Please contact us if you need any help with these topics and links: 0870 042 7999 / members@fcauk.com

Association of Labour Providers (ALP):
The Gangmasters (Licensing) Act became law at the beginning of July 2004.
The Association of Labour Providers (ALP) is the trade association for labour providers to the food and drink industry.
The ALP acts as a technical centre providing commentary, guidance and advice on all legal and other regulatory developments of relevance to the provision of labour and has developed a software tool to enable businesses to self-audit against the GLA Licence Standards.
The ALP is delighted to be working with the FCA and would be pleased to answer any GLA-related enquiries.

Bat Protection:
The Bat Conservation Trust runs courses aimed at Arborists. Upon completion, you will receive a Lantra Awards attendance certificate. The courses cost £130 and cover the law regarding bats, recognising roosts, and emergency procedures, amongst other topics. There are a number of venues and dates available throughout the year.
To apply for a course, please complete the booking form on the BCT website www.bats.org.uk, in the Training section.
For general training queries or to check level and content of courses, contact Kit Stoner (kstoner@bats.org.uk; 020 7501 3627).
For availability and booking queries, contact Mike Fray (mfray@bats.org.uk; 020 7501 3638).

The Forestry Commission also has a booklet regarding bat and woodland management:
Woodland management for bats: A good practice guide for managing woodlands which strikes a balance between the needs of bats and the diverse objectives of woodland managers.

Further information on bats is available from www.batsandtrees.com.

Bird Nesting Information: Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981: http://www.naturenet.net/law/wca.html

Burning Waste advice and regulations: http://www.defra.gov.uk/Environment/waste/topics/agwaste.htm

Disability Discrimination - 1 October 2004
Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Removal of small employer exemption. Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (amendment) Regulations 2003. Regulations to address employers in leasehold premises, who have a duty to make reasonable adjustments and need to obtain consent from their landlord to make such changes. (posted 21 September 2004 courtesy of Croner Consulting)

Environmental Legislation & Guidelines for Forestry:
For an overview please see: http://www.netregs.gov.uk/netregs/legislation/?lang=_e&region
For more specific information please click on one of the topics listed below:

High Forest and Traditional Coppice - Ground Preparation
Coppice
Forest Tree Nurseries
Growing of Christmas Trees
Manufacture of Wood Products
Timber Treatment
Boilers
Road Transport

Forestry Sector Regulations & Guidelines

Gangmasters Licensing Authority

Grants and Licences
For Grants, Licences & Schemes in England

For Grants, Licences & Schemes in Scotland

For Grants, Licences & Schemes in Wales

National Minimum Wage information & Regulation updates

New National Minimum Wage rates

Regulation Updates

PAWS
Guidance and information kindly provided by The Woodland Trust

The Use of Red Diesel Regulations

Business Development links

ACAS
For advice on preventing and resolving employment dispute issues: http://www.acas.org.uk/

Apprenticeships
Whatever size your business may be, Apprenticeships give you the chance to develop skilled employees. For young people Apprenticeships offer the ideal opportunity to study, gain valuable experience and earn money at the same time.
For further information, application forms for both employers and apprentices and the necessary information packs, visit: www.apprenticeships.org.uk

VAT calculator

General Business start –up advice & guidelines
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/

RSPCA
Contact and Helpline Information: http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RSPCA/Utility/Contact

RSPB
For advice on finding injured birds, nesting seasons and legal advice: http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/faqs/index.asp

Statistics

British Timber Statistics are available on the Forestry Commission website at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/statistics.

Forestry Facts and Figures 2006

UK Wood Production and Trade 2005

Timber Price Indices (to September 2006)

Working in Sweden

Stodafor Report 'Guideline for Managing Storm Damaged Forests' - is now available from www.stodafor.org, or paper copies are available from FCA Head Office. (Posted 18 January 2005)

Swedish Forestry Needs Assistance from Contractors - 75 million cubic meters of windthrow after January storm. Southern Sweden needs as much assistance and harvesting capacity that is possible to muster. Are you interested in coming with harvesting or loggers? Register yourself on the notice board on the Elmia Wood website www.elmia.se/wood. Your details will be posted on the Swedish language version of the website so that interested parties can contact you. (Posted 18 January 2005)

Information about working in Sweden can be found on the Swedish National Board of Trade website at: http://www.kommers.se.

Note from the Swedish Chamber of Commerce (www.swedish-chamber.org.uk). Both the UK and Sweden are members of the EU and, as a result, all EU laws and rules apply. You will not need a Visa and if you are working in Sweden less than three months, you will pay tax in the UK and not in Sweden.