Does This Sound Familiar?
You’re called into a meeting. It might be at a small office on Catherine Hill, at the hospital on Enos Way, or at one of the larger employers your commute takes you to in Bath or Bristol. Your manager is there. So is someone from HR. They slide a document across the table and explain that the company is offering you a settlement agreement.
You’re told the offer is generous. You’re told you have a deadline. You’re told your employer will pay for a solicitor to advise you. Then you’re handed a document full of legal terms you’ve never seen before, and sent back to your desk.
If you’re sitting at home in Frome right now, reading through that document and wondering what to do first, you’re in the right place. Here’s exactly how the process works, step by step.
Quick Summary
We’re specialist employment solicitors based right here in Frome, Somerset. We review settlement agreements the same day you send them to us, explain everything in plain English over the phone, and our fees are covered by your employer’s legal contribution (so you pay nothing). If your offer is too low, we can negotiate on your behalf. If the settlement isn’t right for you, we can represent you at Bristol Employment Tribunal on a no win no fee basis instead.
How the Review Works: Five Steps
Here’s the full process from start to finish. Most people complete steps one to three within a single day.
Upload Your Agreement
Use our secure upload system or call us on 01373 486737. Your document reaches us securely, and we begin the review the same day. No office visit needed.
We Review Same Day
We check every clause: termination terms, payment, tax treatment, restrictive covenants, confidentiality provisions, references, and anything else that could affect you. We also calculate whether the financial offer is fair for your situation.
Phone or Video Consultation
A 30 to 60 minute call where we explain every provision in plain English, answer your questions, and advise on your options. If everything looks fair, we can sign off there and then. If there are problems, we talk through strategy.
Negotiate If Needed
This step is optional. If we believe the offer is too low or the terms are unreasonable, we can negotiate directly with your employer on your behalf. Our fee for negotiation is 35% of any financial increase we secure. If we don’t get you more money, you pay nothing for this step.
Sign Off and Complete
Once you’re satisfied with the terms, we provide the formal legal sign-off confirming you’ve received independent advice. This makes the agreement legally binding and allows your employer to process payment. That’s the full picture.
The entire process typically completes within 24 to 48 hours. If you’re working to a tight deadline, we can move faster. Call us on 01373 486737 and let us know.
Same-Day Review
Upload in the morning, reviewed by afternoon. When there’s a deadline, speed matters.
Free to You
Your employer pays our fee (typically £350 to £500+VAT). You pay nothing for the review and sign-off.
Specialist Expertise
We only do employment law. We review settlement agreements every working day, not once in a while.
Negotiation Available
If your offer is too low, we negotiate. Fee: 35% of the increase we secure. No increase means no fee.
Settlement Agreements in Frome: What We See
Frome’s employment landscape is distinctive. With a population of around 28,500 and almost half of working residents commuting to Bath, Bristol, or Wiltshire, settlement agreements here arise from a wide range of employers and sectors. As a firm based in Frome ourselves, we see the patterns clearly.
🏥 Healthcare and NHS
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust & RUH Bath
Frome Community Hospital is part of the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, which employs over 12,500 people across the region. Many Frome residents also work at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. NHS restructuring, including the abolition of NHS England and ICB cost reductions, is generating a significant number of settlement agreements across the health service in 2025 and 2026.
Common situations:
- Voluntary redundancy during restructuring
- Capability and performance management
- Stress-related long-term absence
- Departmental reorganisation
🏛️ Public Sector
Somerset Council & Local Government
Somerset Council declared a financial emergency in November 2023 and needs to find £100 million in savings. As the unitary authority covering Frome since April 2023, its budget pressures are creating restructuring across services. Settlement agreements are a common tool for managing these workforce changes.
Common situations:
- Budget-driven restructuring
- Service consolidation after unitarisation
- Social care workforce changes
- Education and support staff reorganisation
🎨 Creative and Independent Businesses
Frome’s Distinctive Economy
Frome is known nationally for its independent spirit. Over 90% of businesses here employ fewer than 10 people. Settlement agreements from smaller employers can be less formal and sometimes less generous, which is exactly when specialist advice matters most.
Common situations:
- Small business restructuring
- Partnership or director exits
- Workplace disputes in small teams
- Discrimination or grievance resolution
🚂 Commuter Employers
Bath, Bristol & Wiltshire Workplaces
Almost half of Frome’s working population commutes to Bath, Bristol, Warminster, Westbury, or further afield. If your employer is based outside Frome, that doesn’t change anything about how we work. Settlement agreement advice is the same regardless of where your employer is located.
Common situations:
- Unfair dismissal settlements from city employers
- Financial services restructuring (Bath, Bristol)
- University sector reorganisation
- Constructive dismissal situations
Why Choose Us for Your Settlement Agreement
Your employer’s contribution entitles you to independent legal advice. You can choose any solicitor, not just one from a list your employer provides. Here’s how we compare with a typical high street firm.
| Feature | Tom Street & Co | Typical High Street Firm |
|---|---|---|
| Specialism | Employment law only, review agreements daily | General practice, handle settlements occasionally |
| Assessment tools | Three unique tools: eligibility, clause scanner, fair value | Standard service, no specialist tools |
| Tribunal backup | No win no fee representation at Bristol ET | Often no tribunal practice at all |
| Negotiation pricing | 35% of increase only, nothing if no improvement | Typically hourly rates (£200 to £350+/hour) |
| Speed | Same-day review, 24 to 48 hours to complete | Often several days, dependent on workload |
| Location | Head office in Frome, phone/video consultations | Office visit usually required |
Worth knowing: our head office is at Standerwick, just outside Frome. So while everything can be handled by phone and email (and that’s how most clients prefer it), you’re also instructing a firm that genuinely knows the area.
Our Service for Frome Employees
A settlement agreement is a legally binding contract between you and your employer. By signing it, you agree to waive certain employment rights, usually including the right to bring an employment tribunal claim, in exchange for a financial payment and agreed terms for your departure. For the agreement to be valid, you must receive independent legal advice from a qualified solicitor. Your employer is legally required to contribute towards the cost of that advice.
Here’s how that works in practice. Your employer typically provides a contribution of between £350 and £500 plus VAT to cover legal fees. We work within that contribution for the review and sign-off. You pay nothing. The only circumstance where a separate fee arises is if you ask us to negotiate on your behalf, and even then, the fee is 35% of whatever additional money we secure. No increase, no fee.
Because we only practise employment law, we review settlement agreements every working day. We know what fair looks like across different sectors, seniority levels, and circumstances. A general practice solicitor might see one or two settlement agreements a month; we see them daily. That difference in volume translates directly into the quality and speed of advice you receive.
If, having reviewed your agreement, we believe the settlement isn’t the right outcome for you, and that you may have stronger claims against your employer, we can advise on that too. We offer no win no fee representation at Bristol Employment Tribunal, which covers Frome and the wider South West region. So you know exactly where you stand, whatever the outcome of the review.
Three Tools to Help You Before We Even Speak
While you are waiting for your review, these free tools give you an immediate starting point. No other settlement agreement solicitor offers anything like them.
Settlement Agreement Offer Checker
Check whether your settlement offer is fair. Enter your salary, length of service, and the reason for the settlement, and see how your offer compares to typical ranges. The tool also shows your minimum entitlements and the factors that strengthen or weaken your position.
Settlement Agreement Tax Calculator
See what you will actually take home. Not everything in your settlement is tax-free. Our calculator breaks down your offer, showing which payments are exempt, which are taxed as earnings, and how the £30,000 threshold works. Uses current 2025/26 rates.
Settlement Agreement Clause Explainer
Understand what you are signing. Our clause explainer walks through the 10 most common clause types in plain English, showing what is normal and flagging the red flags a solicitor would look for. Read it alongside your agreement before your solicitor review.
These tools represent our investment in helping employees understand their position. Employment law is all we do. These tools reflect that focus.
Pricing: Here’s Exactly What You’ll Pay
No surprises, no hidden costs. Three services, three pricing structures, all clearly explained.
Review and Sign-Off
£0 to you
Your employer contributes £350 to £500 plus VAT. This covers the full review, consultation, and sign-off. You pay nothing at all for this service.
Negotiation Services
35% of increase
Only if we negotiate and secure additional money for you. If we get £5,000 more, you pay £1,750 (35%). If we don’t secure an increase, you pay nothing.
Tribunal Backup
No Win No Fee
If the settlement isn’t right and you need to pursue a tribunal claim instead, we can represent you at Bristol Employment Tribunal on a no win no fee basis. You only pay if we win.
Bristol Employment Tribunal: What Frome Employees Need to Know
If your settlement agreement doesn’t work out and you need to pursue a tribunal claim, your case would be heard at Bristol Employment Tribunal. Here are the details you need.
Bristol Employment Tribunal
Bristol Civil and Family Justice Centre
2 Redcliff Street, Bristol BS1 6GR
Phone: 0117 929 8261 / 0300 323 0196
Email: bristolet@justice.gov.uk
Open: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (phone lines 9am to 4pm)
From Frome, the tribunal is approximately 25 miles by car (around 40 to 50 minutes). By train, travel from Frome to Bristol Temple Meads (changing at Westbury, approximately one hour), then walk 10 minutes north to Redcliff Street. The building has wheelchair access, lift facilities, and hearing loops. Parking is available at NCP and public car parks in central Bristol. If your case proceeds to tribunal, we handle all the preparation and representation, so you know exactly what to expect at each stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a solicitor based in Frome for settlement agreement advice?
We happen to be based in Frome, but you wouldn’t need to choose a local solicitor. Settlement agreement reviews are conducted by phone and email in virtually all cases. What matters is specialist expertise, not a local office address. That said, if it gives you confidence to know your solicitor is down the road, we’re at Standerwick, just outside town.
How quickly can you review my settlement agreement?
Here’s how that works: upload in the morning, and we can typically complete the review and consultation by the afternoon. If you’re working to a tight deadline, call us on 01373 486737 and let us know. We can often accommodate urgent requests.
Which Employment Tribunal covers Frome?
Bristol Employment Tribunal covers Frome and the wider South West. The venue is at Bristol Civil and Family Justice Centre, 2 Redcliff Street, Bristol BS1 6GR. If your settlement agreement isn’t right and you need to pursue an employment tribunal claim, your case would be heard there. We represent clients at Bristol ET regularly.
My employer is based in Bath/Bristol, not Frome. Can you still help?
Yes. Where your employer is based doesn’t affect the advice we provide. Almost half of Frome’s working population commutes to Bath, Bristol, or Wiltshire. We regularly advise Frome residents on settlement agreements from employers across the region.
How do I know if my settlement offer is fair?
Step one: try our Fair Value Estimator for an instant comparison against typical values. Step two: we assess the offer properly during your review, taking into account your salary, length of service, the circumstances of your departure, and the strength of any underlying claims you might have. So you know exactly where you stand.
I work for the NHS in Somerset. Can you help with my settlement?
Yes. We regularly advise NHS employees on settlement agreements. With the current NHS restructuring, including ICB cost reductions and the abolition of NHS England, we’re seeing more settlement agreements from the health service. The process works the same way: your employer covers the cost of our review, and we advise you on whether the terms are fair.
What if my employer only offers a small legal contribution?
Here’s how that works: most employers contribute between £350 and £500 plus VAT, and we work within that contribution for the review and sign-off. If the contribution is unusually low, we’ll discuss options with you. The key point is that you shouldn’t pay out of pocket for the basic review service.
Can I choose my own solicitor, or do I have to use one my employer suggests?
You can choose any solicitor you wish. Your employer may suggest names, but you are under no obligation to use them. In fact, choosing an independent specialist rather than a firm your employer recommends is often a sensible step, as it removes any perception of conflict.
What happens if I don’t want to sign the settlement agreement?
That’s entirely your right. A settlement agreement is voluntary. If, after our review, you decide the terms aren’t acceptable and negotiation hasn’t improved them sufficiently, you can reject the agreement. We can then advise you on alternative options, which may include pursuing a tribunal claim on a no win no fee basis if you have valid grounds.
Are you actually based in Frome?
Yes. Our head office is at Maidsgrove Farm, Standerwick, just outside Frome (BA11 2PY). Tom Street & Co is a Frome-based firm that advises employees across the UK. Most of our settlement agreement work is handled by phone and email because that’s what’s most convenient, but we’re genuinely local.
Related Guides and Services
Complete Settlement Agreement Guide
Everything you need to know: your rights, the process, tax treatment, negotiation, and common pitfalls to avoid.
Settlement Agreement Negotiation
How negotiation works, when it’s worth pursuing, typical increases, and our transparent pricing.
Your Settlement Agreement Rights
What rights you’re waiving, what protections you keep, and what your employer can and cannot ask for.
Settlement Agreement Solicitors Bath
Same specialist service for Bath employees, just 13 miles from Frome. Covering the wider Bath and North East Somerset area.
Here’s What to Do Next
Step one: upload your settlement agreement or call us. Step two: we review it and call you to explain everything. Step three: you decide. The review is free to you, and the whole process usually completes within 24 to 48 hours.
Legal Disclaimer
This page provides general information about settlement agreements and our services for Frome employees. It does not constitute legal advice for your specific situation. Settlement agreements are complex legal documents and the right outcome depends on your individual circumstances. You should obtain independent legal advice before signing any settlement agreement. Tom Street & Co Solicitors is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA number 566718). All legal figures and service descriptions are correct as of March 2026 but may change.
Sources and Further Reading
- Employment Tribunal Offices and Venues (GOV.UK, accessed March 2026)
- Bristol Civil and Family Justice Centre (GOV.UK Courts and Tribunals Finder)
- Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
- Somerset Council
- Frome Town Council
- Employment Rights Act 1996 (Legislation.gov.uk)
Tom Street
Employment Solicitor & Founder, Tom Street & Co
Tom Street is a specialist employment solicitor with over 15 years’ experience advising employees across the UK. Based in Frome, Somerset, he reviews settlement agreements daily, helping employees understand their rights, negotiate better terms, and make informed decisions. Tom founded Tom Street & Co with a clear aim: expert employment law advice, transparently priced and genuinely accessible. He is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA number 566718).