NOTE TO EDITORS: CONCORDAT - BUSINESS AND UNIONS UNITE TO FOMENT WORKPLACE REVOLUTION
CBI and TUC to sign pledge to change the way we work
Media launch: 10.30am, Monday, January 22, BT Tower, London
“This concordat brings together the signatories in a joint statement supporting the development and implementation of smarter working practices and as an example, and encouragement, to others to do likewise. The goal is to increase significantly the use of these practices by 2011. Such advancements will not only benefit companies, communities and individuals, but the UK economy as a whole, making it more productive and competitive in the global marketplace.” (Work Wise UK Concordat)
The UK is about to take a major step towards becoming one of the most progressive economies in the world. A number of leading businesses and organisations, including the CBI and TUC, will sign an agreement on Monday, January 22, for the wider adoption of smarter working practices across the UK, to help bring about a workplace revolution.
Richard Lambert, director general of the CBI, and Brendan Barber, general secretary of the TUC, will be the first to sign a ‘concordat’ supporting the development and implementation of the Work Wise UK campaign and objectives.
Work Wise UK, a not for profit initiative, is in the first of a five year programme to promote the wider adoption of smarter working practices, such as flexible working, working from home, mobile and remote working, to bring about a workplace revolution, similar in impact to the Industrial Revolution which Great Britain led in the 19 th century.
Both the public and private sectors agree that the benefits of smarter working are enormous: apart from the positive implications on employees’ work-life balance and travelling time, the improvements in productivity will help the UK meet the competitive challenges presented by the emerging economies, such as India and China.
Other organisations signing the concordat include the British Chambers of Commerce, BT, Transport for London, RAC Foundation, Association for Commuter Transport, Scope, Technology Means Business and Henley Management.
The aim is for thousands of other organisations to sign the concordat, via the Work Wise website (www.workwiseuk.org) over the coming months, demonstrating their commitment to revolutionising the workplace.
Media opportunities
A media launch will take place at 10.00am on Monday, January 22, on level 34 (the revolving floor) at BT Tower, 60 Cleveland Street, London W1P 6EA. A number of the participating organisations will be present to give briefings about why they are signing the concordat and supporting Work Wise UK. This will be in the form of a brief speech by each, followed by one-to-one interview opportunities.
Copies of the concordat, a news release and background notes will be available at the briefing.
Due to security requirements all attendees must be notified to the media contact below by close-of-play this Thursday, 18 January.
Further details about Work Wise UK can be found on the website (www.workwiseuk.org).----- Ends -----
Notes to editors:
- A number of spokespersons are available for interview or to comment at the media event, or for recording before the event, or interview after the event.
- Work Wise UK is 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 campaign include the CBI, TUC, the British Chambers of Commerce, BT, Transport for London, Scope, the RAC Foundation, Technology Means Business and Henley Management College.
For further information, please contact:
Work Wise UK:
Roy Turner,
Chelgate PR
020 7939 7939 or 07970 522232 or
rt@chelgate.com
Michael Hardware ,
Chelgate PR
020 7939 7939 or 07775 925 274 or
meh@chelgate.com