We work with employers and employees to improve organisations and working life through better employment relations. You can make an appointment to come in and see us, or arrange for an adviser to visit or discuss issues over the phone and give advice and guidance.
Malcolm Boswell West Midlands Area Director
Regional partnerships and network groups
We also work with other regional organisations to promote better employment relations. Find out more about our HR, Trade Union and Diversity network group.
Spotlight on some of our senior advisors
Read about the people who deliver our services.
How do our advisers help you?
The main function of an Advisor role is to improve relationships within the workplace. Improved relationships will lead to engaged staff, a better motivated workforce and increased productivity - all leading to a more improved bottom line and more business benefits for employers.
Find out more from our How do our advisers help you? page.
Related articles of reference
Acas West Midlands Conference - Slaying the Dragon, Simplify TUPE in a day
Business transfers, outsourcing, being sold off, privatised - whatever it's called, TUPE is a major headache for employers and scary for employees. A TUPE transfer or outsourcing of a contract is one of the most difficult, confusing and stressful areas of business activity for all of us. Or is it?
Delegates attending this event will gain:
- Clear explanations of the law and the legal responsibilities of the employer
- Examples of common mistakes in process
- Insights into how HR strategy can fit into TUPE processes
- Insights into the impact on employees and ways in which TUPE can be handled and communicated better
- The opportunity to ask questions from experts in the field and the chance to network with other professionals
18 June, National Motor Cycle Museum, Solihull, 09:30 - 15:30
Download the 
West Midlands TUPE conference flyer [464kb] or visit the Slaying the Dragon, Simplify TUPE in a day page to find out more/book on line or call 08457 38 37 36 to reserve your place.
Feedback from the last Acas TUPE conference (London March 2013)
"Good range of speakers with different views on TUPE; excellent conference at a very competitive cost; well done."
"As a novice with anything regarding TUPE it was useful to understand the basics, pitfalls and others' experiences in working on transfers; also the current government consultation and what that may entail."
Training
We run authoritative training courses for small business and larger organisations (see 'Find a course' above). For specific requirements we can customise training sessions to run in-house. We also work closely with organisations to assess their current situation and give recommendations on improvements that will increase efficiency.
Spotlight on a 'New' course -Handling Grievances Effectively
In this half day event we consider how grievance procedures could be adapted to handle workplace interpersonal relationship problems.
View the Handling Grievances Effectively page for more details or to book a place.
In-company training
Are the managers in your business confident when handling the 'people' aspects of their jobs?
Typically, few have difficulty with the technical elements of their jobs but many are uncertain how to handle day to day issues such as unacceptable behaviour, lateness, sickness absence and harassment. The return on investment from training managers can be significant. Managers who know how to manage their people will be more effective. Employees who are managed properly are more productive and committed to the business.
Acas in-company training is cost effective; you pay for the trainer rather than the number of trainees. The content can be tailored to your concerns and your procedures and will be delivered by a knowledgeable trainer who understands the difficulties facing businesses today. No matter what the employment related problem is, Acas can provide training that will enable managers to handle the situation with more confidence, more effectively and in accordance with recognised good practice.
To find out more call our customer services team on 08457 38 37 36.
If you employ up to 249 employees you may qualify for funding of 50% towards the cost of training your managers with Acas. Visits the growth accelerator site for more information.
Dispute resolution in the West Midlands
Find out more about Acas West Midlands' dispute resolution services
Equality and diversity in the West Midlands
Find out more about equality and diversity services.
Unlocking people's potential at work
People join organisations - but they leave managers
Research shows how people behave at work can make the crucial difference between business and operational success or failure. Motivated and engaged employees are more able to give of their best to help businesses succeed - and from that flows a series of benefits for the organisation and individual alike.
The organisation
It is said attitudes, behaviours and outcomes are part of the engagement story. Engaged organisations have strong and authentic values, with clear evidence of trust and fairness based on mutual respect, where two way promises and commitments between employers and staff are understood and fulfilled.
The customers
"The way employers treat employees has a direct effect on how employees treat customers. Customers, or service users, vote with their feet depending on the quality of the interaction they experience with any given organisation.
"Quality customer and employee interactions are, over the long run, the lifeblood of any business. These quality interactions ensure brand loyalty, advocacy and can give an organisation a competitive edge, which if rooted in their 'culture' can be hard if not impossible to replicate".
Jonathan Austin, Best Companies
The workplace
The most recent Workplace Employee Relations Survey (WERS) from 2004 indicates that job-related satisfaction varied across workplaces, suggesting that it was partly determined by the workplace itself not just by demographic or job-related characteristics.
Kelsey, Alpin, Forth et al (2006) Inside the Workplace: Findings from the 2004 Workplace Employment Relations Survey.
The leader and manager
Poor leadership can lead to poor management practice, where line managers fail to engage their staff. Where there is no pressure for engagement, poor line management can quickly douse enthusiasm. Poor management skills in dealing with people lie behind many of the factors of disengagement.
How Acas can help
All managers are different in terms of their experiences, skills, knowledge and attitudes. It is also very easy when under pressure to lose touch with how to manage the people 'issues' in a manner that achieves best outcomes for everyone involved.
Management style, confidence and a willingness to keep learning are key to a manager's success. For more details about employee engagement, go to Engage your employees in business success.
