Really informative and brilliantly delivered. So relevant.
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Mediation,Training
Empowering Mediation Skills at the University of Wolverhampton
Through expert training and hands-on assessments, we empowered participants from a range of internal teams with the confidence and capability to become skilled mediators and communicators.
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Building Internal Mediation Capability at Kier Group

Kier Group, a leading UK construction and infrastructure services company, has long been committed to fostering a positive workplace culture. Their core values underpin and support everything they do: Collaborative, Trusted, and Focused.  Historically, the organisation relied on external mediators to manage employee relations (ER) issues. However, as internal demand for mediation grew, Kier took the strategic step of establishing an internal mediation team across its business divisions and group legal team. This initiative aimed to ensure greater independence and consistency in mediation practices.

Practical Mediation Skills Training with TCM

To equip their new internal mediation team with the necessary expertise, Kier Group partnered with The TCM Group for a two-day, in-person Practical Mediation Skills training course in Northampton, led by Marie Coombes in January 2025. The training was designed to empower HR professionals and key stakeholders with the skills to proactively address workplace conflicts, fostering early resolution and reducing reliance on external mediation services.

Positive Impact and Key Takeaways

Feedback from the 14 delegates was overwhelmingly positive, with participants highlighting the real-world applicability of the course. Laura Johnson, HR Business Partner at Kier, described the training as: “Really informative and brilliantly delivered. So relevant.”

Delegates particularly valued key aspects of the training:

  • The importance of carefully considered wording to achieve the best mediation outcomes.
  • The role-play exercises and video examples, which provided practical insights into effective mediation techniques.

The setup of Kier’s internal mediation team has been seamless, with strong organisational support. Now, the focus is on refining mediation practices and strengthening internal support structures, with discussions underway around utilising The Resolution Framework within the organisation.

Next Steps: Embedding Mediation into Workplace Culture

While Kier Group has not yet implemented a formal mediation or grievance policy, work is in progress to develop structured processes that support long-term success. By investing in internal mediation capability, Kier is breaking down barriers to conflict resolution, catching and addressing issues earlier, and fostering a more collaborative workplace culture.

This initiative marks an important step in Kier’s commitment to enhancing workplace harmony and supporting employees in resolving disputes constructively. The training has not only upskilled internal mediators but also reinforced the organisation’s strategic vision for a more proactive and inclusive approach to conflict resolution.