‘George Nicolson is always incredibly accessible and responsive, providing high-quality advice on a range of employment and related matters, some quite innovative in nature.’

‘Very responsive team.’

‘Emma Mills is knowledgeable and efficient.’

‘Very collaborative and down to earth team – always able to support/cover during absences so there is a seamless service to the client.’

‘The team we’ve worked with at DWF provide an excellent service. In every instance they have shown a deep understanding of the issues faced and offered excellent tailored advice to the unique set of circumstances of each case. Their responsiveness to queries is superb and the team regularly responds out of hours whenever we’ve needed them to. We would not hesitate to recommend DWF to anybody who is looking for advice on employment practice.’

‘Tim Scott is fantastic, he’s supportive, highly responsive, and always there when we need him including evenings and weekends.’

‘The employment law team at DWF is highly agile and adept at pointing to the right experience in the team at an early stage in a query saving time (and billing). The team shows great collaboration and make connections outside of the employment team readily and appropriately.’

‘Kirsty Rogers spends time understanding each situation. She has worked hard to understand our complicated business and is adept at briefing new team members working on our account. She is generous with her time and knowledge across multiple areas and is a true expert with a really pragmatic, commercial application of her knowledge.’

‘The team is always responsive and demonstrates a very pragmatic approach – no ‘legal speak’. They operate with high degree of transparency around time and fees and are always on hand to give advice when needed.’

‘Tim Scott is what I would describe as an exemplary legal adviser. He is extremely responsive, pragmatic and able to tailor his advice to the specific environment that our business operates in. There are no ‘off the shelf’ solutions with him. He is happy to challenge thinking and approach in a professional manner and is always extremely approachable and personable.’

‘The employment team lead by Tim Scott is exceptional. They work like they are part of our team. They fully understand our industry and our company. They are good at providing practical advice that we can action. I find that they are proactive in managing our cases’

‘The team at DWF is wide, experts in their field, flexible and responsive. They are always on hand and quickly find the right contact to work with – the most professional legal firm I have worked with.’

‘The team at e3 has the ability to deal with complex cases is a pragmatic way.’

‘Simon Ost develops strong client relationships and strives to build an understanding of the organisation to be able to tailor advice to organisational needs.’

‘The expertise and the seniority of the partners mixed with the pragmatic and tailored advise is unrivaled.’

‘Nick Jones is incredibly pragmatic and solutions-oriented with a super way of facilitating options and decisions.’

‘An outstanding employment boutique firm offering top rate advice at an affordable rate. Excellent client care and attention and more responsive than comparable offerings in the Northern Region.’

‘e3 provides personalised service, straight to the point and very commercial. Like an extension to our HR team. Dan and his team are exceptional in the level of support offered.’

‘e3 is a boutique firm that specialises in employment law. The three founders are leading lights in the Northern legal community and present a fearsome team. Their knowledge and ability is exceptional and makes them a go to firm for me.’

‘Dan Bickerstaff has invested so much time in understanding the business, our culture, our colleagues and the challenges our business faces, that he is always on the front foot and able to provide advice and support that is tailor made to our requirements. Dan is one of us, and I couldn’t recommend Dan and e3 highly enough.’

‘The employment team at Hill Dickinson has great knowledge of our business and how we work, and they partner us to deliver pragmatic and commercially-focused solutions to our employment matters. They are very responsive, competitively priced and have built strong relationships with us.’

‘David Parry is a true strategic partner. He knows our business extremely well which enables quick responses to employment matters. Always offers realistic, pragmatic options for us and partners us to reach the best commercial outcome.’

‘This company gives a very personalised professional service, they make a point of getting to know their clients.’

‘The knowledge of Kerstie Skeaping and Caroline Prosser is spot on, we all feel very comfortable and know what help we get is the best, they support us 100 per cent.’

‘They are fully conversant with our organisation and what our business objectives are. They respond to our enquiries extremely quickly even the out of hours ones and provide clear, consistent advice that enables us to deal with any employment issues that arise.’

‘Kerstie Skeaping is the main partner that we deal with at Hill Dickinson and in my opinion she is the best legal representative I have ever worked with. Her drive and tenacity when dealing with an issue is exceptional and her ability to simplify and resolve what are quite complex matters means that she operates on a different level to her peers.’

‘The team at Squire Patton Boggs is our go-to for tribunal litigation. They have incredibly capable junior and mid-level associates (including Alex Kelly and Ciara Petrucci) who we can trust to handle litigation themselves with minimal supervision by partners.’

‘Our partner contact, Bryn Doyle, is a pleasure to work with. He is responsive, knowledgeable and pragmatic, and keeps costs in mind. He doesn’t over-supervise his associates and has built a good team around him.’

‘Notwithstanding that Squire Patton Boggs is an international firm, they are well-positioned as a core player at a local level. Commercial and pragmatic, they have a wealth of knowledge and are particularly strong with their tech platforms – which does set them apart from others.’

‘The employment team at Squire Patton Boggs has continued to provide us with clear and concise legal advice, often having to respond to queries in uncharted areas such as the Covid-19 pandemic. The Squire team takes the time to understand our business so that they are well placed to advise appropriately, and balance legal risk with commercial benefit when advising.’

‘James Pike has excelled at providing robust, commercial-based advice to us during a period of significant volatility for us as an organisation and more widely (driven by the Covid-19 pandemic).’

‘Alison Treliving’s approach to our client relationship has remained incredibly pragmatic and client-focused, and she has demonstrated an ongoing willingness and ability to adapt the service offering to best meet our needs.’

‘Very friendly and normal practice, very accommodating and excellent listeners.’

‘Invest in the relationship and understanding our business and the challenges we face. Always make you feel they have time for you.’

‘What stands out vs. previous firms I have worked with are the following: They know and understand our business well – our culture, our practices and they give clear counsel and adapt their advice on that basis. This means that we have high confidence and trust that their counsel will not only keep us right from a best practice pov, but that it will work practically and culturally in our business. They are client-led, humble and very good at what they do. We are very pleased to have them as our employment advisors.’

‘Ed Cotton is so calm. He has seen it all before. This gives me reassurance that there will be a good solution to problems. He is highly adaptive as well – when you provide more context, he gets it quickly and adapts his advice accordingly, so it always feels pragmatic as well as protecting the business/doing right by an employee. He’s at the top of his game, and his understated confidence is what stands him apart from other partners at other firms.’

‘The people within the TLT employment are brilliant, they understand the culture of our company and nature of our industry to ensure they can tailor their guidance. They always offer commercial advice and the pricing structure is reasonable.’

‘Ed Cotton is an outstanding employment lawyer, we can call him any time of the day and he will always be switched on to offer his services. Ed has an excellent understanding of the complexities of our business and we feel we can always rely on him, whatever the scenario.’

‘I always know that there is someone on hand to answer any query I may have. If my main contact is away, someone else simply picks it up.’

‘Responsive and excellent understanding of the culture and history of our business.’

‘Michael Burns provides expert and very practical advice at very reasonable rates.’

‘We have followed Mike Burns on all of his moves, he understands our business and provides excellent support.’

‘Commercial, solution-driven, practical advice. Genuine focus on understanding and supporting our business to achieve our goals and objectives. Operates as an extension of our in-house teams.’

‘Kate McGough is a diligent and knowledgeable non-contentious employment lawyer with great attention to detail.’

‘The team is extremely responsive to requests for guidance and support. They communicate extremely professionally and nothing appears to be an issue.’

‘The individuals are extremely friendly, approachable, respectful and speak in a way that is clear, concise and not patronizing and at all times remaining professional.’

‘Highly competent, dynamic service delivery, excellent business mindset. The Addleshaw team is great to work with. Plenty of ongoing information and advisory freely accessible on demand.’

‘Kate McGough is hugely client-centric and a trusted advisor. Michael Burns always provides a strategic flair to his expert advice. Great to work with them.’

‘Clear concise advice, timely responses, they are a well-known law firm with good credentials, local and they recommended an approach that matched with our values. Their billing is fully explained which gives comfort and the way they have all collaborated from different teams has been so helpful and reassuring.’

‘I have sought advice and help from many solicitors, but Gateley’s has been different. They have been available for advice very quickly when needed and Chris Thompson has been personally supportive throughout our case. Other members of the team have stepped in where needed and everyone of them has been friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable in their specific field. I do like the way they use language we can understand too. We just feel like we are in very safe hands.’

‘This was my first contact with Gateley’s employment practice but it will not be my last! A very easy firm to deal with.’

‘Chris Thompson provided great service. He was sensitive to the issues of the matter and this was reflected in his drafting and manner on several meetings.’

‘The team has worked with us for many years and therefore is very knowledgeable of the range of queries and disputes we have. Our relationship with the solicitors and partners is one of openness and trust.’

‘The team’s lengthy experience makes them different from their competitors. For me Avril England and Fran Reade are experts and really approachable.’

‘The team really gets to know your business and sector, acting as an extension of our team which has successfully enabled us to deliver significant projects quickly, safely and within the agree timescales. Across the board no matter who you deal with they are responsive, attentive and if they don’t know the answer they’ll get the answer quickly for you.’

‘They make you feel valued as a client and understand you as an individual as well as a business, they want to understand how you like to work and built the relationship around this. This makes JMW stand out from other lawyers I have used previously. Simon Bloch in particular has been particularly helpful in assisting me to execute some very difficult matters acting as a sounding board and confident which was vey helpful to me.’

‘The team adapt to the needs of our business which is fast-paced. They are open and transparent with billing, outlining potential costs.’

‘Simon Bloch and Hannah Beer have provided excellent support and they have an excellent understand of our business and the challenges we are facing. Our industry is fast-paced and Simon and Hannah are very responsive to this.’

‘Always professional and helpful, synergy between departments and an honest overview.’

‘Paul Chamberlain is personable, down-to-earth, professional, honest, and innovative. You are in safe hands with Paul and his team, who have always helped get the job done.’

‘The JMW team is excellent, they are always responsive to our needs. Their knowledge of the law is second to none and they always go the extra mile for us.’

‘This team’s strength is that they have a first class knowledge of our sector. The industry knowledge that they have is nationally is second to none and this helps them get to the nub of issues without fuss. They are quick to respond to our needs and queries and most importantly know how to provide a solution to our queries.’

‘A strong team, particularly focused on the entrepreneurial sector, providing a fantastic service to SME’s and owner-managed businesses in the North West.’

‘Kevin McKenna, Mark McKeating and Sally Bird are all excellent, extremely experienced lawyers. They provide real-world advice, with nous and enthusiasm, and command notable loyalty from their client base.’

‘They are transparent on fees and offer both a monthly retainer to cover day to day HR issues and, where appropriate, fixed fees to deal with matters that become more complex. They have a collaborative approach and take time to get to know key contacts within our business and to understand our commercial objectives and what makes our business tick.’

‘Mark McKeating is our main contact. He is approachable and commercial. He understands our business, responds quickly and offers practical advice – a shrewd operator who has the expertise.’

‘Kevin McKenna leads the team by example and sets its ethos. He is the engine for positive recruitment and collective client-centered drive.’

‘Highly responsive and professional team, giving expert practical advice.’

‘The team are great people to work with.’

‘Great allround team headed by Jo Evans. Experienced, efficient and good value.’

‘Jo Evans is outstanding. She is hugely experienced and has a reassuring client manner. She has built a formidable team.’

‘Myerson’s has a strong employment team with long-established clients and a great reputation. Their lawyers are approachable and pragmatic, and there is a consistently high level of advice given across the team.’

‘Jo Evans is a fantastic head of employment. She gives commercial, pragmatic advice which is reliable. She is a very safe pair of hands and I have no hesitation in recommending her.’

‘The firm in general is very responsive and if somebody is away/unavailable and equally qualified person will be available to deal with a query. The solicitors are all very personable and approachable and have the ability to explain complex legal issues in an accessible and understandable way. The firm has a great portal with lots of documentation and forms available for the everyday management of an HR department.’

‘Both Joanne Henderson and Joanne Evans are stand-out and reliable. I have no hesitation in recommending them to people and am confident they will do a good job. I have never been disappointed. Service approach and value are all high on the list of descriptions I would have for them.’

‘Joanne Henderson is unfailingly dedicated to her clients and makes sure the decisions that she takes with them is the right one in all the circumstances. Incredibly client-focused, but professional in her interactions with others. Her competence is also outstanding as well as her ability to advise across the spectrum of employment law. Jo Evans has built a well-respected team that competes with the city centre firms and is exceptional in her own right.’

‘Jo Henderson was very pragmatic and secured a sensible settlement for the client.’

‘This practice exceeds all expectations and always meets our needs in full. There are a range of specialists available who always deliver exactly what we need.’

‘They are all polite and professional giving first class advice. Jack Harrington merits a specific mention.’

‘The team has an outstanding grasp of UK employment law and adopts a strategic and pragmatic approach to employment law.’

‘Jack Harrington is incredibly knowledgeable about employment law, has a very straightforward approach to handling these matters. He is relaxed, easygoing, an excellent communicator and, for a lawyer, very accessible and responsive to all enquiries (usually within 24 hours). He also has a good sense of humour. We like working with him. We certainly trust Jack and his counsel has served us well.’

‘The main factor in our choice to work with the team was, and still is, the quality and responsiveness in relation to HR law issues, which is the main area of our cooperation, but also the same level of expertise in other areas, such as corporate law and agency agreements etc., all areas that are important to us.’

‘We have worked with Pannone for some years and have always been impressed with their focus on clients, ensuring that there is cover during holidays, sharing of contact information and being up to speed to be able to provide continuity in advice.’

‘Fiona Hamor is the main person we deal with. What makes her stand out is her ability to quickly absorb information and be able to provide detailed and clear advice. She is also quick to respond to requests for information and always makes time for meetings at short notice. The quality of her advice, combined with pragmatic approach and consideration of risk is what SHG values.’

‘The Team at Weightmans is accessible. The service we get is exceptional. The team is very personable as well as professional.’

‘The team knows our sector and T&C’s well. This makes the advisory process efficient.’

‘Pragmatic. They understand the nature of the queries that crop up in the day to day employment environment.’

‘Very extensive knowledge base cut across key areas of employment with a practical insight to our operating environment. HR Rely service is excellent value both in terms of initial response and billing and the accompanying web provision and timely email/blog updates.’

‘Very client-focused and well organised as a team in terms of continuity, access and consistency. Lee Rogers has an outstanding wide-ranging knowledge base and is an action-orientated excellent advocate as well.’

‘Weightmans has experts in every area of law – employment, pensions, criminal, immigration etc. so they are the ‘go to’ solicitor’s firm for our business. The advice is affordable, commercial and meets our business needs each time.’

‘Great team with pragmatic solutions to tricky cases. Excellent technology and reporting on volume litigation.’

‘I genuinely felt Aaron & Partners were fighting for me, for my justice, and they worked incredible hours in order to ensure no stone was left unturned. In particular I want to single out Debbie Coyne. She provided a truly exceptional personal service.’

‘Debbie Coyne and Helen Watson were exceptional in terms of their empathy, and necessary technical learning of my specific industry. Aarons went to considerable lengths to speak with me in order to fully understand my business and the technical nature of it, from which allowed them to legally act with both knowledge and considerable authority helping my legal case considerably. Debbie Coyne needs specific praise, as the workload she provided was not only considerable, but thorough in every aspect, picking up key points, relaying them to all legal persons connected with the case but also relaying the details to us understandable terms.’

‘I have confidence that the team understands the company’s needs and expectations because they have taken time to understand our business.’

‘Person-centered and responsive; advice is clear and risk based; lots of value add-networking and social value at the core of this.’

‘Claire Brook is great to work with.’

‘All members of the Aaron and Partners team are friendly and approachable and talk to you in plain English. They are fantastic at speaking to clients and explaining complicated employment law in a way that is easy to put into practice. They will give you as much or as little support as you require which means that HR professionals can develop and learn throughout the process. The team feels like an extension of our own team. They understand our culture and work with us to find solutions.’

‘They listen to what the client wants and then provide advice in a clear and pragmatic manner. Nothing is too much trouble. They are proactive and look to solve problems before they arise.’

‘The team is responsive and delivers what is agreed without fail. I have never had reason to complain and their knowledge and support is exemplar. They have extensive experience in the field and that expertise is shared appropriately along with sound advice, planning and support.’

‘The team is friendly, professional, reliable and provided support at the right level. They digested information shared with them very well and the resultant advice is pertinent and appropriate. Their experience, manner and approach is second to no one.’

‘The team always act with the client’s best interests in mind. They are very commercially-minded and do not fight cases where it makes little commercial sense to fight whilst remaining mindful of the client’s desires to avoid settling unmeritorious cases. Their knowledge of the law is impeccable and they are able to think strategically about how to progress litigation.’

‘Alex Watson is a master strategist with a no-nonsense approach. His knowledge of the law combined with his intricate attention to detail make for a fantastic combination in a partner. Alex ensures that his client’s overriding needs are met at all times while maintaining a conscious eye on the commercial viability of litigation. His client care is second to none evidenced by the volume of work he secures from heavyweight corporate clients. He is an engaging and very likeable individual who maintains professionalism without ever being stuffy.’

‘The team I deal with is pragmatic, easygoing and to the point with good or bad news and has a vast knowledge of employment law. They understand the business they work with and tailor their advice accordingly.’

‘The individuals I work with know when to see the risk aspect within a large company and commercial balance and when to think outside of the box on some challenging issues. Most importantly you feel part of a team with a professional approach, and sense of humour.’

‘The North West team is extremely hardworking, dedicated and knowledgeable. The briefs excellently prepared and the dedication to the client’s case shines through, without comparison.’

‘Stand-out individuals are David Carmichael and Alex Watson – they both combine tip-top performance with approachability and a down-to-earth quality that can be hard to find.’

‘Fieldfisher are leaders in the employment field. They work extremely collaboratively with clients and counsel alike. There has always been a strong teamwork culture created and maintained. They use technology very effectively to manage cases.’

‘Alex Watson is an excellent lawyer who I cannot rate highly enough. He lives and breathes employment law. He is very practical and client-friendly, but also has first rate analytic skills and understands both the law and its practical application well beyond his PQ years would suggest. He has a strong cross-over into civil employment claims.’

‘Sara Barrett gives excellent employment advice and is always mindful of the context of our organisation. She goes above and beyond the statement of fact to find the best way forward.’

‘Sara Barrett and her employment team are spot on. They are up to date, available, understand what our liabilities are and help us get through some tricky issues with professionalism and pragmatism.‘

‘The team are always on hand to answer any questions we have about employment law in a very timely manner that provides the right solution for the business. They take the time to listen and understand before providing the answer for the right course of action.’

‘SAS Daniels Team Members were exceptional from start to finish. We didn’t have to lift a finger the whole process was seamless.’

‘I couldn’t recommend SAS Daniels highly enough. The staff were responsive, extremely knowledgeable, friendly and very supportive.’

‘On the basis of the service we have received we continue to pass referrals through to SAS Daniels.’

‘SAS are not a massive firm where we as a client are a billing code. Whenever I call or get in touch, they know me / my business. Its one thing getting expert advice but its another when you speak to someone who knows you and your business so the guidance you receive feels more personal.’

‘I mainly deal with Warren Moores. Warren is a true credit to an amazing firm who offer the same values and beliefs that we do to our customers. Warren looks after us. He is extremely intelligent, who knows his area of expertise inside and out.’

‘The team give practical advice on how to deal with varying situation with a best and worse case scenario. They do not dictate what the law says but rather the most appropriate course of action.’

‘Katie Hodson gives clear, tough, no nonsense advice. She is brilliant within her field and much better than HR specialist firms that I have used in the past.’

‘Open-minded, sound and credible advice. Willing to listen to other opinions and offer the best solution based on the faces and circumstances as opposed to what they have done previously.’

‘Emma Morgan and Lauren Bholé are the individuals I’ve had the most interaction with. It’s always a very pleasant yet professional experience where all viewpoints are listened to and the best course of action is arrived at. Always willing to listen to other viewpoints and opinions.’

‘They are excellent at managing complex litigation where successful defence of the proceedings is not the only outcome desired by the client. They are commercially-minded and able to think outside the box to achieve solutions to clients with difficult employees to all parties satisfaction.’

‘Emma Morgan is my main contact and the team around her are professional and provide good quality advice in both a legal and practical manner.’

‘Practical advice rather than quoting what you can’t do. They bring employment law cases to life giving examples of how they might apply and what to look out for in terms of checking our policies.’

‘The Bexley Beaumont employment team is an outstanding, leading set of lawyers who bring the breadth and depth of experience required to ensure success on any case. Bexley Beaumont is a progressive, forward-thinking business, comprised of first class employment practitioners. With a modern business model which encompasses the principles of employment law and equality, diversity and inclusion, Bexley Beaumont has already been the recipient of a number of prestigious accolades.’

‘Louise Carr is a stand-out name within Bexley Beaumont. Louise is a formidable employment lawyer whose clients include many local government employers and big name companies. Louise has an enviable record of success. Her intellect, work ethic and judgement are second to none. A skilled advocate, she is the go-to lawyer for all aspects of employment law.’

‘Bexley Beaumont’s flexibility is the one of the main reasons we work with them. Nothing is ever too much trouble. Plus they are friendly and very accomodating.’

‘Louise Carr is undoubtedly one of the most talented employment lawyers I have ever worked with. Louise manages to balance the legal side with commercial acumen and is able to deliver this in a very simple and straightforward way. She integrates as if she is part of our team and we are in safe hands knowing Louise is on hand. I can’t recommend her enough. Again her flexibility and nature means she will get back to me regardless of the time of day or if she isn’t able to will always let us know when to expect feedback.’

‘Bexley Beaumont are a professional firm from start to finish. They work with us as their client to understand our business and culture and always take this into account when providing advice and guidance.’

‘We have worked with Louise Carr for a number of years and she has always been a true professional and the service we receive from her is second to none. She is flexible and will always make time to work with us if needed even at short notice, she understands our business well and will always take the business into account when working with us.’

‘The team is very versatile in responding to different challenges, i.e. HR concerns, detailed legal matters, TUPE, etc. and always available when we make contact.’

‘Lee Ashwood provides very detailed advice and takes ownership of an issue, allowing me to make informed decisions. His legal knowledge and advice is as good as I have experienced.’

‘Paul Ryman has been fair, frank and helpful since our first meeting and up and including the tribunal. He has gone to great lengths to help me and I would recommend Paul to anyone who, like myself, is in need of help.’

‘It is the staff at gunnercooke that stands out. They are very keen and help deal with issues much faster than most firms I have worked with.’

‘The staff I have dealt with has always been very quick to respond and been very helpful and knowledgeable. They are also very friendly and take an interest in our business. In particular my experience working with Sarah Armstrong has been excellent.’

‘It’s a small, but extremely capable team, with a strong reputation both in the North West and further afield. They are canny and tenacious litigators in employment claims of all kinds, with a particular strength in restrictive covenant work.’

‘Emma Hamnett brings so much to her cases. She is deeply committed. She gives thoughtful and commercial advice. She is an extremely effective negotiator and an excellent strategist, and she works well with counsel.’

‘Emma Hamnett is a breath of fresh air. She is hardworking and genial, but also a great lawyer.’

‘We have required quick, clear, and accurate support/advice – all of which they provide.’

‘Clarke Willmott as a business offers a variety of services to ensure their clients are always up-to-date with legislation.’

‘Emma Hamnett is an asset to Clarke Willmott. True experts and professionals in all that they do. They always give balanced and guided advice to ensure the business is protected and are proactive in their approach; we always feel supported and have a great deal of trust in them.’

‘The team works very well together internally. Although we have one main contact, we can rely on the whole team to understand our needs and situation if we ever need to deal with a different team member.’

‘My loyalty is driven by the strength of their employment practice which provides practical, pragmatic, personal and highly professional support across the entire range of people management issues and whoever you engage with. They are a shining example of a real commitment to creating an inclusive practice and are champions of diversity, equity and belonging.’

‘Laura Welchew is an outstanding member of the team and has been a cornerstone of our legal support for many, many years.’

‘They are very responsive and demonstrate a clear and strong understanding of the issues and challenges which, as a small charity, we face. There is never a sense of us being deprioritised for potentially larger clients.’

‘Laura Welchew particularly stands out. She is very approachable, proactive and always friendly in her approach. Whilst always professional, her advice is accessible, pragmatic and focused. Highly recommended.’

‘Vikki Cunliffe is a highly capable legal professional, who has always provided my organisation with considered and insightful legal advice in a reliable and responsive way, often to tight deadlines sometimes with little or no warning.’

‘Very accessible team, easy and personable to deal with, give sound advice and always responsive/fast turnarounds. Enjoy the style, quality and regularity of their free training and discussion forums – Trowers Tuesdays and others.’

‘ I really enjoy working with Vikki Cunliffe as she is reliable, accessible and has secured some excellent tribunal results for us. Accurate advice is a given, but Vikki offers excellent customer service with it and at associate level, offers good value for the quality of support received.’