Last month, over 200 Ministry of Justice (MOJ) Employee Engagement Champions (EECs) met for their tenth annual Champions Day.
There is some great work going on in the MoJ to improve employee engagement. Supporting that work are over 800 volunteer MoJ champions in workplaces across the country. This national network of local engagement advocates are determined to make a real difference by improving the working experiences of their colleagues. This role is undertaken in addition to their day jobs.
The Champions Day event is an opportunity for a number of them to meet together to celebrate what has been achieved in the MoJ, further develop their understanding of employee engagement and discuss what more needs to be done. This year my colleague, Donna Donaghey from Civil Service Local and I were privileged to be invited to join them at Mary Ward House in London.
The theme was ‘Looking Back, Moving Forward’ and the sessions were designed around the interesting idea of Engagement Champions as scouts on a trail of discovery. Fascinating presentations were delivered by speakers from both within and outside of the MoJ. For example, Richard Mortimer, MoJ’s Head of Employee Engagement, reflected on the department’s People Survey results in 2014 and the progress it has made in employee engagement. Ian Dodds of Dodds Consulting shared his personal experiences of how ‘inclusive engagement’ has improved fair treatment and the promotion of diversity in both the public and private sectors. Energetic group activities helped the champions learn new skills and reflect on new perspectives.
Innovation has helped drive forward the improvements in employee engagement in the MoJ and this was showcased by the launch of a new collaborative tool that will allow champions to contribute and share best practice.
In his closing remarks, Rob Neil, Head of Engagement Networks, emphasised the critical contributions that members of this growing network have made and will continue to make as the MoJ moves forward on its employment engagement journey.
In bringing together a group of people who genuinely care about making the MoJ a better place to work, something truly inspirational has been created. The success of this network is testament to the power of collaboration to drive forward positive changes in the civil service and to the passion, creativity and dedication of the MoJ’s Employee Engagement Champions.
Planning is already underway for Champions Day 11 and the MoJ is looking for a cost effective venue that could accommodate 300+ people, ideally in the south east, for March 2016. If you can assist with this, it would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Rob Neil: Rob.Neil@justice.gsi.gov.uk.