A longstanding firm of accountants with offices in Bury St Edmunds and Attleborough is to merge its business into one of the region’s leading firms. Howard & Company, which has operated since the late 1980s, is to join Lovewell Blake, with staff and clients transferring to the firm’s Bury St Edmunds and Thetford offices. Howard & Company principal Gary Howard will join Lovewell Blake as a consultant. Mr Howard founded his firm after gaining experience and qualifying at firms in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Lovewell Blake managing partner Colin Fish said, “We are delighted to welcome Gary and his team into Lovewell Blake. He and his staff bring a good range of complementary skills and experience into our Bury St Edmunds and Thetford teams. Gary is particularly well-known in Bury, and this merger cements our commitment to building our business in Suffolk, as well as more widely in the region. “His existing clients will enjoy continuity in the service they receive, as well as gaining access to a wider range of services and specialist expertise which Lovewell Blake can offer.” Mr Howard added, “I have watched Lovewell Blake’s reputation grow in both Bury St Edmunds and southwest Norfolk, and it is clear that they have a similar approach to client service, and a complementary culture to Howard & Company. “The two firms are an excellent fit, and with the extra resources and specialist skills which Lovewell Blake can offer, coupled with the continuity afforded by the transfer of our staff, clients will receive an even better service.” The move further increases Lovewell Blake’s presence in Bury St Edmunds, with 20 staff now based at its Hillside Business Park office.
