Workplace Innovation

Since April 2013 a new Europe-WideLearning Network for Workplace Innovation(EUWIN) has been established, with the specific objective to improve the performance of organisations and the quality of jobs on a truly sustainable basis.

Workplace innovation is grounded in continuing reflection, learning and improvements in the way in which organisations manage their employees, organize work and deploy technologies. It improves performance and working lives by releasing the creativity of employees, and helps to coalesce the strategic knowledge of the leadership with the hands-on, practical but often unrecognised knowledge of frontline employees. By engaging all stakeholders in the process of change, workplace innovation leads to “win-win” outcomes in which a creative convergence (rather than a trade-off) is forged between enhanced organisational performance and enhanced quality of working life.

EUWIN is a Europe-wide learning network, launched with the specific objective of improving the performance of organizations and the quality of jobs on a truly sustainable basis. It represents a unique body of experience relating to workplace innovation, based on transnational collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Drawing on a wide body of practical experience, academic knowledge and specialist expertise, the EUWIN Network will provide a valuable resource for managers and employee representatives concerned with sustainable change in enterprises throughout Europe.

EUWIN is open to practitioners, social partners, policymakers, representatives of intermediary organisations and others with an interest in the workplace. Specific EUWIN objectives include:

• animating, resourcing and sustaining workplace innovation in companies in order to create more scale and impact across the EU.
• accelerating the transfer of know-how and the application of workplace innovation practices across Europe.

Organized around six regions across Europe, EUWIN will act as a catalyst for positive change, a stimulator and a generator of ideas.

• Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Finland, Norway.
• France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Belgium (fr).
• Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovakia.
• Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, the Former Yugoslav Republics.
• UK, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium (fl).
• Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, Estonia.

Who makes EUWIN happen?

EUWIN is led by a Project Board which includes individuals who:

• lead and manage the most innovative and long-term public policy programmes for workplace innovation at Member State level in Europe;
• are recognised as leading international researchers and experts in the field;
• are experienced in establishing multi-partner coalitions of enterprises, public agencies, social partners and researchers;
• are committed to creating an unstoppable momentum which will spread, resource and sustain workplace innovation across Europe;
• are opinion formers and thought provokers.

Animateurs are responsible for network building, for delivering EUWIN’s multi-channel communication strategy and for organizing and promoting the Network’s events in each of the six regions. They are also recruiting and supporting Ambassadors from enterprises, chambers of commerce, business federa¬tions, social partner organisations, public agencies and research institutions with knowledge and experience of workplace innovation and a passion for spreading its potential benefits.

In addition, animateurs represent EUWIN at external events and work alongside Ambassadors to identify target audiences drawn from key contacts in public agencies, social partner organisations, professional associations, business support structures and universities, plus companies with an established track record relating to workplace innovation.

Ambassadors will be provided with a Toolkit of synthesised information on workplace innovation as well as practical guidance on how to represent EUWIN including sample content for presentations at meetings and events.

If you wish to become an EUWIN Ambassador, click here.

EUWIN Activities

The initial three year programme will establish a series of activities including workshops, social media networking and a database of online knowledge to enhance the understanding and practice of workplace innovation.

• Pre-Workshop meetings with a sample of stakeholders in each country will help to identify specific challenges and examples of innovative practice.
• Six small Workshops will be focused on the needs of each of the European regions, drawing on the knowledge and experiences of specialist panels and other relevant contributors as a means of generating reflection and new thinking.
• Two highly interactive large Workshops will inspire participants and ensure learning and exchanges of knowledge and experience across borders.

These key events will stimulate learning and reflection between representatives of leading enterprises, social partners, public agencies and knowledge partners from across Europe on the one hand and Ambassadors seeking to upscale workplace innovation in their own countries and sectors on the other.