History

The Involvement and Participation Association (IPA) was founded in 1884 as the Labour Association for Promoting Co-operative Production based on the Co-partnership of the Workers (known as the Labour Co-partnership Association). In 1901 it became the Labour Co-partnership Association, in 1928 the Industrial Co-partnership Association, and in 1972 the Industrial Participation Association. It took its present name in 1989. The association was incorporated in 1950.

John Malcolm Forbes Ludlow CB, pictured, was one of the first members and

subsequently president of the Labour Co-Partnership Association

The IPA archive is held at the Modern Records Centre at the University of

Warwick.

Founding Minute

"On Monday, June 2nd, 1884, during the sitting of the Annual Cooperative Congress, a conference of friends of labour was convened by the Cooperative (Productive) Federation, and held in the Central Cooperative Hall at Derby. Present 200 to 300 delegates from Cooperative Societies and others.

Mr R Hilliard, president of the Derby Cooperative Provident Society, presided.

Mr E Owen Greening made a statement (on behalf of and at the request of the Cooperative Productive Federation) stating the amount of success which had so far attended the establishment of cooperative workshops based upon the partnership of labour.

After a lengthened discussion it was moved by Mr A Scotton of Derby, seconded by Mr Johnson of Bolton and resolved:

1 That this conference approves of the formation of a propagandist Committee and a propagandist fund to arouse working men, and public opinion generally to the importance of the movement for making workers everywhere partners in workshops both as regards profits and shares.

2 That the following gentlemen be a General Committee with power to invite leading cooperative trade-unionists, and friends of labour to join them

3 That the General Committee have power to appoint an Executive

The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman"

"A meeting of the General propagandist Committee was held in the Exhibition Hall at the Athenceum, Derby, on Wednesday, June 4th, 1884.

Mr Joseph Greenwood of the Hebden Bridge Julian Manufacturing Society in the chair.

It was resolved

1 That the following be an Executive Committee with power to add to their number: - Messrs E V Neale, Lloyd-Jones, E O Greening, E W Greening, Bolton, King, and Harold Cox"

Latest

IPA's Brexit Briefing

It is almost impossible to say with confidence at this stage where the UK will be come 31st October. Nevertheless many in the UK workforce and business community will be understandably extremely concerned about the very significant possibility of crashing out of the EU with no deal in just a few weeks' time. With that in mind the IPA have put together a special Brexit preparedness bulletin below with information and guidance news relating to Brexit, the workforce and EU employment rights.
News in Brief July 2019

A summary of this month's employment news.
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IPA's Derek Luckhurst continues his line of 'is there really a problem with...' articles with a look at that archetypal workplace problem - the middle manager. Often maligned, trapped between the demands of the frontline and the expectations of senior executives, he argues middle managers are often undervalued and under-equipped for what are actually vital roles.
Could a four-day week soon become a reality?

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Nita Clarke OBE

IPA Director
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This training programme focuses around how to use the four key enablers of employee engagement - a strong strategic narrative, engaging managers, employee voice and integrity - to move from a purely transactional approach to engagement to a genuinely transformational one.
Overview of services

Every workplace is different, so every project we undertake is individually developed by our professional and experienced team, and delivered based on the needs and circumstances of the client.
Engagement

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Mind over Machines: New technology and employment relations

This report examines the relationship between the introduction of new technology into the workplace and employee wellbeing, autonomy, voice and engagement. IPA for Acas, 2017.
Working Well: preview of IPA publication on good work

On 8th February, IPA will be launching our report on Good Work, to coincide with the government's response to the Taylor Review. This publication draws together 16 expert perspectives on what good work means, why it matters and how to bring it about.
The real impact of the EU on UK employment law

The UK is set to have a referendum on 23 June on whether or not to remain a member of the European Union. In this article, Rachel Suff, Public Policy Advisor at CIPD discusses how ‘the world of work might be affected’ if the UK voted not to remain in the EU. She highlights that a large part of the UK employment law is derived from the EU and that a vote to leave the EU could allow the review or repeal of legislation that came out of EU directives.