The team at Goodman Nash have been working alongside museums in Wiltshire to help preserve local history.
We have uncovered £375,000 of savings across four museums in the county and helped to reduce costs against a backdrop of an increased cost of living.
The Wiltshire Museum, Salisbury Museum, Trowbridge Museum and Chippenham Museum have all been helped by the investigative efforts of our team.
For the Wiltshire Museum, the ongoing savings have provided a substantial reduction in overheads. As an independent charity which has been located in the same Grade II listed building in the historic market town of Devizes since 1874, the museum relies almost entirely on money from admissions, events and the generosity of its members, present and past.
During a routine audit, our researchers at Goodman Nash identified possible savings to be made on the museum’s rateable value – meaning a possible reduction in business rates charges.
Following discussions with the museum, Goodman Nash were appointed to pursue the case and successfully reclaimed historic overpayments, in addition to securing a reduction in rates in the future.
David Dawson, Director of the Wiltshire Museum, said, “Goodman Nash demonstrated that they had looked at the museum sector and they guided us through the whole process – and it has been a complicated process!
“It’s very clear that you need specialist knowledge to get a business rates rebate and they have that knowledge.
“Overall, Goodman Nash have saved us approximately 60% of our business rates bill. That’s worth £6-7K a year every year, and that is absolutely fabulous.”
Lance Allan, Town Clerk at Trowbridge Town Council which operates Trowbridge Museum, said, “Goodman Nash made contact with Trowbridge Museum as their team believed they could help us to reduce our overheads and reclaim money we had overpaid in business rates.
“After conducting our own research into the company it was clear that they were reputable and had a proven track record in this area. We decided to pursue the claim with them and we have been delighted with the result.
“Museums like ours are incredibly important to preserve the history of our region. Like many other organisations we have been affected by the increased cost of living in recent years, but these substantial savings will help Trowbridge Museum enormously.
“It has been fantastic to work alongside a Wiltshire business for the ultimate benefit of the Wiltshire community.”
Business Development Manager at Goodman Nash, Jason Delaney, said, “Providing assistance with property tax matters is what we do on a daily basis across the country, but to help out these fantastic organisations in our home county is particularly rewarding.
“Each of the museums we have supported has its own part of the Wiltshire story to tell. We’re really pleased that our work will ultimately reduce their overheads and allow them to continue to provide a fantastic resource for people in Wiltshire and beyond.”
Goodman Nash made contact with Trowbridge Museum as their team believed they could help us to reduce our overheads and reclaim money we had overpaid in business rates. After conducting our own research into the company it was clear that they were reputable and had a proven track record in this area. We decided to pursue the claim with them and we have been delighted with the result. Lance Allan, Town Clerk, Trowbridge Town Council