Xerox has acquired Go Inspire, a Leicester-based print and digital marketing and communication services provider, to grow its global Digital Services presence. Go Inspire serves customers throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). “We’re focused on widening the scope of Xerox’s Digital Services and Customer Engagement Services,” said Darren Cassidy, UK & Ireland Managing Director and senior vice president, EMEA Global Document Services at Xerox. “Go Inspire’s capabilities will support the transformation of our transactional and direct mail services into multi-channel communications, accelerate growth in EMEA and create new avenues for us to help current and new clients.” “We are thrilled to join the Xerox team and eager to contribute to the growth of Xerox Digital Services,” said Patrick Headley, Chief Executive Officer at Go Inspire. “Together with Xerox, we will expand the portfolio of high value services for our expanding client base throughout the UK and beyond.” Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Dains Accountants has acquired Barringtons, which has offices across Staffordshire, Cheshire, and Shropshire. Founded in 1980, Barringtons is a provider of accounting and tax services to owner-managed businesses and individuals. Richard McNeilly, CEO of Dains, said: “Barringtons is a well-established and highly credible firm with a high-quality team and client base. We have similar values and strongly believe in delivering impressive results for clients and rewarding careers for staff. “The acquisition builds on our position within the North Midlands marketplace and is the first of several transactions we hope to complete in 2022.” Dains recently recorded another record year for the business. This follows the recent investment from Horizon Capital in 2021. Managing Director of Barringtons, Phil Wood, said: “We have continued to invest in technology and in our team in recent years and we have always been determined to deliver the best possible service to our loyal clients. “By joining Dains, our ability to deliver an even broader range of services is enhanced and we look forward to working with the Dains team for many years to come.” Luke Kingston, partner at Horizon Capital, said: “Barringtons is a well-respected business and has performed strongly through the pandemic demonstrating its importance to customers and the critical service it provides. “We are delighted to have supported Dains on this acquisition as they continue their journey to consolidate the fragmented SME accounting and tax marketplace.”

Wren Sterling Group, the Nottingham-based providers of specialist financial planning advice to private and corporate clients, has acquired Critchleys Financial Planning LLP. Under the terms of the deal, the Critchleys Financial Planning LLP team, led by Jason McGuigan, have been welcomed into Wren Sterling, along with their clients who between them represent c. 300 households and c. £150 million of assets under management. The transaction is Wren Sterling’s second announced deal since its secondary management buyout by Lightyear Capital in late 2021. This follows its announcement of the acquisition of Mutual Financial Management in early June, which together with Critchleys Financial Planning LLP, will add a total of £825m of AuM to the business. The rebranded business will provide Wren Sterling with a new hub in Oxfordshire to complement its eight other locations around the UK, from which it intends to make further bolt-on acquisitions. The acquisition is in-line with Wren Sterling’s M&A strategy of acquiring culturally-aligned businesses as hub locations in key strategic locations such as London, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Bristol as well as smaller bolt-on acquisitions to existing hubs. This strategy complements its plan to accelerate its organic growth through improving its brand and proposition, simplifying its business and investing in its people and technology. James Twining, Wren Sterling’s Chief Executive, said: “I’m delighted to welcome the Critchleys Financial Planning team and their clients to Wren Sterling. Jason and the team have done a phenomenal job for their clients over the years, building a business of ambition and excellence that perfectly aligns to our own approach. “The UK IFA market encompasses many excellent businesses deciding that now is the time to look for new investors, either to facilitate their own retirement or because they see that their clients stand to benefit significantly from the support of a larger organisation in the face of mounting regulatory, operational and technology costs and complexity. “This deal shows that Wren Sterling is the natural home for entrepreneurial businesses looking to enhance how they serve their clients, develop their people and be part of a winning and distinctive team.” Jason McGuigan, Critchleys Financial Planning LLP’s principal financial planner, said: “It was important to us, when considering our future, that we partnered with an organisation that shared our core values of putting the client at the heart of everything we do. It was clear from our very first meeting with Wren Sterling, that this is central to their DNA. “Thanks to our new partnership, we will be able to strengthen our offering to clients and continue to develop and invest in our people. We also have the exciting opportunity to expand the business further through hiring and bolt-on acquisitions in the Oxford and Thames Valley regions.”