GM Good Employment Charter Workshop

How can you improve productivity and diversity in your business by creating ‘good work’? This workshop is for digital and creative businesses to learn about the GM Good Employment Charter, and make it work for you.

22nd October 2019, 10-11.30am (9.30 for bacon and vegan butties), Ashton Old Baths, Stamford Street West, Ashton Under Lyne, OL6 7FW.

Providing ‘good work’ (that pays well, is flexible, engages people in strategic decision-making, and is diverse) is not just the right thing to do, it also helps improve the bottom line through raising productivity.

For example:

• McKinsey has done research to show that greater diversity leads to more profitability
• Studies also show that greater flexibility for employees raises productivity, reduces time off sick and increases job satisfaction

The digital and digitally creative sectors in Tameside and Greater Manchester are growing fast. However, there are challenges with diversity, recruitment of skilled people, and skill development in smaller companies. Productivity is on average lower than for similar businesses across the UK.

Greater Manchester has launched a Good Employment Charter to increase productivity, and to enable the inclusion of all people in the region in the opportunities and benefits of higher growth.

Come along and find out how your company (start-up/growing/established) is performing on the seven standards of Charter – in effect a checklist of employment issues to consider and implement.

You will also be able to influence GMCA (Greater Manchester Combined Authority) and Tameside Council’s approach to supporting good work in digital; and brainstorm, with other similar businesses, how to create shared resources to help you improve your employment practices.

Agenda           (9.30am breakfast for 10am start)

10-10.15am      Introductions. What is ‘good work’ and how is the digital sector doing? (Andrea Westall, Inclusive Growth Analysis Unit, University of Manchester)

10.15-10.30      Updates from Ian MacArthur, Head of Sectors, GM Business Growth Hub, on the GM Good Employment Charter; and from Tameside Council

10.30-11.20      Workshop: Relevance and implementation of Good Work in digital following Charter themes:

• Extending secure work
• Extending flexible work
• Working towards paying a real living wage
• Improving workplace engagement & voice
• Developing excellent recruitment & progression
• Improving people management
• Developing a productive & healthy workplace

11.20-11.30      Next steps

To attend the event please reply to: Andrea Westall at andrea.westall@manchester.ac.uk

Getting to the event: The nearest Metrolink is Ashton-Under-Lyne. If you come by car, use OL6 7FW in your SatNav. For parking by the venue you need 3 £1 coins. Just in case the weather is cold, since the lovely venue is open plan, please bring a jumper.

This event is organised by the Inclusive Growth Analysis Unit, University of Manchester, with the support of Ashton Old Baths. It is the third in a series, the two previous ones being on social care and VCSE (voluntary sector organisations and social enterprise).