TaxAssist Accountants celebrates 30th Anniversary Conference in style

The 2025 TaxAssist Accountants National Conference was held on 16-18th May. This year, it was an extra special occasion as the network was also celebrating the 30th anniversary of its founding.

The conference teed off with franchisees enjoying a charity golf day, which raised £1,320 for Dementia UK. This was followed by a weekend packed with fresh ideas, valuable insights and the chance to reconnect face-to-face with colleagues from across the UK.

The event included an exhibition, and workshops; director, senior leadership and keynote speaker presentations; a panel discussion, as well as a spectacular black-tie gala evening celebration.

The exhibition hosted 30 stands throughout the day, while in the afternoon there was a series of workshops and presentations hosted by the TaxAssist Group senior managers and sponsors including:

• Intuit QuickBooks
• Acora One
• Begbies Traynor
• Dext
• FTS Recovery
• Resourcing by TaxAssist
• TaxCalc

The conference afternoon closed with keynote addresses from Billie Mcloughlin, Practice Consultant with 2020 Innovation, and Alon Amit, VP, Product Management at Intuit who discussed the opportunities AI presents to the accountancy industry and its implementation within practice. This was followed by an AI focused panel discussion, in which questions were put forward from franchisees answered by a panel of accountancy, software and technology experts which included Billie Mcloughlin, Patrick Harrison (Intuit), Katie Hawking (Dext), Jamie Royston-Smith (Xero), Richard Garner (Acora One) and Lloyd Powell (ACCA).

James Mattam, Group Director of Franchising, said: “The TaxAssist Conference is always a fantastic occasion, celebrating the progress we’ve made as a network and looking ahead to what’s next. It’s also hugely engaging and enjoyable!

“With a fast-changing financial world and new opportunities on the horizon, this year’s conference delivered thought-provoking keynote speakers, interactive breakout sessions, practical tools and inspiration to help every member of our network grow stronger and smarter.

“The conference isn’t just about business, it’s also about community and it was fantastic to come together to celebrate 30 years of success.”

Feedback from franchisees was positive across the board.

Jamie-Leigh Heyda, TaxAssist Accountants Barnstaple, said: “Still buzzing from a weekend of big ideas and brilliant people. What an introduction! This weekend, Rob Miles and I had the pleasure of attending our very first TaxAssist Annual Conference together since merging, and what an incredible event to kick things off.

“The conference brought together colleagues from across the UK for a weekend of insight, innovation and connection. From keynote speakers to breakout sessions, we came away energised and inspired; not just by the content, but by the people. It was a brilliant reminder of what makes the TaxAssist network so special: a shared commitment to excellence, adaptability, and supporting small businesses with heart.”

Alex Smith, TaxAssist Accountants Plymouth, said: "Thank you for organising yet another outstanding event and to everyone at the Support Centre. The very fact we put on something like this epitomises everything that’s great and perhaps in this day and age, different, about our network and values. Thank you from us all it was a great weekend."

Shayo Badejo, TaxAssist Accountants Enfield, said: "The event has been nothing short of amazing, filled with engaging conversations, innovative accounting software showcases, and insightful panel discussions, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of Celtic Manor. The sense of community and shared purpose here is incredible, and it makes me so proud to be part of this exceptional brand. The connections and friendships formed here are invaluable.”

May 2025