In this section of the website, we introduce you to one of our firms. Up next is Hallidays with Director Paul Whitney. Read his answers to our questions to get to know him and Hallidays better.
What do you like about working for your firm?
“I’ve worked at Hallidays for a long time and I can proudly say it’s a great place to work. It’s fun with a friendly environment and we have a great team that we support and grow however we can. Our flexible working policies allow us to create a perfect work/life balance and the culture of ‘support, inspire, grow’ that has been instilled has made us the business advisors that we are today. We have great clients that we support throughout their business lifecycle and we’re forward thinking to help and inspire them to achieve their goals. ”
What are in your words the strengths of your firm?
“Hallidays’ strengths come from within our team. First we support team members to grow to enable them to offer a proactive level of service focussed on what matters most to the client to ensure we help them achieve their goals. This has enabled us to become very strong financially and become pioneering by offering key advisory services. The underpinning mission, vision and goals and the way it is filtered throughout the team is key to our strength and relates back to the overall culture which Hallidays is all about and makes sure that we’re all pulling in the same direction.”
“The impact of working with difficult clients can be costly from a business perspective but also a health perspective.”
Paul Whitney, Managing Director of Hallidays.
What is the most valuable lesson you have learned at your firm?
“One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learnt and I wish I had done it sooner would be to drop problematic clients immediately if they don’t fit the culture of Hallidays. If what they stand for and what they are trying to achieve doesn’t align and they don’t have a similar culture then we shouldn’t be acting for them. The impact of working with difficult clients can be costly from a business perspective but also a health perspective, it’s no good for anyone. If they don’t share the core values of Hallidays then the relationship cannot develop.”
What is the best or most rewarding experience you have had at your firm so far?
“The most rewarding experience and what we are all about at Hallidays would be the journeys we have experienced with clients. We’ve supported clients from start-up or entry into the business all the way through to high-value exit. We become a key partner not just in business but personally as well and we’ve made some great friends along the way as we’ve helped achieve their business goals, and from this, their personal goals too. Being able to advise a client throughout the business lifecycle makes your client know you are there for them as the business adviser in their corner.”
“We’ve supported clients from start-up or entry into the business all the way through to high-value exit.”
Paul Whitney, Managing Director of Hallidays.
What result you achieved for a client, are you most proud of?
“There are 2 client success stories that stick out but are polar opposites! We were involved in the purchase of a business for £1.5m and 6 years later after supporting them to grow we acted for the business on the disposal for over £35m. We played a key part from the initial purchase of the business through to the sale.”
“I also played a key part in the survival of a business as a Non-Executive Finance Director for a construction company in distress, restructuring a £6.5m business employing 18 people plus 40 subcontractors.”
How do you see the future of your firm from your perspective?
“Becoming a key member of Xeinadin. Leading on client advisory and focusing entirely on client ambitions. With slick, fully digitised, fully systemised back office and compliance solutions. With team members working in an environment that nurtures change and inspires creativity.”