Many successful companies throughout the UK understand the real business benefits that can be gained by keeping up to date with the latest law and preparing for future changes.

• Offshore Crane Engineering Limited (OCE) was set up in 1986 and serves major oil and gas companies. The strict regulations that its clients have to adhere to requires the company to meet equally high standards. OCE uses management and technical standards set by the British Standards Institute; these procedures are the basis for compliance in everything the company does. An environmental management system, BS EN ISO 14001, has been used since 1996 to provide a framework for environmental compliance. In 2003, the company implemented an occupational health and safety management system, OHSAS 18001.

The results: Ensuring compliance in health and safety and environmental systems has meant that OCE has increased its client base and has increased its revenue. The number of staff has increased by 70% since 1995. Maintaining these standards, with support from the British Standards Institute makes it easy for OCE to stay compliant and keep winning business.

The Mitre pub and hotel was taken over by Sarah Kelly in 1996 and she set about refurbishing it throughout. An access audit was drawn up with a local architect and plans to improve access were prepared. Accessible toilets were put in the basement and a lift was put in for wheelchair users. Three out of 15 bedrooms were also made accessible for wheelchair users. Such investment, made with the intention of securing more customers, means that The Mitre now complies with the final part of the Disability Discrimination Act, which is fully enforceable from October 2004.

The results: The Mitre has developed as a destination for people with disabilities - the pub is now popular with groups seeking use of an accessible meeting and conference venue - which means increased sales. Using the opportunity of a refurbishment to address accessibility issues has meant that the pub does now not have to spend extra to meet the new regulations.

• 13% of workplaces have had at least one employment tribunal claim made against them over the past decade. Source: CBI, Managing the Compensation Culture: improving case management in the employment tribunal system, 2000
• 27% of employers in tribunal cases relating to sex/race discrimination said they incurred increased staff stress as a result of the tribunal. 12% said they experienced an adverse reputation as an employer and 15% said it damaged workplace relations. Source: Routes to resolution: improving dispute resolution in Britain, Department of Trade and Industry, 2001
• 82% of businesses could name no environmental regulations relating to their industry. Source: NetRegs SME-nvironment 2003 survey.