Hotel Directors Meeting March 2020

Emplaw have provided online demos via webex for the PDA-U and GMB, both have expressed interest, several other Unions will consider subscribing once their current subscription with other providers comes to an end. Unite the Union, the ISU and a number of other non-affiliated Unions currently subscribe, each of which have subscribed for a number of years and positive testimonials are available from both. Following a recent meeting to discuss Win:Win and how to optimise the opportunities, Claire contacted Ian to explore whether the GFTU are interested in purchasing the product / company. Claire is passionate about the product but without additional effort and investment is concerned that it may stagnate. Claire is faced with a number of options, to either walk away, sell the company with goodwill or steer and support others through a period of change. Claire is their family breadwinner at the moment and cannot justify keeping Emplaw going with the current costs / profit and was intending to start to close it down at the end of March prior to the conversation with me, however, she would much rather pass it on to good hands so that it can continue to support and grow the subscribers who rely on it. We were asked if GFTU might have be interested in acquiring the business. Claire has provided a summary of the current level of business, subscribers, contributors and costs and estimates it costs around £1800 - 2000 a month to sustain the product, although it would benefit from more resource to continually improve the content. If she were to sell the business, Claire would only be looking for a small fee to cover copyright and content of around £5000 plus legal transfer costs. However she is open to alternative suggestions, including consultancy support. Claire is very open about information regarding the business and ideally wants to see the Emplaw project continue. Ian, Doug, Oshor and Sarah Wooley from BFAWU have had access to the system in the Autumn and the General Secretaries of Affiliated Trade Unions had a time limited trial in December and January to access and review the service to provide an indication of their likelihood to subscribe to a version (which maybe slightly different depending on the options chosen) – the limited feedback we have had indicates that it is a good product that has value for Unions and a potential wider market. Before the GFTU could make a decision or commitment, in line with Charities Commission guidance it is right and proper to undertake some due-diligence checks to assess the risks and viability for the future. This document has been written to explore these possibilities. Due diligence

The options

1. Emplaw ceases trading.

2. The GFTU take over the product outright, buying the product, goodwill, business copyright and cover the ownership transfer costs.

The GFTU then work with Claire (as a consultant) and other interested parties to develop the product and business further for the benefit of existing users, GFTU Affiliated Unions, the Trade Union and labour movement.