Brick Live International, specialising in Lego and brick-based sculptures for global events, has entered administration as of 12 September 2024. Resolve partners Simon Jagger and Ben Woodthorpe have been appointed joint administrators and are seeking a buyer for the business and its assets. Pre-Covid revenues reached £5.4m, but the pandemic caused a decline. The company owns an extensive portfolio of themed sculptures and over 75,000 kg of toy bricks. Jagger believes the business could recover to pre-Covid levels with the right management, citing improved market conditions in the events industry and its valuable international customer base.
Bishop Fleming has appointed Tom Morrill as the new audit director for its Cheltenham office. Morrill brings nearly a decade of experience, particularly in the industrial sectors of waste management and construction. His appointment comes as the Cheltenham audit team has grown significantly in the past year, adding new directors, senior managers, and associates. Bishop Fleming’s audit revenue has increased by over 20% in the last two years, and the firm reported double-digit fee growth in 2024. Morrill aims to strengthen the firm’s presence in Cheltenham and expand its client base across the Gloucestershire region.
MHA has welcomed a record 214 new trainees in 2024, nearly doubling last year’s intake of 130. These trainees, including apprentices and graduates, will work across MHA’s service lines, such as audit, tax, and advisory, at 21 offices across the UK and Ireland. Chairman Rakesh Shaunak expressed excitement over the firm’s expansion and its commitment to fostering young talent. MHA’s head of talent acquisition, Leanne Wilkins, emphasised the firm’s focus on developing new recruits through a structured training program. This growth reflects MHA’s ambitious plans and its dedication to nurturing future leaders within the firm.
KPMG’s latest Regulatory Barometer revealed that regulatory pressure on financial firms has intensified in 2024, particularly around consumer protection due to the FCA’s Consumer Duty reform. The regulatory impact score for consumer protection increased from 6.8 to 7.4, while payment regulation and digital finance also saw rises. New rules for marketing crypto assets, such as cooling-off periods, contributed to these changes. Despite some relief in ESG regulation, firms face increased scrutiny to meet operational resilience standards. KPMG highlighted the challenges firms face responding to the FCA’s heightened supervisory demands while adjusting to evolving consumer protection expectations.
