AEA

AEA is a management consultancy and interim management business. AEA Ltd is mainly, but not exclusively, focussed on the manufacturing sector, where it has identified a real need for the introduction of sustainable process change; most effective when the consultant provides the skills for the "in-house" team to deliver the results.

Alan Evans launched the company after holding several senior positions in manufacturing, newspaper and IT related companies. AEA choose to work with accountancy firm, ags. Says Alan “I set up the business in April 1999, with little or no previous experience and grew it from zero to £100k in the first year. From the outset, ags were supportive in terms of setting up the business and advising on the best way to structure the business. Advice was given on the most tax effective method of employing staff, running a company vehicle and accounting processes and procedures”.

As the business has grown over the last five years, last year it turned over £622,000 with a very high profitability, ags have advised on the best way to structure the business and has provided invaluable tax advice along the way. “The advice” says Alan “is always tempered by an understanding of realistic levels of tax avoidance. Each year has required ags and AEA to sit down and consider the history and the way forward. At each stage of the growth of the business different types of advice have been required”.

The advice received has been at a personal level as well as a business level. In most small businesses it is impossible to separate the personal needs of the chief executive to that of the business. In this respect advice on such areas as investment of profits, Inheritance tax and making the right kind of will have been provided.

ags has supported AEA Ltd over an interesting five year period which has taken the business to one of the leading consultancies in the automotive supplier development field within the West Midlands. Last year AEA helped APS Pressings to achieve a prestigious award for innovation at an important Automotive event.

This year, AEA is running three networks of manufacturing companies, a total of 25 companies, including both Dana TTE and Honeywell Thermal Systems. The work involves the management of automotive supply chain networks of up to 12 companies working with a host company.

AEA has just been selected as the consultant to work with MG Rover on an innovative top down supply chain programme which is aimed at securing cost savings throughout the MG Rover supply chain using a Value Management approach.

“ags have helped AEA to develop through a "one stop shop" approach which comprehensively addresses both the business and personal needs of the senior executive at each step on the growth path” says Alan.