The Avisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) is an independent non-departmental public body of the Government of the United Kingdom. Its purpose is to promote and facilitate strong industrial relations practice. ACAS is commonly misunderstood to be a trade union, but in fact is an impartial organisation that does not side with a particular party in a dispute, but rather will help parties to reach suitable resolutions in a dispute. It may do this through a number of mediums, but especially will use conciliation or arbitration.