Innovation Fellowship 3 - Enhancing organisational effectiveness by modernising support for working carers
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Social Sciences Research Institutes
Abstract
This research focuses on improving support for working carers. Recruiting, retaining and returning carers to the workplace have been identified as major economic and social issues in the UK. They are likely to become even more important as a consequence of demographic and economic pressures on families and employers (HM Government et al., 2013). Employers for Carers was launched in 2009 as an employers' membership forum, with the aim of supporting employers to retain and manage employees with caring responsibilities. Employers for Carers (2017) states that 3 million of the UK's 6.5 million carers combine paid work with caring for older, disabled or seriously ill relatives. Eight in 10 carers are of working age, with that proportion increasing to one in five of people aged 45-64, the peak age for caring (Carers UK, 2015). Caring responsibilities are a key reason why workers leave employment. One in six employees reduce their working hours or leave work altogether to provide care (Ipsos MORI, 2009). Often, these workers are the most experienced in any organisation, an issue that is gaining recognition among employers and policymakers (Employers for Carers, 2017). This is explicitly acknowledged, for example, in the UK government's 'Fuller Working Lives Strategy' which focuses on supporting workers aged 50 plus (DWP, 2017).
The research will be aligned to the UK Industrial Strategy (HM Government, 2017), which sets out the government's plan to create an economy that boosts productivity and earning power throughout the UK. Ten pillars have been identified, which the Government believes are important to drive forward the Industrial Strategy across the entire economy in the UK. This research has the potential to contribute to Pillars 2 (Developing Skills), 4 (Supporting Businesses to Start and Grow) and 9 (Driving Growth across the Whole Country) of the strategy.
Pillar 2: The Innovation Fellow will address deficiencies in the management / HRM skills vital for productivity improvements, particularly in small to medium sized enterprises and 'lagging' sectors (O'Mahony & Van Ark, 2003). It will promote upskilling of managers and team leaders and enable them to introduce innovative approaches to supporting and managing employees with care responsibilities which can reduce the costs of absence and recruitment and enhance productivity.
Pillar 4: The potential for businesses to start up and grow is highly reliant on their success in attracting, investing in and retaining employees. Working carers often face difficulty combining their carer and employee roles; many quit their jobs, causing disruption to business and excess recruitment/training costs and holding back organisational capacity for business growth. The Innovation Fellow will support smaller businesses to design innovative approaches to reducing turnover/absence, promote flexible working, and increase their ability to recruit and expand.
Pillar 9: Caring is more prevalent in deprived areas, and the need for work-care support more acute in areas with low skills or productivity. The Innovation Fellow will gather evidence on how adopting measures to retain/support working carers helps businesses in under-performing regions address challenges in expanding their business and improves their productivity.
Better working practices and management arrangements for workers with care responsibilities, in organisations of all types and sizes, will ensure organisational efficiency and lead to a more productive economy both locally and nationally. Major efficiencies are achievable via HR initiatives to reduce care-related retention, absence and recruitment costs and wasted human capital investments. The focus in the Industrial Strategy (2017) on business leadership, innovative high-performing organisations and the challenges of operating in localities with skills gaps and/or low productivity is also highly relevant to the focus of this research.
The research will be aligned to the UK Industrial Strategy (HM Government, 2017), which sets out the government's plan to create an economy that boosts productivity and earning power throughout the UK. Ten pillars have been identified, which the Government believes are important to drive forward the Industrial Strategy across the entire economy in the UK. This research has the potential to contribute to Pillars 2 (Developing Skills), 4 (Supporting Businesses to Start and Grow) and 9 (Driving Growth across the Whole Country) of the strategy.
Pillar 2: The Innovation Fellow will address deficiencies in the management / HRM skills vital for productivity improvements, particularly in small to medium sized enterprises and 'lagging' sectors (O'Mahony & Van Ark, 2003). It will promote upskilling of managers and team leaders and enable them to introduce innovative approaches to supporting and managing employees with care responsibilities which can reduce the costs of absence and recruitment and enhance productivity.
Pillar 4: The potential for businesses to start up and grow is highly reliant on their success in attracting, investing in and retaining employees. Working carers often face difficulty combining their carer and employee roles; many quit their jobs, causing disruption to business and excess recruitment/training costs and holding back organisational capacity for business growth. The Innovation Fellow will support smaller businesses to design innovative approaches to reducing turnover/absence, promote flexible working, and increase their ability to recruit and expand.
Pillar 9: Caring is more prevalent in deprived areas, and the need for work-care support more acute in areas with low skills or productivity. The Innovation Fellow will gather evidence on how adopting measures to retain/support working carers helps businesses in under-performing regions address challenges in expanding their business and improves their productivity.
Better working practices and management arrangements for workers with care responsibilities, in organisations of all types and sizes, will ensure organisational efficiency and lead to a more productive economy both locally and nationally. Major efficiencies are achievable via HR initiatives to reduce care-related retention, absence and recruitment costs and wasted human capital investments. The focus in the Industrial Strategy (2017) on business leadership, innovative high-performing organisations and the challenges of operating in localities with skills gaps and/or low productivity is also highly relevant to the focus of this research.
Planned Impact
This Innovation Fellowship will make a major contribution to the development of Employers for Carers' offer to employers, ensuring its advice and delivery modes are attuned to developments in the labour market and workplace and challenges in sectors identified as 'at risk' in the UK Government's Industrial Strategy. It will draw new, active members into Employers for Carers from currently under-represented sectors, small and medium sized enterprises, and organisations facing skills and productivity challenges.
The Innovation Fellow will work with Employers for Carers (and liaise with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and Department of Work and Pensions) to build acceptance of the rationale for working carer support and engage managers in manufacturing, private service sectors and small firms, providing them with practical, attractive on-line tools and resources. These (made available via the Employers for Carers website and publicity) will help them assess costs and benefits, identify and develop a bespoke suite of policies for their own business, and check progress. Outcomes will include diverse examples of how managerial support for carers can be embedded and sustained.
This research will examine what can be learned, and more widely applied, to modernise business organisation and human resource management so UK companies can get best value from their ageing and increasingly caring workforces. Insight and evidence from this work will support newer businesses to grow and assist established ones to adapt their working practices, retain talent, optimise use of employees' skills / experience, increase productivity and cut wasteful business costs. The Innovation Fellow will work with Employers for Carers and its member companies in various industrial sectors, to explore how successful Employers for Carers members have innovated and measured progress, understand what works and why, and learn why other nations (Canada, Australia, Sweden) show growing interest in the Employers for Carers model and its offer to members.
Better working practices and management arrangements for workers with care responsibilities, in organisations of all types and sizes, will ensure organisational efficiency, and lead to a more productive economy both locally and nationally. Major efficiencies are achievable via HR initiatives to reduce care-related retention, absence and recruitment costs and wasted human capital investments. The focus in the Industrial Strategy (HM Government, 2017) on business leadership, innovative high-performing organisations and the challenges of operating in localities with skills gaps / low productivity is also highly relevant to the focus of this research.
The Innovation Fellow will work with Employers for Carers (and liaise with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and Department of Work and Pensions) to build acceptance of the rationale for working carer support and engage managers in manufacturing, private service sectors and small firms, providing them with practical, attractive on-line tools and resources. These (made available via the Employers for Carers website and publicity) will help them assess costs and benefits, identify and develop a bespoke suite of policies for their own business, and check progress. Outcomes will include diverse examples of how managerial support for carers can be embedded and sustained.
This research will examine what can be learned, and more widely applied, to modernise business organisation and human resource management so UK companies can get best value from their ageing and increasingly caring workforces. Insight and evidence from this work will support newer businesses to grow and assist established ones to adapt their working practices, retain talent, optimise use of employees' skills / experience, increase productivity and cut wasteful business costs. The Innovation Fellow will work with Employers for Carers and its member companies in various industrial sectors, to explore how successful Employers for Carers members have innovated and measured progress, understand what works and why, and learn why other nations (Canada, Australia, Sweden) show growing interest in the Employers for Carers model and its offer to members.
Better working practices and management arrangements for workers with care responsibilities, in organisations of all types and sizes, will ensure organisational efficiency, and lead to a more productive economy both locally and nationally. Major efficiencies are achievable via HR initiatives to reduce care-related retention, absence and recruitment costs and wasted human capital investments. The focus in the Industrial Strategy (HM Government, 2017) on business leadership, innovative high-performing organisations and the challenges of operating in localities with skills gaps / low productivity is also highly relevant to the focus of this research.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Mandy Cook (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
| Description | I conducted 28 interviews with a total of 25 employers from the private, public and third sectors, as well as with stakeholders from business, to deepen knowledge of employment policies and practices, explore stakeholder perspectives and identify ambitions, constraints and opportunities. The interviews have allowed me to critically assess the rationales for existing, well-established company-led initiatives designed to add value to their business by supporting working carers. Outputs: New knowledge about how managers and HR professionals have developed, and use, innovative approaches to re-shape organisational cultures, deliver and measure business benefits and raise productivity. I am producing practice briefs from my interview findings for publication and distribution by Employers for Carers (and Carer Positive Scotland), targeted at a business audience. The specific business audiences will be the private and public sector, local authorities, health and social care sector, third sector and non-profit organisations. After completion of interviews with employers who were members of the Employers for Carers (Carers UK) and Carer Positive Employer in Scotland (Carers Scotland) schemes, who have long standing support in place for their employees who work and care, my next step was to take what I've learnt and ask employers, who do not necessarily have established support in place at present, if they would be happy to pilot some approaches to supporting working carers. Focusing on areas of low productivity in the UK (aligned to the Industrial Strategy) Age UK Leeds, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, Pennine Foods (Sheffield) and NAViGO (Grimsby) agreed to be case studies. I provided these organisations with my time, expertise and knowledge to help them implement a plan to support their employees who had informal caring responsibilities ((of a disabled, seriously-ill, or older loved one). All the industrial placement organisations allowed me to spend time with all their team leaders/managers to learn about the organisation, the people who work there, what support for their working carers is needed, how that support can be implemented, etc. Support identified included writing a carers policy, introducing a carers passport, reviewing carers/special leave policies, providing information and awareness raising, organising line manager training, etc. It has been left to each organisation to decide what is best for them and their employees. All organisations allowed me to arrange visits over the course of several months to check on and monitor progress. Outcomes = New understanding of workforce issues and challenges / opportunities in supporting working carers in sectors of key importance for the Industrial Strategy. Practice recommendations / guidance on how working carer support could be developed in these business contexts, developed with Employers for Carers and attuned to address the specific challenges identified. |
| Exploitation Route | I am producing a suite of practice briefs from my interview findings for publication and distribution by Employers for Carers (and Carer Positive Scotland), targeted at a business audience. The specific business audiences will be the private and public sector, local authorities, health and social care sector, third sector and non-profit organisations. I will look to write my industrial placements up as impact case studies. Peer reviewed papers will be written from the employer interviews and industrial placement findings. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Other |
| Description | I conducted 28 interviews with a total of 25 employers from the private, public and third sectors, as well as with stakeholders from business, to deepen knowledge of employment policies and practices, explore stakeholder perspectives and identify ambitions, constraints and opportunities. The interviews have allowed me to critically assess the rationales for existing, well-established company-led initiatives designed to add value to their business by supporting working carers. Outputs: New knowledge about how managers and HR professionals have developed, and use, innovative approaches to re-shape organisational cultures, deliver and measure business benefits and raise productivity. I am producing practice briefs from my interview findings for publication and distribution by Employers for Carers (and Carer Positive Scotland), targeted at a business audience. The specific business audiences will be the private and public sector, local authorities, health and social care sector, third sector and non-profit organisations. After completion of interviews with employers who were members of the Employers for Carers (Carers UK) and Carer Positive Employer in Scotland (Carers Scotland) schemes, who have long standing support in place for their employees who work and care, my next step was to take what I've learnt and ask employers, who do not necessarily have established support in place at present, if they would be happy to pilot some approaches to supporting working carers. Focusing on areas of low productivity in the UK (aligned to the Industrial Strategy) Age UK Leeds, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, Pennine Foods (Sheffield) and NAViGO (Grimsby) agreed to be case studies. I provided these organisations with my time, expertise and knowledge to help them implement a plan to support their employees who had informal caring responsibilities ((of a disabled, seriously-ill, or older loved one). All the industrial placement organisations allowed me to spend time with all their team leaders/managers to learn about the organisation, the people who work there, what support for their working carers is needed, how that support can be implemented, etc. Support identified included writing a carers policy, introducing a carers passport, reviewing carers/special leave policies, providing information and awareness raising, organising line manager training, etc. It has been left to each organisation to decide what is best for them and their employees. All organisations allowed me to arrange visits over the course of several months to check on and monitor progress. Outcomes = New understanding of workforce issues and challenges / opportunities in supporting working carers in sectors of key importance for the Industrial Strategy. Practice recommendations / guidance on how working carer support could be developed in these business contexts, developed with Employers for Carers and attuned to address the specific challenges identified. The four practice briefs were published in November 2020: Support for employees who combine work and care - local authorities: http://circle.group.shef.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Work-and-care_local-authorities_Nov-2020.pdf) Support for employees who combine work and care - private sector employers: http://circle.group.shef.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Work-and-care_private-sector_Nov-2020.pdf Support for employees who combine work and care - health and social care sector: http://circle.group.shef.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Work-and-care_health-and-social-care-sector_Nov-2020.pdf Support for employees who combine work and care - public sector employers: http://circle.group.shef.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Work-and-care_public-and-third-sector_Nov-2020.pdf |
| First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Other |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
| Description | Practice Briefs written for public sector, private sector, local authorities, health and social care sector, third sector and non-profit organisations |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | I conducted 28 interviews with a total of 25 employers from the private, public and third sectors, as well as with stakeholders from business, to deepen knowledge of employment policies and practices, explore stakeholder perspectives and identify ambitions, constraints and opportunities. The interviews have allowed me to critically assess the rationales for existing, well-established company-led initiatives designed to add value to their business by supporting working carers. Outputs: New knowledge about how managers and HR professionals have developed, and use, innovative approaches to re-shape organisational cultures, deliver and measure business benefits and raise productivity. I am producing practice briefs from my interview findings for publication and distribution by Employers for Carers (and Carer Positive Scotland), targeted at a business audience. The specific business audiences will be the private and public sector, local authorities, health and social care sector, third sector and non-profit organisations. |
| Description | Response to Carer's Leave Consultation, UK Government |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/8737... |
| Description | Sustainable Care: Re-imagining care round table: working carers (If we recognised working carers' needs in modern workplaces) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | http://circle.group.shef.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/SC-Policy-Perspective-Working-Carers.pdf |
| Description | Tailored recommendations made to four industrial placement organisations on the implementation of work place interventions to support working carers |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | After completion of interviews with employers who were members of the Employers for Carers (Carers UK) and Carer Positive Employer in Scotland (Carers Scotland) schemes, who have long standing support in place for their employees who work and care, my next step was to take what I've learnt and ask employers, who do not necessarily have established support in place at present, if they would be happy to pilot some approaches to supporting working carers. Focusing on areas of low productivity in the UK (aligned to the Industrial Strategy) Age UK Leeds, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, Pennine Foods (Sheffield) and NAViGO (Grimsby) agreed to be case studies. I provided these organisations with my time, expertise and knowledge to help them implement a plan to support their employees who had informal caring responsibilities ((of a disabled, seriously-ill, or older loved one). All the industrial placement organisations allowed me to spend time with all their team leaders/managers to learn about the organisation, the people who work there, what support for their working carers is needed, how that support can be implemented, etc. Support identified included writing a carers policy, introducing a carers passport, reviewing carers/special leave policies, providing information and awareness raising, organising line manager training, etc. It has been left to each organisation to decide what is best for them and their employees. All organisations allowed me to arrange visits over the course of several months to check on and monitor progress. |
| Description | Age UK Leeds |
| Organisation | Age UK |
| Department | Age UK Leeds |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | After completion of interviews with employers who were members of the Employers for Carers (Carers UK) and Carer Positive Employer in Scotland (Carers Scotland) schemes, who have long standing support in place for their employees who work and care, my next step was to take what I've learnt and ask employers, who do not necessarily have established support in place at present, if they would be happy to pilot some approaches to supporting working carers. Age UK Leeds agreed to be a case study. I provided Age UK Leeds with my time, expertise and knowledge to help them implement a plan to support their employees who had informal caring responsibilities ((of a disabled, seriously-ill, or older loved one). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Age UK Leeds agreed to be one of my industrial placement organisations (case study). As a small and medium sized enterprise (SME), Age UK Leeds allowed me to spend time with all their team leaders/managers to learn about the organisation, the people who work there, what support for their working carers is needed, how that support can be implemented, etc. Support identified included writing a carers policy, introducing a carers passport, reviewing carers/special leave policies, providing information and awareness raising, organising line manager training, etc. It has been left to Age UK Leeds to decide what is best for them and their employees. Age UK Leeds allowed me to arrange visits over the course of several months to check on and monitor progress. |
| Impact | Age UK Leeds benefited from the development of an understanding of workforce issues related to working carers and practice recommendations, and guidance on how they can develop working carer support. I wrote a set of bespoke recommendations for Age UK Leeds, based on my research findings from my placement within the organisation. The intention is to write this industrial placement up as an Impact Case Study. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Carer Positive Employer in Scotland (Carers Scotland) |
| Organisation | Carers UK |
| Department | Carers Scotland |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Carer Positive aims to encourage employers to create a supportive working environment for carers in the workplace. The Carer Positive award is presented to employers in Scotland who have a working environment where carers are valued and supported. Carer Positive employers recognise the importance of retaining experienced members of staff, reducing absence, and cutting down on avoidable recruitment costs. I have interviewed 13 Carer Positive Employers in Scotland from the private, public and third sectors. The aim of these interviews was to critically assess the rationales for existing, well-established company-led initiatives designed to add value to their business by supporting working carers. I have gained new knowledge about how managers and HR professionals have developed, and use, innovative approaches to re-shape organisational cultures, deliver and measure business benefits and raise productivity. I will be producing a summary report for publication and distribution by Carer Positive Employer in Scotland (and Employers for Carers), targeted at a business audience. I have also attended a Carer Positive and the Scottish Business Pledge networking events in Glasgow to promote and provide information about my research to members, and develop potential future partnerships with business. I am planning and delivering a workshop at Strathclyde University Technology and Innovation Centre, Glasgow on 19 May 2020 in partnership with Carer Positive Employer in Scotland. This consultative workshop with selected employers / stakeholders will explore progress monitoring and success measurement tools designed to assess the business benefits of supporting working carers. Employers who are Carer Positive Employer members in Scotland who have previously interviewed will be invited to attend, as well new employers not previously engaged in this research project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Carer Positive Employer in Scotland have provided advice and guidance on which employers to approach for interview, and have sent out a letter (email) of introduction to potential interviewees on my behalf. I am working in partnership with Carer Positive Employer in Scotland to deliver the business benefits workshop in May 2020 in Glasgow (described above). |
| Impact | I am producing practice briefs from my interview findings for publication and distribution by Carer Positive Employer in Scotland (and Employers for Carers ), targeted at a business audience. Future collaborations/partnerships with businesses have been developed through attendance at the Carer Positive and the Scottish Business Pledge event in Glasgow. The workshop (described above) will focus on developing indicators and tools to measure the impact of workplace interventions on issues such as productivity, absenteeism, teamwork and growth. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Employers for Carers (Carers UK) |
| Organisation | Carers UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Employers for Carers (EfC) is backed-up by the specialist knowledge of Carers UK. Their key purpose is to ensure that employers have the support to retain and manage employees with caring responsibilities. Launched in 2009 as an employers' membership forum, EfC now has over 115 member organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors. The total number of employees covered by member organisations is now above the 1.7 million mark. The number of working carers represented is likely to be in the region of 190,000. I have interviewed 7 members of Employers for Carers. These include businesses and organisations from the private, public and third sectors. The purpose of these interviews was to critically assess the rationales for existing, well-established company-led initiatives designed to add value to their business by supporting working carers. I am gaining new knowledge about how managers and HR professionals have developed, and use, innovative approaches to re-shape organisational cultures, deliver and measure business benefits and raise productivity. I will be producing a summary report for publication and distribution by Employers for Carers (and Carer Positive Scotland), targeted at a business audience. I have also attended 4 Employers for Carers networking events in London to inform and engage members in my research plan, processes and findings, provide networking opportunities, and help promote and establish strong working relationships with member organisations. I am planning and delivering a workshop at Aviva in London on 4 May 2020 in partnership with Employers for Carers. This consultative workshop with selected employers / stakeholders will explore progress monitoring and success measurement tools designed to assess the business benefits of supporting working carers. The workshop will be part of a wider Employers for Carers Networking Event and all Employers for Carers members will be invited to attend. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Employers for Carers have provided advice and guidance on which members of their organisation to approach for interview, and have sent out an initial letter (email) of introduction to potential interviewees on my behalf. They have also invited me to their networking events in London and have introduced me to potential future collaborators/partners. I am working in partnership with Employers for Carers to deliver the business benefits workshop in May 2020 in London (described above). |
| Impact | I am producing practice briefs from my interview findings for publication and distribution by Employers for Carers (and Carer Positive Scotland), targeted at a business audience. Future collaborations/partnerships with businesses have been developed through attendance at the Employers for Carers networking events in London. The workshop (described above) will focus on developing indicators and tools to measure the impact of workplace interventions on issues such as productivity, absenteeism, teamwork and growth. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NAViGO |
| Organisation | NAViGO Health and Social Care |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | After completion of interviews with employers who were members of the Employers for Carers (Carers UK) and Carer Positive Employer in Scotland (Carers Scotland) schemes, who have long standing support in place for their employees who work and care, my next step was to take what I've learnt and ask employers, who do not necessarily have established support in place at present, if they would be happy to pilot some approaches to supporting working carers. NAViGO agreed to be a case study. I provided NAViGO with my time, expertise and knowledge to help them implement a plan to support their employees who had informal caring responsibilities ((of a disabled, seriously-ill, or older loved one). |
| Collaborator Contribution | NAViGO agreed to be one of my industrial placement organisations (case study) in a low productivity area in the UK. NAViGO allowed me to spend time with their HR and Engagement and Projects teams to learn about the organisation, the people who work there, what support for their working carers is needed, how that support can be implemented, etc. Support identified included writing a carers policy, introducing a carers passport, reviewing carers/special leave policies, providing information and awareness raising, organising line manager training, etc. It has been left to NAViGO to decide what is best for them and their employees. RMBC allowed me to arrange visits over the course of several months to check on and monitor progress. |
| Impact | NAViGO benefited from the development of an understanding of workforce issues related to working carers and practice recommendations, and guidance on how they can develop working carer support. I wrote a set of bespoke recommendations for NAViGO, based on my research findings from my placement within the organisation. I plan to run my third consultative workshop with RMBC on 04 June 2020 to explore how the organisation can use progress monitoring and success measurement tools which are designed to assess the business benefits of supporting working carers. The intention is to write this industrial placement up as an Impact Case Study. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Pennine Foods |
| Organisation | Pennine Food Ingredients Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | After completion of interviews with employers who were members of the Employers for Carers (Carers UK) and Carer Positive Employer in Scotland (Carers Scotland) schemes, who have long standing support in place for their employees who work and care, my next step was to take what I've learnt and ask employers, who do not necessarily have established support in place at present, if they would be happy to pilot some approaches to supporting working carers. NAViGO agreed to be a case study. I provided Pennine Foods with my time, expertise and knowledge to help them implement a plan to support their employees who had informal caring responsibilities ((of a disabled, seriously-ill, or older loved one). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Pennine Foods agreed to be one of my industrial placement organisations (case study), a factory in the food industry in a low productivity area in the UK. Pennine Foods allowed me to spend time with their Occupational Health and HR teams to learn about the organisation, the people who work there, what support for their working carers is needed, how that support can be implemented, etc. Support identified included writing a carers policy, introducing a carers passport, reviewing carers/special leave policies, providing information and awareness raising, organising line manager training, etc. It has been left to Pennine Foods to decide what is best for them and their employees. Pennine Foods allowed me to arrange visits over the course of several months to check on and monitor progress. |
| Impact | Pennine Foods benefited from the development of an understanding of workforce issues related to working carers and practice recommendations, and guidance on how they can develop working carer support. I wrote a set of bespoke recommendations for Pennine Foods, based on my research findings from my placement within the organisation. The intention is to write this industrial placement up as an Impact Case Study. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council |
| Organisation | Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | After completion of interviews with employers who were members of the Employers for Carers (Carers UK) and Carer Positive Employer in Scotland (Carers Scotland) schemes, who have long standing support in place for their employees who work and care, my next step was to take what I've learnt and ask employers, who do not necessarily have established support in place at present, if they would be happy to pilot some approaches to supporting working carers. Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) agreed to be a case study. I provided RMBC with my time, expertise and knowledge to help them implement a plan to support their employees who had informal caring responsibilities ((of a disabled, seriously-ill, or older loved one). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) agreed to be one of my industrial placement organisations (case study) in a low productivity area in the UK. RMBC allowed me to spend time with their HR team to learn about the organisation, the people who work there, what support for their working carers is needed, how that support can be implemented, etc. Support identified included writing a carers policy, introducing a carers passport, reviewing carers/special leave policies, providing information and awareness raising, organising line manager training, etc. It has been left to RMBC to decide what is best for them and their employees. RMBC allowed me to arrange visits over the course of several months to check on and monitor progress. |
| Impact | RMBC benefited from the development of an understanding of workforce issues related to working carers and practice recommendations, and guidance on how they can develop working carer support. I wrote a set of bespoke recommendations for RMBC, based on my research findings from my placement within the organisation. I plan to run my third consultative workshop with RMBC on 04 June 2020 to explore how the organisation can use progress monitoring and success measurement tools which are designed to assess the business benefits of supporting working carers. The intention is to write this industrial placement up as an Impact Case Study. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Ageing Society and the Industrial Strategy Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The event involved presentations and expert panel discussions with industry speakers/key partners and academics. It also included a smaller roundtable discussion with invited industry speakers/key partners and academics. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | CIPD Scotland Annual Conference 2019 - Working through uncertainty: building a productive and inclusive workplace for Scotland's skilled future |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This event was an opportunity to engage with HR professionals from across Scotland, talk about my research project, promote and establish future collaborations/partnerships with industry/business, and to gain knowledge and understanding of current issues/topics, including employee well-being, and diversity and inclusion in the workplace. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://events.cipd.co.uk/events/scotland/ |
| Description | Carer Positive and the Scottish Business Pledge: supporting working carers in Scotland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This seminar invited employers in Scotland to learn about the Scottish Government's Carer Positive recognition scheme, and to understand the business benefits of supporting staff who may be caring for older, sick, or disabled relatives. The event provided an overview of Carer Positive and the case for supporting working carers. It also showcased best practice examples from a number of Carer Positive recognised employers including Centrica/Scottish Gas. The Scottish Business Pledge encourages a range of Fair Work practices to help employers support their employees to, for example work flexibly and to achieve a good work/life balance, recognising that a balance of work and personal commitments offers a more engaged and productive team Hosted by the University of Strathclyde, which is both a Carer Positive and Business Pledge employer, the event gave delegates the chance to discuss their own experiences of carer employees in their organisations and challenges they may have faced in supporting and retaining these staff members. The purpose of attending this event was to introduce myself and my research to employers in Scotland, and to promote and establish future collaborations/participation in my research project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/carer-positive-and-the-scottish-business-pledge-tickets-55521698896?u... |
| Description | Carers Rights Day Event at Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I helped the HR department at Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, which was one of my case studies for my research (industrial placement), set up an information stand for Carers Rights Day. The event provided support/information for working carers within the council as well as the general public. The plan for the day was to launch the working carers employee survey which had been developed as a result of my recommnedations made to the council about how they could support their working carers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Carers Week Event - Pennine Foods |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This Carers Week Event took place at Pennine Foods on Tuesday 11 June 2019. The event provided support/information for employees who were carers, and provided an opportunity for me to engage with employees of Pennine Foods, which was one of my industrial placement organisations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Carers Week Event - Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This Carers Week event was planned with the HR department at Rotherham Metropolitan District Council (RMBC). It took place on Monday 10 June 2019 at Riverside House in Rotherham. This was an event for employers, which was also open to the general public. We invited representatives from local and national organisations to have a stand at the event. All organisations were able to provide support/information for carers as well as information that could help the person being cared for. A variety of Council services were available to provide information, alongside these organisations: Parkwood Healthcare Barnados - Young Carers Making Space Rotherham & Sheffield Home Improvement Agencies Crossroads Carers4Carers Rotherham Doncaster & South Humber NHS Foundation Trust Home Instead Senior Care RMBC Connect to Support RMBC Rothercare & Assistive Technology RMBC Single Point of Access RMBC Human Resources RMBC Families Information Service Public Health Macmillan RMBC Appeals and Advocacy Service Parent Carers Forum Rotherham Carers Centre |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Employers for Carers Members Networking Event: Network to network: Interaction gets traction |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This well attended EfC Member Networking Event on the 16th October, hosted by DWF LLP, focussed on sharing latest learning from dedicated carers groups and wider staff networks and how 'Interaction gets Traction'. The event was opened by Sarah Charlesworth, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at DWF LLP. Sarah reminded us all of the importance of workplace networks and information sessions and said that she is passionate to learn refreshing ways to do more for her working carers network at DWF. Ian Peters, Chair of EfC, welcomed all and was delighted to report that since our last event in June, many of our members have run multiple awareness-raising events and information sessions. EfC have now successfully grown to over 150 members, reaching the 2 million employee mark. We have also seen all 10 local councils joining across the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and are increasing our reach in the North. He also welcomed the fact that, as EfC members, we readily share our best practice with each other. There is no one single model to get a network right but a plethora of different ways which are all right in their own way. Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, was excited to see such a variety of sectors being represented at this event. She highlighted a number of achievements since the last EfC event, including The Digital Cinema and Campaign Big award won by Centrica's 'Share that You Care' campaign as part of the company's three-year strategic partnership with Carers UK. "This has amassed 1.3 million admissions, which is a huge unprecedented reach for us." You can watch the video here. She also highlighted Carers UK's recent State of Caring 2019 report, research on 'Carers at breaking point' and our joint publication with Great Place to Work on the case for supporting carers. Helen then reminded all that as Carers Rights Day will soon be upon us with this year's theme being 'Helping you find your Way' this was a great opportunity for EfC members to promote their membership resources, and continue the caring conversation amongst colleagues. Helen's top tip was to host a 'Care for a Cuppa' event - an event to raise awareness and share experiences of caring in a relaxed atmosphere. To find out more information on how to host a Care for a Cuppa event, or any other fundraising advice click here. Three member organisations shared their experiences of networks, their different stages of development, and the different ways of running a network. First up was Parbinder Bhullar, Senior Programme Manager and Carers Stream Lead at UBS. She outlined the benefits of having suppliers such as Carers UK, who are able to update members on key topics and changes to government legislation; and the importance of networks having a partnership with the HR department, as they can help find solutions. Parbinder also spoke of the importance of gaining data from your employees to help target support more effectively to carers. Anne Power, Staff Networks Coordinator for Central and North London NHS Foundation, explained how they are continuously looking for inventive ways of getting the message out. To celebrate Carers Rights Day this year, their programme will concentrate on the 'top five rights' that have made a change for carers. Anne also explained that the Carers network also work closely with NHS Mental Health, as a lot of their service users have their own carers. As a network, the Co-Chairs create and update a booklet which explains personal stories, the role of a carer, how to make it work, and how to speak to your manager and more. They also tap into a National Staff Networks day involving all their networks and have panel conversations to help tease out what the issues are. Julie Bigwood, Head of Resourcing & Operations and Alex Madewell, Senior Research Assistant at the Bank of England highlighted that they hold regular informative events, including an event with the Mental Health network. Their network also concentrates on the role of a manager and gives advice on existing policies, and ways to stop avoiding those difficult caring questions. Alex reiterated the importance of collecting data while recognising that it may not be easy for small organisations to do this. One of the things they hope to do in the future is to build on their work with the BAME network to understand the dynamics of staff at the bank. This could help them forecast their future and see what the bank might look like demographically in 10-20 years' time, finding the growing issues with carers. "Data is one of our most precious resources that we have." The Q&A sessions followed with members discussing the importance of network intersectionality, carers passports, and initiatives for this year's Carers Rights Day. Dr Mandy Cook, Innovation Fellow, and Camille Allard, PhD Student from the University of Sheffield, gave us an update about the Sustainable Care Programme. Employers for Carers asked participants to contact them if they were interested in hearing more or would like to take part in the research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.employersforcarers.org/events/view-our-previous-events/item/1499-members-networking-even... |
| Description | Employers for Carers Members Networking Events |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Employers for Carers hosts regular Networking Events for members. The purpose of these events is to provide member organisations with the opportunity to: Network with other employers. Share good practice. Discuss any ongoing challenges and opportunities. Receive timely updates on topical issues. The purpose of attending these events is to gain knowledge and understanding of employer support for working carers, inform and engage members in the my research plan, processes and findings, provide networking opportunities, and help promote and establish strong working relationships with member organisations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.employersforcarers.org/events |
| Description | Eurocarers Delegate at 7th Scottish Carers Parliament, Edinburgh |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Carers Parliament 2019 The 7th Carers Parliament was held on Wednesday 30th October 2019 at the Central Halls in Edinburgh. The 2019 Carers Parliament had a theme of the Diversity of Caring. Carers Scotland wanted to recognise and celebrate the diverse nature of caring in Scotland. Carers have been described as ordinary people doing extraordinary things but fundamentally carers are individuals with their own unique experiences, aspirations and diverse needs. These differences present both an opportunity and a challenge to those tasked with taking forward policy development and delivering support (statutory and third sector) and our Carers Parliament day was an opportunity to explore what this means in practice. I attended this event as a Eurocarers delegate. Supported by the Scottish Government, Carers Scotland were able to invite representatives of carer organisations in Europe to visit this event and meet with carers and carer organisations in Scotland. A programme of meetings and presentations on Scotland's carer policy and services was also developed for our delegation on the 29 October and the delegation then attended the Carers Parliament itself on the 30th October. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.carersuk.org/scotland/policy/carers-parliament |
| Description | Impact: the 3rd Health and Social Care Integration event - Scotland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The ALLIANCE Annual Conference and AGM, 'Impact: the 3rd Health and Social Care Integration event', took place on Monday 20 May 2019 in Glasgow. The 2019 conference considered the impact integration has had over the last three years, what still needs to be done and how organisations can work across sectors to collaborate and share ideas. The annual conference aimed to be an important contribution to the debate around health and social care integration in Scotland, championing a range of activities happening in health and social care and bringing together stakeholders from across Scottish society: people and communities, national and local government, academia, the health and social care sector, third sector, and more. This was a networking event - a chance to meet potential future research partners and participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.alliance-scotland.org.uk/blog/news/alliance-annual-conference/ |
| Description | Innovating for an Ageing Society - Innovation Caucus Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Innovation Caucus and the Sustainable Care Programme are running a joint round table event on 'Innovating for an Ageing Society', to take place in the Board Room at ICOSS, Sheffield, on Thursday 2 May 2019, from 11:00am to 3:30pm. I'm hoping you might be able to attend, to [insert role / expected benefit here]. This event was aligned with the Industrial Strategy Healthy Ageing challenge. The main aim was to shape and inform the debate on tackling the current crisis in social care by exploring the role of innovation and the contribution that the social sciences can make to the Healthy Ageing challenge. The event brought together the three Innovation Fellows from the ESRC funded Sustainable Care Programme (University of Sheffield) and a number of Innovation Caucus members, with an interest in the Healthy Ageing challenge. The format for the morning session was that the Innovation Fellows presented findings from their research to date, followed by a round table discussion. After lunch, there was an update on the Healthy Ageing challenge, followed by round table discussions on particular themes and the opportunity for social scientists to contribute to this challenge. This was an opportunity to shape thinking around potential bids and business partners, in preparation for a Healthy Ageing funding call, expected in Summer 2019. My presentation at the event: Enhancing organisational effectiveness by modernising support for working carers Overview: "Modernising support for working carers is a major and growing issue impeding productivity and organisational effectiveness across all industrial sectors. This project addresses factors relevant to growth, productivity and skills development in the UK. Engaging with businesses alert to the benefits of eliminating unnecessary costs and of modernising workforce management by helping employees remain active and productive when caring for an older, sick or disabled person, the project involves a programme of research and activities designed to extend this approach to a wider and more diverse range of organisations". |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Presentation at 14th Conference of the European Sociological Association |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Conference EUROPE AND BEYOND: BOUNDARIES, BARRIERS AND BELONGING 14th Conference of the European Sociological Association Manchester, UK, 20-23 August 2019 In encouraging presenters and other conference participants to think Beyond Europe we wish to consider contemporary developments, processes, practices and subjectivities not only through the lens of Europe and European sociology, but also as central to the development of sociology, or sociologies, for the present and the future. We cannot and should not ignore the factors which are re-shaping Europe from within, such as the effects of globalization, nationalism, populism and migration and, of course, 'Brexit'. However, it is also crucial that we continue to look towards the possibilities of a global sociology which also takes account of the local without being parochial. Boundaries and boundary making spans the sociological spectrum, from how we create and reinforce the markers of distance and difference in social interaction, through the ways in which communities and groups are divided from each other by ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation and other dimensions of inequality. Boundaries are underlined through the extreme divisions of our living conditions: homelessness, ghettos and gated communities. Divisions are being reinforced between citizens and non-citizens as well as between Europe and the rest of the world. Social, symbolic and material boundaries affect us all. We will also explore the Barriers which reinforce these boundaries: barriers to movement, whether for asylum, migration, work or education; barriers to reflection and understanding; barriers to better living conditions; barriers to cooperation and empathy; barriers created through politics and policy - intended and unintended. Belonging is an increasingly contested idea, reinforced as nationality through populism and the far right, disrupted by war, violence, racism and other forms of rejection. It is also created and recreated in communities of necessity and choice and through intimacies, transformations of the self, and our understandings of home. New types of belonging are emerging through virtual networks and communities which challenge both traditional and sociological thinking. The 14th ESA conference will offer opportunities to engage not only with the content of sociological research and theorizing, but also with the ways in which our discipline has been and is being shaped, both in and beyond Europe. Where are the boundaries of the discipline? How can we address barriers to its development both inside and outside of academia? What does it mean to belong to the community of sociologists? We are sure that the conference will give a wide range of sociologists, other academics, practitioners and fellow travellers, an excellent opportunity to present and engage with research and scholarship and also to explore the potential influence of sociology in the public sphere. The conference theme calls for thinking in new ways about persistent inequalities, for challenging dominant discourses and for taking a fresh look at abstract concepts in order to better understand how sociology can contribute, both in theory and practice, to the unmaking and rethinking of 'boundaries' and 'barriers' and to understanding 'belonging'. My presentation - The workplace challenges and opportunities of supporting employees who balance employment with unpaid care. RN17 Work, Employment and Industrial Relations RN17_g- Changes and challenges in contemporary working life How people who combine work and unpaid care can be supported in the workplace has become more important than ever before (Clancy et al., 2019). This paper will explore the challenges and opportunities facing businesses who have existing, well-established company-led initiatives designed to add value to their business by supporting working carers. Aligning to the core themes, challenges and opportunities highlighted in the UK industrial Strategy (2017), which sets out the government's plan to create an economy that boosts productivity and earning power throughout the UK, this new knowledge will then be used to explore future developments in working carer support in sectors of key importance for the Strategy (small and medium sized businesses, employers in regions with low skills/productivity). It makes business sense for employers to support carers (of a disabled, seriously-ill, or older loved one). Rapid growth in the number of people with caring responsibilities, especially among older workers, means that to thrive, businesses must adapt to the needs of their employees who are carers. Organisations that do not support carers risk difficulty in recruiting/retaining skilled workers and/or organisational disruption and productivity losses caused by staff absence, employee stress and high turnover (Carers UK, 2013). This paper draws on qualitative research conducted in the UK, involving 25 expert and stakeholder interviews with members of the Employers for Carers (Carers UK) forum in England and Wales, organisations recognised as a Carer Positive Employer in Scotland, and representatives of business, and industry organisations, as well as four industry placements. As part of a multi-national, multi-disciplinary, Sustainable Care research programme, this paper will also make comparisons with initiatives in Europe and beyond. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.europeansociology.org/conferences/esa-conference-2019-manchester-uk |
| Description | Sustainable Care Capacity Building Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I attended this two day capacity building event as part of the Sustainable Care research team. The event consisted of a series of briefings with key practitioners/academics: Briefings plus Q&A on Carers UK and Employers for Carers Briefings with Social Care Workforce Research Unit at King's College, London Working dinner with guest speakers from Kings Fund, Care Quality Commission and Care England Briefings with Care Quality Commission |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Sustainable Care: Comparing Care Systems and Outcomes in the Four Nations of the UK: Scotland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I attended this event as part of the Sustainable Care research team, which was an event hosted by Carers Scotland in Glasgow, engaging key national stakeholders. The event comprised a briefing session on the national work / activities of carers' organisations and a half-day meeting (for 12-15 participants, including 4-6 national policy / practice representatives). The purpose and focus of this event was to: • identify distinctive features / practices in care in Scotland; • broker / establish positive relationships with key policymakers / stakeholders in Scotland; • plan exchange of data / research findings between attendees. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Sustainable Care: Re-imagining care round table: working carers (If we recognised working carers' needs in modern workplaces) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | I took part in this event as part of the Sustainable Care team. This was one of 7 small, focused, Round Tables with existing external non-academic partners (and, where appropriate, some new external contacts), held in London. The Round Table was a 3-hour events used to discuss ideas relevant to the forthcoming Social Care Green Paper, and facilitated additional transfer and exchange of ideas and knowledge on different issues regarding working carers. Expert contributors to the roundtable: • Scarlet Harris, Women's Officer, TUC • Ian Peters, Chair, Employers for Carers; and Chair, Barts Health NHS Trust • Ben Willmott, Head of Public Policy, CIPD • Kelly Higson, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, Nationwide • James Mummery, Chair, Transport for London Carers Network • Katherine Wilson, Head of Employment, Carers UK The Round Table discussion and experts' contributions raised important issues relevant to policy, employer and research agendas: the need to build on effective practice seen in some UK organisations; and the challenges of extending support to working carers in precarious employment, on casual contracts or self-employed. Major issues were highlighted from the round table discussion and recommendations made for policy, employer and research responses. I co-wrote a Sustainable Care policy brief highlighting the key issues identified from the roundtable discussion (see URL link below). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://circle.group.shef.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/SC-Policy-Perspective-Working-Carers.pdf |
| Description | Using the Industrial Strategy to support higher performance and wages in the retail and hospitality sectors |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This was a Joseph Rowntree Foundation event. Over several years JRF and others have argued that low paid sectors such as retail and hospitality -which account for one in four private sector jobs - deserve a more prominent role in the Government's industrial strategy if we are to create an economy that works for all. The Government have acknowledged in the Industrial Strategy that these sectors have been overlooked and is committed to working with them to drive up earnings and productivity. This conference showed how businesses, trade bodies, national and local government can make this goal a reality. I heard best practice from a range of businesses who are already making progress in tackling the UK's productivity puzzle. I also heard from leading government figures and policy makers on their plans to support the retail and hospitality sector. The event also provided an opportunity to engage with employers/practitioners to develop future collaborations/partnerships. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.jrf.org.uk/event/using-industrial-strategy-support-higher-performance-and-wages-retail-a... |