Industry leaders promote economic and business benefits of flexible working
A group of the UK’s most high-profile companies are calling on employers to adopt more agile working practices to help boost business as well as the economy.
At an event in London yesterday (Monday 17 November), the Agile Future Forum (AFF) claimed that factors such as advances in technology, changing demographics and increased globalisation have lead to an increased need for an agile workforce.
The AFF was founded last year by 22 companies including Tesco, KPMG, John Lewis, ITV, B&Q, Ford, Lloyds Banking Group and BT, to demonstrate the business value of agile working.
It believes that traditional models of work, such as office-based, full-time working with inflexible hours, are coming under increased strain, and that agile working is key to a modern, competitive and sustainable organisation.
Adam Crozier, chief executive of ITV, said: “Becoming agile is about ensuring your sustainability as a business. An agile business is better equipped to manage the challenges of today’s global market place, from attracting and retaining the best talent to taking advantage of advances in technology to reducing costs.”
Permanent Secretary to the Treasury Sir Nicholas MacPherson added that the UK is in a “strong position to take the global lead” on establishing an agile workforce that benefits business as well as the UK economy.
“A collaborative effort between business, government and policy makers is required to ensure that we maximise the value that we know agility can deliver to our economy. The AFF has a key role to play in facilitating and supporting the organisations as they transition from traditional models of work to those based on agility.”
The forum has also launched a call to action to invite all UK businesses to take the AFF agility test, to determine how agile they are and to help promote the benefits of an agile workforce.
A recent CBI survey found that whilst 97 per cent of UK businesses agree that agility is key to economic growth, many still offer a limited range of agile working practices.
Simon Collins, managing partner of KPMG, said that while many businesses are starting to make progress with agile working, there is still much more to do.
“The model on which most businesses are based needs to change in order to maximise the benefits of agility. This is the purpose of the AFF – to support organisations to transform the way we work in a way that benefits businesses as well as employees, shareholders, customers and the wider economy.”