Accountants expand Berwick practice with local merger

Patrick Evans, who founded Optimus in 2011, will now join Rennie Welch as a partner bringing his team of staff to the firm.

The deal bolsters the Rennie Welch team to over 40 staff and seven partners operating from three locations.

The firm has also announced it plans to move into a larger dedicated premises in Berwick later this year to accommodate the enlarged team and provide it with room for further growth across the local region. Both firms currently occupy serviced office suites in Berwick Workspace.

Headquartered in Kelso in the Scottish Borders, Rennie Welch was founded in the 1920’s. Five years ago the firm embarked on an expansion programme opening new offices in Melrose in 2014, as part of the merger with a local firm in the Scottish Borders town. Two years later the firm further expanded into Berwick on Tweed where its team is led by partner Mark Thompson.

While Rennie Welch has a long-established reputation as an agricultural accounting and taxation specialist, in recent years the firm has also built a strong client base within retail, manufacturing, hotel and catering and service industries.

Mark Thompson, tax partner at Rennie Welch, said: “We are delighted to announce our merger with Optimus. The new combined operation will continue to provide the same friendly professional service to its clients and will also benefit from the wider expertise and support of the enlarged team.

“I’m particularly pleased to welcome Patrick Evans, whom I’ve known for nearly 30 years, and his colleagues to the firm. We share a very similar culture and ethos which we look forward to building on as we move forward. Patrick is an experienced and highly regarded professional who has developed a successful and modern firm since setting up Optimus. He and his colleagues will now continue to provide day to day support and advice to existing clients while helping expand Rennie Welch’s business across Northumberland, Berwickshire and East Lothian.”

Optimus founder Patrick Evans added: “This merger is a powerful proposition that brings together two firms with a strong business and excellent reputation. By joining forces we will add value to the clients we service across the North East of England and the Scottish Borders.

“I am excited about the prospect of working with Mark and his colleagues as part of the expanded team at Rennie Welch. I also look forward to continuing working closely with our existing clients, many of whom have been with us from the early days of our business, and attracting new clients as we aim to grow our business across the region.”