NECC creates innovative workplace for staff

ONE of the region's leading employers' organisations has put its working practices through their paces to put Work Wise North East at the heart of the business.

The North East Chamber of Commerce, which represents 4,400 businesses that collectively employ a third of the region's workforce, has undertaken a major review to give its 230 staff a whole host of opportunities to work more flexibly.

NECC has built on a range of existing practices to create a more innovative workplace for its employees and to show its commitment to the campaign which aims to consign the nine-to-five work culture to the dustbin of the past.

Home and remote working, along with staggered start times, is being underpinned by improved technology to make life easier for staff. NECC already had a Citrix system in place enabling employees to access files from public places or home computers. It is now looking to enhance that facility by creating a CRM system accessible via the web. In addition, it is rolling out a programme providing smart phones to staff to access mobile e-mail that in time will also enable customer-facing employees to have smarter, more interactive communication with their main office base.

Isobel Robertson, NECC deputy chief executive, said: "For years we have offered staff the opportunity to work flexibly but this is the first time we've placed a commitment to actively encouraging smarter working practices at the heart of the business.

"The modern workplace is vastly different from what it used to be and NECC is ahead of the game when it comes to providing its employees with as much support and flexibility as we can."

Ms Robertson, director of NECC's finance department which includes human resources, added: "Work Wise North East is a fantastic campaign that can bring great benefit to your business. It enables staff to strike a good work/life balance and that makes for happier, more productive employees."

NECC's review of its working practices is part of a wider project to dramatically grow its membership. It is already the largest chamber of commerce in the UK but it has ambitions to further cement that position.

This has seen its membership team now operate from a series of hotdesks, allowing them to work flexibly from any of NECC's sites across the North East.

Plans are being introduced to offer term-time contracts and staggered start-times to fit in with the changing pressures of modern living. It also enables NECC to offer greater flexibility to member companies for longer periods of the day.

Work Wise North East aims to consign nine-to-five, five-days-a-week working to history and the promotion of smarter working practices are important steps to creating 21st Century work places that are inclusive to people from all backgrounds and abilities.

Phil Flaxton, Work Wise chief executive, said: "NECC is setting a tremendous example to its membership that smarter working is very achievable and that there are real business benefits from taking a fresh look at how you manage your workforce.

"There is real evidence to prove that flexible working is a win-win both for the employer and the employee."

Work Wise North East has attracted wide-ranging support from leading organisations in the region. Strategic partners include the TUC, North East Chamber of Commerce, Onyx Group, EEF Northern, Workplace Travel Planning Company, Dickinson Dees, BT, Government Office and One NorthEast. Other supporters include the Journal, CBI, Federation of Small Businesses, Northern Business Forum and Women into the Network.

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For information about Work Wise North East, please contact:
Shelia Chapman, Sheila Chapman PR 07732 827 486 or scpr@btopenworld.com

For further information about the national Work Wise campaign, please contact: Roy Turner, Chelgate PR 020 7939 7939 or 07970 522232 or rt@chelgate.com

Notes to editors:

• A number of spokespersons are available for interview and comment. Please contact Sheila Chapman at contact details below
• Work Wise UK is organized by the IT Forum Foundation, a not-for-profit organization.
• Further information about Work Wise UK can be found on the website www.workwiseuk.org.
• A dedicated electronic media centre 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.