London, 27 April, 2022 – Surrey-based Chartered Accountants Providence Financial Ltd won the Community Impact Award at Xero’s prestigious annual awards. The awards showcased the achievements of those supporting businesses through two of the toughest years on record. 

Accountants and bookkeepers have played a huge role in guiding their small business clients through the pandemic and supporting the wider economy. Xero research shows 61% of small businesses said their accountant supports them in key areas they struggle with.

There were 17 trophies up for grabs, including  two new awards introduced last year for Community Impact Award and the People’s Choice. The Community Award – judged by Together in Tech – celebrated accountants going beyond their day job to support and make a real difference in their communities. Providence Financial’s entry stood out for showing empathy, creativity and commitment with their initiative to support those in need during the peak of the pandemic. The Judges commented “The efforts were phenomenal, and it was clear that they truly thought about the needs of the community and acted fast to help.”

The Directors saw an opportunity to help keep residents safe by setting up a shopping system to enable shielding/anxious residents and their families to deposit money and place orders for shopping which were fulfilled by volunteers and allowed the volunteers to be promptly reimbursed, at a time when supermarket delivery services were unable to keep up with demand. They rallied more than 250 volunteers in 48 hours to offer support for those in the area that were sheltering, ill or needing support with family and alongside grocery deliveries, they provided food parcels, a Covid-safe prescription delivery programme and phone-befriending for those needing an ear.  They fulfilled over 2,500 requests for help in a 16-week period. The shopping scheme soon expanded to neighbouring areas, and in January 2021 post lock-down, Liz Noble, (Providence Director) co-founded with others, a local food bank to assist those in the local villages.

“Providence Financial truly made an impact on our community that will stand the test of time, and at a scale disproportionate to the size of the team that launched it” stated Ian Spreadbury – Director of Providence Financial.

Liz Noble Director of Providence Financial, commented : “We are very humbled to have been chosen as the Winner in the Xero Community Action 2022 Awards. We will continue, with Xero, to add meaningful value through engagement with our communities going forward.”

Providence is the “go-to” business and accounting services practice for owners, investors and landlords in UK-sited property.

Find more information on all accounting and bookkeeping partner winners and why they are being recognised at this year’s awards here.

Providence: Your Property – Our Financial Know-How.