Event to match businesses with parents

By flexibleboss on October 15, 2013 • ( 0 )

Businesses will be able to promote their flexibility and mix with parents looking for work at an event launching in 2014.

The Work & Family Show aims to attract over 10,000 visitors when it opens in London next February.

A survey conducted for the launch found that nearly three quarters (68%) of working mothers would like to meet employers who offer flexible working solutions at the event, whilst over a third (39%) would like help with franchise and start up business ideas. In addition, more than half (53%) would like to attend workshops led by experts and hear panel discussions by parents and role models who have successfully balanced work and family.

Representatives of the Women’s Business Council, set up by government to maximise women’s contribution to the economy, will speak at the event.

Helen Grant, minister for women and equalities, said: “It’s vital to recognise the importance of supporting parents to achieve a good work-life balance. Helping employers and employees alike find practical ways to achieve the results they both want and the economy needs is very important.”

Oliver Black is director of My Family Care, which is working with organiser Clarion Events. He said the show will be able to match businesses with talented parents who want to return to work.

“Over 2.2 million women and men are not working in order to look after their family. More than 60% of these are looking to return to work but do not know how to and don’t appreciate the number of family friendly businesses that are out there,” he said.

“Family friendly working practices are not simply an employee benefit. They represent the most commercially sound way of harnessing the potential of a generation of talented people whose working lives need to dovetail with many other roles and responsibilities. Get it right and the employees who are helped to combine career and family successfully will be the most engaged, productive and loyal members of your team.”

Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lizadaly/