The Hutchinson Partnership People

Director

James grew up on a demonstration Dairy Farm in Somerset and has had practical farming experience on dairy, arable, intensive and extensive farms in the UK. He is a Wye College Agricultural Business Management graduate, and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1991. Following 10 years’ experience with a national agricultural accountancy firm, he founded The Hutchinson Partnership in Herefordshire in 1998 with his wife Julianne, and Simon joined soon thereafter.

James has spent his career advising farming families on their finances, tax and protecting and growing their business interests.  He works in partnership with clients and their advisors especially solicitors, bankers, farm business consultants, land agents and farm managers.  He acts as a Non-Exec Director, Trustee and business partner for clients and friends alike.

Director

Simon has accumulated considerable experience which he can put to good use whilst advising clients. This began on the family dairy farm, followed by an agricultural degree at Nottingham, and then 12 years with a large firm in their specialist agricultural team where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant.

Since joining The Hutchinson Partnership in 2001 Simon has built up a wide range of clients which includes estates, farming family businesses, agribusinesses and charities. Simon enjoys working with his clients to help them understand the financial aspects of their businesses; using benchmarks is a key part of this.  An important part of his work is to help his clients undertake income tax planning to help avoid any nasty surprises. Simon also spends a significant amount of his time giving advice to his clients on estate planning, business restructuring and planning for diversification.

Beyond the office Simon gives some of his time to act as trustee to a number of charities and enjoys walking and gardening.

Director

Having qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1990 with a national firm in Cambridge, Julianne and James chose rural Herefordshire to set up their own agricultural practice and haven’t looked back.

Raising a young family whilst being responsible for the practice management side of the growing business has been both challenging and enjoyable.  As the business has grown, so has Julianne’s role to include responsibility for quality control, regulatory aspects and training.

Outside of the business, Julianne likes to explore the countryside with 2 dogs, and looks after her small flock of Black Welsh Mountain sheep.

Client manager

Joe joined The Hutchinson Partnership in July 2014 when he started his accountancy training in Hereford and then moved on to study in Newport. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with ICAEW in June 2019. Having a keen interest in all aspects of taxation he became a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation in July 2022. 

Joe is also head of our QuickBooks team and enjoys supporting our clients and the wider farming community make the most of this software. 

Outside of work Joe enjoys living in a rural location with his young family and visiting local attractions.

Client manager

James joined The Hutchinson Partnership in October 2014. He trained with a national accountancy practice, where he qualified as a Certified Accountant in 2002, and gained experience in audit, charities and dealing with accounts for a range of farming businesses. James has also held financial roles at a Housing Association and with an electronics company.

James grew up on his family's small holding and gained agricultural experience working at ADAS Rosemaund.

Client manager

Claire joined The Hutchinson Partnership in December 2013. She previously worked for an accountancy practice in Shrewsbury where she qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2011 and gained a wide range of experience during her time there.

Claire has a love of motorsport and spends her weekends following autograss and motocross all over the country together with her family and friends.

Client manager

Laura joined The Hutchinson Partnership in December 2022. After graduating from university, she worked for a local firm where she qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2020. Laura gained accounting and tax experience whilst working within the farming team and so has always specialised in advising agricultural clients.

Laura grew up on her family's mixed farm and has always been heavily involved in all aspects of farm life; lambing, calving and harvest. She loves being kept busy on the farm and spending time outdoors.

Client manager

Kate first found her love for numbers whilst bookkeeping for the family business. After obtaining an honours degree in Accounting and Finance, Kate qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2012 at a local practice, where she gained experience of Companies, Charities and Audit.

Since then, she spent 6 years working in finance in the wine and spirits trade. Kate joined The Hutchinson Partnership in January 2019 and brings with her a diverse accounting knowledge. 

Outside of work she enjoys swimming, baking and walking with her family.

Qualified accountant

Didi was born in Bulgaria and moved to Hereford in 2016. She joined the Hutchinson Partnership in September 2020 as a trainee accountant. She had already completed AAT Level 4 Professional Diploma and is currently studying towards her ACCA qualification.

Outside of work she loves reading, running, and travelling with her family.

Qualified accountant

James gained an interest in accounting while studying Business Management at Oxford Brookes University, graduating with a 2:1. He then joined The Hutchinson Partnership as a trainee accountant in November 2020 where he began his training and has been completing his ACCA exams since, aiming to become a qualified Accountant by 2024. 

James grew up on a mixed family farm in Worcestershire that grows arable crops, cider apples and rears sheep and cattle. In his spare time enjoys shooting and exercising. 

Trainee accountant

Libby joined The Hutchinson Partnership in August 2024 after completing her A levels at Hereford Sixth Form College.  She is now studying towards her Level 2 AAT apprenticeship at Hereford and Worcester Group Training.

In her spare time, Libby enjoys sports and travelling. She currently plays football for Belmont Ladies FC as well as participating in adventure sports such as climbing and watching motorsport.

Trainee accountant

Erica found her interest in finance while studying A Level Business at Hereford Sixth Form College alongside Geography and Biology, completing these in 2023. She is now studying towards her Level 2 AAT apprenticeship in Hereford and hopes to progress through to completing Level 4 AAT. She would then like to go onto study further accounting qualifications.

In her spare time Erica enjoys baking as well as attending Young Farmers Club social events.

Trainee accountant

Sophie joined the Hutchinson Partnership in June 2022 after completing her Mathematics, Biology and Business A levels at Hereford Sixth form college. At college Sophie learned she had a passion for the language of business that is numbers and she is currently enrolled onto the AAT apprenticeship programme in Hereford to work towards becoming an accounts technician. She also aims to progress into becoming a fully qualified accountant.

In her spare time, Sophie enjoys competing with her horses, walking her dogs, and playing hockey.

Trainee accountant

Liz joined The Hutchinson Partnership in May 2024 and is currently studying towards the ACCA qualification. She graduated from Aberystwyth University in 2022 with a degree in agriculture and has also travelled to New Zealand to learn about regenerative farming systems.

In her spare time, Liz enjoys looking after her small flock of Kerry Hill sheep and is also a member of Presteigne Young Farmers Club.

Trainee accountant

Liam joined the Hutchinson Partnership in July 2017 after completing his A Levels at Hereford Sixth Form college. He is AAT qualified after completing the apprenticeship program at Hereford Group Training and later Hereford and Ludlow college. He is currently studying towards his ACCA qualification.   

Outside of the office Liam enjoys spending time with friends on and off the football field, watching movies at the cinema and playing golf. 

Administrator

India joined The Hutchinson Partnership in September 2022. She has gained her in Level 2 in Principles of Business Administration with us, and has previously worked as an Admin Assistant. She had several years of growing up on a small holding which gave her some insight into the agricultural world.

Outside of work India enjoys going on outings with her young family visiting local attractions.