As David Jennings, Managing Director
of Lancashire-based UAP, explains: “A few months ago we decided to
outsource our Health & Safety and Employment Law requirements
and decided to give Mentor a go.” David says he was so impressed
with the service on offer that he signed up immediately: “Early
indications are this is a great investment. It means I can
concentrate on what makes the company money, without having to look
over my shoulder all the time.”
With 22 staff on the payroll, UAP are
importers and distributors of door furniture for the window and
door market in addition to being suppliers of locksmith tools and
ancillary items.
Before the firm took the decision to
subscribe to Mentor, John Cross, Sales Director, also doubled up as
the Health & Safety Officer. He says he found the ever-growing
amount of paperwork and regulations had created a situation where
he was not certain the business was covering all the necessary
areas correctly: “I was delighted when Mentor came on board to
advise us. They have approached the work in a very structured but
sensible way and are very careful about ensuring we don’t get
burdened with paperwork or unnecessary costs.”
Peter Harvey, Mentor Senior Safety,
Health and Environmental Consultant, says UAP already had very
practical Health & Safety management arrangements in place.
He adds: “However, they did need
assistance to ensure they were compliant and demonstrating best
practice. The company’s recent expansion into larger warehouse
facilities introduced an increased level of risk.
“Following the initial work we carried
out, a meeting took place with the firm’s directors. As a result,
UAP has asked Mentor to assist with its Health & Safety
training in 2011.
On the Employment Law side, UAP’s HR
Manager, Wendy Rushton, turned to an online employment law service
in the years before the firm used Mentor.
She explains: “While we found the
contract side of the service good, the advice side relating to
problems was not so good. As we grew, we found we needed
increasingly more advice and we weren’t getting the most effective
service from the online supplier.
“Mentor has been excellent so far and
we know we can turn to them at any time for help and advice. It is
almost like having our own HR department on tap.”
Wendy was delighted to be offered a
dedicated Mentor Employment Law Adviser during a disciplinary
procedure, who provided a single point of contact which she found
extremely helpful.
“As a business owner,” David adds, “I
need to know that our bases are covered to protect the valuable
assets of my business from potentially harmful events. I am
delighted with the service from Mentor so far.”
If
you would like further information on how
NatWest
Mentor
can support your sector please click
here.
For details on
how
NatWest
Mentor could
help your business in situations like this and many
others, contact
us today. If you already subscribe
to Mentor, please call the Advice
Service.
.