Danny Parker - Host Relationship Partner, Cooper Parry

Danny is a Relationship Partner, working closely with a number of our clients and helping to lead our fast-growing Audit team. He will also be your host for this event.

He has been with CP for 18 years now; from the old-fashioned, traditional business we were then, to the rebellious, disruptive firm we are today.

Chris Knott - Innovations & HMRC Partner, Head Of R&D Incentives, Cooper Parry

Chris uses his engineering background, tax qualification, R&D tax relief experience (22 years) and Made in the Midlands patronage to help companies claim their share of these generous reliefs.

He can speak to the client’s finance team about the positive impact any R&D incentives claims will have on the company’s accounts but he’s equally at home on the shop floor, talking to the engineers, technicians and scientists about what they’re actually doing.

Only by being able to do that, can he really understand their projects and then seek to maximise the company’s R&D incentives claims. This is why he loves his job, he gets to “look under the bonnet”, sometimes literally!

Bijesh Morjaria - Topical Tax Focus Tax Director, Cooper Parry

Bijesh is a Director in our Business Tax Team and takes great pride in helping businesses, be it privately owned, PE backed or part of an international group, in navigating the wonderfully complex world of tax! 

He has had some great experiences in advising a wide range of businesses over the last 20 years and has seen at first-hand how proactive tax advice can add real value to both companies and their shareholders. 

James Piper - Business Credit Ratings Founder and Managing Director of Lightbulb Credit Limited, AMCT

With 20+ years finance experience and having worked in a senior role within Barratt’s Plc and most recently two P/E firms, James has a wealth of experience in working in turnaround situations. His focus on working capital, cash flow forecasting and funding has enabled him to understand the key elements of what keeps businesses going.

Working day to day with the trade credit agencies and trade credit insurers for many years has given James a unique insight into how to impact these key areas for businesses. James set up Lightbulb Credit over 4 years ago to help companies improve their trade credit ratings. Since its formation Lightbulb Credit has put over £1bn back on to the balance sheets for their clients, and helped companies access funding of over £700m 

Mark Berrisford Smith - UK Economy Overview - East Midlands venue only Head of Economics, HSBC

Having studied Economics at Sussex and London Universities, Mark is now Head of Economics for HSBC’s commercial banking business in the UK.  

He is responsible for advising the Bank in the UK and its business customers on developments in the British and global economies. In the past few years, his work has focused on explaining the mechanics and economic consequences of Brexit and the COVID pandemic. He is also actively involved in explaining to HSBC’s customers the economics of the transition to Net Zero. 

He undertakes an intensive programme of public speaking at conferences and seminars organised or sponsored by HSBC. In order to ensure that HSBC’s commercial customers in the UK are as well informed as possible about the issues arising from Brexit and COVID, he spoke at around 150 such events during 2021, albeit many of them were videoconferences.  

Catherine Kelly - Technical Update - Birmingham venue only Head Of Retail And Relationship Partner, Cooper Parry

Catherine Kelly is Head of Retail and a Partner at Cooper Parry – an accountancy firm born from the Midlands that has now expanded nationwide. Cat joined Cooper Parry in 2004 and has spent the last 16 years working with a particular focus on retail clients. She speaks regularly at industry events, including co-hosting the Halfords IFRS 16 Forum for Retailers, and she sits on the ICAEW’s Retail Advisory Group.

Cat leads the special projects team at Cooper Parry, working alongside management teams on financial reporting projects, reviewing subsidiary audits, looking at royalty and rebate recovery, helping with IFRS transitions and implementing Internal Audit programmes. She brings a commercial approach to projects, identifying areas of business improvement and explaining them in a clear, simple way to manage and exceed stakeholder expectations. 

Raj Kandola - UK Economy Overview - Birmingham venue only Head of Policy & Strategic Relationships, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce

Raj Kandola is the Head of Policy & Strategic Relationships at the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce tasked with covering the organisation’s research, campaigning and stakeholder engagement activity. Specific areas of focus include transport & infrastructure, international trade, education and environmental policy.

In addition, he is responsible for managing the organisation’s Patronage scheme. Prior to joining the Chamber in 2016, Raj worked in the City of London for eight years and in Communications for a former Shadow Minister.

Melanie Hopwell - Technical Update - East Midlands venue only Audit Partner Cooper Parry

I lead the audit relationships of some of Cooper Parry’s more complex clients, including large groups, AIM listed entities and private equity backed businesses.

I also work on pitches for new clients and develop opportunities for work for or team through my network.