Business planning workshops for professional services

Our professional services team have been actively engaging in workshops, both through hosting events and one-to-one sessions with clients. We are assisting firms with their business planning, utilising a four-step problem solving process to identify opportunities and drive meaningful change.  

Sarah Ediss, Partner, hosted one such workshop at a professional women’s networking community event, ‘Empowerment South East’, sponsored by NatWest. The aim of the group was to create an entrepreneurial atmosphere providing those who attend an opportunity to build networks and access to a diverse collaboration of inspirational women.  

The coaching session, facilitated by Sarah, was designed to help each individual prepare a one-page strategy plan by using a simple four step problem solving process to help answer the questions, ‘Now, Where, How!’:   

• Where is your business NOW?  

• WHERE do you want it to be at the end of 2025?  

• HOW will you get there?

One of the delegates from the first workshop, Helen Mead, Partner at DMH Stallard Solicitors, said:   

“I attended the Empowerment South East… workshop facilitated by Sarah Ediss and her team at Kreston Reeves. I got so much out of the workshop and it was time really well spent.  There was quality networking and also inspiring content and company. I came away with the start of a strategy to continue my team’s growth trajectory. It was very valuable and unique to be able to discuss my aspirations and ideas with like-minded women.”  

Key issues for COFAs workshop  

Following the success of this workshop, we are planning to run another tailored for the Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA) and finance team of solicitor practices. COFAs are facing ever-increasing issues in the wake of Axiom Ince and the subsequent Solicitors Regulation Authority consultation including:

• Complying with the SRA Accounts rules (e.g. residual balances).  
• Considering the firm’s interest rate policies.  
• Dealing with ongoing financial hygiene.  
• Looking after practice management.  

These workshops will help identify key focus areas to strengthen your systems and procedures to best suit your practice and comply with the SRA Accounts Rules. They will be interactive, and will use the proven simple four step problem solving framework to help you develop a one-page plan to answer the questions; ‘Where are you NOW?’, ‘WHERE do you want to be at the end of the next 12 months?’ and ‘HOW will you get there?’  

Through working with our clients, we’ve found that this a successful way to help plan ahead, address issues and achieve growth goals.      

If you are interested in attending one of workshops, or finding out more about how our business advisory team can help you, please register your interest by emailing enquiries@krestonreeves.com and a member of our team will be in touch.