About Us
Mission Statement
“NAPOD provides a service to companies in the Online Divorce and related services industry by helping to establish a favourable working environment, providing a forum for discussion on topical issues, by providing information to assist the members in their business and by helping to raise standards.”
Objectives:
To be a central representative body to put the views of the Online Divorce and related services industry to government departments and agencies, Parliament, European organisations and other relevant sectors.
To be a market information centre, collating and disseminating data on the industry to companies in the trade and outsiders.
To provide commentary, guidance and advice on all legal, taxation and regulatory developments relevant to Online Divorce and related services.
To provide a forum for the exchange of non-competitive information.
To raise standards in the industry.
Membership
Membership of NAPOD is open to individuals and companies in the Online Divorce and related services industry that signify their agreement to abide by NAPOD’s code of practice.
Functions
The principal functions of NAPOD are set out in the objectives. Initially, work will concentrate in the following areas:
To gain acceptance of both the industry and of NAPOD among government departments (in particular the Home Office, the Department of Media, the Department of Trade and Industry and Customs & Excise), the regulatory bodies and the media.
To provide members with all the information they need to help them run their business, including information on legislation, regulations and taxation and also on services, such as insurance, that may be of value to them.
To raise standards in the industry partly by making members aware of outside views of the industry but more importantly through a code of practice that will be progressively strengthened as experience is gained.
The sort of policy issues that NAPOD will deal with include:
- Others
- Governance
NAPOD will be governed by an Executive Committee comprising five elected members.
The Executive Committee, as of 3rd September 2007, comprises:
- Chairman: Mr Peter Thomas LLP
- Secretary: Dr D H Wallis
- Treasurer: Mr Jason Robbins
- Committee Member: Mr Adrian Hill(Quickie Divorce)
- Committee Member: Mr Daniel Morgan (Managed Divorce)
The Steering Committee will be responsible for deciding how members should be elected to the Executive Committee, for example: by region, by type of business or by size of business. Each member will have an equal vote.
The Executive Committee will elect a Chairperson, who may serve for more than two years.
The Secretariat
NAPOD will have a professional secretariat, either an established association management company or a competent individual. The size and nature of the secretariat will depend on the subscription income.
Method of Operation
The association will operate in the main electronically. Information will be provided to members by e-mail. The website (www.napod.org.uk) is operational and applications to join can be made through the website.
The association will endeavour to forge strong relationships with relevant government departments and agencies and other trade bodies, thereby enhancing its ability to provide a value added service to members.
Timing
It is intended that the Association will be fully operational as of 3rd September 2007.
Advisers
The Steering Committee has taken advice from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Trade Association Forum (the central body for trade associations) in deciding to establish the Association and has been advised on the detail of this proposal by a leading trade association consultancy firm. The Association will become a member of the Trade Association Forum. The Association will also be advised by other professionals, still to be nominated.
