As the news broke of the results of Catalonian vote it was apparent to me that someone was going to use the M word sooner or later.

Whether you're in favour of independence (for Scotland, Catalonia or the UK walking away from Europe) or whether your split is of a more personal level, with a job or a partner - mediation is always the way forward.

Mediation is not about points scoring or positioning it's about finding a workable solution that two sides can agree upon.

Yes it can feel like a gamble stepping into the unknown world of mediation (which by the way if you're reading these blogs shouldn't be that unknown by now) but it's less of a gamble than handing over the decisions on the most important elements of your life to a court. And more importantly you lose nothing by asking.

Speaking of gambling I had the great pleasure of working with the Gambling Commission this week on their ADR working party. Its was fantastic to see so many people committed to making ADR work in what is one of the most complex and complicated industries. I had the opportunity to explain the difference between mediation and arbitration and hope to do more work with them in the future with a view to helping gamblers and operators understand how they can work together to reach mutual solutions to disputes.

It's just another example of where industries are embracing the commercial sense of mediation.

If you own a business and would like to discuss whether mediation can help your dispute or an individual with a problem, family, inheritance or neighbour give me a call on 07931318347 or via email at ed.johnson@northwestmediation.co.uk