The rapid downturn in the economy means company directors are faced with new challenges, possibly on a greater scale and more complex than ever before. Directors are responsible for managing the affairs of a company, identifying risk and ensuring that there is a strategy and a system in place to deal with those risks.

Weak and inadequate management by the directors may contribute to a weak financial performance and can lead to damage to business reputation, adverse media attention and damage to the business itself.

Many of us in the construction industry seem to be hearing the same old bed time story over and over again: A instructs B to do the work; B does the work; A does not pay B; for months the parties dispute the level of payment due; B becomes fed up waiting for payment and takes steps to wind up A.

Is this the most appropriate way to deal with a disputed debt?

The European Commission has proposed measures to protect independent travellers from financial loss if their airline collapses. Current rules provide tourists who book package holidays with protection covering brochure information, rights to cancel without penalty and airline or tour operator insolvency. However, 23% of travellers in the EU now book independently.