Robinson launches a UK first in employee relations

Northern Ireland is leading the way in its approach to employee relations, Finance Minister, Rt Hon Peter Robinson MP MLA announced today.

HRConnect, the new Human Resource (HR) service for all Northern Ireland Civil Service departments and the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), is a pathfinder project, the first of its kind to be introduced in the UK public sector. It will result in a more efficient, effective and higher value delivery of personnel services with a reduced personnel staffing requirement. It will release around 500 HR staff for redeployment to other activities in the NI departments and the NIO.

A key mechanism for delivering the civil service reform agenda, it makes Northern Ireland distinctive in the way it handles public sector staff management. Mr Robinson said that the launch of HRConnect demonstrated government’s commitment to reform through the introduction of new ways of working with staff. The service will lead to greater efficiency which, he pointed out, will be to the benefit of the taxpayer:

“Northern Ireland citizens want and deserve an efficient and effective public service.” Launching the service today the Minister said: “Their expectations of the standards that public services should meet are high and rising. HRConnect is a significant step towards meeting these standards.

“Moving administrative functions to a service centre frees up civil service staff to focus on meeting the needs and aspirations of everyone in our community.”

HRConnect is currently responsible for the administration of all publicly advertised recruitment competitions for Northern Ireland departments and the NIO. In late December it also became the contact point for routine human resource queries. When fully operational later this year, it will become the single point of contact for HR matters for NICS and NIO staff.

The gradual transfer of further administrative HR functions to HRConnect throughout 2008 will include pay and reward, leave and attendance, internal resourcing, performance management and learning and development services.

Mr Robinson thanked staff for the way in which they are embracing new working methods: “It has taken a lot of hard work and dedication from Northern Ireland Civil Service and NIO staff to make this change happen. Civil servants across both organisations are committed to improving the way government works and it is only with their involvement and support that the conditions for successful change can be achieved. I personally thank them for their continued commitment to HRConnect and the other reform projects currently underway across the Civil Service.”

HRConnect is delivered as part of a contract between the Department of Finance & Personnel and Fujitsu Services Ltd to provide transformed HR services. Sub-contractors to Fujitsu Services Ltd include Capita Business Services Ltd, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Oracle Corporation UK Ltd.

Commenting on the significance of HRConnect, Eithne Wallis, Managing Director of Government Business for Fujitsu, said:“HRConnect combines best practice approaches in HR from across the public and private sectors and puts the Northern Ireland Civil Service and the Northern Ireland Office ahead of many others. As implementation continues in 2008, staff from the Northern Ireland Departments and the NIO will be increasingly supported by a first class HR service. We look forward to working in partnership with government to maintain and continually improve this service over the next 15 years.”

Notes to Editors:

1. In March 2006 the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP), on behalf of the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) and the Northern Ireland office (NIO), entered into a Strategic Partnering Agreement with Fujitsu Services Limited to deliver transformed HR services to the NICS and the NIO. The HR service is called HRConnect.
2. HRConnect is integral to delivering the reform agenda for the NICS and the NIO. Public sector reform is a priority for this Government to deliver excellent public services to the citizen.
3. HRConnect is secured to the same level as the current HR service, in line with Government and international standards. This is constantly reviewed and monitored.
4. As a result of the implementation of HRConnect services in 2008, around 500 civil service staff will be freed up to carry out other activities in NI departments and the NIO. Administrative support and HR advice will be provided centrally for all NI departments and the NIO from a Shared Service facility in Belfast staffed by around 200 private sector staff.
5. The Fujitsu Alliance is a term used by the Contractor that has been engaged by DFP to support the delivery of HRConnect. It comprises Fujitsu Services Ltd, Capita Business Services Ltd, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Oracle Corporation UK Ltd.
6. Media enquiries only to DFP Communications Office on 028 9052 7644 or 028 9052 7375. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.