Membership

For enquiries concerning RIPTA itself, or for advice on becoming a member, please write to the Administrator directly at philip.armitage@euroturfgrass.co.uk

Criteria

• • Consultants must hold a recognised first degree or MSc in plant or earth science.
  • Consultants’ recent experience must include at least four years’ post-graduate experience as a full-time, independent turfgrass agronomist.
  • Consultants must have no association or understanding however informal with any commercial organisation that could influence his or her independence. Any such association or understanding within the last four years will make a Consultant ineligible unless the Register Administrator determines a majority of those on the list wish this requirement to be waived in a particular case.
  • Consultants or their employer must have and maintain insurance including Professional Indemnity insurance that satisfies the requirements of the Register Administrator. These requirements may change from time to time after consultation with those on the Register. On request, Consultants will provide evidence of cover and details of all claims made whether or not they were successful.
  • Consultants’ other business activities will not conflict with their ability to provide advice and Consultants with other business interests need to show the major part of the income derives from turf consultancy.
  • Consultants or their employer must have and observe a written Code of Ethics which must include the following:
    • all promotion or advertising materials shall be clear accurate and incapable of misleading in any way
    • trading terms and conditions shall be expressly agreed (even if the Consultant’s standard terms are used) prior to any consultancy services starting
    • all the services will be provided to the best of the Consultant’s ability and the Consultant will use his or her best endeavours to satisfy the client’s requirements
    • no services are offered except where the Consultant knows his or her experience and qualifications mean they can be supplied to the highest standards
    • all the relevant laws, regulations and codes of practice will be fully understood and observed
    • there shall not be any understanding with any supplier or manufacturer which results in the Consultant or their employer directly or indirectly benefiting from the use of that supplier or manufacturer whether or not the understanding limits the Consultant’s ability to always give his or her best advice.

Application Procedure

Consultants meeting the above criteria may ask (in writing) to be included on the Register. They will be asked to provide further information about their business but, so far as is practicable, this will not include information that could be commercially sensitive. The information will be given to all those currently on the list and the approval of the majority of those responding will see the Consultant’s name added to the Register.

When considering an application, Consultants agree to have regard only to the suitability of the applicant. Those listed all acknowledge it will be wholly unacceptable to allow their commercial interest to influence their decision. They will instead encourage suitable Consultants to apply to be added to the list.

If an applicant is not accepted, then he or she will on request receive sufficient information about the consideration of his or her unsuccessful application to demonstrate the true reason for the application not being accepted.

Consultants having reason to believe any other listed Consultant may not be following these criteria or the terms of the Consultant’s Code of Ethics must inform the Register Administrator. Fair ad-hoc arrangements will be made by the Register Administrator and all those involved given a full opportunity to ensure the true facts are known. The Register Administrator may (and shall at the request of three or more Consultants on the Register) consult all those listed and if a majority of those responding wishes the Consultant to cease to be on the Register, then his or her name shall immediately be removed. There will be no right of appeal. During the entire time the matter is being considered, all those involved must draw to the attention of the Register Administrator any possible unfairness in the way the matter is being considered.