This year marks the 20th anniversary of Belmayne Independent Chartered Financial Planners LLP – to give us our full Sunday name!
It gives me great pleasure to write this blog, as I have been here from the start and have witnessed firsthand the trials and tribulations that have taken place in the last two decades.
Just as we have now, the business was established by four partners – Graham Wilkinson, Leigh Fletcher, John Page and David Jones – all of whom retired 13 years ago.
The management might have changed, but our ethos and commitment to clients certainly hasn’t. Belmayne has established a reputation for taking a genuine interest in the individuals who come through our doors and consequently, we receive numerous personal recommendations. We look out for clients and put them in a position to enjoy a financially secure retirement.
The beginning
Belmayne actually began back in 1999, operating from offices in Clarkehouse Road, Sheffield, but didn’t become a Limited Liability Partnership for another five years. The move to Dronfield happened in October 2005 and we’ve never looked back!
The first of our current partners to join the team was David Bashforth in 2011. The four original partners then retired the following year. We welcomed the arrival of Ben Smalley in 2013, Jon Stevens in 2015 and Martin Birch a year later.
Under the current leadership team, Belmayne continues to grow steadily. We have welcomed four new planners in as many years, mentored another two through the process of qualification, along with an apprentice, and doubled the size of our admin team.
Giving back
A major milestone in our development was the launch of the Belmayne Foundation in 2019.
Set up by our four partners, the foundation aims to raise much needed funds for small local charities supporting health and wellbeing and providing relief for those in need.
We have opted to focus our efforts on organisations where our contribution can make a bigger impact on their aims and objectives and to date, we have donated almost £44,000 to 14 charities across South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire. The money has come from donations by our partners and several key events, including two charity balls, the Three Peaks Challenge, a 112-mile Tour of the Peaks cycle ride and last year’s Summer of Sunflowers competition.
This year, we will be raising funds for Derbyshire Carers Association and Edale Mountain Rescue and the team is busy planning our fundraising, which will include a 20-mile round-Dronfield walk in June to celebrate our anniversary.
The firm is also a keen supporter of grassroots sports and various local teams benefit from our sponsorship. They are:
- Hasland Community FC under 10s Hawks
- Hundall Cricket Club under 13s
- Somersall Rangers FC Juniors
- Wortley RUFC – Juniors and Minis
The future
Much has changed in the last 20 years. We’ve welcomed the birth of six babies, mourned the loss of two founding partners and celebrated the achievements of the many members of our team who have sought – and still seek – to further their professional knowledge and qualifications.
But, as I said earlier, what remains resolutely the same is our dedication to the clients we serve, many of whom have longstanding relationships with the firm. Despite our recent growth, our focus is on maintaining excellent service levels and providing honest, practical financial advice at a fair price.
What will the next 20 years bring? Unfortunately, I’ve left my crystal ball at home, so I can’t tell you! In the short-term, however, our growth shows no signs of slowing and I’m sure we’ll be welcoming more experienced financial planners to our close-knit team.
What is really special about Belmayne is the camaraderie – I work with a great bunch of people who look out for each other and make coming into the office each day a pleasure. We share the same ethos and desire to afford our clients the warmth, generosity and fondness we have for each other.
I’m sure there’ll be more ups and downs to come, but I have no doubt that Belmayne will continue to thrive and play a valuable role in the Dronfield and North Derbyshire communities.
To find out more about our services or work with local charities, don’t hesitate to contact us on (01246) 298181 or email: enquiries@belmayne-ifa.com
