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Greengate Furniture Ltd is a company that brings together the best of the old and the new. A family business, based in High Wycombe for more than 50 years, its skilled team creates fine upholstered furniture combining traditional construction methods and sophisticated hi-tech equipment.

For a business that likes to do things the time-honoured way where possible – it still makes its own frames for total control of timber quality, for example, and uses traditional natural materials, such as hessian and hog hair in its upholstery – Greengate has been through several changes where its accountant is concerned over the last few years. Early in 2008, that process led Greengate managing director Peter Hearn to Fish Partnership and six months on, he’s very happy with the outcome.

The changes began five or six years ago, when Greengate’s then accountants closed their High Wycombe office, with the firm continuing to look after clients in and around the town from Reading. It was not an arrangement that suited Peter and he subsequently transferred to a medium-sized practice closer to home, with which he was initially very impressed.

For a couple of years or so, the firm was attentive to Greengate’s needs but as time went on Peter became more and more unhappy with the levels of service and response he was receiving

He mentioned his concerns to his bank manager and told him he was looking for a local accountancy practice, of a similar size to his existing accountants. Peter recalls: “I had a firm in mind but my bank manager felt they were too small and threw Fish Partnership into the ring.

“Martin Sheehy came to see us and we found him very impressive. He wasn’t flashy or trying to over-sell Fish Partnership. His integrity spoke for itself and that’s what you want from an accountant - someone who will do what he says.”

Now Fish Partnership provides a range of services to Greengate Furniture, including company statutory matters, such as year end accounts, dealing with the directors’ personal tax and general business advice. With both firms based in High Wycombe, Fish Partnership is just a quick car journey away if Peter needs to call in, which he finds particularly convenient.

Although the relationship is still in early stages, the signs are looking good for a longer-term collaboration. Peter says: “Six months in, Fish Partnership are getting full marks on everything.”

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