Audit and Business Advisory partners Jamie Wooldridge and Debbie Jakeman are a key part of the Mercer & Hole team that helps businesses in Milton Keynes grow and thrive. Mercer & Hole’s team of accountants and advisers are at the heart of its independence and its deep roots in the community.
Jamie has built a strong reputation for helping clients understand how technology can transform the ways businesses work. He also applies this passion to continually improve Mercer & Hole’s offering to clients. With a particular focus on working with businesses within the tech sector, Jamie finds it exciting to be involved in the rate of change that is happening locally, with Milton Keynes being an area of high growth for tech industries.
Debbie Jakeman joined the firm last year and has made an instant impact. Clients welcome her open and straightforward style, and her ability to distil complex situations into clear and practical steps and actions.
Here, they explain why Mercer & Hole stands apart as a leading business advisory presence in Milton Keynes.
Businesses in Milton Keynes and the wider region continue to show remarkable resilience. In a world defined by global disruption, economic uncertainty and rapid technological change, adaptability has become more than a strength – it’s a necessity. For any business navigating that landscape, choosing the right accountancy partner is crucial.
For more than 35 years Mercer & Hole has been at the heart of Milton Keynes. We have helped countless businesses grow, thrive and create long-term value – not by chasing trends, but by staying true to three principles that define who we are: our independence, size and culture.
Independence
At a time when many accountancy firms are consolidating, Mercer & Hole has chosen a different path – to remain fiercely independent. It is, we believe, the best way we can deliver continuity and stability, and relationship-led, high-quality advice.
We know our independence is valued by our clients – which include many private equity investors and private equity-backed businesses.
Our colleagues value that independence too, with Mercer & Hole continuously attracting the top talent from accountancy firms across the UK. We will continue to invest in and support our people to ensure our clients continue to get the best advice possible.
Size matters
We are ambitious for our future, our clients and our people. That means being the right size to attract ambitious people and deliver high-quality work without losing the personal touch valued by clients. We call it the ‘Goldilocks zone’ – large enough to handle complex group structures and international reporting, but small enough that partners remain hands-on.
We invest heavily in our people, not only through continuous training but through clear career pathways that allow talent to grow. Many of our team members have built long careers here, and that continuity shows in the strong, lasting relationships we have with the organisations we support.
A kind and inclusive culture
Our culture is important. It stands the firm apart in a competitive labour market, is valued by clients, and builds long-lasting relationships.
It is not something we say or take lightly. Employee surveys repeatedly describe the firm as warm, kind and inclusive. Mercer & Hole is proud to have earned The Great Place to Work certification, with 87% of employees saying it is a great place to work, compared to 54% of employees at a typical UK-based firm. An impressive 97% of the Mercer & Hole respondents said when you join Mercer & Hole, you are made to feel welcome.
The firm’s culture builds strong cohesion across our teams, service lines and offices, and encourages colleagues to work in ways that best support our clients.
The heart of the community
Mercer & Hole has been at the heart of Milton Keynes since 1989. It has built deep connections across the region, sponsoring the MK Dons, being active members of the MK Dons Business Alliance, and supporting the SportsAid charity. Many of the firm’s team members hold active roles as trustees of charities and school governors.
The firm sponsors and hosts the Milton Keynes City Breakfast Club and Willen Hospice, bringing community leaders and business owners together. Each month, a charity is invited to come along and give a short presentation about its work. Mercer & Hole is also a proud sponsor of the Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards, celebrating creative business enterprise and innovation.
This community commitment reflects our wider ethos: businesses flourish when their communities flourish. Milton Keynes’ success is our success, and we see it as our responsibility to play an active, positive role in its future.
Startup, scale-up, and exit
So, what do businesses and their founders, UK subsidiaries of international businesses, and charities need from their accountants?
There is, of course, the ‘traditional’ support – audit and compliance – you would expect. But in today’s complex and rapidly changing landscape, they need advisers who truly understand their business.
Deep sector knowledge bridges the divide between a good accountancy firm and a great one.
In Milton Keynes, Mercer & Hole is the home for ambitious start-up and scale-up businesses across a wide range of sectors. But we are perhaps best known for our deep involvement in the technology, financial services, real estate and transport and logistics sectors.
We both help to lead the firm in Milton Keynes, and are deeply involved in developing the next generation of leaders within the firm.
We are both partners in the Audit and Business Advisory team, supporting businesses and their founders at all stages of their growth journey.
We both share the ethos that audit is more than a once-a-year compliance obligation. It is the opportunity for business leaders to take a step out of the business and to get on top of the business. It is the starting point for a year-round relationship, providing an expert sounding board for clients.
Business that’s personal
Our Milton Keynes team recognises that, for many clients, it is their business assets that generate what is often considerable wealth. Here too, business founders and their families turn to the specialist and internationally recognised expertise the firm offers.
We bring a deep understanding of inheritance and capital gains tax planning, and the structures to manage liabilities that might arise.
Whether based in the UK or overseas, the team at Mercer & Hole have you covered.
Find out more about Mercer & Hole by clicking here.
