Olympic hopefuls top the bill at Lincolnshire Horse Trials
Thousands turn out to see the Who’s Who of equestrian eventing
Nearly two thousand riders and visitors converged on Lincolnshire Showground for this year’s Horse Trials. The three day event attracted Olympic hopefuls from across the world, together with all the top local riders.
World renowned rider Mark Todd narrowly pipped local rider Nicola Baguley to win the Open Intermediate T section. Competitors from Australia, Brazil, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden and the USA joined the cream of British riders, including Olympic hopefuls William Fox Pitt, Laura Collett, Piggy French, Ruth Edge, Oliver Townend and Nicola Wilson.
A top pack of local riders were also put through their paces, including Ros Canter and Gina Ruck, who led through the dressage, dropping into second place overall following cross –country time penalties.
And the up and coming Emilie Chandler from Stathern in nearby Leicestershire, fulfilled expectations with two wins in the OI and novice sections, attributing her success to winter-based hillwork with her horses.
Competitors take part in dressage, show jumping and cross country over the three days at pre novice (BE100), novice and intermediate levels.
This year the course was redesigned by Horse Trials director and course designer Charles Hood, drawing praise that was reported in Horse & Hound’s review of the event, saying “Riders continue to travel the length and breadth of the country to compete at Lincolnshire – the entries list reads like a Who’s Who of the sport. It is a well deserved reputation and one that was upheld again this year.”
ENDS
- Photographs are available. These may be used only in relation to reporting of the Lincolnshire Horse Trials 2012, and any pictures used must acknowledged the photographer Julia Shearwood. Lo res versions supplied, please request any for usage as these are large files in high res version, and we cannot share via usual route of Flickr for copyright reasons. Please email your request
- A link to full results: http://www.bdwp.co.uk/lin
- Biographies and further information about British Olympic hopefuls available on the British Eventing website: click here
- Interviews with riders can be organised through Nina Lloyd-Jones at British Eventing Tel. +44 (0)2476 698855 email: Nina.Lloyd-Jones@britisheventing.com
FAQs about the Lincolnshire Show and the Showground:
The Lincolnshire Show:
Just some of the statistics involved in managing the spectacular annual event that is the Lincolnshire County Show.
10,000 square metres of marquees, 20 miles of electrical cable, 800 tables, 3,000 chairs, 12,000 loo rolls, and 45,000 copies of a 66 page programme.
A complete town emerges on the 200 acre showground site at Grange de Lings. There are road names, car parks are marked out, and the marquees are all in place and 12000 cars have to be parked during for the Show.
Nearly 200 stewards are involved, one for every aspect of the show, each in their distinctive bowler hats.
There are 11 rings, 1800 horses and ponies entries, over 1300 cattle, pigs, sheep and goats in the livestock entries, and there are over 600 trade stands selling everything from frying pans to fashion.
Lincolnshire Agricultural Society:
Lincolnshire Agricultural Society was formed in 1869 and is best known throughout the county as the organiser of the annual Lincolnshire Show, an event which draws visitors from all over the county and beyond.
Its objectives, as laid down by its Victorian founders, are “the furtherance, welfare and progress of the Agricultural Industry and all professions, trades and crafts connected therewith”.
Today those objectives are more important than ever to us and since 2005 the Society has had the additional focus of sustainability and protection of our natural environment for the benefit of future generations.
The Society works closely with individuals, schools, organisations and businesses whose common vision is to promote the agricultural industry and pursue activities that have a positive effect on our environment and community.
As a charity, sponsorship and support is vital to the success of the Society. It also generates income to support its activities through the Lincolnshire Events Centre, the trading arm of Lincolnshire Agricultural Society.
Lincolnshire Events Centre:
Lincolnshire Events Centre is a major national conferencing venue, home of the Lincolnshire Show and the groundbreaking EPIC project.
Just outside the historic city of Lincoln, the Centre hosts events for 10 to 10,000 visitors on its 200 acre showground site and 3000 square metres of indoor exhibition and venue space. Outdoor events include the flagship Lincolnshire Show, now in its 126th year, antiques fairs and horse trials, attracting 300,000 visitors each year.
Under cover, there are exhibition halls and conferencing facilities, including the recently completed EPIC centre, the second largest purpose-designed showcase for environmental technologies in the UK, it enables event organisers to reduce, monitor and offset their carbon footprint.
Media enquiries:
Sarah Poucher at Lincolnshire Events Centre inc Lincolnshire Agricultural Society
spoucher@lincs-events.co.uk - 01522 585501
Maggie Taylor at Prima PR
maggie@primapr.co.uk – 01400 251557 / 0797 3767 602
Neil’s security advice creates euro zone interest
French security professionals and police chiefs have been learning the benefits of sophisticated remotely monitored CCTV systems from a British specialist.
There are more than 45 million CCTV cameras operating in the UK but just 6 million in France and very little remote monitoring.
Expert Neil Jackson was invited to address the meeting in Paris because he has developed a leading edge remote control monitoring centre at Lincolnshire-based GB Security Group, where he is a director. The monitoring centre has been recently updated through an association with French technology company ESI to create a very sophisticated video receiving solution that works alongside the alarm monitoring and CCTV.
A recognised authority in security technology, Neil has been involved in a number of advisory panels for the industry regulator, the British Security Association (BSIA). His presentation in Paris highlighted the need for effective industry standards to ensure systems are adequate and reliable. In the UK, the major standard is BS 8418: 2010, which deals with minimum standards that will enable the police to offer a level one response, a standard to which Neil Jackson has contributed as part of the BSIA panel.
Following the product development made with GB Security at their Lincolnshire site in Donington near Spalding, ESI France is keen to push the system throughout Europe. And as a result of Neil’s presentation, there’s a new entente cordiale in the making, with a return visit made to GB Security Group by a group of French and Swiss security specialists.
“We had a very useful exchange of experience during my initial visit to Paris. It’s interesting that France has not undertaken any amount of remote monitoring, nor Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and Spain. But the market is wide open now and we’re looking at how we can share our knowledge to help future developments across Europe,” said Neil Jackson.
He added: “France currently makes most use of video verification, where any intrusion activates recording and opens a telephone line enabling the capture of a clip showing what is happening to be relayed to a remote monitoring centre.”
The latest developments within the GB monitoring centre will enable seamless integration between video receiving, telephony and other messaging systems.
ENDS
Media enquiries:
Maggie Taylor at Prima PR
maggie@primapr.co.uk – 01400 251557 / 0797 3767 602
Editor’s Note:
GB Security Group has a 30 year track record in security and fire protection, with customers ranging from multi-site food processing plants, commercial businesses, professional firms and schools through to retailers and housebuilders. Their portfolio delivers a complete range of security products and services, backed up with leading edge technical expertise, including:
- CCTV
- Fire Alarms
- Guarding Services
- Intruder Alarms
- Access Control
- Gates & Barriers
- CCTV Monitoring
- Integrated Systems
GB Security Group also operates its own specialist 24 hour remote monitoring centre. working to the highest achievable accreditation levels with NSI and SIA, and with a proven track record since 1993. All monitoring centre staff are SIA licensed for monitoring both private and public space and the company operates under the Approved Contractors Scheme (ACS), the independently assessed quality standard for suppliers of private security services.
From: Maggie Taylor, Prima PR & Marketing
Gelston House, Gelston, Grantham, Lincs, NG32 2AE
Tel: 01400 251557 Mobile: 0797 3767 602 Email: maggie@primapr.co.uk Web: www.primapr.co.uk
Company VAT Reg No: 598 3614 90
Just the ticket for early birds
See coverage of this story: Lincolnshire Echo
Sales have already taken off for this year’s Lincolnshire Show, after tickets went on sale three months earlier than usual.
Tickets are not usually available in outlets until April, but organisers opened this year’s online bookings at the end of January, and are already reporting good interest.
Billed as Lincolnshire’s big day out, the Lincolnshire Show is organised by the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society to boost awareness of countryside matters, and the vital role that agriculture plays in the local economy.
One of the few county shows to remain true to its heritage, each year it attracts around 60,000 visitors, as well as some 600 exhibitors.
Clydesdale Bank and Duckworth's Land Rover are once again major sponsors for the Show, which will take place on Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st June 2012. Full plans will be unveiled soon, but organisers say this year’s line up promises to appeal to all tastes and ages.
It includes world-class jousting from the Knights of the Damned, a qualifier heat for the Kennel Club’s Scruffts mixed breed dog show; top level show-jumping and a host of shopping opportunities.
And reflecting the agricultural heart to the Show, this year’s events will include the ever popular pig racing; the spectacular Grand Parade of the best of the county’s livestock and the vintage to modern day agricultural machinery display.
Director Jayne Southall said: “Plans are well advanced and it’s great to see the interest on these early ticket sales. Most importantly at this stage, we are seeing excellent support from both exhibitors and sponsors.
“It’s great to see local businesses supporting their local community by supporting the Show. Many come every year, and that’s because it’s also a valuable route to reach their customers.”
Each year the Show is a big earner for the county of Lincolnshire and it is estimated that every £1 spent at the Show generates £20 in the local economy and the Show provides a major boost for local hotels and B&Bs, creating demand for 18,400 overnight stays locally.
Jayne Southall, who took over late last year as director of Lincolnshire Events Centre, the Showground’s major year-round regional conferencing and outdoor events centre, added: “I want to see further growth this year across sponsorship, trade exhibitors and overall attendance figures. The show is a major tourism attraction on the county calendar, but still has huge unexploited potential and I want to attract more interest from within and outside the county.”
ENDS
Media enquiries:
Karen Malpass at Lincolnshire Events Centre in Lincolnshire Agricultural Society
kmalpass@lincs-events.co.uk - 01522 585504
Maggie Taylor at Prima PR
maggie@primapr.co.uk – 01400 251557 / 0797 3767 602
Editor’s Note:
Lincolnshire Events Centre is a major national conferencing venue, home of the Lincolnshire Show and the groundbreaking EPIC project. Just outside the historic city of Lincoln, the Centre hosts events for 10 to 10,000 visitors on its 200 acre showground site and 3000 square metres of indoor exhibition and venue space.
Outdoor events include the flagship Lincolnshire Show, antiques fairs and horse trials, attracting over 200,000 visitors each year. Under cover, there are exhibition halls and conferencing facilities, including the recently completed EPIC centre, the second largest purpose-designed showcase for environmental technologies in the UK, it enables event organisers to reduce, monitor and offset their carbon footprint.
Staff celebrate as coach company saved
See coverage of this story in the media:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-17426196
http://www.midlandsbusinessnews.co.uk/2012-03/staff-celebrate-as-coach-company-saved.aspx
http://www.granthamjournal.co.uk/news/business/ac-williams-firm-lives-to-fight-another-day-1-3675243
http://www.sleafordstandard.co.uk/news/business/jobs-saved-in-family-coach-firm-buyout-1-3642310
http://www.blmforum.net/en/blm/headline/2722/Jobs-secured-at-AC-Williams--Home-rest.htm
http://www.lincsmag.com/LincsMagnews/1NewsLincs/018_Staff_Celebrate_As_Coach_Company_Saved.html
Jobs secure as long-established Lincolnshire coach and bus operator is saved, with promise of more local jobs to come in future growth plans.
One of Lincolnshire’s best-loved coach companies has been saved.
A private investor has stepped in to secure the future of A C Williams Coaches, in a move which prompted celebrations by the 25 drivers, mechanics and office staff after learning their jobs were safe.
Coach and bus operator A C Williams was established nearly 60 years ago in Ancaster and despite a healthy demand for bookings, its future was threatened following the closure of its sister business in December, the A C Williams Renault car dealership.
Now its future is guaranteed, which is good news for customers who made bookings for future trips and holidays, as deposits will be safe and trips will take place as planned.
The company, which numbers Harlaxton College, The Red Arrows and football clubs Lincoln City and Boston United among its regular coach customers, has received a cash and management injection from investor Glen Pratt, who wants to save jobs by turning round small family-owned companies. He has plans to build the business through employee profit sharing and the partnership principles which have proved so successful for John Lewis.
As executive chairman of the company, Glen Pratt, age 39, a successful investment fund manager in London, will be keeping not just the A C Williams family name, but the Williams’ family involvement as well, with former directors David Williams and Alison Parker fulfilling non-managerial roles within the company.
The family approach will be expanded further, with financial accountant David Pratt joining his brother Glen on the board as finance director.
The company started out by transporting just three children to school from an outlying farm, but it is now one of the leading providers of school transport in the county, holding major contracts with Lincolnshire County Council, transporting 500 children every day. It also runs a busy schedule of day trips and holidays, and serves many local colleges, sports clubs and businesses including Norbert Dentressangle, formerly Christian Salvesen. The company’s 20-strong coach and bus fleet covers a wide range of transportation solutions, including state of the art executive coaches, double decker school buses, together with specially modified vehicles which offer tables or wheelchair access.
Under the new leadership, the company is set to expand and hopes to create more jobs in the local community in coming years.
Said Glen Pratt: “A C Williams is now fully funded for a long term future and the whole team is very excited at the prospect, with many new plans set to go ahead against the secure backing that’s in place. Those plans will build on the values the company is known for - safety, reliability, comfort and value for money.”
Former managing director David Williams said: “I am delighted that jobs will be saved and that the A C Williams name will continue, in what promises to be a bright future for the company.”
Peter Blair, a partner in the Nottingham office of corporate recovery specialists Begbies Traynor, was appointed joint administrator of A C Williams in December. He said: “We are pleased to have saved jobs and maintained important services in Lincolnshire. We are grateful for the support and tenacity of the A C Williams staff during difficult circumstances, and that we were able to retain those staff. We wish the new venture every success for the future.”
Glen Pratt added: “It’s a company with a strong heart and has been picking up new work even during the administration period, because people want to deal with A C Williams. There’s a real sense of goodwill. The entire team is looking forward to serving the people of Lincolnshire. ”
ENDS
Media enquiries:
Please contact Maggie Taylor at Prima PR & Marketing:
Tel: 01400 251557 Mob: 0797 3767 602 Email: maggie@primapr.co.uk
Editor’s note:
Born in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, Glen Pratt is currently a Partner with a London-based fund management company, where he is a UK portfolio manager. He joined Fidelity, the world’s biggest investment house, direct from Nottingham University where he read economics, becoming one of their youngest ever fund managers at 25, and was managing a £2bn portfolio of client funds by his early 30s.
A C Williams was established in Ancaster in 1953, as a motor engineer and agricultural machinery repair business. Its first contract was transporting three children from a local farm to Ancaster Primary School. Now the company transports 500 children every day. It also runs many leisure trips and holidays for local people, travelling throughout the UK and Europe, as well as providing transport for local football teams, service personnel and academic institutions. A fleet of 20 buses, coaches and minibuses range from a 75-seater Sykliner double decker executive coach to specially modified vehicles which offer tables or wheelchair access.
First showing for Olympic hopefuls at Lincolnshire’s world class equestrian event
For pictures from previous years and of Event Director Charles Hood, click here
The annual Lincolnshire Horse Trials takes place in March at the Lincolnshire Showground at Grange de Lings.
Olympic hopefuls will be heading the line up at this year’s Lincolnshire Horse Trials, with up to 700 competitors expected to take part in the three-day event.
The Lincolnshire Showground hosts the 2012 event from Friday 16th to Sunday 18th March, with competitors taking part in dressage, show jumping and cross country over the three days at pre novice (BE100), novice and intermediate levels.
And selectors for the British team are expected to be on the lookout once again during the pony trials that are also held.
The venue is recognised as an excellent event for early season because the flat, well drained ground is a good proving ground for both horse and rider. The event is open for entries from early February and it’s expected to draw previous participants and Olympic hopefuls such as William Fox-Pitt, Pippa Funnell, Nicola Wilson and Piggy French.
Local riders are also expected to showcase their talents, including Rosalind Canter from Louth and Deborah Doyle from Lincoln, who both had wins in the BE100 sections last year. Helen Scholl from Grantham, who won one of the Novice sections in 2011 and Gina Ruck from Tealby who won the Open Intermediate Under 21 Section.
Also expected is rising star and future Olympic hopeful Emilie Chandler, who secured a win on Douglas, and a second place on Beeswing, in last year’s intermediate sections.
Charles Hood, director of the Horse Trials and the course designer, is predicting an exciting line up of both international and local riders.
He said: “This will be a very exciting year in the run up to the Olympics and we’re expecting to draw an exceptional range of entrants as a result. Because our course gives a good variety of well-built straight forward fences, and is run over extremely well-drained light land, it draws competitors looking to build early season confidence with good going. We have planned some new fences especially for this year.”
Competitors will also find an improved layout, with the day boxes able to get inside the Showground, instead of being located outside the perimeter.
And the management and scoreboard will this year be inside the Showground’s EPIC Centre conferencing venue.
Nearly two thousand visitors attended last year’s event over the three days, and the competitors and their support staff bring the same number again to the Showground site at Grange de Lings, providing a welcome boost to the local economy.
The Horse Trials are organised by Lincolnshire Events Centre on its 200 acre Showground site, which includes a major national conferencing venue and is home to the County Show.
Entry on Saturday and Sunday is £5.00 per car to include all occupants.
Running order:
Each day of this three day event is focussed on a particular class, giving visitors the chance to see all events each day, cross country, dressage and show jumping.
Friday 16th March:
BE100 and Open BE100 class.
8.00am Dressage
8.45am Show jumping
9.30am Cross country
5.00pm Approx finishing time
Saturday 17th March:
Novice and Open Novice plus Pony Trial dressage and show jumping
8.00am Dressage
8.45am Show jumping
9.30am Cross country
5.00pm Approx finishing time
Also taking place on Saturday is Pony Trial dressage and show jumping. The pony cross country is on Sunday at 9.00 am.
Sunday 18th March
Intermediate and Open Intermediate classes plus Pony Trial cross country
8.30am Dressage
8.45am Show jumping
9.00am Cross country plus Pony Trial Cross country
5.00pm Approx finishing time
ENDS
Media enquiries:
Karen Malpass at Lincolnshire Events Centre inc Lincolnshire Agricultural Society
kmalpass@lincs-events.co.uk - 01522 585501
Maggie Taylor at Prima PR
maggie@primapr.co.uk – 01400 251557 / 0797 3767 602
Editor’s Note:
Lincolnshire Events Centre is a major national conferencing venue, home of the Lincolnshire Show and the groundbreaking EPIC project. Just outside the historic city of Lincoln, the Centre hosts events for 10 to 10,000 visitors on its 200 acre showground site and 3000 square metres of indoor exhibition and venue space.
Outdoor events include the flagship Lincolnshire Show, antiques fairs and horse trials, attracting over 200,000 visitors each year. Under cover, there are exhibition halls and conferencing facilities, including the EPIC centre, the second largest purpose-designed showcase for environmental technologies in the UK, it enables event organisers to reduce, monitor and offset their carbon footprint.
Lord Taylor named President of Lincolnshire Agricultural Society
The head of one of the UK’s leading horticultural companies has been named as the new President of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society.
The Lord Taylor of Holbeach, CBE, who is now serving as a Government minister for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, follows in the footsteps of other distinguished Presidents, who have included HRH Princess Anne, the Earl of Yarborough and most recently Professor David Chiddick, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln.
In the presidential role, Lord Taylor will represent the Society at the annual Lincolnshire Show in June, when over 60,000 people come to learn about the importance of agriculture in the life of the county.
Lord Taylor’s involvement in horticulture and farming dates back to his teens, when he joined the family business and started work on the family farm in Holbeach. The peer, who stood down as chairman of the company, Taylors Bulbs, following his appointment said: “It’s a great honour to be invited to act as President. I applaud the Society for the way in which they have kept the agricultural focus of the Lincolnshire Show; in so doing they have ensured that it remains the high point of the farming year in the county.
“The Society plays an important part in the economic life of Lincolnshire as well as performing a great task as advocate for the agricultural and horticultural industry, in what is the country’s premier agricultural county.”
Lincolnshire Agricultural Society operates the Lincolnshire Events Centre, which brings together agricultural, educational and conferencing activities. Research has shown that a massive £44m is being injected into the national economy thanks to the Lincolnshire Events Centre, which attracts over 215,000 visitors a year.
Lord Taylor added: “The biggest challenge facing farming is to make best use of modern technology and remain competitive in the global marketplace. Keeping up to date is vital. “
Lord Taylor entered the House of Lords in 2006, having been made a life peer as Baron Taylor of Holbeach, of South Holland in the County of Lincolnshire. He was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in September 2011.
He was previously Government spokesperson for the Cabinet Office, Energy and Climate Change, and Work and Pensions. He also served as opposition spokesman from 2006-2010 and as a Whip in the House of Lords. He was created a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1992 for political service, and served as Chairman of the National Conservative Convention and Deputy Chairman of the Party from 2000 to 2003.
Taylors Bulbs is one of the largest bulb producers in the UK, farming 317 acres of daffodils and 1860 acres of other crops including vegetables, cereals, potatoes and sugar beet.
Also leading the Society during 2012 is John Lockwood, who continues in his role as Chairman for a third year. Master of the Burton Hunt and a former High Sheriff of Lincolnshire, he runs the family property company, Castle Square Developments, alongside the family farm.
The £7m EPIC Centre at the Lincolnshire Showground was opened three years ago, providing a conference and events facility, capable of hosting conferences, balls and seminars, and is designed also as an educational resource and state-of-the-art events centre for up to 1,900 people.
ENDS
Media enquiries:
Karen Malpass at Lincolnshire Events Centre in Lincolnshire Agricultural Society
kmalpass@lincs-events.co.uk - 01522 585504
Maggie Taylor at Prima PR
maggie@primapr.co.uk – 01400 251557 / 0797 3767 602
Editor’s Note:
Lincolnshire Events Centre is a major national conferencing venue, home of the Lincolnshire Show and the groundbreaking EPIC project. Just outside the historic city of Lincoln, the Centre hosts events for 10 to 10,000 visitors on its 200 acre showground site and 3000 square metres of indoor exhibition and venue space.
Outdoor events include the flagship Lincolnshire Show, antiques fairs and horse trials, attracting over 200,000 visitors each year. Under cover, there are exhibition halls and conferencing facilities, including the recently completed EPIC centre, the second largest purpose-designed showcase for environmental technologies in the UK, it enables event organisers to reduce, monitor and offset their carbon footprint.
LawNet announces new online risk management portal
Specialist director appointed to lead compliance developments
LawNet is responding to the growing compliance burden by announcing the development of a new risk management portal for its members.
The online portal will help firms manage the introduction of the SRA Handbook and Outcomes-Focussed Regulation (OFR) and is described as providing real tools for firms to use day-to-day.
It will bring together various partners, including insurers, to lead firms through effective implementation designed to match up to the SRA requirements. It will be complemented through LawNet’s learning programme, with training and risk management consultation.
And the network has appointed a legal accreditations and compliance professional to head up and develop these services for members.
Jeanette Lucy joins from legal training provider CLT where she was qualifications and accreditations director for six years. She previously spent 15 years with the Law Society in professional ethics, and a spell in private practice, heading up compliance and money laundering for a regional firm.
“A major objective is to support firms in implementing the new requirements day-to-day. We see ourselves as being part of their compliance team, helping them develop the right processes and I am leading the development of the package that will help them in risk management, risk regulation, reporting, and recommendations,” said Jeanette.
She will also be heading up the network’s quality and accreditation and the major exercise of re-writing the LawNet quality standard, covering OFR, LEXCEL and the ISO 9001:2008 LawNet Quality Standard certification, which is compulsory for all LawNet firms. Members can now combine this with LEXCEL for an integrated joint accreditation review.
LawNet chief executive John Thomas emphasised the importance of Jeanette’s appointment, saying: “Risk management and compliance is the big issue for firms today. We intend to make it a simple process for them, allowing them to concentrate on fee earning. Jeanette has an outstanding track record in areas that are vital for us to deliver the right support for firms in the years to come.”
As director of learning and development for LawNet, Jeanette will also use her experience in developing training and accreditation for lawyers to develop the network’s free CPD training programme and other learning and development across its 28 specialist groups.
Jeanette took a law degree before making an early move into personnel management and from there to the Law Society, where she was involved in writing the practice rules, the accounts rules and the Guide to the Professional Conduct of Solicitors during her time in the ethics division.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Press information:
Maggie Taylor, Prima PR & Marketing
Direct line: 01400 251557 Mobile: 0797 3767602 Email: maggie@primapr.co.uk
Helen Hamilton-Shaw, Director of Services, LawNet
Direct line: 01926 834622 Email: hhamilton-shaw@lawnet.co.uk
Notes to Editor:
About LawNet:
The combined income of the 68 firms comprising LawNet is currently in excess of £250m – equivalent to a UK Top 15 law firm – with members ranging from £2m to £15m turnover.
Independent research shows LawNet is most highly valued by members for delivering in six key areas – training, networking, PII, business development, marketing and compliance. It currently places some £1.2bn worth of PI cover alone for members each year, which helps stabilise premiums for firms.
Each year LawNet delivers over 60 CPD accredited learning events at venues throughout the UK, covering a wide range of technical legal updates, practice management and business development topics, including a leading-edge strategic leadership and management development programme. All the learning days are CPD accredited, many are provided as a free service within membership, and the member-defined programme ensures that topics tackle key issues affecting that particular area of practice.
All LawNet firms must achieve ISO 9001:2008 LawNet Quality Standard certification within two years of joining, and securing and maintaining that accreditation is a condition of membership. Through a unique agreement with the Law Society, firms can also secure and hold the Lexcel practice management standard and benefit from a simplified dual auditing process for the two marks, with the independent assessment delivered through LawNet.
Twitter: @LawNetUK
Blog: http://thelawnetblog.wordpress.com/
Big change brings big opportunities according to mid size law firms
The changing legal services market offers big opportunities to mid size firms, according to managing and senior partners attending this year’s LawNet conference.
But the firms also said that if they were to benefit from the opportunities, they needed to develop a stronger strategy, must look at restructuring and would need to become more specialist.
Over 60% of the firms believe they need to be at least a third bigger, with a further 24% looking towards at least a doubling in size.
National brands, new styles of service delivery and price competition are seen as the biggest threats in the market.
And as the first reports reach the market of equity funding deals for legal firms, including the majority shareholding taken in the QualitySolicitors brand, almost 60% of LawNet firms said they would accept such non lawyer equity investment. And when asked what they would do with a £250,000 cash injection, the firms would be most likely to invest the money in brand development and business development, closely followed by hiring a professional CEO or other professional managers.
All the feedback from firms came through on the spot questions posed by speakers Nick Jarrett-Kerr and George Bull at the conference, tackling a range of key strategy issues, with instant feedback from the floor using audience response keypads.
The full list of topics surveyed and the responses:
|
Does your firm need to become more specialist to win higher value work in future? |
|
| Hardly at all, we have about the right mix |
13% |
| Nearly there just honing skills in a couple of areas |
24% |
| Made a start, work in progress |
43% |
| We are too generalist, all departments need to develop |
20% |
|
Does your firm need to grow over the next three to five years to remain competitive and profitable? |
|
| Hardly at all, we are just the right size |
16% |
| At least a third bigger |
59% |
| Double in size |
15% |
| More than double |
10% |
|
How would you describe the level of ambition amongst your partnership group? |
|
| Highly ambitious and entrepreneurial |
10% |
| Mainly focused on defending our current position and profitability |
34% |
| Cautious and comfortable |
4% |
| A complete mixture of views and levels of ambition |
52% |
|
If I were to invest £250,000 in your firm, what would you spend most of it on? |
|
| Laterally hiring more partners |
14% |
| Paying out non-performing partners |
9% |
| Hiring a professional CEO or other professional managers |
22% |
| Building IT infrastructure |
16% |
| Developing our brand and business development |
38% |
| Bigger offices |
1% |
|
Which one of these pressures is the greatest threat to the solicitors’ profession? |
|
| New entrants |
16% |
| Evolving client (customer) expectations |
7% |
| Price competition |
28% |
| New methods of service delivery |
22% |
| The power of brands and advertising |
24% |
| Consolidation |
3% |
|
Do you feel your firm’s strategy is adequate to meet the challenges of the new market? |
|
| Yes |
40% |
| No |
60% |
|
Over the next 3 years, do you expect that your firm will restructure in response to the LSA? |
|
| Yes |
61% |
| No |
39% |
|
If approached by a new investor, would your firm accept non-lawyer equity investment? |
|
| Yes |
59% |
| No |
41% |
|
The restructuring of the legal market is going to bring big opportunities for my firm: |
|
| I agree |
80% |
| I disagree |
8% |
| I don’t know |
6% |
| I’m going to retire |
6% |
Business Briefing: How secure is your business?
This business briefing seminar is being organised by Prima for GB Security Group; Duncan & Toplis; Thompson & Richardson; Datcom
Wednesday 16th November 2011: 4.00pm for 4.30pm start prompt
Join our team of four experts to learn about the latest developments, issues and legislation that affect risk management and security across your business.
Our speakers come from four key sectors - accountancy, IT, commercial insurance and security technology - to give you the bigger picture, whether it's complying with the requirements of HMRC or the Information Commissioner, satisfying current fire regulations, keeping your internet activity safe and your cloud computing secure, or protecting personnel and keeping intruders out.
This far-ranging briefing will show you how the different security issues of your business link together and help you to identify where your policies and processes need updating for both virtual and physical risks.
Learn new technologies and guidelines to help you protect confidential information, manage health and safety risks with staff, and protect property. Discover the risk management tips that will keep the lid on insurance costs and protect your profit margins.
There will be an opportunity to quiz each of our speakers and time for informal networking with speakers and other delegates before and after the presentations.
To book your seat at the event go to: http://howsecureisyourbusiness.eventbrite.com