Sole Practitioners Group to reveal future priorities

The representative body of sole practitioners in England and Wales is to use its 20th annual conference to reveal its plans for future service developments and campaigning priorities for 2015/16.

The Sole Practitioners Group (SPG), formed in 1992, is a not-for-profit representative body and independent stakeholder group, providing support, training and regulatory representation on behalf of 5,000 sole practitioner solicitors.

Run by an executive committee of 17 volunteer sole practitioners, the SPG comprises representatives from regional areas across England and Wales.

Kem Masinbo-Amobi, chair of SPG and principal of KMA solicitors, explained that the theme at this year's annual conference is 'Growing your practice' with the event's entire programme reflecting the support and information needs the group's members had requested during a consultation survey last year.

'SPG was keen to adapt to the changing business climate for SPs, who are facing more and more regulatory and competition pressures. This year's conference presentations offer practical tips on the most topical themes, such as "Increasing your business profitability", "Competing with the big firms", "Social media and marketing", "Client retention and loyalty", as well as "Planning for your future: what you need to know about pensions, insurance and other regulatory matters".

'There's even a session on "How to maintain personal energy and drive as your practice or workload grows". We look forward to welcoming a record number of first-time delegates and those new to the sector at this exciting time in SPG's history.'

The annual conference, which will be held near Birmingham between 8 and 10 May, will also reveal the group's rebranded website and information resources, designed to support busy sole practitioners.

Conference delegates will be among the first SPG members to preview the forthcoming new-look website and branding.

Tina Attenborough, an employment lawyer based in Derby, said: 'I'm going to SPG annual conference because in my view it has to be the essential event in any sole practitioner's annual diary.

'It's the most informative weekend of my calendar, not least because we get to hear presentations from some of the most influential and knowledgeable people in this sector, but also being able to meet and mingle with like-minded SPs (and have fun at the same time) is worth every penny!'