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 things in the workplace, such as team working, decision-making, problem-solving and up-skilling.  It is about the design and adoption of new practices, new structures, new relationships and ideas in the development of products and services as well as operations and processes.

The aim of the Workplace Innovation Fund (WIF) is to support small and medium sized enterprises that are committed to workplace innovation and developing the role of employee participation and involvement as enablers of change and productivity improvements.  This is a joint initiative between Enterprise Ireland the National Centre for Partnership and Performance.

What activities are eligible?

The activities that can be supported under Workplace Innovation 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:

• open and engaging management styles
• processes that engage employees and facilitate open and honest communications

Working in partnership - enhancing the 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:

• Team working
• Employee relations
• Communication - information and consultation
• Employee feedback and motivation
• Employee financial involvement arrangements (suitable for the company and its employees)

Building employee commitment and loyalty to a better workplace:

Activities considered will have the potential to lead to greater buy-in, motivation and commitment from employees, such as:

• The provision of new approaches to development and learning through the prioritisation of learning
• Flexible arrangements for the development of skills, knowledge and motivation of individuals and groups of employees
• Provision of greater levels of flexibility

Activities might also focus on the broader pressures facing employers and employees such as:

• Worker wellbeing and health
• Work life balance
• Quality of work for employers and employees

Introducing new HR processes to support the business:

Activities in this area will contribute to the development of processes around:

• Recruitment
• Performance Management
• Staff Retention

Project submissions must clearly demonstrate evidence of management and employee collaboration in the implementation of project activities including the development of the project proposal.

What costs are eligible?

Initiatives supported under Workplace Innovation include activities aimed at both management and employees of eligible companies. 

Where can I get more information?

For further information on Workplace Innovation, please contact: 

Jean Mullen, Enterprise Ireland  Tel: +(353-1) 8082585

Edna Jordan, National Centre for Partnership Performance (NCPP) Tel: +(353-1) 8146394

How do I apply?

Application 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.