THE FIRST employers in Greater Manchester have signed the UK’s most comprehensive Good Employment Charter aimed at improving wages and employment standards.
Six employers have become the first in the city-region to pledge to pay all staff the real living wage, offer flexible working and provide security of work as full Members of the Good Employment Charter, a voluntary scheme designed to help deliver good jobs with opportunities for people to progress and develop.
The Charter’s Membership tier was launched on Wednesday 29 January by the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham; Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester and Leader of Manchester City Council Sir Richard Leese; and Cllr Sean Fielding, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) Lead for Work and Skills and Leader of Oldham Council.
Amongst the first employers to achieve Membership are workplace property company Bruntwood, Oldham College, Electricity North West, employee-owned Stockport business Rowlinson Knitwear, marketing agency Making You Content and Back on Track, a Manchester charity that enables disadvantaged adults to make lasting, positive changes in their lives.
These employers have been working closely with the Charter since its launch and have been chosen for their excellent practices and commitment to continually improving employment standards within their organisation. Additionally, they are representative of the diverse range of employers across Greater Manchester that the Charter is looking to engage with and support.
With one in eight workers across the country now living in poverty and evidence growing that many jobs are too poorly paid or insecure to help people to lift themselves out, the Good Employment Charter is raising standards for local employees.
The Charter has been co-designed over the last two years with business groups, employers and employees from all sectors, with trade unions and other experts all involved.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “The Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter is about supporting our employers, helping them to grow and invest in our places, with new and existing jobs right across our city-region that are underpinned by a commitment to equality, a real living wage and a positive and productive working environment.”
“The evidence suggests that this is a win-win for everyone, with workplaces more productive when employees are happier. I’m delighted to see so many employers stepping forward to share best practice and improve standards – and would encourage others from across Greater Manchester to get involved.”
Jennifer Atkins, People Director at Bruntwood, said: “We’re really proud to be one of the first members of the Good Employment Charter as we’re incredibly passionate about everything it stands for. From the very beginning, Bruntwood has long worked to the principle that our success is down to our colleagues. In return, we want to be able to offer them the opportunity to learn and grow, take their career in new directions and find a balance that works for them; and this is exactly what this Charter sets out to achieve.
“Being members of the Charter gives us the opportunity to demonstrate a solid commitment to our colleagues, to continuously strive for improvement in our culture and people practices, and to share knowledge and best practice with other companies who are committed to being good employers.”
Ian MacArthur, Head of the Charter Implementation Unit at the Growth Company, said: “We’re delighted to launch the Membership tier of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter with these six fantastic organisations. By signing up, they are demonstrating a real commitment to their employees, and it’s also wonderful to see so many employers around Greater Manchester supporting good employment.”
Businesses can also sign up to the Charter’s Supporters’ Network, launched in July 2019, which asks employers to commit to improve practice and helps them to access appropriate support, resources and sharing good practice.
Over 80 prominent businesses have already signed up to become a Supporter, including Lloyds, ITV, GMCVO, Kelloggs, Pozzoni Architecture Ltd, Peel L&P and Music Magpie.
