Getting the perfect work/life balance with flexible working

“But this spurred me on to do something about it,” she says.

After working for a franchise recruitment company she decided to go it alone and in February she launched Flexibility Matters, a recruitment agency connecting flexible workers and businesses.

“It is a real passion of mine,” she enthuses.

”There are so many brilliant candidates out there that require flexible working for whatever reason so it is about joining up those companies with these candidates and ensuring they have the right flexible working practices in place.”

Flexible working can be part time hours, reduced hours, working full time hours but some flexibility to do it at home, or working three or four long days.

“The majority of the people we work with are women, but not everyone is and not everyone needs to work flexibly because of children.

“There is a vast amount of quality candidates out there who need to work flexibly for a number of reasons it could be because of their mental health or they are a carer.”

Based in Ditchling Emma says that people looking for flexible working have often come from bigger companies but are returning to the work place looking at opportunities in smaller businesses.

“Companies have got a lot better when it comes to flexible working, more so than five or six years ago,” Emma says.

“Many companies are now looking at their company flexibility policy and making changes to accommodate.

“However, sometimes there is a perception that people that work part time aren’t as dedicated and there is a lack of quality in their work but this couldn’t be further from the truth.”

Many of the people that come to Flexibility Matters are aged between 35-55.

Emma adds: “We work with small and medium businesses as we find they are more able to make changes to their flexible working policies than the bigger companies. And we feel it works better.”

Emma describes Flexibility Matters as a ‘generalist recruiter’ with a specialism in the flexible work market.

She adds: “Some 30 per cent of the UK’s working population (8.7 million people) wants flexible working but doesn’t have it, yet only six per cent of advertised jobs with a salary above £20,000 actually offer it.”

Prior to working in recruitment Emma worked in business development and sales.

“I never thought I would work in recruitment but I have used a lot of the skills I gained from working in business development.

“My maternity leave was for ten years and each child chips away at your confidence.

“But I volunteered for St Peter and St James Hospice and I still do work for them but it gave me my confidence back.

“It also led me to decide that I wanted a job with purpose and was ready to get back into the job market but there was nothing that worked around my children until I got into the flexible recruitment.

“And I am so glad I did.”

The benefits of a flexible business strategy are plenty and include:

- Increase in productivity – happy workers with a great work life balance work harder

- Business growth at a rate you can afford with reduced risk

- Access to a pool of experienced talent that may be retained at a lower cost

- Better staff retention

- Reduced absenteeism

- Efficient, experienced workers

- Happier working atmosphere

For more information, visit www.flexibilitymatters.co.uk