Update

Member Services

	Business Support Helpline

The IRPC Business Support Helpline has been set up by the FOA to offer its Ordinary members advice and guidance across a broad range of business issues and problems by telephone.

Your member contact will be sent a card with a special scheme number for your organisation which gives you direct access to a designated telephone for the purposes of using the Helpline. During normal business hours it will give you the opportunity to speak to an experienced team of multi-disciplined, highly qualified consultants who can provide immediate solutions to questions on all of the following subjects:-

- Employment and Personnel
- Health & Safety
- Tax and PAYE
- VAT
- Payroll
- Commercial Legal Matters

Naturally, all requests for advice and any advice actually given to a firm by the IRPC would be held by them under the strictest confidentiality and will not be disclosed to any other party, including the FOA, other than in very broad general terms (without identifying any firms). The FOA, in association with IRPC, will review on a quarterly basis the nature of the advice provided to its members which, in turn, will serve as a useful guide to the FOA and, indeed, its Human Resources Committee in determining areas where there may be particular difficulties or where the FOA may be able to provide additional support and information or appropriate lobbying.

We have taken up the service on a trial basis for one year, at the end of which we will be seeking members' views as to its usefulness and reliability and on whether the FOA should continue to take the service on their behalf. However, we would like to hear from any member firm where it is found that the service given has been inappropriate or inaccurate or where the service has, in any way, been found to be inefficient or inadequate.

	HR Forum - 7 October 2002

With the new HR Committee successfully up and running the next HR Forum is scheduled to take place on Monday 7 October (9 am - 11:30 am). Topics to be covered include:-

- FSA Expectations in the area of Staff Recruitment
- Good Practice in Recruiting Staff
- Recruiting for a Position: A Case Study
- Can References ever be Relied Upon?

Further details will be available shortly but if you would like to register your interest please contact Julie Adolphus.