Bellway boosts paternity leave

Housebuilding company Bellway has recently changed its shared parental, adoption and paternity leave policies as part of a move to improve its family-friendly policies.

It now offers statutory paternity pay from day one of employment and enhanced paternity pay has been increased from two weeks on full basic pay to four weeks after one year’s service.

Assistant Quantity Surveyor Stevie Lewis, who has worked within Bellway’s East Midlands division in Leicester for the past three years, is one dad who has benefited from the changes after the birth of his second child, a son, in June 2023.

Stevie, 33, who also has a two-year-old daughter, took four weeks leave. He said: “I have recently come back to work after the arrival of my newborn son.

“This extended period was a huge help for me and my partner, who had a caesarean section. I was able to help her whilst she recovered from the surgery, which meant a lot to both of us.”

Bellway has updated its family-friendly policies as part of its Better with Bellway strategy, which sets out its commitment to sustainable and responsible working practices.

This strategy has also seen the introduction of more flexible working practices, incorporating core hours to give employees more flexibility on start and finish times.

Flexible working has also been an important benefit for Stevie, who previously worked in sales before studying for a masters in quantity surveying and then applying to Bellway’s graduate scheme.

He said: “I was offered flexible working and this meant I was able to alter my hours to allow me to be at home earlier to spend time with my children.”

Laura Bell, Bellway Group HR and Organisational Development Manager, said: “The improvements to our family-friendly policies were introduced following feedback from staff and listening to their experiences. We understand the challenges that being a parent can bring and want to ensure that we provide opportunities for everyone to have a positive professional and personal life balance.”

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