Work Wise UK is supported by a number of partners. These include:
STRATEGIC PARTNERS
BT
BT was the first corporation to support Work Wise UK, and has a significant track record in the area with more than 11,500 of its employees working from home on a permanent or semi-permanent basis and 64,000 more equipped to work flexibly. BT estimates that such practices have resulted in significant cost savings including increased employee retention and improved absenteeism rates.
As the programme continues to develop, additional partners and supporters from both the private and public sector will be announced and will be detailed in this section.
TfL
Transport for London (TfL) joined Work Wise UK as a strategic partner in December 2006. TfL was created in 2000 as the integrated body responsible for the Capital's transport system. Its primary role, which is a functional body of the Greater London Authority, is to implement the Mayor of London's Transport Strategy and manage transport services across the Capital.
TfL is responsible for London's buses, the Underground, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and the management of Croydon Tramlink and London River Services. We also run Victoria Coach Station and London's Transport Museum.
TfL is responsible for a 580km network of main roads and all of London's 4,600 traffic lights. In addition, we manage the central London Congestion Charging scheme and regulate the city's taxis and private hire trade. TfL also promotes a range of walking and cycling initiatives across the Capital. To ensure greater accessibility for all Londoners, TfL co-ordinates schemes for transport users with impaired mobility, as well as running the Dial-a-Ride scheme in conjunction with the London borough's Taxicard.
TfL is currently running Smarter Travel pilot projects with three London borough councils – Barnet, Brent and Lewisham. The councils are being given support on changing HR and finance policies and providing IT services for people wanting to work from home. The pilot projects will inform TfL’s future plans to offer Smarter Working advice as part of the Work Place Travel Plan package.
TfL’s Work Place Travel Plans provide businesses with support and advice on their organisation’s transport policies. Areas covered include; car sharing, fleet management, and encouraging people to walk, cycle or take public transport.
PARTNERS
CBI
With its director general speaking at the launch of Work Wise UK in May 2006, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is one of Work Wise UK’s founding supporters. It believes more flexible working will benefit the economy through higher productivity and reduced transport pressure.
The CBI’s aim is to help create and sustain the conditions in which businesses in the United Kingdom can compete and prosper for the benefit of all. It is one of the principle lobbying organisation for UK business on national and international issues. The CBI works with the UK government, international legislators and policy-makers to help UK businesses compete effectively and a network of offices around the UK in Beijing, Brussels and Washington, provides on-the-ground support for its members.
TUC
In recognition of the major benefit to employees of flexible working practices, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) is one of Work Wise UK’s founding supporters. The TUC sees a huge scope for many workers through smarter working practices to improve the quality of their lives by cutting down on commuting time and eliminating excessive working hours.
The TUC has 66 affiliated unions representing almost seven million working people from all walks of life. It is an advocate for Britain’s employees, campaigning for a fair deal at work and for social justice at home and abroad. Among the TUC’s activities it negotiates in Europe, and at home builds links with political parties, business and local and wider communities.
BCC
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) supports Work Wise UK as it firmly believes smarter working will help raise productivity of British business and its international competitiveness. It represents 60 local Chambers of Commerce and a network of chambers across the globe. Members of local chambers employ nearly 5 million people. The BCC works with government to shape policy affecting UK businesses of all sizes, focusing in areas such as international trade, skills development and business services.
SCOPE
Scope, the disability organisation whose focus is people with cerebral palsy, is a supporter of Work Wise UK as companies adopting smarter or flexible working practices are more able to fulfil their obligation in employing disabled people. For example, working from home, even for a proportion of the working week, will be a major benefit to some whose journey to and from the place of employment can be the greatest hindrance.
Scope’s aim is that disabled people achieve equality in a society in which they are as valued and have the same human and civil rights as everyone else. To help achieve this, on issues affecting disabled people it campaigns at both local and national levels, conducts research and supplies information.
RAC Foundation
The RAC Foundation for Motoring is an independent charity established to promote the environmental, economic, mobility and safety issues relating to use of motor vehicles.
Its vision: Advocating innovative transport solutions for safer roads, safer drivers, greener cars, improved mobility and a fair deal for motorists.
The RAC Foundation is supporting Work Wise UK as it believes any change in working patterns which reduces the need to travel, or staggers the time when travel occurs, will have an effect in reducing congestion on the country’s already over-congested roads. It predicts that smarter working could cut commuter traffic by up to 10 per cent within five years.
ACT
The Association for Commuter Transport (ACT) was formed in November 1997 as a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee and which is owned and controlled by its members. An elected Board of Directors manages ACT and PTRC Education and Research Services Ltd, under a formal management contract, provide the Secretariat.
ACT provides support to organisations that need to reduce the number of employees and visitors driving their cars onto site, through the introduction of a Travel Plan.
Often organisations are obliged to introduce Travel Plans for reasons such as; planning conditions attached to new sites or site expansion (section 106 agreements), parking shortages and congestion problems.
Some organisations want to be able to; recruit and retain staff more effectively, save money on car parking spaces and business travel, become more accessible to the local community or simply promote a more environmentally friendly corporate image.
Whatever your organisation’s particular situation, ACT can help in the development of your Travel Plan. Current members include; Local Authorities, Government Organisations, Transport Operators, Transport Consultants, Commercial Businesses, Universities & Colleges, NHS, NGO's & Partnerships and Charities & Campaigns.
ACT Members have access to a range of benefits including; specialist advice, newsletters, factsheets, websites, webzines, conferences, masterclasses, training courses and awards, click here to find out more.
ACT is a non-profit organisation, working closely with the Department for Transport (DfT).
TMB
With a remit to help small companies benefit from technology, Technology Means Business shares the aims of Work Wise UK . Technology Means Business was developed following a call from Government and leading technology companies to improve the quality and consistency of advice received by small businesses. This followed from research conducted by both the DTI and Chartered Management Institute, which concluded that SMEs were failing to utilise ICT effectively.
Technology Means Business is an organisation within the IT Forum Foundation and is supported by the DTI, BT, Compaq, Intel and Microsoft.
Henley Management College
Henley Management College is one of Europe’s oldest business schools and a leading centre of thought in management. The college in 1992 set up the Future Work Forum, a part of its School of Leadership, Change and HR Management, which examines the way that working lives are changing and its impact on organisations, managers and individuals; issues at the heart of Work Wise UK’s campaign.
Henley Management College provides an innovative programme of full-time and part-time MBAs and has built up an enviable reputation in research and development.
As the programme continues to develop, additional partners and supporters from both the private and public sector will be announced and will be detailed in this section.