Employment Relations Minister Edward Davey has announced details of a pilot scheme for two regional mediation networks for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) involving the BIS funding the training of mediators, who will then be available to provide mediation services to other organisations in the network.
Cambridge and Manchester will be the first regional mediation networks where the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) will fund mediation training for employees from a group of 24 SMEs in each of the pilot areas later this year. A network of trained mediators will be available to provide mediation to other organisations in their respective network. It is anticipated that this will help resolve workplace disputes, at the earliest possible opportunity, before they reach the employment tribunal stage. The pilots will run for 12 months and, if successful, the Government will consider introducing them into other areas of England, Scotland and Wales.
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