April 04, 2008- WORK WISE SOUTH EAST TO BE LAUNCHED
“The south east needs to adopt smarter working if it is to remain competitive, retain skills and so sustain the growth it has enjoyed in recent years.”
The media are invited to attend the launch of Work Wise South East at Farnham Castle, Farnham, Surrey, next Wednesday, April 16, between 11.30am and 2.15pm.
Phil Flaxton, chief executive of Work Wise UK, will be joined by senior representatives from the South East of England Regional Development Agency (SEEDA), the South East England Regional Assembly, NHS South East, BT, British Gas parent, Centrica, and First Great Western, to launch the new regional Work Wise initiative.
Work Wise South East will adapt the national Work Wise UK initiative to the specific needs and issues of the South East. It will promote the wider adoption of smarter working practices, such as flexible working (including condensed hours and nine-day fortnights), home working, remote and mobile working, across the region.
Phil Flaxton will open the event by explaining the current threats that exist for the region, unless it changes its ways: “The south east needs to adopt smarter working if it is to remain competitive, retain skills and so sustain the growth it has enjoyed in recent years. The current road network, public transport systems and other infrastructures are all groaning under the strain of existing demand, but with the massive growth in population predicted over the next 20 years – 850,000 in London alone – they just plainly will not cope without massive investment, which is unlikely to happen or come in time, or a change in the way we work.”
This and other threats to the region were identified in a report, published last year, called Creating a smarter working south east region. It called upon organisations throughout the region to adopt smarter working practices saying that “the sustainability of the South East region is at risk from pressures on travel, congestion, skills availability and stress related health problems.
“Smarter Working can help employers, employees and potential employees, by reducing wasted effort and travel, reducing stress by the introduction of new working methods and routines, and helping improve the skills gap by reengaging
excluded groups.
“The South East Plan (Regional Spatial Strategy) and Regional Economic Strategy set out priorities for the region, and both emphasise the need for smarter working, recognising wide ranging benefits to both employers and employees.”
With the South East having the highest proportion of commuters, and the average person spending the equivalent of an additional working day each week commuting, the region presents the greatest opportunity for the largest number of people to benefit from the introduction of new smarter working practices. According to the Labour Force Survey, undertaken quarterly by the Office for National Statistics, nearly 600,000 people work from home in the South East (excluding London), which is over 15 per cent of the working population, the highest in the UK. Nationally, over 3.4 million people, 12 per cent of the working population, regularly or permanently work from home, a figure that has increased by a fifth in the last ten years. The lowest proportion of home workers is in Scotland with 8.5 per cent.
Work Wise UK (www.workwiseuk.org) is a not-for-profit initiative which aims to make the UK one of the most progressive economies in the world by encouraging the adoption of smarter working practices. Its supporting partners include the CBI, TUC, British Chambers of Commerce, RAC Foundation, Transport for London, Scope, Association for Commuter Transport and BT.
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The event is being staged at Farnham Castle, Castle Street, Farnham, Surrey GU9 0AG on Wednesday, April 16, 2008, from 11:30am (coffee and registration from 11:00a.m.) to 12:45pm, followed by a networking lunch until 2:15pm.
Media wishing to attend should confirm their names/publications to: Katie Daniels, Chelgate Limited, on 020 7939 7939 or kd@chelgate.com.
Issued on behalf of Work Wise UK by Chelgate Limited
Notes to editors:
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Work Wise UK is organised by the IT Forum Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation.
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Supporters of the Work Wise UK campaign include the CBI, TUC, the British Chambers of Commerce, BT, Transport for London, Equal Opportunities Commission, Scope, the RAC Foundation, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, Technology Means Business, Henley Management College and the Association for Commuter Transport.
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A dedicated electronic media centre has been established for journalists to obtain further information, to download print-quality materials, and to register for media updates about Work Wise UK. This can be accessed either through the main website or directly at www.workwiseuk.pressrooms.net.
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Further information about Work Wise UK can be found on the website www.workwiseuk.org.
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Transport for London (TfL) promotes smarter working to help manage demand on the capital’s transport network. To support employers with practical guidance on creating, implementing and improving smarter working within their organisations, a new Smarter Working Guide for employers is now available - http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/roadusers/sustainable-travel/useful-resources.aspx
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BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include networked IT services; local, national and international telecommunications services; higher-value broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.
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In the year ended 31 March 2007, BT Group plc's revenue was 20,223 million with profit before taxation of 2,484 million.
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British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.
- For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt
For further information and images, please contact:
Roy Turner,
Chelgate PR
020 7939 7939 or 07970 522232 or
rt@chelgate.com
Katie Daniel,
Chelgate PR
020 7939 7939 or
kd@chelgate.com