The government’s Project tHRive, a three-year initiative to modernise the Office of Human Resources (OHR), has been allocated a budget of £2.175 million annually.
The project seeks to “redefine [OHR’s] structure, strengthen resources, and modernise systems and processes”.
Approved by the Council of Ministers in July 2023 and funded by the Treasury Board in August 2023, the project is being rolled out in three phases.
Phase 1 (£731,987) began in August 2023, Phase 2 (£982,464) started in April 2024, and Phase 3 (£460,706) commenced in April 2025.
Review
The project follows recommendations from an external Grant Thornton review, which identified gaps in HR services and proposed reforms.
Key changes include introducing a centralised HR Advisory Service, a dedicated Project Practice team, and restructuring HR Business Partner roles to focus on strategic support.
The review highlighted that Employment Tribunal complaints between 2019 and 2023 cost taxpayers over £4 million, underscoring the need for improved HR practices.
A Programme Initiation Document outlines the project’s scope, including policy updates, technology improvements, and streamlined processes.
However, a full review of HR IT systems remains unfunded, with efforts focused on integrating existing platforms.
While Public Services Commission and Tynwald approval was not required, the PSC has been kept informed.
Project tHRive aims to make OHR “the best HR team on the Isle of Man,” fostering a culture where staff feel valued and services are delivered efficiently.
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