The Scottish Executive has raised awareness amongst employers through an insert in the March 2004 Forum of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry, short television programmes in 2004 as part of the Talking Scotland series and through individual approaches to employers to stress the benefits to business of the transferable skills of trained panel members. Further work with employers is planned for 2005.Since 2002 the Scottish Executive has actively demonstrated the value it places on the contribution of panel members by implementing many aspects of the retention strategy, e.g.introduced an indemnity scheme for volunteers in the hearings system where they might be; held a reception for panel members at Edinburgh Castle in 2004, hosted by the First Minister; introduced an annual long service event for panel members with awards for those serving 25 years (the next such event is planned for March 2005); provided funding for laptop computers for panel chairmen and their deputies; introduced an extranet on the children’s hearings website to improve sharing of training and best practice materials;developed software to help panel chairs compile panel rotas; rolled out IT training for panel chairs, and,provided media training for panel chairs.