We are members of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter

We are members of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter. The Charter is a voluntary membership and assessment scheme, which aims to improve employment standards for all organisations of any size or sector across Greater Manchester.

The Charter sets out seven key characteristics of good Employment. We have made a commitment to uphold the highest set of standards in these characteristics and demonstrated that actions have been taken to ensure the comprehensive criteria have been met. Outlined below is what you can expect from us as members of the Charter.

Secure work – We offer secure work, giving employees security over their income through transparency in communications and contracts, guaranteed minimum hours, and regular review of these terms. Staff are thus given the ability to effectively manage their work and non-work commitments.

Flexible work – We enable flexible working by designing jobs in a way that, wherever possible, flex where people work, when people work, and how much people work; with clarity on the possibility of job flexibility from the outset of employment. Employees have access to a clear flexible working policy that encourages flexibility, gives opportunity for staff to request flexible arrangements, and offers regular review of such arrangements.

Real living wage – We pay staff the real living wage as set out by the Living Wage Foundation.

Engagement and voice – We utilise employee engagement and voice, building a confident, empowered workforce. Employees are involved in decision-making and managing change through effective communication and consultation, and trade unions are recognised and positively engaged with where applicable.

Recruitment – We have excellent recruitment practices, involving prospective employees in an inclusive, fairrecruitment process that is accessible, enables both equality and equity, eliminates unconscious bias, and supports the building of a diverse workforce.

People management – We ensure excellent people management and development of our workforce, giving employees a clear set of organisational values and expected behaviours along with the right to a workplace free of bullying and harassment. With an emphasis on organisational development, all staff are provided with training that enables them to perform effectively in their role and develop skills and experience that supports progression.

Health and wellbeing – We actively support employee health and wellbeing. Employees have the ability to thrive in a workplace where adjustments are made, and individual needs recognised, acknowledging that mental health and general health and wellbeing need to be considered in relation to an organisation’s wider values and objectives. Strategies are in place and internal and/or external support is available to facilitate ongoing discussion, training and monitoring.

In order to become a Member of the Charter, we have met the comprehensive criteria in place, demonstrating our commitment to all of the above characteristics of good employment, which are underpinned by equality, diversity and inclusion. For more information on specific criteria for membership, please visit the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter website.