Raising Standards of Employment

Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter is a voluntary membership and assessment scheme, which aims to raise the standards within employment to benefit people, society, and the economy in Greater Manchester.

The Good Employment Charter Initiative is a collaborative effort aimed at promoting ethical, fair, and inclusive employment practices within the business landscape. It encourages companies to commit to a set of seven characteristics of good employment principles that prioritise secure work, flexible work, pay, engagement & voice, recruitment, people management and health & wellbeing.

Seddon have been proud members of the Good Employment Charter since 2022 (Supporter Status) and were honoured to be awarded ‘Large Supporter of the Year’ at the Good Employment Charter Awards later that year. We have since become full members of the Charter since January 2023.

Members of the Charter have put their commitment to good employment into action within their organisations; and they excel in all characteristics and are among employers leading the good employment movement in Greater Manchester. Whilst supporters of the Charter are employers that have made a commitment to improving practice in all characteristics of good employment.

Over the past three years Seddon has worked collaboratively with the Good Employment Charter and supporters and members on various initiatives.

Explore Days are small group visits to member organisations to learn about their employment practices and to network with likeminded people-managers.

Seddon have hosted a number of explore days on our construction sites and within our offices. An Explore Day involves inviting 20 members and supporters to an event where attendees share ideas with the aim of improving people practices in members and supporters’ businesses.

Our first explore day was held on a Passivhaus Housing Site which involved constructing energy efficient homes. The event was attended by 20 SME businesses and 8 Seddon employees were involved in delivering presentations about how to recruit in a modern and dynamic digital world as well as discussing key talent strategies and becoming an employer of choice.

Our second explore day was held at our head office. The overall purpose of this event was to share knowledge and practices and presentations and open discussions were led by our senior leadership team. Topics included employee benefits, wellbeing, flexible working, and apprenticeships. This event was attended by 20 SMEs and 9 Seddon employees, delivered over a full day.

Being part of the Charter goes beyond our traditional corporate social responsibility efforts by emphasising the active sharing of knowledge and expertise among participating employers. Seddon has embraced this concept, allocating a portion of its employees' work hours to engage in activities that contribute to the collective knowledge pool within the business community.

By dedicating employee hours to knowledge-sharing initiatives, Seddon has experienced a multifaceted impact on both its internal operations and the broader business community:

Internal Skill Enhancement: Employees at Seddon have actively participated in cross-industry workshops, webinars, and collaborative projects facilitated by the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter Initiative. This not only broadened their skill sets but also fostered a culture of continuous learning within Seddon.

Community Collaboration: The sharing of knowledge extended beyond Seddon. We have collaborated with over 100 organisations during 2023 & 2024, exchanging insights and best practices. This collaborative approach led to the development of innovative solutions and the creation of a supportive network within the business community.

Talent Attraction and Retention: The commitment to social value hours has enhanced our employer brand and candidate experience as an employer of choice. Talented individuals have been drawn to Seddon because of our dedication to employee development and community engagement, resulting in improved recruitment and retention rates. During 2024 and based on candidate application feedback data, we have experienced a 35% increase in applicants per role. Our overall employee turnover has also decreased by 12%.

The ripple effect following our participation in the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter Initiative was felt throughout the business community:

Elevated Industry Standards: The collective effort of participating organisations, including Seddon, is raising the standards for employment standards within Greater Manchester. This is not only contributing to the enhanced the overall quality of work environments but also is influencing responsible business practices.

Seddon’s involvement in the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter Initiative, showcases the transformative power of aligning business practices with ethical and community-focused initiatives. The commitment to knowledge-sharing has not only strengthened Seddon internally but has also had a far-reaching impact on the broader business community, driving positive change and contributing to the overall wellbeing of employees in business across Greater Manchester