Member Article

Manchester and Cambridge to receive mediation pilots

New reforms to the employment tribunal system have been unveiled by Employment Relations Minister Norman Lamb.

The Regional Mediation Network pilot scheme will initially be provided for a selected group of SMEs in Cambridge and Manchester over the coming months.

Consensio, a member of the Civil Mediation Council will develop and deliver the mediation training package for the group of 24 businesses.

A network of trained mediators will be set up to provide mediation to other organisations in their respective network, in a bid to resolve workplace disputes at the earliest possible opportunity.

Employment Relations Minister Norman Lamb said “We know that sometimes workplace disputes are unavoidable and that those involved see no alternative to the employment tribunal to resolve the issue.

“ We want to promote alternative resolution options, and we are committed to encouraging parties to find other ways of resolving their problems.

“The use of mediation is one such way and this is why in January we announced the BIS Regional Mediation initiative.

“This initiative will give small businesses in Manchester and Cambridge the opportunity to experience mediation and discover the benefits it can bring for the first time.

“I am pleased to announce that Consensio will work with BIS to take forward this work, delivering accredited workplace mediation training to the members of each network.”

Co-founder of Consensio, Anna Shields said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Government to deliver these pioneering pilot schemes.

“This will be an intensive programme across two commercially significant regions. We will work hand-in-hand with BIS from the outset on all aspects of the scheme to ensure this is a successful pilot.”

Businesses can become involved in the pilot by attending one of the awareness raising seminars in Manchester on June 26 at the Renaissance Manchester City Centre Hotel and Cambridge on July 2, at the Moller Centre.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .