WITH the announcement that the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding (YNYER) Local Enterprise Partnership has secured an extra £12.1 million to be invested in the area between 2016 and 2021, in addition to the £110.1 million in its original deal, things are looking good for home-grown businesses with growth ambitions.

BHP Chartered Accountants, which is based in Micklegate, is keen to help businesses get as much value from this investment as possible. BHP believes it is a good fit for companies which are looking to grow, as it is an entrepreneurial firm in its own right, having grown by 50 per cent over the last three years.

The firm specialises in two of the area’s biggest sectors; agriculture and tourism.

Daniel Sowden, one of BHP’s 18 partners, joined the firm in August last year. He is concentrating on driving the impact of the firm’s York office, with a focus on supporting local businesses in these sectors, working closely with BHP’s Richard Bailey, Guy Ward, Jane Marshall, David Mitchell and Mike Jackson.

Mr Sowden joined BHP with 14 years of experience in audit and accounting and cross-sector knowledge acquired through many years of working with a diverse portfolio of clients.

He said: “I was born, bred and educated in York and it’s great to be working here now at such an exciting time.

“The funding is going to make a huge impact on the area and I understand the LEP is keen to develop projects to support the ambitions of local businesses, whilst providing specific opportunities for those working in agri-tech and bio-renewables.

“I am looking forward to hearing more about the projects as they develop and helping our clients to capitalise on them.”

As well as a businessman, Mr Sowden is a family man, but he explains there are a lot of parallels between the two: “people say that to do business with people, you must ‘know, like and trust’ them, and I think that makes a lot of sense.

“You need to share common goals to really make things work and be striving for the same end-game. I suppose the same is true of family.

“My wife and I have always wanted the same things for our future, and with a recent addition to our family I look forward to making plans as a three going forward.”

 

What job would you like to have other than your own and why?

“I love my role at BHP, so nothing right now. However, when I was younger I always wanted to be a pilot. In fact, I wouldn’t mind getting a private pilot’s license so I can pursue flying planes as a hobby.”

Greatest achievement?

“I’m really lucky in having already achieved so much of what I want; a perfect wife, wonderful daughter and I’m doing my ideal job in my home city. I think the combination of the three is the greatest thing I have done.”

What makes you most angry?

“I get frustrated when people tell lies; honesty is so important to the success of every relationship and partnership in life. Also, as I believe listening is fundamental to good communication, I can find it difficult if someone asks a question but then doesn’t really listen to the answer they are being given.”

Biggest mistake?

“I think people learn through their mistakes, so in a way a big mistake is a big lesson. Everything happens for a reason. There is very little I regret, and all of my mistakes led me to a better place. Except maybe selling my vintage car, a mistake in that I miss it a lot!”

What do you need to make life complete?

“Family, friends, mountains and beer. What could be better?”

How do you make a difference?

“I try to make a difference both at work and in the community. At work I encourage positivity. At BHP we empower staff and provide a supportive environment to help people with their professional development. This is really important to me. I am also a trustee of a local charity and a parish councillor.

“I try to give both of these as much time as I can because I really value trying to create a better place for people in the neighbourhood to share.”

Epitaph

“At last, a hole in one!”