WOMAN IN BUSINESS: Flexibility is one of the keys to success

Pre-school childcare is available year-round from 8am-6pm.

But once a child starts school, hours in care reduce to 9am-3pm, term-times.

Employers are often reluctant to reduce their demands on staff availability, leaving parents with difficult decisions.

Some utilise family members to do the childcare, others use childminders or breakfast and after-school clubs. But many find rigid timings and heartbreaking choices make employment untenable and either set up their own business or take a career break.

Working mother Adeline Garman concludes: “It’s not about the lack of wrap-around care but more about inflexibility of employers.”

Why do parents have so few options from employers when it comes to work and parenting? Can your business be more flexible?

By Claire Bradford