Sussex Business Awards Winner Extends Its Support for the Business Community

Martin Searle solicitors, winners of the Sussex Business in the Community Award 2010, has teamed up with The Business Community Partnership (BCP) to offer employment law training for employers across Sussex. This extends the work the firm has been doing with BCP over the last two years training community and voluntary sector employers and delivering pro bono expert employment law advice as part of BCP’s Skills Exchange programme.

Employment law specialist Marsha Thompson, who manages the relationship with BCP on behalf of Martin Searle solicitors, explains: “We’ve been working with BCP for two years and have trained about 18 third-sector managers and supported 12 organisations with employment law advice in that time. We’ve always believed the community and voluntary sector can benefit by sharing insights and learning with other employers in the business community and we’re really looking forward to the new series of employment law training workshops.”

Judith Cousin, CEO of BCP, said: “Our Skills Exchange Network is about creating a network of organisations that support each other by sharing skills and knowledge to create sustainable organisations and develop workplace skills across all sectors. martin searle solicitors has contributed significantly and made a tangible difference to organisations we support. Skills Exchange surgeries and workshops are open to businesses, and community and voluntary organisations and are being expanded to cover Crawley and Gatwick as well as Brighton and Hove.”

The 2011 programme started with Martin Searle Solicitors’ workshop on 25 January 2011 in Crawley on Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures, followed by a workshop on Pregnancy and Maternity on 2 February 2011 in Brighton & Hove. The workshops cost from £35 for BCP members and from £70 for non-members (dependent on organisation size). For full details go to www.ms-solicitors.co.uk. To book contact bookings@bhbcp.org.uk.

As well as co-hosting the training programme, martin searle solicitors will continue to support BCP through one-to-one surgeries on all aspects of employment law. These will be available in Brighton and Hove and Crawley. The first is in Crawley on 24 February 2011. Email bookings@bhbcp.org.uk for details.

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