The exchange offered the social enterprise community learning on how a flexible childcare model works in practice – both for FCSS and for families, our visit provided an understanding on how FCSS have developed from a small locally based organisation and how their their growth model now operates across multiple sites/locations across Scotland. We explored how they have embedded Fair Work cost effectively, ensuring staff feel valued, supported and empowered. We heard how they have developed their network to maximum effect through their social enterprise journey.

The social enterprise was created to challenge the inflexibility of current childcare provision across Scotland with the goal of improving parental employment while simultaneously reducing child poverty. FCSS have a unique flexible childcare model that allows families to book-by-the-hour, pay-as-they-go and change their bookings in line with their working commitments and their childcare needs. This helps parents to save money on their childcare while presenting them with opportunities to increase their income by removing childcare as a barrier to work.

Learning Outcomes

• Establishing and Scaling a Social Enterprise from a standing start.
• Flexible Working, Fair Work and Values Led, how to put your people first when you are on a tight budget.
• Building your network and maximising its power.

"It was useful to learn about the development of Flexible Childcare Scotland, and how they scaled up to overcame challenges through creating an inclusive culture and how they managed to prioritise values internally to better serve their staff and community."