One part of Harpinder Singh's life is the excitement of testing state-of-the-art sound systems used by Keanu Reeves in the latest blockbuster Matrix film. His other "job" is rather more down to earth: as a Labour councillor, he is involved in bread-and-butter community issues in Woolwich, south London.
Without the support of the company he works for, however, 44-year-old Singh would never manage to carry out his civic duties.
Last night, the goodwill of that company, Soundcraft, was recognised at an awards ceremony for employers who are sympathetic and show flexibility to staff who serve on local councils. The company, based in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, was named overall winner in the awards run by the local government improvement and development agency (IDeA) and supported by the Guardian. And, in a neat turning of the tables, it was elected councillors who nominated their employers for the awards.
Soundcraft's success has delighted Singh, who says he would never have been able to enter local politics without the support of his bosses. Managers never hesitate to give him time off to make the 17-mile journey from Potters Bar to Greenwich to attend meetings. "They are very accommodating," says Singh, who is married with three children and joined the company as a test development engineer three years ago. From the outset, he was encouraged to pursue his ambitions to represent the community in local government.
"I am allowed to leave work early for meetings, to use the computers at work to access council emails and carry out any photocopying that needs to be done," he says. "I also have a very good line manager and I have always found the company very open to new ideas. I was nominated to sit on the board of Greenwich Young People's Theatre, which was planning a show. Soundcraft gave advice on the sound systems for the show and donated a £600 mixer to the group."
Reaching out to the wider community is not a new thing for Soundcraft, which is well known in the audio industry for providing specialist sound systems for the World Cup and the Millennium Dome, as well as producing equipment for professional musicians. Encouraging its 400 employees at its Potters Bar HQ to achieve a good work-life balance is part of the company's ethos. This may involve supporting them in studies, or getting involved with charities such as the local Rotary Club, according to marketing director Keith Watson.
"We have a policy to try to support employees doing as much as possible in the community," Watson says. "We think it's healthy to develop people's activities outside work. Everything is done on a basis of being reasonable. We're happy to help people if their affiliation does something good for the community. As a result, we have a happy staff, which can bring in new skills. Everyone benefits."
Not all companies are so generous. Five years ago, Janet Storey worked shifts for a call centre while juggling her duties as a Conservative councillor on Hyndburn borough council in Lancashire. The experience left her exhausted. She had to make up every hour that she spent away from her desk on council business. With the weekly total totting up to 30 hours, she felt she had no choice but to search for another job.
"The office where I worked was only four minutes away from my home, but the employers were really inflexible," she recalls. "I couldn't even take a phone call at work."
Storey, a 50-year-old mother-of-five, found another job with holiday company MyTravel (formerly known as Airtours) and has not looked back since. The company's contribution has been recognised by an IDeA award for the most flexible big employer. It is justly deserved, says Storey, who now faces a one-hour bus journey from her house in Clayton-le-Moors to her office in Accrington, where Hyndburn council is based. She says managers at MyTravel knew of her council commitments before they employed her but, unlike some other companies, were eager to take her on.
"Sometimes you know as soon as you mention your involvement with a local council ... that your application will go straight into the bin," Storey says. "But during my interview for MyTravel, I described my greatest achievement as my council work - and my managers took me on knowing that."
Not only has MyTravel been flexible with time off, but as much of Storey's work involves sales, her monthly targets are adjusted to take into account reduced hours. This means she is not penalised for her council commitments.
"I've never once had an objection," she says. "And I've never had to work my hours back." During her five years with the company, she has won promotion and is now a team leader selling flights for MyTravelLite, the company's new low-cost airline.
Indeed, Storey's experiences gained from the council chamber have helped her climb the career ladder, according to Ken McPherson, managing director of HolidayLine, the call centre arm of MyTravel. He believes her experience as a councillor has made her a "far more effective" member of the team.
"The listening skills she has developed as a councillor have undoubtedly stood her in good stead," McPherson says. "We believe in give and take: letting staff know what the company wants and the company finding out what help and support staff need. Getting that balance right is key and helps staff feel motivated and part of the company."
Support such as this is a personal recognition from employers of the value of staff, according to Colin Nye, chairman of IDeA. He says it is not only companies and councils that benefit, but the whole community.
"Councils and their communities benefit from supported and valued elected members," Nye says. "Enabled and effective elected representatives are better able to serve their communities, and local democracy benefits from a more diverse pool of talent from which councillors are drawn."
It is in the best interest of companies to be flexible, Nye argues. Skills learned in the council chamber can prove invaluable back in the workplace - and can provide one of the best forms of management development. Likewise, local government benefits enormously from the input of councillors who have successful careers. "People in full-time employment bring a range of skills, knowledge and experience to the council chamber," says Nye, "qualities that enhance the democratic process."
Winning hearts, minds and awards
Life for Arthur Moran, manufacturing manager for a pharmaceutical packaging company, is a juggling act. When he is not in charge of the production line at Medica Packaging in Crewe, he is representing local people on Cheshire county council, or on Crewe and Nantwich borough council, or on Nantwich town council.
Moran, an Independent councillor, manages to carry out his civic duties on all three fronts thanks only to the full support of his employer, which gives him, as he puts it, "300% backing". Last night, Medica's support was rewarded when it won the award category for employers with between 50 and 1,000 staff.
Another Cheshire company picked up the award for employers with fewer than 50 staff. Agricultural Machinery (Nantwich), which sells farmyard tools, was nominated by salesman Chris Nield, who has spent less than 12 months in his job.
Nield, a Conservative councillor who holds the environment portfolio on Congleton borough council, says the company has had "no hesitation" in giving him time off for meetings.
