Employer of choice

Employer of choice policy

It is our policy to ensure that NWL is a great place to work, so that our people can recommend the company to others as an employer of choice.

We seek to ensure that people are recruited, selected, employed, trained and promoted on the basis of their ability to do the job.  Less favourable treatment against any person on the grounds of: gender, sexual orientation, marital status, race, religion or belief, nationality, ethnic or national origin, disability or age, will not be tolerated.

We intend to create an employment culture in which people can feel confident about being treated with fairness, respect and consistency.  We welcome the breadth of perspective that diversity in employment can bring.

We are committed to monitoring and measuring employee attitudes giving all employees the opportunity to express their views on their working life, training, communications, their managers and the company. The results will be reported back to all employees and discussed with representative bodies, with a view to implementing change.

Employer of choice action plan

• Monitor our practices and policies on an on-going basis to ensure that they are in line with current legislation.

• We will ensure that every employee within the company has the opportunity to give their views on the company, its performance and the treatment of its employees on a regular, anonymous basis, without fear of repercussions or discrimination.

• Encourage and enable our people to participate in the annual attitude survey by giving them the opportunity to complete the survey during working hours.

• Have in place a robust job evaluation and grading system which is applied across the organisation, ensuring that employee benefits are determined equally, based on duties and responsibilities allocated to individuals.

• Have in place a clear procedure to allow employees to raise concerns about harassment, bullying, equal pay and any other concerns that affect their working lives.

• Establish NWL school partnerships/work experience programmes in our 3 key operating areas, by promoting our work with our customers and employees of the future.

• Encourage greater diversity within the workplace.

• Achieve national recognition as a good company for which to work.

Employer of choice KPIs

• By March 2010 improve employee attitude survey results by 10% in the number of employees who are proud to work for the company and who would recommend the company as a great place to work.

• Implement an equal pay review every three years to ensure that employee pay is determined solely on the duties and responsibilities allocated to individuals.

• Achieve the Investors in People award by March 2010.

• To have the school partnerships/work experience programmes in place for 3 key hubs by December 2007.

• By March 2010, the workforce diversity profile to be more representative of regional profiles, using census and other relevant benchmark comparisons, and provide supported employment for people with disabilities.

• By March 2010, achieve external recognition through Investors in People and Best/Great Companies To Work For benchmarks.

Employer of choice case study

Apprenticeship programme – Untap your potential

Young job seekers are being given the chance of a place on a new apprenticeship programme launched by Northumbrian Water and offering one of the best packages in the country.

The £680,000 scheme, guarantees a local job at the end of a successful four-year training programme with earnings starting at more than £10,977 and rising to more than £19,000.  We will put the electrician and fitter apprentices through an intensive driving course and unique training at both college and on the job - bespoke to the company and the water industry.

Initially twelve places have been offered to young people aged between 16 and 20 – eight to be based in our northern operating area and four in Northumbrian our southern operating area.

Kevin Rowan, Northern Regional Secretary of the Trade Union Congress, said: “This is a tremendous opportunity for young people in the North East to gain first class training from one of the region’s leading companies. Northumbrian Water are to be commended for their commitment, not only in developing and investing in an excellent apprentice training scheme but also for guaranteeing jobs to the successful candidates.”

Apprentices will start in September 2007 and will be based in the North East in Newcastle, Cramlington, Hexham, Washington, Darlington and Thornaby and Hanningfield and Lound in Essex & Suffolk.   They will study qualifications to ONC and NVQ level 3 – full time at college for the first year and then on day release for the remaining years alongside on-the-job real work experience.   New starters will also enjoy 23 days holiday, a range of flexible benefits, support from mentors and buddies and a comprehensive introduction to Northumbrian Water, a FTSE 250 company. Jobs are guaranteed to apprentices who successfully complete the programme.

Diane Morton, Northumbrian Water’s Director of Human Resources said: “This leading apprenticeship scheme is one of a number of important programmes within Northumbrian Water focussed on developing the skills of our people and providing them with recognition and accreditation. We are delighted to be able to guarantee a local job for the electrical and mechanical technicians and give them special training and support to help them build their future career with a great company.”

The programme has been developed with support from the Learning and Skills Council and the North East Chamber of Commerce and replaces previous ad hoc apprenticeship recruitment not backed by the job guarantee or structured development.