HIE steps up commitment to Fair Work Nation
Published: 16/03/2022
HIE is stepping up its commitment to making the country a Fair Work Nation.
Make your life easier with a MyHIE account. It’ll save you time, help you find and organise content based on your needs and interests.
As part of its support for the Scottish Government Fair Work First agenda, HIE is introducing new conditions attached to future funding awards.
From 1 April, all organisations across the region who are applying for HIE funding will be expected to comply with the Fair Work First criteria.
These include paying all their employees at least the real living wage, which from 1 May will be £9.90 per hour for people over 18.
They should only utilise zero hours contracts when deemed appropriate and take action proportionate to the size of their organisation to address any gender pay gaps.
Fair Work First requires organisations to have in place appropriate channels for effective voice (see notes), invest in their workforce and offer flexible family friendly conditions. They should also oppose the use of fire and rehire practices.
Most organisations currently working with HIE have already adopted fair work principles. HIE chief executive, Stuart Black, said the agency wants to build on this.
He said:
“Talented people are at the very heart of success in every organisation in any sector.
“An inclusive, people-centred approach that supports workers and employers to shape their organisations together, and to develop the skills needed for a successful future, is key to a prosperous economy.
“A fair work approach helps employees to play a full and active role. This underpins high productivity, performance and innovation. It also contributes to a healthier, wealthier and more inclusive society.
“All of this is in keeping with our vision for the Highlands and Islands as a modern, high value and inclusive economy, and an attractive place to live and work.
“It’s great that fair work practice is already in place across most of the region and we look forward to supporting others to implement these important steps.”
Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work Richard Lochhead said:
“A key ambition in Scotland’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation is to reorient our economy towards wellbeing and fair work, to deliver higher rates of employment and wage growth and tackle poverty.
“Through Fair Work First we are applying Fair Work criteria to public sector contracts and grants to ensure that government funding serves to tackle in-work poverty and low wages by raising the incomes of the lowest paid and driving high workplace standards for all workers.
“I welcome HIE’s commitment to strengthening its Fair Work First approach – helping to make Scotland a leading Fair Work Nation.”
HIE has created a web page with information to help organisations to implement fair work principles, including access to a fair work tool.
There will be some exemptions to the new conditions, for example clients benefitting from non-financial HIE support, such as webinars, networking events, self-service products and general advice.
NOTE
Set up in 2016, the Fair Work Convention in Scotland set out a Framework explaining the dimensions of fair work and how they can be achieved.
Effective voice is much more than having a communication channel available within an organisation. It requires a safe environment where dialogue and challenge are central to the organisational culture, are dealt with constructively, and where worker views are sought out, listened to and acted upon, and can make a difference. Effective voice requires workers, employers and trade unions or worker representative groups to work in partnership to make sure the right decisions are made to ensure workers are treated fairly and equitably. The co-determination of working practices is key to delivering all of the dimensions of Fair Work effectively. For more on this see https://www.gov.scot/publications/fair-work-first-guidance/pages/9/
New appointment for HIE in the Outer Hebrides
Businesses in the Highlands and Islands continue to be challenged by increasing costs, economic uncertainty and supply chain issues.
A new wind tower factory at Nigg is expected to create hundreds of skilled manufacturing jobs.
HIE has published its annual report and accounts for 2020-21
HIE's new chief executive
Business panel survey seeks views across Scotland.
Business survey shows signs of economic recovery and renewed optimism
HIE has awarded a new framework agreement for the procurement of specialist advise to support its clients.
HIE has published a report on its latest survey of a thousand businesses across the region, from a variety of sectors.
Prioritising colleagues’ wellbeing equates to a better service for our clients, writes Helen Herd interim director of HR at HIE
Over 2,800 businesses which operate within the Scottish wedding industry have been supported by £25.9million worth of funding to help survive the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.