If an employer in Andover has offered you a settlement agreement, you will be asked to see a solicitor before you sign. This is because the agreement can only waive your statutory employment claims if you have had advice on it from a relevant independent adviser, and your employer pays towards that advice for exactly that reason.
Under our cost promise, we cap our fee at your employer’s contribution and invoice your employer directly, so there is nothing for you to pay.
Call 0800 861 1883 to speak to a specialist settlement agreement solicitor. We advise by telephone or video across Andover and north-west Hampshire, and same-day appointments are usually available.
What is a settlement agreement?
A settlement agreement is a legally binding contract in which an employee agrees to settle their employment claims against their employer, usually as part of leaving the job. In return, the employer typically makes a payment and may offer other benefits, such as an agreed reference. The employee usually takes on obligations too, including confidentiality, not making negative comments about the employer, and returning company property.
To waive statutory claims, such as unfair dismissal or discrimination under the Equality Act 2010, the agreement must meet strict legal conditions.
Settlement agreements and Andover’s employment picture
Andover’s largest employers fall into three broad groups. The first is defence, with the British Army’s headquarters at Marlborough Lines, which Test Valley Borough Council says employs more than 2,000 personnel. The second is engineering and manufacturing, with Stannah running its group head office in the town. The third is health insurance and financial services, with Simplyhealth registered at Hambleden House on Waterloo Court.
Whatever sector you work in, in Andover or across Hampshire, including Whitchurch, Stockbridge and Ludgershall, we offer independent, expert guidance for employees. Call us on 0800 861 1883.
An Andover claim would go to Bristol
There is no employment tribunal in Andover. Under HMCTS guidance T420, a claim is normally allocated by the postcode of your workplace, and every SP postcode, which covers Andover, Ludgershall, Tidworth and Salisbury, is allocated to the Bristol office at the Bristol Civil and Family Justice Centre, 2 Redcliff Street. So are SO postcodes, including Southampton and Stockbridge, and Whitchurch’s RG28.
What makes the agreement binding
Section 203(3) of the Employment Rights Act 1996 requires the agreement to be in writing, to relate to the particular complaints being settled, and to follow advice from a relevant independent adviser who is insured and named in the agreement. It must also state that those conditions are met. Our guide explains what a settlement agreement solicitor does.
Frequently asked questions
Where would a tribunal claim from Andover be dealt with?
Andover has no employment tribunal. Under HMCTS guidance T420, claims from workplaces in SP postcodes, including Andover, Ludgershall and Tidworth, are allocated to the Bristol employment tribunal office at the Bristol Civil and Family Justice Centre, 2 Redcliff Street, Bristol BS1 6GR. Where and how a hearing takes place, including whether it is held by video, is a matter for the tribunal.
Is a settlement payment tax free?
The first £30,000 of a genuine compensation payment for loss of employment can usually be paid free of income tax. Salary, notice pay, holiday pay and bonuses are taxed in the normal way. Our guide explains whether the payment is tax free.
Who pays for settlement agreement advice?
Your employer. A contribution towards your legal fees is a standard term of a settlement agreement, and under our cost promise we cap our fee at that contribution, so there is nothing for you to pay. Our settlement agreement guide answers the other questions people ask most.
Areas we cover
We advise employees across Andover, Whitchurch, Stockbridge, Ludgershall, Tidworth, Thruxton and Hurstbourne Tarrant, all by phone or video.
Speak to an Andover settlement agreement solicitor
Telephone: 0800 861 1883 or Start my settlement.
Or use our contact form
We will call you back the same working day wherever possible.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Legal disclaimer
The contents of this page are intended to be for general information purposes only and do not amount to (nor are they intended to be) legal, tax or financial advice or a complete or authoritative statement of the law nor should they be treated as such. No warranty or promise is given, express or implied, as to accuracy of the information on this page and no liability is accepted for any error or omission. You should instruct a specialist employment solicitor to advise you on your particular situation and not act or rely on the information on this page.
