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2007 Seminar Feedback

Our program of six seminars for the year is now complete so I thought it would be useful to give a brief summary on each seminar and start thinking about next year.

Best Practice:
generally thought of as "excellent and thought provoking" although some felt that the afternoon "lacked structure". However seeing the interfirm comparison results which show historic inefficiencies continuing or getting worse then we may need to revisit this area.

Financial Services:
feedback on this was very firm specific, reflecting different firm's interest in the subject, and ranged from "good presentation, relevant and giving much food for thought" to "presenter went off track".

Succession Planning:
here the main gripe related to the course not following the agenda but at the same time others thought it was "very good, insightful into what actually happens".

Developing your management skills:
with a large group of managers and a few partners many of the delegates were getting their first introduction to MGI and other member firms. Overall feedback said "good case study material, practical advice and good delegate interaction" although with the same presenters as for the previous seminar we had a few comments on the lack of focus and direction at times.

Marketing:
a really practical session giving everyone something to take away and act on...if they so wished. Feedback included " useful tips and advice to work with" and "something to encourage activity".

Performance Management:
disappointingly our smallest gathering but one of the best for those tuned into people management. Very positive feedback was summed up by "a really worthwhile day".

Overall we had 88 people attending out of 97 booked  on the seminars which I am encouraged by. All the seminars worked well for some of the attendees and disappointment tended to focus on presenters not delivering what had been asked for. Venue location and facilities were generally good and we now know better what works well for us.

On to next year. The following have been suggested on feedback forms:

• Charity practitioners day
• Media training for partners
• Marketing update/follow on course
• Work management systems
• Business structures for accountancy practices
• Practice assurance update
• Leadership and management
• Something of practical relevance for managers
• HR follow up
• More on succession planning

I am also looking into an "Emerging Leaders" program for MGI firms to send new partners or managers of whom you have very high expectations. This would be six two day sessions over a twelve month period. To make it financially viable, yet still a major commitment, we would need at least 10 attendees to be signed up. If you want to know more please get in touch. Also we probably have enough tax specialists in the association to make a tax gathering worthwhile to discuss current issues and see how firms could better support each other and work collectively. For this I need a tax specialist to get involved in the planning so any volunteers?

I am sure seminars will be discussed at our conference so we can plan for next year but please feel free to feedback your thoughts in the meantime.