AAB Expands its English Footprint as Barlow Andrews Name Retires 

The name Barlow Andrews has been a familiar one to business owners in Bolton and across Greater Manchester for more than a century. This week, the heritage accountancy firm officially rebranded as AAB – a step that highlights its alignment with the professional services challenger brand, and its focus on delivering specialist, full-service support to growing regional businesses. 

The rebrand comes 12 months after Barlow Andrews joined rapidly expanding AAB. AAB has been backed by private equity since 2021 and has been on an impressive growth journey, trebling in size in that time. 

The Barlow Andrews brand was synonymous with continuity and a personal touch. Its client base of family-run businesses, entrepreneurs, GPs and high-net-worth individuals spans generations. 

As businesses scale and seek advice on specialist areas like corporate finance, digital transformation, and cross-border growth, regional firms increasingly need scale and specialist expertise. 

That, says AAB, is exactly what this rebrand delivers. 

“Barlow Andrews has been part of AAB since October 2024, bringing the brand fully into the group signals our intent to build a unified brand in the UK,” said Emma Lancaster, Chief Executive at AAB. “We’re investing in the North West because this region is a powerhouse of entrepreneurial business. Rebranding legacy firms under a single name is a bold move, but it is one that will build recognition of AAB across the UK market.” 

For existing clients, AAB stresses that very little will change day-to-day. The same partners and teams remain in place, but they are now backed by a broader firm.  

Chris Harland, Head of Office – Bolton at AAB commented: “This is a proud moment for our team. We are building on the strong heritage of Barlow Andrews while embracing the opportunities that being part of AAB brings. Our clients will see the same faces they’ve always known, but now with access to an even wider range of expertise to help them achieve their ambitions.” 

The rebrand is more than cosmetic, it reflects AAB’s ambition to be seen not just as a collection of regional firms, but as a national player with a distinctive culture. With recent acquisitions in Dublin and London, plus investments in technology and its people, the group is positioning itself as a fast-growth, private equity backed disruptor in the professional services market.  

Since 2021, AAB has trebled in size and now employs more than 1,000 people. AAB’s scale-up is set to continue in line with its ambitious 2030 growth strategy.