In conversation with Jon Dudgeon & Dave Gibson From Blusky

Jon and Dave are the founders of Blusky Accountants, set up over 15 years ago, Jon and Dave have worked with a wide range of businesses and have been key in the startup community for the last decade.

In addition to running a successful accountancy practice, they have also created the Podcast, 2 pints of lager and a spreadsheet. Over the years, Jon and Dave have had a unique insight into the startup ecosystem in the North East and are joining us to share some of their stories.

Hear some of their stories from running a business, some of the key challenges they have faced over this time and successes and mistakes they have seen other businesses make and how to avoid some of these pitfalls.

About the Panelist’s

Jon

Jon is well-versed in supporting ambitious, busy entrepreneurs with all of the complexities that come with scaling a business. He takes a forward-looking approach and sees the importance of clear strategy, strong leadership, shared values and culture when it comes to business success. 

As co-founder and CEO of multi award-winning accountancy practice, Blu Sky, Jon has spent the last 15 years successfully supporting business owners to achieve their goals.In his own business, he’s played a pivotal role in expanding into new markets and facilitating digital transformation. More recently, Jon has championed Blu Sky’s drive to become more sustainable and use business as a force for good by applying for B Corp certification.

About Dave

Dave Gibson, Chairman and Founder of Blu Sky Chartered Accountants, co-founded the award-winning accountancy practice Blu Sky in 2007. From its inception, Blu Sky has been recognised by its peers as being ahead of the curve, a testament to Dave's visionary leadership and innovative approach. His early career laid a strong foundation in accounting principles, enriched by his experience in business analytics and project management.

At the time of founding Blu Sky, the accountancy industry was heavily focused on delivering compliance products—essentially historical data. Dave leveraged his 20 years of experience in business analytics and project management to shift this focus towards forward-looking, strategic services. This approach enabled Blu Sky to offer value-added services from day one, positioning the firm as a leader in the industry.

Under Dave's leadership, Blu Sky has garnered significant accolades, including being named the North East Accountancy Practice of the Year and Medium Size Firm of the Year at the Accounting Excellence Awards. These honors reflect the firm's commitment to excellence and innovation, solidifying its reputation as a leading accountancy practice in the region.

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