Posted on Friday 7th February 2025
Founder and Managing Director of Sempar Steve Timmis, Marketing Manager Emily Walker, and Business Development Manager James Finucane.
A local accountancy firm has grown from a two-man team at a Newcastle-under-Lyme based enterprise centre to one of the top businesses in the region.
Boasting an annual turnover of almost £2 million, Sempar has cemented its status as one of the top accountancy businesses in the West Midlands.
The now 29-strong workforce started in 2016 at Lymedale Business Centre, one of Staffordshire County Council’s eight enterprise centres designed to support small business with flexible workspaces and on-site support.
Steve Timmis, Sempar’s Founder and Managing Director, said the enterprise centre played a pivotal role in his business’ journey.
He said:
“I’m hugely proud of our dramatic growth, which comes from developing a culture of inspiring our staff to be the best that they can be, to support our clients to be the best they can be.
“But it was also about having a stress-free, flexible and supportive environment to start-up in; somewhere we could just focus on the clients without the other distractions and hassles of business premises.”
The flexible monthly licence agreement allowed Steve to easily move into larger offices within the enterprise centre as his firm hired more local talent.
Steve added:
“Running a business can be a lonely place when you start up but, at Lymedale, you could solve a business problem, pick up a client and hire a trade all in the space of a day, with so many different businesses coming together as a community.
“Enterprise centres are professional spaces and we were proud to welcome our clients there. Lymedale Business Centre, and the people and businesses in it, was a key part of how we’ve grown so quickly.
“I would recommend enterprise centres to any business looking to start-up or grow.”
Sempar has since moved to larger premises in Stoke-on-Trent and will relocate to Keele University’s Innovation Centre later this month to support further growth.
Philip White, Staffordshire County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, said:
“Sempar’s story is extraordinary and shows exactly how our enterprise centres help businesses grow by providing flexible, professional, and affordable workspaces.
“Just like Sempar, businesses can scale up and move on when they’re ready. In the meantime, they have the supportive environment they need to build a strong customer base.
“Our centres are here to support small businesses. If you’re thinking of starting one this year, visit our brand new website to explore the spaces available in Burton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Cannock, and Stafford.”
For businesses seeking flexible and affordable workspaces, Staffordshire County Council offers options across eight enterprise centres.
Non-tenants can also book hot desks and meeting rooms at selected centres.
Find out more at Business and Enterprise Centres - Staffordshire County Council.
Watch on YouTube: Accountancy firm hits £2 million turnover after starting out at Lymedale Business Centre