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Howarths, a Yorkshire-based human resources, labor and health and safety consultancy, says managing director Gavin Howarth has become the majority owner of the company.

It follows the purchase of the joint stake of co-founders Andy and Helen Howarth.

The deal calls for Gavin Howarth to increase his stake to 80%, with finance director Tracey Hopkins increasing to 15%, and company director of labor and corporate immigration, Charlotte Geesin, also to join the board at 5%.

Gavin said, “This deal is an important milestone for Howarths as we continue to grow and advise on increasingly complex and challenging employment law scenarios for many large and established brands in Yorkshire and beyond.”

Founded in 2003 by former detective Andy Howarth and his wife Helen, the firm supports more than 600 companies in the north of England and employs 27 people.

Andy Howarth said, “The idea for Howarths came about while Helen and I were sitting on the banks of the Burnsall riverside.

“We watched our sons Gavin and Chris play in the river and we decided we wanted a better future for them when I retired from the police.

“I had been in the service for about 25 years and realized that getting a job could be difficult when I retired at 49 and left school at 15 with no formal qualifications.

“So I graduated from high school at the age of 44 and then studied part-time to complete my law degree.

“The idea of ​​starting our own business and working together was a massive risk, but Helen and I had talked since our early 20s.”

Gavin added, “This is our family who are taking the next step forward with our succession plan for the company that will keep Howarths family-owned while securing the future for our exceptional team and valued customers, many of them since business with us started. “

“During my law degree, my parents worked tirelessly to build the company. They had no prior business experience and only had a computer in the front living room of our family home.

“Blood, sweat, and tears were invested in getting Howarths off the ground, and through sheer determination, hard work, talent – and a refusal to accept failure – they built an extremely successful company.”

In 2017, the company launched the Howarth Foundation, a charity founded by Andy with the aim of helping people who have become homeless return to work.

To date, the charity has placed 26 people in employment, 34 people in training, referred 17 people to home appraisals, and helped many more recover from drug and alcohol addiction.

Gavin said, “I am delighted that my parents will continue to lead the Howarth Foundation and our Hidden Owls Community projects and will therefore continue to be the focus of Howarths.

“I am delighted to have Charlotte on the board of directors and as a shareholder, and look forward to continuing to work closely with Tracey as she increases her stake in the company.

“Both have been instrumental in the growth and success of Howarths, with Tracey joining as our first employee in 2003 and Charlotte celebrating her tenth anniversary last month.”

The transaction was led by Paul Mann of Squire Patton Boggs, with accounting advice from Paul Calvert of Calvert Dawson and Kevin Winterburn of Sheards Accountants.