Greater Manchester gears up for country’s first Good Employment Week

The UK’s first ever week dedicated to promoting good workplaces will take place across Greater Manchester from 19^th  to 24^th June.

Good Employment Week has been organised by the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, which champions work that is underpinned by a commitment to equality, fair pay, and giving employees a say in how their workplaces are run.

As the inaugural event, Good Employment Week aims to inspire businesses across the city-region to prioritise good employment practices and to empower workers with the knowledge of what they deserve from their employers. The week will see professionals, thought leaders, and industry experts come together to address critical issues in the realm of work, with activities and 25 events organised by the Charter and partners. 

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:

“I am proud to launch Greater Manchester’s Good Employment Week. Once again, our city region is leading the way with the country’s first week dedicated to celebrating the benefits of employment.  

“The Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter has established a credible network of employers who understand that creating good jobs creates happier and healthier employees. They also know it brings real business benefits in terms of recruitment, retention and productivity. 

“With major economic challenges and changes to the way we all work, good employment is more important than ever. Our vision is to create a place where every job is a good job. Together we can build an economy where businesses thrive and every worker is valued and respected.” 

Cllr Bev Craig, GMCA Portfolio Lead for Economy and Business, said:

“This week marks the Good Employment Charter’s first-ever Good Employment Week, celebrating the movement for better working standards in Greater Manchester. We’re encouraging people, businesses and organisations to get involved through the various events, activities and the good employment quiz.  

“Already we’ve made a tangible impact on the working lives of thousands of workers, but with people facing a cost of living crisis and other pressures, we need to ensure our movement for fairly paid, flexible and secure work continues to grow.” 

On Monday (19^th June) the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, will officially launch the week where he will present plaques to 17 new members who have joined the Charter, including The Big Life Group; Diamond Bus North West; Seddon Construction; Carrs Pasties and Trafford and Wigan councils. 

Key events include General Secretary of the TUC, Paul Nowak, speaking at the second annual Good Employment lecture on Thursday, 22^nd June, exploring how the Trade Union movement contributes to the Good Work agenda. The event will be held from 5.15pm to 8pm at the People’s History Museum. 

The Greater Manchester Good Employment Best Practice Conference take places on Tuesday, 20^th June at the Mechanics Institute in Manchester. The event, from 9.30am to 4pm, is dedicated to exploring the latest trends and strategies in creating a thriving workplace. The conference will feature expert speakers leading workshops on a range of topics, including leadership, health and wellbeing, and flexible working, as well as a panel Q&A. 

In Stockport, local employers can meet existing members of the Good Employment Charter and Living Wage Foundation accredited employers in the borough to learn more about the benefits of ensuring good working conditions for colleagues during a breakfast networking event at Bask on Friday 23rd June.

The week also sees the launch of a pack for schools and colleges on Wednesday, 21^st June, 4.30pm to 6.30pm, at Wigan and Leigh College. The pack has been developed to help young people understand what good work should look like.

A full programme of events and details of how to attend can be found via the Good Employment Week website.

Pictured: Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, with Chris Smallwood from Britannia Anchor Removals and winner of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter Employer of the Year 2023.