Professional Services: Gulland Padfield chair international conference on 2016 Growth Strategy for the legal and professional sectors

Professional Services: Gulland Padfield chair international conference on 2016 Growth Strategy for the legal and professional sectors

Harriet Creamer, from Gulland Padfield, chaired the 20th Annual PSMG conference in London on 18th November 2015.

The PSMG 20th Annual Conference titled Going for Growth? Set the path – don’t just follow it examined the strategies for growth within the complex marketplace in which clients, professional services firms and their marketers now operate.


Growth is back at the top of the agenda for every professional services firm. Whether you are a global firm looking to extend your international reach and build cross-border capability or a local practice seeking to keep pace with your clients’ ambitions, the pressure to develop new markets, services and client relationships is relentless.

Whatever size of firm you are your clients undoubtedly operate in a global marketplace. Aspirations and horizons cannot stop at the city, state or national boundary - nor should a firm’s growth strategy.

Identifying and selecting markets and clients may seem a common and persistent obsession for all businesses, but in a post-recession world the ability to identify and deliver profitable growth has again moved firmly centre stage.

Setting the path to growth is not straightforward. To grow profitably is an even greater challenge. The choices can look tempting, with opportunity seemingly around every corner, but firms need to identify not only why they want to grow, but also what and how.

This means growth and business strategy are now inextricably linked. A conversation on one inevitably leads to the other.

Whatever way your firm is tackling the why, what and how of growth, as marketers and business development professionals you should want to be involved. The path to growth and accompanying business strategies may seem the preserve of partners and senior management, but forward thinking firms should welcome new and innovative thinking from all quarters. Those who can contribute are assured a role in strategic development and a route to the top table.

As marketers, you also need to consider whether the firm’s business model needs to change to realise that growth, what globalisation means for the growth imperative, how your clients are approaching growth, and whether the firm can retain its unique DNA and values as it grows.

There is no better way to make your mark and show your future leadership potential than to contribute to the strategic development of your firm and influence the why and what of growth, not just the how.

For more details as they become available, visit www.psmg.co.uk

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