“A common mistake is to assume that only people with young families want to work part time, but do this and you’re limiting your recruitment capabilities. Flexibility around reduced working hours, whatever the rationale, can be a competitive advantage in securing top talent.”

“We are recognising that individuals and businesses and local authorities all have a really important part to play in that. At the moment, we’re working to understand the barriers that people are facing financially and the pressures on small businesses – but also politically in terms of the decisions which …