There is always lots going on at Advo. Here are some of the highlights from last Month…

April was Advo’s biggest month ever for new clients.

April’s organic growth was the biggest ever since we started trading in 1997. Over 35% higher than Advo’s previously biggest new client month with well over 30 new corporate contracts, the majority of which are long-term multi-year agreements. Although considerable work has gone into Advo’s recognition locally within Kent through google search placements still over 80% of Advo’s new clients come from word-of-mouth and client referrals. Not having a ‘sales’ team our payroll and HR client account managers oversee onboarding. Well done team!

Portugal TAG Presentations

Advo works in partnership with the TAG Community (The Accountancy Group), delivering additional Payroll and HR support to members. This year was the 10th Annual Conference, held in Portugal. Advo’s Commercial Director, Chris McCracken, was invited to present to the delegates. His well received presentation, centred around Accountancy firms running payroll for clients, at times being more having a ‘cuckoo in the nest’, taking focus and resources away from their core business.

Asked how the presentation went Chris replied “I woke up the room”, adding “the content was very much appreciated. Though not needed by all as some larger firms have in-house payroll teams. The question for others was that even when you employ a payroll ‘stalwart’, what happens if something happens to them?”

Practicing what we preach

Legislation and employer’s legal requirements and duty of care are ever-changing. Advo advises others, but also makes sure our people are looked after, something our IIP Gold accreditation testifies.

The Worker Protection Act 2023, now law, places a new duty on employers to take steps to prevent workplace sexual harassment. Advo hosts seminars for clients – but as an employer we also must comply. Jenni Welch, our HR Manager, hosted a series of presentations for our staff.

Reach out if you are an Advo client that would like help on this new legal requirement for all employers.

New Advonian

We welcomed a new Advonian. John Summers joined the Team as Facilities & Maintenance Lead taking responsibility for managing the renovation on a day-to-day basis while  liaising with onsite contractors. John has previously been the main contractor on the build and has been involved from the start. Apart from wider Estate upkeep duties, John will take the lead on a series of additional planned projects on the Cobdown site.

Cobdown Regeneration Project

EV Chargers come online

Advo’s IT Director, Kevin Crew, was the first to use Advo’s EV Chargers. Open to staff and visitors the current four chargers will be expanded over time with the different parking locations around Cobdown House.

Orangery Build

The last part of the major building construction commences in earnest with the addition of an Orangery on the 1950s extension flat roof. This is an essential part of the project allowing for two Events areas, each hosting over 40 people. The addition of the temporary ramp allowing the steel framework to be lifted into place. Additional parts of the house had had to be reinforced with new steel framework to create the Board Room balconies.

Scaffolding up, now the steel base frames and supports are in linking with new steels in the underside roof… Work commences….

IT Infrastructure

More of the hidden infrastructure is a bespoke 10 gigabyte internet line that has been installed allowing considerable flexibility for a large number of separate IT infrastructures for tenants, networking and multiple events.

This is Colin Middleton, one of Advo’s IT experts, who recently presented to the Board Directors on the Cobdown IT infrastructure outlining how the system is built to allow maximum flexibility and still be future proof.

Inside Cobdown

Many of the rooms are nearing completion. scaffolding down in the stairways and parts of the original coving repaired ready for decorating.

Designing and installing this ultra-modern system in an old Victorian house that previously only had a one hot water pipe for everything linked to two enormous basement boilers has been one of the largest, complex and costly parts of the renovation. Each room has it’s own HVAC (Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning) unit ensuring constant all-year round temperature control. Much of the system is hidden in ceilings, the units already installed and will be disguised to match surroundings.

The build fun bits…

As rooms near completion the more interesting parts of the renovation start to take more importance, such as choosing the final fittings.

The next phase in the main house is internal glazing taking place early May, This will transform the inside areas with floor to ceiling glazing replacing walls that needed to be retained for fire regulations.

More on this exciting project shortly.