A social business has unveiled a list of 50 of the UK’s most powerful part-time executives.

The Timewise Foundation, which champions the social and business benefits of flexible working, put together the 2013 Power Part Time list to de-mystify the process of career progression while working flexibly. The initiative has the backing of EY and 6 executive search firms.

Executives from Lloyds Banking Group, Google and IBM are included on the list, which is made up of 50 women and 7 men, all of whom work less than five days a week. Nine of those included work for FTSE 100 or 250 businesses and more than a fifth have worked such a pattern for ten years or more.

In their nominations, a fifth also mention being promoted at least once while working part-time and nine of the 50 mention being recruited on a part-time basis. The majority of entrants cited ‘time raising family’ as a reason for part-time work though most had multiple reasons, including caring, illness, charitable commitments and personal choice.

Timewise Foundation co-founder Karen Mattison MBE said: “Trailblazing employers who explore new ways of working, such as those listed in the 2013 Power Part Time list are leading the way, and amongst the very first to benefit from some very clear and tangible business benefits – including the ability to attract and retain the best talent.”

Steve Varley, EY’s UK chairman and managing partner and a judge on the list added: “I have seen first-hand how it can help attract and retain the best and brightest talent, lead to higher levels of client service, create competitive advantage and ultimately fosters a better working world. It is time that businesses stopped noticing work hours, measuring productivity in presenteeism, and instead focused on outputs.”

Elaine Aarons, senior partner in law firm Withers’ employment practice, is one of the 50. “I am delighted to have been chosen for this ground-breaking and prestigious list,” she said. “I describe myself as an ‘Alpha Part Timer’, in that my clients and colleagues can expect me to deliver exactly the same results and quality of service as a full time worker. Unfortunately, the term ‘part time’ still carries negative connotations, and I hope that the example of my fellow nominees will help to banish this outmoded impression.”

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

Categories: News, Part-time