The public and private sectors in the UK are set to sign an historic concordat that will pave the way for a wider adoption of progressive working practices.

Trades Union Congress general secretary Brendan Barber and Richard Lambert, director general of the Confederation of British Industry, will be the first signatories on the accord masterminded by not-for-profit organisation Work Wise UK.

Firms and organisations that sign the concordat will commit to the “development and implementation of smarter working practices and as an example and encouragement to others to do likewise”.

Part of a five-year initiative to promote practices such as flexible working, mobile working, remote working and working from home, the Work Wise UK agreement is designed to making the British economy “more productive and competitive in the global marketplace”.

Work Wise has predicted that the accord will bring about a workplace revolution comparable to the Industrial Revolution spearheaded by Great Britain in the 19th century.

Notable organisations due to sign up include the British Chambers of Commerce, Transport for London, the RAC Foundation, the Association for Commuter Transport, Technology Means Business, Scope, Henley Management and BT.

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