Introduction to "Gateway Partnership Process"

The Gateway process is a highly flexible framework in which change can be managed in culture and working practices to support the long term business objectives.

Gateway provides a mechanism for a partnership approach to the design, implementation and communication of business change.

Involvement is the cornerstone of the process.

All significant business change which involves employee participation should be channelled through the Gateway process.

Gateway is a process which will develop with time.

Although the design of the process allows for the creation of a long term plan, decisions on each gateway step are taken incrementally (e.g. the content of Gateway four is only decided 75% through the implementation of Gateway three. Using the long term plan to choose activities suitable at the time)

Overview of "Gateway" Implementation

Roles within Process

Gateway Steering Team -

made up of key senior managers, senior trade union official and site convenor.

Steering Team meet monthly and act as sponsor and reviewer of process effectiveness and achievement against original objectives.

Also act as overall owner of timescales (3 Management members/1 Senior TU/1 Convenor/1 ER Manager).

Gateway Implementation Team -

made up of Company Senior Operational Managers/Site Senior Shop Stewards and Convenor - Implementation team have self designed management review process and are responsible for:

Proposing tasks to Steering Team

Prioritisation of tasks into Gateway process

Design of Gateway activities (involving stakeholders/employees)

Communication output to both Management team and Trade Union (+ employee comms as appropriate)

Implementation Team will have 4 company managers/4 TU representatives, a facilitator and chairperson (who also sits on Steering Group).

Other Experts will be called into the team as required.

Operating Principles

The key drivers for the "Gateway" process are the Operating principles.

These are an agreed upon set of guidelines, with which all gateway proposals will align.

These principles are normally agreed upon at a facilitated session during the early part of the process roll out.

An example set of Operating Principles are shown below:

Operating Principles

In support of the companies objectives and to promote long term job security, management, union and employees will operate on the basis of the following key principles:

1) We will have systems, processes and behaviours that build trust and empower our teams. This will be facilitated by the appropriate training.

2) We will give all our employees the opportunity to be involved in the future development of our Company.

3) The process of change will be open and transparent at all stages.

4) Our leaders through their behaviours and actions visibly support and embrace cultural change.

5) We will work consistently to the agreed and correct policy or process.

6) We will make the best use of the available skills, talents and time of each individual.

Please e-mail us for further details on Gateway