An expanding firm of business advisors and accountants in the UK has underlined plans to grow its footprint in the South.
Fortus has signed up to an initial 970 sq ft at Ocean Village Innovation Centre (OVIC), Southampton, the serviced offices specialist run by Oxford Innovation Space and home to 50-plus companies.
The location is the 10th for Fortus; other sites are in Scarborough, York, Leeds, Leicester, Peterborough, Northampton, Hertford, Milton Keynes and London.
Fraser Akehurst, Director, Fortus, said: “We currently have a turnover of circa £20m and 280 staff – our aim is to grow the business organically, and through acquisition if there is a strategic fit, in the South.
“Our new Southampton office at OVIC is well placed to develop our 15 services lines which support business owners during their entire journey, from starting out to exiting, and all of the compliance and regulations that come with running a company large and small.
“We’re business advisors building a team of independently minded, talented people with a diverse range of skills and backgrounds to meet our clients’ needs, both commercially and culturally.
“As part of our growth strategy, with the aim of a £30m turnover in the short to medium term, we’ll be looking to recruit here in the Solent region and beyond.
“Prior to moving into OVIC, which suits our needs through the workspace flexibility to upsize without the cost and inconvenience of relocation, Fortus was very much focused in the North.
“However, our service lines are equally relevant to business clients in the South, especially with video conferencing becoming a communication tool for so many companies.”
Mr Akehurst said: “Southampton will become an integral part of the Fortus offering to regional companies, helping owners drive their businesses forward regardless of size and sector. We’re helping business leaders make courageous decisions to grow their businesses and we’re doing the same with ours.”
Stephen Deller, OVIC’s Centre Manager, said: “Fortus joins a growing list of ambitious companies at OVIC, including technology firms trading on the global stage, and is the first business advisory and accountancy of its kind that we’ve had as an occupier.
“As is the case with various OVIC occupiers using each other’s services, it may well be that Fortus goes on to advise companies here as part of our thriving ecosystem.”
Service lines from Fortus include corporate finance, HR, recovery and insolvency, audits, international business, managing property, R&D tax relief, tax advisory, VAT, cloud accounting, financials and business growth strategies.
With 30,000 sq ft of serviced offices and meeting rooms, OVIC is run by Oxford Innovation Space on behalf of the building’s private owner.
