General statement

bquest is a limited company registered in England an subject to English law, carries professional liability insurance relevant to the services it provides, and is registered under the UK Data Protection Act 1999.

As a company that provides business development and coaching services, bquest’s goal is always to help clients achieve their goals and maximise their success, however they define success. We want to form long-term collaborative and productive working partnerships aimed at benefiting our clients. bquest does this by being on the one hand supportive, friendly, trustworthy, discreet and respectful of confidences, encouraging, flexible and available whenever needed but, on the other hand, also by being objective, independent, demanding,  honest and constructively critical.

Agreement

The scope, goals, strategy and fees for development work to be done by bquest with a client, and the respective roles and responsibilities of bquest (and its associates) and the client (and its participating employees) will be set out in an Agreement that is unique to the client.

Further and more specific details of SMART development tasks will be agreed between bquest and each participating employee in the client company in the form of Personal Development Plans and Learning Contracts (samples of these are available on the bquest website); these will form an addendum to the Agreement.

The Agreement will be for a period of one year.

The Agreement will form the contract between bquest and the client, and will be signed by the respective authorised persons – Managing Directors or owners.

Changes to the Agreement

Operational changes in the Agreement, especially in the Personal Development Plans and Learning Contracts  may be negotiated between bquest and the client at any time through the year to address the emerging needs, problems, and changes in the business and other goals of the client and participating employees. (For Cancellation, see below.)

bquest will always endeavour to be flexible to accommodate the other demands on the time of the client and participating employees. The client and participating employees will always endeavour to meet their time and task commitments to bquest as set out in the Agreement and in their Personal Development Plans and Learning Contracts.

Should a participating employee not meet their time and task commitments, and it is agreed between bquest and the client that they will continue beyond the timescale of the Agreement, then bquest reserves the right to charge an additional pro-rata fee.

bquest will keep the client routinely informed of the progress or otherwise of participating employees and changes to their Personal Development Plans and Learning Contracts.

The client will keep bquest informed of any changes in business goals or other problems that might affect participating employees and their progress in their Personal Development Plans and Learning Contracts.

Completion of the Agreement

One month prior to the end of the Agreement, bquest and the client will discuss the options – to extend the Agreement in more or less the same form (see Changes to the Agreement below), to continue the relationship but to adapt the Agreement significantly, or to finish the Agreement as planned.

Invoicing

Invoices will be raised in 4 stages – 30% of the total agreed fee on signing the Agreement, 20% after 4 months, 20% after 8 months and 30% on completion. Payment will be made by the client within 30 days of receiving the invoice.

Cancellation

Cancellation of the outstanding part of an Agreement in progress may be made by bquest or by the client for whatever reason on giving 4 months notice in writing. At the option of the client, bquest will continue to provide agreed services up to the end of the 4 month period. If it is the client who has cancelled an Agreement, the client will pay a fee of 20% of the total Agreement at the end of the 4 month period regardless of whether the client asked bquest to provide services for the period or not.

Conflicts of interest

bquest will take appropriate steps to ensure that neither it nor any of its associates are placed in a position where, in the reasonable opinion of the client, there is or may be an actual conflict, or a potential conflict, between the interests of bquest and its associates and the duties owed to the client under the terms of the Agreement.  bquest will disclose to the client full particulars of any such conflict of interest which may arise.

The client has the right to terminate the Agreement immediately by notice in writing and/or to take such other steps it deems necessary where, in the reasonable opinion of the client, there is or may be an actual conflict, or a potential conflict, between the interests of the bquest and the duties owed to the client under the provisions of the Agreement. The actions of the client pursuant to this clause shall not prejudice or affect any right of action or remedy which shall have accrued or shall thereafter accrue to the client.

Any conflicts of interest between a participating employee and bquest or its associates, or between a participating employee and client management, will be first discussed openly but sensitively with the aim of achieving mutually satisfactory resolution. Where conflicts between a participating employee and bquest or its associates cannot be resolved through discussion, then client management will be asked to determine an appropriate solution. Where conflicts between a participating employee and client management cannot be resolved through discussion, then the client’s procedures for Discipline and Grievance will apply.