The first phase of the project will involve commissioning research among employers and employees to canvass their concerns and expectations surrounding the National Agreement.

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) will assist with the research and will be represented on the Partnership at Work review body, which will meet again on 26 January. It is hoped that the research could be completed by next spring.

BPIF chair of the Employers Panel Stephen Clark said he was confident that both sides could work together to find a workable solution that would bring benefits to employers and employees.

GPMU national officer Chris Harding said: I am optimistic that in the months ahead in a non-confrontational environment both parties will have an open and positive discussion on a whole range of issues.

BPIF strategic partnerships director Andrew Brown said that although the success of the inititative depended on reconciling complex issues there were factors in its favour.

We have got time to do it, we are not meeting head-on in a dispute, we have the funding and an independent chairman with no axe to grind, said Brown.

The Partnership at Work review body is chaired by emeritus professor of industrial relations and director of the Centre for the Avoidance and Resolution of Employment Disputes at Keele University Frank Burchill.

He said that it was refreshing to be involved in an exercise that was not precipitated by dispute, but by a willingness to address challenge.

The Partnership at Work initiative was granted 250,000 of government funding earlier this year (PrintWeek, 23 October), which will be matched in kind from industry.

Story by John Davies