MEMBERS of Service Challenge have launched their own charter to stamp out the perception of business people that chartered accountants are "a necessary evil".

An audience of business people and regional decision makers attended the launch at the Riverside cricket stadium in Chester-le-Street and heard that the charter is a response by chartered accountant members of Service Challenge to research the attitudes of North-East businesses to their outsourced professional services.

Keith Robinson of Middlesbrough-based Keith Robinson and Co said the charter is a joint commitment to help client business grow.

He said: "The survey revealed several areas of concern amongst clients of chartered accountants in the way we do business with them," he said.

"They sometimes see us as a necessary evil rather than as people who can help them achieve their goals for their business.

"The members of Service Challenge responded to these concerns by creating a charter with guaranteed minimum levels of service."

Jane Hogan, operations manager at Service challenge, said: "The charter is entirely the initiative of Service Challenge's chartered accountant members.

"They recognise that the quality of service they offer is the key to retaining existing clients and attracting new ones."