At the Cutting Edge-Research into Practice

Summary

After setting the scene of how Good Work has emerged into social consciousness, we will explore the supporting underpinning career theories. Following this we will consider more deeply the Good Work Movement itself and how this has gained momentum both globally and more locally within the UK, through considering the role and actions of key institutions, including the United Nations and CIPD.

From here we will turn to explore recent research of relevance to Good Work, including insights gained from Manchester Met’s Decent Work and Productivity researchers in collaboration with the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter team (associated with GM Combined Authority). NICEC Fellow Dr Fiona Christie and fellow collaborator Dr Eileen Cunningham will outline research findings and key insights from their own research projects. Furthermore, they will share the fantastic research-based resources that have been developed to help career practitioners to support the exploration and fostering of Good Work with clients. Practical considerations will be explored along with the implications for organisations.

This session will be interactive, and will comprise a series of cumulative input sessions, small-group discussions and whole group sense-making. As hosts of this session, NICEC Fellows Dr Cathy Brown and Kate Mansfield look forward to seeing you there.

Agenda

2pm Introductions and welcome – chaired by Cathy Brown

2.10pm Exploring what is Good Work

Decent work, partnered with economic growth, is Goal 8 of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (ILO, 2019). In the UK the term ‘good work’ or ‘fair work’ is more commonly used, with influential reports (Irvine et al., 2018; Taylor et al., 2017) helping to define good work as well as recognise the erosion of working conditions in some parts of the economy. Across the nations of the UK, the concept of decent work has been borne out in the Good and Fair Work Movement. This has emerged via regional employment charters, relevant professional associations, i.e., the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD), as well as through the work of trade unions.

2.20pm How Good Is Your Work? – Questionnaire, Break-Out and Discussion

There is an opportunity to complete the questionnaire to consider ‘How Good Is Your Work?’, make sense of it in your break outs and discuss in the wider group. This is relevant to you in your work but also to your clients.

2.35pm Career development scholarship and Good Work

Various career development scholars have highlighted the importance of Decent and Good Work. We will outline some relevant theoretical work about this; often associated with research that is concerned with social justice. We will also share insights from our own research which highlight the importance of recognising debates about in/decent work.

2.55pm Break
 

3pm Making sense of this through a scenario – Break-Out and Discussion

We will ask participants to review scenarios which surface issues that may come up in practice with clients about in/decent work.

3.20pm Practical applications – Sharing the resources

We will share the details of an open access resource which we have developed with the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter team. We hope this resource is one that can be helpful to practice. Our work has mainly been of relevance to students and graduates, but we will also discuss resources for schools and colleges.

3.35pm How we can introduce these principles into our practice? – Break-Out and Discussion

What Next? There is an opportunity to explore how we may weave some of the insights and findings into our practice and make sense of this in the wider group.

3.55pm The perspective of an employer

We will invite an employer to join us to share why they are involved with the Good Employment Charter and consider the implications for careers professionals working with employers.

4.05pm Bringing to a close – Kate Mansfield and Cathy Brown

We will conclude by looking ahead to our next At the Cutting Edge Event and also consider what our main take-away is from this event.

NICEC Biographies

Fiona Christie

Fiona Christie is a careers professional who has moved into an academic career combining research and lecturing. At Manchester Metropolitan University, she is the Employability lead for HRM and Business Psychology programmes and a member of the Research Centre for Decent Work and Productivity. Her professional life included extensive advice and guidance, teaching and management in higher education (Universities of Manchester and Salford), having originally qualified and practised in the secondary/further education sector. She was also the director of Research and Knowledge for the Association of Graduate Careers advisory Services (AGCAS) between 2018-21. In her research life she completed a part-time PhD in Educational Research (Higher Education) with Lancaster University in 2018. Her research interests are in careers, career guidance, decent work, young people and higher education. She is a NICEC fellow and editor of the NICEC journal and a co-convenor for the Employability, Enterprise and Work-based learning network for the Society for Research in Higher Education (SRHE). More information - https://www.mmu.ac.uk/staff/profile/dr-fiona-christie#2

Eileen Cunningham

Eileen Cunningham is a Senior Lecturer in Business Psychology and Chartered Occupational Psychologist specialising in professional and career development at Manchester Metropolitan University, a Teaching Fellow at Lancaster University, currently working with NHS Graduate Managers.

Eileen has previously written for and co-edited the NICEC journal. Prior to that, and alongside academia, she has worked as a Careers Adviser in schools, colleges, the community and businesses.

Eileen’s PhD explored the experiences of students’ unpaid work and mobilities through an interdisciplinary lens and she is currently undertaking a project considering how best to support working students. She is currently working with GMCA to understand how the good employment charter can support equality and diversity in the Greater Manchester region. For further information and contact details see: https://www.mmu.ac.uk/staff/profile/dr-eileen-cunningham 

Kate Mansfield

Kate is a qualified Career Coach, trained by CCS & with an MSc in Organisational Behaviour & Postgraduate Certificate in Career & Talent Management from Kingston University. She is also a qualified Career Coach Supervisor with Oxford Brookes, and Lead Tutor on CCS's Accredited Career Coach Training.

She coaches clients individually, with a particular interest in the career paths of women. Many of her individual clients are mid to senior level female professionals wishing to construct their careers successfully on their own terms. Typical focus includes how to identify and leverage strengths at work; overcoming issues of impostor syndrome; how to build personal brands in ways more aligned to values; career development goals and career planning. Her earlier career included 13 years in executive level HR Recruitment and Interim Management recruitment. Kate became a Fellow of NICEC in 2024.

Cathy Brown

Cathy is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist, career practitioner and writer. Over the last 20 years she has run her own consultancy business, Evolve, where she has supported individuals, teams and organisations through transitions and change.

Cathy completed her MSc Occupational Psychology at Birkbeck College, University of London, and her MBA from European School of Management in Paris. More latterly, she completed her PhD explore organisational mobility at University of Derby. Cathy is a guest lecturer on Masters programmes at several UK universities. She speaks at seminars, and has been featured in the media for her work including Radio 4, Leadership Today, Career Matters, People Management and Career Development International. She writes and publishes practical guides to support individuals through life transitions, under the brand: Testing the Water®. These are available on www.amazon.co.uk, Waterstones and other leading book sellers.

Cathy’s client list includes, amongst many others: Akzo-Nobel, Avis, BBC, Boots, Career Development Institute, Co-operative Bank, Co-operative Food, Costain, John Lewis, Lincolnshire County Council, Loughborough University, NHS, PepsiCo, Saint-Gobain, Shell, Travelodge, United Nations High Commission for Refugees, University of Nottingham. Cathy is a NICEC Fellow.