Launch of new initiative in F&E

Partnership has been working well at the top of the company as evidenced by how well the Executive Director Team / Group of Unions Forum works. The new Partnership Strategy, however, has identified the need to build closer links between that Forum and local Partnership Groups. As part of the new strategy the Chief Executive and Directors will attend local partnership meetings, develop an understanding of the local issues relevant to them and also discuss the major issues facing ESB.

In the first of these visits, the Chief Executive Padraig McManus visited the headquarters of Fleet & Equipment (F&E), ESB Networks in Tallaght, Dublin on November 9th. The F& E Partnership Group is regarded as an example of one that is working well.

The Chief Executive joined the Partnership Group meeting while it was discussing business issues during which the F&E monthly profit & loss statement, performance against budget, operation of a new computerised work scheduling system and the new national contract for purchase of non-proprietary parts was discussed.

He told the meeting that while he wasn't familiar with all of the details being discussed, he was impressed by the fact that the Partnership Group was dealing with such a range of business issues in such a comprehensive and committed way. He told the meeting that he was always annoyed with people who said ‘If this was my business I would do things differently'. He said ‘It is your business and no one person, no matter how brilliant has all the answers. I'm delighted to see that your group has taken such a positive approach. Partnership is about moving the business forward by having everyone involved in matters that affect them.' He gave the meeting an update on the current major challenges facing different parts of ESB, the White paper and the impact that Climate Change issues will have on our business.

The agenda also included the launch of a Pilot Suggestion Scheme for Fleet & Equipment staff using the tag-line "Notions in Motion". A sub-committee of the PG will evaluate suggestions which can cover eliminating inefficiencies, saving money or streamlining administrative procedures. The suggestions can be submitted on paper or by using a special web-page designed for that purpose by Fiona Moore, ESB Networks HR.

Before an award is approved, the PG subcommittee will also have to report on implementation across the business. In explaining the rationale for the scheme, Manager F&E, Senan McGrath said "Problem Solving has always been a key feature of the work of people in F&E. What we want to do is to allow people use those skills to solve not just technical problems but business problems also."

Before he left the Chief Executive addressed all staff and thanked them for the tremendous service they had provided to the rest of the business and in particular how their work had greatly assisted ESB Networks in delivering on its massive infrastructure programme.