Business / Law firm shortlisted for prestigious award
A SOLICITOR’S firm founded locally more than 20 years ago is one of the finalists in the Scottish heat of this year’s Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) awards in the self-employed/sole trader category.
Brian Inkster, from Scalloway, set up Inksters as a sole trader in 1999, and 23 years later he is still a sole trader but with nine employees and 17 other sole traders all working under the Inksters brand from ten offices throughout Scotland.
This award recognises sole traders and the self-employed, and it celebrates the tenacity and drive it takes to go it alone.
Since 2013 he has been working on developing what is described as ‘Plug & Play Law’ which allows senior lawyers to work as a collective with enhanced technology and back-office support.
The law firm has offices in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, on the island of Eigg, Forfar, Inverness, Lerwick, Portree, Thurso and Wick.
In the last two years, and all during the pandemic, Inksters added five new self-employed solicitors to its team and increased its support team by three new members of staff.
Inkster said he was “very pleased” to see his law firm reach this stage in the high-profile awards celebrating small businesses.
“It recognises the transformation we have gone through during the pandemic and the fact that we have transitioned to a law firm where our solicitors are self-employed/sole traders,” he said.
The Scottish final takes place on 31 March at Waldorf Astoria in Edinburgh.
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