Welcome to ”Ask The Expert”, Silverstone Technology Cluster’s podcast. In each episode, we invite seasoned professionals and industry leaders to share their insights, experiences, and strategies for navigating the complexities of modern business and the advanced engineering landscape.

In this episode, we’re joined by Luke Prout and Charles Hill from Cottons Group to explore how asking the right questions of your accountant can lead to smarter, more profitable business decisions. The conversation covers project profitability, cash flow, R&D tax credits, growth planning, efficiency, and how accountants can support your business beyond compliance. Practical, relatable and insight-led — this episode will help you spot opportunities, avoid costly mistakes, and plan for the future with confidence.

Meet our Experts:

Charles Hill

Charles has built up considerable experience over the past 10 years specialising in advising and assisting entrepreneurial owner-managed businesses with their forward strategy and compliance requirements. Charles qualified as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant with Cottons in 2016 after graduating with a degree in Economics, and after a 5 year stint working with a portfolio of SME’s in a variety of sectors at a top 12 firm, returned to Cottons in 2022 to contribute to its continued expansion.Charles not only enjoys forming strong relationships with his clients through a thorough understanding of their business and future goals, but also building teams in order to provide exposure for those training with him.In his spare time, Charles enjoys spending time with his young family and in the mountains; be it skiing, cycling or hiking. He is also a keen follower of Rugby Union and certain motorsport.

Luke Prout

Luke joined Cottons in June 2024 as a Tax Partner and has over 20 years’ experience in providing tax compliance and advisory services to all sizes of business, their owners, within the UK and also internationally. Prior to joining Cottons, Luke spent 6 years as a Partner of a Top 40 accounting practice and before then spent 13 years at a Top 15 practice. Luke’s expertise spans a wide array of tax areas, including Company Tax, Income Tax, Stamp Duty Land Tax, VAT, Inheritance Tax, and Employment Taxes.Luke is a ‘hands on’ partner and takes great pride in delivering the best outcome for his clients and works very closely with them to achieve the personal and business goals. Luke’s role is to ensure that the clients of Cottons are looked after and also steering the tax services from a strategic viewpoint.Outside of work, Luke is married and has a young family to keep him on his toes and spends his spare time as much as he can on his bike riding through Northamptonshire.

This episode is brought to you by Cottons Group. Established as one of the UK’s leading independent accountancy firms, Cottons Group supports businesses of all sizes with expert financial advice, audit, tax, and business consultancy services. With a strong focus on building lasting client relationships, their team combines technical excellence with practical insight to help organisations grow with confidence. From start-ups to established enterprises, Cottons Group delivers tailored solutions designed to optimise performance, ensure compliance, and unlock new opportunities. By partnering closely with their clients, they empower businesses to make informed decisions, drive efficiency, and achieve sustainable success in an ever-changing marketplace.