As the British Wills and Probate Awards will be returning for the third year this October, we interviewed our 2019 “Community Involvement Award” category winners to find out about their award-winning team, their involvement in the local community and why the Awards are so important to firms and the industry as a whole.
Congratulations on winning ‘Community Involvement’ award, tell us about your team and the services you provide.
We are proud to have been a part of the Mansfield and Ashfield community since we started back in 1888 – it’s where our three offices are, it’s where the majority of our 100 or so colleagues call home and it’s where a lot of our clients live and work. We’ve previously been a general practice law firm but we refocused to concentrate and specialise on what we do best which is Conveyancing, and Private Client matters, including Wills, Probate, Care Fees, and Powers of Attorney.
Talk us through your involvement in your local community activities over the last 12 months
Supporting the community is something that we have always been involved with, it’s a part of who we are and it’s one of the key strands to making our workplace a magical place to work. We love making a difference, and consequently the events and initiatives we choose provide a structured framework of financial and educational support for local and national charities and schools, whilst at the same time creating a sense of community and fun in the workplace.
We fundraise for both local and national charities which genuinely mean something to the staff within our business or that make sense to legal services that we offer, such as getting your affairs in order with a Will.
Over the past months we have taken part in the Dollar for Dawson Cake Bake and raised £272.93, done Go Purple for Stroke day, raising almost £100, and raised money for the Alzheimer’s Society’s Cupcake Day and the MacMillan World’s Biggest Coffee Morning and cake bake. We’ve raised thousands of pounds for charity via the annual Will Aid initiative, worn Christmas jumpers to raise funds, and worn our Red Noses with pride. We donated more than £1,000 to a local charity that helps poorly newborn babies and their families, and helped a local deaf footballer raise enough money to fund a trip where he represented his country.
We’ve also sponsored events such as Mansfield Junior Enterprise and Mansfield Sports Recognition awards, contributed to the Mansfield Christmas Lights appeal, and supported the Mansfield Rotary Club Courage awards for local people facing adversity.
There have been a lot of events, and while some support national initiatives, all have meant something to our people and that’s what matters.
What positive outcomes have resulted from the activities you have been involved in?
There are many different outcomes, some tangible, others not so clear (although they are there). For example, the fundraising events have raised specific amounts of money for given causes. We know that money given to the Emily Harris Foundation will go towards helping them to benefit new parents and their sick children. We know that our fundraising helped Alex, the deaf footballer to achieve his goal of playing for England. But also know that by sponsoring events we help others to be inspired, and we directly help raise awareness of issues. Similarly, the Will Aid initiative not only raises money for charities, but it also helps raise general awareness of why Wills are so important. As a company, we value our colleagues and we regularly ask for their opinions. From these surveys, we know that what we are doing, and the way we approach community activities, aids retention of staff and the recruitment of new colleagues.
What activities do you have planned in your community for the coming year?
We will continue to have a structured framework of staff, charity and community initiatives that support our business values and help make our company continue to strive to be a magical place to work.
Why is the British Wills and Probate Awards event, which recognises excellence and highlights achievement in the industry, so important?
In a sector where competition is fierce, and standing out from the crowd can be tough, it’s great to celebrate the things we do well and come together to share best practice and learn from people who have set their standards bar high. It’s good for the industry and its reputation, and for individuals in the sector to know that we can and do continually learn, innovate and succeed.
The 2020 exclusive British Wills and Probate Awards takes place at the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel, on Thursday 22nd October, and seeks to discover and recognise outstanding achievements, highlights progression and champions innovation amongst firms and individual private professionals across the Wills and Probate sector.
Arken.legal (UK) Ltd, a leader in software solutions for the legal services industry, are returning by our side once again as headline sponsor for these unique awards, taking place on October 22.
You can also be part of the awards! If you’re looking for a unique way to boost your company’s brand exposure by sponsoring an award, please email awards@todayswillsandprobate.co.uk for more information.
This is an essential event for anyone working in the sector, so please add it as a key date in your diary.
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