North West Flexible Working Group meets PM

As reported on their own web site, members of the North West Flexible Working Group recently met the Prime Minister and expressed their views on how flexible working can be encouraged and supported across the region and the rest of the UK. In a private meeting with Tony Blair, hosted by Peter Connor, Chair of the Northwest Flexible Working Group and BT Regional Manager, members of the Group set out the aims and objectives of the Group and highlighted cases of flexible working good practice from across the region.

The Prime Minister mentioned the Group in his recent 'Our Nation’s Future – the role of work' speech when he described the group as "an outstanding example of what can be done. But we need to support such initiatives, learn lessons from them and apply it across the board.“

Chairman of the Group, Peter Connor, said: "The discussion was very constructive and, after hearing our views, the Prime Minister confirmed that flexible working is a topic that is rapidly rising up the political agenda. We are now working to capitalise on the profile we have been afforded and fast-track our proposals. This is against a backdrop of evidence that shows increased levels of flexible and homeworking will deliver economic, environmental and social gains to the Northwest.”