Melville has been recognised as one of the first organisations in Scotland to achieve the newly launched Flexible Workplace Accreditation - building on its trailblazing move to introduce a four-day working week for all staff, with no loss of pay.

When in 2023 it became the first Scottish Registered Social Landlord (RSL) to adopt the approach across its workforce, Melville firmly placed flexible working at the heart of how it operates - looking after employee wellbeing while maintaining high standards of service for its customers.

This accreditation, developed by Flexibility Works with support from The Robertson Trust, highlights organisations like Melville that are thoughtfully designing flexible approaches to work - supporting their people while strengthening overall performance.

Its launch reflects a wider shift in how work is understood. Increasingly, people are seeking roles that allow them to balance work with family life, health needs, caring responsibilities and personal interests. In response, more employers are recognising that flexible working can play a key role in attracting and retaining talent.

However, embedding flexibility effectively requires more than policy alone. It calls for strong leadership, consistency and a culture built on trust.

“We’re proud to be among the first organisations in Scotland to receive this accreditation and to be recognised for the steps we’ve taken to embed flexible working across our organisation,” said John McMorrow, Melville Chief Executive.

“As the first Scottish RSL to introduce a four-day working week with no loss of pay, this reflects our belief that supporting our people leads to better outcomes for our customers. It also recognises the vision and commitment of our Board, whose support has been instrumental in making this a reality.

“We’ve seen first-hand the positive impact this has had on wellbeing, engagement and performance, and we remain committed to continuing to evolve how we work.”

For many organisations, flexible working is no longer just about where or when work happens. It is about creating an environment where people feel supported to perform at their best.

“Flexible working has the power to transform lives, whether that’s parents spending more time with their children, carers staying in work, or people being able to look after their wellbeing while building their careers,” said Lisa Gallagher, Co-Founder of Flexibility Works. “But it also makes strong business sense. Organisations that embrace flexible working are seeing better retention, stronger engagement and more inclusive workplaces.

“This accreditation is about recognising those organisations and supporting others to take the next step - making flexible working a reality in practice, not just on paper.”

The first ten accredited organisations span a range of sectors, demonstrating that flexible working can be successfully implemented across different roles and operational settings.

Organisations interested in learning more about the Flexible Workplace Accreditation can visit www.flexibilityworks.org to register their interest.