Speakers Back UK Economy at Directors’ Briefing
News release
18th November 2013
Images available to download
A packed house of business leaders was given an upbeat assessment of the economic outlook for the UK at today’s Directors’ Briefing organised by chartered accountants Duncan & Toplis.
Around 150 directors and business owners gathered at the Belton Woods Hotel near Grantham to network and hear talks by influential speakers including Ian Dormer, Chairman of the Institute of Directors.
“The message that came across loud and clear is that the UK is open for business and the recovery is gathering strength,” said Tom Hindmarch, a Partner at Duncan & Toplis, who chaired the annual event.
“All our speakers this morning took a very positive view of the prospects for the UK economy, though the underlying message was that we are not out of the woods yet.”
The theme of this year’s Directors’ Briefing was ‘Steering the ship, not rocking the boat’.
Economist Neil Parker from NatWest said he was more confident about the economic outlook but added that there are big differences between parts of the UK.
Lending to both consumers and businesses has increased, he said, but this rise is also not uniform across the country.
“The economic outlook for the next two years is very bright, but after that my crystal ball grows dim,” he said.
“The UK’s economic recovery is embedded but focused in the south and the midlands.” Neil added that he expects no rise in Bank of England interest rates until the second or third quarter of 2015.
Keynote speaker Ian Dormer of the IoD argued in favour of free enterprise and against the proposed freeze in energy bills.
He also spoke in favour of immigration to the UK, insisting that migrants want to come to Britain to work hard and prosper. “The UK needs to remain open for business,” he said.
Other speakers at the event were Sarah Stevenson, Deputy Regional Director for UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) East Midlands, Stuart Baldwin, Founder of The Positive Company, and Perveen Virdee, Chief Operating Officer Europe and North America at Appco Group UK.
Tom Hindmarch from Duncan & Toplis was delighted with the turnout.
“We had a very healthy attendance at today’s briefing which is getting bigger and better every year,” he said.
“Our speakers proved to be extremely stimulating and I know the delegates whom I spoke to found the event very useful and enjoyable.”
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.
- Duncan & Toplis appears in the top 30 UK accountancy practices list published by Accountancy magazine.
- The company has 10 offices throughout the East Midlands: in Grantham, Boston, Lincoln, Louth, Melton Mowbray, Newark, Skegness, Sleaford, Spalding and Stamford.
- Duncan & Toplis offers a wide range of services to small to large-sized family businesses, from accountancy, audit and tax to payroll, human resources and computer services.
- The business employs around 300 staff, of whom 85 are currently engaged in professional training.
Jez Ashberry
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
jez@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk
t: @jezashberry
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