Shaw native Dan Burnell has transformed his journey from supermarket till operator to senior management at a top British accountancy firm into a new mission: supporting Oldham’s entrepreneurs and community organizations through his newly launched Blue Fox Accounting service.

The 33-year-old has established his practice at The Hive, a co-working and business hub operated by social enterprise Upturn on the upper mall of the Spindles shopping centre. Burnell, who left school at 16 without attending university, aims to prove that alternative pathways can lead to professional success.

“I was fortunate to have a friend who got me a job at an accountants and I began an apprenticeship,” Burnell explained. “The route to becoming a chartered accountant is much more efficient that way - you qualify a year quicker than you would as a graduate and without any of the student debt!”

After qualifying, Burnell took an unconventional three-year break from accountancy, working in nightclubs and at TGI Friday’s. “The staff entrance to the restaurant had ‘stage door’ written above it, and you knew that with the customers, you had to make a positive impression within the first five seconds. These were great life lessons,” he recalled.

Following a successful career at prestigious firms, Burnell chose to launch his own practice focused on supporting startups and community organizations rather than pursuing sales-driven corporate work. His Blue Fox Accounting offers tailored services that extend beyond traditional annual account compilation.

Anwar Ali OBE, co-founder of Upturn, praised the partnership: “Dan’s business is exactly the sort of organisation we knew would benefit from being at our hub. It is steeped in the idea of community and his life experience is an example for those who may prefer vocational education or cannot afford to study for a degree.”

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