Fresh Thinking Labs
Fresh Thinking Labs the international open source movement for workplace innovation is your pathway to the best workplace practices and latest thinking from across Europe and beyond.
LinkIntroduction
We began in 1997 because there were too few spaces where enterprises, employers’ organisations, trade unions, policymakers, professional bodies and researchers could come together, both to explore the future of work and organisations and to address the persistent “long tail” of those not making use of workplace practices that engage and develop the full talent and creativity of employees at all levels.
Since our foundation we have created a series of joint initiatives and projects involving diverse stakeholders, held regular pro bono events to share evidence and good practice, and has been a persistent advocate for national government and EU policies to promote better ways of working.
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Research and Evidence
Two things are clear.
Firstly there is a vast and growing body of evidence to show that workplace innovation practices which empower employees to make day-to-day-decisions, challenge established practices, contribute ideas and be heard at the most senior levels of an organisation lead to better business results as well as enhanced workforce health and engagement.
Secondly it is equally clear that most businesses are either unaware of this evidence, or that they are unable or unwilling to act on it. Successive surveys demonstrate a substantial gap between research evidence of “what works” and common workplace practice.
We work with diverse stakeholders to:
- Undertake high quality research into leading practice and emerging challenges relating to work and organisations. Current and Past Projects
- Build bridges between research and practice through publications, events and the creation of the EUWIN Knowledge Bank as the leading European source of case studies, articles and other learning resources on workplace innovation.
We have also established Workplace Innovation Limited as a consultancy arm to help companies and public sector organisations create new and better ways of working which build on a vast body of research.
Explore the site to learn more about our surprising range of activities.
Public sector innovation in troubled times: Dramatic Innovation in Irish regional agencies
We were asked to help build more effective mechanisms for employee engagement in three of the regional agencies that manage and deliver vocational education and training in Ireland, preparing the organisations and their staff for the significant changes that lie ahead. In each case the Dramatic Innovation project centred on three principal stages:
- An initial visit to each agency during which the project team led confidential discussions with staff and managers at all levels to identify current issues and opportunities for change. A short report was prepared within a week of each visit highlighting the key findings, challenges and achievements, and this was distributed to all staff.
- A one-day Change Conference centred on forum theatre and interactive group discussions. With the active participation of a representative group of staff and managers, each event identified between 25 and 40 specific actions capable of improving the performance of the VEC and the quality of working life of its employees.
- The establishment of a partnership working group to take these ideas forward, representing and reporting to staff at every level and in each part of the VEC. Facilitation of the initial meetings of each group by our team ensured an effective modus operandi and tangible outcomes.
Knowledge Bank
EUWIN’s Knowledge bank, created by UK WON, is a rich resource for practitioners and researchers alike, including articles, case studies and practical guides.
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Workplace Innovation is an international company that bridges the gap between research and practice, spreading more productive and better ways of working across the UK and Europe.
We are the originators of The Fifth Element, an evidence based approach to workplace innovation and how it can transform your organisation.
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Workplace Innovation Limited is proud to support Scotland’s pioneering initiatives to promote better, more productive workplaces. Since the beginning of 2016 we have been working with Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland and Highlands & Islands Enterprise to promote and resource workplace innovation in a diverse range of companies. Highlights include the Workplace Innovation Engagement Programme, a series of Workshops, and a Workplace Innovation Toolkit. Read more (http://www.goodworkplaces.net/Scotland-leads-the-way) Interested to learn more? Fresh Thinking Labs is the international platform for company networking and workplace innovation, On Line and In Person: www.freshthinkinglabs.com (http://freshthinkinglabs.com) Please contact us for further information!..
In early 2016, Scotland’s Fair Work Convention set out its vision for the future of work which included a practical blueprint for Fair Work and a new type of dialogue between employers, employees and trade unions, public bodies and the Scottish Government. The aim was to support the Scottish Government's objectives of increasing sustainable economic growth and reducing inequality through the promotion of greater diversity, innovation and equality in the workplace. Rarely in the UK has the role of policy-makers in creating a vision of the workplaces of the future been so decisive and catalytic. The challenge was taken up by Scottish Enterprise, the country’s main economic development agency, who began to work with partners in the public and private sectors to identify and exploit the best opportunities to deliver a significant, lasting effect on the Scottish economy. Read more (http://www.goodworkplaces.net/scotland-the-brave) Interested to lea..
As part of its commitment to enhancing economic competitiveness and growth, Scottish Enterprise, the country’s main economic development agency, appointed Workplace Innovation Limited to deliver an innovative but practical Workplace Innovation Engagement Programme (WIEP) to participating businesses. The programme’s objective was to help businesses across a wide spectrum of sectors identify and critically assess existing workplace practices through a specialist diagnostic tool, and to support them in uncovering new ways of working to make the best use of talent across the entire workforce. It was important to deliver an approach that was relevant and practical for all types of organisation, all types of employer and all types of employee. Read more (http://www.goodworkplaces.net/Workplace-Innovation-Engagement-Programme) Interested to learn more? Fresh Thinking Labs is the international platform for company networking and workplace innovation, ..
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Registered in Ireland and the UK
Tel: +44 (0)115 933 8321