SCVO praised for flexible working opportunities

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has been honoured in Scotland’s Flexible Working Awards, run by social business Flexibility Works.

SCVO has been named one of Scotland’s top 10 employers for embracing flexible working. The final list is a combination of organisations that have been offering extensive flexibility to workers for more than two years, as well as ‘new-found flexers’ that have substantially increased flexible and other new ways of working since the start of the Covid pandemic.

The awards celebrate forward-thinking employers that understand how flexibility is good for people - helping them create more harmony between work and home life - as well as for business growth.

The winners were announced during an online ceremony last week to an audience of Scottish business leaders.

SCVO were one of four organisations within the Top 10 that received a special judges’ commendation, highlighting the entry and flexible working approach as exceptional by the judges.

In addition, three people were recognised as ‘flex influencers’ for their individual efforts to increase flexible working in their organisation. 

Lynn Houmdi from The Challenges Group/The Talent Loom was the overall winner, with Claire Carpenter from social enterprise The Melting Pot Edinburgh and Nicholas Scullion from Scullion Law both highly commended.

Caroline Christie, SCVO HR manager, said: “Offering greater flexibility to staff helps our people create a better work life balance and come to work more focused and more productive. We’ve been working hard to increase flexibility where we can, and we’re delighted our efforts have been recognised.

“We’re very excited to be included in the Top 10 Employers for flexible working.  Flexible working is important to us at SCVO and it is great to receive this recognition from Flexibility Works.  We will continue to strive to go the extra mile with flex.”

Nikki Slowey, co-founder and director of Flexibility Works, which supports employers across Scotland implementing successful flex, said: “Our judges were really impressed with how SCVO is nurturing a new way of working in Scotland.

“As final Covid restrictions end, the next six months will be a crucial transition for many employers from ‘Covid flex’ that was forced upon us to a more intentional and sustainable true flexibility. Employers like SCVO are brilliant for showcasing practical steps organisations can take, and the positive impact this makes.”

The full list of Scotland’s Top 10 Flexible Employers this year is:

• Arnold Clark
• Cameron Intellectual Property
• Direct ID
• Fife Housing Group
• MadeBrave
• Podfather
• SCVO
• Scottish Enterprise
• Scottish Water
• The Wise Group

New research by Flexibility Works shows 84 per cent of Scottish workers already work flexibly, or would like to, up from 73 per cent before the pandemic. 

Almost two thirds (64 per cent) of employers say flexible working has had a positive impact on the business.

For the awards, judges looked for clear examples of how organisations support their people to create greater work life harmony. They considered the company culture, leadership and practical support provided as well as official policies. 

They also wanted to see flexible working as part of an organisation’s strategy and how this impacts positively on the business, with testimonials from employees included.

The winners embrace many forms of flexible working including part-time hours, compressed hours, flexible start and finish times, remote working, term-time working and/or more ad-hoc arrangements that help members of staff to balance their home and work lives.

The awards were sponsored by The Glenmorangie Company, Quorum Network Resources, CIPD, Arnold Clark, Centrica, Dentons, Scottish Water, Shoosmiths, Pursuit Marketing and the Scottish Government.

Flexibility Works is a social business funded and supported by the Scottish Government to support organisations to become more flexible workplaces.

Journalists requiring more information can contact SCVO communications via email at commsteam@scvo.scot. 

ENDS

Notes to editors:

About Flexibility Works

Our purpose is to enrich people’s lives by transforming the way we work.

Specifically, we’re here to accelerate the adoption of flexible and new ways of working in Scotland, by sharing advice, insight and best practice, which improves business success,

employee engagement and wellbeing. And by building the evidence base that informs how we best achieve this, and why it’s important.

We want to help employers and workers work together, co-creating a culture that truly values work life harmony, enabling all people and businesses to thrive.

We are funded and supported by the Scottish Government and the Social Innovation Partnership. Visit flexibilityworks.org.