• Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Winner 2015, The Santander Best New Flexible Working Initiative Award

  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has implemented an ambitious initiative to enable people to take significant leave when needed and return to work against a background of austerity and the challenge of overseas working. The FCO’s Special Unpaid Lead (SUPL) offer is unique, allowing employees breaks from the office for up to five years…

• Centrica – Winner 2015 Scottish Top Employers (large private sector)

  At Centrica success depends on its people and it knows that family wellbeing really matters.

• Skyscanner – Commended 2015 Scottish Top Employers (large private sector)

  Skyscanner strives to ensure working parents can balance their work and family commitments, recognising that such an approach is vital for staff happiness, engagement and productivity.

• Allianz, Finalist 2013, The RBS Best for Flexible Working Award

  Sector: Insurance Location: All UK Employees: 4,500 Allianz recognises the importance of the family and the need to support working parents and carers in ways that help them balance their work and family lives. The starting point is the understanding that parental (and caring) responsibilities are constant irrespective of the time of day and that…

• Plantronics, Commended 2013, The RBS Best for Flexible Working Award

  Sector: Technology/Communications Location: Royal Wootton Bassett Employees: 120 UK based, 3,500 worldwide Plantronics is a medium-sized company specialising in the technology sector. They have developed what they call an ‘ultimate’ approach to flexibility which allows complete flexibility about how, where and when work is done. Even if they are in the office, there are a…

• Chelsea and Westminster Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Finalist 2013, The Best for Innovation Award

  Sector: Healthcare Location: London Employees: 3,197 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is committed to supporting working parents, through a number of initiatives and policies. However, the Trust has had to be creative and innovative in how they can provide support for a number of reasons. They are based in a very expensive part…

• British Gas, Finalist 2013, The Best for Innovation Award

  Sector: Utilities Location: all UK Employees: 28,000 British Gas has demonstrated a well developed and comprehensive approach to carers which has widespread coverage across the organisation. Supported from the highest levels of the organisation, their core message is that supporting carers in the workforce isn’t just about being a good employer, but that it is…

• Plantronics, Winner 2013, The Best for Innovation Award

  Sector: Technology/Communications Location: Royal Wootton Bassett Employees: 120 UK based, 3,500 world-wide Plantronics is a medium-sized company specialising in the technology sector. They have taken an approach to flexible and family-friendly working which they themselves say starts and ends from the proposition that employees can be trusted to deliver whatever working pattern they choose. By…

• CiC Employee Assistance, Joint Winner 2014, The Childcarescheme Top Small Family Friendly Employer Award

  CiC Employee Assistance is an employee assistance provider, specialising in trauma and critical incident management, which delivers programmes to organisations covering 450,000 employees across the globe. Their support lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and provide a service to all sectors from the NHS to corporate banks. CIC’s focus on…

• Brand Learning, Joint Winner 2014, The Childcarescheme Top Small Family Friendly Employer Award

  Brand Learning is a global consultancy with unique expertise in lifting the capabilities of people and organisations to drive growth by creating better value for their customers. Founded in 2000, by Mhairi McEwan and Andy Bird with hubs in London, Singapore and New York, the team of 120 employees have worked with over 100 leading…

• Lloyds Banking Group, Commended 2014, The National Grid Best for Flexible Working Award

  Lloyds Banking Group has a long track record in flexible working, as one of the first employers to open up flexibility to all employees more than 15 years ago. However, it recognises that it needs to be proactive in this area as employee expectations around work–life balance increase, and the business environment changes too. The…

• American Express, Finalist 2014, The National Grid Best for Flexible Working Award

  American Express has taken the approach that flexible working is business as usual, and that it isn’t simply an optional add-on. Flexibility, in its view, is a necessity to help employees work to their full potential. American Express has developed a programme, BlueWork, that integrates flexible working into the core culture of the company. It…