Shergroup has always been a keen supporter of the
ICM and in the last year has been steadily building
its links to develop the ICM Essex Branch.
Therefore, in March this year we hosted a
"Question Time"-style breakfast,
with Brooks Newmark MP hosting the event at
Shergroup's offices.
Then, in October this year, we supported the 2nd Annual ICM Essex Law
Conference at the Stock Country Club in Billericay. Building on the success
of the 2008 event saw the acting Committee for the Essex branch pull out all
the stops to give members and their guests a highly informative afternoon at
the Stock Brook Manor Country Club.
The 2009 Essex Law Conference programme saw Claire Sandbrook as the
acting Vice Chair of the Branch welcome over fifty delegates to the proceedings.
Richard Brown of Buttsbury Consulting (a long-time member of the ICM and acting Treasurer)
gave an intensive foundation in the development of credit management and urged
delegates to re-establish the basics of collection and incorporate the full use
of technologies such as SMS and voice messaging for both the commercial and the
consumer markets.
Stephen Allinson (Solicitor and Insolvency Practitioner at Moon Beever) gave an
entertaining presentation on the developments of insolvency and how to use the
best elements of the Insolvency Act to collect debts.
The role of "collections versus legal"
was analysed by Larry Coltman (Chairman of
the ICM), who stressed the importance of due
diligence when taking accounts to the stage
of legal proceedings, and highlighted the
pitfalls to be avoided.
Looking at the Scottish view, Stephen Cowan (Principal at Yuill & Kyle Solicitors)
discussed enforcement in Scotland, terminology and the different practices that need
to be taken into account when instigating legal proceedings in Scotland.
A passionate update on the new training initiatives
developed by the ICM was given by Philip King
as the ICM's CEO, who also spoke about the
lobby activities of the Institute and the
creation of the Prompt Payment Code and its
adoption by the FSB, CBI and the Chambers
of Commerce.
Claire Sandbrook rounded off the day by giving
the Enforcement Officer's viewpoint and a
summary of what credit managers need to know
about the enforcement arena today.
Feedback on the event was excellent, with
some delegates coming from as far a field
as Warwick to attend the event. Ruth Dixon
(ICM Regional Representative) said: "I
am proud to see so many delegates at this
year's event. It has been an excellent and
varied programme."
Shergroup was also pleased to support the ICM East Midlands Branch with old friends
Chris Else, and Neil Jinks of Else Solicitors.
And finally, Alan Smith as Chief of Operations and David Asker as Chief of IT supported
the ICM Wessex branch with a demonstration of the SHERPA system in an evening dedicated to
technology-driven solutions for the credit industry.
FIf you would like to find out more about
the Institute of Credit Management, please
visit the ICM website at www.icm.org.uk
