UK’s first Good Employment Charter Supporters’ Network launched in Greater Manchester

The Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter Supporters’ Network, the first of its kind in the UK, has launched with more than 60 businesses signing up to the aims of the Charter. 

The city-region’s Good Employment Charter encourages and supports employers to develop good jobs, deliver opportunities for people to progress, and help employers in the city-region grow and succeed.

Cereal giants Kellogg’s, global accounting firm KPMG and national TV network ITV are amongst the first supporters of the Charter.  Greater Manchester businesses such as Music Magpie and the Lowry Hotel have also signed up, with a number of public sector and voluntary organisations also becoming supporters.   

The model for the Charter has been co-designed by business owners, employers, trade unions and employees from across Greater Manchester, and involved two public consultations to develop and agree the proposals.

Employers will be supported to raise standards across a number of areas, including secure work, a real living wage and excellent recruitment and progression, with a tiered approach to help them progress. The Supporters’ Network is the first of those tiers. 

The Charter will be embedded in public procurement through the city region’s social value framework – which gives additional weighting to bids delivering social value in procurement processes. Businesses receiving investment through the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s investment funds will also now be required to become Charter supporters.  

The three tiers of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter are:

Tier 1: Supporters - for those employers who support the aims of the Charter and Greater Manchester Strategy, but are not yet in a position to meet the requirements of accreditation.

Tier 2: Membership – requiring employers to demonstrate excellent practice in key characteristics of employment practice, these are:

• Secure work;
• Flexible work;
• A real living wage;
• Workplace engagement & voice;
• Excellent recruitment practices & progression;
• Excellent people management;
• A productive & healthy workplace.

Tier 3: Advocates - employers who meet high standards in all the key employment characteristics to be Members, and then go out to other employers to encourage them to raise employment standards and join the Charter process.

The Charter was identified by the Independent Prosperity Review as a key way of raising business growth, and was one of the key actions recently agreed with Government in Greater Manchester’s Local Industrial Strategy. 

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham said: “Greater Manchester is once again leading the way with the launch of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter Supporters’ Network.

“We have proud history of ensuring that economic progress goes hand in hand with social progress and that is the basis of this Charter. We know that those employers who are best at engaging and supporting their employees are the most successful. Providing good employment is a win-win for Greater Manchester businesses.

“Through working together, business owners, employers, Trade Unions and employees from across Greater Manchester have developed a journey that we want employers to take towards good employment. Employers will be supported to provide jobs which are secure, fairly paid and fulfilling, with opportunities to progress and develop. As employers move through the journey we will make Greater Manchester an area of excellence.

“More than 60 employers will begin the journey today and I’ve now doubt that many more will join them soon.” 

Greater Manchester’s Deputy Mayor for the Economy, Sir Richard Leese added:  “Greater Manchester is home to many exemplary employers who ensure they get the best from their workforce through fairly-paid roles, using skills and strengths to the full and providing opportunities to progress. 

“By working with these employers, as well as our Trade Unions and employees, we’ve been able to launch Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter and its Supporters’ Network which will help drive up standards of good employment and boost growth across the city-region.” 

Greater Manchester portfolio lead for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships, Councillor Sean Fielding said: “The journey through the Good Employment Charter is what Greater Manchester is all about – bringing together businesses, trade unions and communities across the region to improve our practices."

“It will help employers create great jobs and demonstrate their commitment to driving shared prosperity.” 

TUC North West Regional Secretary, Lynn Collins said: “The development of this charter shows what can be achieved when trades unions work with employers and political leaders as equal partners. Promoting good jobs should be at the heart of what Greater Manchester does and this charter is a clear statement on intent about what we expect of employers and for our citizens. We look forward to working with good employers in Greater Manchester to drive up standards and give workers a voice at work." 

Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive, Clive Memmott said: “It’s really important that we have the courage to set out the principles of what good employment practice and effective employee engagement looks like in Greater Manchester. This shouldn’t be overly prescriptive, complex or aiming to be the perfect model for all employers. These principles underpin good and fair employment but they’re not fixed in tablets of stone. They will evolve as more organisations get involved and different approaches are recognised and new ideas generated.”

Employers interested in being involved in the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter Supporters Network can contact: goodwork@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk

Article Published: 22/07/2019 11:02 AM