National Conference
Our Biannual Conference is our flagship celebration of the entire TaxAssist network, and all TaxAssist Accountants and their families are fully invited!
The event provides an opportunity for us to reveal our plans for the coming years, announce new initiatives and showcase technical updates. During an action-packed weekend, franchisees and staff are able to browse exhibitor stands and meet service providers and staff from the Support Centre, as well as network with each other.
We also put on a number of workshops on topics to support profitability, including marketing, business development, practice management, software and technology and best practice sharing. The evening is comprised of a gala dinner with entertainment provided by artists, performers, and sometimes comedians, followed by live music.
Regional meetings
Throughout the year, we hold a series of Regional Meetings which are held in nine locations across the country, specifically for our network. These one-day events in your local area, provide you with the opportunity to discuss with nearby franchisees different aspects of running and growing your new business. We also cover latest updates, specific technical, commercial and business development updates, which are sometimes supported by additional service providers. We encourage collaboration and sharing of information and best practice at these sessions.
Masterclasses
Our Masterclasses are popular events and cover key business building areas such as business development, marketing, pricing and fee raising. These are hosted by Support Centre senior management and will include a panel of TaxAssist Accountants who will share their experiences. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions and share their own experiences too on these days which are dedicated to best practice sharing.
Training classes
When you commence your Initial Training Course, you may also be joined by other new TaxAssist Accountants. We often find that these groups will stay close after the training and will act as a support bubble. As you will be on the same journey, you will be able to benefit with working with and talking to those in a similar position.
Business development visits
All franchisees benefit from on site and virtual business development visits and calls from a Franchise Development Manager and Support Centre staff.
Leading the Franchise Development Management Team is Samantha Skyring FCCA, MAAT, ACIPP. Samantha visits and works closely with franchisees in a training and development capacity. She also heads up the TaxAssist Growth Academy.
Our Franchise Development Manager David Spurrier supports new franchisees in their first year, providing business development, general management and business planning advice and support to help to launch and grow your practice. He will have at least six visits over your first year either face-to-face or virtually to help guide you.
You will receive a business development visit each year from then on with the main focus on building your business, profitability, and ultimately helping you achieve your ambitions.
Experienced and successful current and former franchisees also make up the team. Will Swift runs a TaxAssist practice in West Yorkshire and former franchisee Terry Peachman, who sold his TaxAssist practice in 2022, both share their hands-on insight into best practice for running your business. We also have Steve Mack, TaxAssist's longest serving member of staff, who spent 20 years travelling around the UK visiting franchisees. He now works from home, offering virtual consultations to franchisees.
Special events
We sometimes run special events to bring together our franchisees and their families in a relaxed social setting and our most recent one was an afternoon BBQ at Hogarths Hotel in Solihull. You will also be invited to these events.
Communications
You will receive a biannual printed publication Network News, which includes information on new joiners, the latest news from around the network, key updates and new initiatives being driven by our business development, operations, technical, technology and software teams.
A Weekly Email communication is also sent to the network every Friday with the latest updates from the Support Centre team.
