Celebrating 40 years of supporting South West business

Forty years is an important milestone in any business, but for Westcotts it’s much more than a number. It is a celebration of our enduring values and of the people, clients and communities that have been part of our journey since 1985. It is also a moment to look forward to what comes next.

From small beginnings in Honiton, our founder Richard Thomas set out with a clear purpose; to offer trusted, personal advice that helps businesses and individuals succeed. Four decades later, that same purpose continues to guide us. In that time, we’ve grown from a single office to a leading South West firm of Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers, with more than 300 experts and a reputation built on local relationships, a commitment to always being there for our clients and successfully supporting them to achieve their goals.

Our story has always been closely tied to the South West’s business community. As the region has grown and diversified, so have we, expanding our offices and our specialist services to reflect the priorities of the businesses we work with. From high-potential start-ups to long-established employers, the South West is home to a remarkably varied and ambitious economy, and we are committed to supporting the organisations and people that are driving it forward.

As our clients have grown and their needs have evolved, so too has the way we support them. Every client relationship is led by a team who ensure the best and most appropriate specialist expertise from across the firm is applied to understanding and solving client problems and challenges. That collaboration and depth of knowledge means we can support clients through every stage of their journey – from start-up to scale-up, to success and succession. It is a way of working that reflects who we are; local, approachable and here when it matters most.

Crucially, we know that success looks different for every client. For some it’s growth; for others, stability, innovation or planning for the next generation. Our role is to understand what is important for each of our clients and help them achieve their version of success, for their business, their people and their future.

Being embedded in the South West has always been part of Westcotts’ DNA. We live and work in the same towns and cities as our clients, which means we understand their challenges and see opportunities through their eyes. It’s what our We’re Here philosophy is all about – being present, available and proactive when it matters most.

That presence is also about trust. The pace of change and the development of new technologies means clear and dependable advice has never been more valuable. Our clients rely on us for expert guidance that helps them make confident decisions for the future. Over the years, we’ve built specialist teams across audit, tax, advisory, corporate finance, digital accounting, payroll and business recovery, all working together to provide integrated, practical solutions that add real value.

Of course, the foundation of everything we do is our people – and the way we see it is that when we invest in our people, we’re investing in our clients’ success too. The knowledge, professionalism and collaboration within our teams and the expertise, consistency and personal service they provide to our clients is what defines us.

A few highlights from our 40th anniversary celebrations with colleagues