Post-budget childcare: what is the employer’s role? 27-4-2023

For over 20 years, Jennifer has been relentless in pursuit of innovation, identifying, defining and sharing best practice and ‘next practice’ for leading global employers in flexible working, family-friendly and wellbeing programmes, closing the gender pay gap and promoting gender-inclusive parenting. She is a sought-after speaker, writer, conference moderator and consultant on these topics and more.

Jennifer set-up, and for a decade led, the Coaching & Consultancy side of what became Bright Horizons Work+Family Solutions advising employers in banking, professional services, STEM and wider sectors on programmes for working parents and carers and evaluating their impact and ROI, as well as developing coaches and coaching capability.

She now focuses on identifying overarching trends through research and through advising employers and translating these insights into solutions and practical actions.

University of Surrey – University of the Year by the Good University Guide 2023; University of Surrey ranked 9th place in the UK for student satisfaction in National Student Survey 2022

I have been working at the University of Surrey for 5 years, previously to this 15 years in the Recruitment Industry within the UK and Australia. I currently manage and maintain the contractual relationships between the University of Surrey and front facing suppliers. Responsible for ensuring suppliers deliver on their contractual obligations, performance targets and continual improvement and innovation, in particular where these services impact student and staff experience. I have been managing the Workplace Nursery contract on behalf of The University of Surrey for 5 years. I am very proud of the successful partnership between The University of Surrey and

Bright Horizons, it is testament to the hard work, collaboration, expertise and dedication from both organisations.

With 15 years experience in the work/life industry, Tory has seen first-hand the impact family-friendly cultures and practical support can have on organisations across multiple sectors in the UK. Tory leads the Bright Horizons Client Relations team, which supports the contracts for over 400 organisations in the UK and Ireland, covering more than 1.5 million people.

Sarah leads the Early Education & Childcare Coalition at the Women’s Budget Group. The coalition is a group of 30 organisations representing the interests of parents, providers, children, the early years workforce & the business community. It campaigns for investment in the childcare sector & analyses government policy. Prior to joining WBG, Sarah led Pregnant Then Screwed’s pandemic response, managing their award-winning campaigns on childcare, flexible working & maternity discrimination. She has advised a range of organisations from trade unions to the private sector on campaigns, and writes regularly about employment rights. Sarah also sits on the board of Parental Pay Equality, the campaign for equal parental leave for the self-employed.