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

News in Brief February 2019

A summary of this month's employment news.
The search for meaningfulness at work

In this article Dr Ruth Yeoman discusses the new Oxford Handbook of Meaningful Work and the increased attention being paid to the importance of meaning and purpose in the workplace. She talks about the definition and value of meaningfulness at work and how we can all work to bring it about.
Don’t neglect voice of engaged workers in new ICE arrangements

IPA's Training and Development Director, Derek Luckhurst, discusses the upcoming reduction in the ICE threshold needed for a request to set up consultation arrangements. From his experience in supporting employee voice, he makes clear that in order for such arrangements to be successful, they need to properly represent the views of all employees - not just the minority who are disengaged.
High-involvement design: the time has come

This report by Professor Stephen Wood outlines a new approach to management termed high-involvement design, putting employee involvement back at the heart of HRM where it belongs. Combining involvement at both the task or role level with involvement at the organisational or strategic level creates a better workplace environment for all, improving employee well-being, organisational productivity and fostering a sense of shared understanding and learning.

Employee voice

Employee voice exists, whether you recognise it or not. The only question is – "are you listening?" The benefits of employee voice for organisations are explained and alternative forms of voice structures explored in this article, which also includes a look at what makes a system of employee voice effective.
Who are IPA?

The IPA is the UK's leading organisation delivering new ways of working based on employee participation, collaboration and trust.
Nita Clarke OBE

IPA Director
Working Well: Perspectives on Good Work and why it matters

To coincide with the government's response to the Taylor Review, the IPA have produced a report which draws together 16 expert perspectives on what Good Work means in modern Britain, why it is important and how to bring it about.
Employee engagement

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

Employee engagement is seen by a growing number of organisations as a key issue in measuring employee attitudes, managing the behaviours of management, developing operational and human resource policies, and establishing a strong employer brand. Find out more about what engagement is, the four enablers of engagement, the work of Engage for Success and what the IPA can do to help your organisation boost the engagement of its employees.
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.