SGB helpline
Harper Macleod manages the legal expert resource helpline for Sport Governing Bodies (SGBs) supported by sportscotland.
Overview
Helpline and useful documents
SGBs receive one hour’s free advice under Harper Macleod’s colleague down the corridor service. If a query is likely to exceed that time, Harper Macleod submits an escalation to sportscotland for approval and we may ask you for further information in order to submit an escalation.
The escalation provides sportscotland with an overview of the legal support requested by the SGB and the work to be undertaken by Harper Macleod. There is no requirement for SGBs to seek approval of your sportscotland Partnership Manager prior to contacting the legal helpline. However, often where Harper Macleod informs you that an escalation is required, we recommend that you liaise with your Partnership Manager so they are aware of the matter.
Once sportscotland has approved Harper Macleod’s escalation, you will be informed by your Harper Macleod contact who will commence the requested work.
Our legal helpline is managed by Bruce Caldow.
Key contacts
Updates
Important updates
Data Protection and Freedom of Information Legal Update
Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land – Implications for Unincorporated Associations
Golfers v the PGA European Tour: Participation in LIV – out of bounds
Exploring IR35 and tax status in sport
Brand protection in sport: knowing when to take action, and when not to
Employee burnout: causes, costs and cures
Can a slogan be registered as a trade mark?
Luxury brands take significant steps forward in anti-counterfeiting
Is the UK edging closer to a four-day working week?
Employees going through the menopause – what should SGBs be mindful of?
Alcohol advertising and promotion
What an SGB can do if an employee is absent without notice?
Priority visa processing reintroduced
Focus on Equality & Discrimination
Does your sports club hold any property “in trust”?
Being Fraud Aware
Data Protection and Freedom of Information Legal Update
June 2024
Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land – Implications for Unincorporated Associations
September 2023
Golfers v the PGA European Tour: Participation in LIV – out of bounds
June 2023
Exploring IR35 and tax status in sport
June 2023
Brand protection in sport: knowing when to take action, and when not to
April 2023
Employee burnout: causes, costs and cures
March 2023
Can a slogan be registered as a trade mark?
March 2023
Luxury brands take significant steps forward in anti-counterfeiting
March 2023
Is the UK edging closer to a four-day working week?
February 2023
Employees going through the menopause – what should SGBs be mindful of?
February 2023
Alcohol advertising and promotion
January 2023
The Scottish Government is currently consulting on proposed changes to the advertising and promotion of alcohol. The proposals include the end or significant restriction of alcohol promotion in both traditional print and online media, TV and radio advertising and sports sponsorship. As well as affecting media revenue streams, this could have a significant impact on sports teams at all levels that rely on sponsorship income. Retailers could be also forced to renovate their shop premises to re-merchandise alcohol in specific areas. As a result, licensing authorities could face a large volume of applications to change licence layout plans.
The consultation runs until March, meaning the earliest a Bill might appear is the autumn session of the Scottish Parliament. Although this might mean that there is not direct impact until late 2023 or early 2024, businesses and organisations that may be affected may consider it wise to contribute to the consultation to ensure their views are properly heard.
Contact our head of licensing Andrew Hunter for more information.
What an SGB can do if an employee is absent without notice?
Update September 2022
Priority visa processing reintroduced
Update September 2022
Focus on Equality & Discrimination
Update September 2022
Does your sports club hold any property “in trust”?
Update August 2022
Being Fraud Aware
Update January 2022
Several sports clubs and organisations, as with many businesses, have recently been the target of a convincing scamming campaign. Club treasurers received emails from what appeared to be their individual club presidents, asking for a payment to be sent to specific bank details.
Most who received the email followed this up by checking with the president or another official, before making any payment, which alerted them to the fact that it was a scam. However, it was particularly convincing and unfortunately a couple of clubs were caught out.
This is a serious issue affecting businesses and organisations across a variety of sectors. Scamming campaigns are becoming increasingly common and more difficult to spot.
Police Scotland has posted helpful advice that should be circulated around your business and highlights key points to consider and what to look out for to avoid becoming a victim of fraud.
Additionally, it is very important to follow your bank’s specific guidance on how best to avoid being scammed. This is crucial because, if in the unfortunate case you are caught out and lose money, if you have followed all bank promoted guidance it is more likely that the bank will provide a reimbursement and the losses are recovered.
This is an issue that is rapidly changing and becoming more and more prevalent. It is very important that all organisations are live to the most recent types of scams and the most up to date guidance for how best to spot and avoid.
Useful Links:
Briefing
Briefing papers
Data protection
Overview
| Subject access requests – FAQs | Nov 23 | DOWNLOAD |
| Subject access requests training webinar | Nov 23 | WATCH NOW |
| What happens to my digital profiles when I die? | Sept 22 | DOWNLOAD |
| Data protection reform proposals | Aug 22 | DOWNLOAD |
| GDPR Developments | May 19 | DOWNLOAD |
| GDPR FAQs | Oct 18 | DOWNLOAD |
| Data Protection for Sports Governing Bodies | Mar 18 | DOWNLOAD |
| Key Changes under the GDPR for Clubs | Mar 18 | DOWNLOAD |
| Using the Data Processing Templates (Clubs) | Mar 18 | DOWNLOAD |
| Using the Data Processing Templates (SGBs) | Dec 17 | DOWNLOAD |
| Key Changes under the GDPR for SGBs | Dec 17 | DOWNLOAD |
Safeguarding / Investigations
Overview
Corporate governance
Overview
Employment
Guides
Guides
Data protection
Guide
| Data Protection for Sports Governing Bodies – An Introductory Guide |
Jul 17 | DOWNLOAD |
Equality
Guides
Corporate governance
Guide
Hybrid working
Update
| Scottish Government’s guidance for office working now published | Jan 22 | DOWNLOAD |
Templates
Templates
Data protection
Templates
| Clubs Privacy Notice Wording | Mar 22 | DOWNLOAD |
| Clubs Privacy Notice Wording for Employees | Mar 22 | DOWNLOAD |
| Clubs Data Processing Agreement | Mar 22 | DOWNLOAD |
| Example Data Processing Clauses for Clubs | Mar 22 | DOWNLOAD |
| Example Privacy Notice for Club Members | Mar 22 | DOWNLOAD |
| SGB template Data Processing Agreement | Mar 22 | DOWNLOAD |
| Example Data Processing Clauses for SGBs | Mar 22 | DOWNLOAD |
| Example Privacy Notice for SGB Members | Mar 22 | DOWNLOAD |
| SGB Privacy Notice Wording | Mar 22 | DOWNLOAD |
| SGB Privacy Notice Wording for Employees | Mar 22 | DOWNLOAD |
| Data Protection Policy | Jun 20 | DOWNLOAD |
Safeguarding / Investigations
Templates
Corporate governance
ARTICLES
Articles of interest
Do you know your NFT’s?
January 2023
In this article, Jamie Watt explains everything about Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs), how to buy one, how to monetize your Intellectual Property through NFTs, and the trademark issues associated with them.
Competition law & sport
January 2023
Court of Justice of the European Union delivers significant opinions for sporting competitions.
Short Pay?
June 2019
Sport briefing: deductions from pay for the purchase of season tickets by employees have been held not to infringe the national minimum wage legislation, though only one of the arguments succeeded.
The Journal
Videos
Training
Documents
Useful documents
Guides
Links to documents
Equality
| Positive Action in Sport – breaking down barriers and promoting sport to all | Nov 16 | DOWNLOAD |
| Equalities Issues in Sport – An introductory guide for Governing Bodies | May 16 | DOWNLOAD |
Corporate governance
| Legal Awareness Register – Guide to legislation and codes applicable for SGBs and monitoring legal risk | Nov 16 | DOWNLOAD |
COVID-19
Coronavirus updates
Data Protection
Updates
| What clubs need to know about coronavirus and data protection | 18 Mar 20 | DOWNLOAD |
Employer obligations
Updates
| Employers obligations | 19 Mar 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| 10 key legal points for employers due to coronavirus school closures |
19 Mar 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Emergency volunteer leave | 26 Mar 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Holidays | 26 Mar 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Home working guidance | 26 Mar 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Coronavirus job retention scheme (CSJR) & Furloughed Workers (FW) |
27 Mar 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Protection for self employed and free lancers | 27 Mar 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Employment frequently asked questions (FAQs) | 1 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Supporting employees | 3 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Supporting employees and self employed coaches | 3 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Right to work checks | 3 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Changes to working time regulations | 3 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Furlough – grant funding | 6 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Further guidance: Coronavirus job retention scheme (CSJR) & Furloughed Workers (FW) |
6 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Latest Coronavirus job retention scheme update 8 April |
8 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Latest Coronavirus job retention scheme update 14 April |
14 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Latest Coronavirus job retention scheme update 17 April |
17 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Coronavirus job retention scheme now live | 20 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Working safely during and after the pandemic | 20 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Coronavirus: New restrictions on workplaces | 22 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Further guidance – Coronavirus job retention scheme (CSJR) | 30 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| HM Government announces ‘COVID Secure’ Guidance to businesses – Offices & Contact Centres |
13 May 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Coronavirus: Updated Treasury Directions for Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme |
26 May 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Coronavirus: Scottish Government announces Test and Protect advice for employers |
27 May 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Chancellor announces changes to Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme from July | 29 May 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Latest Coronavirus job retention scheme update 15 June |
15 Jun 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Latest Coronavirus job retention scheme update – flexible furlough scheme now live |
1 Jul 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| New Jobs Support Scheme to replace Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme |
24 Sep 20 | DOWNLOAD |
Financial support
Updates
| How to access government financial support | 19 Mar 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Business support information from the Scottish Government including property information | 20 Mar 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Insurance Implications | 26 Mar 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Business awareness – court system | 8 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| In tense times, tensions and disputes can arise. What are the options? |
22 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Business Awareness – update on court system | 30 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
General meetings
Property issues
Sports events
Sports related issues
Updates
| Conduct in sport matters | 26 Mar 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Safeguarding and disclosure checks | 26 Mar 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Sport club guidance | 27 Mar 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Anti-doping during the pandemic | 20 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Guidance on the phased return of sport and recreation | 18 May 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Government announces further restrictions on sport, exercise and leisure |
12 Oct 20 | DOWNLOAD |
Articles
Insights
Alcohol advertising in Scotland – an uncertain future
Insights
Maternity entitlements and self-employment – what’s the difference?
Insights
UK Government announces raft of employment law proposals
Insights
A lease by any other name will still be a lease
Insights
Brand protection in sport: knowing when to take action, and when not to
Insights
What happens to employees when a company goes into administration?
Insights
Golfers v the PGA European Tour: Participation in LIV – out of bound
Insights
Exploring IR35 and tax status in sport
CONTACT US
SGBs can access the helpine by completing the form below or calling 0141 227 9333.