A merger and acquisitions specialist has given £9,000 to local community businesses as part of a new community fund.
The Retiring Group, which specialises in aiding retiring business owners with their exit strategies, including IFAs, has donated £3,000 apiece to The Forest School, Open Country and Henshaws charity.
The funds come from The Retiring Group’s community fund, into which 1 per cent of the group’s annual turnover is donated.
All three charities are located in Yorkshire, which is where The Retiring Group, and its subsidiary Retiring IFA, is based, and the fund hopes to donate to both local and regional charities.
Stephen Hagues, managing director at The Retiring Group, said the 1 per cent donation would amount to around £30,000 this year.
“It is part of our underlying aims and ambitions as an organisation to help those up where we can, and make a difference to UK society," he told FTAdviser.
The Forest School in Harrogate will use the funds to aid the launch of its kitchen and cafe. Hagues said the new facilities would allow children to learn about self-reliance, as well as offering them the opportunity to make a contribution to society in terms of entering the catering trade.
He added: “The first few recipients are just really good causes.”
Henshaws, a charity that specialises in supporting people with sight loss, will use the funds to build a sensory room.
The third recipient, Open Country, is a charity that focuses on helping people with disabilities to access and enjoy the country, and it will use the donation for a new tandem as well as purchasing lights for their existing bikes.
Applications are now open for the second round of donations.
The Retiring Group was created 15 years ago and includes the firms Retiring Dentist, Retiring Account and Retiring IFA. All firms work across the UK and provide bespoke exit strategies for practice owners.
sally.hickey@ft.com
