This year’s annual Directors’ Briefing from leading East Midlands Chartered Accountants Duncan & Toplis was one of the most popular to date, with more than 170 delegates attending.

Entitled ‘Scanning the Horizon’, the briefing covered topics as diverse as Donald Trump, utilising the latest technology in business and how waking up to the possibilities of online marketing and social media can benefit those who take the plunge. The audience also heard in-depth analysis of Chancellor Phillip Hammond MP’s first, and last Autumn Statement as well as the work the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has been doing to encourage growth in the region.

Held at the Belton Woods Hotel in Grantham on Friday 25^th November, the keynote speaker for this year’s event was Director General of the Institute of Directors Simon Walker.

Mr Walker suggested to the audience that predicting the implications of Britain leaving the European Union was almost impossible, but that he was confident businesses could remain outward-looking and confident.

He added: “Despite the result of the referendum and some big changes in politics both here and in the US, business leaders in this country are the ones who will be able to adapt and succeed.”

Mark Berrisford-Smith, Head of Economics at HSBC UK talked about the perceived effects businesses are experiencing in light of the Brexit result, namely the business community being more cautious about capital expenditure and consumers feeling worse off as inflation reaches higher levels than wage rises. He also talked of the cautious nature of the Chancellor’s recent Autumn Statement, saying that cutting the deficit was a ‘nod in the right direction.’

Managing Director at Duncan & Toplis Adrian Reynolds, said: “This year’s briefing was one that both inspired and sparked debate among what was a very engaged audience. I want to thank all involved for making it a real success.

“The mix between real implications from a tumultuous 2016 and some entertaining insights into company stories from Neil Everatt of Software Europe and Peter Watson from Chatty Imp made it a truly memorable event.”

Other speakers on the day included Tony Brooks, Leadership Specialist at The Leadership Training Workshop, Ursula Lidbetter MBE, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, James Marshall, Partner Technology Strategist at Microsoft UK and Nicholas Smith, Director and Head of Tax at Duncan & Toplis.

Ends

Notes to editors:
• Duncan & Toplis was established in 1925 and has since grown into one of the largest independent firms of chartered accountants in the Midlands.
• The company appears in the top 40 UK accountancy practices list published by Accountancy Age.
• Duncan & Toplis was named ICAEW East Midlands Medium Accountancy Firm of the Year in March 2014, 2015 and 2016.
• The company has 11 offices throughout the East Midlands: in Boston, Grantham, Lincoln, Loughborough, Louth, Melton Mowbray, Newark, Skegness, Sleaford, Spalding and Stamford.
• Duncan & Toplis offers a wide range of services to small and large-sized family businesses, from accountancy, audit and tax to payroll, human resources and computer services.
• The business employs around 370 staff, of whom 85 are currently engaged in professional training.
• Duncan & Toplis is a member of Kreston International, the global network of independent accounting firms. Kreston UK, a brand representing firms based in the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands and Isle of Man, provides national coverage, a resource of over 1,950 professional and support staff and generates annual fee revenues of £122m. As a combined organisation, it would rank as the 11th largest UK firm.

For media information please contact:
Mike Shields
Shooting Star
01522 528540
mike@weareshootingstar.co.uk
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