The BCASS Quiz Night has been arranged for Thursday 25 February at The Upstairs of The Old Royal, Church Street, Birmingham, 7.15p.m. for 7.30 start.  Cost £2 per person (teams of 4) includes 2 free drinks kindly sponsored by Toner Graham Recruitment 

This event is very popular so please contact annehipkiss@bcass.co.uk or 0121 258 0245 to enter your team.   

THE BCASS ANNUAL FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT IS TO BE HELD ON sUNDAY 24 january 2010 at GOALS SOCCER CENTRE, Star City, Birmingham at 11.30 a.m.

Entry is £50 per teams to include food and trophies for winners.

for further information please contact annehipkiss@bcass.co.uk

THE ANNUAL DINNER WAS HELD ON FRIDAY 13TH NOVEMBER 2009 AT THE RECENTLY REFURBISHED HOLTE SUITE, ASTON VILLA FOOTBALL CLUB.  180 MEMBERS AND GUESTS ATTENDED THE HORROR THEMED NIGHT AND AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE PHOTOS WE HAD A LOT OF SCARRY PEOPLE ATTENDING!!!  THIS YEAR WAS THE LOWEST ATTENDANCE FOR MANY YEARS DUE TO THE CURRENT CLIMATE BUT BCASS WISH TO THANK ALL THOSE FIRMS WHO STILL SUPPORTED THE EVENT.  HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR THE NUMBERS WILL BE BACK TO NORMAL NEAR 300. 

WE RAISED £350 ON OUR RAFFLE FOR ACORNS CHILDRENS HOSPICE.

MANY THANKS ALSO TO OUR SPONSORS ONCE AGAIN THIS YEAR MICHAEL PAGE FINANCE WHO KINDLY GAVE THE BEST DRESSED MALE AND FEMALE A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE.

Over 90 new students attended the BCASS New Starters evening on Thursday 15 October at Pitcher & Piano.   An Ice Breaker questionnaire was handed out for people to try and mingle and get names and ideas for events from other fellow students not in their own firm.  With approx 20 completed forms the winner was Rob Somerville from EY who won the new iPOD Shuffle.

Many thanks for all those who attended and we look forward to seeing you at many more BCASS events throughout your 3 years training.

BCASS Committee

Sixteen Teams took part at the BCASS Quiz Evening on Thursday 24 September at The Old Royal.  Teams were very close but "Edghogs 2nd X1" won by 2 points.  Many thanks for all those who attended and also the sponsors PLACES BIRMINGHAM LTD. 

Please come and join for an informal evening of wine tasting at the offices of Ernst & Young, One Colmore Square on Thursday 23 July at 7.00 p.m.

There will be a variety of wines to taste and then we will test your knowledge on the wines.

Cost is onlt £10 per person.  Places are limited so please book a.s.a.p. at annehipkiss@bcass.co.uk

The BCASS Annual netball tournament was held on a wet, chilly and windy Tuesday evening after work ( so much for summer!!) in the hope of winning the well-contested cup, six teams  played at the Munroe Sports Centre.

The evening started off well, and all teams had at least one win in the qualifying rounds.  The competition started hoting up as did the tussells and slight injuries along the way, and the final was between Michael Page and EY.  The victors were Michael Page our sponsors.

Well done to Jamie Wright from Baker Tilly who won a bottle of champagne from the draw.

Thank you to all the teams that took part and played so well and also the organisers and referees who did an excellent job of keeping all in order. 

Many thanks once again Michael Page for sponsorsing refreshments.

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JOIN US FOR SOME DELICIOUS FOOD, DRINKS AND A CHANCE TO MEET AND NETWORK WITH ACCOUNTANCY TRAINEES FROM ALL  OVER THE WEST MIDLANDS. 

THIS EVENT IS ESPECIALLY FOR TRAINEES AT SMALL/MID-TIER FIRMS, PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!

FOOD AND ONE FREE DRINK INCLUDED FOR ONLY £10.

PLEASE REGISTER YOUR PLACE AT ANNEHIPKISS@BCASS.CO.UK now!!!

A very enjoyable Networking Event was held between members of BCASS, and members of the Birmingham Trainee Solicitors Society at Apres Bar, Summer Row on 12 February. 

Over 160 players attended this years BCASS Annual 5-a-side Football Tournament, kindly sponsored by Toner Graham Accountancy Recruitment.

After almost 4 hours of competitive matches, with quality to match the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United, Deloitte emerged victorious following a supreme strike to wine the final 1-0.

Congratulations Deloitte 2009 Champions.

This year's Annual Dinner was held newly refurbished TRINITY SUITE at Aston Villa Football Club on Friday 7 November.  270 members and guests attended the 70's theme evening with the majority of attendees dressing up for the evening.  The night started off with short speeches from our President, Becky Eagle from KPMG, followed by the Deputy President of BWMSCA Sally Beavan and the end speech by brave Richard Hopkins Burton from Deloitte as the microphone failed!!!

A raffle was held for Cancer Research UK with over £400 collected.

Also prizes for best dressed female and Male were awarded by Michael Page Finance.

Everyone then danced all night to our entertainment Ballroom Glizz and DJ.

Many thanks to our sponsors Michael Page Finance for all their help in organising the evening.

A POKER NIGHT WAS HELD AT THE SPORTS BAR CAFE' ON THURSDAY 23 OCTOBER. APPROX 50 PLAYERS TURNED UP FOR A VERY ENJOYABLE EVENING.  MANY THANKS TO THE SPONSORS TONER GRAHAM FOR ORGANISING AND SPONSORING THE EVENT.

BCASS Committee welcomed 75 New Starters to thie first BCASS Event on  Thursday 9 October 2008 at the Pitcher & Piano in Brindley Place.  We issued a quiz for people to let us know what events they would like BCASS to organise in the following year. 

Free drinks and buffet were provided. 

We look forward to meeting many 1st year students at the BCASS Events.

15 Team took part in the BCASS Quiz kindly sponsored by HUDSONS at the pitcher & Piano on Tuesday 23 September 2008.

The BCASS Quiz evening is to be held upstairs of the Old Royal, Church Street, Birmingham on Thursday 15 May at 7.15 p.m. for 7.30 p.m. start.  Teams of 4 with a cost of £5 per team to include 2 free drinks and snacks and plently of excellent prizes to be won thanks to our sponsors Sphere Recruitment.

Please contact Anne Hipkiss at: annehipkiss@bcass.co.uk or 0121 258 0245 to register your team.

30 brave young trainee accountants took part in our Annual Paintablling Event on Saturday 12 April.  Many thanks to our sponsors Andrew Farr Associates who made the event possible.

A double decker bus picked up over 30 students and sponsors from Colmore Row on Friday 28 March and visited 3 Black Country Public Houses.   At the final pub there was a buffet and Karaoke Disco.  By the photos you can see we have some budding singers for the next X FACTOR!!

Many thanks to our sponsors Sphere Recruitment that made the event possible.

The long awaited networking event took place at the very pretigious surroundings of Hotel Du Vin.  100 young professional attended from BCASS, BTSS and MATRICS.  The evening went very well with plenty of wine tasting throughout. We hope to present another networking evening in the forthcoming months so look out for information.

Many thanks to our sponsor MartinWardAnderson for making the event possible.

The Annual Go Karting event took place on Thursday 21 February at the Teamworks Karting in Digbeth. - 30 student took part from Baker Tilly, RSM Bentley Jennison, Folkes Worton and Deloittes. 

Many thanks to Andrew Farr Associates for sponsoring the event again this year.

The  battle of the qualifications quiz organised by DG Associates went very well, it was well attended with 10 teams 5 each representing ACA and CIMA.  Everyone has said they had a great time.  The BCASS Berties led by Phil Wood did a sterling effort of keeping the last place spot warm for someone elese to drop into but unfortunately this never quite happened.  There was an on the spot cash prize with some very interesting answers and had a very funny person from Deloitte who decided to fill the sponsors form in calling themselves SUPERMAN!!   Many thanks for everybody who helped in organising the event and for all participants in taking part.

An excellent turnout of 32 teams took part in the BCASS 5-a-side Football Tournament on Sunday 27 January.

Congratulations to the ladies of Ernst & Young, who took home the trophy by beating Grant Thornton in the final with 2 goals from "Player of the Tournament" Liz Jones.

Congraulations also to PKF, the mens winners,who came back from 1-0 down to bag a victory, 2-1 with a late goal from James Ward.  Player of the Tournbament was Ollie Shaw, who returned to the final after injury to help inspire his team to the title.

Many thanks to sponsors Hays Accountancy Finance for helping make the Tournament a great success.

The Wild West invaded the Aston Villa Football Club on Friday 9 November with approximately 300 members and guests attending our 2007 Annual Dinner.   Over 50% of guests got into the theme of the Wild West (Boys and their Guns!!)  After short speeches at the beginning of the evening by Ed Rickard - President of BCASS - Sheilagh Moffat - Council Member of the ICAEW and finally but not least Adam Stephens - Hon. Secretary a great party was to be had.   Tequila Girls giving out shots - Bucking Bronco - and live music supplied by Jamye Tovey and Joe Stafford followed by disco until 2.00 a.m.   Many thanks to the sponsors Michael Page Finance  who presented various raffle prizes and hlped to make the night a great success.  A raffle for champagne was organised and £320 was raised for the Anthony Nolan Trust.

Look out for next year.

ANOTHER QUIZ NIGHT FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM TO TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE AGAINST FELLOW ACCOUNTANTS IN A FUN AND ENTERTAINING EVENING .

ENTRANCE FEE IS £5 PER TEAM OF 4 TO INCLUDE 2 FREE DRINKS AND LIGHT REFRESHMENTS.

PLEASE CONTACT ANNEHIPKISS@BCASS.CO.UK TO REGISTER YOUR TEAM

Martin Ward Anderson invite you to a Networking Party to be held on Thursday 25th September registration from 6.00 p.m.  Join us for an evening of fine wine and conversation.

An expert in the field of Networking will be on hand to offer helpful hints and tips of maximising your skills to  effectively network.   To register your place, please contact annehipkiss@bcass.co.uk or tel: 0121 258 0245

Approximately 40 thirsty Chartered Accountants turned out for the BCASS Pub Golf Event. Teeing off in the Temple Bar and visiting various watering holes around the city centre.  Everyone had a great evening (those who could remember!!).  Many thanks to Michael Mage for organising and sponsoring this very popular event.   Pictures will be published shortly.

On a warm Friday night in July 60 Chartered Accountants attended the BCASS Medieval Banquet at the glorious setting of Coombe Abbey. 

After being well fed and watered by the feasting maids, filling goblets with mead and wine throughtout the event. The Ladyes of Coombe took to the stage and entertained their audience with song, dance and sketches.

The event was a great success.  Many thanks to the sponsors Martin Ward Anderson.

Congratulations to Adam Stephens of Deloitte and Andrew Karran of KPMG  & Young who were elected as Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer respectively for the 2007-08 committee year. 

20 brave accountants took part in the annual Paintballing Event kindly sponsored by Andrew Farr Associates on a glorious Spring Saturday morning 4 April 2007.

After battle the winning team were the lads from Deloitte (hope not too many bruises!!!)

A Maximum number of 50 students attended the inaugrual "BCASS POKER NIGHT" at the Sports Cafe on Broad Street. The evening started off with a free buffet and free bar.  The games started at 8.00 p.m. It all went very serious as all heads were down. During the interval the students were entertained by a fantastic table magician.

The the winners of the evening were:

1st Anthony Wan Min Kee - Grant Thornton

2nd Andy Karran - KPMG

3rd Ben Whibley - KPMG

Maren Burtolt from KPMG won the IPOD.

Many thanks to the sponsors Toner Graham for making this event one of the most successful of the year.

Eight competing teams took part in this grueling 90 lap race, once again kindly sponsored by Andrew Farr Associates.  EY were the winners with PWC in second place and MGI team 1 finishing third.

Over 20 mens teams and 4 girls team took part in the BCASS 2007 Annual Football Tournament on Sunday 28 January.

The final of the mens teams was between Grant Thornton and Deloitte with Grant Thornotn been the overall victors

The final of the girls teams was between KPMG and Grant Thornton with KPMG ladies winning.  Many thanks for Sphere Recruitment for sponsoring the event.

With Casino Royale about to hit the cinema screens, what better way to get in the mood than embracing all things James Bond at the 007 themed BCASS Annual Dinner?

There will be missions to complete, ingenious gadgets, roulette tables and of course plenty of vodka martinis – shaken not stirred.

Tickets will be available shortly - Make sure you put the date in your diary!

Can anyone stop the might of the Baker Tilly boys?

Despite the best efforts of the team with the combined forces of KPMG and Folkes Worton, they still could not be beaten!

Michael Warwick Nicol, as sponsors, were on hand again to present the boys with their usual bottles of wine!

So everybody else needs to start swotting up on their general knowledge now to have a chance to defeat the boys next March. 

With a starlight masquerade theme, attendees were treated to the wonderful sounds of a string quartet whilst enjoying a first class 3 course meal and then it was left to the drinking and dancing late into the night. 

Heather Scott (KPMG) and Simon Blythin (Baker Tilly), pictured below, were awarded the prize, provided by sponsors ECHM, for the best masks.

Congartutulations to KPMG the winners of the 2006 BCASS netball by beating PWC in the final.

What happens when give around 40 accountancy students plenty of beer, put them on a bus and then let them loose with the karaoke machine?

A highly chaotic but fun and entertaining evening!

The evening sponsored by CharterQuest turned out to be another memorable BCASS event.  

Congratulations to lads from E&Y (with some help from the sponsors, Hays) whom got the highest aggregate lane score and to James Golder for the highest aggregate individual score. Just to even things out, the E&Y ladies team were awarded the wooden spoon for their aggregate lane score.

Avoiding the hail of paint pellets students enjoyed a series of battle senarios with the PWC/Kroll/E&Y team combination coming out as victors.

Bitter after losing their title of quiz champions last year on a tie breaker, the boys from Baker Tilly returned in force to win back the title of BCASS quiz champions. The boys are seen collecting their prize from sponsors Michael Warwick Nicholls.

After the huge success of the inaugural Professional Trainees’ Networking Evening held in October, this follow up event was again a sell out, giving students a great opportunity to meet, network and build business relations withtrainees from the full range of professions in Birmingham in a relaxed, informal setting.

Attendees were also treated to a talk from Sarah Gee, deputy chair of Birmingham Future, on how networking and building business relations are important parts of business alongside tips on how to get the most out of networking.

Out of the 8 competing teams, PWC came out on top after a gruelling 90 lap race sponsored by Andrew Farr Associates, with Deloitte taking second place and Kroll finishing as third.

The PWC men may have lost their title as 5-a-side champions, with PKF crowned as 2006 winners beating Grant Thornton in the final of the event sponsored by Sphere Recruitment.

However the PWC ladies made up for it by winning the inaugural 5-a-side competition by beating KPMG in their final.

Unfortunately the Matrics Society exacted some revenge on their earlier defeat by winning the re-match 3-1. Hopefully there will be a deciding match in the new year. 

The Annual Dinner is the most prestigious event of the BCASS calendar and for 2005 it had a new venue for the first time in well over ten years. Held at Aston Villa Football Club, the Dinner, aptly themed as the “Footballers’ Wives Ball”, was a ‘Premier League’ success with a five year high attendance figure of over 325 attendees.

The ‘first-half’ started with the “top table” team entertaining the crowd. BCASS president Simon Purkess bottled out of the challenge of the speeches with a game of ‘Heads or Tails’ leaving Reginald Wynniatt-Husey, president of the and West Midlands Society of Chartered Accountants to recite a tale of his pre-accountancy days in the army and Honorary Secretary, Tarifa Bagasrawalla to give a summary of the events of the past year.

After the ‘half-time’ 3 course-meal, a selection of the best dressed “Footballers” and “Footballers’ wives”, with their chintzy accessories and glitzy outfits, were brought up on stage to be judged by the crowd for the start of the ‘second-half’. Ruth Miller (KPMG) and Nick Compton (Deloitte) strode away with the bottles of bubbly. Sponsors Michael Page provided numerous great prizes for the free prize draw which and over £500 was raised for the Mary Stevens Hospice through the charity raffle and auction for a signed football donated by Aston Villa FC.

The evening then went into ‘extra-time’ which allowed the attendees to enjoy the interactive video-disco and vodka luge. Even though Victoria and Louise and their footballing husbands may have stubbed the event, the accounting students of Birmingham made up for their absence by partying well into the small hours of the night.

This cross profession event, sponsored by BrindleyPlace, gave BCASS members a great opportunity to meet trainees from the full range of professions in Birmingham in a relaxed, informal setting, whilst at the same time being exposed to a taste of what Birmingham can offer professionally and socially.

Stef Lewandowski, the Birmingham Young Professional of the Year gave his insight into life and work in Birmingham and share his fascinating vision for the future and David Hodgson, from Marketing Birmingham gave a short introduction to the new “Birmingham Bites” campaign (which is about establishing Birmingham as a UK Culinary Capital!).

"Lofty Sponsored by Marlboro", one of the teams from Grant Thornton, managed to beat the previous champions, from Baker Tilly, in a tie breaker after one of the closest quizzes ever. Only half a point separated the top 3 teams after the 8 rounds. The winning team of Sarah Bills, Will, Vout, Matthew Lange and Ian Robertson are pictured below joined by Simon McAleenan trying to get in on the act! 

The BCASS committee welcomed over 80 new trainees at a free drinks and buffet evening at the Pitcher and Piano, Brindley Place.

Victory - In the first ever BCASS hockey match, the accountancy representatives beat the Matrics Society 2-1 in a very close match.

Members attending the Annual Activity Weekend at the fantastic Mount Severn Activity Centre in Mid Wales got to experience rock climbing, abseiling, kayaking and caving. 

Deferred from August, BCASS members completed their ICAEW 125 community challenge in glorious weather, erecting 6 benches for the pupils at Woodcock Primary School, Northfield.

Teeing off at Bennetts Bar members took in 9 ‘watering’ holes within Birmingham city centre with the challenge of keeping their drinks – alcoholic or otherwise- on par at each pub.

Already the evening has become stuff of legends. All 40 participants successfully negotiated the 9 'watering' holes, many doing so in a score that Tiger Woods would have been proud! Even the stylish t-shirts , produced by the sponsors, Michael Page Financial Recruitment, have become the must wear fashion item of the season!   

The weather might not have quite been that of the French Riviera, but that did not stop Birmingham’s young and trainee chartered accountants and their guests having a premier time at the ‘Cannes Film Festive’ themed Annual Summer Ball.

Before making their grand entrance into the main banqueting suite down the red carpet attendees got to enjoy pre-meal drinks in the wonderful surroundings of the grounds of the venue, The Botanical Gardens, Edgbaston. The A-list celebrities may have stayed away, but that did not stop the paparazzi from popping out of the bushes and showing up along the red carpet trying to get that exclusive photo for the high class celebrity and accounting magazines.

Once seated the attendees, representing eleven of accountancy firms of Birmingham, got to enjoy a Mediterranean feel three course meal as the free wine, of the French variety naturally, flowed.

As part of the ‘Soirée a Cannes’ event, the BCASS Committee had challenged people to don their Haute Couture to outdo the A-list celebrities with their own glitzy and glamorous outfits and the challenge was definitely met. As coffee was served, the anticipation started to rise as the nominations selected by the illustrious judging panel were read out. The “Palm D’or” prize of a bottle of Champagne was awarded to Gwenevere Smith, her stunning magenta dress would have been the envy of many a celebrity.

A new sporting event that gave a chance for the girls to show their true sporting prowess and battle it out for the title of netball champions and win the trophy kindly provided by Michael Page.

Congratulations to the winners Wenham Major who beat Grant Thornton in a very closely fought final. 

All aboard the Black Country Beer Bus!

Members enjoyed a fun packed evening on a tour of drinking establishments in the black country culminating in a feast of Desperate Dan Cow pies. Great skill was shown in the ability to avoid spillage whilst drinking on a moving bus!

Over 40 members attended the second Saturday of explosive fun with students from KPMG, Deloitte, PWC, Ernst & Young and Baker Tilly battling out for paint balling supremacy.

'The Fabulous Baker Boys' were crowned as the new quiz champions. The team from Baker Tilly, came out as winners after three dramatic sudden death tie breaker questions, narrowly beating 'The Cool Dudes' from KPMG. After the quiz, the team from Baker Tilly threw down the gauntlet to the previous champions from PWC to come and try to win the title back at the next quiz. 

Another great evening of comedy with the excellent compere Paul Thorne rounded off by the slightly rude by outrageously funny Canadian, Mike Wilmot. 

The weather was on our side for the annual 5-a-side football tournament, held again at Powerleague, Aston. Although the players had to brave the cold, the sun shone down on the 22 teams that entered the competition. After some hard fought games the final was between PWC and Grant Thornton, with the Big 4 firm coming out victors by the slender score of 2-1. The pictures below include the victorious PWC team and the superb BCASS cheerleaders! 

For a third successful year, the Activity Weekend was again held at the Mount Severn activity centre in Mid Wales. Arriving on the Friday night, the weekend included two nights accommodation at the grade II listed country residence and fully supervised activities including rock climbing, abseiling, caving and kayaking.

The annual Summer Ball returned with a bang with a record attendance of over 260 people attending this fun and relaxed event, held in the wonderful surroundings of the Botanical Gardens in some great weather.

All members and their friends were invited to this informal social evening. Over 50 people attended starting at Bushwackers and then moving on
to other watering establishments, making a great to start the weekend after their hard week at work/college!

"Come test your general knowledge"

"No chance", a team from PWC, beat off the competition of the 9 other teams in an entertaining and hotly contested quiz.  

Pictured far right are the winning team accompanied by Elspeth Jebson of Michael Warwick Nicholls, who sponsored the night.

Over 50 people attended and thoroughly enjoyed the latest BCASS event at the Glee Club.

Comedians on the night included the excellent Jeff Green and Jo-Jo Smith.

Well done to 'MG Rover' from KMPG who pipped 'White van drivers' from RSM Robson Rhodes and triumphed over the other 4 teams in a hotly contest competition.

Well done to the team from BDO Stoy Hayward which beat the Deloitte team in the final.

Pictures from one of the quiz nights held during 2003 by BCASS