Three Problems You’re Probably Facing Right Now
If you’ve been handed a settlement agreement by your employer in Trowbridge, three things are probably happening at once.
First, you’re working to a deadline. Most settlement agreements give you ten calendar days to get legal advice and decide. That’s not long, especially if you weren’t expecting it. Whether you work at Wiltshire Council, Apetito, Danone, or any other Trowbridge employer, that pressure feels the same.
Second, the document itself is hard to read. Settlement agreements are legal contracts. They contain clauses about restrictive covenants, tax indemnities, confidentiality obligations, and waiver of statutory rights. Unless you review these regularly, they’re difficult to decode. Important details sit buried in legal phrasing.
Third, you don’t know if the offer is fair. Your employer has made you a number. But without knowing what others in your position typically receive, and what you might be entitled to if you pursued a claim instead, you can’t objectively evaluate it.
Each of these problems has a clear solution. Here’s how we address them.
Here’s How We Solve Each One
The Deadline Problem → Same-Day Review
Upload your agreement in the morning and we’ll have it reviewed by the afternoon. No office visit required, no waiting days for an appointment. The entire process works by phone, video, and secure upload, so being in Trowbridge is no obstacle.
The Complexity Problem → Plain English Explanation
We go through every clause with you on a 30 to 60 minute phone or video call. We explain what each provision means, what you’re giving up, and what you’re keeping. By the end of that conversation, you’ll understand exactly what you’re being asked to sign. We review settlement agreement clauses like these every day.
The Fairness Problem → Objective Assessment and Negotiation
We assess your offer against what we’d typically expect given your salary, length of service, and circumstances. If the offer looks low, we can negotiate on your behalf. You only pay for negotiation if we actually secure you more money: 20% of the increase, nothing if there’s no increase.
Settlement Agreement Review: Five Steps, Start to Finish
Here’s exactly what happens when you send us your settlement agreement. No surprises, no hidden steps.
Upload Your Agreement
Use our secure upload system or email us directly. You can also call us on 01225 434433 and we’ll walk you through it. We receive your agreement securely and confirm receipt the same day.
We Review Same Day
We check every provision: termination terms, payment structure, tax treatment, restrictive covenants, confidentiality clauses, references, and any other obligations. We assess fair value based on your circumstances.
Phone or Video Consultation
A 30 to 60 minute call where we explain every clause in plain English. We answer your questions, advise on your options, and give you a clear picture of where you stand. If the agreement is fair and you’re happy, we can sign off immediately.
Negotiate If Needed
This step is optional. If we think the offer is below what you should receive, we can negotiate directly with your employer on your behalf. Our fee for negotiation is 20% of any financial increase we achieve. 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 sign the certificate confirming you’ve received independent legal advice. That’s what makes the agreement legally binding and allows your employer to process the payment. The whole thing typically wraps up within 24 to 48 hours.
That’s the full picture. Five steps, no hidden complexity, and the review itself costs you nothing because your employer is required to pay for your independent legal advice.
Same-Day Review
Upload in the morning, reviewed by afternoon. When there’s a deadline, speed matters.
Free to You
Your employer pays £350 to £500+VAT for your advice. You pay nothing for the review and sign-off.
Specialist Expertise
We only do employment law. We review settlement agreements every working day, not occasionally.
Negotiation Available
If the offer is low, we negotiate for you. Fee: 20% of any increase we secure. Nothing if no increase.
Why Choose Us Over a Local Trowbridge Solicitor?
Trowbridge has a number of general practice solicitors, and some may offer to review a settlement agreement if asked. Here’s how that typically compares to using a specialist.
| What Matters | Us (Specialist) | Typical Local Firm |
|---|---|---|
| Experience | Review agreements every day | Handle occasionally |
| Assessment tools | Three unique online tools | Standard review only |
| If settlement fails | Tribunal representation available | Often no tribunal practice |
| Pricing | Transparent (20% of increase only) | Often hourly rates |
| Convenience | Fully remote, phone and video | Usually office visit required |
| Speed | Same-day review standard | May take several days |
The practical difference is straightforward. A general practice solicitor handles settlement agreements as one of many things. We handle them as the main thing. That concentration of experience means we know what good looks like, and we spot problems faster.
Settlement Agreements in Trowbridge: What We See
Trowbridge is Wiltshire’s county town, home to around 37,000 people and some significant employers across the public sector, food manufacturing, healthcare nutrition, and furniture production. Each sector generates settlement agreements for different reasons. Here’s what to expect depending on where you work.
🏛️ Public Sector: Wiltshire Council
Wiltshire’s largest employer, headquartered at County Hall
Wiltshire Council employs thousands across the county, with approximately 1,500 staff based at County Hall in Trowbridge. Following the May 2025 political change, organisational restructuring is a possibility. Local government settlement agreements typically arise around performance management, capability processes, and departmental reorganisations.
Common scenarios:
- Restructuring following political change
- Performance and capability management
- Budget-driven departmental changes
- Senior management exits
🏭 Food Manufacturing: Apetito
Major frozen food producer, HQ on Canal Road
Apetito and its Wiltshire Farm Foods division are headquartered in Trowbridge, producing millions of meals annually for hospitals, care homes, and schools. The company employs around 2,000 people across the UK. Manufacturing environments commonly generate settlements around health and safety issues, shift patterns, and operational restructuring.
Common scenarios:
- Operational restructuring
- Performance and capability issues
- Health and safety related departures
- Shift pattern and working conditions disputes
💊 Healthcare Nutrition: Danone/Nutricia
Global healthcare nutrition, White Horse Business Park
Danone’s Nutricia division operates from White Horse Business Park with over 1,600 UK and Ireland employees. As part of a global group, restructuring decisions made at corporate level can affect Trowbridge staff directly. Settlement agreements in multinational companies tend to involve more complex provisions, particularly around restrictive covenants and confidentiality.
Common scenarios:
- Corporate restructuring from head office
- Senior and middle management exits
- Complex restrictive covenants
- International mobility and relocation issues
🛏️ Furniture Manufacturing: Airsprung Group
UK’s largest bed manufacturer, Canal Road
Founded in Trowbridge in 1871, Airsprung employs approximately 500 to 600 staff across multiple sites. The company underwent a leadership transition in 2024 and continues to operate one of the UK’s largest single-site furniture manufacturing facilities from its Trowbridge base.
Common scenarios:
- Operational and management restructuring
- Production changes and role redundancies
- Workplace disputes
- Redundancy during market fluctuations
🏢 Business Parks and SMEs
White Horse Business Park and wider Trowbridge
Beyond the major employers, Trowbridge has a significant small and medium-sized business community. The 65-acre White Horse Business Park hosts companies including DN Automotive VMS, Meiyume, and Binx. Trowbridge town centre supports retail, professional services, and a growing number of tech businesses and start-ups.
Common scenarios:
- Small business disputes and exits
- Constructive dismissal situations
- Workplace discrimination settlements
- Director and shareholder disagreements
🏥 NHS and Healthcare
Royal United Hospital Bath and local NHS services
Many Trowbridge residents work at the Royal United Hospital in nearby Bath, or for NHS community services across Wiltshire. With the current NHS restructuring, including the abolition of NHS England and ICB cost-cutting, settlement agreements are particularly common in healthcare right now. We understand the specific pressures NHS employees face.
Common scenarios:
- NHS England and ICB restructuring
- Voluntary redundancy schemes
- Performance and capability processes
- Stress-related absences and workplace disputes
Bristol Employment Tribunal: What Trowbridge Employees Need to Know
If your settlement agreement doesn’t work out and you decide to reject it, any unfair dismissal or other employment tribunal claim would be heard at Bristol Employment Tribunal. Here are the practical details you’d need.
Bristol Employment Tribunal
Bristol Civil and Family Justice Centre
2 Redcliff Street, Bristol BS1 6GR
Phone: 0300 323 0196
Email: bristolet@justice.gov.uk
From Trowbridge: Approximately 20 miles. Direct trains from Trowbridge to Bristol Temple Meads (30 to 40 minutes), then a 15-minute walk. Pay and display parking on Redcliff Street; NCP at Redcliffe Parade (BS1 6SW).
Worth knowing: most settlement agreements are reached precisely to avoid the tribunal process. But having a solicitor who can also represent you at tribunal gives you a stronger negotiating position. If your employer knows you have specialist backup, they’re more likely to offer fair terms. We represent clients at Bristol Employment Tribunal on a no win no fee basis if a settlement agreement isn’t right and a claim needs to be pursued instead.
Our Tools: Three Things You Can Do Before You Even Call Us
These tools are available right now, free to use, and they will give you a head start on understanding your position.
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. Think of it as step zero.
Check Your Offer →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.
Calculate Take-Home Pay →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.
Explore the Clauses →These tools represent our investment in helping employees understand their position. Employment law is what we do. No other Trowbridge firm offers anything like them.
Pricing: What You Pay (and What You Don’t)
Here’s how the costs work. No ambiguity, no hidden charges.
Review and Sign-Off
£0 to you
Your employer contributes £350 to £500+VAT. This covers the full review, consultation call, and sign-off certificate. You pay nothing.
Negotiation Service
20% of Increase
Optional. If we negotiate and secure you more money, we take 20% of the increase only. If we don’t get you more, you pay nothing for the negotiation.
Tribunal Backup
No Win No Fee
If the settlement isn’t right and you decide to pursue a tribunal claim instead, we can represent you on a no win no fee basis.
How does the employer contribution work? Under the Employment Rights Act 1996, a settlement agreement is only valid if the employee has received independent legal advice. This means your employer is required to pay for that advice. The typical contribution covers everything: review, consultation, and sign-off. You choose your own solicitor; you’re not limited to whoever your employer suggests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a solicitor based in Trowbridge for settlement agreement advice?
No. Here’s how that works: settlement agreement reviews are conducted remotely in virtually every case. The process is phone call, video call, secure document upload, and email. A Trowbridge office address doesn’t make the advice better; specialist expertise does. We review settlement agreements every working day for employees across the UK, including employees in Trowbridge and the wider Wiltshire area.
How quickly can you review my settlement agreement?
Same day in most cases. The typical sequence: you upload in the morning, we review during the day, and we have the consultation call with you by the afternoon or early evening. If your deadline is tighter than that, call us on 01225 434433 and we’ll prioritise accordingly.
Which Employment Tribunal covers Trowbridge?
Bristol Employment Tribunal covers Trowbridge and the wider Wiltshire area. The tribunal sits at Bristol Civil and Family Justice Centre, 2 Redcliff Street, Bristol BS1 6GR. From Trowbridge, it’s about 20 miles by road or a 30 to 40 minute direct train journey. If your settlement agreement isn’t right and you need to pursue an employment tribunal claim instead, your case would be heard there. We represent clients at Bristol Employment Tribunal regularly.
What if my employer is one of the major Trowbridge companies?
We work with employees from all types of employer, from large multinationals to small local businesses. Whether you work at Wiltshire Council, Apetito, Danone, Airsprung, or a smaller Trowbridge business, the review process is the same and we understand the common settlement patterns in each sector. We regularly handle public sector, manufacturing, and corporate settlement agreements.
Do you visit Trowbridge or have an office here?
No, and here’s why that’s actually an advantage. Settlement agreement reviews don’t require face to face meetings. Everything happens securely by phone, video, and document upload. You don’t need to take time off work, find parking in Trowbridge town centre, or sit in a waiting room. The entire process fits around your schedule, not ours.
What if I work in Trowbridge but live elsewhere (or the reverse)?
It makes no practical difference. Settlement agreement reviews are not location-dependent. Many Trowbridge employees commute from Bath, Frome, Westbury, Bradford-on-Avon, or further afield. We serve employees wherever they are, because the work is done remotely.
Can you negotiate with Trowbridge employers?
Yes. Here’s how that works: if after reviewing your agreement we believe the offer is below what’s fair, we approach your employer directly and negotiate on your behalf. We do this regularly with public sector employers, large corporates, SMEs, and everyone in between. Our negotiation fee is 20% of any increase we secure. If we don’t get you more money, the negotiation costs you nothing.
I’m being made redundant as part of NHS restructuring. Can you help?
Yes. The current NHS England abolition and ICB cost-cutting programme is generating a significant number of voluntary redundancy offers with settlement agreements. If you’ve received one, you’ll need independent legal advice before you can sign. We understand NHS terms and conditions, Agenda for Change provisions, and the specific settlement agreement templates typically used by NHS organisations. Upload your agreement and we’ll review it the same day.
Can I trust remote legal advice for something this important?
Yes. Remote legal advice is the industry standard for settlement agreement work. The quality of the advice depends on specialist expertise, not on whether you sit across a desk from someone. We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA number 566718), we hold professional indemnity insurance, and we have over 15 years’ experience in employment law. The advice you receive is identical in quality to an in-person consultation.
How do I know if my settlement offer is fair?
Two steps. First, use our free Fair Value Estimator to compare your offer against typical ranges. Second, send us the agreement for a full expert review. We’ll assess the financial offer, the terms, and any provisions that might affect you after you leave. Between the tool and the review, you’ll have a clear, objective picture of whether the offer is reasonable.
Related Guides and Services
Complete Settlement Agreement Guide
Everything you need to know: rights, process, tax, negotiation, common pitfalls. The full picture.
Settlement Agreement Negotiation
When to negotiate, how we do it, typical increases, and transparent pricing explained step by step.
Your Settlement Agreement Rights
What rights you give up, what protections you keep, and what your employer can and cannot ask for.
Settlement Agreement Solicitors Bath
Same specialist service for Bath employees, eight miles north of Trowbridge.
Here’s What to Do Next
Step one is free. Upload your settlement agreement or call us. We’ll review it the same day, explain everything clearly, and advise you on your options. Your employer pays for our advice. You pay nothing for the review.
Legal Disclaimer
The information on this page is intended as general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Every settlement agreement is different, and the right course of action depends on your individual circumstances. You should always seek independent legal advice before signing a settlement agreement. Tom Street & Co. Solicitors is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA number 566718). Our professional indemnity insurance is provided in accordance with SRA requirements.
Sources and Further Reading
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. He reviews settlement agreements daily, helping employees understand their rights, negotiate better terms, and move forward with confidence. Tom founded Tom Street & Co with a clear aim: expert employment law advice, transparently priced and accessible to everyone. He is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA number 566718).