Business Advisory

Supporting a family business through leadership transition, tax planning and long-term succession

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Robert had worked in the business for eight years before becoming Managing Director four years ago. When Rick stepped back, the handover required careful planning across finance, operations and ownership. Bernard Rogers & Co supported the transition by managing the practical and strategic financial changes needed to move leadership from father to son. This included reviewing shareholder structures, advising on shareholdings and options, and ensuring responsibilities, reporting and governance aligned with Robert’s new role. Jo, their Client Manager, oversaw the process and ensured the transition was smooth, structured and fully understood.

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Alongside the operational changes, Bernard Rogers & Co worked closely with the family on tax and succession planning. This included reviewing the wider group structure, considering inheritance and estate planning, and ensuring future tax efficiency for both the business and the family. The focus was on protecting the business, minimising risk and creating a clear plan for the future, while allowing Robert to step into leadership with confidence. These conversations were handled with care, clarity and discretion, reinforcing the trust built over many years.

Bernard Rogers & Co produce Soma’s annual accounts and manage payroll for their eight employees. Robert has an annual review meeting with Jo and communicates regularly by email whenever questions arise.

When QuickBooks was introduced, Jo visited the business to provide hands-on training for Robert and his team, ensuring everyone felt comfortable with the new system. In Robert’s first year-end accounts as Managing Director, Jo took time to walk him through every figure, removing jargon and explaining the numbers in plain language. This gave him immediate confidence and a clear understanding of the business he was now leading.

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Soma also operates as part of a wider group following the acquisition of another business twelve years ago, a process that Bernard Rogers & Co supported from a financial and structural perspective. That experience continues to inform how the group is managed today, ensuring consistency across companies and a clear view of performance at both individual and group level.

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Consistency is extremely important to Robert, and he values having a trusted adviser who understands both the history of the business and its future direction. He describes Bernard Rogers & Co as highly competent, dependable and supportive, and has never felt the need to consider changing accountants. As Soma continues under Robert’s leadership, Bernard Rogers & Co remain a trusted partner, providing stability, expertise and long-term guidance rooted in a deep understanding of the family business.

Navigating major industry challenges with proactive financial guidance

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Steve first heard about us through his father, who runs a legal practice and valued the personalised and advisory-led service we offer.Adventure Sports initially approached Bernard Rogers & Co for management advice and deeper financial analysis to help them expand and move the business forward. The recommendation was important to them, and from the outset they received a friendly, tailored service that reflected a strong understanding of their sector and ambitions.

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Over the years, we have supported Adventure Sports through considerable change. Brexit had an immediate and damaging impact on their corporate away-day business, with major clients such as Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin halting all activity. David worked closely with Steve to react quickly, reshape the business model and pivot towards public-facing activities.This required rapid decisions and significant investment, from updating their website and online booking systems to building all-year-round visitor shelters.

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The aim was to minimise the financial fallout and create new, sustainable revenue streams at pace. Our proactive approach and monthly and quarterly meetings meant we could provide the strategic guidance needed to move confidently through this transition.

The challenges continued as they completed a major capital project - a new Go-Kart track - just weeks before the first Covid lockdown forced immediate closure. During the early days of the pandemic, Adventure Sports faced difficult decisions about whether to continue at all. Bernard Rogers & Co supported the business through the logistics of furlough,cashflow planning and financial modelling. David worked with Steve to understand every option, helping them remain afloat at a time when the future looked uncertain. When restrictions lifted, their decision to keep going proved the right one. They had a record-breaking reopening year as outdoor activities surged in popularity, and corporate clients later returned stronger than before.

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Alongside strategic support, Lindsey, our Senior Accounts Assistant, works closely with their company secretary to manage day-to-day finances. She assists with legal and compliance matters such as the Employment Rights Bill, zero-hours arrangements and seasonal staffing. Lindsey visits the office several times each quarter and has built a detailed understanding of how the company operates, ensuring they always have hands-on support when they need it.

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Adventure Sports see Bernard Rogers & Co as a proactive partner who knows their business inside out. They value the depth of advice,the speed of response and the genuine investment we show in their long-term success. Through periods of stability and crisis, they have trusted us to provide clarity, reassurance and financial leadership when it matters most.