Stockport accountants on a high with mountaineering client win

Stockport based firm of accountants, Hurst, have secured the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) as a full-service client, following a competitive tender process.

Hurst will provide audit, tax and accounting servics for the BMC, which is headquartered in West Didsbury, as well as offer strategic support and advice. The BMC is the national representative body for climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers in England and Wales, with 85,000 members and 35 staff, plus hundreds of volunteers.

The BMC is the latest addition to the Stockport accountants’ growing roster of clients in the leisure and lifestyle and not-for-profit sectors, with a focus on membership organisations.

Other clients in these areas include the Royal Exchange Theatre Company, Lancashire County Cricket Club, Chill Factore, Manchester Art Gallery, Super League Europe and Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

The Hurst team advising the BMC is led by business services partner Helen Besant-Roberts and includes managers Sam Tingey and Paul Wright. Helen said:

We’re thrilled to add the British Mountaineering Council to our expanding client base.

“It’s a high-profile membership organisation and representative body which does an enormous amount of great work.

“We’re really looking forward to working in partnership with the BMC and helping the organisation to scale new heights.”

Founded in 1944, the BMC is also an environmental campaign group, contributes to international standards work, organises competitions and represents the UK on the International Federation of Sport Climbing, the governing body for competition climbing.

It has its own charity, the Access & Conservation Trust, which funds footpath restoration and conservation events and information.

The BMC also runs the GB Climbing Team, which will be entering the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Services to members include providing travel insurance, discounts at outdoor shops, reduced rates for Alpine huts and special offers on items such as guidebooks and maps.

Alan Brown, the BMC’s financial controller, said of their new relationship with Stockport accountants, Hurst:

Following a tender and interview process during a particularly problematic time, namely the start of the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown, HURST impressed with its professional approach and its communication with, and support for, existing clients.

“We look forward to HURST demonstrating the same level of care and attention to the BMC in our new relationship.”