Julie Bowmer shortlisted for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards

Julie Bowmer

Julie Bowmer, Baker Bennett, Rochdale has been shortlisted in the 2013 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards.

After heading a management buy out of Rochdale based bakery distribution company Baker Bennett in 2007, Julie Bowmer was instrumental in turning a ¼ million pound net loss into almost ½ million pound net profit within the following five years.

In 2011 Julie acquired an engineering company. “We design, build and supply automated trailers for the emergency break down services. This has been my biggest challenge to turn around to date’” says Julie.

“I knew nothing about the engineering industry, but have had to learn fast. The way I see it, is that it also benefits our accountancy clients who are in either manufacturing or engineering. It’s no good advising if you don’t at least have a basic knowledge of the industry your clients operate in.”

Julie, a qualified Chartered Management Accountant, had over her years in business become increasingly frustrated in the quality and lack of proactive advice from her accountants.

Julie’s most recent venture is to team up with her son Liam and form The Business Depot. Taking the ‘TBD’ from the accountancy firm TBD Associates, which was incorporated in 2006, the company has grown steadily year on year ever since, now servicing over 600 clients.