Guest Writer - Ainsley

The leaves are changing colour, the weather warnings are more frequent and the heating's back on. Yes, it's officially Autumn! We sowed our seeds in Spring, meticulously planning and preparing some fantastic events and now its time to harvest the fruits of our labour.

In Northern Ireland this week we have 106 delegates attending our Mediation event: Resolution Revolution at the La Mon Hotel on Wednesday. Our NI Conference Manager Kerry will be hosting the event, ably assisted by Jayne and Peter G.

In the Republic of Ireland this week we have two events; Equality Law in Ireland Update and Comparative Employment Laws: UK and Ireland. Our ROI Conference Manager Heather will be running these two with a bit of help from Scott, who's chairing the Equality Update.

The other half of Scott (having split himself in 2 this week) will be attending the Equality Commission event: Strengthening Protection for all Ages on Tuesday, as well as meeting with Joe Blair and Nicola Cherry, who will be delivering a role play on dismissing older workers with dignity at this year's Annual Reviews of Employment Law. On Wednesday, Scott will be a speaker at the Resolution Revolution event and on Friday he will be woring from home writing the weekly review of developments email for the NI Email Update Service. He then joins himself back together, packs his hankie and flies to Paris at lunchtime to stay with his sister and her family. Saturday should be a trip to Versailles, followed by Le Louvre on Sunday. Let's hope he returns on Monday more cultured than he will be when he leaves!

Scott's not the only busy one this week. Our CEO, Barry Phillips, also has a busy week this week. He has meetings pretty much all day today and tomorrow. Tomorrow evening he's meeting Becky Hess for dinner. Becky is one of the many speakers we have lined up for the Resolution Revolution including Barry who is opening the event. On Thursday and Friday he is on an ILM coaching course along with Jayne, Kerry, James, Donna and myself.

Jayne is also out and about this week. As well as doing the coaching course and hosting at the Resolution Revolution, Jayne is also attending the Employers for Childcare: Childcare Works Awards at Belfast City Hall with Kerri.

We would also like to welcome the Public Health Agency, who are using the Training Centre tomorrow.

Have a great week.

Guest Writer - Kerry Murphy

The summer has flown in and its hard to believe we're hosting the first events of season two this week. The Legal-Island team have a busy few months ahead in the run up to our Annual Review of Employment Law events in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. 

Staff movements this week:

Our CEO, Barry Phillips, has a busy time of things before taking his long weekend this week. He has internal meetings pretty much all day today. Tomorrow he's meeting Pauline Thompson before heading off for an evening seminar at Queen's University. On Wednesday he's meeting the MD to review the Investors in People report.

Jayne Finlay, MD, has her usual internal meetings then on Friday afternoon is meeting Raymond Bell at our offices to discuss IIP.

James Dyer and Ainsley Hirst will be meeting with Alex Park from Invest NI on Thursday.

I will be hosting our Essentials of Employment Law and  Comparative Law update on Wednesday in the Hilton Hotel Belfast.  On Thursday I will be back at our premises here in Antrim to host our Discipline & Underperformance worshop.

We have the BAAF in the Training Centre on Tuesday, Community Dental on Wednesday and the Northern Trust on Friday.

Here's to a crazy but fun season!

Guest Writer Allison

So, that’s it, the summer of all things Olympian is finally over.  

However, if you set foot on ‘The Island’ you would think it was still in full throes.  We’re jumping through hoops and running the gauntlet as we step up to the Annual Review of Employment Law Conferences mark.

Our CEO Barry is under starter’s orders as he faces a busy week ahead. He has internal meetings pretty much all day today. Tomorrow he's attending a staff engagement seminar at BITC.  Then Wednesday see’s him doing some software training. On Thursday he's brainstorming some rather wonderful new product lines. At the moment his schedule is looking free all Friday but that will no doubt change very quickly.

On Wednesday, our wonderful admin team will be making a presentation to one of Legal-Island’s chosen charities for 2012 –Tiny Life!  You may recall our Family Fun Day that took place in July raised a whopping £1,056.00 for the premature and vulnerable baby charity.  This is the week where we have the pleasure of handing over the money that was raised in their name.

James is busy, busy as he takes a break from his abacus to meet with Jane Barr from Invest NI on Thursday morning.

Our Marketing Maestro, Ainsley will be performing some spectacular mind moves as several staff take an active part in some serious brain storming with John Mckee on Thursday.

I am on Annual Leave this Wednesday, however, I will pop in with BHSF who are holding a Belfast Breakfast Seminar in W5 before enjoying the rest of my day.

Don't forget the Resolution Revolution conference taking place on Wednesday 26th September at La Mon Hotel and Country Club.  If you're only venturing out of the office once this month, this is where you should be going ... places are really scarce so, you'd better be quick!  

Guest Writer Barry Phillips CEO

It's the first week in September - officially the beginning of the “Silly Season”! This is the season in which we go full out here at Legal-Island with one big event after another for the best part of 12 weeks. It's a heads down, third lane (tonne up), take no prisoners kind of thing. Get my drift?

I'm delighted to report that Peter Gilpin has now joined us permanently in the Marketing and Sales department bringing the M&S team up to 5 when Pamela returns. Well done Peter. Great to have you on the Island permanently!

Conference Manager ROI Heather is attending a Volunteer Now lunch on Friday which is on the theme of Time Banking apparently while her northern counterpart Kerry will be attending a Purposeful Leadership course with Toward Consulting on Thursday & Friday.  She will also be chairing the First Thursday Mediation Club on Thursday evening at the Legal-Island Training Centre.

Scott is attending the ST Meeting on Thursday, followed by the Mediation First Thursday Club. On Friday, he, along with Michele Groves of Charis Consultancy Services is delivering training on investigation and discipline/grievance handling to a group of managers at FOLD Housing in Holywood.

I've a busy week of networking ahead. I'm meeting Stuart McClean from Chooboo.com tomorrow. On Wednesday I'm meeting with the guys from Team Solutions. On Thursday I'm attending a meeting of the First Thursday Mediation Club before heading off to an art exhibition at the Waterfront. On Friday I've a day off walking in the Mournes with a friend. Can't wait.

Busy week! Let’s do it!