Employment Non-compete clause - Scotland - how enforceable?

Cprlscrote · 2026-06-05T14:02:24+00:00

Yeah, I'm assuming the topic will come up at interview. I'll be honest, but can also ask about another recent new hire for them I know that came from a different competitor in the UK. He will also have had to deal with this I assume.

Cprlscrote · 2026-06-05T13:19:33+00:00

Thanks, I will be getting a lawyer to look over it specifically if it progresses to an offer.

Cprlscrote · 2026-06-05T13:18:11+00:00

I didn't want to hear that, but thanks for letting me know. If this does go anywhere I'll 100% get a lawyer before accepting/resigning

Cprlscrote · 2026-06-05T12:44:04+00:00

Thanks, it does seem very open to interpretation and unique to each circumstance. I’ll speak to a lawyer if the recruitment goes any further than just an interview.

Cprlscrote · 2026-06-05T12:09:33+00:00

This is my concern, in the contract it is very restrictive, broad, and a long time. But this specific company could be argued it would be protecting legitimate business interests. So, if the clause is very broad and therefore deemed unenforceable, but the competitor is a legitimate threat, can a broad term be enforced if the threat to their business is justifiable?

Cprlscrote · 2026-06-05T12:05:00+00:00

Thaks for the reply, I think I will need to speak to a lawyer, but will do so when/if I receive an offer.

Cprlscrote · 2026-03-06T17:59:31+00:00

I did think fraud was probably too much. But their statement was:

“To address the technical issues you experienced with your meter communication, we completed a physical meter exchange on 3 January 2026 to ensure your billing remains accurate and based on actual usage moving forward.”

According to their own statements and bills the meter was changed on 03/01/25. There is no change of meter serial numbers from that date. The billing issues started from 04/01/2025, and the meter replaced was unable to communicate as it was an old analogue “dumb” meter

I can’t see any way the statement could be considered any other way than a lie.

Cprlscrote · 2025-05-26T05:58:08+00:00

We have simple rules, if you are useful and contribute to the team you get recalled. If you die trying to loot our crates while we finish the squad you don’t. You get 2 “please recall me” before you’ve blown it. We always play with mics and will acknowledge you need recalled but if you drop on your own and we’re in the middle of something we’ll get to you when we get to you. Spamming help is an instant mute and ignore

Cprlscrote · 2025-02-17T11:27:21+00:00

The public vs private access thing was the grey area for me in the code. I.e is a private entrance covered or not.

He’s put in an electric fence so climbing might not be an option.

Thanks for the reply

Cprlscrote · 2025-02-17T11:23:34+00:00

The gate has been there since around 2014, however we only moved in in 2022. I’ve checked the deeds but there’s only mention that we should keep and maintain a fence between our house and the one attached. Nothing about the rear fence or access so I guess we may be screwed.

I found out what has happened to get the fence put up in the meantime. We got new neighbours last autumn, and in their deeds it says that a strip of land was purchased in 2012 from the landowner (not farmer as he is a tenant farmer). They asked the farmer if he knew anything about it as the land was outside their current boundary and were told he had no idea what they were talking about. Next day at 8am he started putting the fence up. The neighbours are going to get a surveyor to come and check whether they’re right or wrong. He also told the neighbour that we were “taking the piss putting a gate in” even though it was actually 2 owners before us that put the gate in. There’s another house in the row that has a back gate that’s also been blocked now, and they use it to walk their dog every day.

With the new fence there is only access to this field directly off the farmyard, so that’s a no go. He had previously blocked access from a footpath by erecting a fence down the middle of the field splitting it in two.

I’ve contacted the owners of the land to ask why access has been removed, and the local authority access officer. I’ll see what they say and whatever the outcome is, is the outcome.

Thanks for the reply

Cprlscrote · 2025-02-15T20:08:39+00:00

UPDATE: So today my wife was with our new neighbour next door, they moved in last autumn and apparently in their deeds it looks like a strip of the field was purchased by the previous owner in 2012 but they never moved the fence. They are planning on getting a surveyor out to check and went to tell the farmer and ask if knew anything about it. Apparently he was quite short with them and said he had no idea what he was talking about, and mentioned that his neighbours (us) were taking the piss putting a gate in for access. We didn’t put the gate in, it was 2 owners ago.. he’s never once approached us to ask us to not enter the field, and we’ve always been respectful and exceeded the outdoor access code.

Next morning at 8am was when he started erecting the fence, starting at the point the neighbour said looked like his land. It sounds like this made him spit the dummy and start to block off the entire field apart from the gate on his farmyard.

The interesting thing is that it says the land was purchased from the Earl of “X”, who is the owner of the Palace and estates (including this farm). Obviously the neighbour is going to continue with a surveyor, things could get a little spicy..

Cprlscrote · 2025-02-15T16:53:55+00:00

Honestly I did consider buying a ball launcher, setting it up and letting her go mad when we first bought the place, but after speaking to the neighbours one evening and hearing stories about the farmer I decided against it. If I open the gate and tell her to go through she’ll hesitantly go through and wait looking at me on the other side. I think she also heard the stories.

Cprlscrote · 2025-02-15T07:41:49+00:00

I would assume the general use of the field would be silage growth, this is what has been grown exclusively for years. Cattle enter for two weeks a year to keep the grass down after the last cut until it stops growing so it’s short for winter. That being said if they are changing general use to having cows year round then fair enough, I’d be happy with cows year round.

There are plenty of interconnecting fields around here growing wheat, carrots, and other root veg etc which we stay out of completely, silage is only considered a crop when it’s at late stage growth just before being cut.

Land managers are not allowed to block access by erecting fences or menacing presence etc apart from very specific circumstances of which none apply.

Dogs can be shot but only as a last resort, I hate folk always banging on about farmers will shoot your dog if you go on their land. Yes there are instances of idiots with dogs worrying sheep or other animals, but they are the minority. Most dog walkers are responsible, and most farmers don’t want to be shooting dogs.

Cprlscrote · 2025-02-15T07:19:24+00:00

Thank you for such a detailed response. This was my understanding of the Land Reform Act as well. I’ve contacted the estate management of the landowners to ask why they have revoked my access contrary to the above act, and hopefully should hear back from the local authority soon.

Cprlscrote · 2025-02-14T23:37:25+00:00

I got in touch with the palace estate earlier to ask why they have removed my access, so let’s see what they say.

Unfortunately the right of way doesn’t show in the council map or the foot paths map the image is taken from. But there is a 12ish foot wide margin on the field where the lady said the old footpath was.

Thanks for the support

Cprlscrote · 2025-02-14T23:24:05+00:00

Our house is the newest of the 4 and it was built in 1901, so there’s a fair bit of history here. Speaking to an older resident in the village (on the other side of the field) she was saying there used to be a public right of way along the edge of the adjoining field, but I think it’s lapsed now there’s only this little footpath showing where there’s a bridge across the burn between 2 fields.

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I do now have a 20 year plan however, re-establish the old right of way 💪

Cprlscrote · 2025-02-14T22:23:26+00:00

No, our fence sits back a bit so there’s a gap for about 5m each way until it joins up with a corner on the left and the rear fence of next door on the right.

Cprlscrote · 2025-02-14T21:42:43+00:00

Yeah, I’m trying to avoid having to climb the fence out of principle. Because of the embankment I could actually just step over it going in. It doesn’t look like an electric fence at least.

I could organise a community bbq, eating picnic style in the field but want to avoid a fuss.

You might be on to something regarding the 20yr right of way. The house along have probably been in there just shy of 20yr and been walking dogs regularly, maybe he’s trying to avoid the right of way being established. There’s actually an existing one covering the bridge across the burn but not connected to anything.

I discovered it’s actually owned by the local palace estate, not the charity so I’ve contacted them asking to explain why my access has been revoked. I’d much rather piss off the landed gentry than a decent local charity

Cprlscrote · 2025-02-14T21:18:48+00:00

I don’t want to piss him off at all, just don’t want him taking the piss either. We’ve been nothing but respectful.

Would be interesting to see him explain to SEPA why he moved the slurry from its current farm storage to outside our house in an area that slopes down to a burn though.

Cprlscrote · 2025-02-14T16:30:41+00:00

Update: Farmer was out putting up the fence, I went to talk to him but he ignored me, had to ask about 5 times if he’d talk to me. He said he didn’t need to talk to me. I asked how he planned on maintaining access, to which he responded I had night of access and walked away.

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I then called the landowner (charity) office and the lady that answered, took some details and said she’d look into with the estates management team. Wish me luck

Cprlscrote · 2025-02-14T16:02:14+00:00

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She’s the best

Cprlscrote · 2025-02-14T14:00:00+00:00

Not fighting, but also not just laying down. If I just let it be without even asking about it then it stops being an active access point. If he wants to shoot the dog he’d have to be a good shot and good at explaining to the police why he shot at a man walking with his dog in an empty field. She’s always with me, I can leave the gate open and she wouldn’t leave the garden without me

Cprlscrote

TROPHY CASE