Balancing a career and parenthood can be incredibly challenging, particularly without a supportive employer.

At Ascent Group, we recognise the importance of this balance and ensure that our many parent employees have the flexibility they need to thrive both at work and at home. Recently, two team members took parental leave, showing us the positive impact of our supportive benefits.

We asked them to share their experiences and how they feel supported…

Flexibility

Craig Furniss, Head of Executive Search & Senior Appointments at TechNET CxO, discussed becoming a dad and emphasised the importance of flexible work for his family.

“Ascent Group has been incredibly supportive of me as a first-time parent, allowing me to work flexibly so that I can support my wife and daughter. Whilst the extended leave was just what we needed; I have also been able to spread those weeks throughout the year. I took two weeks when the baby was born, and now have the flexibility to use the other two weeks when it is most important. My daughter is now teething, and sleep regression is just around the corner. Knowing that I can be fully present to help my family without the added stress of work makes a huge difference.”

Having the flexibility to use his leave when necessary has been transformative for Craig. An avid traveller, he recently tagged some of his leave onto a trip to Spain to visit family, providing an opportunity for extended family to bond with the baby.

Extended Parental Leave

Keifer Clitheroe, Head of Immersive at TechNET Immersive, recently shared his experience of using extended leave to support this new shift in family dynamics.

“I recently took my four weeks of fully paid parental leave to welcome my first baby. Ascent Group offer double parental leave for those of us who’ve been here over two years, meaning I didn’t have to choose between supporting my partner and bonding with our little one. Those additional weeks were priceless, allowing us to settle into our new routine without rushing back to work. And when I did return, the option to work flexibly—half days, remote work—made all the difference. Ascent Group’s commitment to its employees’ well-being is truly invaluable.”

Extended parental leave was significant for Keifer and his partner, and we also provide additional support to him while he is working.

Understanding

Sometimes, a little understanding from your employer can make all the difference. While we have many parents on our team, we recognise that each person’s situation is unique, and not every parenting challenge is alike.

Several members of our senior management team and directors are parents themselves, so they understand the difficulties of balancing everything and the stress that comes with it.

Learn more

Looking for an employer that supports you as a parent? We are always looking for top talent to join our teams.

If you’re interested in reading more about how we support our teams, check out a recent article published by Workplace Wellbeing Professional and the story of our Senior Business Development Manager Cydnie.