WESTBURY accountancy firm Busy Books will celebrate its third year of trading in 2015, and has been announced as a finalist in three categories in this year’s Wiltshire Business Awards.
In competition with over 170 other Wiltshire organisations, self-employed mum Natasha Penny and her venture Busy Books have been shortlisted for Small Business of the Year and Business Person of the Year, and will also be in with a chance of winning the Overall Excellence Award.
Natasha, who made White Horse News’s front page last year with her fundraising drive across Europe, set up Busy Books in 2012. She did so after leaving an accountancy job to become a more dedicated mother to her then two year-old daughter.
She has since expanded her customer base massively and taken on another member of staff, Chrystal, as an accounts assistant.
Natasha said, “I’m so proud that we have been named as finalists; I never thought we’d get this far! It’s great to hear someone tell us we’re doing the right thing and for the right reasons, and it has boosted my faith in the business.
“Busy Books has been massively successful and I would never go back on my choice to go it alone. I’ve got it all now I work for myself! I don’t answer to anybody and if I want to take the morning off to be with my daughter I can.
“Having Chrystal as an apprentice and now full-time employee has helped a lot – the business couldn’t run as it does without her.
“It has allowed me to strike the right balance between work and family, and has grown so well.
“Busy Books began with me helping two or three clients with just my calculator on my cold front room floor, and we now provide services for over 60 local clients and work from a dedicated home office.
“Professionalism is a priority of ours, but we always keep a personal touch.
“Our ethos is and always will be to support local business. We feel a duty to give up-to-date advice and to ensure we know every detail about business and tax affairs so we can truly help each individual’s circumstance.
“We do not overlook the small companies or the sole traders who large accounts firms do not have time for. We pride ourselves on offering a unique and tailored accounts and bookkeeping service, and going the extra mile always for our customers. We make a good cuppa, too!
“I want to give huge thanks to all my Westbury customers and supporters, without whom I couldn’t do it.”
Chrystal joined Busy Books as an apprentice in 2014, and is now Natasha’s first full-time employee.
Chrystal said, “I’m delighted that Busy Books are finalists for the Wiltshire Business of the Year Awards!
“Since I began there in January last year, Natasha has inspired me with her business values, hard work and enthusiasm to be the best she can be for our customers.
“She has proven to be very supportive of me as an apprentice and I can honestly say that working at Busy Books is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I’m extremely excited for the future of the company and very proud to be a part of it.”
Natasha will find out if she has won when she joins other finalists for the Wiltshire Business of the Year Awards dinner at Center Parcs in April.
Busy Books hope to expand in the near future by setting up an external office, offering drop-in sessions for local businesses, and is teaming up with Wessex Chamber of Commerce to provide a support package for new business start ups.
Busy Books offer a wide range of accountancy and administration services, including book-keeping and VAT completion; self-assessment tax returns; account preparation for small businesses, sole traders and partners; PAYE, payroll and employee services, and more.
Find out more at www.busybookswestbury.co.uk, by calling 01373 229589, or find them on Facebook and Twitter.
Natasha will also be racing in the Motoscape European Rally again later this year, and is on the lookout for potential sponsors. If interested you can contact her on the above details. More details will be released later in the year.
