HR Excellence Awards 2010: Outstanding Employee Engagement Strategy - Winner: London Borough of Lewisham

This was the praise the judges heaped on London Borough of Lewisham's 'one council approach' to staff engagement - a strategy that starts every year with an annual re-fresh of visions and the adoption of a 'Lewisham Way', which sets service transformation levels, and allows employees to self-rate out of 10 how they and their teams are doing.

Engagement at Lewisham promotes employee participation and the breaking down of barriers. Staff can meet five of the council's executive directors at regular lunch meetings and express concerns or ideas. They help set their own targets while line managers are equipped with the right tools they need to appraise staff, and measure what skills are being brought into the organisation.

Combined with staff-nomination recognition (its Pride Awards), and an ethos that supports a health and wellbeing culture, the council has seen significant measurable returns: 90% of employees report they understand and are committed to achieving the council's goals, while staff rate their managers at near top 10 levels, according to Mori public sector benchmarking norms. An independent Careers For Leaders 2009 report placed Lewisham in the top three 'dream councils' respondents want to work for, if given the choice. Lewisham's own employee survey showed the council had made improvements in all 30 of its measurable areas; of note, 59% of staff said they were satisfied they were making the best use of their skills, and 63% were satisfied with the opportunities they had to show initiative. This compares to public-sector norms of 53% and 56% respectively.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: B&Q

Despite seeing its largest-ever rise in engagement scores in 2005/6, the DIY chain went on in 2009 to develop five new drivers and nine specific plans to support its 'Unlock Plan' - to unlock high performance. This was accompanied by the launch of its retail apprenticeship programme, enabling staff to achieve a NVQ in retail skills. Its most recent Business Impact Analysis shows 26% of the stores with meaningful engagement rises in 2009 accounted for half of over-budget sales. In 2009 it also became the only UK firm to get a Gallup Great Workplace Award for the fourth year running.

FINALISTS

Essex County Council

IAG

McDonald's

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