The DTI is promoting its Partnership at Work Fund.

 Partnership at work means employers, employees and their representatives working together to solve particular business problems or avoiding such problems arising in the first place. It means communication at all levels. Where partnership is successful, employers and employees have a mutual understanding of one another’s needs and a shared goal of a winning business.

Partnership at work is about developing better employment relations within the workplace. It is not about developing wider relationships between organisations.

Why is the government providing help?

Many organisations in Britain have realised the potential of a partnership approach to develop the productivity and job satisfaction of the workforce and are now reaping the rewards. But there are many others, not yet aware of the benefits, which are falling behind through their failure to adopt new ways of working.

The Fund will be making more organisations aware of the benefits of partnership by supporting projects to spread best partnership practice more widely.

How much money is available?

The initial £5 million that was available has now been distributed with the first 4 calls. In December 2001, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Patricia Hewitt, announced a further £20 million funding for best practice initiatives to include the Partnership Fund. Details of the future of the Fund will be announced in the near future; please monitor this site for further details. The structure for applying is unlikely to change significantly, with the maximum available for organisation level projects maintained at £50,000, or 50% match funding for eligible costs.

Who is eligible to apply to the Partnership Fund?

Companies, business intermediaries including employer federations, trade unions and other employee representatives, trade associations, Business Links, Learning and Skills Councils (or equivalents), public sector bodies and charities are all eligible to apply. Bids can come from an individual workplace submitting a project between the employer (or their representatives) and employees (or their representatives); a trade union working with the employer/employees or a Business Link or LSC (or equivalent) working with a business or organisation. There is no set number or combination of partners. The Fund is available to organisations in England, Scotland and Wales.

Enquiries

For enquiries, call the Partnership Fund helpline on 020 7215 6252 or email us at partnership@dti.gsi.gov.uk.

Which projects have been successful so far?

For fuller detail of all the previously successful projects and the very valuable case studies, see: http://www.dti.gov.uk/partnershipfund/

For help from équilibre with accessing these funds and making the changes in a collaborative way, contact John killman 01908 370075

Further links on work life balance you might find useful are: