The world of work is changing – and I’m proud Acas is leading by example.
During the period of our last Strategy (2021 to 25) Acas successfully changed the ways in which we work. Those changes led to millions more workers and employers accessing our services in person, online and by phone. The proportion of individual and collective disputes that we helped successfully resolve rose significantly: reducing stress, cost and time for all parties.
This strategy sets out how Acas will build on our significant progress and contribute even further in the years to 2030 to better British workplace relations and so boost Britain's economic growth.
Forthcoming legislative reform, and significant shifts in the labour market already underway, will increase demand for Acas services significantly. Employers, workers and their representatives will seek assistance in handling new laws and changing workplace practices. Delivering this strategy will ensure we successfully meet the increased workload while sustaining record high settlement rates in conciliation.
Consistent with our enduring Acas Purpose, we will do more to help employers, workers and their representatives Prevent conflict arising in the first place. If conflict can't be prevented, Acas will be there to help workplaces Manage it by disagreeing well. And if individual or collective conflict continues, Acas will help parties Resolve disputes quickly and fairly, reducing stress, duration and cost.
I am proud of what Acas has achieved in the past four years, and we must continue to develop and improve. We will keep transforming Acas, making the best use of data, digital tools and our people's expertise so our services become ever swifter, simpler and more efficient. We will continue to make our services – and the employment relations system – more inclusive and accessible to all.
We will deliver our strategy in a changing external landscape. We will measure, and report on, our success in relation to challenging targets for the three and five-year period. In year three, as labour reforms are introduced and their impact on our work can be measured, we will review and adjust targets for years four and five.
This is an ambitious strategy for a landmark period in Britain’s labour market history. By working together – with employers, workers, their representatives and other partners across the nations and regions of Britain – we can deliver lasting improvements to working life and contribute to Britain’s future economic growth. We invite our partners to continue with us on that journey.