With commitment and forward planning, MDS Ltd membership has been proven to be virtually self-financing. The most successful companies have top-level support, from the chief executive down, without which it may not work so well. The programme spreads the cost and the risk, while requiring a serious approach to induction, training and appraisal during each secondment, to ensure both trainee and member company gets maximum benefit.

Outline summary of costs:

• Joining fee is £500
• Annual subscription is £2,500
• Secondment fees are charged monthly, in advance, at the daily rate of £116 (1st year trainees) or £126 (2nd year trainees), according to the number of working days in a month
• Transfer/recruitment fee payable of £2,000 when a member recruits a trainee as they complete the two-year programme

MDS is responsible for:

• Salary
• 1st year currently £19,000, 2nd year currently £20,250
• Employment costs
• Legitimate travel expenses
• Training costs, including accommodation

The trainee is responsible for:

• Their own day-to-day accommodation costs

The member company is responsible for:

• Any travel or expenses involved in fulfilling the responsibilities of each secondment
• Special allowance if accommodation costs are unavoidably high eg as in central London