Hazlewoods

A record 323 entries for this year's Insider Media's Midlands Dealmakers Awards. The highest number in the event's 32-year history. For me, that's one of the clearest indicators of the confidence returning to the Midlands M&A market. We're speaking to owners about exits earlier than ever, new acquirers are emerging, and private equity continues to be active in the lower mid-market. Of course, deals aren't straightforward. Valuations can be challenging, diligence is more demanding, and preparation remains critical. The businesses that invest time getting ready before launching a process are still the ones most likely to achieve the best outcomes. What stands out is the resilience of the Midlands dealmaking community. The collaboration amongst professionals committed to the local dealmaking economy is superb. Despite the wider economic challenges, deal activity remains strong, and the level of engagement with this year's awards reflects that. Looking forward to attending the awards on 17 September at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, where Ballards LLP is sponsoring the Corporate Law Firm of the Year (Mid-sized) category. #MidlandsDealmakers #MDAwards #Dealmakers #M&A #BusinessAwards

Many professions are consolidating right now. Accountancy is no different. Practices are being acquired, merged, and restructured — often backed by investors who, understandably, have returns to deliver. I’m not here to criticise that model. But I do think it’s worth being honest about what it can mean in practice: fee increases, staff turnover, and an advice relationship that starts to feel more transactional over time. In social care, that’s a real problem. We’re also seeing more firms pivoting to position themselves as social care specialists. That’s flattering to the sector in one sense. But genuine expertise in this space isn’t something you can acquire overnight — or by acquisition. It takes years of working alongside operators, understanding the regulatory environment, the ownership structures, the funding pressures, and the very specific tax and commercial questions that arise at every stage of a care business’s life. Our dedicated healthcare and social care team is over 100 people., working exclusively with operators in the sector. That depth of focus doesn’t happen quickly, and it shows in the quality of advice. There’s another consequence of consolidation that doesn’t get talked about enough. As partnership structures change and equity progression becomes harder to achieve in larger consolidated firms, we’re seeing some exceptional people make the move to independent practices where genuine partnership is still a real prospect. That’s good for us — and ultimately good for our clients. We’ve heard feedback like: “Fees became a more prominent part of the conversation and there was a growing focus on billing” “It began to feel more transactional than relationship led” “We couldn’t have had the conversation we just had with our previous accountant — they simply didn’t understand the nuances of the sector.” That’s often not what operators are looking for from a trusted advisor. But we’re starting to see this more frequently in some situations. We’re independent and our structure allows us to prioritise long term relationships over short term targets. Our measure of success is whether the client feels well served — not whether we’ve maximised the bill. That means being straight about fees, no surprises, and sometimes telling a client something is straightforward rather than making it sound complicated. It also means the person who knows your business is the person who works on it. Same team. Long-term relationship. Proper understanding of where you’ve come from and where you’re heading. If that sounds different to what you’re currently getting, it might be worth a conversation. #social care #social care operators

Started as a student with dreams, now here as an interviewer with responsibilities. Government Polytechnic College Bhubaneswar feels special today 💫 From being a learner once to now being in a position to identify and hire talent, this journey feels truly rewarding. Every step has been a learning experience, shaping me into the professional I am today. Being part of this campus drive and connecting with such bright young minds reminds me of my own journey and the importance of giving opportunities to the right talent. Proud to represent my organization and contribute to building strong teams. Big thanks to my team for believing in me always. Thanks to my team for constant motivation—“You can do it, Debashree!” 🚀 #CareerGrowth #CampusDrive #HRLife #Hiring #ProfessionalJourney #TeamSupport #polytechnicbhubaneswar