Welcome to PPE

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The Partnership of Public Employers (PPE) is the Voice of UK Public Employers in Europe. Known as CEEP UK until 2008, PPE is a member of CEEP (European Centre for Employers and Enterprises Providing Public Services; www.ceep.eu) – one of the European employers’ organisations officially recognised by the European Commission to participate in the social dialogue process.

One of the main objectives of PPE is to be the voice of UK public service employers and providers in the European social dialogue. European social dialogue is the process by which trade union and employer organisations can exchange information and influence European policy and legislation through their European representative organisations. Over the historical development of the European Communities, the social dialogue process has become more structured and has increased significantly in importance. This is particularly true since 1991, when the Maastricht Treaty made it possible for the social partners to conclude European level framework agreements in the area of individual and collective employees’ rights. If the social partners so desire, these can form the basis of national legislation through the implementation of European Directives. Such agreements have formed the origin of the Parental Leave Directive; the Part-time Work Directive and the Fixed-term Work Directive.

The four European intersectoral social partner organisations involved in these negotiations are ETUC (the European Trade Union Confederation), BusinessEurope (representing private sector employers), UEAPME (European Organisation of Small and Medium Sized Companies) and CEEP (representing public service employers).

PPE is a full member of CEEP. CEEP members include organisations which provide (or procure) essential services available to all members of the community, which are operated in the general public interest.

Membership of CEEP does not only provide access to social partner negotiations, but also allows early access to policy and regulatory documents from the European Union and the opportunity to influence these at an early stage. In addition to provides access to a network of sectoral contacts to facilitate the exchange of information and good practice.

PPE members are active in HOSPEEM www.hospeem.eu, CEMR Employers Platform www.ccre.org and EFEE (eru@local.gov.uk) representing employers in the health care, local & regional government and education sectors respectively.

Meet the Team

PPE is run by an Executive Committee and holds twice yearly meetings of its General Assembly. The current PPE President is Councillor Dave Allan (Local Government Group).  The current Vice Presidents are Councillor Ian Fleetwood (NARE) and Helen Fairfoul (UCEA). The Interim Director of PPE (CEEP UK) is Janet Beaumont.  

Councillor Dave Allan

Dave is a representative of the Local Government Group and the President of PPE, he is also the Chair of the North East Regional Employers’ Organisation (NEREO).

Dave believes that it is vital that all public sector bodies participate in CEEP, as CEEP is recognised as a “Social Partner” and hence is consulted on all directives on employment matters coming from the Commission. These have in the past, and probably in the future, needed to be implemented into UK employment legislation, and hence the need for a UK input.

Councillor Ian Fleetwood

Details to follow.

Helen Fairfoul

Details to follow.

Janet Beaumont

Janet was recruited as Director in February 2010 on a part-time basis.

Janet worked in Local Government for 32 years until March 2008 when she left as Chief Executive of Local Government East Midlands (LGEM) to set up her own Consultancy.  Janet has worked with PPE (CEEP UK) since its launch as an Organisation.

As Director, Janet co-ordinates the work of the Section and represents the UK at the CEEP General Assembly, Board of Directors and National Correspondents meetings.

Charles Nolda

Charles Nolda is PPE’s Honorary Treasurer.  He retired an Managing Director of what is now Local Government Employers in 2004 and since then he has been active in Europe, serving as Chair of CEEP’s Social Affairs Committee for four years until 2008 and subsequently setting up the European Federation of Education Employers (EFEE) to which he is now Consultant.

Mick Brodie

Mick is the Lead NARE Officer and Vice Chair of the CEEP Social Affairs Committee.

Mark Robinson

Mark Robinson is the Chief Executive Officer at Scape System Builds Limited.

Mark states “my role in PPE is to support the development of EU procurement activity for benefit of public employers and I see this as an important opportunity to influence and shape current and future legilslation”.