NAGY-BAGOLY ARPAD / SHUTTERSTOCK Noticeboard Appeal for help A research student is appealing to trading standards officers for information to help support her study. Julia Jennings, currently completing her final-year as a PhD student at the University of Leicester, is researching rogue traders who incorporate their business to form a one-man company to limit their liability and hide behind the veil of incorporation. Jennings, who used to be involved with the Greater Nottingham Doorstep Crime Partnership at Nottingham Trading Standards, is keento hear about members and readers experiences when dealing with rogue traders who incorporate their business to benefit from limited liability. The governments focus has mainly been on the unscrupulous conduct of people who cold-call consumers homes. However, Jennings suggests that consumers are even more vulnerable to exploitation by small, private limited companies, in which the malfeasant director is also the companys controlling shareholder. By allowing individuals to incorporate their businesses, Jennings believes that UK company law has placed customers dealing with rogue directors in a more vulnerable position, while offering them no commensurate legislative response against those responsible for causing their losses. Her research examines the extent to which consumer law adequately protects consumers interests and provides them with an effective remedy. By exposing any deficiencies in the law, Jennings hopes to identify the potential for reform with a view to closing the gap created by company law. Specific questions include: how effective is consumer law at protecting consumer interests and offering meaningful remedies? Which legislation is most helpful to trading standards officers in dealing with rogue directors of one-man home-repair and improvement (HRI) companies? What proportion of consumer complaints relate to rogue directors/one-man HRI companies compared to unincorporated rogue traders operating in the HRI market? If you have any up-to-date statistics or useful information to direct to Jennings, send her an email at jjenni42@aol.com or call 07824 440246. GOT AN OPINION? We want to hear it. Email tstoday@tsi. org.uk or visit CTSIs forum page to add your voice to the discussion. We reserve the right to edit letters. D O YO U N E E D TR AINING? Are you looking for training for professional qualifications through the Trading Standards Qualification Framework? Do you need an update on the new Consumer Rights Act or maybe you are looking for verifier or assessor training? CTSI is here to support you. Contact CTSIs events team by emailing tsievents@tsi.org.uk or call 01268 886696 to discuss your training requirements. Sara Barry, head of safer communities at Lincolnshire County Council (right), succeeds Christine Heemskerk to become chair of CTSIs Council for one year, starting this month. KEYSTONE / STRINGER / GETTY IMAGES A life remembered CTSI was invited to a farewell party to celebrate the life and times of one of its best-known former presidents, the late Lord Ezra. The event, staged at the Haberdashers Hall, West Smithfield, London, in June, was attended by many guests who knew Lord Ezra from his time with the National Coal Board and as a peer. The institute was represented by Chris Armstrong, a Fellow and former CTSI secretary. Tributes were paid by Lord Steel of Aikwood, the Master of the Haberdashers Livery Company, and Lord Ezras principal private secretary. Lord Ezra, who died on 22 December 2015, aged 96, was CTSI president from January 1987 until June 1991. One memorable moment of his presidency was his inaugural address to CTSI Conference at Blackpool, in June 1987, when he launched the institutes Blueprint for the Future. He called for greater recognition of the role of trading standards, in protecting consumers in a society with ever-growing sales pressures and levels of consumption, as well as promoting the needs and best interests of British business.