After 21 years in the banking industry Jason Dalton, 47, decided it was time to get qualified and set up business on his own account. That was ten years ago, and now his bookkeeping and payroll business, Safe Hands, has four employees and a wide range of customers throughout Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire.

“When things went awry in banking I looked at my career options and elected to study for the ICB qualification. I looked at several training organisations and liked the look of Ideal Schools when I spoke to them. – they were very good on providing me with guidance and direction when I didn’t know quite where to turn.

“I opted for a remote learning experience and found Ideal Schools quick and responsive. I’d email through my answers to questions and could easily chat through the solutions – it was just like having a college tutor.

“I don’t enjoy studying but I enjoyed passing the various modules served up to me – they came in bite-sized chunks and the sheer flexibility of the experience allowed me to progress”, he said.

Jason completed his studies in 2012 and set up Safe Hands in his back bedroom. Shortly afterwards, following some initial self-marketing via the Internet, he secured his first customer, then went on to win some more through recommendation and ongoing promoting of the business on social media.

“Before long I was at capacity and, through networking, started sub-contracting work but the seeds of success were beginning to flourish by 2013. Three years later I moved into an office in Aldershot, with five sub-contractors. In August 2018, a further move to Hartley Wintney as our team continued to grow”

“At all times my aim has been to keep our clients happy and relaxed, secure in the knowledge that we are looking after their books. For a small monthly fee, we provide timely and accurate bookkeeping and payroll records, allowing the clients to get on with what they do best – running their own businesses”.

Safe Hands now looks after the accounting records of 51 clients, most of whom have their own accountants, who are provided with timely, accurate records.

“I now have four employees and look always to provide added value and support, not just bookkeeping. Today, one of my team, who is CIMA qualified, is studying the payroll module with Ideal Schools, as is another, who is a member of the International Association of Bookkeepers, the IAB.

“Customers are entitled to assume that all the work we undertake for them is done properly and by putting my staff through the Ideal Schools modules I know that they will have the knowledge to do things correctly”, he said.