of the team once I pass all my exams!”

The Level 4 programme consists of six exams split across two years at the end of which, along with the practical work shadowing experienced advisers in the office, provides Academy members with the qualifications, knowledge and experience to take up a role as a financial adviser at the end of the term. There is also an option to continue studying to become a chartered adviser. The opportunity is open to anyone who in the words of Megan, is “hard working, willing to learn and a people person.”

The exams cover off topics such as financial services, regulation and ethics, investment principles and risk, personal taxation and financial planning in practice. The last exam comprises a written essay style format.

Last August, Tees welcomed Percy Sam – an Industrial Design graduate and Guy Pearson, who previously studied Exercise, Nutrition and Health at Nottingham Trent University.

The Academy has been a change in direction for Guy who previously trained as a personal trainer before the global pandemic. He recalls, “I joined a large advisory firm after leaving personal training, but felt I lacked support and the tools I needed to study for my Financial Adviser exams, but at Tees I have been able to get on-the-job experience as well as lots of time to learn from experienced team members.”

Both Percy and Guy are just a year away from becoming fully qualified and are advocates for others joining the Academy. Percy admitted, “The Academy wasn’t even on my radar, and I knew nothing about financial advising before joining Tees!”

“The Academy at Tees Financial Ltd offers an opportunity to become a qualified Financial Adviser in two years,” says James Appleby. “We’re looking for candidates with the right attitude and aptitude, regardless of past experience.”

The Academy at Tees Financial Ltd is committed to the rolling programme and aims to continue to recruit up to two new recruits each year. This forms part of Tees Financial Ltd’s longer-term growth strategy.

If you would like to find out more about our services or speak to a Tees financial adviser directly, call our team on 0808 159 7432, or fill out our enquiry form and we’ll be in touch.

Tees is a trading name of Tees Financial Limited which is regulated and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered number 211314. Tees Financial Limited is registered in England and Wales. Registered number 4342506.

Tees demonstrates support for Essex and Cambridgeshire businesses with the appointment of two new Commercial partners

Posted on 13 October 202329 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Leading law firm Tees has demonstrated its commitment to increasing its ability to provide a wider range of pragmatic legal advice to more businesses in the region with the appointments of Claire Powell, a partner in Company and Commercial based in Chelmsford and Brentwood and Sarah Coates as Partner and Head of Commercial Property based in Cambridge and providing support across the region. Both have more than 20 years of experience and joined Tees in September.

Claire is a Corporate and Commercial expert, working on acquisitions and disposals, restructuring, mergers and demergers, joint ventures and all types of commercial contracts. She was previously a partner in the firm of Thompson Smith and Puxon and thrives when working with businesses that need sensible, pragmatic and decisive advice. She also specialises in advising GP practices, care homes and dentists.

Sarah has expertise in residential development and development finance work, as well as in assisting educational establishments and companies in the tech/life science sphere with their wide-ranging property needs. Sarah also has a passion for supporting charitable and social enterprise initiatives in Cambridge, most notably acting as Chair of Trustees for the Cambridge Cyrenians, a charity supporting those at risk of homelessness in and around Cambridge. She has practised in Cambridge for 17 years and previously worked for International law firm Penningtons Manches Cooper.

Commenting on her appointment, Claire said: “I’m delighted to join this leading regional law firm and be part of Tees’ ambitious plans to reshape the legal landscape for Essex businesses. Essex is thriving with a multitude of successful businesses serving London and the world but for too long the provision of legal services has been lacking. Tees is committed to changing that and leading the way in doing business responsibly.”

Catherine Mowat, Senior Partner, stressed the significance of these new appointments: “We are delighted to welcome Claire and Sarah into the Tees’ partnership. We have identified that businesses in Essex are underserved by the current legal offering. By appointing two senior and experienced specialists, we are growing our Commercial teams and expanding our offering in line with our 2028 Strategic Growth Plan. Our aim is to better serve the local business communities in all the areas we work and these appointments will help us do just that.”

Tees Law now boasts six Top Tier practice areas in Legal 500

Posted on 6 October 202329 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Tees Law enjoyed widespread success in this year’s Legal 500 directory, adding Private Client – Personal tax, trusts and probate in Essex to the highest Top Tier ranking.

Ian Johnston, Partner and lead of the Private Client team in Tees’ Essex based offices of Chelmsford, Brentwood and Saffron Walden, moved up the rankings becoming a Next Generation Partner. One client commented, “Ian Johnston is a fine example of the ability of the firm to deliver the human approach to what can be very serious discussions.”

The Personal tax, trusts and probate team is described as having an “outstanding reputation for quality” and as being “consummately professional, and yet provide a service which feels warm, friendly and personal. All considerations are covered and delivered in an understandable yet thorough manner.”

In total, 27 different Tees Law practice areas were ranked in the latest update of the world’s leading directory of Law Firms.

Tees Law was delighted to see a total of 8 Leading Individuals, 5 Next Generation Partners and 7 Rising Stars. A staggering 46 of the firm’s solicitors have been listed as Recommended Lawyers with an increase of 16 this year.

Tees Law is a major regional law firm with offices in Bishop’s Stortford, Cambridge, Royston, Saffron Walden, Brentwood and Chelmsford. As part of the local community for over a century, Tees Law has supported clients from generation to generation.

The recurring theme throughout the client testimonials published this year highlights the firm’s focus on the client’s needs. An Essex Commercial Property client stated, “The team are great to work with. They all put each case in such high regard. All members of the team are professional and hold your best interest as a client highly.”

Another client praised “A first class firm with many talented individuals. Their client focus, commerciality and friendliness has been outstanding.”

Group Managing Director at Tees Law, Ashton Hunt, commented: “Once again the success and dedication of our teams and individuals shines through in the Legal 500 rankings. I am delighted to see so many practice areas receiving accolades and to have increased our number of Tier 1 rankings. At Tees, we always strive to be renowned experts and provide personal and commercially tailored advice to our clients.”

Catherine Mowat, Senior Partner at Tees Law, who was this year named in the Hall of Fame, added: “This year’s results highlight the diligence and commitment of our highly skilled teams. It is an honour to be named in the Hall of Fame and I would like to thank all of our clients and referrers for their wonderful feedback.”

Tees Better Future Fund grant award to Sports Connections Foundation (SCF)

Posted on 31 August 202329 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

In 2023, our Tees Better Future Fund granted Sports Connections Foundation (SCF) £5,000 to help fund their project, which supports the good health & well-being of children and young people through sport and physical activity.

SCF embarked on an ambitious summer sports programme for primary school-aged children. Using Great Berry Primary School in Basildon as a base, SCF organised multiple sports sessions (involving hundreds of children), with an emphasis on football. This was delivered by former professional footballer and manager, Paul Brush. SCF’s unique sporting offer is to work with a variety of professional athletes to develop young sporting leaders in communities. SCF recognises that many families are unable to send their children to sports camps during the summer, but initiatives such as ‘Inspire Through Sport’ make this possible.

Amongst other activities, SCF delivered their infamous ‘Pro Kick Challenge’ for the whole school. To complete the challenge, the children attended a session where SCF founder and former professional footballer, Junior McDougald, spoke about the importance of community and supporting each other and children across the world. The children then had lots of fun taking penalty kicks in the inflatable goals, where their shot speed was recorded. The cheers from the children in the school hall were deafening – even the teachers joined in, much to the amusement and joy of the children!

The project promoted children participating in healthy activities and having fun, whilst also helping them to learn the importance of supporting each other and the community around them. The project also improved the children’s confidence and self-esteem, whilst helping them to develop invaluable leadership skills and build their resilience. The children enjoyed being taught by inspirational, famous sportspeople who are highly qualified in their field. One of the project’s main values and aims is total inclusivity, and observers at the school told SCF that children who didn’t normally take an interest in sports thoroughly enjoyed being involved in the project.

Charlie Neal, a member of the Tees Community Involvement Development Board, attended one of the ‘Inspire Through Sport’ sessions and said, ‘It was an honour to see first-hand just how amazing the work is that SCF carries out in our local communities and how valuable it is for the children involved. Led by Paul Brush, the sports camp provided a fun, yet educational platform for the children to develop both their footballing and communication skills further. We are proud to have supported such a crucial project through the Better Future Fund and we look forward to backing similar initiatives that help our local communities in the future.’

Junior McDougald, Founder of Sports Connections Foundation said, ‘We are very grateful to the ‘Tees better Future Fund’, it enabled us to deliver fantastic sporting and educational outcomes for hundreds of children in Basildon. As a children’s charity, we utilise professional sportspeople and young community ambassadors to help inspire the next set of sporting leaders in the community. It was amazing to see so many happy children at our summer camp at Great Berry Primary School this year.’

Damien Pye, Great Berry Headteacher said ‘SCF have delivered the pro kick challenge to over 420 children from 4 years to 11 in the Tees Better Future Fund project, it didn’t matter whether they were into sports they all had a great time. I could hear the loud cheering and them supporting each other from my office all day. It’s a brilliant inclusive activity that teaches the children so many important life values using sport as an inspirational tool.’

A great Berry Pupil said, ‘I loved taking part in the pro kick challenge, it was great fun, It also taught us about supporting each other and what we can do for other children in poorer places around the world’.

Sports Connections Foundation is a charity, that uses the positive power of sport to engage, motivate, and inspire children & young people who are disadvantaged, hard to reach or at risk.’

Sports Connection Foundation’s current programmes are:

Inspire Through Sport – provides sport-inspired youth work and sports camps, coaching and mentoring for children and young people
ProKick Schools Challenge – provides primary schools with an inspirational football-related sponsored activity
Inspire Through Sport International – provides funding and vital educational resources to an impoverished orphanage and a nursery in Burkina Faso, Africa
Sporting Wishes – special sporting memories visiting flagship sporting events for children with life-limiting conditions.

Tees Better Future Fund grant awarded to Essex charity, Action For Family Carers

Posted on 7 June 202329 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Tees Better Future Fund is very pleased to announce that Action for Family Carers in Essex is one of the three community projects to receive a Tees Better Future Fund grant in the latest funding round.

Action for Family Carers is an Essex charity, which for over 30 years has been providing information and support to carers who have unpaid, caring responsibilities for others.

Their mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of carers including young carers. Action for Family Carers does this by offering an array of different activities and support groups across Essex such as:

young carer club nights and support in schools
young adult carer transition support when moving to further/higher education or employment
counselling for carers
day care and Activity Groups for vulnerable older people and people with dementia and memory loss
whole family support
targeted support such as GP liaison.

These programmes have helped over 1000 families and that number continues to grow every day.

The grant funding will go towards a new club, to support young carers in the Chelmsford area. They will support young carers across Essex by providing practical and emotional support as well as respite care. This club will allow young carers to spend time with their peers, take part in arts and crafts, get a healthy snack, and provide them with the opportunity, to unwind and enjoy themselves away from their caring responsibilities.

Chris Vince, Young Carers Service manager for Action for Family Carers, said :

“The support we get from local charities like the Tees Better Future Fund is essential to allow us to do the work we do, supporting young carers across Essex and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for such a generous donation.

Young carers provide such a vital role in supporting family members in need and we want to do everything we can to support them and ensure they are successful in their lives.”

Daniel Bowen relationship management leader of the Tees Better Future Fund said:

“It’s a privilege for Tees to work alongside local charities, like Action for Family Carers, who provide respite and support to young carers who look after others within our community. There are approximately 10,000 young carers in Essex and without their vital support through unpaid work, the individuals being cared for would not manage.

Extending support to children who care for others is not just an act of compassion, but a vital investment in their well-being and the future of our society. These young caregivers exhibit remarkable strength, resilience, and selflessness, shouldering responsibilities far beyond their years. We have a responsibility to invest in these young people, to ensure that they receive the support and resources they need to navigate their unique journey. By recognising their challenges, providing some respite and guidance and the opportunity to connect with others who understand, we hope these young carers will be empowered to maintain their well-being, pursue their dreams, and unlock their fullest potential.”

Children’s Integrated Playschemes receives Tees Better Future Fund grant

Posted on 6 June 202329 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Tees Better Future Fund is delighted to announce that CHIPS (Children’s Integrated Playschemes) in Bishop’s Stortford, is one of the projects in the second round of applications, to receive a Tees Better Future Fund grant.

CHIPS create safe spaces for children with additional needs to play together and support their parent’s/carers’ well-being by offering them short breaks from their caring responsibilities.

Founded by parents in 1994 as a pilot project by Herts County Council, CHIPS now supports over 200 families, of which there are some 230 children with additional needs and their siblings.

CHIPS now runs six different playschemes and various special interest clubs, across East Hertfordshire and Broxbourne for children aged 3-19 years. The children with additional needs who attend the sessions would likely not be able to access mainstream activities. CHIPS sessions provide the opportunity for them to try new activities safely and receive the personal/medical care they require.

Over the last 30 years, CHIPS has supported hundreds of children and that number continues to grow every day.

CHIPS will use the grant to fund additional hours of staffing, which will provide the 1 to 1 support that the majority of the children with additional needs require. The children will be able to attend the playscheme more regularly on Saturday mornings and during the school holidays, to meet up with their friends and enjoy fun and new activities.

The Playscheme is now based at Avanti School, in Bishop’s Stortford. CHIPS is looking for new staff and volunteers to help at sessions.

Sally Powell Co-Chair of the Tees Better Future Fund commented:

“The vision of CHIPS for their play schemes and the valuable support they provide to families with children with additional needs has deeply inspired us. Recognising that access to activities is crucial for every child’s development, we aim to assist those who may face difficulties during this period, boosting their confidence, nurturing their skills, and empowering them to thrive in the face of challenges. Additionally, this project aims to enhance support for families with children with additional needs, promoting both their physical and mental well-being.”

CHIPS Chairman Graham Nickson commented:

“CHIPS is very grateful to the Tees Better Future Fund for its generous donation which will enable us to run extra playscheme sessions for our children. Without the playschemes, too many children coming to CHIPS would miss out on the simple joy of playing with other children.”

Tees Better Future Fund awards grant to Cambridge charity, The Expert On Myself

Posted on 6 June 202329 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

We have completed the second funding round and are thrilled to announce that one of the three community projects to receive a Tees Better Future Fund grant is The Expert On Myself (TEOM) based in Cambridgeshire.

The Expert On Myself is a community interest company in Cambridgeshire that helps people speak and organishttps://www.teeslaw.com/our-community/ations listen. They create valuable opportunities for people to educate professionals about the issues that affect them. Their expertise is from personal experience and from many years of working with people.

Founded in 2021, The Expert on Myself helps organisations be more inclusive and socially aware, by listening to people about the issues that affect them.

The Tees Better Future Fund grant will help TEOM to plan and create a training programme for organisations wishing to improve their services for people with autism.

Lisette from TEOM commented:

“We are delighted to be able to use this funding from Tees Better Future Fund to help organisations better meet the needs of local autistic people. We have already had enquiries from autistic people wanting to get involved in the project, and from organisations who are keen to have training from autism experts.

The TEOM team are excited to be working on this project and looking forward to meeting lots of new people.”

Janine Collier, Co-Chair of Tees Better Future Fund said:

“The inspiring vision of The Expert On Myself for the ‘Experts on our Autism’ project has resonated with us. This initiative aims to foster social awareness and inclusivity, addressing a crucial topic in today’s society. Bringing those with lived experience together to inform a comprehensive training programme for local organisations to improve their services, communications and work environments, allows reaching far beyond the direct beneficiaries of the project.

By offering support to individuals who may face challenges in this area, we aspire to boost their confidence, develop their skills, and empower both them and their organisations to flourish. Through the comprehensive training programme, this project will contribute to promoting a better understanding within organizations, enhancing mental health and increasing accessibility and opportunities for the autistic and allistic.”

In phase one of their ‘Experts on our Autism’ project, TEOM will recruit five autistic individuals in Cambridgeshire. The TEOM team will hold three separate sessions with the individuals to gather information, coalesce the information into a plan, and create the training programmes to be delivered.

Phase two of the ‘Experts on our Autism’ project will focus on engaging three local organisations that want to improve the way that they offer services to autistic people. TEOM will support the five experts to deliver the training that they have created to each organisation.

The support from the Tees Better Future Fund will in turn benefit the five experts by building their confidence and skill set, allowing them to add valuable experiences to their CVs. The project will also benefit the wider society as the organisations will be more inclusive and socially aware.

If you are autistic or an organisation looking to expand your knowledge on autism, please contact TEOM through their website form or via their social media.

The Tees Better Fund was set up in May 2022 to offer grants of up to £5,000 for projects that support learning and education and/or promote good health and well-being in Cambridgeshire, Essex, and Hertfordshire.

Tees becomes Official Legal Partner of Essex Cricket Club

Posted on 24 April 202329 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

We are pleased to announce that Tees will now become the Official Legal Partner of Essex Cricket Club, having been affiliated with the Club since 2016.

Tees provides expert legal services and independent financial advice across its six offices in the East of England, including from our Chelmsford office situated very close to The Cloud County Ground. We advise businesses and individuals across a range of practice areas, with five of our departments ranked in the top tier of Legal 500.

Speaking about the partnership, Tees Group Managing Director, Ashton Hunt, said:

“We are delighted that Tees has become the Official Legal Partner of Essex Cricket Club. Building on the success of the Tees River Gate entrance launch in 2021, we are delighted to further our partnership.

We are extremely excited to be working alongside Essex Cricket once again and wish them the best of luck going into the 2023 season.”

Chief Executive Officer of Essex Cricket, John Stephenson added:

“We are delighted to continue our thriving partnership with Tees as our Official Legal Partner. Creating rewarding partnerships with companies in the Essex region is important to us and we look forward to growing our relationship with Ashton and the team over the coming years.”

Tees continues to grow and thrive in the Essex business community with the promotion of two new Partners

Posted on 3 April 202329 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Tees continues to grow and thrive in the Essex business community with the promotion of two new Partners.

Tees’ growth and expertise in the Essex business community have been further solidified by Baljeet Kaur and Daniel Fairs joining the Partnership. With these appointments, Tees continues to strengthen its position as a leading law firm in the region.

Tees is well-positioned to provide even greater value to its clients with the addition of Daniel and Baljeet. Both individuals are highly regarded within the Essex business community, and their expertise and experience will undoubtedly enhance the firm’s capabilities.

Baljeet Kaur who qualified as a Solicitor in March 2013 and joined Tees in 2016, works in the Corporate and Commercial team at the Brentwood office. She advises a broad range of clients, including high net worth individuals, entrepreneurs, start-ups, owner managed businesses and SMEs across various industries such as manufacturing, transport and logistics, technology insurance, and leisure, on a wide range of transactions including mergers and acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, family investment companies, reorganisations, general company law issues and commercial contracts.

Baljeet commented, ‘I am honoured to be made a Partner at Tees and excited to have the opportunity to shape the future of the firm. I am grateful for the trust and support of the firm, and I look forward to continuing to serve our clients with dedication and excellence.’

Daniel Fairs is part of the Commercial Property team and has been with the Chelmsford office since 2017. Daniel has extensive experience in overseeing the buying and selling of commercial and rural properties in England and Wales. He is proficient in advising landowners, developers, promoters, and funders with strategic land projects and financing arrangements. Additionally, he acts for both landlords and tenants with leases, and also collaborates with the Corporate and Commercial team to handle property matters for business sales, acquisitions and re-structuring arrangements.

Daniel said, ‘I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to become a Partner at Tees. The firm’s focus on promoting from within and providing a supportive work environment has been instrumental in my career development, and I am excited to contribute to its future success.’

Senior Partner, Catherine Mowat comments, ‘I am delighted to announce the promotions of Daniel and Baljeet to Partner. We are proud to have such talented and dedicated professionals in our team, and we look forward to seeing their continued growth and success in their new roles.’

Tees has also promoted seven new Senior Associates, seven Associates and a new Senior Wealth Planner.

Catherine adds, ‘All of this year’s promotions are a perfect example of our dedication to creating a positive and supportive work environment that rewards hard work and talent. They have all demonstrated exceptional commitment to their clients, and we are proud to have them as part of our growing team.’

2023 Promotions:

Partner

Baljeet Kaur – Company and commercial
Daniel Fairs – Commercial property

Senior Associate

Lucy Beck – Commercial property
Samantha Worth – Commercial property
Alex Waples – Commercial property
Tom Moulsdale – Commercial property
Victoria Sweeting – Wills, trusts, tax & probate
Chris Claxton-Shirley – Wills, trusts, tax & probate

Head of Trust and Tax

Carl Frost – Wills, trusts, tax & probate

Senior Wealth Planner

Cara Lambert – Wealth management

Associate

Emily Jones – Dispute resolution and litigation
Jason Torrance – Dispute resolution and litigation
Ana James-Pittau – Dispute resolution and litigation
Lara Bartlett – Residential
Rachel Benton – Clinical negligence
Anna Jones – Family
Gemma Ball – Commercial property

Spring Budget 2023

Posted on 16 March 202329 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, delivered his first spring budget on the 15th of March declaring it was “A budget for growth.” The fiscal update included a range of new measures, some of which had been widely trailed prior to budget day, in order to achieve growth “by removing obstacles that stop businesses investing; by tackling labour shortages that stop them recruiting; by breaking down barriers that stop people working; and by harnessing British ingenuity to make us a science and technology superpower.”

OBR forecasts

The Chancellor began his statement by unveiling the latest economic projections produced by the office for budget responsibility (OBR) which he said showed the UK would meet the Prime Minister’s priorities to “halve inflation, reduce debt and get the economy growing.” In relation to the first priority, Mr Hunt said the latest OBR figures suggest inflation will fall from an average rate of 10.7% in the final quarter of last year to 2.9% by the end of 2023. This sharp decline is partly due to some of the chancellor’s budget measures, including the three-month extension to the household energy price guarantee (EPG), which the government had confirmed earlier in the day.

Mr Hunt also said the OBR forecast suggests the UK economy will now avoid a technical recession this year (defined as two consecutive quarters of economic decline) and then expand in each of the remaining years of the five-year forecast period. According to the updated figures, the economy is expected to shrink by 0.2% this year, a significant upgrade from last autumn’s forecast of a 1.4% contraction, with growth then predicted to hit 1.8% in 2024 and 2.5% in 2025, before easing back towards its medium-term potential growth rate of 1.75% by 2028.

The Chancellor’s growth strategy focuses on the four pillars ‘everywhere, enterprise, employment and education,’ as previously outlined in his Bloomberg speech in January.

Everywhere

Mr Hunt spoke about the government’s plans for ‘levelling up,’ including the launch of 12 new investment zones. Across these “12 potential Canary Wharfs,” £80m of support per zone will be available for skills, infrastructure and tax reliefs. Mr Hunt also mentioned specific projects selected for local investment, including:

£200m for local regeneration projects and £400m for new levelling up partnerships across England
£8.8bn over the next five-year funding period for the city region sustainable transport settlements
Up to £8.6m for the Edinburgh festivals, as well as £1.5m for the repair of Cloddach bridge, near Elgin, and £20m for the restoration of the Holyhead breakwater in Anglesey
Up to £3m to extend the tackling paramilitarism programme in Northern Ireland.

Enterprise

To provide the right conditions for businesses to succeed: A ‘full expensing’ policy will apply from the 1st of April 2023 until the 31st of March 2026 to allow investment in IT, plant or machinery to be deducted in full and immediately from taxable profits
an increased rate of relief for loss-making research and development (R&D)-intensive small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) – eligible companies will receive a £27 credit from HMRC for every £100 of R&D investment
an extension of higher reliefs for theatres, orchestras, museums and galleries for two further years
the medicines and healthcare products regulatory agency (MHRA) will receive £10m extra funding over two years
all of the recommendations from Sir Patrick Vallance’s review of pro-innovation regulation of digital technologies are accepted
£900m of funding for AI research resources and an exascale computer as well as a commitment to £2.5bn ten-year quantum research and innovation programme through the government’s new quantum strategy
innovation accelerators programme – £100m funding for 26 transformative R&D projects
AI challenge prize – £1 million prize every year for the next ten years to researchers that drive progress in critical areas of AI.

Employment

The Chancellor turned next to employment, with a suite of new measures to “remove the barriers that stop people who want to from working.” To achieve this, he announced:

Mature workers

The expansion of the DWP’s ‘midlife’ MOT scheme, aiming to reach up to 40,000 individuals per year (up from the current 8,000)
new ‘returnerships’ scheme to make existing skills programmes more accessible to older workers and help them upskill and retrain
a pension tax relief overhaul; see details in the personal taxation and pensions section.
people with long-term illnesses and disabilities
a white paper on disability benefits reform
the abolition of the work capability assessment for disability benefits claimants
a new voluntary employment scheme for people with disabilities
£406m to increase support for working adults with mental health, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular problems.

Welfare recipients

An increase to the Administrative Earnings Threshold
a stronger sanctions regime for universal credit claimants.

Care leavers

A 50% increase in funding for the staying close programme
an increase in the qualifying care relief threshold to £18,140 per year plus £375 to £450 per person cared for per week for 2023/24 and these thresholds will then be index-linked, representing a tax cut worth approximately £450 per year on average.

Education

Mr Hunt then turned to Education, stating that he wants to reform the childcare system, currently “one of the most expensive systems in the world.”

His new proposal will offer 30 free hours of childcare each week to pre-school-age children aged nine months or above in English households where both parents work. It will be phased in on the following timeline:

April 2024 – eligible two-year-olds will receive 15 hours of free childcare per week
September 2024 – qualifying children aged nine months to two years will receive 15 hours
September 2025 – eligible children aged nine months to three years will receive 30 hours.

Also, schools and local authorities will be funded to increase the availability of wraparound care, to enable parents of school-age children to drop them off between 8 am and 6 pm.

To tackle the problem of unaffordable upfront costs, Mr Hunt also announced support for the 700,000 families on universal credit. Another major change involves each staff member in England being able to look after five two-year-olds instead of four, as is already the case in Scotland.

Personal Taxation and Pensions

To encourage over-50s to extend their working lives, the government is increasing tax relief limits on pension contributions and pots – the annual allowance will be raised from £40,000 to £60,000 from April 2023; the lifetime allowance (LTA) charge will be removed from April 2023, and the LTA will be abolished from April 2024. The maximum amount that can be accessed tax free (pension commencement lump sum) will be frozen at its current level of £268,275 (25% of current LTA). From April, the minimum tapered annual allowance (TAA) and the money purchase annual allowance (MPAA) will increase from £4,000 to £10,000 and the adjusted income threshold for the TAA will also rise, from £240,000 to £260,000.

As a reminder, the following changes were previously announced in the Autumn statement 2022:

The income tax additional rate threshold (ART) at which 45p becomes payable is lowered from £150,000 to £125,140 from April 2023. The ART for non-savings and non-dividend income will apply to taxpayers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
the dividend allowance reduces from £2,000 to £1,000 from April 2023 and to £500 from April 2024
the annual capital gains tax exemption reduces from £12,300 to £6,000 from April 2023 and to £3,000 from April 2024
The stamp duty land tax nil-rate threshold for England and Northern Ireland is £250,000 for all purchasers and £425,000 for first-time buyers, remaining in place until 31 March 2025.

In addition:

The income tax personal allowance and higher rate threshold remain at £12,570 and £50,270 respectively until April 2028 (rates and thresholds may differ for taxpayers in parts of the UK where income tax is devolved)
the basic state pension will increase in April 2023 from £141.85 per week to £156.20 per week, while the full new state pension will rise from £185.15 to £203.85 per week. The standard minimum income guarantee in pension credit will also increase in line with inflation from April 2023 (rather than in line with average earnings growth)
inheritance tax (IHT) nil-rate bands remain at £325,000 nil-rate band, £175,000 residence nil-rate band, with taper starting at £2m – fixed at these levels until April 2028
national insurance contributions (NICs) upper earnings limit (UEL) and upper profits limit (UPL) are frozen until April 2028
The ISA (individual savings account) allowance remains at £20,000 and the JISA (junior individual savings account) allowance and child trust fund annual subscription limits remain at £9,000.

Other key points

Potholes fund – an extra £200m for local road maintenance in England in 2023/24
alcohol duty – rates frozen until August 2023 then uprated by RPI, draught relief increased to 9.2% for beer and cider and 23% for wine from 1 August 2023
fuel duty rates – maintaining the rates of fuel duty at the current levels for an additional 12 months
defence spending – an extra £4.95bn for defence over 2023/24 and 2024/25
support for veterans – an additional £33m over the next three years
swimming pool support fund – over £60m for public swimming pools across England
support for charities and community organisations – £100m (England)
plastic packaging tax rate – uprated in line with CPI from 1 April 2023
launching ‘great British nuclear’ – supporting new nuclear builds, £20bn available for carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), and extending the climate change agreement scheme for a further two years
devolved administrations – receiving an additional £630m through the Barnett formula over 2023/24 and 2024/25 (Scottish government £320m, Welsh government £180m and Northern Ireland executive £130m).

Closing comments

Jeremy Hunt signed off his announcement saying, “today we build for the future with inflation down, debt falling and growth up. The declinists are wrong and the optimists are right. We stick to the plan because the plan is working.”

If you have any queries or need more information on any of the areas covered, or any other financial matter, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Information within this document is based on our current understanding of taxation and can be subject to change in future. It does not provide individual tailored investment advice and is for guidance only. Some rules may vary in different parts of the UK; please ask for details. We cannot assume legal liability for any errors or omissions it might contain. Levels and bases of, and reliefs from, taxation are those currently applying or proposed and are subject to change; their value depends on individual circumstances.

All details are believed to be correct at the time of writing (15 March 2023)