Over 450 people professionals and business leaders from the North of England registered to join a recent Good Employment Summit, to hear how local good and fair work charters can help businesses of all sizes make work better and more productive for all. The event was co-chaired by the chief executives of the CIPD and Acas - two organisations with a shared purpose of championing better work and working lives.  

The CIPD has supported each of the Metro Mayors in Greater Manchester, Liverpool, North of Tyne and West Yorkshire with creating and developing their local charters, which aim to encourage and support employers to improve their employment standards and people management practices.

The North to be the ‘go-to-place’ for work

During the summit, Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, addressed how these local charters are part of a collaborative plan to make the North the ‘go-to-place’ for work and investment, with more quality jobs on offer.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said:

“These charters are giving employers a tangible way of demonstrating social value, improving productivity and reducing costs. They are changing long-term culture for the better and giving employees a say in how  their workplaces are run.”

The Metro Mayors of the Liverpool City Region and West Yorkshire, along with the Deputy Leader of Newcastle City Council, joined Andy in highlighting how their local charters are helping employers with the challenges they face by making work fairer and more secure for workers.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:

“West Yorkshire is one of the most diverse regions in the country and 95% of businesses are SMEs. We are working with Fatima Kahn-Shah, our region’s first ever Inclusivity champion, to understand more about how our charter can support SMEs and our communities with some of the regional disparities we have, including the ethnicity pay gap and health inequalities.”  

Importance of good people management

Co-chairs of the summit, Peter Cheese, CIPD Chief Executive, and Susan Clews, CEO of Acas, addressed the increasing responsibilities of people managers, with the move to more flexible and remote ways of working. And how good working practices must include good people management.

Peter Cheese, CIPD Chief Executive, said:

“Too many managers are promoted into their roles without ever having any people management training. As line managers face growing responsibilities and pressures, it’s more important than ever that employers train, support and recognise good people managers.”