Two Partner promotions at Bishop Fleming

(Left to right: Jon Sparkes, Andrew Sandiford & Luke Venner)

Leading audit, accountancy, tax, and advisory firm Bishop Fleming has announced the latest round of internal promotions to its partnership as part of its ambitious growth plans.

Jon Sparkes, a Tax Director based in Plymouth and Luke Venner, a Restructuring Director based in Exeter, have joined Bishop Fleming’s partner group with immediate effect. 

Jon Sparkes

Having joined Bishop Fleming in 2012 as a Senior Manager, Jon Sparkes became a Tax Director in 2015. Working closely with a range of owner-managed businesses, Jon advises on corporate tax matters for businesses and personal tax issues for their owners. He also leads the firm’s tax services to charity and not-for-profit clients. 

Jon commented:

“I’m really pleased to be promoted to Partner at what is an exciting time for the firm. I’m looking forward to continuing to help the firm grow by supporting both existing and new clients and helping our team to develop their skills.”

Luke Venner

Prior to becoming a Partner, Luke Venner, who joined Bishop Fleming as a trainee in 2005, worked his way up to Director in the firm’s Restructuring team.

Based in Exeter, he is one of the firm’s two Licensed Insolvency Practitioners and a FCCA Certified Accountant, with wide experience of advising lenders, directors and shareholders on strategies and options in both distressed and solvent situations. He also has a background in other corporate services, including accountancy and auditing.

Luke commented:

“I am delighted to move into a Partner role at Bishop Fleming, having progressed through the firm since joining as a Trainee Accountant a number of years ago. My promotion is a great demonstration of Bishop Fleming’s ongoing commitment to training, supporting, and growing its people, and I am very much looking forward to contributing to our continued success and growth plans.

Supporting our clients and our wider communities is a core principle of Bishop Fleming, so at a time when many businesses of all shapes and sizes are faced with increased finance costs, inflationary pressures and supply chain difficulties, my appointment positions us well to continue helping businesses with their most challenging financial circumstances.”

Andrew Sandiford, Managing Partner commented:

“These promotions align with our strategy of growing our professional services to our clients and bringing talent up through our business. We congratulate both Jon and Luke and wish them success in their new leadership roles”.

The firm, which has eight offices across the West Midlands and the South West is currently enjoying considerable growth having posted double-digit growth for the second consecutive year in 22/23.

Coupled with record levels of apprentices and experienced hires coming into the business, the firm expects its headcount to reach 500 for the first time this year.

The firm is also a certified Great Place to Work® and was ranked fifth in the inaugural UK Accountancy Age Mid-Tier Power Index.