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UK conference is Just the Job

Well over fifty delegates from MGI member and prospective member firms gathered in November for the UK and Ireland 2008 annual conference.

Titled Just the Job, the event took place at the Hayley Conference Centre, Ettington Chase, Stratford-upon-Avon, from 20-22 November. Its focus was to explore how member firms can attract the brightest and best people into the accountancy profession and keep them.

Expert speakers ranging from specialists in employment law to HR and recruitment practitioners offered very different perspectives on recruitment, retention and career development issues.

Discussions at the conference revealed that recruiting the right people was a common problem. Ian Dodds, partner at Lanham & Francis, said: “In these difficult times, you might expect there to be an overwhelming desire to shed staff, but in discussing the issue with fellow MGI members, it was clear that we all have difficulties in obtaining suitable staff – in particular, at a senior audit and accounts level.

“The conference provided us with several pointers to assist us in our goal of achieving a staff level appropriate for our respective practices.”

He added: “The opportunity to network with our colleagues on a social level was, as ever, very beneficial. It is important to be able to discuss our business issues with people who are not directly involved in our respective geographical locations.

“It was also useful to have a chat with the various sponsors. They reflected a wide range of services and I am sure that I speak for others when I say that their contribution to the overall success of the conference was greatly appreciated.”

First time conference attendee Lisa Tesselaar, marketing manager at new MGI UK and Ireland member CBW, said: "The MGI UK conference was a terrific event. Our whole team was very impressed with the open, enthusiastic and welcoming nature of the other firms.

“The format of the event also meant we had time to get to know the other MGI firms and understand how we could all work together.

“The team's enthusiasm has quickly spread throughout the CBW office and we are now co-ordinating a firm-wide effort to engaging with MGI across the UK and the world. We're all looking forward to working with MGI and its members.”