I specialise in agricultural clients, which is a sector more dominated by family businesses than some other sectors. I would estimate about 95 per cent of agricultural clients are true family businesses.

Working with agricultural business and helping them is a perfect fit for Armstrong Watson because quite a few of us in our team have come from family farms or other family businesses. We understand it.

I am a farmer’s son. My dad has retired now. But I spend every weekend and a lot of summer nights helping on my friend’s farm now.

We live and breathe agriculture. It’s what we do. We understand the issues and the challenges better rather than just being the accountants.

We are well qualified to help with all financial issues. But it’s far deeper than that. It’s about building relationships with that family business of all generations.

Once there is a trust built, you get to know the family’s aspirations, motivations, what their worries are. It then allows you to give them the best advice. You get to know where the business has come from, where it is going and you can support the family.

As a firm we deal with agriculture clients of all shapes and sizes all the way from Lincolnshire to central Scotland, from part-time small holdings to businesses with a turnover of £15m, and everything in between. To put it simply, if you are in agriculture, we at Armstrong Watson are the people to talk to.

Listening to what those in agriculture are telling us at the moment, the uncertainty over Brexit causes concern. It’s a case of understanding that and preparing for 2020 if that’s when we come out of Europe.

There’s also the issue of succession for family members. There might be a son or a daughter working on a farm and keen to take it on, and maybe one that has forged a career in something else. And it’s how to treat them fairly.

A lot of farmers are trying to make the most use they can out of assets they hold, whether that’s land or property, and in some cases that involves diversification. The volatile nature of farm returns is also an issue.

We spend time with clients, out on their farms so we really get to know them and their businesses.

That way we can work with them, giving best advice, to help them with all their hopes and aspirations.

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