An Essex-based accountancy firm has joined forces with another established local practice in a move which will see it increase the support it provides to its regional business community.
HSA & Co is a chartered accountancy and business advisory firm that’s been based in Great Chesterford, near Saffron Walden, for more than 25 years. Its 40-strong team offers tax, payroll and auditing support to more than 500 clients across East Anglia and London, ranging from personal tax accounts to charities and business groups from a wide range of sectors. In 2022, it expanded with a second site in Newmarket.
The business has now used a £400,000 funding package from Lloyds to acquire Lanham and Company, a local accountancy firm also based near Saffron Walden.
The team at HSA & Co already had a long-standing working relationship with Lanham and Company, which is marking its 40th anniversary this year.
The deal will see the two accountancy firms merge, with all seven of Lanham and Company’s team joining HSA & Co at its office in Great Chesterford and working under its brand. They will continue to support their existing client base who will now also be able to access the services of HSA & Co’s wider team. This will allow HSA & Co to immediately expand its client base by more than 300 businesses.
It also enables HSA & Co to bolster its expertise across its central services and virtual finance teams. The latter has become a growing area where companies are seeking support, with recent research from Lloyds revealing that 55% of small businesses in the UK were not prepared ahead of the Making Tax Digital deadline on 7th August.1
The support from Lloyds follows the news that more than £3bn of new finance can be available to businesses across the East of England in 2026, as part of Lloyds Banking Group’s plan to make more than £35bn of new finance available to companies operating and investing across the UK in 2026.2
Adam Burt, managing director at HSA & Co, said: “We’ve known the team at Lanham and Company for several years and seen first-hand the excellent advice and service that it offers to businesses in the region. As it explored what was next for the practice 40 years since being established by Hugh Lanham, the opportunity to merge with our team felt like a natural next step and it’s been brilliant to welcome it into the fold.
“This deal leaves both of us in a much stronger position to continue to provide the high-quality support our clients know us for, while providing a platform for our continued growth and development. I’m grateful to the team at Lloyds for its support in allowing us to get this transaction over the line.”
Simon Minister, relationship manager at Lloyds, added: “Bringing together these two well-established independent firms will strengthen the support available to businesses across the region. At a time when many organisations are navigating significant changes, access to trusted professional advice has never been more important.
“This deal marks an exciting new chapter for both HSA & Co and Lanham and Company, and we’re pleased to have supported them with this.”
Essex accountancy firm expands support for local business community with acquisition
