SoftBank Robotics UK Ltd is a robot integrator, focusing on bringing autonomous robotic products from Asian markets into the AMEA market.

Its main product line is robotic vacuum cleaners for commercial use. These are the ones you may see at airports or supermarkets and they also offer serving bots for use in hotels and restaurants.

Darran Donovan, the company’s CFO, explains, “Our headquarters and parent company are in Tokyo. They started doing this type of activity many years before us, so we were able to take a lot of their learnings and come up with a go-to-market strategy for products that have been successful in Asia and introduce them in Europe.”

After several years of distributing robotic products, the business expanded into a related area.

“About two years ago we started investing in cleaning companies because a lot of the robotic products we have are in the cleaning sector. We bought a cleaning company that lets us implement the technology and improve margins.”

Why TWP?

Darran was introduced to TWP through a professional recommendation.

“We work with lots of different consultants, including the Big Four and top ten firms. It was actually a partner at BDO who recommended TWP when I was looking for an auditor. He introduced me to Phil (Munk) and Jay (Gill) and it was just a good fit.”

While price was a consideration, Darran says it was not the most important factor when choosing an audit firm.

“I was looking for a reasonable price but that wasn’t the number one priority. I wanted a group of people who understood what our business was. Even when it comes to fees, they’re practical. They’re also practical in how they get their work done so the whole process is efficient.”

Another advantage was the breadth of services available.

“We initially spoke to them about auditing but they also do accounting for us now. The fact they could offer other services as well was important because I knew in the future we could build a good relationship and they could support us in other areas.”

A smooth onboarding process

From the outset, Darran noticed how efficiently the onboarding process was handled.

“They sorted everything out, right down to planning how we were going to move forward. They could see potential problems without me having to point them out. They were very proactive.”

Audit services: efficient and proactive support

As CFO, Darran values advisors who can take initiative and anticipate issues.

“I’ve got so much to do in my role and so many things to think about. I can really trust them to do a great piece of work and to think outside the box about things I don’t have to think about.”

He also highlights the firm’s proactive communication.

“A lot of consultants don’t do this, but they’ll call me directly if they see something coming up. They’ll talk through problems instead of leaving things until they turn into a bigger piece of work. They’re even cost conscious from my point of view without me having to ask.”

Personal relationship and responsiveness

Darran explains that accessibility is one of TWP’s biggest perks.

“I very rarely can’t reach them, and I know they’re busy. They’re always available for a call and they turn up when they need to. It’s not just the junior team either. Even the senior partner is happy to take a call.

“Sometimes I’ll contact them for a referral, maybe for an unusual tax consultant. They’ll reach out to their network and come back to me. They’re far more accessible than any consultants I’ve worked with before.”

Long-term partnership

Darran has worked with TWP since 2019 and is more than satisfied with the support he gets from the firm.

“They’re a reliable, high-quality firm. They’ve got to know me, the business and other people in the team. They’re proactive, practical in their approach, and they don’t just roll out the same way of doing things every time.

“They communicate regularly, but not for the sake of it. Everything is structured and has a point, which makes working with them very efficient.

He concludes, “I would one hundred per cent recommend TWP. They’re an excellent choice of consultant to work with. Really high-quality audits and, for the price point you pay, it feels like they’re part of your team. They’re top class.”