The Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter has announced that The University of Manchester has been accredited as a full member.

The Charter aims to raise employment standards across Greater Manchester. It strives for excellence in the core areas of Secure Work, Flexible Work, Pay, Engagement & Voice, Recruitment, People Management and Health & Wellbeing.

The University seeks to be an employer of choice nationally and internationally, and is one of the biggest employers in Greater Manchester, providing jobs to more than 12,500 people across a range of professional services and academic roles.

Dr Julian Skyrme, Executive Director of Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement at The University of Manchester, commented: “Being accredited by the Good Employment Charter is important to our mission as a civic university with social responsibility at its core. This voluntary Charter is an independent way to measure our practices around good employment, learn from other employers in Greater Manchester and be part of a wider movement of organisations committed to improving the lives of our employees.

“People are at the heart of the University’s vision, and we are proud of our diverse, inclusive community of individuals who work together to create positive change for the world around them. We also know we have more work to do to ensure we remain an employer of choice in the region and are keen to work with the Charter team to share our plans to develop and enhance the experience for our community of colleagues.”

Membership of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter is voluntary, and it is allocated when institutions and businesses in the region demonstrate that they have met the criteria in all seven characteristics of the Charter.

Ian MacArthur, Director of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, said: “I am delighted that The University of Manchester are now Members of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter. As a key anchor institution in the city region it is wonderful to have them as part of our expanding movement, which is continually striving to adopt better employment standards for all.”

The Charter was co-designed by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Greater Manchester districts, trade unions, employers and employees from all sectors.