Collins said: "Any business can create an engagement culture, not just the blue chip companies. It's about changing leadership style and awareness and being open to all information available.
"I do believe there is a blockage caused by old-fashioned outdated businesses."
Nick Cresswell, vice president of strategic talent at Thomson Reuteurs, told HR magazine: "Employee engagement doesn't just belong to HR, it belongs to the whole organisation.
"It's about building a community in your company. Sharing ideas and inspirations."
He added: "Heads of companies are aware of engagement; it's a fashionable word that has been around a while, but it is filtering it in deep into your organisation that is important."
The Engage for Success event was being held to tackle the UK's employee engagement deficit.
Practitioners from private, public and third sector organisations met in London to hear the latest evidence on what the UK's employee engagement deficit is costing the economy.
The first message to come through was employers have to realise their disengaged staff are saying: "I am not a human resource, I am a human being."
David Macleod, co-chair of the Engage for Success Taskforce, talked about the amazing 'buzz' in the room and went on to say: "Engaging employees is good for personal wellbeing, central for organisational success and vital for growth of UK plc as we all meet the challenges of recession and global competition."
He added: "It is now important to take this out into workplaces across the country and really make a difference."
Tanith Dodge, HR director at Marks and Spencer, said: "This is not an HR issue, it's not a survey, it's about leadership, values, respect and praise. It's also about helping people shine."
Also at the event was Jo Swinson, minister for employment relations and consumer affairs. Swinson who was last week named a Liberal Democrats rising star by her own party, said: "This initiative is so important and vital for our economy."
This event comes after the launch of the Engage for Success report, a national resource of good practice and support for improving engagement at work.
