On Thursday 22 October 2020, professionals from across the wills and probate sector came together to celebrate the successes and achievements of the industry is what has been a challenging year, at the British Wills and Probate Awards 2020.
The awards, which was back for it’s third year, took to the virtual stage and was hosted by ex-Royal correspondent, Jennie Bond, alongside headline sponsor Arken.legal (UK), and champagne sponsor Executor Solutions.
500 people watched the winning organisations take the crown this year. The full list of winners is available here. The online event is available to watch here.
Let’s hear from Best Use of Social Media and Marketing Award winner, Parker Bullen Solicitors
About the Best Use of Social Media and Marketing Award
This award looks at all aspects of how a firm or legal supplier markets itself. This firm or legal supplier has shown that its use of marketing and social media has created an effective platform and online presence through which customers/clients can reach them.
The winner of this award must:
- Have shown exceptional originality and innovative thinking within a marketing campaign
- Be able to prove success through improved client awareness and knowledge, and company/firm profitability
- Have demonstrated outside the box thinking, surpassing campaigns of competitors
Parker Bullen Solicitors were shortlisted alongside:
- WillSuite (Highly Commended)
- Finders International
During the judging process, the judges decided that Parker Bullen Solicitors were the worthy winners saying:
“This submission placed the emphasis on return on investment.”
How did you feel winning the Best Use of Social Media and Marketing Award this year?
Very proud. In what continue to be very challenging times for many people across the country, not least key workers, we wanted to reach out and help. We had noticed a significant increase in people requesting wills highlighting the genuine fear that Covid 19 had created. As opposed to seeing this as a way of making quick money we wanted to help, so we offered a 50% discount to keyworkers for their wills. Social media and the overwhelming commitment of our team made this happen.
So, who are Parker Bullen Solicitors? What do you do?
We are a regional firm which has very strong principles to deliver what is best for our clients, our staff our community. We offer a comprehensive range of legal services from private client to commercial, many of which are targeted to the needs of our local community including the likes support for the armed forces with a franchising operation and dedicated family services through to commercial where we have extensive expertise in the needs of the rural community pus services to SMEs.
How has your firm developed in the last 12 months and navigated the added complexity of the coronavirus pandemic?
By doing the right things by our clients and employees, plus a good helping of common sense, we have navigated the pandemic with few issues. We are one of a very few firms that continued to recruit during the pandemic, including partners, qualified solicitors, taking on our newly qualified solicitors and new trainees.
What’s next on the cards for you?
The pandemic is changing the way everyone if living their lives and our job is to evolve our business to support our clients. The firm and employees have adapted incredibly well to the new working environment. We have introduced new policies on home and agile working which have been very well received by employees and ensured that we in the best possible position to continue to provide excellent service to clients?
What advice would you give someone thinking of joining the Wills and Probate sector?
All aspects of the law are important but I think that with wills and probate you witness the real importance of helping your clients make the best decisions. It is also area of law where you can often add a lot of value for clients which they may not always appreciate when first instructing us. For example, many clients when initially considering Wills may also need advice on Inheritance Tax, trusts and many other areas.
Why is the British Wills and Probate Awards event, which recognises excellence and highlights achievements in the industry, so important to the industry, especially this year?
Our clients trust us to do a good job, but they won’t necessarily appreciate when a firm performed above and beyond. The British Wills and Probate Awards applies metrics and expert judgement to how firms and individuals are performing and therefore being recognised and even better winning Gold shows that we are achieving very high standards within the industry.
Parker Bullen added:
“Be one step ahead and not one step behind. The law and its practitioners are often criticised for working with rules or processes that reflect what has happened rather than what will happen. In order to provide the best support we can we need vision and the willingness to adapt and prepare for change.”
Everyone at Today’s Wills and Probate congratulates all those who were shortlisted in this year’s awards.
More information about the British Wills and Probate Awards can be found here.
