News and Events

Slivers-of-Time Working briefing

1. What is Slivers-of-Time?

Slivers-of-Time is a new, innovative way of tackling worklessness at a local level. It is based on the eBay model of an online market place. It automatically matches:

• Individuals who need to work odd hours around other commitments in their life, and
• Organisations that need a pool of top-up workers at irregular times (e.g. caterers, retailers, local authorities)

It allows very flexible working for both sides. Individuals "sell" their slivers of time to organisations that "buy" them through a website, which is run by a recruitment agency who vets the buyers and sellers and deals with the administration.

2. What's the demand?

• 13.7 million people in the UK need this way of working at some point each year
• 70% of the target groups identified in the report want to try it immediately when it is explained to them.
• With just 5% take up the taxpayer would save £400m a year.
• Already, without doing any marketing at all, over 300 individuals within a 10-mile radius of County Hall in Maidstone have signed up to the system.

3. What are the benefits?

• It offers great value-for-money - get staff for the hours you need, not longer-term temps
• It's a simple, practical, low-cost way of solving short-term recruitment problems
• It encourages improved two-tier working
• It gives strong support to the Kent Agreement
• It encourages greater independence from benefits for a number of key target populations
• It allows individuals to take a step-by-step approach back to the labour market
• It would put Kent at the cutting edge of a new, unique national employment model
• It's free! (funded by CLG)

4. What are we doing about it?

At present, KCC's Supporting Independence Programme is working closely with Slivers-of-Time, Kent Top Temps and Maidstone Borough Council to develop a market place in Maidstone and the surrounding area. We have ascertained from KCC managers in Maidstone and Kings Hill that there is a good deal of interest in the concept. We are also spreading the word out to the PCTs, other public sector organisations and private sector companies in the Maidstone area.

There is a good deal of interest from other parts of the county. KCC and Slivers-of-Time are working with them to look at how this can be developed elsewhere - it can be extended across the county where it would be of benefit to a range of individuals and employers.

For more information, contact Nick Moon, KCC Supporting Independence Programme, on 01622 696932 or email nick.moon@kent.gov.uk