A year of growth in the North East
With 2026 underway, Johnston Carmichael is reflecting on a year defined by momentum, growth and a strengthening presence in the North East. From senior appointments and national leadership roles to community investment and the launch of new platforms, the firm has continued to build on its reputation as a people-led, purpose-driven adviser.
During 2025, the Newcastle office moved into a phase of sustained growth and expansion. Since opening in 2023, the office has grown rapidly and now has a team of 23 and counting. The team advises a broad mix of entrepreneurial businesses, family-owned firms and larger corporates, spanning sectors including construction and property, manufacturing, professional services and technology.
Investing in senior talent
A defining theme of the year was investment in leading talent. Throughout 2025, Johnston Carmichael strengthened its Newcastle team with a series of senior appointments, including Tax Directors Chris Hodgson and Adrienne Paterson. These hires brought additional depth and specialism to the team, while also reinforcing their long-term commitment to building a strong, sustainable presence in the region.
National recognition for regional expertise
That local capability has also been recognised at a national level. In 2025, Newcastle-based VAT and Indirect Tax Director Glen Small was appointed as Head of Construction and Property, placing the Newcastle office at the centre of their UK-wide sector strategy.
The firm’s specialist expertise was further recognised when the VAT team, led by Alex Nicholson, was shortlisted for Team of the Year, reflecting the depth of technical knowledge and practical insight being delivered to clients from the North East and beyond.
Deepening sector engagement across the region
In 2025, the team continued to strengthen its engagement across key North East sectors through active participation in regional networks and partnerships.
They play an active role in the region’s technology ecosystem through its involvement with Dynamo North East, while its food and drink specialists worked closely with FADNE, taking Johnston Carmichael’s annual sector survey to the Newcastle market last March. Paul Shields, Partner and Head of the Newcastle office, is a member of The Engineering and Manufacturing Network, supporting collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the sector.
The team also continued to deepen its involvement in the energy and industrial supply chain through Global Underwater Hub, with Tom Harrison, Senior Manager, and Rebecca McColl, Senior Tax Manager, working closely with businesses operating in the energy, industrial and subsea markets.
These partnerships reflect the firm’s commitment to being embedded in the sectors it advises, ensuring its insight remains grounded in the realities facing regional businesses.
Sharing insight in new ways
2025 also marked a shift in how Johnston Carmichael engages with the wider business community. Paul Shields played a key role in hosting their new podcast, ‘Where Sharp Minds Compete’, which explores leadership, growth and decision-making through candid conversations with business leaders, athletes and changemakers.
The podcast reflects the firm’s belief that strong leadership is shaped not only by technical expertise, but by experience, perspective and the ability to learn from others.
Creating impact beyond business
Community impact has remained a core part of Johnston Carmichael’s ethos throughout the year. In 2025, they concluded a 12-month partnership with England Netball, delivering a tangible grassroots legacy across the North East. Through targeted funding streams, the initiative supported more than 1,000 women, girls and young people to access netball through coaching qualifications, club development and school-based programmes, including SEND settings.
Looking ahead to 2026
This year, the focus is firmly on continued growth, but with purpose. The team recently welcomed Audit Partner, Gemma Gibson, with plans to continue to expand the senior Newcastle team further and continuing to invest in early-career talent through training and development.
Paul Shields said: “2025 was a brilliant year for our Newcastle team. We’ve grown the business, strengthened our expertise and have seen colleagues step into leadership roles at a national level. What’s been particularly rewarding is how strongly our approach resonates with clients across the region. Businesses want advisers who understand their world and can offer practical, forward-looking support.
There’s a real sense of momentum as we head into the year ahead. We’re planning further growth, welcoming new senior colleagues and continuing to invest in our people and our profile in the North East. The region has enormous potential, and we’re ambitious about the role we can play in supporting businesses to grow, adapt and succeed, even in a challenging environment.”
Johnston Carmichael’s North East story continues to evolve, with a growing team, widening client base and an increasingly prominent national voice. The firm has positioned itself not simply as an adviser to the region’s businesses, but as a long-term partner in their future success.
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