Carpenter Box merges with Hartley Fowler’s Brighton office

Carpenter Box, a member of the Sumer Group, has merged with the Brighton office of Hartley Fowler. 

The deal expands the firm’s footprint in Sussex and adds a team of 16 professionals to the group’s national network.

Following the merger, Guy Rolliston and Daniel Chapman will join the Carpenter Box board as partners. 

The Hartley Fowler Brighton team will also relocate to Carpenter Box’s existing Brighton premises to continue serving small and medium-sized enterprises in the region.

Sumer Group, which is backed by funding from Penta Capital and BlackRock, operates more than 60 offices across the UK. 

The group stated that the merger will provide local clients with access to a broader range of specialist services, including audit, tax, and advisory.

Alan Edwards, managing partner at Carpenter Box, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Brighton office of Hartley Fowler to the Sumer Group family. Brighton has a strong and growing SME community, and this merger allows us to deepen our presence in the city.

“By combining our teams, we can offer local businesses access to a broader range of specialist services, including tax, audit and advisory, backed by the scale and expertise of the wider Sumer Group.”

Rolliston added: “Joining Carpenter Box, and the wider Sumer Group, marks an exciting new chapter for our Brighton branch. Our clients will benefit from enhanced service capabilities while maintaining the strong personal relationships and local knowledge they value. We’re proud to join an organisation that shares our commitment to supporting SME businesses and the communities they serve.”