Conference

Let’s think about flex: exploring agile and flexible working in the NHS

Join our online conference to learn how agilab can help you understand, support and promote decent and agile flexible working in your organisation.
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General information

Time
1 December 2026 10:00 - 14:00 GMT
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Audience
Open to all

Speakers

  • Headshot of Jen Gardner with wavy light hair near a window in natural light
    Jennifer Gardner
    Assistant Director, Staff Experience and Social Partnerships NHS Employers
  • Headshot of Emma Russell
    Dr Emma Russell External link icon
    Director and Founder agilab
An office worker holding a tablet during a video call.

About the event

Flexible working plays an important role in supporting staff wellbeing, improving workforce experience and helping the NHS attract and retain talented people. Delivered in partnership with agilab, an award-winning NHS-academia knowledge exchange forum specialising in flexible working, this event will share the latest research, practical insights, and NHS best practice to help organisations build a culture that understands, encourages, and supports decent and agile flexible working. 

During this event, we will:

  • share research from agilab on how managerial mindsets can enable or hinder flexible working rollout 
  • explore the flexible working requirements of the 2026 NHS Staff Standard
  • highlight practical examples and share learning from across the NHS
  • allow you to put your questions to a panel of academic experts in decent and agile flexible working.

Why attend?

As the NHS continues to strengthen its commitment to flexible working, this event offers a valuable opportunity to learn from the latest academic research, hear practical examples from across the health service and reflect on how flexibility can be successfully embedded into organisational culture. You'll leave with fresh insights, practical ideas and a better understanding of the factors that support decent and agile flexible working.

Conference programme

  • The event will start with an overview of agilab’s work to date and how thinking has developed around the rollout of ‘decent and agile’ flexible working, leading up to the NHS Staff Standards. We will introduce the concept of mindsets that might enable or block the flexible working rollout and suggest how the ‘check your mindsets’ quiz can help identify NHS readiness for flex. 

    Speaker

    Dr Emma Russell, Director and Founder, agilab

  • An opportunity to take a short break to refresh and recharge before the next session.

  • Explore the role of flexible working within the NHS Staff Standards and hear insights on creating a culture where flexibility is understood, encouraged and supported.

    Speaker

    Jen Gardner, Assistant Director, Staff Experience and Social Partnerships, NHS Employers

  • An opportunity to take a short break to refresh and recharge before the next session.

  • Join our expert panel as they explore how the latest research on flexible and digital working can support NHS organisations to implement the flexible working NHS Staff Standard. Through discussion and audience Q&A, you'll have the opportunity to hear evidence-based insights, consider the opportunities and challenges of flexible working, and reflect on what this means for the NHS workforce.

    Speakers

    Professor Jill Rubery, Professor of Comparative Employment Systems, University of Manchester
    Dr Becky Faith, Research Fellow, Institute of Development Studies
    Professor Richard Dickens, Professor of Economics, University of Sussex

  • An opportunity to take a short break to refresh and recharge before the next session.

  • What happens when you put trust and decision-making closer to the people who know their teams best? In this session, hear how a new approach to flexible working has supported colleagues, strengthened local leadership, and helped create a more responsive and supportive workplace.

    Speakers

    Lucy Manning, Head of Employee Relations, South Western Ambulance Service Trust

    Lauren Dunn, Head of Health and Wellbeing and Occupational Health and Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, South Western Ambulance Service Trust

  • Join us for a final reflection on the key themes and learning from the day. We'll bring together the main insights, share next steps, and close the event with practical takeaways to support your flexible-working journey.

    Speaker

    Dr Emma Russell, Director and Founder, agilab

Who should attend

Anyone interested in understanding, supporting or promoting decent and agile flexible working in the NHS. This includes workforce leaders, HR and OD professionals, managers, staff-side representatives and colleagues working to improve staff experience, wellbeing and organisational culture.

Accessibility

The event will be hosted online via Teams Webinar. Automatically generated captions will be available, and speaker view can be used to support lip reading.

Book your free place today.

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