Beyond the Clock: Building Flexibility into Every Role

Overview 

In today’s competitive hiring market, flexible work isn’t a nice to have – it’s expected. But how do you build flexibility into every role, including those that can’t work from home?  Or for those who work shifts?

We know that for many people flexibility can be the difference – it creates opportunity for people to work and balance their lives for whatever reason, whether it be study, caring responsibilities or managing their own health.

And yet, most roles are still full-time as default and flexibility is not a consideration for those working in shift-based roles. In this practical, hands-on course, you’ll learn how to make the business case for shift-life balance, redesign roles and shift patterns to boost recruitment, retention and progression for those who need flexibility.

This course is designed for HR professionals and Operations leads in small to medium-sized businesses. 

Walk away with real-world tools to work smarter and confidently hire into more flexible positions so that you can build roles your team actually wants. 

What You’ll Learn 

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to: 

• Make a clear business case for flexible working and shift-life balance 
• Design roles and shift patterns that improve recruitment and retention 
• Build flexibility into job roles without compromising performance 
• Recruit confidently into part-time and flexible positions 
• Support wellbeing and balance in your team while meeting business goals 

Who It’s For 

This course is ideal for: 

• HR professionals in small and medium-sized businesses 
• Operations Managers and team leads 
• Business owners and people managers 
• Anyone involved in role design, staffing, or recruitment strategy 

Course Details 

• Format: Online workshops, 90 mins each, starting in September 2025 

• Modules: 
  • The Case for Change – what is shift-life balance and what could it mean for your organisation?
  • Where are you today? – Understanding your workforce data, the importance of employee voice and creating a culture for change 
  • Designing roles for balance – including role design templates and shift pattern examples 
  • Inclusive Hiring – how to open up vacancies to a more divers talent pool including recruitment planning toolkit 
  • Action Planning – getting ready to build flexibility into all roles 

• Cost:  
  • FREE – this is a fully funded programme, supported by the The Robertson Trust 
  • In return we ask for your commitment to attend all modules, collate and provide data as part of our evaluation process and share your action plans with us 

Why Join This Course? 

Flexible working isn’t just good for business, it’s fairer for people. Employees today are looking for roles that respect their time, their wellbeing, and their lives outside of work. For small businesses, embracing flexibility is a smart way to compete for talent, support your team, and create a more inclusive workplace. 

This course gives you practical, proven tools to design flexibility that works for everyone, without sacrificing performance. You’ll learn how to embed fairness into your hiring and shift design strategies, making your workplace more attractive, resilient, and future-ready. 

“The training has given me more confidence to be able to make different decisions – ones that are smart and more inclusive of everyone.” CMI Hybrid Working Participant, 2024 

“I really liked the breakdown of the different types of flexible working and ideas on what to consider when designing flexible jobs for my team.” Manager, Phoenix Group​

“The training Timewise delivered has provided the team with invaluable knowledge, skills and tools in flexible working, job design and job carving.” Employment Brokerage Manager, London Borough of Barking & Dagenham

Apply to Join 

This course is free to attend, thanks to funding support, but places are limited to ensure a high-quality, interactive experience. To help us match the right people to the right sessions, we’re asking all interested participants to complete a short application. 

It takes less than 5 minutes and helps us make sure this course is the right fit for your needs. 

(We’ll get back to you within 5 working days.)