As we reflect on the Greater Manchester Good Employment Week 2024, we are grateful for the incredible engagement and collaboration that took place. From 7th to 11th October, we saw Charter Supporters and Members, partners, and Greater Manchester equality panels come together to share, collaborate, and champion fair work.
This blog provides not only a reflection on the week but also includes a resource list to help you implement the insights and strategies shared during the events. Be sure to check it out for tools and materials to support best employment practices in your organisation.
The Best Practice Conference
One of the key highlights of the week was the Greater Manchester Good Employment Best Practice Conference, held on Thursday, 10th October. The energy in the room was palpable as a diverse panel of industry leaders, including Professor Julia Rouse (MMU), Chris Stott (KPMG), Tanya Sweeney (Unite The Union), and Charles Kwaku-Odoi (CAHN) shared their insights on building thriving, inclusive workplaces. The discussions touched on everything from leadership to the role of unions, and set the tone for a day dedicated to learning, sharing, and inspiration.
Throughout the day, attendees participated in a series of workshops led by previous winners and finalists of the Good Employment Awards. These sessions provided practical strategies on the key topics of management and leadership, health and wellbeing, employee engagement, and inclusion. Each session featured insights from industry leaders, including:
Management and Leadership
Led by:
Gillian Drakeford, Board Member of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter
John Herring, NHS Greater Manchester
Nick Cooper, Adept Corporate Services
Sara Auty, SAZ Media
Health and Wellbeing
Led by:
Kane Joyce, Manchester City Council
Rich Browning, Healthy Me Healthy Communities
Caroline Street, Hopwood Hall College and University Centre
Employee Engagement and Voice
Led by:
Chris Holt, Adept Corporate Services
Claire Wood, Datesand
Sally O'Shea, The Manchester Metropolitan University
Inclusion
Led by:
Jess Ludlam, J’adore Models
Kat Sowden, Persona Care and Support
Lucy Davies, Tilbury Douglas
These sessions provided attendees with actionable steps to elevate their organisations’ employment practices, ensuring that Greater Manchester continues to lead the way in fair and inclusive workplaces. See the resource list at the bottom of this blog for the presentation slide decks used in the sessions.
The conference concluded with a speech by Sharon Amesu, a Board Member of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter. Sharon’s call to continue striving for excellence in employment practices resonated deeply with attendees (see full video). Donald Moore, Chair of One+All, closed the day with reflections on how far we’ve come—and how much more we can achieve as a community committed to fairness at work.
Celebrating the Success of Good Employment Week
The Best Practice Conference was just one part of what made Good Employment Week 2024 so impactful. Across Greater Manchester, a wide variety of events took place, from panel discussions on race and LGBTQ+ equality in the workplace, to insightful sessions on neurodivergent leadership and age inclusivity.
One standout initiative was the launch of the interactive Snakes & Ladders game, which continues to raise awareness about workplace inequalities in a unique and engaging way. The game invites participants to reflect on their own journey in the workplace, providing valuable insights into how we can make fair work a reality for everyone. It will continue to be advertised around Greater Manchester’s transport network until the end of the year.
The week’s events reflected a true city-wide conversation about fairness in the workplace. It was incredible to see how many employers are not only interested in the topic of good employment but are actively working to implement these practices. The networking, knowledge-sharing, and collaborative spirit that defined the week left us feeling inspired and hopeful for the future of employment in Greater Manchester.
We would like to extend our thanks to our Supporters, Members and Partners, whose dedication and engagement made Good Employment Week 2024 such a success. Your commitment to advancing good employment practices is driving real change, and together, we are building a stronger, fairer future for all employees across the city-region.
As we look back on this year’s Good Employment Week, we are reminded that while progress has been made, there is still more work to do. The week was not just a celebration—it was a reminder of the challenges that still exist and the importance of keeping fairness, inclusion, and employee wellbeing at the heart of everything we do. Together, we can continue to make Greater Manchester the best place to work, where fair work truly is good work.
Resource list:
General:
Best Practice Conference:
- Closing speech – Sharon Amesu
- Inclusion slides
- Employee Engagement slides
- Health and Wellbeing slides
Videos:
- Fair Work is Good Work Game | Insights with Corporation Pop
- See our Awards shortlist and winner videos
- Andy Burnham launches 2nd Good Employment Week
Podcast:
- Transforming Culture and Leadership in Healthcare: Chatter with John Herring
- Chatter about Fair Work: Lessons from Employers of the Year and the Living Wage Foundation
- Embracing Neurodiversity in the Workplace: Chatter with Dr Shirley Woods-Gallagher
- Series 3 of Good Employment Chatter: Episodes on each of the protected characteristics
Documents/guides:
Good Employment Week 2024
Good Employment Week 2024 featured an interactive game promoting fair work and good employment. This snakes-and-ladders-like game follows a typical career path, through the eyes of three different people. Roll the dice and discover how employers impact individual experiences differently, as you navigate through the working life.