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East Midlands businesses on a mission to improve employee engagement

27/01/2010

Employers from across the region recently attended an event at Brush Electrical, designed to help them understand the business benefits of improving the way they engage their employees.

It was organised by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and Acas, in conjunction with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

The event was part of a groundbreaking project which Acas has launched, together with emda, to help employees improve employee engagement, innovation and business performance.

The project, which involves ten regional businesses, provides tailored support and workplace focused advice to employers, helping them achieve improvements to their culture, management and employee engagement strategy.

Acas is working alongside key individuals in each of the businesses, to encourage a more productive workplace based on strong leadership, and improved people skills.  The project will also help stimulate innovation and enhance employee motivation and commitment. The impact of the advice will be measured throughout the year and reviewed when the project ends in spring 2010.

The event at Brush followed on from a report entitled 'Engaging for success', an independent study by David MacLeod and Nita Clarke exploring the benefits of employee engagement in the workplace.  Commissioned by government, the review examined the role that employee engagement can play in increasing productivity and enhancing competitiveness.

The keynote speaker at the event was Nita Clarke, who discussed the key findings of the review and looked at the lessons and opportunities for businesses in the region.

The report presented a compelling case for employee engagement as a route to business success: through more informed, involved and supported employees willing to give extra input and effort to their company, driving up business performance as a result.

Mike Carr, Executive Director of Business Services at emda, said: "During my time in business I was always a strong supporter of the principle of employee engagement and the benefits that it can bring both to the performance of the business and to the morale of the staff.

"We are involved in implementing the recommendations of the Employee Engagement review. Organisations tend to perform much better where employees enjoy an open, two-way relationship with leaders. In these challenging times, it is important we fund this type of activity to help businesses make the most of opportunities and prepare for the economic upturn."

Kate Nowicki, Acas East Midlands Area Director, commented: "Acas has always promoted employee engagement and we are delighted that this initiative has given organisations in the East Midlands the opportunity to put theory into practice. 

"With emda funding and Acas expertise and support, the participant organisations are making great progress. We believe that this project will deliver valuable lessons for all businesses about working constructively with staff, and that it will certainly produce some significant benefits to the participant companies at a time of economic challenge and uncertainty.'

Nita Clarke, adviser to BIS added: "Employee engagement is the oil in the wheels of business: it's how an employer builds a productive relationship with employees that makes sure everyone is working towards the same goals, and giving their best as they do so. Without a clear and consistent approach to aligning employees with business goals, businesses risk a serious drain on employee productivity, innovation and commitment.

From the event it is clear that many employers  in the East Midlands recognise the importance of engaging their employees and  ensuring that people at all levels of the organisation can give their views, raise any questions and be heard. Those that do this well are those that are seeing the business benefits in terms of improved performance and productivity."

The Department for Business Innovation and Skills is developing a range of practical, no-nonsense support to help employers - particularly SMEs - engage their people more effectively in their business. This guidance will be launched in March 2010.  

For more details about the employee engagement visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/employeeengagement

ENDS

For further information please contact Nick King Media and PR Manager at emda, on 0115 988 8375; email: nickking@emd.org.uk

The businesses involved in the project are:

 · Thorpe Kilworth

· Donington Park Leisure

· The Health Store

· Liquid Control

· MAHLE Powertrain

· Derbyshire Strategic Health Authority

· Pendragon Plc

· Northampton College

· Brush Electrical Machines Ltd

• Caterpillar Logistics

For more details about the employee engagement report, visit http://www.bis.gov.uk/macleod-review

About Acas
The aim of Acas is to improve organisations and working life through better employment relations. It provides information, advice, training and a range of services working with employers and employees to prevent or resolve problems and improve performance. It is an independent statutory body governed by a council consisting of the Acas Chair and employer, trade union and independent members.

About emda
East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England, set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development.

Ten years on, independent evaluation shows emda has:

· Had a significant impact on the region's economy

· Generated economic benefits that substantially outweigh its overall costs

· Put back over £9 of economic output (or GVA) into the regional economy for every £1 it spends

· Produced more than £1 billion in economic benefits per year

• A wider impact on people, places and businesses in the East Midlands that cannot be captured by figures alone.

emda is committed to supporting the region through the current downturn and has put in place a range of measures to provide real help during these challenging times. 

Over the long term, emda's aim is to deliver the 2006 Regional Economic Strategy (RES) by working in partnership with public, private and voluntary organisations.  The RES highlights the themes of productivity, sustainability and equality and sets out key priorities until 2020 to ensure the vision for 'a flourishing region' can be achieved. 

For more details visit www.emda.org.uk