The Future of Flexible Working Roundtable

We believe that flexible working is for everyone because each of us has the right to a healthy work life balance.

Following on from the “Forever Flex: Making flexible working work beyond a crisis” report, which was published last year in collaboration with Flex Appeal campaigner, Anna Whitehouse, and behavioural change agency, Claremont, Sir Robert McAlpine hosted a virtual roundtable entitled “Beyond Covid: How flexible working can shape the future of industry,” to discuss the future of flexible working.

Our Chief Executive, Paul Hamer, chaired the discussion on the future of flexible working and ways we could embed it to our everyday working patterns. Amongst the 26 participants were the Minister for Employment, Mims Davies, Members of Parliaments, industry leaders, representatives from Sir Robert McAlpine’s affinity networks, as well as Anna Whitehouse.

The conversation, which was held on 16th March 2021, was conducted under Chatham House rules, covered the following key points:

The Employment Minister shared an update on the employment policy focus and thoughts on how industry can support government on flexible working.
The meaning of flexible working.
Learning from success, with the example of Flex NHS.
Making progress, discussing how to embed flexible working in industry.
Flexible working in the construction sector.

Following the success of the roundtable we will be continuing our engagement with government and our efforts to advance the cause for flexible working.

Read the full summary of the roundtable conversation

Flexible working opens up employment and progression opportunities to a bigger pool of talent, and this Government is committed to ensuring workers can manage their work-life commitments whether it be balancing caring responsibilities or transitioning to retirement. We’ve seen a huge shift in how we work as a result of the pandemic and we now have the chance to boost new opportunities for everyone. As we push to build back better, I encourage more employers to make flexible working available where it is possible as we continue to help people back into employment through our wide-ranging Plan for Jobs.
Mims Davies Minister for Employment

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