Workplace Innovation Fund (WIF)
Productivity Improvement through Partnership and Participation
Description
What activities are eligible?
What costs are eligible?
Where can I get more information?
How do I apply?
Description
Workplace innovation is about finding new ways of doing everyday things in the workplace, from employee relations and human-resource management to the organisation of work and working practices. Characterised by high levels of employee involvement and engagement, it is about the design and adoption of new processes, structures, relationships and ideas in the development of products and services, covering activities such as internal communications, team working, upskilling, change management and employee development.
The aim of the Workplace Innovation Fund (WIF) is to help small and medium sized enterprises boost their productivity and performance by embracing and embedding innovative workplace practices, while developing employee participation and empowerment as enablers of change and creativity. This is a joint initiative between Enterprise Ireland the National Centre for Partnership & Performance.
What activities are eligible?
Activities supported under the Workplace Innovation Fund include:
Building strategic capacity for change - developing managements' vision for employee involvement and participation:
Activities considered under this heading will be characterised by leadership and management development initiatives such as:
Working in partnership - enhancing capacity for change among employees (and their representatives, where appropriate):
Activities considered in this area will seek to implement new or revised work arrangements, leading to greater employee autonomy and involvement in decision making:
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Team working
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Employee relations
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Communication, information and consultation
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Employee feedback and motivation
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Employee financial involvement arrangements (suitable for the company and its employees)
Building employee commitment to a better workplace:
Activities considered will have the potential to lead to greater buy-in, motivation and commitment from employees, such as:
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Provision of new approaches to training and development through the prioritisation of learning
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Arrangements for the development of skills, knowledge and motivation of individuals and groups of employees
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Provision of greater levels of flexibility
Activities can also focus on the broader pressures facing employers and employees such as:
Introducing new HR processes to support the business:
Activities in this area will contribute to the development of processes around:
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Recruitment
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Performance Management
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Staff Retention
Project submissions must clearly demonstrate evidence of management and employee collaboration in the implementation of activities, including the development of the project proposal.
What costs are eligible?
Funding for WIF projects is not competitive and is open to all Enterprise Ireland companies. All projects are selected for support on an eligibility basis.
Initiatives supported under Workplace Innovation include activities aimed at both management and employees of eligible companies.
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Minimum company spend
Please note that the minimum company-spend requirement for the WIF has recently been reduced from €25,000 to €12,500.
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Where can I get more information?
Enterprise Ireland and the NCPP have produced a joint WIF information brochure. Please click here to view/download it.
For additional information, please contact:
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Brid Foley
Tel: +(353-1) 727 2874
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Edna Jordan, National Centre for Partnership & Performance (NCPP)
Tel: +(353-1) 814 6394
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How do I apply?
Applications for Workplace Innovation Fund assistance are made through the Growth Fund (on the Growth Fund application forms). For information on the call-close and Growth Fund Committee meeting dates, and to download the application forms, please click here to return to the Growth Fund page.
Last updated 30/04/2009