With the latest unemployment figures showing 2.685 million people out of work (the highest since 1994), it is no wonder that HR professionals are finding themselves under increasing pressure as the burden of measures such as cost cutting and changing strategies impact on employees.

The number of cases taken to employment tribunal grew by 44% to just over 218,000 in the 2 years to April 2011 and predictions are that they will continue to rise this year, increasing the burden on businesses and their HR staff.  (The Citizens Advice Bureau has warned that abolishing legal aid for employment advice will actually increase the number of cases that end up at an employment tribunal.)

Issues such as 'working time' accounted for 114,000 of those cases, 'unfair dismissal' 71,000 and 'discrimination' no fewer than 46,000 cases.  No wonder employers are looking for cost effective ways to make sure that their employment law and HR policies and procedures are up to date and appropriate, and that their HR staff have effective support to help them deal with the growing number of issues they face on a daily basis.

'The HR Exchange Doncaster' is Doncaster's newest HR forum and is presented by a dynamic collaboration between leading recruitment consultants, Brewster McBride and niche employment law specialists, Bhayani Bracewell; a unique combination of employment expertise which will ensure that attendees get the very best discussion and guidance available in the region. 

Meetings will be held bi-monthly in a relaxed, round-table format at Brewster McBride's offices in Doncaster, and to make sure that HR managers and professionals get as much as they can out of the forum, taking as little time out of busy schedules as possible, all of the meetings will be held over a light lunch from 12 noon to 2.00pm.  

The forum will tackle legal and practical issues relating to the whole HR life cycle; from recruitment right up to termination, and will include many of the issues that even the most experienced of HR managers find tricky.

Employment law continues to change at a pace, and the forum will give attendees the opportunity to share experiences with peers in various industry sectors and discuss how recent changes such as The Equality Act, The Bribery Act, extended rights for fathers, Agency Worker Regulations and the abolition of the default retirement age has affected them, or how they might be affected in the future.

The forum will be facilitated by award winning employment lawyer Jay Bhayani of Bhayani Bracewell.  Jay has many years' experience of dealing with all aspects of employment law in a wide range of industry sectors from not for profit organisations to large-scale industries.  She is recognised as a leader in her field and is known for her no-nonsense, pragmatic approach to dealing with employment issues. 

Jay and her team of employment experts will be on hand at all of the meetings and will share information and tips that will help HR managers and professionals understand and apply the law in the most practical and effective way possible.

Enhancing your HR knowledge and expertise will certainly help you to contribute to the success of your business, particularly in today's difficult climate - so if that is what you want to doThe HR Exchange Doncaster is exactly where you need to be.