Accordingly, Acas' emphasis has shifted towards helping businesses to prevent problems before they arise, by means of, for example, its telephone helpline and training sessions.

c. 30) was passed, and the government launched a voluntary conciliation and arbitration service, which also gave free advice to employers and unions on industrial relations and personnel problems.

'Advisory' was added to its name in 1975 to reflect its full range of services, then finally in 1976 Acas was made a statutory body by the Employment Protection Act 1975.

In 2010, there was speculation that the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government's plans to reduce the number of quangos might threaten Acas, but the organisation survived the cuts.

The council consists of a chair and eleven members, some representing employers and trade unions and others independent, all appointed by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.