Members of the Government sponsored, industry led Task Force – including the chair, David MacLeod, deputy chair, Nita Clarke and other leading professionals from the public and private sector – joined the Prime Minister and Business Minister Edward Davey for a breakfast roundtable discussion.The Task Force will ensure that a range of practical opportunities are made available for organisations wanting to learn about engagement. It will share good practice, generate debate and offer support via a new website. It will build on the report ‘Engaging for Success’, which David MacLeod and Nita Clarke produced in 2009 for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.At the launch of the Task Force, Prime Minister David Cameron said: “This taskforce has my full support because I know that it will work to bring together two of my government’s top priorities – delivering sustainable growth across the UK, and coming up with new approaches to help people improve their wellbeing. “I think the public and private sectors can learn a lot from each other. This initiative fits well with our agenda of devolved power and authority and shows how effective companies can be when they feel empowered. I am delighted that the Employment Engagement Taskforce has come together to develop practical ways to help all employers learn from the best, to break down barriers to engagement and to raise the profile of this whole agenda.” Employment Relations Minister Edward Davey said: “Workers know better than anyone how the firm they work for can grow, innovate and succeed. For any business or organisation a committed and involved workforce that are all pulling in the same direction is essential.This isn’t just about ending “them and us” attitudes. It’s about a better way to work. Employee engagement is essentially about growth, so it’s right the private sector should lead this taskforce.”Chair of the Employment Engagement Task Force David MacLeod said:“If employee engagement and the principles that lie behind it were more widely understood and shared we could see a step change in productivity and performance across the UK, and a rise in levels of employee wellbeing and motivation. Engaged employees will be key to growth in the private sector and ‘better for less’ in the public sector.”Vice Chair Nita Clarke said: “People are at the heart of success for companies and organisations, so whether or not the workforce is positively encouraged to perform at its best should be a key consideration for every leader and manager, and should be placed at the heart of business strategy. Where this happens the results are transformational. Spreading this message widely will be the key task of this new employer led task force.”The Task Force will collaborate with leading academics, think tanks and leading practitioners. It will report back next year on the strategies it recommends that organisations should adopt to promote best practice and learning. The Task Force will also tackle key issues identified in the MacLeod Review such as the barriers to wider adoption of engagement, how to harness engagement for innovation and how to maintain morale through difficult challenges such as downsizing. The remaining members will be confirmed when the Task Force next meets in April. Notes to editors:1. Pictures of the launch event will be available from http://www.flickr.com/photos/bisgovuk2. Members of Task Force include – Alex Lewis – BAE, HR DirectorAlex Wilson – BT, Group HR DirectorAndrew Moys – JLP, Director of CommunicationsAngie Risley – Lloyds, Group HR DirectorDame Carol Black – Wellbeing National Director for Health and WorkDoug Mclldowie – GKN, Group HR DirectorGeoff Lloyd- Serco Group, HR DirectorJacki Connor – Sainsbury’s, Director of Customer ServiceJackie Orme, Chief Executive, Chartered Institute of Personnel and DevelopmentJames Chalmers – PWC, Head of Strategy & TalentJohn Taylor- ACAS, Chief ExecutiveJonathan Austin – Best Companies, CEO and FounderKatja Hall – CBI, Chief Policy DirectorKevin Goodman – Babcock, Group Director ODLouise Beardmore – United Utilities, Head of Engagement, Leadership & LearningLouise Smalley – Whitbread, Group HR DirectorMervyn Thomas – DfT, Whitehall Engagement & Head of HRMike Cherry – FSB, Policy ChairmanPeter Thomas – Institute for Government Director, Transforming WhitehallRichard Baker – Virgin & VC, Chairman Virgin ActiveRussell Grossman – BIS, Director of Communications Sue Round – British Gas, Director of L&DSarah Veale- TUC, Head, Equality and Employment RightsSir Eric Peacock – SME SectorStephen Dando – Thomson Reuters, EVP & Chief HR OfficerStephen Lehane – Boots Group, HR Director & Corporate Affairs DirectorTanith Dodge – Marks & Spencer, HR DirectorVeronica Hope-Hailey – CASS Business School, Professor3. Details about the website will be announced shortly. 4. Further information on the MacLeod Review can be found here – http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/employment-matters/strategies/employee-engagement5. David MacLeod has a portfolio of responsibilities which include being an NED of the Ministry of Justice, and a Visiting Professor of Cass Business School. He is a fellow of the Institute of Marketing, CIPD and Ashridge Business School. Previously he worked in consumer marketing and general management, and was latterly a CEO . He has worked in manufacturing, the services and for two years in the Cabinet Office. David MacLeod has co-authored the extra mile; how to engage your people to win. 6. Nita Clarke is Director of the Involvement & Participation Association. She was a former senior official with the trade union UNISON and an adviser to Prime Minister Tony Blair. Nita is also a member of the Task Force set up by the Cabinet Office to encourage the spread of mutuals in public service delivery.7. BIS’s online newsroom contains the latest press notices, speeches, as well as video and images for download. It also features an up to date list of BIS press office contacts. See http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom for more information.