BBC launches staff deals

Greg Dyke joined the BBC in 2000

A scheme to encourage flexible working for staff has been launched by the BBC, including the option to buy and sell holiday time.

The changes were revealed by director general Greg Dyke as part of the latest stage in the Making it Happen initiative designed to improve all areas of the BBC.

The practice of trading holiday time, either requesting further days' leave or storing them up for a paid sabbatical, is already widely employed in the US.

It is one of a number of measures the corporation is implementing including a change in the way managers are trained.

More than 1,500 managers will be sent away to a business school in Hertfordshire for an eight-day course as part of a programme aimed at providing consistent leadership across the corporation.

Mr Dyke hit back at criticism of spending on the training of managers and other internal costs.

Nonsense

He said: "There is a deep rooted fear in public organisations that spending money on your staff is seen as a waste.

"That's nonsense. You get real value in any organisation when your staff feel inspired and invigorated about what they do.

"The most important part of my job is to inspire people who work for the BBC to produce and broadcast wonderful things."

The director general believes that investing in staff will pay dividends and help make the BBC "the most creative organisation in the world".

More than 10,000 staff were consulted as part of the Making it Happen internal initiative.

Another idea stemming from discussions was the Big Brainstorm, a day dedicated to developing creativity for both programme-makers and those not usually involved in creating output.