Carl Wright

Career history

I qualified with a small practice in Stockton-on-Tees, working in a variety of roles including audit, accounts, managed services and business planning.  I joined Clive Owen in 2014 to specialise in grants advisory work and was promoted to Director in 2020.

Qualifications

BE (Hons), ACA

Experience and expertise

I spend the vast majority of my time supporting clients with all aspects of the grant application process including application support, appraisal work and grant audits. I also provide state aid advice to a number of grant scheme administrative bodies, including several Local Enterprise Partnerships. I work with businesses across all sectors of the economy and my clients range from motor manufacturers to contact centres.

Away from grants I also support clients with financial projections and business planning assignments.

I also lead on Clive Owen’s sustainability strategy, focussing on delivering carbon footprint reductions, managing our resource utilisation and engaging with our communities through volunteering and other initiatives. I am now also credited by the ICAEW as a Climate Champion.

In 2024, I became a Director of the Tees Maritime Cluster, a dynamic, private sector-led initiative dedicated to shaping the future of Teesside’s maritime industry. As part of the wider Maritime UK network, we unite industry leaders, education providers, and businesses across the region to drive skills development, strategic partnerships, and innovation-led growth—positioning Teesside as a leading hub for maritime excellence and a key player in the UK’s Net Zero ambitions.

Professional memberships/directorships

ICAEW, ICAEW Climate Champion

Career highlights

Since joining Clive Owen I have helped businesses to secure over £200m of grant funding, which will support projects which will generate many thousands of jobs across the UK. It is great to know I have played a small part in driving this economic growth.

My work has encompassed grants ranging from £10k for local SMEs through to £20m plus grant offers for multi-national businesses. The amount of grant isn’t that important to me, a small grant can make a huge difference to a business and it is a great feeling when a client tells me how much they value my support.

Did you always want to be an accountant?

Once I had quickly established I wasn’t good enough to be a footballer I spent my school years unsure of what I wanted to do. Having studied far too much maths at Sixth Form I decided to enrol for a business studies degree at Durham University. This had a common first year with accounting and finance and having much preferred the accountancy modules I switched courses. A couple of summers of work experience wasn’t enough to put me off and when I graduated in 2009 I took up a training contract and have never looked back.

Hobbies and interests

I enjoy spending time with my family, and with two young daughters this involves lots of days out, swimming and dancing (watching not participating!)

I enjoy most sports, particularly football. I am Middlesbrough fan but can occasionally be spotted watching Darlington too.