In the April 2024 round up, ICB CEO Ami Copeland reflects on new services for ICB members, new events and the state of the nation’s bookkeepers.
Like many of you, I’m juggling work and childcare over the Easter break, and thankful for a flexible schedule which allows me to spend time with my children at the Balloon Museum. I hope you’re also managing to find time to take a break and do something just for the fun of it.
I also hope you’re as thrilled as I am that we’ve introduced a new series of regular technical webinars for members. Amy Chin received such a great response from those of you who tuned in for her lively and informative Budget Update last month that she’s come on board as our latest ICB Expert. Amy will be keeping you up to date, and ahead of the game, on a bi-monthly basis and you can book her first episode here. Other webinars you can access as part of your membership include a sneak peek inside Lara Manton MICB’s software set up (here) and advice on setting up your own bookkeeping business (here).
We’ve also introduced some premium CPD learning webinars so you can upskill in various areas of bookkeeping, payroll and tax. We’re delighted that Ian Holloway and Rebecca Benneyworth MBE have created some dedicated webinars for bookkeepers to explain legislative changes and keep you up to date. Future-proofing your skills to keep them relevant and highly sought-after, is one of ICB’s key strategic objectives I announced when I became CEO last year.
We are more committed than ever to empowering you to do great work for the nation’s businesses and continuing to support and connect you.
When I spoke at the inaugural Festival of Accounting and Bookkeeping (FAB) last month the positivity within the bookkeeping profession was palpable. The event felt like it was sparkling with bookkeeper energy.
We are so proud to be known as the home of UK bookkeepers and it was a joy to meet so many of you at the event in Birmingham where we also got to meet such a lot of AAT students who have seen your great work and are inspired to join ICB too. Your professionalism, ambition and down-right fabulousness are having a huge impact and together we are creating the most exciting force in accountancy.
The bookkeeping population is growing by around 1% a year and, as our fascinating 2024 ICB Survey results show, bookkeepers are not just growing in number, but also growing in confidence!
I hope you will join me at upcoming events like the Digital Accountancy Show (DAS) – and Accountex where I will be talking about why Chartered and Certified Accountants should be working more closely with Certified Bookkeepers and what could happen if they fail to do so.
The future is bright, the future is yours!
