Flexibility works for everyone

Regarding the Women in Marketing piece (MW Promotions & Incentives Supplement, May 7).

Regarding the Women in Marketing piece (MW Promotions & Incentives Supplement, May 7).

At The Publishing Team, we agree that employing women returners makes sense. After all, 80 per cent of those working in publishing are female. But how many publishing companies actively encourage women with young children to return to work on a part-time or flexible basis?

Like the sales promotion industry, we employ a number of women who all have flexible working packages, allowing them to work from home or come into the office according to their needs – and we have been doing this for many years. This approach benefits everyone: we retain the skills of experienced editors, publishers, designers and promotions experts, and they all feel part of an integrated team.

We operate a flat structure which allows everyone to get involved in the projects that suit their skills, so no one is over-looked. Working within a flexible office, staff can spend 50 per cent of their working week avoiding the commuter rush and working from home. As a result, we have cut company overheads by 50 per cent since we began working this way in 1995.

Lorraine Pearson

PR manager

The Publishing Team

London EC1