Review seeks ways to get best out of British employees
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Business Secretary John Hutton today announced a review to examine new ways
to boost the performance of employees and improve British business success.
The review will be led by David MacLeod, a leading expert on employee
engagement, working with Nita Clarke, Director of the specialist workplace
involvement body, the Involvement and Participation Association (IPA).
John Hutton said:
"The most successful companies recognise that their employees are their most
valuable asset. Employee engagement is not just a buzzword - it has a clear link
to increased business success.
"Research suggests engaged employees perform better and stay in their jobs
longer and that if a business invests in boosting skills and engagement, profits
will increase.
"We need to better understand what drives some businesses to engage with
their workforce and invest in their people more than others and look at how we
can urge others to do the same.
David MacLeod said:
"Engagement is an important tool for business success. Research shows clear
correlation between the performance of a business and the engagement of its
employees, indeed, companies with higher employee engagement levels have
significantly higher operating margins relative to their industry.
"The fact that only around 12% of the UK workforce can be considered as
highly engaged shows that there is potential for huge gains for the economy if
we can improve in this area.
"I look forward to working with the Government on this exciting project,
which will provide a unique opportunity to look in-depth at how British business
can maximise its potential and increase its competitiveness in the global
economy.
Nita Clarke said:
"Genuinely engaging with employees at all levels brings huge benefits to the
workplace. It is crucial for the well-being and personal development of
employees, and it also addresses the key issues of increasing productivity and
managing change, which are vital for businesses and services meeting the
competitive challenges of today's economy.
"I welcome the government's leadership in this area and look forward to
working with David MacLeod on the review."
The review will make recommendations early in the New Year. It will consider
whether, and how, government and employers can work together to help businesses
maximise their potential and boost the economy through harnessing the full
potential of employees.
Review of Employee Engagement and Investment -Terms of Reference
* To identify and understand in practice how businesses improve productivity
by engaging with and investing in their employees;
* To examine the benefits of employee engagement and investment in terms of
UK competitiveness and productivity and the effect on individuals' career
progression;
* To identify whether there are barriers to businesses adopting good practice
(including market failure and regulatory barriers), focussing particularly on
any barriers affecting SMEs;
* To make recommendations to address any market failure, eliminate barriers
and encourage wider adoption of good practice, in line with Better Regulation
principles.
David MacLeod
David has a portfolio of responsibilities which include being a Non Exec
Director of the Department for International Development, Non Exec Director of
the Ministry of Justice, Fellow of the Sunningdale Institute, Senior Associate
of Towers Perrin and Visiting Professor of the Cass Business School. He is also
a Fellow of the RSA, Institute of Marketing and Ashridge Business School.
David has led private sector organisations through major programmes of change
and worked at the Cabinet office as Senior Adviser on Change and Performance. He
has also worked at Towers Perrin as Senior Adviser supporting chief executives
in both the public and private sectors to implement change in order to enhance
performance.
He has co-authored a book called "The Extra Mile" on the theme of how to
fully engage employees.
Nita Clarke
Nita Clarke is the Director of the Involvement and Participation Association
(IPA).
She was formerly the adviser on trade unions to Prime Minister Tony Blair,
working as assistant political secretary in the Political Office at 10 Downing
Street from January 2001 to June 2007. Her role included liaison with individual
unions and the TUC, developing national policy in areas such as the two-tier
workforce and work-life balance, supporting ministers by trouble-shooting in
industrial disputes.
Notes
1. The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform helps UK
business succeed in an increasingly competitive world. It promotes business
growth and a strong enterprise economy, leads the better regulation agenda and
champions free and fair markets. It is the shareholder in a number of
Government-owned assets and it works to secure, clean and competitively priced
energy supplies
Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform
7th Floor, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET
Public enquiries +44 (0)20 7215 5000
Textphone +44 (0)20 7215 6740 (for those with hearing impairment)
http://www.berr.gov.uk
About the Author
© Crown Copyright. Material taken from the BERR- Department
for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform replacing DTI - Department for
Trade and Industry. Reproduced under the terms and conditions of the Click-Use
Licence.
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Article Published/Sorted/Amended on Scopulus 2008-09-23 17:38:24 in Employee Articles
