Title

HR

Job applications rise amid four-day working week trial

The number of applications for jobs rose by more than 120% since South Cambridgeshire DC started a four-day week trial, a report has found.

 © PHOTOBUAY / shutterstock 

© PHOTOBUAY / shutterstock 

The number of applications for jobs rose by more than 120% since South Cambridgeshire DC started a four-day week trial, a report has found.

Carried out by the universities of Salford, Bradford and Cambridge, the analysis revealed that the number of workers leaving fell by more than 40% and the quality of 21 out of 24 services improved or stayed the same.

The council said it no longer had to rely on agency workers, which has resulted in a yearly saving of nearly £400,000.

Council leader Bridget Smith said: ‘We started this innovative trial due to significant recruitment and retention challenges. These were particularly acute for us, having to compete with higher private sector pay in an area of high employment and housing costs.'

 

HR

Can South Cambridgeshire's four-day week case be broadened into an argument?

By Abdool Kara | 22 April 2026

Abdool Kara does not question the data South Cambridgeshire has produced in favour of a four-day working week, but he doubts that can be broadened into an ar...

HR

Uneven devo prompting push-back on housing growth plans

By Martin Ford | 09 April 2026

Uneven progress in devolution across England could result in council resistance to Government plans to drive housing growth via development corporations.

HR

Holding the LGR line?

By Ann McGauran | 09 April 2026

Will reorganisation be delivered ahead of the General Election, and to what extent is the Government’s need to shore up political capital driving decisions o...

HR

Conservatives pledge ban on council four-day work weeks

By William Eichler | 08 April 2026

The Conservative Party has vowed to outlaw the practice of local authorities offering four-day working weeks on full pay should they win the next General Ele...

Popular articles by William Eichler