Garbutt + Elliott appoints two corporate finance directors as part of growth plan

Two new directors have been created as part of an expansion of the corporate finance team at Yorkshire accountants and business advisers, Garbutt + Elliott.

Nick Barker and Stephen Garbett, who joined the team in 2017 after several years working in corporate finance with another large North Yorkshire accountancy practice, become corporate finance directors in the department led by partners Tony Farmer and Tariq Javaid.

As part of the restructure, Martin Miller, who joined the firm in 2009, joins the team as a corporate finance manager, taking the total team to 12.

The appointments will enable Nick Barker and Stephen Garbett to lead their own specialist teams and handle deals in what remains a busy market in spite of the pandemic.

The team has completed 65 UK-wide deals with a total value of £160m in the last 12 months, including arranging £40m of Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans (CBILS) during the pandemic lockdown.

Head of corporate finance, Tony Farmer, says: “After a busy and successful start to 2020, in spite of the lockdown, we have a healthy deals pipeline for the rest of the year with a growing number coming through recommendation and involving new clients from outside Yorkshire and Humber.

“As well as allowing Nick and Steve to lead their own deals, supported by Martin Miller providing additional back-up as a corporate finance manager, this expansion will increase our capacity for handling transactions to maintain a high-quality service and create more time for strategic development.”

Garbutt + Elliott’s 12-strong corporate finance team, which operates from its Leeds and York offices, has managed hundreds of deals throughout the UK across a wide range of commercial sectors.