UK Broker Summit 2010: Serious business and pleasure

LAST MONTH, PB hosted the second annual UK Broker Summit held on this occasion at the South Lodge Hotel in Horsham. Sixty of the broking industry's leading figures attended the exclusive business and networking event to share their thoughts with sponsors on a range of topics.

The event was opened by Professor Douglas McWilliams, chief executive of the Centre for Economics and Business Research, with his speech "The worst is over but things are still tough". McWilliams gave expert insight into the state of the economy and analysed the prospects for the future after the staggering events of recent years. For the hot topic of the election he argued there is not much difference between the plans of the two main parties: "After the election, whoever wins, there will be a massive fiscal squeeze in the UK. If the Tories win our view is that there will be a £100bn squeeze made up of £80bn cuts in public spending and £20bn rises in taxes. If Labour wins it is 60-40 between cuts and taxes." He predicted the economic recovery would be anaemic with 1% growth this year rising towards 2% by 2014 adding: "These will be the largest cuts we have ever made in our entire economic history. It is impossible to get dramatic economic growth at a time when you are making cuts on this scale."

Each broker participated in three forums, all conducted under Chatham House rules to ensure an honest exchange of views on the critical issues facing the industry today. On the first evening guests were treated to a champagne reception with music provided by Anthony Strong's jazz quartet. The reception was followed by the Editor's dinner and an entertaining speech by former England cricket captain Alex Stewart.

When not deep in debate or studiously networking guests had the opportunity to choose between a Bob Ross painting lesson or an outdoor activities session featuring hovercrafts and archery - although not at the same time! In the painting session, budding artists learnt the oil painting techniques taught by the late Bob Ross in his oft repeated series on Sky TV, the Joy of Painting. In just two hours everyone produced a winter's evening forest landscape to keep and wow their colleagues. In the outdoor competitions Phil Scarrett of Willis Networks did the wowing as the best archer, Mark Smith of TH March and Co, achieved the best time for completing the hovercraft course and Bob Pybus of NPA Insurance completed the roll of honour by winning the best time competition driving the dune-style buggy around the circuit.

Adrian Furnham, professor of psychology at University College in London, closed the summit with his keynote speech "People-centric Leadership". His presentation covered topics from how increased employee engagement boosts a business' profit chain through to the essentials of management.

Furnham, a business psychologist with regular columns in several national newspapers, argued it is easier to lead in good times than in bad and that managers should not hide when people need to see and interact with them. He told attendees: "You are, in a sense, in loco parentis. Management is a contact sport; you need to be present to give direction and morale." With tips and further reading suggestions he concluded that: "People leave organisations because of managers. They leave, join and stay not for the conditions, not for the pay, but for the people."