“Whilst this is a significant milestone, it is also a line in the sand, and we acknowledge that it is not the end of our journey. We are aware that we still have steps to take towards becoming a best practice employer for family-friendly working. However, we are ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work.
This certification is a testament to what we have achieved so far and our commitment to the strategic action plan reflects our ongoing dedication to create a workplace that respects families, nurtures careers, and fosters a genuine work-life balance.
“Whilst this is a significant milestone, it is also a line in the sand, and we acknowledge that it is not the end of our journey. We are aware that we still have steps to take towards becoming a best practice employer for family-friendly working. However, we are ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work.” – Connie Hansen, Group Director, People & Culture
Our partnership with Family Friendly Workplaces, founded by Parents@Work, a leading organisation specialising in assisting companies to support their employees with caring responsibilities, is a crucial part of this journey. Hand in hand, we will work together to make Urbis a place where careers flourish, families are valued, and work-life balance is not just a buzzword, but a reality.
Where to next?
We will continue to consult with and listen to our parents and carers to identify any challenges or opportunities and we will work diligently to progress our Parents@Work action plan, celebrating achievements along the way.
We are committed to listening to and engaging with our staff to nuance our understanding of the challenges faced by those with caring responsibilities. At times, the difficulty of pushing for career advancement or balancing full-time or part-time work and family life can feel impossible. These are all issues that we are committed to monitoring, learning more about and improving the experience for our people.
We are proud to be certified as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA). And, to reach our aspiration of being an employer of choice for parents, carers, people with caring responsibilities, we will assess our current position, identify our strengths, and focus on areas for improvement. This is key to building on our already strong Urbis workplace culture, and it is critical to attracting the best talent and looking after our people so that they can enjoy enduring and meaningful careers at Urbis.
Our immediate priorities are to enhance the part-time and flexible working experience across our offices and to prioritise the wellbeing of parents, carers, and those with caring responsibilities. Over the next two years, we will focus on:
- amending our flexible work policy to ensure accessibility from day one,
- regularly updating our strategies, and
- providing comprehensive training and resources.
We will also broaden our parental leave support programs and promote our family care initiatives both internally and externally. By measuring the utilisation and impact of these practices, we aim to continuously refine our approach, ensuring our workplace remains adaptive and responsive to the evolving needs of our employees and their families.
We understand that this commitment is a marathon, not a sprint. We are ready to learn, grow, and evolve, and we invite you to join us on this journey towards an even more inclusive and family-friendly future at Urbis. We believe Urbis can play a leading role in the change we need to see in our industry and in the broader community. We are not just shaping the future of our cities and communities, but also the future of the modern workplace.