Helen Wright
Gold Rush

You're probably back into your term-time routine by now.  The early-morning scramble for shoes and PE kit and reading books.  The absolute determination to practice the recorder at 7.30, just as you thought you were on the verge of successfully bundling everyone into the car…

Gold Rush
Helen Wright
Why Flexible Working (and Family Support) ...

September brings new routines: the school run, nursery drop-offs, and now, for many families, access to 30 hours of funded childcare. It’s a big help - but as many news reports this week have been highlighting - it doesn’t solve everything…

Why Flexible Working (and Family Support) Matter More Than Ever
Helen Wright
The Lifeline of Flexible Work: Why Supporting ...

This Carers Week 2025, we’re reflecting on the often invisible reality facing millions of working people in the UK - those who balance paid employment with unpaid care for a loved one. The theme, #CaringAboutEquality, couldn’t be more timely or more urgent.

The Lifeline of Flexible Work: Why Supporting Carers is Everyone’s Business
Helen Wright
Case Study - Hiring Part Time Employees

If you’re a business looking to explore the benefits of hiring part time employees, then this article is for you! We share a case study of what smart hiring looks like in a challenging economy: keeping experience in your business while saving money and staying flexible.

Case Study - Hiring Part Time Employees
Helen Wright
Burning Down the House!
Burning Down the House!

Checking in...

Checking in...

Back when I was young and innocent, there was a woman in my department.  We'll call her Emma (on the basis that that will narrow it down to approximately 100,000 women of my generation).  Emma was whip-smart, hard-working and generally an all-round great person to have on our team.  She often worked late, took on extra responsibilities and looked after the new graduates.  Emma was also the first person at my professional services firm to work a four day week; in an office of mostly men, in the 2000s, this was A Big Deal. 

Sharing the love

Sharing the love

Some of us might feel that we spend a disproportionate amount of our waking hours talking about sharing.  Usually to our offspring - sharing toys, sharing snacks, sharing with siblings.  You know the drill.  We rather assume that by the time we reach adulthood, we've cracked sharing.  But what if we told you that there were many more benefits to sharing than even you had realised?  

Moving on up...

Moving on up...

The post-maternity-leave return to work is not an experience which is widely known for its relaxing qualities. I mean, it's true that I spent the last two weeks of my own maternity leave joking to my friends that the workplace would feel like a spa weekend in comparison to looking after a small child 24/7…

Inspiration

Inspiration

This week, for the first time, we realised that it was light when we awoke.   It's funny how such a small thing can lift your heart so much, isn't it?  And in our newly-cheery state, we've noticed other tentative suggestions that winter might finally be drawing to a close.  The cherry blossom at the school gate is cutting a dash through the grey afternoons.  When the sun does come out, the March sky is so intensely blue - so sharp and crisp - that it almost hurts to look at it.  They're tiny, incremental steps, but every day feels a little brighter here at 9-2-3 HQ.  We're looking forward with renewed excitement to the months to come.