Recent work
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A tasty strategic challenge at H J Heinzby Employment Law & HR OpsThe desire to 'do a common thing uncommonly well' has always been at the core of the Heinz business since the days of its founder, Henry J. Heinz, whose values remain the foundation of the group today. This approach applies equally to the managing and leading of its own people and indeed the professional support and advice it seeks. Heinz aims to foster an environment of encouraging and empowering creative thinking. It engages with relevant stakeholders including unions to achieve this but remains focused on its objectives. Outset’s Employment Law and Strategic Consulting Teams have been advising H J Heinz on industrial relations issues. This has included support surrounding communications structures for front line managers and advice on handling applications to the Central Arbitration Council by Amicus. “H J Heinz is a dynamic and innovative business. That inevitably involves change which creates its own challenges. The company has worked hard to developed its management culture, reward structure and communications infrastructure to meet these challenges. It deserves the best possible advice on developing structures that engage front line managers and on the handling of its industrial relations” said Outset’s chairman, Jonathan Gauton. H J Heinz Group HR Director Nigel Perry added: “We greatly value the support from Outset. The unique combination of legal expertise and strategic HR understanding has proved itself." |
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Tribunals are less troubling for Brakes Groupby Employment Law & HR OpsWith 7000 committed staff in over 70 locations, the Brakes Group is the UK’s leading supplier to the catering industry. Any business of considerable size will always face employment tribunal claims from ex-employees. Members of Outset’s employment law team have worked with the Brakes Group for almost ten years to reduce and control Brakes exposure to claims and to resolve/defend such claims when they do arise in a cost-effective and commercially sound manner ensuring full risk assessments of the respective merits, costs and principles of each case are addressed early in the process to ensure the best management of legal costs and management time. Sharon Black, Group HR Director, when asked about this issue commented: “Outset’s employment law specialists have always provided clear, concise and practical advice and assistance on tribunal claims. They take the time to consider the wider commercial implications, time concerns and principles involved and always produce sensible, commercially sound advice. They cut to the chase and by doing so keep costs down and customer satisfaction up.” |
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Planning a Planit-sized bonus schemeby Employment Law & HR OpsPlanit offers world class design and manufacturing software for the engineering, woodworking, stone and retail industries. Their solutions are best-in-class within their respective markets and are integral to the success of thousands of companies around the globe, large, medium and small. Outset’s employment law team led by Lorraine Williams, Senior Employment Law Consultant, has advised Planit on several recent employment law issues, including the development, design and implementation strategy for a new group-wide bonus scheme, the drafting and roll-out of revised contracts of employment and revision of post-termination restrictions. Sue Jemmett, Group HR Director commented: “I have worked with Outset’s legal team for the past five years both here and at my former employer. I have always found them to be responsive, available, incisive and friendly. Their legal knowledge and insight is excellent but it is the strength of our working relationship that really makes working with them a successful and enjoyable partnership for me.” |
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Making our mark at Sericolby Employment Law & HR OpsFujifilm Sericol is one of the world's leaders in the development, manufacture and marketing of screen, web and digital printing inks. As a global company Sericol operates in many countries across the world, in places as far afield as Brazil, Poland, Thailand, Australia, as well as of course, the UK. Outset's employment law team lead by Colin Smith and Jonathan Gauton have advised Sericol on all aspects of employment law for many years including, in 2007, a significant restructuring and redundancy programme incorporating the closure of two sites in the UK and the wholesale restructure and refocusing of the UK sales, marketing and technical services functions. This has entailed planning, preparing and implementing a UK wide redundancy and restructure plan with all necessary legal consultation and communications. Malcolm Frier, International HR Director commented: “I have worked with Outset for many years and I have found that they never rest on their laurels and constantly strive to work in partnership with us to ensure that their advice reflects our commercial ethos and approach to human resources and risk management.” |
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Outset are virtually in-house for M-Realby Employment Law & HR OpsM-Real is one of the world's leading paper manufacturers and merchanting groups. However, in 2007 it became necessary to propose and carry out the closure of one of their UK paper mills in Sittingbourne, Kent with the direct loss of over 300 jobs and further knock-on effects for restructuring the M-Real Group in the UK. Outset's complete approach to project managing the process assisted the Sittingbourne Mill Manager, Nick Carter, and Finance Director, Ken White, in the planning and implementation of all aspects of this process ranging from advising on the legal process and trade union negotiations and preparing communications to the staff, media, political interests and local interest groups. When asked about the service and commitment provided by Outset during this process Ken White commented: “We are delighted to have identified a refreshingly creative and responsive legal business that can assist us to meet our own goals that has the added skill of being able to project manage transactions as if they were part of our own team. Put simply, they bring more than just their in-depth legal understanding to bear, they bring commercial awareness and appreciation." |
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Day Lewis plc reacts well to our TUPE adviceby Employment Law & HR Ops
Day Lewis has been pursuing its stated business goal of aggressive growth through acquisitions and organic development. Outset, in conjunction with commercial lawyers Vertex Law, has advised Day Lewis on all employment related aspects of the acquisition of multiple individual pharmacies including all employment law due diligence work, warranties and indemnity negotiation and the extensive TUPE aspects of the multiple acquisitions including the information and consultation requirements and legal risks entailed. During the course of 2007 the Outset and Vertex advised Day Lewis on the acquisition of 31 pharmacies from Alliance Boots plc. Tim Harrington, Commercial Director commented: “I have been impressed by the way Outset’s M&A employment team has dovetailed with our commercial lawyers to deliver a seamless M&A service to us, whilst bringing in-depth employment law and HR knowledge to the table.” |
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Pensions run smoothly for M-Realby Employment Law & HR OpsM-Real is one of Europe’s leading suppliers of paperboard and related services, coated and uncoated fine paper and coated magazine paper. Its market is Europe but its products are sold worldwide. The Outset Group has project managed and advised M-Real on its recent proposals to restructure its UK pension schemes including providing direct legal advice on consultation and employment law aspects and project managing the various legal, actuarial and other professional advisors inextricably linked to such a process. Andrew Harvey, Vice President Human Resources of the M-Real Corporation, commented: “The Outset employment law team were superb and provided a valuable service in terms of legal and strategic input. I was particularly impressed with the ability of their staff to dovetail so seamlessly especially if people were absent and with their ability to project manage so many aspects of this complex process. They were as proactive, friendly and efficient a team of lawyers as I have ever come across." |
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The CIPD sit up and listen!by Employment Law & HR OpsThe Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is the professional body for those involved in the management and development of people. It has 127,000 individual members in the UK. Outset provides the CIPD with lecturers for the CIPD’s training seminars, in particular in the provision of the CIPD’s TUPE and Advanced TUPE courses. When asked about the feedback received about the Outset presenters, Julia Culver of the CIPD commented: “Outset's presenters have consistently received excellent feedback from the delegates on the TUPE courses that we run. Many have commented on the energy and humour that the Outset presenters bring to the subject whilst managing to keep the whole thing focused on the real world application, relevant to HR and business managers.” |
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Parker Steel finds legal strength at Outsetby Employment Law & HR OpsJohn Parker & Son Limited aims to deliver high quality steel products and processing services at a competitive price to customers throughout southern England. It is one of the leading steel stockholders in the south east. Outset has worked with Parkers on a variety of employment law issues over the past 5 years including numerous TUPE transactions, such as the recent transfer of its specific Cut & Bent division to a leading steel fabrication business. Outset’s legal team, lead by Colin Smith, advised on all aspects of the transaction including the legal, human resources and tactical aspects of the transaction and provided all necessary documentation and assistance. Spencer Nye, Finance Director commented: “The advice and support that we received from Outset and, in particular, Colin Smith was first rate. I would recommend Outset and its employment law team to anyone." |
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A ground-breaking solution for a ground-breaking businessby InteractWith 7000 committed staff in over 70 locations, the Brakes Group is the UK’s leading supplier to the catering industry. Group HR Director Sharon Black has faced the challenge common to many dynamic organisations: how do we focus our efforts on transforming and developing the organisation rather than handling transactional work? “So much of the team's time and attention was taken up with day-to-day support to line managers on employee relations queries. The growing complexity of employment law was increasing this tendency" said Sharon. Having worked for sometime on an internal solution, Brakes turned to Outset in 2006 to provide an outsourced solution. Outset, through its Interact team, took over responsibility for direct support to line managers on employee relations issues together with knowledge management support to the HR Team. “Great care has been taken to transition the service as seamlessly as possible. Our team focus on enabling managers by providing professional guidance which is fully reflective of the culture and circumstances of Brakes" adds Outset Relationship Manager, Pat Owens. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Monitoring indicates very high levels of manager satisfaction. To quote typical recent feedback: “I find Interact to be an excellent tool when managing the HR function of the distribution department. With over 110 drivers and admin staff to oversee and the variety of issues that arise, being able to pick up the phone and get an expert's advice in minutes is invaluable. I also find the email follow up an excellent learning tool, again, having an expert's advice on how to handle a situation means that in a similar situation in the future I have a greater knowledge of what action to take and then only have to call Interact to check my planned course of action. 100% positive feedback from me” |
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Outsourced HR is best for Barrettsby Employment Law & HR OpsBarretts Motor Group is a successful multi-site dealer franchise, with a streamlined head office function providing core specialist support services to their dealerships throughout Kent. When assessing their HR needs Paul Barrett, Group CEO, wanted to be able to access cost-effective HR interventions at both the strategic and operational level, without the 'all-year-round' cost of employing an HR Director. Outset’s Outsourced HR Management provides the solution that Paul was looking for: “I get timely access to the HR thinking and advice that I need, as and when the business needs it," said Paul. “Using Outset in this way, ensures that Barretts is one-step ahead of where it needs to be in respect of its employee relations need. We are also confident that our HR practices are best of breed, making us an employer of choice in our sector." Outset’s HR team work alongside its employment lawyers thereby ensuring that all ER advice is up-to-date and legally robust. Working in partnership with Barrett’s line management, our HR business partner ensures that Barretts maximise the added value that their employees bring to the business: recruiting the right people, developing their potential, rewarding their efforts appropriately and retaining their services. |