Last month, Astriid CEO James Arvidson had the privilege of participating in an enlightening roundtable event by Workstyle Revolution, organized by Alex Hirst and Lizzie Penny, authors of the Sunday Times bestselling book by the same title.
The essence of the Workstyle Revolution lies in advocating for a new paradigm of work, particularly in the knowledge economy, where flexibility and remote work are championed. Hirst and Penny argue that embracing this ethos not only enhances productivity, but also facilitates inclusivity, allowing individuals from marginalized groups to thrive in the workplace. These “excluded groups,” as they term them, include neurodivergent people, those with mental health conditions, the chronic illness community, disabled people, carers, older workers, and parents.
The roundtable, sponsored by Matt Warman MP, gathered representatives from prominent UK-based charities, including Mind, Working Families, Carers UK, Age UK, and Scope, alongside Astriid. Discussions centred around the barriers hindering widespread adoption of flexible working, including concerns around social benefits eligibility and access to adaptive employment. Our CEO emphasized the significance of supporting freelance work as a means to foster inclusivity, acknowledging the need for policymakers to prioritize the rights of freelance workers.
Overall, the roundtable was an insightful experience, underscoring the commitment of Workstyle Revolution to bridge employment disparities. Astriid sees immense value in continuing our partnership with this initiative and other participating charities, leveraging collective expertise to drive meaningful change and using our subject expertise to advocate specifically for people with long-term and energy limiting conditions.
Looking ahead, our focus remains on ensuring mutual benefit in our collaborations, with an eye towards growing our corporate partnerships and expanding opportunities for our candidates. As James aptly puts it, “It is great that they intend to leverage the collective expertise of our charities, and I think Astriid would get a lot out of a continued partnership with them, along with the other charities.”
Stay tuned as we navigate this transformative journey together, embracing the Workstyle Revolution and advancing our mission of inclusive employment for all. In the meantime, find out more about Astriid here!