We will cover the following topics
The Big Picture
- Introduction to the Private Practice Course aims and objectives
- The anatomy of a modern private dental practice – 35 years of experience and mistakes to avoid.
- Our profession and the ethos of your practising environment – what is important to you?
- Your ideal practice. Let’s write down what is in your head and make it happen.
- Important things you need to know about setting up in practice, financing, investing, team building and compliance all in one course.
Aims and Objectives of Module 1
To understand clearly the kind of practice you wish to work in, how to build, organise and finance it, how to set rules and compliance and ensure your team is on board and hoew to ensure your financial future.
- Establishing the kind of practice do you want to work in and what kind of work you want to do during your career.
- Defining your professional values, career objectives and “mission statement”.
- Understanding practice ownership, partnership and associateship and their relative risks and benefits.
- Understanding the principles of team building and choosing who you wish to work with and why.
- Understanding what your working environment and patient base going to be like (location, demographics, treatment needs etc.).
- Understanding the dynamics of principal-led, associate-led and corporate models of practice – which suits you best?
- Understanding how to find, design, build, finance and futureproof your ideal practice.
- Understanding the necessity fo early personal financial planning for long term benefits and financial stability.
The Preparation – how do wo go about achieveing this?
- Ownership, leadership, responsibilities and fiduciary duties in dental practice.
- Engaging and having a long working relationship with critical practice partners outside the profession such as:
- Bank manager with extensive experience in dental healthcare
- Accountant with extensive experience in dental healthcare
- Solicitor with extensive experience in dental healthcare, contract law, conveyancing and lease / tenant agreements who can keep you up to date with changes in the law
- Compliance company with experience who can give sensible advice without scaremongering.
- Brand management and marketing company including website design, social media platform management and advertising
- Structuring your IT and choosing and managing practice software, data management and cyber security
- Independent financial adviser and their role in your long term financial success
- How are you going to finance this and who will be responsible for the practice financially?
- What can and should you borrow? The realities of debt, depreciation and return on investment.
The Method – structuring your dental practice
- Finding and developing a location and building that suits the workflow and ergonomics of modern dental practice.
- Setting up practice protocols, rules and contracts that provide solid guidance but are flexible and adaptable over time in line with regulatory and professional changes.
- Future proofing your practice by investing wisely and developing it in stages.
- Recruitment and choosing your working partners – the importance of finding and working with the right team members.
- Contractual considerations – bespoke contracts that cover your legal obligations but also ensure that you are protected.
- Being clear on the terms and conditions of your business and ensuring that all business conducted conforms to these terms and conditions without exception. Updating these terms and conditions annually or as required.
Planning for the future – what are your immediate, medium and long-term objectives?
- Financial aspects of modern dental practice-, day-to-day, short-term, medium-term and long-term planning and goals.
- Will you take time out during your career e.g. for postgraduate education or family?
- Independent financial adviser for future planning and investments Looking after yourself and your loved ones – work-life balance, health assurance, pension planning, domestic financial management and lifelong targets.
Course structure, timetable and content detail
Day 1 – 1st October 2026
08:30 Registration
9:00 Lecture 1: Dr Koray Feran: Introduction to course aims and objectives and scope of course.
10:15 Coffee break
10:45 Lecture 2: Dr Koray Feran: Anatomy of a Dental Practice. 35 years of experience, a bird’s eye view and mistakes to avoid
12:30 Lunch
13:30 Lecture 3: Dr Jane Lelean – Institute of Dental Business – Leadership, understanding your values, your “why?”, creating a team culture and vision, psychometric profiling and understanding yourself.
14:45 Coffee break
15:15 Lecture 3: Dr Jane Lelean – Institute of Dental Business – Leadership, understanding your values, your “why?”, creating a team culture and vision, psychometric profiling and understanding yourself.
16:30 Questions:
17:30 End
Day 2 – 2nd October 2026
08:00 Registration
8:30 Lecture 4: Andy Acton and David Brewer – Frank Taylor Associates (FTA) – Choosing, purchasing and financing your practice.
09:30 Lecture 5: Adam Brookbanks – FTA Financial and Wealth Management – Investing in your future and health assurance – the importance of early long term planning.
10:15 Coffee break
10:45 Lecture 7 – Michael Lansdell / Louis Harmse – Figurit – Good accounting practices – Accounting software, HMRC regulations, incorporation vs sole trader.
12:30 Lunch
13:30 Lecture 8: Julia Furley – JFH Law – UK Contract Law as it relates to modern dental private practice and what you need to know about employment and associate contracts.
14:45 Coffee break
15:15 Lecture 8: Julia Furley – JFH Law – UK Contract Law as it relates to modern dental private practice and what you need to know about employment and associate contracts.
16:30 Questions:
17:30 End
Day 3 – 3rd October 2026
08:30 Registration
9:00 Lecture 9: Jo Russell – Oracle Practice Business Solutions – CQC compliance – Applying for CQC registration, navigating the interview and inspection process and maintaining ongoing compliance – best practice amd common myths.
10:15 Coffee break
10:45 Lecture 9: Jo Russell – Oracle Practice Business Solutions – CQC compliance – Applying for CQC registration, navigating the interview and inspection process and maintaining ongoing compliance – best practice amd common myths.
12:30 Lunch
13:30 Lecture 10: Pete Higson – RPA Dental – Building practice infrastructure and services – how to ensure thorough compliance with current building regulations and avoiding costly mistakes. Disaster management and avoidance.
14:45 Coffee break
15:15 Lecture 11: Liam McNaughton – Dental IT – The importance of well managed and powerful IT solutions for long term growth, secure large volume data management and cybersecurity.
16:30 Questions:
17:30 End
