The Pears Magazine issue 46 - Summer 2023

Croquet, Canapes and Pimms! The WLS Croquet day...

What a fabulous time we had on a sunny 14th June 2023 at our 2nd Annual Croquet, Canape and Pimms evening at Worcester Norton Croquet Club. This is such a popular evening and a huge thanks goes to the wonderful, welcoming team of hosts for teaching us to play especially Chris Dunn from the club for hosting. A big thank you also to No5 Chambers for sponsoring this event. We are already looking forward to the next one!

Andrew Chandler President mfg Solicitors LLP andrew.chandler@mfgsolicitors. com

Laura Osborne Administrator Headturner Search laura@headturnersearch.co.uk

Stephen Hurley Committee Member University of Worcester s.hurley@worc.ac.uk

Lucy Harrold Social Media Secretary mfg Solicitors lucy.harrold@mfgsolicitors.com

Daniel Maiden Committee Member QS Parkinson Wright djm@parkinsonwright.co.uk

Nick Hughes Committee Member HB 121 Solicitors nah@hb121solicitors.co.uk

Elizabeth Miles Committee Member Greens Solicitors elizabeth.miles@ greenssolicitors.org

Patricia Beeching Committee Member Law Society Council Member for the Welsh Marches

Lauren Powell-Bateson Harrison Clark Rickerbys lpbateson@hcrlaw.com

Zoe Webster

Social Secretary Hallmark Hulme zoe.webster@hallmarkhulme.co.uk

John Aldis Committee Member St Philips Chambers jaldis@st-philips.com

Marina Akram Secretary Silverback Law marina.akram@silverbacklaw.co.uk

Vishal Mahay Committee Member Silverback Law vishal.mahay@silverbacklaw.co.uk

Alexandra Phillips Committee Member mfg Solicitors LLP alexandra.phillips@mfgsolicitors. com

Olivia Jubb Vice Chair Harrison Clark Rickerbys ojubb@hcrlaw.com

James Osborne Treasurer Harrison Clark Rickerbys josborne@hcrlaw.com

Luke Crocker Committee Member Bradley Haynes Law Luke@bradleyhayneslaw.co.uk

Charlette McDermott Treasurer Bradley Haynes Charlette@bradleyhayneslaw.co.uk

Katie Banks Editor of Pears mfg Solicitors LLP katie.banks@mfgsolicitors.com

Amy McGowan-Docherty Deputy Editor of The Pears Harrison Clark Rickerbys amdocherty@hcrlaw.com

Georgina Hunt Chair Harrison Clark Rickerbys ghunt@hcrlaw.com

Danielle Hanley-Hall Social Secretary

Priya Tromans Committee Member St Ives Chambers priya.tromans@stiveschambers. co.uk

Molly Batten mfg Solicitors LLP molly.batten@mfgsolicitors.com

Priya Chohan Bradley Haynes priya@bradleyhayneslaw.co.uk

President’s Introduction

Dear Members,

Welcome to the Summer Edition of the Pears Magazine. The committee and I hope that you have all had the opportunity to enjoy a good Summer holiday.

Recently in mid-June the WLS came together for the second year running at the Worcester Norton Croquet Club which was well attended and great fun was had all round. The WLS were once again made to feel very welcome and our thanks go to the club for their kind and generous hospitality. Please do come to our upcoming social events as they are great fun and a great way to get to know other WLS members.

In late June a panel was convened to judge those shortlisted nominees for the WLS Awards 2023 at the Kiln

in Worcester which comprised of Joe Wilson Chambers Director of St Philips Chambers, Kate Bould Company Director of Index Property Information, David Huntbatch Director and Financial Adviser at Kind Wealth Ltd, Jenny Watkins Lecturer in Law of the University of Worcester and myself. My sincere thanks to the judges for being so giving of their time and attention to the exercise. We were ably assisted throughout the day by Laura Osborne and found the quality of those interviewed to be as strong as ever making the decision of who to award each award to extremely difficult! On behalf of the judging panel I would like to congratulate all of those who were nominated, shortlisted and interviewed as you are all a credit to the very best that the profession has to offer in the county.

As such our next event is the highlight of our year being the WLS Awards evening on 15 September 2023 at the Bank House Hotel in Bransford which I’m pleased to confirm, despite moving to a larger venue from previous years, has been yet another sell-out event. There will

be fine dining, music, entertainment and the opportunity to raise funds for a local worthy cause. On behalf of the WLS committee we look forward to welcoming you and celebrating your successes. Best of luck to those shortlisted!

Finally you may notice that there are some changes to the members serving on the committee as we have lost one or two members and gained others. My special thanks to all those who have served the WLS as without their valuable contribution we simply could not operate as we do and I look forward to working with our new members in continuing to represent the interests of our member firms.

As always if you have any queries relating to the WLS please do not hesitate to contact either myself or another member of the committee.

Andrew Chandler President, Worcestershire Law Society 2022-2023

Law firm expands commercial property team with new appointment

Worcestershire law firm mfg Solicitors has again expanded its respected commercial property department with the appointment of a new senior associate.

Based at the firm’s Kidderminster headquarters, commercial property expert Lauren Powers has joined mfg and will work closely with partners Clare Regan and Ben Rothery on a range of matters including complex transactions, refinancing, acquisitions and disposals of land and property, and landlord and tenant transactions.

Partner and head of department Clare Regan said: “We are now a team of 35 and continue to see extensive growth in the demand for our services. This means we have to meet that demand and expand the team by adding specialists who have a broad range of commercial property experience.

“Lauren is the perfect fit for the team and is well-respected in Worcestershire and the wider region.

“As a first-class lawyer, with exceptional eye for detail, she is already making her mark and will be a key part of the team in the months and year ahead.

Lauren Powers added: “The commercial property team here at mfg Solicitors has a fantastic regional and national reputation. I am delighted to be part of that and to play my role in enhancing that standing even further.

“Commercial property is a unique specialism which encompasses an enormous amount of matters, so I feel extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to work alongside such a brilliant and supportive team of lawyers.

“As we prepare to move into the second half of 2023, it has been a hugely busy period. That looks set to continue with the commercial property industry going from strength to strength, owners looking at their portfolios, and studying new opportunities.”

Readers looking for more information on mfg’s commercial property services can email lauren.powers@mfgsolicitors.com or visit www.mfgsolicitors.com.

Spread across our office in Birmingham, Kidderminster, Worcester, Bromsgrove, Ludlow and Telford, the team’s services include sales and purchases of industrial or retail premises, refinancing, planning and development advice, leases and licences, handling complex land issues, and advising on renewable schemes.

HCR Corporate team shortlisted for two awards at Midlands Dealmakers awards

HCR’s Corporate team have been shortlisted for the two awards at this year’s Midlands Dealmakers awards ceremony – International Deal of the Year and Corporate Law Firm of the Year.

The event, which takes place on 14 September at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, celebrates the best in the M&A dealmaking community.

Corporate Partner and Head of the Midlands Corporate Team, Alison Scott, who acted on the international sale of Evac+Chair to Systematic Growth, said: “It’s a delight to be shortlisted for Corporate Law Firm of the Year and International Deal of the Year alongside so many strong contenders.

“M&A is a cornerstone of our Corporate team’s work – and this shortlisting shows the quality our deals are recognised across the sector.”

This is the latest nomination for the Corporate team, which comes soon after their nomination as a finalist for the Advisory Firm of the Year award at the Business Leader South West Awards.

Silverback Law growth leads to exciting recruitment.

Redditch-based Silverback Law continue to expand and grow their business. The firm has experienced such growth in recent months that they’ve recruited four exciting new starters to ensure they maintain the very highest standards of service for their clients.

Hayley Commander has joined as Office Secretary, Simon Lloyd as Head of System Development, Katie Kearney as a Debt

Clare Regan, Lauren Powers and Ben Rothery

Recovery Paralegal/Client Manager and Jenine Martin as an Insolvency & Debt Recovery Paralegal.

All four have made a significant impact since joining and, as a firm who invests heavily in their leadership and legal teams, we’re sure there’ll be even more recruitment to come.

Silverback Law offers expert guidance in Debt Recovery, Insolvency, Commercial and Family Law matters and can be contacted on 0844 967 2700 or by email at enquiries@silverbacklaw.co.uk

Two members of St Ives Chambers appointed as Recorders

St Ives Chambers is delighted to announce that two members of Chambers have been appointed as Recorders in the latest Judicial Appointments Commission competition.

Amy Jackson and William DouglasJones have both been appointed as Recorders, effective today, on the advice of the Lord Chancellor.

Amy Jackson was called in 2009 and is a specialist in criminal and regulatory law. She is a member of the CPS Advocates Panels for RASSO, General Crime and Serious Organised Crime at Level 3. Amy has been appointed to sit in crime on the Midland Circuit.

William Douglas-Jones was called in 2011 and is also a specialist in criminal and regulatory law. In 2021, he was appointed as a Fee Paid Judge of the First Tier Tribunal, sitting in the Mental Health jurisdiction of the Heath, Education and Social Care Chamber. William has been appointed to sit in crime on the Midland Circuit.

Head of Chambers, Elizabeth Isaacs KC said “I am delighted with today’s news of the latest judicial appointments for chambers. We all offer our congratulations to Amy and William on becoming Recorders and I am sure they will discharge their roles with distinction.”

For Amy’s profile please go to: https:// www.stiveschambers.co.uk/barristers/ amy-jackson/.

For William’s profile please go to: https:// www.stiveschambers.co.uk/barristers/ william-douglas-jones/.

Law firm announces new Family divisional head

Worcestershire law firm mfg Solicitors has announced the appointment of partner Katherine Tippetts as the new head of its Family division.

Katherine, who specialises in a range of family-related legal matters, takes over from widely respected partner Claire Backler who steps down from the leadership role after 11 years.

Based at the firm’s Kidderminster office, Katherine joined mfg Solicitors in 2010 and has gone on to play a key role in the substantial growth of mfg’s Family team.

Katherine Tippetts said: “My aim is to ensure we continue to offer a consistently exceptional service for our clients as more people look to us to handle what are always complex, emotional and extremely personal issues. That needs us to maintain the high standards we have set for ourselves and continue to provide the best possible advice to clients.

“It’s a proud moment to take over as head of the division, especially from someone like Claire who is an immensely respected solicitor and leader with almost four decades of experience.

Clockwise: Hayley Commander, Simon Lloyd, Katie Kearney, Jenine Martin

Katherine Tippetts and Claire Backler

Amy Jackson and William Douglas-Jones

“Overall, it’s an exciting time for us both as a team and as a firm as we grow in Worcestershire, Shropshire and in Birmingham.”

Clare Backler added: “Katherine is perfectly placed to lead the team into its next phase as we take steps to grow even further across the region in the years ahead.

“She leads a team which continues to impress in every way and has rightly built a national reputation and recognition from clients in the Legal 500.”

The team specialises in all areas of Family law including divorce-related financial matters and issues relating to children, pre and post nuptial agreements, cohabitation and injunctions.

For further information readers can email katherine.tippets@mfgsolicitors.com, or visit https://www.mfgsolicitors.com/site/ services-for-me/family-law/.

With offices across Worcestershire, Shropshire and in central Birmingham, mfg Solicitors advise on a range of commercial and private matters.

HCR releases latest insights report on tackling the UK skills shortage

The UK has been facing a skills shortage, particularly in knowledge-intensive sectors, for years. But now – with Brexit, Covid, and a cost-of-living crisis

– it’s more universal and it’s affecting more businesses. With recent data showing that 68% of SMEs and 86% of large organisations are facing skills shortages, a new report published by HCR highlights the need for businesses to take action.

‘Tackling the UK Skills Shortage –What, Why, and How’ proposes three solutions for closing the skills gap, and gives employers practical steps and downloadable tools they can adapt for their own purpose. It also includes a guide to becoming a licensed sponsor for those firms exploring business immigration.

“The UK’s workplace, and its workforce, has been through a revolution. For many, it’s for the better, but the challenges that have come with this new normal – from staff retention to managing remote workers – are significant. And when people are your biggest asset, but what they want is changing, you need to change with them” , urges Head of Employment and Immigration, Michael Stokes

“This report addresses the current skills shortage, what it means for you, and how you can overcome it.” Michael continues. “We hope it helps employers of all shapes and sizes think about the steps they can take to tackle the issues.”

You can download the report at: https://www.hcrlaw.com/insight/futureworkspaces/

Newly qualified duo complete law firm training contracts

Two up and coming Worcestershire solicitors are celebrating after completing their training contracts with law firm, mfg Solicitors.

Lawyers Lucy Harrold and Lucy George have completed their respective qualifications at the firm and have now been appointed into full-time roles as qualified solicitors.

Miss Harrold joined in 2018 and worked as a paralegal for three years across mfg’s Commercial Property, Corporate and Property Litigation departments. Now qualified, she has been appointed as a Corporate solicitor within the firm’s Corporate team.

Miss George, meanwhile, joined as a paralegal in 2019 and began her training in 2021, working in the firm’s Commercial Property, Property Litigation and Family teams across mfg’s Worcestershire offices. She now begins a full-time role within mfg’s Commercial Property department.

Andrew Davies, partner and managing director at mfg Solicitors said: “Our firm has an extremely strong breadth of talent coming through which is vital as part of our planning for the future.

“Both Lucy and Lucy have been with us for some time now and during their training they have impressed at every turn through their professionalism and hard work.

“It’s a big moment for them both to now be fully qualified solicitors and we look forward to them contributing to our success in the months and years ahead.”

Lucy George and Lucy Harrold

Worcestershire law firm mfg Solicitors has announced three internal promotions at senior associate and associate level.

In the firm’s widely respected Private Client department, experienced wills, assets and estate planning expert Melinda Rice, is promoted to a senior associate position. Meanwhile, the law firm has also announced that tax and trusts specialist David Insull has also been promoted into a senior associate role.

Completing the trio of promotions is commercial property expert Laura Moore who becomes an associate and will continue to work on a variety of propertyrelated development, investment and acquisition matters across the public and private sectors.

Andrew Davies, partner and managing director of mfg Solicitors said: “Both Melinda and David have played key roles in the continued expansion of our Private Client department, which is rightly seen as one of the leading and largest teams in the region.

“Their promotions are well-deserved and they both carry exceptional reputations with our clients for providing clear and concise advice.

“Laura meanwhile is regarded as one of our rising stars and she has provided expert commercial property advice to hundreds of clients across the country. Laura’s promotion highlights the kind of talent we have coming through across various departments and she is already thriving in her new role.”

With offices across Worcestershire, Shropshire and in central Birmingham, mfg Solicitors advise on a range of commercial and private matters.

The guide, which launched this week, ranks the best law firms and their lawyers with rankings largely based on client and peer feedback, as well as independent market research. This year, HCR has five ranked departments and 14 ranked individuals, including one listed with ‘Legend’ status. Achieving band 1 rankings are our teams in Cambridge, Hereford and Worcester, and Central England. Teams in Cheltenham and Wales achieved band 2 rankings – a true testament to all teams supporting clients in these areas.

Trio of promotions announced at law firm mfg Solicitors

HCR lawyers recognised in Chambers High Net Worth guide 2023

HCR Private Client lawyers achieved rankings in the latest release of Chambers High Net Worth Guide (HNW).

Laura Moore, Andrew Davies, Melinda Rice and David Insull

Members of the HCR team

A day in the life of... Beth King-Smith

Having sorted that and sent the final draft to the client for approval, I’ve got a catch up with my trainee solicitor. We need to go through a number of cases to check we are on track. Today I approve a letter to other solicitors requesting a copy of the original will file for one client who thinks her mum was unduly influenced to change her will. I also approve a draft consent order to circulate to the other side on another case where we have agreed in correspondence to a ‘stay of proceedings’. This means putting a pause button on the court process - in this case for three months. The parties want to try to see if they can settle the dispute by holding a mediation. Lots of my cases are settled at mediation rather than court because this allows the parties to be creative in a private setting – unlike the rigmarole of court – and find a resolution that each party can live with. It also saves the costs and trauma often involved with taking cases all the way to court. I ask my trainee to complete some new tasks on cases we are working on, update her on a call I had with one client yesterday and ask her to draft a letter to the other side with an offer of settlement for me to check tomorrow.

I specialise in disputes over wills, inheritance and trustees / executors / beneficiaries falling out. Each day can be quite different as a result, but never boring. Clients often tell me that they never thought they would need a will disputes lawyer to help them.

To that extent my services are always a distress purchase. No one ever wants to be in a position where they feel they need to bring a claim against an estate for their own provision. Equally, no one ever wants to be dragged in to defending a claim made by others against an estate. This means that some days involve helping fraught and emotional clients.

I normally like to start each day with some form of exercise – whether that’s a high intensity gym workout or a walk in the fresh air – as it sets me up for the day ahead. Next up a protein shake and a quick coffee before checking emails and any voice messages before making myself presentable. I’m lucky that I get to work in a number of the firm’s offices. The view for the day could be the river Nene from the Central England office in Northampton, the magnificent cathedral in Worcester or Colmore business district in Birmingham city centre. My movement across the West Midlands is as a result of our clients’ needs.

Today has started in the Worcester office. First up I need to finish a witness statement for a client who is applying to remove her co-executor and seeking to ask the court to approve an application to appoint an independent administrator. The co-executor is her sister and unfortunately siblings falling out after a parent dies is extremely common. My top tip is to think hard when making a will about who is the best person to be an executor; your children aren’t often best placed as, understandably, they can be so upset and emotional that all common sense goes out the window.

Following the catch up I review my emails again and see that I need to authorise payment of a significant settlement to a client. I then give a couple of my other team members in the other offices a quick call to check in with them and say hello. One of the challenges of being across a number of offices is making sure we stay connected. All is well with them, so I am free to attend to some matters on my to-do list.

I call another solicitor on the other side of a case to discuss the final draft settlement agreement terms and to see if we can agree to split the deceased’s ashes as part of the agreement. This case is between the second wife of the deceased and the children from the deceased’s first marriage. The parties have found it hard to reach a middle ground so the solicitor and I are doing all we can to get this one over the line before they all fall out again.

After that I need to run for the train to Birmingham for an afternoon conference with counsel. We have live proceedings and we are meeting with the client to discuss the way ahead and the possibility of suggesting a mediation with the other side. This case is particularly sensitive as the client’s husband committed suicide and there is a farming partnership dispute with his family, so the stakes are high.

Once the conference is over, I catch up with the barrister after the client has left, check my emails again and my movements for tomorrow. I’ve agreed to meet one of my peers at another firm in Birmingham after work for a bite to eat and a chat. After that it’s back to the train station, a read of The Times app and catching up with family / friends / work WhatsApp groups on the way back.

My role is varied and it’s the combination of being able to help clients navigate a difficult time, working with a super team and making and maintaining professional connections that really keep it interesting.

Beth King-Smith

Equality Act 2010: the legal definition of “sex”

Claire Cole (Head of Employment) and Ellie Matthews (Paralegal) at Hallmark Whatley Hulme Solicitors considers the parliamentary debate to change the legal definition of ‘sex’ to ‘biological sex’ in the Equality Act 2010.

In April 2023 the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHCR) advised the government that redefining sex as biological sex would bring greater clarity in some areas of the law but would create ambiguity and potential disadvantages in others including equal pay and direct/indirect sex discrimination.

In June 2023 MPs from all parties debated 2 different petitions relating to the definition of sex in the Equality Act 2010. Signatories of the first petition called for a change to the definition of sex to make it clear that it meant biological sex. The second petition called on the government to commit to not amending the Equality Act’s definition of sex.

Maya Forstater, who created the first petition in favour of clarifying the law and who won a belief discrimination case in 2022 over her gender-critical views, believes a biological sex definition would require employers and service providers to protect individuals against both kinds of discrimination and treat everyone with respect. In her view this would create two different strands of protection, one that is biological sex- based and another that covers discrimination against transgender people.

Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi opened the debate and said that she recognised the passionate views on both sides. She said “Those who want the Equality Act to stay as it is say that trans people

are already using services for the opposite sex without concerns, regardless of whether they have a gender recognition certificate or not, and that not allowing them to do so would be harmful and detrimental to their human rights.”

SNP MP Joanna Cherry said that not changing the wording of the Equality Act would leave the law “muddled”. In her view the Equality Act attempts to a strike a balance between the rights of people with a range of different protected characteristics, including sex, sexual orientation, and gender reassignment. She argues that gender reassignment is widely drawn, not confined to those who have undergone medical treatment or those who have a gender recognition certificate, and all transgender people are protected against discrimination on the grounds of gender reassignment.

On the other side of the debate, Labour’s Dame Angela Eagle said that the move to redefine sex as purely biological would reduce rather than enhance current protections and create incoherence in legislation. In her view the change would mandate exclusion and discrimination against all transgender people while worsening the position for women and girls. Labour MP Luke Pollard argued that the change could lead to a roll back of hard won rights for the LGBT+ community and potentially exclude more trans people from public spaces.

The government is now considering next steps. Maria Caulfield (Minister for Women and Equalities) has said that the government does not want to create additional unforeseen problems by changing or clarifying the Equality Act.

Claire Cole, Head of Employment can be contacted on 01905 726600 or via email at Claire.cole@hallmarkhulme.co.uk

The WLS Award Interviews took place on 27th June 2023 at The Kiln in Worcester . All the shortlisted nominees were interviewed and what an inspiring day it was!

A huge thanks to our Judges, Kate Bould from Index PI, Joe Wilson from St Philips Chambers, David Huntbatch from Kind Wealth Ltd, Jenny Watkins from the Worcester Law School and our very own President, Andrew Chandler.

Good luck to everyone who was interviewed – you blew the Judges away with your achievements and passion for your careers!

We are very excited to announce the winners at the Awards on 15th September 2023 and look forward to celebrating with you all then!

Claire Cole

L-R Andrew Chandler, Kate Bould, Joe Wilson, David Huntbatch, Jenny Watkins

WJLD Legal Dining Event

On Friday 2nd June 2023, the Worcester Junior Lawyers Division held their annual Legal Dining Event at Worcestershire County Cricket Club in honour of raising funds for local charity, Onside Advocacy.

The dinner is the only Worcestershire-based event in the calendar year specifically held for junior lawyers, junior barristers, trainee solicitors, paralegals, and university students interested in starting their careers in law. The evening promotes the opportunity for networking with peers but also provides ample opportunity to meet those who are on the same or similar pathways as yourself, and in many instances those who are much further along in their careers. This year we had an incredible eighty-four attendees which is our largest cohort to date, and we are pleased to have received excellent feedback from the event!

providing a range of vital services to people who may be vulnerable, disadvantaged or struggling with life’s challenges. Their work makes a significant impact on the local communities they serve, and we are proud to continue to support the work they do. This year’s event raised a whopping £292!!

It would be remiss of us as a committee to not mention those who made the event possible, from our amazing sponsors of the event (BRI Wealth Management plc, 3PB Barristers, Michael Page, Verify365, Kind Wealth, Worcestershire Law Society and Anja Potze) to the event speakers, the entertainment which kept everyone amused all night long and to those who kindly donated prizes for the charity raffle (particularly BCL Legal for their donation of the top prize of the night)!

The money raised from the generously donated prizes went to this year’s chosen charity, Onside Advocacy. Onside Advocacy are a local charity working across Worcestershire & Herefordshire

There is also a special thank you from us to our incredible speakers, Robert Capper (Partner and Head of Commercial at HCR) and Claire Simon (Partner in Dispute Resolution, Personal Injury and Medical Negligence at QSPW) who provided an incredibly important insight for the attendees on making the most of your formative years in law. Robert Capper provided an excellent Q&A session which gave attendees the chance to ask questions about what to focus on in training and how to set yourself apart and Claire Simon gave a fantastic talk on her alternative journey into law.

There is one final thank you we would like to make and that is to all of the attendees who made the event the best night possible. Without the support of you all, the event would not be the success that it is! If you were not able to make this year’s event, we run a number of other events throughout the year and we would love for you to attend, and if you are interested in next year’s event, then keep an eye out for the announcement early next year…

Robert Capper

Solicitor (Operational)

Number of vacancies: 1

Location: Hindlip

Grade: H

Salary: £42,254 - £48,546

Working pattern: Weekdays

Type of Contract: Permanent

Why work for us?

We’re on a journey to shape the future of policing in our three counties and we want you to be part of it.

We value difference and believe in creating an inclusive working environment where our employees feel safe to make suggestions and voice their opinions.

We want to show our staff that they’re valued, which is why we offer generous annual leave entitlements, flexible working opportunities and access to a host of staff associations to ensure you get the support you need when you start your career.

After all, keeping people safe isn’t just a uniquely rewarding career, it’s one that rewards uniqueness.

This is a full time position

The closing date for this post is 12 noon Wednesday 9th August 2023

Interviews to be held on Tuesday 22nd August 2023

**Please note that this is a CV only process**

The main purpose of the role is to support Legal Services in maximising the extent to which communities are protected

from harm by providing a professional, independent, accessible, timely and legal service to the Chief Constable, Chief Officers and the members of the wider workforce where required.

This role is commutable from Kidderminster, Birmingham, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Hereford, Malvern, Ledbury, Evesham, Redditch, Bromsgrove, Bewdley, Droitwich Spa and Pershore and is just off junction 6 of the M5.

This role involves a hybrid of office and home working.

We embrace diversity and welcome applications from everyone.

We are also happy to talk flexible working where it is suitable for the role.

If you require any support to complete your application or you have any questions please contact the recruitment team on 01905 718444 (press option 1 then 5) or email BOC.staff. recruitment.team@westmercia.police.uk (internally please use myBop)

To read more about the added benefits and rewards of working for West Mercia Police, please go to our website: https://www.westmercia.police.uk/police-forces/west-merciapolice/areas/west-mercia/ca/careers/why-work-for-us/

Internal applicants who are in need of redeployment will be offered positions ahead of other candidates, subject to them passing a selection process.

Once this job has closed, the job advert & associated documents will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

If you are viewing this advert on Indeed, Reed or another job board, it is worth noting that there is more information about the position on the West Mercia Police website, this will include the role profile.

For more information please visit https://westmerciapolice.tal. net/vx/appcentre-WestMerciaExternal/brand-5/candidate/so/ pm/6/pl/17/opp/4752-Solicitor-Operational/en-GB

We are seeking a Solicitor (Operational) with a focus on civil orders (will consider newly qualified solicitors)

Proposals To Abolish Inheritance Tax Must Take Into Account Risk Of Legacy Income Loss For Charities

Over 50 MPs have called for Inheritance Tax (IHT) to be abolished, and Government is reported to be considering including the proposal in the Conservative manifesto. With the current IHT framework offering generous incentives for legacy giving – a growing and crucial income stream for UK charities, Remember A Charity will be calling on government and policymakers to consult with the sector and to ensure that legacy income will be protected.

Lucinda Frostick, director of Remember A Charity, says: “Any change to Inheritance Tax that fails to consider the likely impact on legacy giving and just how vital this income stream is for UK charities would be of great concern to us at Remember A Charity.

“Legacy giving has become a lifeline for thousands of charities and communitybased organisations, building resilience and long-term income that has proved crucial in the current economic climate.

“As a representative body for 200 charities that rely on legacy income, we will be urging government and policymakers to consult with us and the wider sector to explore the likely impact on charities of proposed changes, ensuing that legacy income will be protected.”

What are the IHT benefits?

Charitable gifts in Wills are currently exempt from Inheritance Tax (IHT), charged at 40% above the IHT threshold. What’s more, those that donate 10% or more of their estate to charity benefit from a discounted IHT rate of 36%. This can make

a considerable reduction in the amount of tax paid per estate, enabling people to give generously, while also supporting their family and friends.

Read more: What is the impact of the IHT incentives on legacy giving?

Legacy giving has grown substantially – with consumer polling indicating growth of over 40% in the past decade, and while it’s impossible to state with certainty how much of that is driven by the IHT incentives, the tax framework can be powerful influence on people’s capacity and propensity to give. Crucially, the IHT incentive creates the opportunity and impetus for solicitors, professional Will-writers and other legal advisers to raise legacy giving with clients. Research from the Behavioural Insights Team indicates that even the simplest of charitable reference by solicitors during the Will-writing process doubles the chances that clients will leave a gift. Having tracked charitable estate trends reported by solicitors and Will-writers since 2014, we can see a 50% increase (from 16%-24%) in the proportion of professionally written Wills that include a charitable donation.

Key facts and figures

IHT is a minority tax impacting fewer than 4% of deaths (27,000 in 2020/21), and yet,

Estates paying IHT account for around one quarter of all charitable estates (9,680) and half of legacy income donated (£1.8 billion in 2020/21)*

Over one third (36%) of IHT estates include a charitable gift, with one in four of those

charitable estates (2,590 in 2020/21) including donations of 10% or more, qualifying for the reduced IHT rate*

Legacy giving is around six times more prevalent for IHT estates – 36%* vs 6%**

Gifts in Wills now raise almost £3.9 billion*** for good causes annually, funding vital charitable services for charities and communitybased organisations across the country. Legacy giving is an integral and thriving part of the UK’s philanthropic landscape.

Remember A Charity is working with the Chartered

Institute of Fundraising and fellow sector bodies to build up a body of evidence on the importance of the IHT incentive and to formulate a collaborative response to Government.

Sources:

*HMRC IHT statistics and commentary, 2020/2021

**Smee and Ford, Legacy Trends Report, 2023

***Legacy Foresight, 2023 For more information see www. rememberacharity.org.uk/IHT

New consumer campaign to launch Remember A Charity Week (11-17 September 2023)

This year's campaign for Remember A Charity Week (11-17 September 2023) will showcase the breadth of people who choose to leave a gift to charity in their Will. With a new humorous consumer campaign encouraging people to be remembered for 'even more' than the warm and quirky moments in their lifetime, the consortium aims to open up conversation and inspire people to leave their own gift.

Remember A Charity Week brings together around 200 member charities and the campaign’s network of over 800 solicitors and Will-writers to encourage everyone to consider leaving a gift to their favourite charities in their Will, alongside gifts for family and friends.

The Week serves as a platform for charities to engage with supporters and the giving public, sharing their own legacy message. It’s also an opportunity to get their whole organisation’s support and buy-

in for legacies, championing the legacy message internally and with external audiences. For professional advisers, it’s a chance for them to promote to clients and prospects the importance of having an up to date Will.

Lucinda Frostick, Director of Remember A Charity, says: “We’re encouraging charities, professional advisers, campaign partners and others to come together for Remember A Charity Week and use this opportunity to shine a light on the importance of legacies for charities across the country.”

“In the current economic environment, with even more pressure on budgets, prioritising legacy fundraising and securing sufficient resource isn’t always easy. So, this year, we’re providing new resources for charities to use internally, as well as customisable legacy materials that help charities start their own legacy conversations with supporters – and to

build on that momentum and dialogue throughout the year."

Customisable legacy promotion assets

Alongside the new consumer campaign, Remember A Charity is issuing a new suite of customisable digital legacy marketing assets (including social posts, banner ads, posters, bookmarks) ahead of Remember A Charity Week, which member charities can personalise with their own messaging, imagery and branding.

Promotional activity for legacy giving continues throughout the year, with Remember A Charity working to drive conversation and build understanding of the importance of legacy giving among the giving public, government, and professional advisers.

To find out more or take part in Remember A Charity Week (11-17 September 2023), visit www.rememberacharity.org.uk

Seven in 10 firms don’t have cyber insurance

The Law Society is encouraging members to consider purchasing cyber insurance and has developed guidance online which helps members navigate the purchasing process.

Findings from the research also shows:

• Purchasing professional indemnity insurance (PII) has become more difficult since 2018. Though more than half (56%) of firms still said they find it easy, compared to three-quarters (76%) in 2018

• There has been a hard market* for solicitors’ PII since 2018. However, stability appears to be returning

• The level of risk for law firms has increased, due to rises in the amount of conveyancing work and number of fee earners

Law Society

President Lubna Shuja said: “As firms look to renew their insurance for October, our research provides useful information and market analysis.

“We encourage firms to give serious consideration to purchasing cyber insurance.

“Our research shows that just 28% of firms have purchased cyber insurance. This is a small increase from the 21% who bought it in 2018.

“The latest government statistics show that one in 10 businesses (11%) –including a quarter of medium-sized businesses and almost two-fifths of large businesses – experienced cybercrime in the last 12 months.** Considering how much more work is being conducted online post-pandemic, the low take-up is concerning.

“Our research reveals that a third of firms (33%) have thought about purchasing cyber insurance, but did not go on to make a purchase. However, two in five firms (39%) have not even considered it, which is surprising, especially in light of recent regulatory changes.***

“Cyber insurance policies vary in scope and coverage, so it is wise for firms to understand the potential threat and exposure. They need to develop their own risk management strategies.

On purchasing PII, Lubna Shuja said: “Although stability is returning to the market, the process of buying PII has become harder – with more paperwork involved and underwriters showing greater aversion to risk. However, for those firms working in low-risk areas, the percentage increases are likely to be in the low single figures.

“New firms entering the market and firms attempting to switch insurers have faced difficulties because of some underwriters’ imposing minimum prices for premiums.

“We advise firms to start budgeting for increased premiums and perhaps consider premium financing as a way to spread costs through the year. We also recommend firms start the renewal process early; around three months before your renewal date.

“That means that if you are one of the more than 40% of firms who still have the old common renewal date of 1 October, you should have contacted your broker already to start exploring the right cover for your firm.”

On the risk level experienced by firms, Lubna Shuja said: “Law firms are experiencing a greater level of risk in their insurance, which is highest among larger firms. Increases in the amount of conveyancing work and the number

of fee earners have been substantial factors contributing to the growth in perceived risk.

“High staff turnover, larger numbers of fee earners and the amount of conveyancing work carried out could also result in much higher premiums.”

Notes

* A hard market for PII means premium prices rise, underwriting criteria become more stringent and capacity is reduced.

** Read the cybersecurity breaches survey 2023: https://www.gov.uk/government/ statistics/cyber-security-breachessurvey-2023/cyber-security-breachessurvey-2023

*** In 2021, the Solicitors Regulation Authority revised its minimum terms and conditions for solicitors’ PII to make it explicit that any first-party losses (those affecting the firm rather than clients), resulting from cyber attacks or other problems relating to information technology, were excluded from cover.

Read the summary document from the Law Society’s research Latest trends in professional indemnity insurance for law firms: https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/ topics/research/trends-in-professionalindemnity-insurance-for-law-firms-2023

The Law Society last published its PII Survey in 2018. The survey looks at solicitors’ experiences of renewing their professional indemnity insurance. They were carried out to identify areas of difficulty and analyse market trends. Find out more here: https://www.lawsociety. org.uk/topics/research/pii-surveys

Read the Law Society’s cyber insurance guidance: https://www.lawsociety.org. uk/topics/professional-indemnityinsurance/cyber-insurance-for-lawfirms

New research published by the Law Society of England and Wales shows that seven in 10 (72%) of firms have not purchased cyber insurance.

Lubna Shuja

With inflation rising Property owners advised to undertake building valuations

A recent survey, conducted among business owners and commercial property claims managers, found that 43% of commercial properties in the UK are currently underinsured.

insurance companies may also pay out on a pro-rata only basis. This means if they are under-insured by 45%, then any claim will be reduced by the same amount.

Duncan Sutcliffe , Director of insurance

Sutcliffe & Co says "It’s really important that you insure your property for the correct value. You should insure it for what it would cost to rebuild it, otherwise the insurance company may not pay you in the event of a claim."

Size matters

inflation, so the risk of underinsurance is higher” adds Duncan “The cost of labour and building materials is increasing exponentially so you need to get your numbers right, especially if it’s a specialist property.”

“We recommend that a complete RCA is carried out every three years and updates made on an annual basis.” concludes Mike “This will allow for any adjustment to be made, for example if the building is extended and to account for any cost increases.”

Mike Sutton , Director of Commercial Building Surveying at GJS Dillon says “It is for these reasons that we recommend that commercial property owners have a reinstatement costs assessment (RCA). This helps to determine the cost of rebuilding or repairing a property in the event of damage or destruction.”

When buildings are under insured,

The assessment considers factors such as the size and complexity of the building, the material used in its construction, and local building codes and regulations. Without an accurate assessment there is a risk that the property won’t be sufficiently covered in the event of an incident. Features such as landscaping and other outdoor structures also need to be included.

How often should an RCA be carried out?

“We are currently in a period of high

GJS Dillon’s Commercial Building

Surveying team has been involved in an extensive variety of building surveying projects in Worcestershire and the West Midlands. For further information see www.gjsdillon.co.uk

Since 1984, Sutcliffe & Co has been trusted with arranging insurance for many thousands of business and private clients across the UK. For further information see www.sutcliffeinsurance.co.uk

Mike Sutton, Director of Commercial Building Surveying, GJS Dillon and Duncan Sutcliffe, Director, Sutcliffe & Co Insurance

PII Update - Looking ahead to the October renewal season

As we rapidly approach the summer and the halfway point in the 2023 calendar year, I am pleased to advise that there is cause for optimism amongst well-run firms with regards to PII market conditions as we look ahead to the October renewal season.

The vast majority of leading participating insurers have an appetite to actively grow their respective portfolios with the addition of new business. Furthermore, new capacity is set to enter the marketplace before October, meaning firms with a desirable profile are going to have even more insurer options available to them at this year’s renewal.

If we reflect briefly on what happened in the now well-populated recent spring renewal season, although a proportion of insurers did wish to increase rates – albeit more modestly than they have in recent seasons – the majority of insurers’ rates plateaued. This is a reflection of the positive dynamics within the PII marketplace, with more active competition for business. Extended policy periods also returned to availability, albeit in limited number. Nonetheless, this signals a sea change to recent years.

The one slight frustration of the spring renewal season was premium financing, with costs of borrowing increasing throughout the period, largely as a result of macroeconomic factors. Finance providers were also strengthening their due diligence processes, adversely impacting the speed of decision-making and processing of loans. We anticipate that the due diligence process will become even more stringent as we move into the October renewal.

With the likelihood of the emergence of new insurer capacity on the immediate horizon, coupled with an increased appetite among insurers already active in the market, well-run practices can expect a softening in the rates charged come October. What is not yet known, is how diluted rates will become. We also expect extended policy periods to become more readily available, with insurers once again offering the choice of up to 18 months for a portion of their portfolios.

Without wishing to dampen the positive tone of this update, the one caveat to give is that the dilution of rates doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s set to be a dramatic reduction of premiums. For many firms, rising inflation has fuelled an increase in fee income, which will naturally have an impact on the premiums charged by insurers. It does mean, however, that for well-run and successful practices, the cost of PII premiums should not erode profit margins further, as it may well have done at recent renewal periods.

It will be of no surprise that the softening of rates may not positively impact the entire legal profession of England and Wales. This is particularly true of practices that have experienced an adverse claims position, and those that are heavily involved in perceived higher-risk practice areas. Practices should not be complacent, and cannot expect premiums to fall without any effort on their part. I cannot stress the importance in providing your chosen representative(s) with the appropriate evidence to share with the underwriters, in order to justify applying positive price corrections.

To capitalise on the improving insurance market conditions, our recommendation to you would be to commence the renewal process early. Most importantly, take the time to prepare a quality presentation that provides a positive reflection of your practice. As Lockton have advised countless times, this is your shop window for insurers, so use the opportunity wisely. It is prudent to remember that approximately two-thirds of the legal profession of England and Wales renew at the end of September, so you will be vying for the attention of the underwriting teams along with a substantial number of your peers.

Whilst insurers have an increased appetite for business, their underwriting teams will only have a finite amount of time to undertake their risk assessments. With that in mind, make sure your practice stands out from the crowd. Should you have experienced claims, provide a narrative of the situation, along with detail of what measures you have implemented to prevent their repeat. Simply stating that the fee earner responsible for the claims is no longer with your firm, is not necessarily what insurers are looking for.

I encourage you to use this opportunity to help your chosen representative(s) to educate insurers about your firm, what you do, and how you do it. Consider the fact that specialist underwriters are not solicitors, and although they will understand risk and the ramifications of any mistakes, they may not understand the intricacies of your specialism entirely. At the same time, no two practices are identical, so articulate why you are better. As they say, perception is not always the reality – an underwriter could always form an opinion which is incorrect. And once opinions are formed, they are much harder to change.

In terms of timescales, we recommend providing the presentation at least six, but preferably eight weeks in advance of your renewal date. Begin exploring finance options much earlier in the process than you have done so previously, given that the process is longer, and you may need to shop around to get the most favourable terms.

Choose your representative(s) wisely, acknowledging the fact that it would not be advantageous to scatter your presentation across the marketplace, as this may dilute the work that you have done to present your practice in a positive light. There is a possibility that your representative may not be able to reach all of the active participating insurers directly, and this may well result in you not being able to achieve the optimum solution possible for your practice. Before selecting your representative(s), establish which insurers that they can approach directly on your behalf. You will not truly benefit from an improving PII landscape should you inadvertently exclude half of the active participating insurers.

We would welcome an opportunity to canvass the market for all members of Worcestershire Law Society, or provide a second opinion. We have direct access to more active participating insurers than any of our peers, and will have insurer solutions that your current representatives cannot provide for you.

I do hope that you take up this offer, and wish you all the best.

Brian Boehmer, Partner E: brian.boehmer@lockton.com W: www.locktonsolicitors.co.uk

Family Inheritance Mediation

I want to talk today about a particularly difficult problem which mediators are asked to address, namely disputes over family inheritance. The reason they are so difficult is that it’s seldom about the money, or at least about money alone. Underlying many of these disputes are long-held resentments, questions of self-worth, fairness, and questions of the degree of love felt by the deceased. And so often the deceased’s love for their siblings can only be measured – in the perception of their offspring – by the size of their legacies.

Let us take a hypothetical case

The deceased widow was moderately wealthy, leaving two adult siblings, a boy and a girl. Both thought they were equally loved by their mother. The boy had developed a very successful career and was financially comfortable; the girl had stayed at home to look after mother during her long final illness, and was in need of financial support. So when the will was read, the fairly rich boy was left just a few mementos; the girl was left the rest of the sizeable estate.

Why the imbalance? No doubt because mother thought her girl needed the money and deserved a reward for all the care given. But the boy was offended because he thought this showed that Mum didn’t love him as much as his sister, and he suspected that she had put their mother under undue influence to write her will in that way. And then all the old resentments came out: Mum had always loved the girl more than the boy; she got more presents at Christmas, and so on. The girl thought it unfair that the boy was allowed to go to university (and even take an MBA in America) when she was already stuck at home looking after Mum.

Well, this is hypothetical, so I can’t tell you the outcome of the mediation, but you can I’m sure appreciate the challenge. And I have seen these imbalances in several cases. For example, in a farming case one brother worked on the farm for many years on a modest wage, with an understanding he would inherit the farm. The other brother worked abroad, and did very well with his own business. On father’s death, the estate was left to the two sons in equal shares, no doubt to demonstrate his equal love for them. But that left the farming brother with a problem; he had to raise the finance to buy out his wealthy brother’s share of the farm. You see, even doing the right thing can cause friction.

The grandfather clock

This is one of my early mediations. Please forgive me if you’ve heard it before, but it is worth repeating.

Brother and sister hated each other with a passion, for good reason. Sister had left home at 18 to get married and had virtually never returned home to see how Mum was doing. Brother was stuck at home looking after Mum and working locally as a motor mechanic. He was Mum’s carer, and was resentful that he

couldn’t go out with the lads to the pub, get a girlfriend, have a normal life.

When Mum died he went off the rails, went to Thailand and did all the Gary Glitter things: excessive tattoos, drugs, under-age sex. He was resentful at missing a normal lad’s life and his sister despised him for his Thailand activities.

When he came home the passions flared up. He found that his sister had sold Mum’s house (his home) and put all the house contents in storage. So he had lost his home, and she was having to pay storage charges. Not good.

I spent a lot of time in caucus with the two of them, allowing the bile to spill out. The solution was obviously to get the furniture out of storage, so eventually I asked sister if there was anything there which she would like to keep, to remind her of Mum. “Nothing”, she said emphatically. Then I asked brother, and he said he would like to keep the family grandfather clock, which he had wound every night after making Mum’s supper. Sister said he could have it.

This was mediation gold dust; we had found something which one party wanted, and which would cost the other party nothing to give. After that the siblings agreed that all the other contents could be sold or given to charity, and in no time we had full agreement to how Mum’s money should be divided. Magic!

The fourth wife

The deceased, a wealthy property developer, was rather fond of the ladies. He had been married four times, not counting the other female friends.

There were no children involved here, but it was complicated enough.

The problem was that the deceased had written a codicil in favour of his fourth wife, a go-getter whom he married just before going into hospital where he died. The second wife was still in love with the deceased; they had been in partnership as property developers and she had still not agreed a final shareout of the properties. But they had agreed that she could take the family mansion, a very valuable property on the Hamble. And because the property would give her more than a half share of their stock, she had to give the deceased a charge over it. Now, she had no dependents and could not afford to live there, but there was substantial equity. So an equity release scheme was ideal, but the charge permitted no later charges.

Both ladies were stuck; wife two couldn’t afford to release her equity and wife four couldn’t wind up the estate and enjoy her inheritance because of the challenge to the codicil.

I spent a considerable time with wife two, who was very old and frail, and eventually a solution was reached: wife four would remove the inferior charge requirement, wife two would get her equity release, and wife two would pay to wife four a discounted figure against the charge.

Chris Makin

The moral

I often say that in mediation, the parties need a mediator who is more a social worker than a high-powered lawyer or specialist in the subject. The key need is for empathy; the mediator must be a warm human being who gains the trust of the parties, and who takes the trouble to listen to their true needs. That way, a position which the parties can live with may be found.

But with family inheritance disputes, those qualities in the mediator must be there in spades!

Biog: Chris Makin has practised as a forensic accountant and expert witness for 30 years, latterly as Head of Litigation Support at a national firm. He has given expert evidence about 100 times. He also performs expert determinations.

Chris is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants where he has served on the Forensic Committee, and as an ethical counsellor; he is a fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, a fellow of the Academy of Experts where he serves on the Investigations Committee, and a mediator accredited by the Chartered Arbitrators.

He practises as a mediator, from his home in West Yorkshire and

his rooms at 3 Gray’s Inn Square, London WC1R 5AH, telephone 020 7430 0333. He has mediated 100+ cases so far, on a huge range of subjects, with a settlement rate to date of 80%. For more see his website with videos:

www.chrismakin.co.uk chris@chrismakin.co.uk

Meet the Heir Hunter

Danny Curran is the founder and Managing Director of Finders International, an award-winning Probate Genealogy firm. Finders International's main area of business is to trace, identify and locate missing beneficiaries to estates, property and assets all over the world. Danny has now become the spokesperson for the industry with features on The Morning, Forbes and local BBC radio.

the years. We've maintained a very business-like approach. So from being a newcomer to the industry we've reached a point now where we can lead the conversation with the legal profession and make a positive impact, not just for our clients but also for the employees of the company as well.

How do you feel your presence in the media has affected Finders and the Industry?

I think what I want to do is make that relationship with the legal world on a par with lawyers so we can help them and support them in everything we do. It's a very important part I think, it helps with standards, for the lawyers themselves for the world of probate research and to try and make sure that we maintain the standards going into the future.

What is the Finders Culture like?

How did Finders start?

Danny: Finders was set up in 1997, I started as a sole trader, but here we are 25 years later as the largest UK firm in our field.

What do you enjoy most about Finders?

Danny: I think what I enjoy the most about Finders is the fact we can make a difference to many different people's lives. The work we do often surprises people, it's a windfall, pennies from heaven, it's something unexpected and something that can have a really positive impact on them, whether they are due a small amount of money or a large amount of money often it doesn't make any difference.

Aside from the money, there's also, of course, the human story and the fact they're discovering something about their family history often that they never knew.

At Finders, what achievements are you most proud of?

Danny: I think what I'm most proud of with Finders is creating a company with a very positive culture. The fact that we've grown to the size that we have, and maintained our ethics, our standards, bringing and introducing environmental factors to the company. We have got an ISO 14001 Environmental Standards, plus we are living wage employer - all these ethical things are really good to do and if you can do them as an employer it’s a really good feeling.

What’s been most surprising about the journey so far?

Danny:: The most surprising thing about the journey with Finders so far has that we've managed to incorporate and learn from the experiences that have happened to us over

Danny : Finders began filming BBC One's TV series Heir Hunters quite a few years ago, and following on from that, we've really embraced the media conversation around probate research as the stories we have are often very positive and heart-warming. Sometimes it's very bittersweet stories where people find money they're due money from someone they never knew, and would've liked to have known, but I think what's been great is that we've been able to embrace the media stories and create greater standards for the industry at the same time.

What’s next for Finders?

Danny: The goals for the future really are to try and enhance and improve the reputation of the probate research industry. I think we've come a really long way since I started. In 1990 it was very much, a kind of, maverick industry that many lawyers had not even heard of, but now that we're becoming more entrenched in the legal process and we're forming key partnerships with lawyers and others.

Danny: We have an amazing team of people here and we've done so well over the years to maintain a very positive culture, for people to enjoy what they're doing and have some pride in what they're doing. It's not an ordinary job it's a very unusual job and I think we've captured the imagination of not only the public with the media and the TV, but also within our employees who've stayed with us for a long time, they can see the good we're doing and the difference that we're making.

So a huge thank you to everyone who has worked with us over the years and for current staff and all the people who have endured working with me for 20 plus years – a very big thank you!

Finders International have a range of services for both the Private and Public Sectors. For more information visit our website www. findersinternational.co.uk or contact us on freephone 0800 085 8796 or email contact@ findersinternational.co.uk.

Danny Curran