Businesses should create a valued, diverse and involved workforce to keep Europe at the forefront of an increasingly competitive world, according to Bradford MP and Employment Minister Gerry Sutcliffe.

Speaking at the High Performance Workplace Conference in London, Mr Sutcliffe called for European businesses to improve their position in the world through better management, leadership and closer communication with staff.

"It may seem self-evident that in any organisation the best asset is the people," said Mr Sutcliffe. "Yet surprisingly this is still overlooked by too many companies.

"Putting people at the heart of

business is not just good for individuals -

it makes good business sense."

Mr Sutcliffe said the European Union had set the goal of creating 20 million extra jobs by 2010. But companies faced rapidly increasing competition not only from established economies like the US, but also from Asia's rapidly developing economies.

He said this was not just for low-skilled jobs but high-skilled ones since China alone was producing 400,000 graduates a year.

"The UK and European Union as a whole is full of talented people with diverse skills and experiences and incredible potential," he added. "We want to encourage ways to maximise that potential in the workplace not just for the benefit of individuals from all ethnic backgrounds but because this is crucial for the economy as a whole.

"High Performance Workplaces are about taking a different approach: good management is about good communication between employers and employees so that all are involved and feel part of a valued workplace culture.

"It is about having the management, leadership skills and employment practices that deliver results. This means having a culture of partnership at work between employers and employees."

Mr Sutcliffe said that high performance workplaces were about getting the best from every part of an organisation, but in particular from its people. The key to this was ensuring that people were fully able to contribute.

Sandy Needham, chief executive of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said: "We welcome fresh discussion, support and initiatives that can carry business forward to a higher level in this increasingly competitive global environment.

e-mail: tim.wyatt

@bradford.newsquest.co.uk