Did you know we’re developing Scotland’s first flexible working accreditation scheme for employers? We hope to have the accreditation ready for all kinds of employers in the autumn but here’s a quick ‘behind the scenes’ update on our progress so far.

Framework
We’ve spent a lot of time researching and developing the assessment framework for our accreditation. This is split into four themed areas, each with key ‘indicators’ we’ll be looking for. We’ve always said employee feedback will be an important part of our assessment process, and this is now enshrined in the framework.

Currently our framework allows us to award successful employers with our accredited status, or an ‘excellence’ award if they have very good practice in place. We’re also exploring an entry-level programme for employers that are ‘working towards’ achieving our flexible working accreditation. The great thing for employers is that we’ll be supporting all organisations that apply to ensure the process adds value and isn’t onerous.

Pilot phase live
Two Scottish employers are now trialling our accreditation process, and we have a local authority set join the pilot phase shortly. We’re excited to have reached this stage, when all our previous thinking and research become much more tangible. When the pilot phase closes, we’ll take time to evaluate all experiences and make any final tweaks before we roll out the accreditation more widely.

Industry insights
We’ve previously blogged about our brilliant accreditation advisory group, comprised of a wide variety of business leaders, academics and flexible working campaigners, who are offering their expert knowledge and insights as we develop and finesse our accreditation scheme.

One of our priorities is to ensure our accreditation is fit for purpose for employers with frontline workers and staff on a range of salary bands, and we’ve deliberately sought advisers who represent a broad range of industries.

Benefits
Flexible working is great for employees by improving wellbeing and often enabling people to get into work, and stay in work, which helps reduce poverty.

But flexible working is also very good for businesses. It’s proven to reduce sickness and absence rates, motivate staff and help attract and retain talented people. These are all great reasons to work through our accreditation process, which will help employers enhance and showcase their flex offer.

All employers, no matter how far along their flexible working journey, will get the opportunity to see exactly what a good flexible working culture looks like, gain valuable employee insights and metrics as well as our expert recommendations and support as part of our accreditation process.

Another key benefit is that our accreditation will demonstrate a clear commitment to flexible working, which is good for brand reputation and can help secure contracts and funding. Given flexible working is a key plank of the Scottish Government’s Fair Work agenda, this is especially true for public sector contracts and grants.

More information?
If you’d like more information, or you’re interested in getting involved, please contact us at hello@flexibilityworks.org

Thanks
Our accreditation scheme is possible thanks to funding from The Robertson Trust, and the hard work of accreditation specialists Bonnie Clarke and Simon Kujawa and their team at consultancy Taylor Clarke.