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PCS and Capita sign updated strategic agreement

3 September 2009

On 26 August national representatives of PCS and Capita met at Capita’s London headquarters to sign an updated strategic agreement.

The Agreement was signed by Graham Steel, senior national officer for PCS and Simon Pilling chief operating officer for Capita Group plc.

In 2006, PCS and Capita signed the first strategic agreement setting out how we would work together and agreeing projects for us to undertake. The central objectives of that agreement remain unchanged:

“Capita and PCS aim to jointly provide employees with a positive employment experience built around four key elements:

  • Supporting employee development
  • Enhancing employee involvement
  • Guaranteeing fair terms and conditions
  • Delivering continuous improvements through process change and customer focus

We will work jointly at every level to support these progressive and mutually beneficial objectives.”

Reviewing the agreement this year has allowed us to identify the key themes for our ongoing work. These are:

1. Joint training (JTI) initiative roll out

Both Capita and PCS recognise the successes that have resulted from the records storage JTI which was completed in February 2009.

Both parties commit to hold follow up sessions to review the learning points and reinforce changes in behaviour on the records storage contract. We will also jointly roll out JTI training to the CRB contract, which is currently planned for July 2009.

2. Learning and skills agenda

Capita have made a public commitment to learning and development with the announcement of the skills pledge in 2009.

Both Capita and PCS agree to work together to review how the contribution of local learning and skills agendas can maximise the benefits of training and development activities for all parties.

3. Motivation, productivity and quality

Both parties recognise that motivated employees will maximise productivity and quality at work and therefore commit to consider plans and initiatives to identify, support and encourage positive behaviours, maximising motivation, productivity and quality within the workplace.

In addition both sides recognise the contribution that quality jobs, good management and employee participation make to the physical and mental wellbeing of employees.

Both Capita and PCS agree to review existing local initiatives and consider how we can provide employees with an enjoyable and rewarding work environment.

Welcoming the new agreement Graham Steel says: “Having the agreement in place does not mean we will always see eye to eye and there will be challenges along the way. It does however set a clear commitment for us to work together to improve the working lives of employees.

"We will now work with Capita on our contracts to agree how we can progress the programme set out in the agreement and look forward to involving members in that work”