RSS feedsThe credit crunch, so far at least, is fuelling more questions than answers.
Are London-based media, City institutions and corporates over-reacting to the credit crunch? Have the regions got grounds for being less pessimistic? How serious is the impact on SMEs and on professional practices outside the big cities? Are government support schemes, development agencies and regional initiatives providing real aid where it’s most needed, or are they of little or no value? Can the latest programme of regional engagement launched by Yvette Cooper, chief secretary to the Treasury, prove more effective?
Wilf Altman has garnered opinion across the regions from UK200Group practices on what economic and financial issues are affecting them and their clients.
As one leading member of the group points out: ‘Clients are looking at cost bases and there is already a squeeze on fees for compliance work. This moves clients to unqualified accountants without the controls and training, who operate on price. Clients are also seeing an increasing number of bad debts – mostly from larger businesses.’
Best Practice will be taking a closer look at individual regions over the coming months. Here though is a snapshot of the current economic climate – region by region.
