Business owners to benefit from online seminar on new Bribery Act

Business owners are being urged to protect themselves against falling foul of the imminent Bribery Act by participating in an online training seminar outlining their liabilities under the new law.

Many business owners have raised concerns that they could be prosecuted simply for entertaining their clients – or be forced to put in place time-consuming internal procedures in order to comply with the legislation – but the seminar, which takes place on 14 July, will set the record straight.

Members of the not-for-profit Forum of Private Business who attend can take advantage of an exclusive discount of £20 when booking a place, meaning they pay just £45, excluding VAT.

The Act comes into force on 1 July 2011 and introduces several criminal offences, which the owners and managers of small businesses need to understand in full.

The live, 90-minute seminar will provide answers to the following questions:

What is the purpose of the Act?
What constitutes bribery?
When might corporate hospitality constitute bribery?
What are the new offences introduced by the Act?
How can organisations avoid prosecution under the Act?
If a person is found guilty of bribery, what are the maximum penalties?
What would happen if an organisation was found guilty of not having adequate procedures to prevent bribery?

Who can bring about a prosecution under the Act?
Can organisations be prosecuted if the offence is committed outside the UK?

This seminar, which will be hosted by UK Training Worldwide and feature advice and guidance from Roger Mason, a foremost expert in company law and related legislation, will be interactive with a question and answer session, allowing participants to clarify any specific issues that concern their organisations.

Commenting on the revised guidance to the Act issued by the Government, Mr Mason said: "Good news – Kenneth Clarke says that your day at Wimbledon or Silverstone is safe in most circumstances so long as the corporate hospitality is reasonable and proportionate."

The Forum helps its members to comply with all business-related legislation, including the Bribery Act, through a dedicated 24-hour legal helpline as well as its Practical Employer and Practical Health and Safety guide packages.
The Forum has also been calling for Government and policymakers to minimise the impact regulations have on smaller businesses through its latest campaign, Get Britain Trading.

For more information and to register for the seminar, business owners who are already members of the Forum should visit:

http://www.fpb.org/page/898/The_Impact_of_the_Bribery_Act.htm or call 0845 612 6266.

Business owners who are not yet members of the Forum should sign up online – Introductory membership is free of charge – at http://www.fpb.org/join.asp in order to take advantage of the discounted rate for the seminar.