McAlpine's Flexes Muscles In Support Of Flexmakers Project

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• McAlpine's Flexes Muscles In Support Of Flexmakers Project

12 March 2020 | Updated 10 September 2020

McAlpine's is supporting the Flex Appeal campaign and the launch of the Flexmakers project, which aims to explore flexible working solutions for employers and increase opportunities for people to work flexibly.

The construction company is also applying the concept of flexible working to their own operation in order to tap into a market of talented employees who can't necessarily offer their services on a traditional 9-5 basis.

 

What is Flex Appeal?

 

In 2015, Anna Whitehouse started Mother Pukka, a blog inspired by the challenges she faced trying to cope with the constraints of traditional and rigid working arrangements, whilst raising a child. Since then, Whitehouse and her husband, Matt Farquharson, have been campaigning for Flex Appeal and more flexible working across the UK.

 

“I am incredibly proud that Sir Robert McAlpine can support Flex Appeal. We have been impressed by the campaign’s journey so far and are pleased to play some part in its increased impact. Flexible working is not about mums, or parents or even part-timers – it’s about people."

– Paul Hamer

Chief Executive Officer, Sir Robert McAlpine

Happy and Supported

 

"We have made a commitment to leading by example on inclusion and inspiring industry wide change," continued Hamer. "For us, inclusion means that everyone feels happy, supported and is comfortable to be themselves at work, to deliver to their full potential.

"To us, allowing everyone the flexibility to adjust their work to suit demanding life circumstances, whatever they are, is the path to greater inclusion."

 

Encouraging Conversations

 

According to the Sir Robert McAlpine company, whether a parent, a carer, a student or someone with different abilities, flexible working can help everyone to thrive in their professional and personal lives. It makes sense and the overwhelming evidence shows that it is good both for people and organisations.

The company is also convinced that a better work-life balance contributes to better mental health and that if people are happier in their jobs, they contribute to a more productive and committed workforce.

The solution is not a one size fits all, however. Some jobs and environments lend themselves better to various degrees of flexibility.

'We want to encourage conversations and explore solutions that could work,' says the McAlpine's website. 'We recognise that we have yet some way to go to making our working environment truly flexible but we are willing to try hard to make it happen'.

 

Flexmakers

 

The Flex Appeal campaign and the Flexmakers project will identify companies that have been successfully implementing flexible working solutions. The research will be conducted by Claremont, a behaviour change communications agency specialising in social issues.

Those leading the way in flexible working have been given the designation of Bright Spot employers – if you think you might be one, fill in the online form to take part in the research (but only fifteen companies will be initially involved).

To go to the form - Click Here

 

Suicide Rates

 

Paul Hamer concluded: "I want Sir Robert McAlpine to be an organisation where people thrive. We can see the potential benefits of flexible working to our own business, to our people, their mental health and the elusive work-life balance.

"Suicide rates in construction workers are unacceptable and if flexible working can help, then I am determined that we try.

We are going to work hard to trial flexible working in offices and across sites in order to find the best way to deliver our iconic projects, serve our clients and support our people’s wellbeing.”

Picture: Sir Robert McAlpine is supporting the Flexmakers project whilst endeavouring to make their own business more flexible for workers who can't do a 9 to 5. 

Article written by Brian Shillibeer | Published 12 March 2020

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