Recruiters join parliamentary group to champion flexible working

Midlands-based recruitment firm SF Recruitment has joined a new parliamentary group set up to champion flexible working.

The Flexible & Family Friendly Working All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) was recenty launched in the House of Commons.

The APPG will focus on championing flexible working policies that support families across the country to remove the barriers that people with caring responsibilities face in the workplace.

The group is jointly chaired by Tulip Siddiq, Labour MP for Hampstead & Kilburn, Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury (City Minister), and the Rt Hon Dame Maria Miller, Conservative MP for Basingstoke and working families who are acting as secretariat.

The collaboration between SF Recruitment, alongside four other members, highlights the commitment of leading organisations to support and drive positive change in workplace practices. As advocates for progressive employment policies, they are well placed to contribute valuable insights and resources to the APPG's mission.

SF Recruitment have been Employer Members of Working Families since 2022, as part of its commitment to offering flexible working to their employees, the foundation of which is trust and freedom.

Employees are able to mould their schedule around their personal circumstances and preferred style of working. Hybrid working is encouraged, with office days coordinated between teams to ensure joined-up practice.

Flexible working has been successful for the business, with profitability doubling in the first year. In one year alone they created five new job titles, two of which are part-time. This approach has seen them attract and retain talent they would have otherwise lost out on.

Being successful and working in the recruitment sphere has meant SF Recruitment has caught the attention of other employers, who are curious about their Flex for Success campaign, which promotes and delivers flexibility for their clients and candidates.

Saira Demmer, CEO at SF Recruitment, explains: “SF has been through a major company transformation in the last 3 years that has hinged on the use of a flexible and autonomous working model. This new way of working has delivered outstanding results, doubling our productivity, and tripling profitability. 

“We know that flexibility works, and that the vast majority of employees want it. But we also recognise the challenges businesses face in implementing flexibility in a way that enhances performance rather than dilutes it.

“We want to share the benefit of our experience and are committed to raising awareness of the benefits of family-friendly working. It’s what motivated us to join the APPG, and we’re looking forward to taking an active role in helping UK businesses use flexible working to create workplaces where people can thrive both personally and professionally.”

The inaugural meeting of the APPG is anticipated to take place in March at The Houses of Parliament, marking the beginning of a concerted effort to drive legislative changes that promote flexibility in the workplace.

Key stakeholders will be invited to attend, including policymakers and influencers dedicated to reshaping the future of work.

Jane van Zyl, CEO at Working Families said: “We believe that flexible working is not just a benefit but a necessity for the modern workforce.

“This APPG will play a pivotal role in advocating for policies that empower families, support a better work-life balance, and contribute to a more inclusive and productive society."

Rt Hon Dame Maria Miller said: “Parents across the country are struggling to balance family life with workplace pressures.

“I am delighted to Chair the APPG that will look at and support flagship policies on flexible working and shared parental leave to make sure workplaces across the UK are fit for the family of the 21st century.” 

Pictured (L-R): Tulip Siddiq MP, Jane van Zyl, CEO at Working Families, Rt Hon Dame Marie Miller