The accountancy firm is focused on ‘cementing its presence in the south west’, building on its already well-established office in Cheltenham, which is the base for more than 550 staff making it one of the largest employers in the region.

Hazlewoods opened its first office in Bristol around two years ago and the move to the new office in Bull Wharf builds on the success achieved to date, while providing ample room for growth as the team expands. 

The move is expected to attract new talent from the Bristol area, with Hazlewoods actively recruiting for positions ranging from entry-level to senior management, while also expanding its client base across the south west.

Top 30 firm Hazlewoods is one of the fastest growing independently owned accountancy firms in the UK and reported fee income of £49.5m for year end April 2024, with double figure growth.

Partner Becki Copping was recently appointed as the lead for the Bristol office to spearhead the planned growth in the market. She started her career at EY in Bristol before joining Hazlewoods in 2018. 

Copping said: ‘Hazlewoods’ continued growth into the Bristol market is exciting for me both personally and professionally. Bristol and the wider South West is thriving and now feels like the perfect time for us to further invest in the market.

‘Our new office provides a brilliant working environment for our team and will facilitate further growth. I am particularly proud to have the opportunity to lead the Bristol office, and look forward to building our presence in the region.’

Copping is not the only senior staff member with significant experience of Bristol’s business landscape; Hazlewoods managing partner, James Morter, formerly of Grant Thornton, Phil Lane, M&A partner and chief operating officer, ex Deloitte, and Daniel Bond, partner, ex BDO, are also well-known in the area. 

In response to the new office move, Phil Lane, M&A partner, said: ‘Having spent more than 25 years working with clients and connectors in the Bristol market, I am delighted we have had the opportunity to expand our office footprint here, marking a significant milestone in our growth strategy.

‘This expansion feels like a natural next step, offering fantastic opportunities to grow both our client base and our talent pool, whilst leveraging our strong, full-service firmwide capability.’ 

Managing partner James Morter, added: ‘We already have a number of key clients and a great team in Bristol, and the new office under Becki’s leadership will further enhance our growth prospects in the market.

‘Having spent a significant proportion of my working career in Bristol, it is a market I have always had a strong interest in and I look forward to supporting Becki with her plans.’ 

Hazlewoods has offices in Cheltenham, Bristol and Cardiff, with over 550 staff, principally based across three sites in Cheltenham. In the last 12 months, the workforce has grown by over 100, illustrating the rapid growth trajectory.

A full list of vacancies can be seen here.