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By Oli Thomas, co-founder and director of Purple Lime Accountancy Ltd based in Wiltshire. Purple Lime is an accountancy firm which takes a more strategic, advisory role in our client’s businesses. Since data capture and processing have become automated through technology, the team can use the data to give pro-active advice and support, while still doing the traditional compliance work.

Summarise how Covid-19 has affected you? 

Purple Lime has been built on cloud technology from our formation, so the lockdown didn’t require a big change in how we work, only where we work. The whole team packed up their desks and carried on effectively supporting our clients from home. 

We have been very fortunate in that most of our clients have been able to continue trading, and we have even developed some new business. We were ready to monitor new government directives and schemes as they came out so we could actively advise our clients. 

Incredibly, the Purple Lime team has grown during Covid-19 with a new director and practice manager joining us. 

What has been your plan to continue?  

We continue to provide outstanding service to our clients and support each other like we have, particularly in the past several months. We are prepared to help SME businesses who may be affected by lockdown and the distancing guidelines by becoming their outsourced financial department or helping them adjust their business plans.

How has business changed for you over the last few months? 

We have been able to continue in very much the same way as before lockdown began. Our business lives in the cloud and we continue to process our clients’ financial data in real-time. 

Our team meetings have had to move to video, but we decided to up it to twice per week as the regular office interaction vanished.

As lockdown eases what measures have you put in place to get back to business? 

Our office is located in a spacious country manor in Corsham. Hartham Park has a large number of meeting rooms and outdoor areas for us to hold any required meetings. The Purple Lime office has several rooms, which we will set up to space out our staff as they return, in small numbers, when the government advice changes.  

What has been the most challenging aspect of all of this? 

Working apart from each other has been tough. We are a very close group of colleagues and although our work may not require us to be in the same surroundings, we like each other’s company. Not being able to travel to meet with existing and potential clients has been a challenge, but video conferences have worked out well as an alternative. 

What has been the most positive aspect? 

The most positive aspect has been how agile we have been as a company. This agility has enabled us to continue working seamlessly from home, providing the outstanding service our customers have come to expect of us.

Has it made you consider how you feel about other businesses/suppliers/customers/clients for good or otherwise? 

I feel we have made the best choice for our business and are able to provide the best advice to our customers. All companies should actively concentrate on making their businesses agile. 

As the current situation looks to be one that will continue for the medium to long term, companies should bear that in mind when steering their business decisions.

How important is this phrase to you – ‘buy local, supply local’? 

Although we are fully cloud based, it is very important to support local business where possible. We have so many relationships with various local businesses who support one another and the local economy. Supporting local business is a sort of British tradition and not letting our high streets get taken over by large chains. The latter is more important than ever. 

What are your top tips at this time?  

1. Support your staff including their mental well-being.

2. Be prepared for further changes in government policies and recommendations.

3. The way of working has been changed for the medium and possibly long term. Businesses should keep this in mind and tweak their business plans accordingly.

Your parting thought? 

This is a trying time for businesses around the world. This has cemented the fact that business agility is the top priority.

Find out more by visiting https://www.purplelime.uk.com/

Fiona Scott Media Consultancy Swindon

Scott Media

Scott Media is run by a UK-based journalist with more than 20 years' experience in the media - print, radio and television.

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Fiona Scott Media Consultancy
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