‘So, what’s your company’s policy?’ It’s the polite chit chat question we still ask each other years on from the pandemic. And yes, I’m talking about flexible working. Stories about businesses mandating staff back to the office five days a week have made national news over the last 12 months, making it hard to believe that pre-covid spending Monday to Friday in the office was the global standard.

Too often flexible working is dismissed as a women’s issue; one inextricably linked to childcare. And I’d argue this makes it easy for leaders - particularly those of a certain age and perspective – to sideline as a “nice to have”.

Through the practical action we’re taking to improve female talent retention at The Circle Partnership we talk often about the fact that gender equality is not a zero sum game; progress here will benefit everyone, and we need everyone to see a role for themselves in helping to effect change.