Neil Carmichael reports back from a busy day of networking and education at the inaugural Association of Dental Groups Conference in Manchester.
On Friday 15 November the first Association of Dental Groups (ADG) Conference took place at Old Trafford Stadium. With over 80 groups and 200 delegates registered to attend it was always going to be a busy day!
The focus of the day was helping dental groups achieve patient-centred sustainable growth, by learning through a mixture of presentations and panels with plenty of opportunity to question, network and learn from each other.
‘We can always improve on our leadership skills’
Catherine Rutland welcomed us all to the conference and introduced Jim Macleod CB CVO talking about leadership, and what he wished he had known when he looked back on his 33 years in the Royal Navy. It was a thought-provoking talk – his humility and stories brought the subject to life.
His focus on the importance of people was a vital reminder. Listening to those you lead and prioritising time with them brings out the best in people and builds a strong team. We can always improve on our leadership skills and it is so important to be reminded how, especially as you grow and build a business.
Quick fire panel sessions on fine tuning your acquisition strategy, scaling your business effectively and creating team driven success gave delegates the opportunity to listen to those who have ‘been there and done that’ with resulting huge success.
Private dentistry is ‘here to stay’
The afternoon began with presentations from Rachel Derby, BAPD president, on what is next for private dentistry, making clear it is here to stay. The important point around dispelling the often-perceived myth that private dentistry equals cosmetic dentistry is a strong message that many across the industry wish to elevate, and so it was great to hear Rachel’s reinforcement.
Jason Wong followed with a clear presentation of where his roles and responsibilities lie. It was good to understand the breadth of projects the Office of the CDO is involved in, especially around prevention.
The panel on financing your growth strategy was an interesting discussion on the different types of financing. The importance of really understanding your numbers came through clearly, whoever you work with to supply financing they will expect you to really understand how your finances work. Added to this was a discussion on the appetite of lenders and what the panel foresaw into 2025 and beyond. Expectation of renewed interest in dental practices as investments, coupled with interest from both Europe and the USA, came into the thread of conversation.
‘Cut through the barriers and get things done’
I had the pleasure of then presenting on the ambition of the ADG for the future. We have come a long way over the last few years and there is still much to do. We need to cut through the barriers and get things done to enable the profession to grow and improve access to patients. As the membership of the ADG grows, our strength is in our numbers.
A board room confidential panel created a real opportunity to understand in more depth how some of the ADG’s board members and members thought about themselves, leadership and their really positive view of being part of the ADG and the networking and support it provides for them. Such an energetic and positive panel to listen to and learn from!
The day was rounded off by Prem Sehmi talking sex, lies and whitening and then followed by an opportunity to relax and network at our drinks reception.
It felt a privilege to be part of such a positive event. The networking throughout the day and the conversation between so many across the profession, including our many sponsors, reminded me of the power in the profession and how good it is to talk.
For more information about the Association of Dental Groups, visit www.theadg.co.uk.
This article is sponsored by the Association of Dental Groups.
