Carlisle Support Services (Carlisle) achieved member status in the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, in recognition of its sustained commitment to fair, inclusive, and progressive employment practices across its 8,500-strong workforce.
The announcement follows several years of Carlisle serving as a Charter Supporter, during which it worked closely with the Charter network to review policies, strengthen colleague engagement, and consistently embed good practice across its operations. It also builds on the company’s existing status as a Recognised Service Provider under the Living Wage Foundation, and a growing track record of developing talent from within.
Launched in 2019 by then-Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, the Charter is widely regarded as one of the most thorough employment standards frameworks in the country, assessing organisations against seven characteristics of good employment: secure work, flexible work, pay, engagement and voice, recruitment, people management, and health and wellbeing, with equality, diversity and inclusion woven through all of these characteristics. Full Membership is awarded for employers who can evidence sustained, embedded good practice, making Carlisle’s achievement a significant milestone for a business operating at scale across complex, frontline environments.
For Carlisle, achieving full Membership status reflects a deliberate and sustained commitment to continuous improvement, with a focus on secure and flexible working, equality, diversity and inclusion, and the consistent application of good employment practices across its operations.
Carol Halford, head of Charter Unit says: “Congratulations to Carlisle Support Services on achieving Membership of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter. This recognition reflects the organisation’s clear commitment to creating good jobs and embedding positive employment practices across a large and diverse workforce.
“Throughout their journey from Supporter to Member, Carlisle has demonstrated a genuine commitment to listening to colleagues, investing in people, and driving continuous improvement across key areas of good employment. Achieving Membership is a significant accomplishment, particularly for an organisation operating at such scale across frontline services.
“We are delighted to welcome Carlisle as a Member of the Charter and look forward to seeing the positive impact they continue to make for their employees, customers and the communities they serve,” she adds.
Paul Evans, CEO of Carlisle Support Services, said the achievement was the product of consistent investment in the company’s people over recent years:
“The biggest thing about becoming a member has been making sure our people are truly at the heart of everything we do. This involved a full review of our people-based policies and the implementation of some new ones, because our people deserve a full wraparound of support, giving their best every single day they come to work. We are proud of where we have got to, and even prouder of where this pushes us to go next. My advice to anyone thinking about joining the charter is simple: get involved and keep that promise to your people every step of the way.”
Rachel Marsden, head of sustainability and social value at Carlisle Support Services, added that membership represents both a milestone and a mandate:
“Joining the Charter is not simply about receiving recognition for the progress we have made. It is a commitment to keep listening, learning, and improving. We greatly value the collaborative approach of the Charter and look forward to working with its team and wider network to deliver meaningful, positive change for our colleagues and the communities we serve.”
“Our partnership with the Charter is rooted in collaboration and continuous improvement. We value the opportunity to learn from its network, access specialist expertise, and contribute our own experience as a major employer operating across complex, frontline environments.”
Image credit: Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter
