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S&W strengthens North East presence with acquisition of Peppercorn Tax
S&W, the leading professional services group, is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement to acquire Peppercorn Tax, a specialist tax advisory firm based in Newcastle. The deal strengthens S&W’s presence in the North East and supports its strategy of investing in high-quality regional expertise.
Peppercorn provides specialist tax advice and accounting services to individuals, businesses, and trusts, delivered by an experienced, client-focused team. The deal builds on S&W’s regional growth, following the acquisitions of three northern Haines Watts offices in 2024 and Leathers LLP in 2023, both of which expanded the Newcastle team.
Eight new colleagues, including directors Emma Glover and Kelly Morgan, will join S&W as part of the transaction.
Andrew Wilkes, CEO of S&W, commented: “The acquisition of Peppercorn Tax is a significant step in our strategy to continue growing in key regional markets. With strong support from Apax Funds we’re investing in specialist expertise that strengthens our business and enables us to work with even more clients. I’m excited to welcome the Peppercorn team to S&W.”
Donna Bulmer, Regional Managing Partner at S&W, added: “This deal significantly enhances our tax advisory offering to clients in the North East. The Peppercorn team brings deep technical expertise and a proven track record of building trusted client relationships. Their commitment to exceptional service aligns perfectly with ours, and I look forward to working closely with our new colleagues to deliver tailored, high-quality advice across the region.”
Kelly Morgan, Director at Peppercorn Tax added: “We are delighted to be joining S&W and look forward to the great opportunities this presents for our team and our clients. Our success has been built on delivering exceptional technical expertise, combined with a deep commercial understanding of our clients and their businesses. Those same qualities are at the core of S&W’s values, and we are excited to be joining a firm with a strong national reputation and an excellent regional presence.
“We are confident that the broader suite of services that will now be available to our clients will enhance the support we can provide. We are really looking forward to working with Donna and her team in the North.”
Picture caption (l-r): Donna Bulmer (S&W), Kelly Morgan (Peppercorn Tax) and Emma Glover (Peppercorn Tax)