A £1m budget for human resources 'beacons' of 'excellence in managing people' across the organisation. To reward 'positive and imaginative approaches' in areas including recruitment and retention, equality and training plans to support clinical governance. HR beacons will have to disseminate good practice.

SHRINE: the promise of more information soon on the development of a strategic HR intelligence network to enable the exchange of information and best practice.

Allocation of£2.5m towards HR research and development. The programme will cover pay, rewards and equal opportunities; labour utilisation; organisational development and staff involvement in re-shaping how organisations work.

The launch next month of a new site on NHSnet. The Database of Service Delivery Practice will allow staff to enter and retrieve examples of best practice throughout the country.