A HEREFORD accountancy firm has been shortlisted to win a prestigious business award for its innovation.

Thorne Widgery has been named one of the finalists at the Hereford and Worcester Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2017.

Based on its ground-breaking 'Xero for Education' software initiative, the firm has been selected for the Excellence in Innovation Award, which recognises the region’s most innovative businesses.

Xero accounting software is not new but Thorne Widgery’s ability to make it bespoke and suitable for the education sector is, making it a potential game changer for schools and colleges.

Stephen Smallwood, managing director at Thorne Widgery, said: "We knew we were doing something right when our schools started giving us great feedback on the software. Imagine how we felt when other firms of accountants from around the country began approaching us asking us to do the same for their clients.

"We really are absolutely delighted to have been selected as finalists at this year’s Hereford and Worcester Chamber of Commerce Awards, especially as you don’t often see the words 'accountants' and 'innovative' in the same sentence.

"To begin with, this initiative was born out of our desire to help our own schools. Not only have we met our immediate goal but we’ve exceeded even our own expectations by how quickly interest has grown from schools and fellow professionals around the UK."

The team at Thorne Widgery will find out whether it has won at an awards evening due to be held on Thursday, June 15 at the Worcester Arena.

The firm was named Apprentice Employer of the Year 2016 by Herefordshire Worcestershire Group Training Association – a leading provider of training in the two counties – and Xero’s Accountancy Partner of the Year award England West 2015.