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Dear Colleagues, I am replying to Linda Edward's message as it raises a number of issues which are of concern to Skill. I will try to clear up the confusion, but will ask Sophie Corlett, who most of you know is Skill's Assistant Director and has reponsibility for HE work and the Higher Education and Disability Guide, to reply in more detail on her return from holiday next week. Higher Education and Disability This guide is aimed at A level students with disabilities to help inform them about the process of applying to higher education establishments. It is published by Hobsons in conjunction with Skill and CRAC. The 1997 guide is still in print and will remain the reference guide for 1997/1998. Skill may produce an in-house update, Sophie has the details of the current position. The next full version is expected to be published with Hobsons for 1998/99 and you will be contacted about that in Spring 1998. Your existing advertisements and listings are therefore bought and paid for and the 1997 edition will continue to be used as the reference guide until the next edition in 1998/99. Yes we do get some financial support out of it but more importantly Hobsons distribute it free to all schools and colleges, which means that the availability of Skill's services and particularly the information service are publicised far more widely that we ever afford ourselves. As our main aim is to get information to students this is a very valuable opportunity. Equal Opportunities Casebook for disabled graduates This is the only other Hobsons publication with which Skill has any input. It is aimed at graduates looking for their first job opportunity and is produced by Hobsons in conjuntion with the Employers' Forum on Disability. Skill provides regular articles and provides policy input on the issues each year. There is no financial arrangement between Skill and Hobsons. The Casebook is sent free to students who register with Hobsons usually through the university careers service. Other Hobsons titles I am unaware of other titles Hobsons are publishing this summer but none of them are in support of Skill in financial terms. It is therefore very important we are kept informed of sales techniques which might amount to mis-selling and I can understand Linda's concern. Please let me know if you are approached in the way Linda describes, i.e. suggesting Skill will benefit from the cost of advertising. Clearly it is a commercial decision for you if you want to advertise in a range of publications I will contact Linda directly for the details of the conversation Please, please do contact us directly if you have any concerns or worries over third party contacts which use Skills name. regards Barbara Waters Deputy Director %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%