A football club, an airline, a prison, police forces, schools and charities are among the 93 companies to benefit from the £10.5 million Challenge Fund

Watford FC will be over the moon, Easyjet will be on cloud nine while police and prison services will be unlocking the potential of their staff.

They’re among the winners of £4 million of Government money to promote innovative working practices so their workers can enjoy a better work-life balance.

In total, 93 public, private and voluntary organisations are to receive between £20,000 and £55,000 in funding in the latest round of the Work/Life Balance Challenge Fund. The fund provides free consultancy support for employers who want to develop and implement good policies and working practices for their workforce which, in turn, benefits their organisation.

Up to 120,000 employees stand to benefit from this round of funding. Today’s £4 million is part of an overall £10.5 million available over three years.

• Watford FC will develop innovative ways of flexible working to boost support for players and staff, to be successful both on and off the pitch;
  
• Easyjet will build a work-life balance package to minimise absenteeism;
  
• HM Prison Holme House’s consultancy advice will tackle traditional shift patterns and lead to more flexible shift rotas;
  
• Leicestershire Constabulary’s support will remove the long-hours culture by developing flexible working practices; and
  
• Burston Rose and Garden Centre is based in a high employment area – but their recruitment methods will flourish from consultancy support.

Announcing the winners, Employment Relations Minister Alan Johnson said:

“More organisations are realising that offering employees a better work-life balance is the way forward for the workplace.

“This approach helps everyone.

“Workers have a better quality of life and are able to cope with the demands of work with family commitments or other pursuits, while employers benefit from a more committed workforce who are more productive and are more likely to stay with them for longer.

“British workers want a satisfying job but they want it as part of a fulfilling life outside the workplace. It is very encouraging to see so many different and varied organisations committed to introducing and developing more innovative, flexible and imaginative working practices.”

The Challenge Fund provides assistance to all businesses – small, medium and large employers. The winners represent a broad range of groups across the private and public sector sector, including law, banking, manufacturing, retail, land regeneration, local authorities, nature conservation, universities, schools, NHS Trusts, police, fire, prison and a legal aid board. In the voluntary sector, women’s aid, rehabilitation and drugs education/prevention are represented.