Standard Terms and Conditions

1. Jurisdiction

Any Contracts supplied by Stepping Stones for Business Ltd (hereafter referred to as SSFB) are subject to the law of England and Wales.  All disputes arising out of such Contracts shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales.

2.     Quotations and Proposals

Quotations and Proposals are valid for 30 days only.  The Client shall be responsible to SSFB for ensuring the accuracy of the details specified in the Quotation or Proposal.  The Client shall be requested to provide a formal Purchase Order in respect of all accepted Quotations and SSFB reserves the right not to begin work until such Purchase Order is received.

3.     Payment terms

Fixed project charges – Fixed project charges are due for payment 30 days from invoice date.  If payment is not made on the due date, then SSFB reserves the right to charge interest on the amount outstanding at the rate of 2% from the date the monies first become due until the outstanding amount is paid.  The Client shall be liable for all bank charges incurred as a result of payments refused by the bank. In addition, SSFB is entitled, without prejudice and without liability, to cancel or suspend the Contract and/or any other Contract, and/or retain any goods or data belonging to the Client or any third party which SSFB has in its possession or control, pending receipt of payment in full.

Retained charges – Retained charges will be payable by standing order at the beginning of the month to which they apply.

Where applicable, VAT shall be charged at the current rate.

4.     Liability

The Client shall be required to sign acceptance of a quotation or proposal before any consultancy work commences.

Consultancy work on quality and health and safety systems, whether advisory, implementation, project management and/or maintenance of a new or existing system is given in good faith and taking into account standards and legislation relevant at the time of the contract. SSFB shall not accept responsibility for changes to standards and legislation subsequent to or outside the remit of the contract.

The Client shall indemnify SSFB against all actions, proceedings, costs, claims, demands and expenses (including all reasonable legal expenses) whatsoever suffered or incurred by SSFB by reason of the work containing any matter of a defamatory nature of being an infringement of any third party rights, including but not limited to copyright, data protection, patent, design and trademark.

SSFB shall not accept liability for consequential loss, and SSFB shall not be liable to the Client for any act or omission approved by the Client or for any breach of the Contract if such is due to any cause beyond SSFB’s reasonable control.

The Client’s exclusive remedy for damaged or defective work (howsoever caused and including negligence) shall at SSFB’s election, be limited either to the repair or replacement of such work.

5.     Postponement or Cancellation

Postponement or cancellation of visit:

Where visits need to be postponed or cancelled due to circumstances beyond the control of the client, SSFB will accommodate any rescheduling, so far as is reasonably practicable without cost to the client, except where the postponement or cancellation falls within the following timescales:

Postponement:
within 7 working days, 25% of the fee
within 3 working days, 50% of the fee
Cancellation:  less than 20 working days before, 50% of the fee
less than 10 working days before, 100% of the fee

Cancellation of contract:
The contract may be terminated, with or without cause, by either party upon 20 working days prior written notice.  However, the Client shall be liable for all costs and project management time incurred up until that time.

6.     Passing of property and risk

The goods shall be at the Client’s risk as from delivery.  In spite of delivery having been made, ownership of the goods shall not pass from SSFB until:

a)    the Client shall have paid the price plus VAT in full and
b)    no other sums whatsoever shall be due from the Client to SSFB.

7.     Variations in costs

The cost of consultancy work is based upon pre-contract discussions. Additional charges shall be made for ad hoc requests, which are in addition to the agreed work schedule and may be applied when expedited delivery and overtime are required.  SSFB shall advise the Client as soon as these costs are known and obtain approval.

8.     Delivery dates

SSFB shall use its best endeavours to meet the delivery dates required.

9.     Travel costs

Mileage is charged for journeys over and above a 20-mile radius of Goring, Oxfordshire at the current recommended IR rate, unless otherwise stated. Rail fares are charged at cost.

10.  Confidentiality of information

For a period of five years from the date of any Contract or agreed Quotation, both parties shall:

  • not disclose to any third party any confidential information received under the Contract or in association with an agreed Quotation in writing and marked Confidential or if disclosed orally, promptly confirmed in writing and indicated to be confidential, unless first authorised to do so in writing by the other party
  • use the other party’s confidential information only in respect of the subject matter of the Contract or agreed Quotation and for no other purpose

The obligations imposed by the above clauses shall not apply to:

  • information that at the time of disclosure is already a matter of public knowledge
  • information already known to the receiving party at the time of disclosure under the Contract or agreed Quotation
    • information hereafter obtained from a third party having the right to make such a disclosure
    • information independently developed by the employees or consultants of the receiving party.

11.  Copyright

The Client shall acquire the copyright in any written work prepared by SSFB specifically in connection with the Contract on payment of relevant fees outlined in the corresponding Quotation or proposal. This excludes work prepared by third parties such as statutory bodies, photographers, copywriters, and illustrators.

12.  Force majeure

Every effort shall be made by SSFB to carry out the work but its due performance is subject to postponement or cancellation by SSFB as it may find necessary as a result of inability to secure labour, materials or supplies or as a result of any act of God, war, strike, lock out or other industrial dispute, fire, drought, legislation or other cause (whether of the foregoing class or note) beyond SSFB’s control. Any such postponement or cancellation shall be without liability to SSFB or any third part.

13.  Severability

If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is unlawful, void or unenforceable, that provision shall be deemed severable from the remaining provisions and shall not affect their validity and enforceability.

Training Course Terms and Conditions

We understand that sometimes unexpected situations arise that mean that course bookings need to be cancelled or changed. We will do our best to accommodate changes, but regret that the following cancellation fees will apply.

Cancellation Arrangements 

14-28 days prior to the event (Cancellation Fee – 25%) (Transfer fee – 10%)
7-13 days prior to the event (Cancellation Fee – 50%) (Transfer fee – 25%)
6 days or less prior to the event (Cancellation Fee – 100%) (Transfer fee – 50%)
Telephone cancellations can be accepted, but must be confirmed in writing immediately. Substitutions may be made at any time prior to the start of the course.
Stepping Stones for Business (SSFB) reserves the right to cancel at short notice, and postpone or change the content of the course as may be required. If a course is cancelled by SSFB, the full fee will be refunded.