AUTOMOTIVE manufacturers in Redditch and Bromsgrove are being offered a helping hand with employment issues, health and safety laws and contract disputes thanks to a pioneering scheme.

Supply chain initiative 'Accelerate' has joined forces with Amery-Parkes Solicitors to provide companies with access to the latest advice on how to achieve legal best practice.

"Manufacturing is slowly beginning to wake up to the consequences of not complying with legal best practice and getting involved in costly and often unproductive litigation exercises," said Vikas Sehdeva, Amery-Parkes solicitor and the driving force behind the project.

"While the desire may be there, the amount of paperwork and sheer volume of new legislation makes it virtually impossible for your everyday MD to get to grips with exactly what measures to take.

"What we are offering is pre-emptive action, whether it be through talking to people on particular concerns, or providing them with a series of awareness raising seminars on breaking issues."

Project manager for Accelerate, Steve Cunnane, added: "It can be simply soul destroying for a management team to see all its hard work wiped out thanks to a lack of knowledge or awareness on current employment, contract or health and safety legislation.

"With this in mind, the launch of our second Specialist Centre will give Bromsgrove and Redditch companies an ideal opportunity to tap into cutting edge pre-emptive advice on a whole host of legal issues and at no expense to themselves."

Accelerate provides a raft of financial and strategic support services to the West Midlands automotive supply chain, including business development and capital equipment grants, networks and supply chain improvement projects.

For more details, call 0121 236 0076.