Contractual Considerations For Students' Unions

Representatives will often find themselves faced with agreements or contracts to sign, including sponsorship, advertising, coaching or marketing.

It is important to be able to identify any potential areas of concern in these documents before entering into them.

Why would a students' union need external advice before entering into a contract with a third party?

In many cases a students' union may be presented with a contract from a third-party supplier, coach or service provider and be told that the document is in a standard form and is not open to negotiation. This can sometimes be true but is often a commercial tactic to avoid the need for negotiation and to ensure that the terms and conditions governing the contract will be those of the third party, and which are likely much more friendly to them than to the union.