Chartered accountant Johnny Kipps still has a buzz for business as he continues to promote an ‘exciting’ software package.

The enthusiastic 71-year-old grandfather from Castletown is also a keen beekeeper.

Business News first reported two years ago about how Mr Kipps, originally from South Africa, was involved in a software package which he believes will allow directors to sleep better at night.

He firmly believes the package called Forecast 5 is just the business.

Now he has spoken after returning from Accountex 2017 in the Excel Centre in London’s Docklands.

He said John Stokdyk, editor of AccountingWeb, described Accountex 2017 as ‘a bit of a ritual...where all the big beasts in the accounting world come down and put on ritual displays to attract the thousands of accountants who flock to the annual exhibition.’

Mr Kipps, who has lived in the island since 1991, said: ‘The not-so-big beasts benefitted as well!’

It was the second successive year Forecast5 had been highlighted at the show and he said the 357 visitors to his stand was double that of 2016.

Mr Kipps, the UK distributor for this financial forecasting package, was joined by his wife Juliet and Geof Nightingale, who developed Forecast5 in New Zealand, together with Isle of Man based Chris Riley, their technical manager.

They were all said to be ‘elated after a solid two days of demonstrating the programme.’

Mr Kipps told Business News: ‘We did 30 to 40 demonstrations a day, which is why I came away somewhat hoarse.

‘The majority of accountants were looking for a replacement for the discontinued Winforecast.’

Geof Nightingale, one-time Winforecast distributor for New Zealand, developed Forecast5 expressly to replace the Sage product it stopped supporting five years ago.

‘He has taken it considerably further than the original prototype,’ said Mr Kipps.

Forecast5 is now integrated with Xero, Sage50, Sage300, MYOB EXO and integration with SAP Business One is currently being finalised.

Mr Kipps added that visitors were delighted to find how fast and flexible Forecast5 is.

People visiting the stand came from all over the UK, many from Scotland and from as far afield as Greece, Kenya and Germany.

Mr Kipps said: ‘One visitor from Sao Paolo, Brazil, wants to translate Forecast5 into Portuguese… another from Scotland offered to sail across to the Isle of Man to come and chat about it.’

Mr Kipps said a 21-day free trial of Forecast 5 is available to download.

He promised: ‘It is user-friendly and the results are impressive.’

Mr Kipps said: ‘We enjoyed ourselves—and made new friends along the way.’

Mr Kipps is very active in Isle of Man community life and is treasurer of the island’s beekeepers’ federation as well as being involved in the southern group.