Streets, one of the UK’s leading accountancy firms, has announced another strategic expansion with the merger of North Devon-based Stevens & Willey. The deal, which was finalised on 30 June, strengthens Streets’ presence in the South West of England and further extends its national network of offices.

The addition of Stevens & Willey, a well-established practice with a 70-year history of supporting local businesses and the wider North Devon community, reinforces Streets’ strategy of being locally accessible while offering the capabilities of a national firm. This latest merger follows a period of significant growth for Streets, which now operates from more than 30 locations across the UK, including Banbury, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Sheffield, and, most recently, Belfast.

Amanda Hicks, Partner at Stevens & Willey, described the merger as a natural step forward for both clients and staff:
“We see this as a great match in terms of client focus and cultural fit. Joining Streets allows us to provide greater continuity of service, broaden our offering to include specialist tax planning and personal financial planning, and give our team opportunities to collaborate with a wider network of professionals while continuing to progress their careers locally.”

Paul Tutin, Chairman and Managing Partner at Streets, welcomed the North Devon firm to the group, saying:
“We are delighted to have Amanda, Ian, Helen, Jo, Andrew and the entire team join us. Their established presence in North Devon aligns perfectly with our strategic vision to embed offices across the UK. This merger builds on Stevens & Willey’s strong local reputation, while enabling us to offer an even broader range of advisory services and create opportunities for future growth.”

The deal was supported internally by Streets Law, the firm’s specialist legal services division, which advised on all corporate aspects of the transaction in collaboration with colleagues from the tax and audit teams.

The merger comes shortly after Streets unveiled its refreshed brand and visual identity, reflecting the firm’s evolution into a multi-disciplinary partnership of trusted advisers working with ambitious clients nationwide. It also follows the recent integration of Fitpro Financial Limited into the group, marking Streets’ first entry into the Northern Ireland market under its new Belfast entity.

With this latest merger, Streets strengthens its position as a major UK accountancy and advisory network, maintaining its local presence while continuing to build on its national reach and capabilities.

What this acquisition means for the buyer

For Streets, the merger with Stevens & Willey supports its continued strategy of expanding its UK-wide accountancy and advisory network while maintaining strong regional representation. By integrating a long-established North Devon practice with a 70-year history, the group strengthens its presence in the South West and adds further depth to its local client base.

The transaction also reinforces Streets’ approach of combining local office identity with a broader multidisciplinary structure, enabling access to wider technical expertise across tax, audit, and advisory services. The involvement of internal legal and specialist teams in supporting the transaction reflects the group’s integrated operating model.

Overall, the merger aligns with Streets’ wider growth strategy of building a connected national network of regional firms supported by centralised professional services capability.

What this means for sellers in the sector

For owners of established accountancy practices, this transaction highlights continued consolidation among regional firms with strong local reputations and long-standing client relationships. Businesses with deep community roots and multi-decade operating histories may remain attractive to larger advisory networks seeking geographic expansion.

The ability for merging firms to retain a local identity within a wider national structure may also be relevant for succession planning discussions. Sellers may be able to transition ownership while maintaining continuity of service and preserving the established presence of the practice within their local market.

Market trend context

The UK accountancy sector continues to consolidate as larger firms expand through the acquisition and merger of established regional practices. This is particularly evident in firms adopting a networked model, combining local office delivery with national-scale technical, legal, and advisory capabilities.

There is also a growing trend towards multidisciplinary professional services groups, where accountancy firms integrate legal, tax, and advisory services under one organisational structure. This supports broader service delivery while enabling firms to maintain regional accessibility for clients.

How Capital & Trust typically supports transactions like this

Capital & Trust acts as a business broker, sourcing and introducing potential merger and acquisition opportunities to firms seeking strategic expansion. The firm facilitates introductions between parties and supports initial engagement where there is mutual interest in exploring a transaction.

Where appropriate, Capital & Trust may assist in coordinating communication between buyers, sellers, and their appointed professional advisers during early discussions. Its role is limited to originating and facilitating introductions, while all regulated financial, legal, and technical matters are handled by external advisers appointed by the parties.