Gloucestershire-based accountants and business advisers Hazlewoods has taken time to reflect on the past and look forward to the future.

During a day at Cheltenham Racecourse in October, one of the few local venues large enough to hold the growing firm, Hazlewoods staff came together for the afternoon and enjoyed a staff conference.

This included an overview of the business from a selection of the partners and a fascinating guest speaker in the mountaineer, Andy Cave.

When the evening arrived, staff were entertained by both the Chip Shop Boys and the newly-formed Hazlewoods band, the 'Tax Pistols'.

This was a great opportunity to engage staff in the business and for everyone to catch up in a less formal environment than the office.

HR director Julia Jones said: "It is important for us to involve all of our employees in the direction of the business and to ensure everyone has their chance to feedback. Taking time out to reflect on our successes and look at where we are all going next is so valuable."

With rising university fees and increasing press coverage on the skills gap across the country, Hazlewoods has also continued to invest in its staff in order to develop as a business. The firm has attracted another record intake of 29 trainees in 2017.

Jones said: "Trainees are very important to Hazlewoods and the continued success of the firm. Indeed, 12 of the current 25 partners originally trained with Hazlewoods, so the opportunities to progress are excellent."

Picture caption: Hazlewoods' trainees