About this event
Interactive event exploring practical ways to implement flexible working, guided by insights from Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter
This interactive event is an opportunity for People Professionals to explore different ways in which flexible working can be implemented and the benefits of this, guided by insights from the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter.
The session will begin with a presentation from Sharon McDonnell from the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter (GEC). This will explain what the GEC is and what their view on good practice around flexible working is. They will share examples of flexible working that they have seen in the organisations that they work with.
The main part of the agenda will then be an interactive session where attendees can explore in groups different aspects of flexible working. Attendees will be encouraged to share their experiences of implementing and facilitating flexible working. It will also be a safe space to discuss current challenges with other People Professionals.
About the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter
The Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter is a voluntary membership and assessment scheme which has been created to improve employment standards across all GM employers, regardless of size, sector or geography. Organisations – including public sector bodies, private sector businesses, service providers, the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector – can sign up to the Charter.
We want to see Greater Manchester as a place where people are paid fairly for their work, treated appropriately and provided with inclusive opportunity. At the same time, we want to see the city region’s economy thrive, with organisations that are productive and effective at the heart of it.” You can read more about the GEC here.
Speakers bio:
Sharon McDonnell is the Membership Manager at the Good Employment Charter.
For the past five years, she has worked closely with organisations across Greater Manchester to strengthen their people practices and align them with the Characteristics of Good Employment.
Part of this event will include a panel where there will be an opportunity to hear from organisations who have implemented innovations in flexible working. Further information about the panel members is below.
Lindsey Robinson is the HR Lead at Faith in Nature, a manufacturing business based in Radcliffe, and has played a pivotal role in embedding flexible working in a complex operational environment.
She led a six‑month trial of a four‑day working week, which has since been adopted permanently. Making this work required a strong focus on operational planning, process improvement and efficiency — ensuring business performance and demand continued to be met. The outcomes have been clear productivity has increased alongside higher levels of employee satisfaction. Lindsey brings a practical, experience‑led perspective on embedding flexible working in operational environments in a way that works for people and the business.
Clair joined POWWR in 2023 and has played a pivotal role in redefining how work is done across the organisation. She began by questioning long‑held assumptions about how and where work should happen and helped lead a shift towards a flexible, remote‑first model built around trust, clarity and outcomes rather than tradition.
Rather than treating flexibility as a bolt‑on or benefit, Clair has been clear that it must be intentionally designed into roles, recruitment, and day‑to‑day working. At POWWR, this means flexibility that genuinely supports performance, fairness, and progression, underpinned by strong role design, clear structure and an active employee voice.
She brings a practical, credible perspective shaped by real‑world implementation focused on embedding inclusive ways of working in a way that scales, sustains performance, and evolves as the business grows.
Please note:
1. Reminder emails will be sent to you the day before, with a further reminder on the day of the event.
2. Photography and video production may be taking place at the event, and these images may be used in the CIPD newsletters.
3. By attending the event, you are giving your consent for your image to be used on any CIPD promotional materials.
4. As we are supplying refreshments, if you can no longer attend, please cancel your place either on Eventbrite, responding to this email.
5. This event may include an external speaker who has prepared their own presentation. Any views or opinions expressed by the speaker are their own and do not reflect those of the CIPD.
6. If you require any reasonable adjustments to enhance your experience, please get in contact with us by responding to this email and we will do our best to accommodate.
