Business Action August / September 2019

West Heanton’s fleet of electric cars with home carers: (from left) Bernie, Jo and Michelle
Home carers fleet goes electric
West Heanton, at Buckland
Filleigh, which operates its
own care home and provides
domiciliary care for 40 families
in the area, has invested in
a fleet of six electric cars for its
home care staff.
The business has always
supported its home care staff
by paying them for the entire
shift they work, including
travelling time, rather than
just for care visits. It has also
always provided vehicles, so
that staff don’t have to use
One of the UK’s fastest
growing business advisory
firms is expanding its presence
in North Devon after acquiring
one of Barnstaple’s longstanding
accountancy practices.
Perrins Chartered Accountants
has joined the Baldwins
Group and changed its name
to Baldwins with immediate
effect, with staff remaining at
the existing office.
Established in North Devon
in 1914, Perrins’ 20 staff serve
more than 1,000 Devon and
Cornwall-based commercial
and agricultural, business and
personal tax clients.
This follows the 2017 acquisition
of Davisons and brings
Baldwins’ total number of West
Country offices to six. Its other
offices being in South Molton,
Holsworthy, Launceston,
Tavistock and Truro.
Matthew Gard, regional
managing partner for Baldwins
in the West Country, says:
“Joining forces with Perrins
forms part of our ongoing
plans to expand our reach
their own cars, and previously
ran a fleet of petrol cars.
In 2018, the business
started researching electric
cars and realised they would
be a viable option for West
Heanton. It secured finance
from Lloyds Bank Clean
Growth Financing Initiative,
which provides reduced rate
lending for business projects
that reduce emissions, are
energy efficient, low carbon,
reduce waste, recycle or
improve water efficiency.
across the West Country. We
have been working with the
North Devon community for
over 70 years. Our investment
in Perrins underlines
our confidence and long-term
commitment to the business
in the area and our desire to
continue to grow.
“It will be business as usual
for the staff and clients.”
This enabled the business to
purchase six Renault Zoes and
six rapid charging stations,
which can charge all six cars
from flat in one hour. The
white cars all feature West
Heanton’s branding so are
instantly recognisable.
Each car covers 80 miles
per charge and can be
re-charged between shifts.
They have reduced fuel costs
from 25p to 12p per mile, in
addition to the associated
environmental benefits. They
Accountancy firm
goes national
Baldwins team: (from left) Simon Osment, Matthew Gard and Chris Birch
Shaun Knight, board
director at Baldwins,
continues: “We look forward
to expanding and working
with the business community
in Devon. The acquisitions
underline our commitment to
the Devon and Cornwall business
communities.
“Local relationships are key
and practices will benefit from
also have a precondition
feature, enabling them to be
cooled in summer or heated
in winter before shifts, so are
comfortable and ready to go.
This environmental initiative
is in addition to installing
solar panels and a bio-mass
boiler for heating West Heanton’s
care home.
■■Details 01409 281754 or
westheanton.co.uk
West Heanton award
see page 20
the digital and technological
innovations implemented
within Baldwins, in order to
meet the demands of the ever
changing regulatory and digital
landscape, as well as client
expectations.
Chris Birch, director at
Perrins, will continue to lead
the firm’s Barnstaple office,
alongside Simon Osment.
Chris says: “Joining forces
with Baldwins takes our firm
to the next level where we can
expand our reach with their
additional services, and in turn,
expand our workforce.
“This spells great news for
our clients as we can use Baldwins’
national coverage and
depth of specialist expertise to
offer business advisory services
that stretch beyond general
accountancy.
Baldwins, a Cogital Group
company, has more than 90 UK
offices, employs over 2,800 staff
and has an annual turnover of
approximately £200 million.
■■Details 01271 343004 or
baldwinsaccountants.co.uk
@businessactionm | August / September 2019 | business action 3