Inclusion and Wellbeing Champion forum: Flexforward UK

Audience

This event is open to (Gender, Inclusion, Race) and Wellbeing Champions.

About this event

Join BITC and CBRE to explore what’s breaking down in UK workplaces regarding flexible working.

We will be discussing flexible working in the context of fairness across life stages, roles and demographics. We will be talking about the importance of transparency, clear criteria, tracking outcomes and data, as well as how best to shift stigma and influence employers to embed flexible working into their operating models.

This Champion Forum will share expert-led evidence on flexible working and provide space to discuss barriers and explore those roles and sectors where flexibility is still least accessible. Regardless of your organisation’s level of maturity in this topic, or operating model, we would love to hear from you

Inconsistent access to flexible working is worsening gender, disability, low-income and role-type inequalities. In the Gender Campaign’s flagship awards The Times Top 50 2025, flexible work remains the lowest-scoring category.

This event will…

• Explore how inconsistent flexible working is driving inequality
• Look at how to ensure systemic change is focused on equity, transparency and cultural evolution
• Facilitate best practice learning and discussion to support your organisation in implementing and evaluating flexible work

Business in the Community is calling for businesses to implement systemic change: equity, transparency and cultural evolution in their approach to flexible working.

Business in the Community’s work on Flexible working

Despite flexible working being increasingly important and valuable to employees, it still carries a stigma associated with low pay, low productivity, and slow progression.

Drawing on research with our members, in collaboration with Phoenix Group, our toolkit identifies the benefits of flexible working and outlines practical steps employers can take to build inclusive, flexible working cultures for all.

BITC’s Wellbeing campaign and BITC Workwell model positions thriving people at the heart of organisational purpose, culture and business strategy, providing a framework for an intersectional, inclusive and people-first approach

Business in the Community (BITC) has lots of resources to support you in taking action on flexible working, and our Advisory Services team can support you in planning and implementing action. If you are a member, please reach out to your relationship manager. If you are not a BITC member, find out about how to join us.

About Business in the Community’s (BITC) Gender Campaign

We want to create a gender-equal working world where everyone, regardless of gender, can flourish. We particularly want to see change on the four key inequality indicators: pay, power, job security, and the risk of harassment and discrimination.

The commercial imperative for realising women’s potential in the workplace is clear: gender equality enhances employee engagement, boosts productivity, meets the diverse needs of customers and suppliers, and improves brand reputation.

Learn more about how BITC can help you create a more gender equal workplace.

Contact gender@bitc.org.uk for any further questions.