December 15, 2006 - NECC SIGNS UP TO SMARTER WORKING
THE North East’s leading business membership organization has today committed to ‘put its money where its mouth is’ in support of a flagship campaign.
The North East Chamber of Commerce has pledged to devise a fully-integrated, flexible working policy for its 250 staff as part of its ongoing commitment to the Work Wise North East campaign.
Work Wise North East will promote the wider adoption of smarter working practices, such as flexible working, mobile working, remote working and working from home, tailoring the national Work Wise UK initiative, a major five-year programme which was launched in May with broad government, business and union support, to the North East.
NECC has held Investors in People status since 1997 and views moves towards more flexible working as a further step both to improve its staff environment and the way in which it serves its members.
James Ramsbotham, NECC chief executive, said: “NECC is firmly committed to being among the best employers in the UK. We already provide a tremendous range of services and benefits to our staff and have the technology to provide flexible working. Establishing a formal flexible working policy will take our operations up another level and we see it as a real recruitment and retention tool.
“Work Wise is not just about better staff practices, it is also about better business. We see tremendous benefits for the customer service we provide to our 4,400 members by adopting these new practices.
“NECC is delighted to back the Work Wise North East campaign. We see it as a logical extension to the Go For Jobs campaign which aims to keep the region’s transport network free-flowing”
“Work Wise is a way for businesses to take a lead in demonstrating what should be done to address the needs of 21 st century business. This is about showing Government the way it should be done and hoping it will follow.”
NECC hopes that it can take a proactive lead in the bid to help many more businesses of all sizes to take up the Work Wise mantle.
Phil Flaxton, chief executive of Work Wise UK, said: “One of the key national supporters of Work Wise UK is the British Chambers of Commerce, so we are pleased that the NECC is lending its active support to Work Wise North East.
“Smarter working is an answer to many of the issues facing the economy today. While smarter working improves productivity and enhances the working environment, it also reduces the need to travel and staggers the rush hour. Even a small change in working practices across the North East will see a marked fall in congestion, and a significant impact on emission levels.”
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For further information about Work Wise North East campaign, contact:
Sheila Chapman , Sheila Chapman PR on 07732 827 486 scpr@btopenworld.com
For further information about the national Work Wise campaign, please contact:
Roy Turner , Chelgate PR on 020 7939 7939 or 07970 522232 or rt@chelgate.com
Notes to editors:
- Work Wise UK is being organised by the IT Forum Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation.
- Further information about Work Wise UK can be found on the website www.workwiseuk.org.
- A dedicated electronic news room 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.pressrooms.net/workwiseuk.
- Supporters of the Work Wise UK North East campaign include the CBI, TUC, the North East Chamber of Commerce, EEF, Northern Business Forum, Federation of Small Businesses, Government Office North East, One North East, Women into the Network and BT.