Who should attend?

• Sole practitioners or owners & partners in small practices, who are looking to build a professional network of peers & contacts, to support, work through ideas and share best practice on common issues;
• Those considering leaving their current employment and becoming a sole practitioner, and who would like to learn more about what to expect;
• Those setting up as a sole practitioner, and who want to learn from others able to share valuable advice and insight - and help them avoid the pitfalls;
• Sole practitioners looking to extend their services by growing their business and considering moving to the partnership model, and
• Practitioners who are considering setting up as, or are new to being, a small practice owner or partner.

Why should I attend? 

Working as a sole practitioner or being the owner of a small practice can often leave you without a valuable sounding-board; perhaps you’d welcome the opportunity to discuss your options, to seek the advice & objective opinion of others experienced in their field, and to share your ideas & knowledge.

You’ve a busy schedule and the demands placed on you by your clients are likely to leave you with insufficient time to focus on building an extended and trusted network of like-minded professionals – and perhaps you’d welcome the benefits and opportunities that would bring to you, your practice, and your clients.

Our insight group, which meets virtually, provides the perfect forum for those working as a sole practitioner or in a small practice, connecting you across the North West network.

All sessions are confidential and non-judgmental, allowing you to discuss your issues openly, to seek advice on common issues and to pose your questions to like-minded and supportive fellow professionals.

Whilst there is no set agenda for these meetings, unless by request, the meetings are facilitated, with all participants encouraged to take an active part in the conversation, to bring their ideas to the session and to contribute to the setting of topics for discussion, which have previously focussed on:

• Setting up in practice – the legal requirements
• Client attraction & business development
• Recruiting & onboarding staff to your practice
• Growing your offering & your practice
• Marketing, promotion and building your profile
• Hourly rates & competitive pricing structures
• Practice management, governance & compliance, including anti-money laundering and ‘KYC’ processes
• Selecting and implementing cloud software packages
• Making tax digital and dealing with HMRC
• Impact of the latest regulatory & legislative changes
• Understanding of technical updates
• Complex accounting & taxation cases
• Preparing for your ICAEW QAD visit
• An update on routes to the ACA qualification
• Staff training, retention, and succession planning
• Opportunities for the small practice in the current environment
• Local economy & infrastructure – opportunities for your practice & clients