Consortium launched to encourage flexible working environments

News Article - 24 November 2011
Category: Business

A new consortium led by Transport Minister, Norman Baker has been launched to help employers understand the benefits of flexible working environments.

The 'Anywhere Working' consortium is pledging to educate organisations on the available technologies and resources to support flexible working away from offices, whilst promoting alternatives to travel.

The initiative, which has received backing from the Department for Transport (DfT), Transport for London (TfL), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), is to launch an online hub of resources for businesses from January 2012.

These will consist of training, trial technology and special offers on products provided by consortium members, with the aim of measuring and benchmarking cost, time and carbon savings achieved by embracing the 'Anywhere Working' concept.

Mr Baker commented: "In a world where communication technologies offer the means to travel around the world in an instant without travelling at all, encouraging individuals and businesses to think flexibly about what 'being there' means is simply the smart thing to do.

"The advantages are undeniable - productivity and efficiency savings, a reduced carbon footprint, employee wellbeing - and are for both companies and their workers.

"And they will be particularly valued during periods of severe winter weather or the 2012 Olympic Games. As a willing advocate for the virtual transport industry, I wholeheartedly support the Anywhere Working consortium."

A growing number of SMEs are considering integrating HR software into their operations, to provide employees with web-based self-service tools to manage many day-to-day tasks as well as learning and development.

Brendan Barber, TUC general secretary, believes many small business employees would welcome new ways of working as part of the modern economy.

"Many employees want greater access to flexible and high quality home-working and employers should do more to provide it.

"More flexible working patterns can also broaden access to a wider range of jobs for those unable to travel from home."

Article keywords: business, flexible working, flexi time, productivity

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