• To enable managers to understand the ways in which flexible working can assist universities in achieving their business objectives more effectively.
• Provide line managers with the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge in implementing flexible employment options.

By the end of the workshop delegates should be able to:

• Understand the business case for flexible working.
• Identify the potential benefits of flexible working for both staff and managers.
• Understand the advantages and disadvantages of formal and informal flexible working systems.
• Recognise the implications of different types of flexible working.
• Devise potential solutions to workplace issues.
• Implement flexible working within their own area of responsibility.

• Managers who are interested in flexible working, but are unsure of the implications.
• Managers who need to implement flexible working but don't know where to start.
• Managers whose staff are asking about flexible working but feel they don't know enough about it themselves to adequately respond to queries and requests

The module is designed to run between 10.00am and 3.30pm, and is facilitated by two members of the FEO project team.

We are offering two kinds of sessions:

• A day run at your own institution
  For up to 12 people - this could be used to back up the implementation of an institution wide scheme and cascaded, or used as part of a pilot study. It could also be used to provide additional training in flexible working for HR staff or senior management.
• Open sessions run at Staffordshire University
  For any higher education institution to book onto, although places would be limited to up to 3 people from any one institution to help balance the session.

As the project has now finished we are no longer able to offer free training sessions, but we can still be contacted and the Practical Help section contains documents that can be used to help train staff and implement flexible working.

In all 21 institutions sent representatives to one of our open sessions, and the project team have delivered training at the following:

• The University of Northumbria
• Imperial College London
• The University of Bristol
• De Montfort University
• The University of Huddersfield
• Liverpool John Moore's
• Royal College of Music, Manchester
• Aston University.
• The University of the Arts, London
• University College Chester
• The University of the West of England
• University of Winchester
• University of Bath
• University of Reading
• University of Hertfordshire
• University College Worchester
• University of Portsmouth
• Edge Hill College of HE
• University of Sheffield

Comments from delegates include -

"Content well presented at appropriate level."

"Well structured with work based information."

"Excellent session. Lots of ideas. Thanks."