A LOCAL firm of chartered accountants and business advisers has been awarded an important franchise.

Barlow Andrews, of Chorley New Road, Bolton, has been chosen by national accountancy network Horwath Clark Whitehill Associates to provide accounting and taxation services under the Horwath brand name.

The national network consists of 70 offices throughout the UK and there is an overseas link through Horwath International.

Barlow Andrews will continue to operate principally under its own name, but a new subsidiary partnership has been established to provide branded services to medium-sized and larger private companies under the name Horwath Barlow Andrews.

Douglas Barden, managing partner of Horwath Barlow Andrews, said: "We are delighted with the successful acquisition of this new business opportunity as it will enable us to service the needs of all sizes of local business and will position us well for the Millennium."

Barlow Andrews hope the new franchise will help expansion by enabling them to offer services to larger local companies which might otherwise deal with bigger, national accountancy firms based in Manchester.

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