"Tim played a pivotal role in keeping what was a highly complex international transaction on track. The deal we got could not have been achieved without him"
Selwyn Jones
Managing Director
Selwyns Travel Limited
Tim Scott
Co-Founder & Managing Director
Tim has over 20 years’ experience in business sales and acquisitions as both an adviser and a private equity investor, having led over 60 transactions in the sub £50m market. He has a real passion for helping family businesses with their succession planning and is an expert at getting the best deal for his clients when they are selling their businesses.
Tim was previously a Partner at Hurst Corporate Finance and has held managerial positions at Big Four and national accounting practices and at a leading regional private equity fund. In this role he funded a number of businesses looking for significant growth, sitting on the Boards of those companies and managing those businesses through to an exit.
Tim is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Richard Higham
Co-Founder & Managing Director
Richard qualified as a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales in 2008 and has spent the last 15 years advising independent business owners through the process of selling their companies.
Through spells in general accountancy practice, audit and industry before entering the world of corporate finance, Richard brings a wealth of technical knowledge and real-world business experience to his M&A mandates. His corporate finance CV includes completed transactions involving both domestic trade and private equity acquirers, however, Richard also has significant experience of managing deals involving international trade buyers having worked on transactions involving acquirers from Europe, North America, Asia and Australasia.
Prior to founding Cleveland Scott, Richard spent two and a half highly successful years as Director of Corporate Finance at International and UK Top 15 firm, UHY Hacker Young in Manchester.
"Richard is one of those rare people you meet who is not only as smart as you are, but also brings more skills, experience and human touch to the table than I ever could. He is pragmatic with a superb memory on the fly and an eye for detail regardless of the time of day (or night) he is working with you"
Julia May
Senior Partner
May Figures Limited
"Ryan acted as lead advisor in supporting the sale of ACL to Foresight Private Equity. He understood the private equity process including due diligence and legals and was able to translate private equity terminology back into plain English. Ryan led on negotiations and ensured we maximised our value. He was available any time, day or night to answer questions and push the deal through to a successful completion."
Adrian Jones
Founder
Assembly Contracts Limited
Ryan Niblock
Corporate Finance Director
Ryan qualified as a chartered accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales in 2017 and joined Cleveland Scott in late 2021 following 8 years at a regional North West based accountancy practice including 6 years in the mergers & acquisitions team. Throughout his time in audit and M&A Ryan has gained significant experience in advising owner managers in a variety of complex situations.
Ryan has led on a number of transaction including trade sales, private equity and bank backed MBOs and private equity growth capital deals. His primarily role is to ensure his clients achieve the maximum possible result from their transaction.
07389 792 310
ryan.niblock@clevelandscott.co.uk
Lauren Roberts
Corporate Finance Director
Lauren qualified as a chartered accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales in 2017 and joined Cleveland Scott in March 2024 following 10 years in the Corporate Finance Team at a regional North West based accountancy practice, HURST. Lauren has gained significant experience in advising owner managers in a variety of succession-led transactions.
Lauren advises shareholders and management teams on a wide range of transactions including mergers, acquisitions, disposals and buyouts funded by both debt and private equity. Her primary role is to maximise value for clients whilst minimising disruptions to their businesses.
07791 459098
lauren.roberts@clevelandscott.co.uk
Please note the title Corporate Finance Director does not mean the individual is a director of the company
"Lauren was appointed to represent us and assist in the negotiation and completion of our deal and proved a great asset to our team, being always accessible for queries no matter how complex, and enabling us to focus on other areas of the deal and the day-to-day running of the business.”
Paul Johnson
CFO
HCD Economics