Chance for Cheshire businesses and organisations to shape fair employment charter

Businesses and organisations across Cheshire and Warrington were today urged to grab the chance to help shape the blueprint for a fair employment charter being explored by council and LEP leaders.

Initial consultation on the charter to promote fairer pay and a more diverse, engaged, and healthy workforce was launched in March.

And now businesses and organisations of all shapes and sizes are being given a unique chance to give their feedback, share their ideas at a series of events in June to ensure those behind the proposal establish whether there is support for implementing a fair employment charter in Cheshire and Warrington.

The charter is being developed by the region’s Leaders Board, which includes, amongst others, the elected leaders of Cheshire East Council, Cheshire West and Chester Council and Warrington Borough Council and the Cheshire and Warrington LEP.

It is intended the charter would champion good practice as well as pointing to areas for improvement with benefits ranging from assisting with recruitment of good staff to increased productivity and profitability for businesses.

Today the Leaders Board released details of the engagement events in a bid to gather views and feedback from across public, private, community and voluntary sectors.

They will be a mix of open area and geographically focused. The geographically focused sessions will be co-hosted with the respective local authority.

List of the events – click on a link below for more details and to book a ticket

• Online workshop for business and organisations with a focus on Cheshire West on 21 June 12-1.30pm.
• In person workshop for businesses and organisation based in Warrington on 22 June 8.30-10.30am.
• Online workshop for businesses and organisation with a focus on Cheshire East on 26 June 12-1.30pm.

People can also contribute to the Cheshire and Warrington Fair Employment Charter Consultation Survey which only takes a few minutes to complete and is open until the end of June 2023.

Further engagement events may be held beyond June as required.

The rallying call comes after March’s successful online launch event when those logging on hearing examples of good practice in fair employment and speakers included Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, Cllr Louise Gittins, and the Leader of Cheshire East Council, Cllr Sam Corcoran.

The charter would have different membership levels such as an entry level category as well as full membership. It would embrace a raft of areas including fair wages, working practices and recruitment; giving employees more of a voice; and removing barriers to employment including people with disabilities, young people and the over 50s.

The charter sets out key aspects of what an employer needs to offer to demonstrate fair employment while recognising each organisation will be on their own fair employment journey and specialise in some areas rather than others.

The  Local Enterprise Partnership leads the growth of the Cheshire and Warrington economy through a powerful partnership between the private, public, and voluntary sectors.

The Local Enterprise Partnership Board sets strategic direction for the economic development of Cheshire and Warrington. This is based on an objective assessment of the region’s opportunities and challenges. 

The LEP is supporting the Leaders' board with the charter consultation.

As an organisation Cheshire and Warrington LEP listens to the needs of businesses and communities. We want to build connections with any organisation and individual in Cheshire and Warrington who is prepared to help improve the local economy.

We also work closely with partners across the Northern Powerhouse. We are proud of our ability to make things happen. Over recent years we have invested over £200 million of Local Growth Funding. We provide advice and support for businesses through our Growth Hub; improve skills and training in partnership with schools, colleges, and the University of Chester; and promote the region as a great place to live, work, invest, visit, meet and study.