THE
PARTNERSHIP AT WORK FUND
Third Round Winners
Projects
with National Coverage
Developing
Food Safety Partnerships at Work
This
dissemination project from The
Restaurant Association and Hospitality
Training Foundation (HTF) seeks to promote partnership
working within the hospitality industry. By working
together, management and staff both in the kitchen and
dining room environment will work to raise standards of
service and business excellence in restaurants and catering
establishments. The project will address traditional
barriers to communication between front of house and back of
house employees; encourage team working; and together with
management, develop a shared responsibility for improving
food safety.
Sector: Hospitality
Creating
Pro-active Occupational Health in Partnership
British
Waterways, along with Unison and the Transport
& General Workers Union intends to introduce an
occupational health programme through partnership working.
The programme will use the HSC Securing Health Together
strategy as the framework. Most importantly, the programme
will provide a platform on which to build real partnership
in the workplace. The long-term objective is to change the
way in which managers and unions work together by developing
an understanding of problems, finding joint solutions and
reducing staff absence. An assessment of employees’ health
will be carried out and then a programme of education and
training will be delivered.
Sector: Environment
A
Partnership Approach to Communication & Representation
of Agency Workers
Working
together, the
Transport & General Workers’ Union
and employment services provider, Manpower Plc,
are seeking to develop a partnership approach to improve
communications between the agency and the staff they place.
This project will identify ways in which a partnership
approach can develop and enhance communications between the
agency’s workforce and the employer, and introduce an
appropriate and effective system of trade union
representation for the workforce. They will identify issues
that inhibit confidence, job satisfaction and loyalty for
agency employees. The project will focus on three regional
areas covering London,
The Midlands and North of England.
Sector: Agency Workers
Bridging
the Gap – Participation in an Agenda for Change
Cleveland
Fire Brigade along with the
Fire Brigade Union
and UNISON aim to
develop a better workplace culture. All partners recognise
the need for changes to organisational culture, behaviour
and attitude which will enable the organisation to become
more productive and better value the contributions that all
staff can make. Initially, focus will be made on improving
communication through briefing events, identifying champions
for change and completing a staff survey. It is anticipated
that among the specific issues for policy change will be
dispute resolution, bullying, promotion and personal
development.
Sector: Public – fire service
BEL
Investment in Partnership
British
Engines Ltd regards partnership as essential for the future success of the business.
Their project aims to change the workplace culture to one of
joint working and to develop an understanding of modern
industrial relations by upskilling some of the middle
managers. They wish
to move away from traditional 'old school’ working styles
and also improve communications.
Sector:
Engineering
Pulling Together – Working in Partnership
Working
with 3 trade unions – the AEEU,
APEX and GMB
- The Federation Brewery Ltd wish to bring about culture change and
develop an open and honest working environment where
everyone’s knowledge and ideas are valued and people are
rewarded for their effort. By
developing this working practice and providing the skills
needed, the company will be better equipped to respond to an
increasingly challenging market and to create a team of
people who enjoy working for the brewery and can contribute
to and share in its success.
Sector: brewer and
wholesaler of ales, wines and spirits
NORTH
WEST
Change
Initiation – Fit For the Future
Leyland
Trucks already has a partnership culture but recent expansion leading to rapid
growth in staff numbers and workload has left them with a
need to review and refresh their partnerships. Working with
the AEEU, the main aim is to understand how employees are feeling and
use results of a staff survey to develop a joint action plan
in response.
Sector: Automotive
Sustaining
Partnership in Littlewoods
This
project from Littlewoods
Retail and USDAW
is seeking to sustain and reinvigorate an already
established partnership between management and the union.
Whilst the partnership has been successful at Partnership
Board and Group level, knowledge and understanding has
proved more difficult to reach colleagues at middle
management and shop floor level. This project will confirm the purpose of the partnership, increase
awareness and understanding and move the partnership
forward.
Sector:
Retail
The
Employment Relations Project
Royal
and Sun Alliance (RSA)
with UNIFI and
the MSF aims to
develop a new employee relations procedural and behavioural
framework. The Royal and Sun Alliance merged to form RSA in
1996 and a need to implement one set of coherent procedures
has been identified. One set of modern procedures will
recognise where the parties have ‘come from’ but will
also move employee relations within the company to one that
addresses the needs of the ‘new’ business. Training will
be provided to appoint 'change champions' who will deliver
the initiative to the organisation’s 24,000 staff. The
project will seek to involve, engage and motivate staff.
Sector: Financial services
YORKSHIRE & HUMBERSIDE
Building
Effective Relationships
UK
Engineered Products (UKEP) is a manufacturing site within Textron power
Transmission, encompassing four separate companies based at
the Park Gear Works in Huddersfield. Together they provide a
wide range of high quality products for bespoke power
transmission applications throughout the world. By
identifying and implementing ways to provide regular
communication and consultation between managers and
employees, this partnership project seeks to improve working
relationships and facilitate quicker resolution of employee
and business issues. By improving workplace communications,
it is intended to improve job satisfaction and opportunities
for employee involvement in the day to day activities of the
company.
Sector:
Engineering
Partnership
for the Involvement of Employees in change for Economic Development
Yorkshire
Forward was formed in April 1999 from an amalgamation of four different
organisations bringing together 172 staff with eleven
different sets of working terms and conditions. This project
with the participation of the
Institute of Professionals, Managers & Specialists
seeks to build on work already carried out to harmonise the
various terms and conditions by working in partnership and
developing family friendly policies. Staff representatives
will participate in developing training plans and a
programme of Diversity training.
Sector: Public –
Regional Development Agency
Resolving
a Grievances Culture by Working in Partnership
Leeds
City Council has developed
a proposal to introduce a joint problem solving approach to
resolving employee grievances. Current practices are
recognised as inadequate and all the parties recognise that
there is a need to develop a greater understanding of the
roles, responsibilities and constraints that they each work
under. This project will encourage all to try an alternative
approach based on the principles of partnership working to
resolve issues through joint working rather than the current
divisive approach. With over 32,000 employees, it has been
difficult to ensure good working practice throughout the
organisation. Partnership working will ensure that in
future, any changes are achieved successfully.
Sector: Public – local authority
EAST
MIDLANDS
Blue Light
Project
Borne
out of the creation of the East
Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust in April 1999
(following the merger of three former County Ambulance
Trusts), this project aims to build on the harmonisation of
working practices and policies. It seeks to build a working
relationship based on mutual trust, commitment and
responsibility. A staff attitude survey and formation of
focus groups will examine issues which staff feel are
important.
Sector: Healthcare
Lights!
Camera!…..Action!
Cooke
Optics produce a range of fixed focus prime lenses for
the movie industry. Their partnership project will establish
a consultative forum involving employees and management in
the development of the business. Improved communications,
exchange of information and joint problem solving is
designed to assist business
planning and increased productivity.
Sector: Lens manufacture
Staff
Involvement & Partnership
Northern
Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust and
UNISON aim to continue and build on partnership
practices to facilitate the recent merger of two hospital
trusts. Specific project objectives include improving
consultation mechanisms; training staff side representatives
and HR staff to deal with bullying and harassment
situations; and creating a culture which prevents bullying
and harassment from occurring and supports staff to raise
concerns where prevention has been unsuccessful.
Sector: Healthcare
WEST
MIDLANDS
Equal
Opportunities for All
HP
Bulmer plan to
develop existing partnership practices with the specific aim
of improving awareness throughout the company of their
jointly agreed Equal Opportunities Policy. HP Bulmer will be
working with the Transport and General Workers’ Union in achieving the project
objectives which include training Equal Opportunities
trainers.
Sector:
Manufacture of drinks
SOUTH
WEST
People
and Business Integration
Proper
Cornish is a
manufacturer of hand-made pasties and other bakery products.
Their partnership project is about involving staff on staff
forums to improve communications, working practices and
conditions. In particular, areas to be looked at will
include improving staff satisfaction, reducing staff
turnover and absenteeism. By addressing these issues and
finding joint solutions it is intended to improve employee
relations and company profits.
Sector: Food manufacturing
SOUTH
EAST
Fostering a Partnership
Building
on the existing partnership efforts of their National Staff
Consultative Committee, and following major re-structuring,
the Guide Dog for the
Blind Association aims to widen the consultative brief
to review and develop a range of family friendly policies
which fit the needs of the staff and business.
Sector: Voluntary
Strategy
& Leadership – Extending the Scope of Partnership
A
Partnership agreement between Legal
& General and the
MSF was signed in April 1997.
The agreement is currently being reviewed and this
partnership project will seek to reinforce the agreement and
develop it at a strategic level within both organisations.
Further work will be done to ensure that the agreement works
effectively and becomes embedded into the organisational
culture. Project objectives will include improving the way
the two organisations work together and communications.
Sector: Financial Services
Working
Together
Gate
Gourmet, providers of
airline catering and related services will work together
with partners Transport
and General Workers’ Union in this project to improve
working relations between management and employees and
review/update existing employment policies. A newly formed
joint Steering Group will co-ordinate activities which will
be workshop based and involve awareness building and
training.
Sector: Catering
Brighton
& Hove City Council - Health & Well Being Project
This
partnership between the Council’s managers, employees and UNISON to develop and implement an occupational health strategy has also
gained support from two local service providers, Zurich
Municipal and the
Co-operative Bank. Current
occupational health services available to employees across
the council are inconsistent and the aim of the project is
to bring them all to the same high standard according to the
needs of the staff. Partnership
techniques will be used throughout the project to develop
and implement the strategy and to ensure that advice and
support is relevant and accessible to all those who wish to
use it. Three key
groups will be established to ensure all stakeholders are
represented.
Sector: Local Authority
Working
in Partnership – Just in Time Training for Culture Change
Hampshire
County Council in
partnership with Unison and the Managerial
& Professional Officers Branch of the GMB, will work
in partnership to support the culture change that will arise
from the implementation of new working practices and a
review of grading and pay structures for some 20,000
employees. The project is about change management training
for managers, employees and trade union representatives. A
joint project team will be established to assist in
developing and reviewing initiatives and in designing and
delivering the change management training programme.
Sector: Local Authority
Phase
III Implementing Partnership Project
Zurich
Financial Services together
with its union, the Union of Finance Staff
(UFS) signed a partnership agreement in December 2000 and
this project will implement partnership principles
throughout the organisation.
Work will educate managers and supervisors, HR staff
and local UFS representatives and employees in identifying
the benefits of their involvement within the business.
It will also provide skills and support to team
leaders trying to resolve local problems.
Increased levels of employee involvement will
encourage all to work for the benefit of the business.
Sector: Financial Services
Enhancing
Working Lives
The
Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust is seeking to secure an
improvement in work-life balance for its employees while
maintaining service level standards. Working with the
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy the Trust intend to
initiate a pilot partnership project within the
physiotherapy service, this will develop opportunities for
partnership working throughout. Staff will be involved in
planning and implementing flexible working practices with
the aim of improving morale and motivation and improving
recruitment and retention rates.
Sector: Healthcare
LONDON
‘One
Organisation’ through Knowledge & Partnership
I
CAN is a national
educational charity based in London for children with speech
and communication difficulties. As part of their partnership
project proposal, the charity
aims to involve staff more actively in the organisation and
harness their knowledge and skills to give them a stronger
sense of ownership and participation. The project involves
setting up a national Staff Communication and Consultation
Forum, conducting a staff survey and developing an employee
intranet to share learning and development.
Sector: Voluntary
Recharge
Jacksons
Lane Community Centre
is a registered charity providing community and social
activities in North London. This partnership project will
seek to review management and staff relations, improve
customer care and move the Centre towards becoming a modern
21st century organisation. This project will address these
issues by introducing a culture change programme to give
staff ownership and responsibility for change and specific
business issues. Staff
representatives will act as a conduit between staff,
management and the management committee to offer a neutral
sounding board for staff input and lead internal staff
discussion.
Sector:
Voluntary
Flexible
Strength
Bovince
Ltd is a family-run
company based in Walthamstow, London.
The company is one of Europe’s largest Screen Process
Printers. Their partnership project aims to build on an
existing workplace culture of continuous improvement by
introducing new flexible working arrangements to improve
business performance and customer satisfaction whilst at the
same time enabling employees to make positive choices about
balancing work and the rest of their lives.
Sector: Print
Unison
& Kings College NHS Trust Mediation Training
Unison
and the
Kings College Hospital Trust are committed to the
creation of a working environment based on tolerance and
respect as an absolute right for all staff and users of the
Trust’s services. The Trust covers an area of London that
is diverse in its population and this is reflected in the
make up of the Trust’s employees. It is against this
background that the partners wish to develop a partnership
project that seeks to address issues of conflict that arise
within the workforce and the workplace. The project will
provide Mediation Training to equip managers and trade
unions representatives with the necessary skills to resolve
issues informally.
Sector: Healthcare
EAST
A Culture Change
This
partnership between GB
Railfreight and
ASLEF has two main
objectives:- to review new methods of working recently
introduced for train drivers and identify and implement
relevant training; and to facilitate open communions between
GBRf, its employees and ASLEF through the design and
installation of an intranet facility. A steering group
comprising representatives from all parties will monitor
project progress and a final report will be circulated
widely by both partners.
Sector: Rail freight
Fired
up for Partnership
The
Essex County Fire & Rescue Service and
the Fire Brigades
Union are working together to change workplace culture.
Their main project objective is to achieve a measurable
improvement in health & safety by seconding a union
representative to work with health and safety managers to
implement a Climate Survey Action Plan. They will also seek
to improve internal communications procedures and involve
management and trade union representatives in taking changes
forward.
Sector: Fire service
Improving
Commitment to Health & Safety
This
project from the Norfolk County Council Highways Contractors
– May Gurney Construction Ltd, is a partnership between senior
management and local trade union representatives to
implement long-term solutions to Health & Safety
management. The project will develop the current system of
H&S management by creating better access to and
understanding of H&S policies, procedures and practice
among managers and employees at all levels. Together, they
will take shared responsibility for developing, managing and
adhering to health and safety issues.
Sector: Maintenance
and repair of Highways
WALES
Consortium
Well Being Programme
The
West Glamorgan Housing Consortium
provides supported housing for people with learning
difficulties. Together with Unison,
the Consortium wishes to change workplace culture so that
important decisions are based on local operational need
rather than centrally driven. There is a strong commitment
to move towards greater involvement of management, the union
and staff in joint working. The project will enhance the
general health and well-being of employees in the main areas
of health and dealing with stressful situations in and out
of the work environment.
Sector: Voluntary
Enabling
Change Through “The 20 Keys to Workplace Improvement”
Building
on relationships already established, 3M
UK plc together with the
Transport & General Workers’ Union want to
incorporate the “20 Keys” approach at their Gorseinon
site. This method is
designed to enable and support change by focusing on
employees and involving them in identifying areas for
improvement. A full-time leader will be recruited from the
workforce and the first four keys identified. A key leader,
also from the workforce, will be responsible for each
project and for convening consultative groups. The overall
aim of the project is to energise and motivate all employees
to work together for the mutual success of the company and
themselves.
Sector: Manufacturing
Shaping
our Future Through Partnership
United
Welsh Housing Association (UWHA) is a non-profit making body with charitable rules and
employs a total of 120 staff all on similar terms of
employment. The Association has a recognition agreement with
one trade union ie Unison which was first drawn up in 1993.
Since that time, the workplace and employment
relationships have all changed considerably and it is felt
that the agreement is in need of renewal. The project will
seek to change culture and look at redefining and developing
relationships between all parties in order to achieve the
Corporate Objectives.
Sector: Voluntary
SCOTLAND
University
Challenge – Building Partnerships
The
University of Paisley seeks to embed partnership in the
workplace through the advancement of its main partnership
principles and the adoption of innovative and supportive
partnership practices. This represents a significant shift
in employment relations practice and consequently the
University will first embark on a complementary culture
change. This culture change will forge new relationships
between management, employee representatives and employees.
Sector: Public, Higher Education
Sustaining
Our Mature Partnership
United
Distillers and Vintners
have two main aims in their partnership project. The first
is to establish a robust consultation process across all the
company’s divisions and sites and the second is to provide
managers and employee representatives with relevant
“partnership skills” to underpin effective consultation.
Employees will become more involved in the decision making
process and play a greater role in achieving business goals.
Sector: Manufacturer of Distilled Spirits
Back to
Partnership Fund
Last revised: 4 November
2002
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