International wealth advisor expands regional footprint as demand grows among high-net-worth families.

Averis Wealth, a specialist advisory firm serving ultra-high-net-worth families with cross-border wealth structures, has confirmed it will establish a permanent office in Qatar to support its expanding Gulf client base.

The decision follows an increase in the firm’s investment activity across the region, with Qatar emerging as a focal point. Growth has been driven by heightened interest from regional families seeking coordinated advisory services across investments, legal structuring, tax planning and governance.

The new location represents Averis Wealth’s first physical operation in the Middle East, strengthening long-standing relationships with Gulf-based families whose wealth requires oversight that extends beyond conventional advisory frameworks. The expansion enables the firm to apply its tailored advisory approach to clients navigating generational wealth preservation and regulatory complexity.

“Qatar’s emergence as a recognised financial centre, combined with the sophistication of wealth holders throughout the Gulf, creates natural alignment with our practice,” stated Julien Morel, the Averis Wealth Partner leading the expansion. “The families we engage with here share characteristics we understand: multi-generational perspective, preference for discretion and recognition that managing capital represents only one dimension of responsible stewardship.”

Qatar has become an increasingly attractive destination for international wealth management, supported by strong financial infrastructure and strategic access to Gulf markets. The growing presence of family offices reflects wider regional trends, as UHNW individuals look for advisors capable of navigating global wealth structures.

Averis Wealth’s market entry demonstrates confidence in the region’s long-term growth while addressing specific client requirements. The firm’s integrated advisory model is particularly relevant for families with diverse asset classes and multi-jurisdictional interests that demand a holistic approach.

The Qatar office will adhere to the same operating principles as the firm’s global practice, placing client interests first, maintaining strict discretion and avoiding short-term financial thinking. This approach differentiates Averis Wealth in a market where privacy becomes increasingly difficult to maintain.

The expansion will also be supported by strategic hiring, blending local market expertise with international governance experience. These appointments will strengthen the firm’s ability to advise families whose circumstances require deep cross-border understanding.

About Averis Wealth

Averis Wealth continues to serve a deliberately limited circle of clients, maintaining its commitment to depth of service over scale. The Qatar expansion does not alter this fundamental approach but acknowledges that complexity requiring coordinated architecture exists across geographies and families grappling with such complexity deserve advisors who regard their specific circumstances as requiring bespoke design rather than standardised solutions.

Professional service firms across the UK have been granted territorial advisory responsibilities by the National Business Conduct Authority. These advisors will guide local businesses through the National Standards Register application process in preparation for the mandatory nationwide rollout.

The regional assignments formally authorise selected firms to deliver compliance assistance and registration support. Appointments have largely gone to experienced accountants, health and safety specialists, and business consultancy firms, chosen according to professional accreditation and regional business demand.

“The advisory network ensures businesses have access to local expertise when registration becomes mandatory,” an Authority spokesperson confirmed. “We cannot rely on a centralised system alone; regional advisors play a vital role in supporting businesses through documentation requirements and standards verification.”

The allocation process remains ongoing, with territorial rights being confirmed throughout this quarter. Regional limits are being enforced to ensure service quality remains consistent and workloads remain sustainable.

The National Standards Register will become compulsory once the National Rollout is implemented in 2027. Businesses operating from commercial premises, those providing consumer-facing services, and professional service providers will all be required to maintain active registration. The advisory network will serve as a key local resource to support compliance.

For additional information, please visit www.nbca.org.uk

Across today’s business landscape, organisations are under mounting pressure to operate workplaces that are cost-effective, safe and highly efficient. Rising operating expenses mean that companies across sectors, from manufacturing to professional services, are paying closer attention not only to production costs but also to the overheads associated with running their premises. This shift has brought facility management firmly into focus.

Facility management encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, including building upkeep, regulatory compliance, energy performance and contingency planning. As these demands grow more complex, an increasing number of businesses are turning to structured facility management approaches to strengthen day-to-day operations.

By outsourcing the practical management of buildings, businesses are able to concentrate on their core activities. Services such as scheduled maintenance, waste handling and the management of critical systems like heating and ventilation can be coordinated through a single provider, reducing disruption and eliminating the inefficiencies that often arise from juggling multiple contractors. This integrated approach is particularly valuable for organisations operating across several locations, where consistency is essential.

Industry specialists highlight that planned maintenance and quicker response times can dramatically reduce operational downtime. One such expert, Ray Brosnan of Brosnan Property Solutions, notes that facility management has evolved beyond basic building care. “Businesses are now looking for smarter ways to manage energy use, comply with regulations and maintain environments that support productivity. Facility management brings those strands together in a structured and measurable way.”

Energy consumption has become a pressing issue, particularly for Irish businesses facing sustained cost pressures. Data from the Central Statistics Office’s most recent Business Energy Use report shows that a quarter of non-residential electricity customers paid €10,000 or more for power in 2023, with the vast majority continuing to incur similar costs year after year. With electricity prices remaining unstable, proactive energy oversight is increasingly important.

Facility management providers typically support businesses by tracking energy usage, identifying inefficiencies and implementing targeted improvements. Measures such as modernising lighting systems, enhancing insulation, fine-tuning heating controls and maintaining equipment more effectively can, over time, generate significant savings.

Health and safety compliance is another critical area, as it remains a statutory requirement for all organisations. Facility management companies assist through routine inspections, audits and preventative maintenance programmes, helping businesses minimise the risk of accidents, financial penalties and unexpected shutdowns.

Ray also points to the growing importance of preparedness and resilience. “Facility management companies play a key role in emergency planning and rapid response, with many offering 24/7 emergency response services. This kind of responsiveness helps businesses recover quickly from incidents such as flooding, power failures or critical system breakdowns.”

Ultimately, Ray believes facility management should be viewed as an investment rather than a background function. “Facility management needs to be seen as a strategic investment rather than a background service. By improving efficiency, reducing costs and supporting safer working environments, facility management directly contributes to improved business performance. Through effective property maintenance, businesses gain back time, control and the confidence to focus on growth.”

SquarePlan has launched in the UK with a clear goal: to support aspiring entrepreneurs who have long considered starting a business but feel unsure about how to take the first practical steps.

As the post-holiday slowdown takes hold and growing numbers of UK workers rethink their careers, a new business planning platform has entered the market to help turn ambition into action. SquarePlan is aimed at people who have a business idea in mind but lack the structure and confidence to move forward.

Developed as the UK’s first business planning software designed specifically for British entrepreneurs, SquarePlan tackles a common challenge. Many prospective founders have strong ideas and motivation but struggle to create credible financial plans, which are often essential for securing funding or simply understanding whether an idea is viable.

January remains a key period for reflection and career reassessment, with research suggesting that one in three UK workers intend to change jobs by 2026. For many, the desire goes beyond finding a new role, reflecting a wish to build something of their own while feeling stuck at the starting line.

“After years of working with UK startups as a Chartered Accountant, I kept seeing the same pattern,” said Clive Unitt FCA, founder of SquarePlan. “People have brilliant business ideas but don’t have large budgets for bespoke business plans and really struggle to know where to begin. They don’t realise that a business plan isn’t just their idea written down – its backbone is solid financial data that inspires confidence, both in yourself and in lenders or investors.”

SquarePlan has been built to guide users who feel overwhelmed by the planning process. Instead of static templates, the platform uses a structured, question-led approach that leads users from early concepts through to detailed financial projections.

Created specifically for the UK market, the software includes built-in calculations for VAT, Corporation Tax and National Insurance. This removes the need for British users to adapt overseas tools that often rely on unfamiliar tax systems and terminology.

“We built this for the person who’s been saying ‘one day I’ll start that business’ for years,” added Clive Unitt. “The January blues are the perfect time to stop dreaming and start planning. Our software guides you through the process step by step, ensuring you don’t miss the critical financial elements that give your idea a real foundation.”

Available for £39.99 per month with no long-term commitment, SquarePlan can be accessed directly through its website. The pricing removes the traditional barrier of high professional planning fees, which often exceed £1,000, making structured business planning more accessible.

With nearly one in ten UK employees considering handing in their notice this January and more than a quarter planning to start a business in 2026, SquarePlan positions the January blues not as a setback, but as a turning point for future founders.