Property consultants and other professional services firms can lobby government directly under a new group that held its first meeting today.

The government has set up the Professional and Business Services Group to represent those in property consultancy as well as accountants, lawyers and other businesses. The group’s aim is to represent professional services and alert government to challenges to the sector in areas such as market regulation.

Sir Michael Snyder, senior partner of accountant Kingston Smith and former chairman of the policy and resources committee at the City of London Corporation will chair the group.

The group also aims to act as a forum where professional services firms can discuss problems with senior ministers and civil servants, and promote the professional and business services sector. This sector accounts for approximately 8% of UK output and 11.5% of total employment.

This group has been established after the success of the Professional Services Global Competitiveness Group, which was set up in 2008 by chancellor Alistair Darling.

Snyder said: “The continued success of this sector is vital to the UK economy. I am confident that by working together we can secure a successful future for UK professional and business services.”

Lord Davies of Abersoch, CBE, minister for trade, investment and small business for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be attending the meetings.

Members of the group including Deloitte Drivers Jonas managing partner Nick Shepherd, Arup chairman Philip Dilley, Make Architects senior partner Ken Shuttleworth, and Baker Tilly national managing director Laurence Longe.

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