A former partner in BDO’s mergers and acquisitions team in Manchester has joined HURST Corporate Finance as the firm expands its senior deal-making capability. James Fieldhouse, who has joined HURST Corporate Finance as a partner, brings more than two decades’ experience advising entrepreneurs, corporates and private equity firms on mergers and acquisitions, disposals, management buyouts, fundraisings and investments. He specialises in mid-market transactions across a range of sectors, including business services, software and technology, media and events, manufacturing, consumer, pharmaceuticals and healthcare. James joined BDO in 2003, spending most of his time in deal advisory and progressing through the ranks.
Ben Bradley, head of HURST Corporate Finance, said: “James is a highly regarded M&A adviser and we are delighted to welcome him to our team. “His extensive experience advising business owners, corporates and investors, combined with his strong network of relationships, will further strengthen our ability to support clients throughout the transaction process. “His appointment gives us additional senior capacity and he is exactly the calibre of senior talent we want to attract as we enter our next phase of growth.”
Ben added: “We have a strong pipeline of live and prospective transactions, and continue to see solid demand from both trade buyers and private equity for high-quality businesses. “One area where we expect to see continued activity is technical services and maintenance, including HVAC, M&E, fire safety, compliance, testing and inspection, as well as businesses serving the wider built environment and social housing sectors. “These businesses benefit from resilient demand, recurring revenues and increasing regulatory requirements, and the north west has a large population of well-established owner-managed businesses operating in these markets. “James also brings significant experience across business services, human capital and technology, media and telecoms, which are all areas where we see considerable opportunity. “These sectors continue to attract both strategic and private equity investment, particularly where businesses have strong management teams, recurring or predictable revenues and clear opportunities for further growth.”
James said: “I’m delighted to be joining HURST Corporate Finance as a partner at such an exciting point in the firm’s development. “I’ve long admired HURST’s reputation in the market, and in particular the quality of its people and the strong relationships it has built with clients and the wider business community. “The opportunity to join the firm as it enters its next phase of development as part of the Dains Group was a particularly compelling one, combining the strength and heritage of HURST with significant opportunities for further growth.
“I’m looking forward to bringing my M&A experience to the team, with a particular focus on supporting clients across the business services and TMT sectors, while continuing to work across the broader market. “I’m excited to play a part in HURST’s continued growth and to build on the firm’s success as we enter this next chapter.”
HURST Corporate Finance advises owner-managed businesses, entrepreneurs and management teams on acquisitions, sales, debt funding and private equity investments with deal values typically ranging from £5m to £50m. Its M&A specialists are supported by the wider firm’s business services, tax and digital teams to give clients access to a broad range of expertise throughout the transaction process.
Stockport-headquartered HURST became part of the Dains Group earlier this year, strengthening the resources and expertise available to its clients across the UK and internationally. Dains is a national accountancy and business advisory firm with 30 locations across the UK and Ireland.
HURST is targeting ambitious growth over the coming years, with plans to double in size to reach £20m in annual turnover in 2028. Its strategy includes expanding its national client base, recruiting additional talent and introducing new service lines, supported by a multimillion-pound investment in technology.