Press release - Lord Young: Workers hold the key to business success - 16 July 2009
Press release - British business future lies with engaging its employees - 16 July 2009
Involving employees fully in the future of the firms they work for will be a key step if businesses are to innovate and take advantage of new opportunities, an independent review announced today.
The MacLeod Review of employee engagement has recommended government support and more cooperation by UK businesses both large and small, to make sure the relationship between employees and employers is at the centre of successful business plans.
Led by David MacLeod and Nita Clarke, the review was commissioned in September to make recommendations on promoting employee engagement.
David MacLeod said:
“This is about unleashing the potential of people at work and enabling them to be the best they can be. Whether we are in a downturn or in better economic times, engagement is a key to innovation and competitiveness.
“Engagement is increasingly recognised as vital by senior figures in the public sector, the private sector and trades unions. We are delighted that if our recommendations are accepted, a distinguished sponsor group has already agreed to work with us to raise awareness and understanding.
“Employers in all parts of the economy can make a success of employee engagement through culture change, rather than investing significant financial resources.”
Nita Clarke said:
“Our recommendations set out a road-map for government to offer help and support, and for businesses and employee groups to help each other.
“By respecting the contribution employees can make and ensuring they are fully involved in developing their organisation’s future, employers can help unlock their full potential. If workplaces up and down the UK learn from the best standards that are already in place, the whole country will benefit.
“When done well, employee engagement is a win for the organisation, a win for the individual and therefore a win for the country as a whole.”
The MacLeod Review has recommended:
- The government should work to raise awareness of employee engagement benefits and techniques.
- A senior sponsor group bringing together representatives from business, the public sector, not-for-profit organisations and unions, should be set up to boost understanding of this vital topic – many leading figures leaders have already agreed to be part of this group.
- The government and its agencies should work together to ensure their support is aligned and tailored to the needs of different organisations in different sectors of the economy seeking to enhance levels of employee engagement.
- A range of more practical support for organisations who want to raise levels of employee engagement should be made available by March 2010. This support should be designed in consultation with businesses and other organisations to ensure it is tailored to their needs.
Contributors to the review included some of the biggest names in British business, as well as smaller firms and public sector bodies.
If you would like to read the full report, please click on the link below.
Engaging for success: enhancing performance through employee engagement [MacLeod review] 
(885KB)
The report is also available in Welsh; please contact Debra Macleod on 0207 215 0973 for a copy. Mae’r adroddiad hefyd ar gael yn Gymraeg; cysylltwch â Debra Macleod ar 0207 215 0973 am gopi.