ETL GLOBAL UK

VISUALISE YOUR BUSINESS POTENTIAL

LOCAL BUSINESS GLOBAL VISION

ETL GLOBAL UK supports ambitious independent professional service firms by offering the opportunities, tools and platform to strengthen their global presence.

By understanding and protecting a firm’s own unique entrepreneurial approach, we are able to retain its identity, whilst introducing the benefits an international network brings. We recognise the growing competitiveness of global service firms and are committed to doing things differently.

Here at ETL, we believe our supportive business model makes us stand out from other professional service networks.

Our approach has been honed over decades of success; integrating accounting, audit, tax and legal firms in one network. We have developed a model that supports collaboration, whilst protecting the unique entrepreneurial culture that our partner firms had before joining ETL.

The success of ETL’s model is clear through our growth. Our network has grown from one start-up firm in 1971, to now having more than 20,000 employees in over 50 different countries.

ETL’s exceptional experience and history are a significant advantage that both clients and partners can benefit from.

The network’s growth and success have been based on committed partnerships and long-term relationships, with members supporting each other in close collaboration and, most importantly, jointly serving clients in their international business.

At ETL GLOBAL, we’re proud to provide a platform that allows our partner firms to cultivate their own local and international success.

THE BEGINNING OF ETL

Our origins & philosophy

ETL (European Tax and Law) is a privately owned, European-cultured professional services firm, with more than 50 years of history and a strong SME focus.

The firm was set up in 1971 by Franz-Josef Wernze, who established EKWTreuhand GmbH in Germany and began laying the foundation for the ETL Group. These initial foundations supported the firm’s growth across Germany, tailoring the entrepreneurial spirit that has always been at the heart of ETL. Currently, ETL has over 900 offices in Germany and is ranked the 5th largest accounting and tax specialists in the country.

As ETL’s clients in Germany began to trade abroad, ETL started their search for similar opportunities, ensuring that they could continue to support their client base.

Initially, ETL looked for similar cultures and frame-works in other European countries, replicating the model that had been so successful in Germany. This expansion abroad led to the establishment of the ETL GLOBAL brand in 2015, starting in Spain, before expanding to the UK.

ETL’s approach allows firms to maintain their independence and integrity, whilst reaping the benefits and opportunities that come with being part of a larger organisation.

Our shared equity model encourages innovation and provides the stability for firms to grow. This is underpinned by the mutual ambitions of our stakeholders, who are able to share in the success of their firm as it progresses.

ETL IN THE UK

Continuing the legacy

Following the success of our international partners, ETL GLOBAL UK aims to continue the already developed strategy of a professional service network, which is fundamentally made up of accountants, auditors, tax and legal specialists.

With the added benefit of our exclusive centralised service offerings, ETL GLOBAL UK firms are supported in their organic growth, whilst our economic support facilitates acquisition growth, complementing the network structure.

AA TOP 50+50

Small and medium sized businesses form the backbone of the UK business economy and community. Our clients demand the expertise and knowledge of a global company, combined with the service, care and attention to detail a local firm can offer. We pride ourselves on providing high quality, affordable services that offer you the utmost flexibility and efficiency.

Something different

At ETL GLOBAL UK, we work alongside ambitious, independent professional service firms, who are driven to strengthen their business presence and success. There’s no denying the growing competitiveness of membership networks, but we strive to stand out in this crowded market by offering something different.

Our network is only as strong as our partners, so we take an alternative approach to other membership networks. Since its early days, ETL has operated using a shared equity model that is mutually beneficial to all involved - when partners join ETL GLOBAL UK, they don’t just share our network opportunities, but allow us equity in their firms, so we share in the risks and rewards of running a practice. When we invest in a firm, those already running the business on a day-to-day basis can also maintain an equity stake.

Our model sets us apart from other investors or consolidators in our sector, as it allows the firm to keep their operations and ethos the same, but with the added financial security provided by a majority stake investor. As a result, both our staff and client retention rates are excellent - ETL GLOBAL UK involvement is seen as a benefit, rather than an upheaval for new members.

We’re attracted to a firm by what makes them special; their people, clients, and overall brand – so why would we want to change that?

Why choose ETL?

At ETL GLOBAL UK, consistency is key; we don’t look to change brands, partners, or systems. We simply strive to complement them and develop further opportunities throughout the network. We operate on four core values:

Collaboration

Active involvement is fundamental to a successful partnership, and we strongly encourage our members to make valuable contributions to the network as a whole.

Digitalisation

We encourage innovation by fostering a culture of experimentation and adaptation, improving brand visibility and engagement.

Empowerment

We are committed to developing the best professional service firms within our network, through a culture of professionalism and personal accountability.

Entrepreneurship

ETL GLOBAL UK’s role is to protect the unique entrepreneurial culture of new member firms, whilst adding new opportunities for their management teams.

These link the cumulative skills and experiences of our partners, who together, create a partnership that is greater than the sum of its parts.

As an ETL GLOBAL UK member, your practice will have access to dedicated support and resources that are malleable to your business requirements. Included in this are our centralised service solutions, which will help to streamline your business processes, so that you can improve quality, reduce costs, and focus on growth.

What type of firms are interested in joining ETL GLOBAL?

Our network is full of ambitious accounting, audit, tax and legal firms. If your firm fits this description, or complements these sectors, then you should be interested in joining ETL GLOBAL UK.

But how would ETL GLOBAL UK membership benefit your business? We’ve narrowed it down to the three main benefits...

Organic Growth Support

The network promotes exclusive centralised service offerings, which support ETL GLOBAL UK firms in their organic growth. These centralised services offer solutions, reduced costs, better quality of delivery, and new collaborative opportunities. Similarly, the network opens up international connections and new ways of promoting your practice.

Acquisition Growth Support

As a shared equity partner, we can help you identify external businesses that would complement your existing firm. Accessing finance can be extremely difficult and costly; by partnering with ETL GLOBAL UK, we can help you with the financial support to make new acquisitions. This allows you to speed up growth and gain additional expertise within your firm, opening up new potential revenue streams.

Protection of the Business

A common theme of firms joining the network is higher management looking to protect the staff, clients or brand that a business has built up since its inception. ETL GLOBAL UK offers a great deal of support, designed to complement a firm’s culture and independence. We understand that succession planning can be difficult, but we aim to support you through this process.

Is succession planning a priority for your business?

Succession Planning

We strive for continuity in the firms that we acquire, which is why we aim to facilitate the handover process for others when required.

ETL GLOBAL UK firms have their own ambitious and independent management teams in place, running their business on a day-to-day basis. To protect a firm’s culture, we would always look at the possibility of internal succession when deciding who should succeed retiring partners.

All too often, firms fall victim to their own success, and end up limiting their employees as well as themselves. Under traditional methods of succession, the higher the value of a business, the more expensive - and therefore inaccessible - it becomes for employees to buy equity in their own firms. Not only this, but it can bring significant financial risks to partners, given the amount of money they are required to put at stake.

How a shared equity model can help

With ETL GLOBAL UK’s shared equity model, we de-risk the entire process of joining and leaving the firm’s equity, so that our members can solidify the next generation of their firm, protecting their legacy.

ETL GLOBAL UK can help potential new partners to finance the acquisition of an existing partner’s stake in the business, removing the traditional process of seeking external financial support.

To access ETL GLOBAL UK’s support, new partners buying into the firm are asked to supply a deposit against the consideration to acquire equity from another partner. Then, we would fund the remaining amount on their behalf. Our contribution is treated like a loan, with the benefit of a very competitive interest rate. In this method of lending, ETL GLOBAL UK uses the equity acquired in the firm as collateral.

Friendly lending SUCCESSION PLANNING

The phrases ‘loan’ and ‘interest’ may seem intimidating, but we ensure that partners’ disposable incomes are protected.

Repayments are linked to the additional distribution individuals receive from their investment in a firm - for example, dividends received on their equity if they are part of a limited company. Once the loan has been repaid via this additional income, any financial benefits from investment will be the individual’s to enjoy going forward!

When we invest in a company, we are investing in their people. From the beginning of our relationship with the firm, we start to identify the next generation of partners, and work alongside current partners to determine their successors together.

Traditionally, succession planning and the handover process would be a long, drawn-out process for both parties. The successor would likely need to take out collateral with the bank, and the predecessor would need to wait for this to be approved before leaving the business.

Our model, based on friendly lending, helps new partners to buy into the business with the guarantee that their income will remain the same, reassuring existing partners that they will not lose any of their disposable income due to their exit. This ensures a smooth transaction for all involved, so that they can focus on the handover of clients and advice.

Our equity buy-in support has been a great way of helping the partners of ETL GLOBAL UK firms have an exit strategy, whilst incentivising all stakeholders in the firm to work together towards the succession and success of the firm.

We’re proud to offer

A renowned trademark with a global reach

Independent business styles

Access to specialist knowledge

Non-exclusivity regarding memberships in other networks and associations

A collaborative, interdisciplinary approach

An environment to create common business interests through joint investments.

Overall, our network provides a dynamic and interconnected approach to business; fostering innovation and achieving shared goals.

Join a top 20 ranking network

In 2022, ETL GLOBAL was ranked #19 in the Accountancy Age Top 50+50 Accountancy Firms, marking a climb of four places from #23 in 2021. Our network is constantly expanding, driven by the ambition to become the leading multidisciplinary professional service network in the UK.

Our member firms frequently engage in successful referrals to access clients in alternative markets, and confidently provide their own clients with expert services across our network. By joining ETL GLOBAL UK, you will become connected to leading professionals in the accounting, tax, legal and audit sectors. ETL

Access to a wealth of centralised services

At ETL GLOBAL UK, we are committed to developing the best professional service firms within our network, helping them to stand out in an increasingly competitive market. Following demand across the network, our member firms now have access to a range of centralised services, helping to streamline their business processes. This includes dedicated support and resources tailored to each firm’s individual needs.

COMPLIANCE

ETL GLOBAL UK offers a range of training solutions in finance, audit, financial awareness and business skills through Insight Training, who deliver bespoke courses to accountants and finance professionals. This includes free CPD courses for all network employees to cover core compliance and training requirements and an additional discount on other courses. They also conduct independent Hot File or Cold File audit file reviews on-site; ensuring firm compliance with regulations whilst adding insightful, up-to-date advice and improvement suggestions.

HR

Ensuring your business is compliant and up-to-date with the latest in HR legislation is vital. The HR department is the backbone of any business; helping meet all your administrative paperwork and staff management needs. Whether you have a specific HR project that requires assistance, or you are looking to invest in a full HR set-up, we can offer you a solution tailored to you and your unique requirements.

INSURANCE

We aim to provide solutions for the liability risks faced every day by financial institutions. We offer expert broker support via Arthur J. Gallagher & Co, as well as a Fee Protection Service via AXA Insurance UK plc, which will protect you in relation to the professional fees you may incur in the event of an HMRC investigation. Our providers specialise in supporting firms in all aspects of insurance to ensure the most appropriate cover and protection at competitive rates.

ETL IT was developed to provide a personalised IT service with the added benefits of significant cost savings and a collaborative approach to develop IT strategy across all partner firms. As part of the network, ETL IT strives to provide integrated services and will work with you to fully understand your business and successfully deliver digital transformations.

LEGAL

Today’s businesses face a host of legal challenges, whether it’s the successful completion of an acquisition or defending employee claims. Whatever the legal challenge you face, ensuring you have a team of expert commercial solicitors on hand is essential. ETL GLOBAL UK member firms benefit from legal services provided by a leading UK multi-service law firm, providing bespoke services throughout the UK and internationally.

MARKETING

ETL Marketing offers personalised, in-house marketing services for the ETL GLOBAL network. The team actively develops the UK brand, alongside providing marketing services to partner firms. As part of the ETL network, ETL Marketing understands the culture and ambitions of your firm and shares the same aim to grow as part of the group.

OUTSOURCING

ETL GLOBAL UK provides a comprehensive outsourcing service through our UK-based partner firm. This covers bookkeeping, VAT, management accounts, tax compliance and statutory account services. The team’s structured processes are flexible, consistent and scalable for firms of all sizes, offering a dedicated contact for your accounting needs.

PAYROLL

Our dedicated payroll experts can smoothly navigate the ever-changing rules and regulations, complex calculations and administration required to safely and securely manage your payroll. This covers services including payslips, P45s, New Starter Forms (P60s), Tax Year End reports, secure data transfer to 3rd party systems and exchange to HMRC.

RECRUITMENT

As a network, we are dedicated to providing recruiting excellence, working with professionals who specialise in recruitment across the accountancy and legal practice sectors. By joining forces with a well-established recruitment agency who have over a decade’s worth of experience, we can now fully support the talent needs of our member firms; helping them find new talent, develop retention strategies and build a reputable brand as an employer.

We may be headquartered in Bolton, but our network spans the entire UK.

Will you make your mark on the ETL GLOBAL UK map?

CENTRALISED

Compliance Support

Insurance Brokerage

IT Services & Cyber Security

Legal Services (Full Service Offering)

Marketing

Outsourcing

Payroll & Human Resources

Recruitment

NORTH

ETL Holdings (Head Office)

EKW Group, Bolton

EKWilliams Accountants, Bolton

Glaisyers ETL, Liverpool

Glaisyers ETL, Manchester

Glaisyers Trust Corp, Manchester

Harold Sharp, Sale

HRpeople Services, Bolton

Ikara Business Solutions, Sheffield

INNventory, Bolton

PAYEPeople, Bolton

Wealth Recovery Solicitors, Manchester

MIDLANDS

Clement Rabjohns, Evesham

Robert Whowell and Partners, Leicester

SOUTH WEST AND WALES

Carston, Cardiff

Kingscott Dix, Gloucester

SOUTH

Fiander Tovell, Southampton

FT Pay, Southampton

Hopper William & Bell, Eastleigh

Stag Gates Services, Southampton

SOUTH EAST AND LONDON

ETL Cambridge, Cambridge

Gerald Edelman, London

Gerald Edelman Deal Advisory, London

Glaisyers ETL, London

GW Cox, Essex

Laytons ETL, London

MGR Weston Kay, London

MGR Weston Kay, Bury St Edmunds

MGR MAP, London

MGR Royalties, London

New Bond Street Registers, London

Sampson West, London

Scodie Deyong, London

SBL, London

SRLV, London

The Professional Payroll, London

The Pub Experts, Essex

Wilder Coe, London

ETL GLOBAL UK

1 Pavilion Square, Cricketer’s Way

Westhoughton, Bolton, BL5 3AJ

ETL GLOBAL An international network

15,000 PROFESSIONALS

440,000 CLIENTS

The ETL GLOBAL network is constantly growing, which offers enormous opportunities, tools and synergies for both clients and partners. In 2021, the International Accounting Bulletin (IAB) and Accountancy Age, for the first time, ranked ETL GLOBAL as the 15th largest international accounting network based on turnover and staff worldwide and no. 7 in Europe – a fantastic positioning that ETL GLOBAL has been able to hold up in the IAB ever since.

This success represents the determination of ETL GLOBAL to fufil its own vision of becoming the leading professional services network for small and medium-sized clients.

20,000 EMPLOYEES

50+ COUNTRIES

Our Master Partners

The central coordination of UK services is overseen by Master Partners, Sara Brassington and Peter Brassington, who have achieved ongoing growth with the involvement of numerous prestigious firms and professionals since the establishment of the UK network.

The UK arm continues to go from strength to strength. With the guidance of our Master Partners, the network continues working towards its long-term vision to become the largest network of professional service firms in the UK.

Ready to find out more?

Get in touch to start your journey today. Email: info@etl-uk.com

Sara Brassington FCCA

Master Partner ETL GLOBAL UK

Peter Brassington ACA FCCA

Master Partner ETL GLOBAL UK