No tears as consultancy wins warehouse contract

Recruitment firm Wills Consultants has completed the recruitment of 49 staff for a new warehouse facility in Sheffield run by online retailer Boohoo.com. The project was run with global engineering company SSI Schaefer, which has Boohoo.com as one of its clients. It had negotiated the contract and called in the Kettering-based company to source workers for the warehouse. First to arrive was the management team to lead recruiting for the less senior roles. “We were delighted to be brought in on this high-profile project,” said Wills Consultants director Simon Wills.

Directors’ liabilities: Know your obligations and act within the law

While becoming a director brings both authority and status, directors have certain obligations and duties, which can lead to personal responsibilities or ‘liabilities’.

If you are a company director, there are certain situations where you may find yourself personally liable for your actions.

Although some directors are lulled into a false sense of security as a result of ‘limited liability’, they should be aware that it is not a ‘one case fits all’ situation, and it is possible for a company director to be held personally liable when a commercial litigation claim is commenced against the company.

The Companies Act

2006 sets out a minimum requirement of competence and experience necessary for any director, including exercising reasonable skill, care and diligence and to act within its constitution and powers. You must also consider any likely long-term consequences of decisions you make and take the interests of your employees into account.

If you take part in illegal acts or you act beyond your powers, you may be sued personally for any losses, including any losses that have resulted from a failure to use sufficient skill and care.

If you allow the company to trade while it is, or is likely to become insolvent, you could also be held personally liable. You must at all times make a clear distinction between your personal interests and those of the company to avoid acting unlawfully.