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work in ways which suit their lifestyle at the same time as using their skills and experience, andemployers to work more effectively towards their business goals through better use of theirhuman capital.Current Provision and Future OpportunitiesWhile the literature on improving the quality of part-time work is limited, several projects areattempting to make in-roads and to improve working practices. The Equalities and Human RightsCommission’s Working Better Initiative aims to explore how we can match the aspirations ofemployees with the needs of employers in ways that meet both the economic and individual challenges ofmodern Britain 39 . The Work Foundation’s Good Work Commission examines the major challengesof work in the 21st century and attempts to redefine the notion of good work - work that is rewardingfor business, society and individuals 40 . Quality part-time work is a growing concern of Government,with a fund announced for exemplar employers in 2007 and research commissioned by theGovernment Equalities Office.The Government has recently welcomed some recommendations of the Family Friendly Task Force41, which included:1. A one stop portal for employers, perhaps through BusinessLink, which should include orenhance its information on:a. The business benefits of flexible working, including using case studies covering a variety ofdifferent size, sector and types of employers, demonstrating how these practices can beimplemented.b. Practical hints and tips, covering job design, recruitment and management.2. Support for employers without dedicated HR function on designing and managing flexible work,for example through an online forum on the BusinessLink website which allows businesses topost questions, advice and comments on flexible working practices.3. Encouraging larger employers to review their practices.It remains to be seen how the outcome of the 2010 General Election will affect thesecommitments.Several organisations aim to match women with flexible employment. Women Like Us, 42 forexample, is a social enterprise which recruits women into part-time jobs and helps employers todesign part-time jobs that benefit their business. They recruit the majority of women whom theyplace into employment at the school gates; the idea for the enterprise stemmed from countlessconversations that the founders overheard wondering how to find flexible employment.WorkingMums 43 is an online recruitment consultancy aiming to recruit women into flexibleemployment, provide women with self-employment opportunities, and also to offer advice, newsand networking. Both organisations work with employers to help them to develop flexibleworking opportunities, and are well-placed to build new ideas about working practices intomainstream business thinking.39http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/fairer-britain/working-better/40http://www.theworkfoundation.com/research/goodworkcomm.aspx41Department for Work & Pensions (2010). Flexibility for the Future: The Government’s Response to the Recommendations ofthe Family Friendly Working Hours Taskforce. London: Department of Work & Pensions.42www.womenlikeus.org.uk43www.workingmums.co.uk20