The Golfing Unions of England, Scotland and Wales have jointly-contracted an agreement to provide clubs with free compliance support through specialist golf service providers, The Xact Group.
The English Golf Union (EGU), Scottish Golf Union (SGU) and the Golf Union of Wales (GUW) have combined forces to launch the online service, which is also supported by a dedicated helpline. It offers assistance regarding best practice matters in relation to Health & Safety, Human Resource and Employment Law compliance. The service, known as XactAdvice, is already ‘live’ for all affiliated golf clubs in Scotland and Wales, with the service in Englandto be launched in 2012.
The agreement allows Xact to provide a core support service free of charge to golf clubs. The website includes a comprehensive range of template documents, including all specific risk assessments, policies, contracts, job descriptions and employee handbooks.
It also offers a choice of guidance notes and training modules covering the whole range of a golf club’s activity, providing specific information for clubhouse, greenkeeping, pro shop and kitchen. Golf clubs can also choose to take up additional services provided by Xact and utilise a phone helpline which supports the website.
Keeping up with obligations under Health & Safety and Employment legislation is becoming ever more important but can be time consuming and costly. The Home Unions are all in agreement that in these challenging economic times Xact will provide a vital service for all of a golf club’s needs in this area.
The online service has already been tested by a number of golf club managers who were delighted with both the product and the service. The tool is easy to use and encourages club managers to share the advice and responsibility for these issues among other senior staff.
In addition, over the last three years, Xact have advised the SGU on their own Health & Safety and more recently on Employment Law issues and during that time they have worked with the SGU and the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association (SLGA) to create a bespoke package for golf clubs.
Announcing the combined deal on behalf of the three unions, Andy Salmon, Scottish Golf Development Manager, commented: “We recognise that dealing with Employment Law and Health & Safety issues is a concern and the Unions in each of the three countries are delighted to launch this free service to affiliated clubs in England, Scotland and Wales in conjunction with specialist providers, Xact.”
Maurice Hammond, Managing Director of Xact, added: “We are extremely pleased to be partnering up with the EGU, SGU/SLGA and GUW to promote best practice and compliance in the key areas of Health & Safety and Employment Law for their affiliated clubs.”
The XactAdvice service is currently available to all affiliated clubs inScotlandandWales, with the service also to be available inEnglandin 2012. Each Home Union is working with Xact to inform clubs on how to access this valuable service.
Xact Group www.xactconsulting.co.uk