RoS hosted the Future of Conveyancing conference on behalf of the Scottish conveyancing industry in June 2021. This is the first in a series of blogs to continue the discussion that was started at that event.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic we have overcome challenges, forged new relationships, and developed new ways of working. The drive to keep delivering for our customers has required new perspectives as well as creating an appetite for fresh thinking and digital approaches.

The Future of Conveyancing conference was an ideal opportunity to bring together the industry to take stock of these changes and discuss how we envisage the future.

During the conference we asked for your feedback on the practical changes you’d like to see and what challenges may stand in our way.

Priorities

When evaluating the feedback, it was clear that topics fell into a few categories:

• Subjects in which RoS is keen to show leadership – but we need the support of the industry to achieve our goals
• Subjects which are specific to RoS and we have a plan in place to progress
• Subjects where we will look to the wider industry for leadership as it sits outside RoS’ purview.

Amongst a range of responses, it was evident that the industry is calling for:

• Increased collaboration, standardisation and leadership
• Progress around Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES)
• An increase in turnaround times for First Registrations

What next?

It was clear that electronic signatures are a priority. This is the area in which RoS will focus its energy and offer the leadership and collaboration the industry desires

As a first step we will hold an initial meeting on QES for those who expressed an interest in supporting conference follow up activity. This will take place on Microsoft Teams on Wednesday 22 September 10.30am to 11.55am.

If at the time you did not express an interest in conference follow up, but would like to now be involved, please contact events@ros.gov.uk.

To inform this meeting I will publish a blog outlining RoS’ latest thinking on QES and how that will fit into a fully digital end to end registration service.

I will follow this up with a blog responding to the RoS specific feedback we received, including a discussion around First Registrations. Then round off the series with a blog setting out the areas where we will look to the industry for leadership.

I know that I left the conference feeling engaged, energized and better informed. I hope that you did as well and that you are willing to continue your participation in whatever way you can

We want you to be part of the discussion as we work to set the digital agenda for the future. We made progress in the face of adversity. Let’s collaborate and build on this momentum for the benefit of the people of Scotland.