JGP News

John Hutton, secretary of state for business, has announced that the government is to launch a review investigating ways in which to boost employee engagement in the workplace.

Starting in the early stages of 2009, the Review of Employee Engagement and Investment will make recommendations to organisations, which might include those operating in the public sector, on how to get the most out of their staff.

The review is to be led non-executive director for the Ministry of Justice David MacLeod and Nita Clark, director at the Involvement and Participation Association.

Mr MacLeod pointed that with only 12 per cent of British workers said to considered as being highly engaged "there is [the] potential for huge gains for the economy if we can improve in this area".

Such news might be of interest to those looking to improve the skills framework of their workforce.

Mr Hutton added that those organisations which are most successful are those which recognise that "employees are their most valuable asset".

Earlier this month, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development reported that adopting "smart working" practices - such as keeping technology updated and improving the working environment - can help to improve staff retention rates.

More skills framework information.

British employers, which could include those operating in the third sector, need to grasp the chance of transforming the country into a low-carbon economy, Gordon Brown has suggested.

Speaking at the Labour party conference, which is currently being held in Manchester, Mr Brown reported that businesses have a vital role to play in helping Britain to reduce its overall carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.

Mr Brown said he wanted both British organisations and British workers "to seize the opportunity and lead the world in the transformation to a low-carbon economy".

He went on to report that by implementing such green business practices could create one million new jobs.

Such news could be of interest to those looking to improve sustainable efficiencies.

Last week, Phil Woolas, minister for climate change, reported that local authorities are "ideally placed" to set a good example in their communities for tackling climate change.

More about sustainable efficiencies.

More needs to be done to distinguish social enterprises from those working for the voluntary sector, it has been reported.

In research carried out by the Central Office of Information (CIO), on behalf of the Office of the Third Sector, it was stated that many people associate social enterprises as being an integrated part of the non-profit sector.

Furthermore, it was claimed the public often views social enterprises as inefficient and grant-dependent, causing the CIO to suggest they should be promoted more heavily as a viable business option.

It was also reported would-be recruits for the sector, young business-savvy people with an understanding of social issues, should be specifically targeted through advertising campaigns, in news that may interest those looking to attract job applicants via a regional recruitment portal.

The report claimed: "Great things might be happening, but this is a sector ”in waiting”."

Earlier this month it was revealed that two social enterprises in Yorkshire - the Emmaus village in Carlton and Harrogate’’s Disability Action Yorkshire - were placed on the shortlist for the £20,000 Best Social Enterprise prize at the Enterprising Solutions Awards ceremony.

More regional recruitment portal information.

Those working for two social enterprises in Yorkshire have been placed on the shortlist to win a prestigious industry award, it has been revealed.

Harrogate-based Disability Action Yorkshire and the Emmaus village in Carlton are in the running for the Best Social Enterprise prize at the forthcoming Enterprising Solutions Awards ceremony which looks to find the most effective third sector organisation of this kind.

The social enterprise which wins the award will receive £20,000.

Meanwhile, Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College has been nominated for the Best Social Enterprise in Schools prize.

Chief executive of the Social Enterprise Coalition Jonathan Bland said: "These awards are instrumental in showcasing and rewarding the impact of social enterprise in the UK."

He went on to report that social enterprises harness the power of whatever sector they operate in for "the power of the market for the benefit of communities and individuals".

Such news may be of interest to those third sector organisations looking to improve their skills framework.

Last month Social Firms UK and Rise announced that they are to use the latter organisation’’s social enterprise kitemark to provide a quality mark for social enterprises across the country.

More skills framework information.

Those working for a number of community and voluntary groups have been praised at an industry event, it has been revealed.

At the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action’’s (Navca) annual conference, seven organisations were given the Navca Quality Award, an externally-audited prize which evaluates the quality of services that are provided by local infrastructure organisations.

The Tameside Third Sector Coalition, York CVS and Keighley Voluntary Services were among those who received such an accolade.

Kevin Curley, chief executive of Navca, claimed that those organisations which have received the award will be able to demonstrate to network partners and funders "that they are doing the right things and doing them well".

In addition to the seven recent winners, a further 13 organisations were shown to have won the award since Navca’’s 2007 conference.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that Scope, Age Concern England and Mencap had formed links as network partners to help run campaign events during the party conferences held by Britain’’s three major political parties.

More about network partners.