What is Slivers-of-Time Working? 

n     The Slivers-of-Time marketplace is for anyone with spare hours to sell to local employers.

 n     Millions of people in the UK can not be available for regular work because of other commitments in their life (eg childcare, studying, medical issues, job-seeking, caring for dependant adult, existing part-time work, retired, freelance work/starting own business).

 n     The new marketplace allows these people to sell their spare hours around these commitments. Buyers are employers who need sporadic top-up workers (eg: caterers, retailers, local authorities, healthcare providers, logistics companies, office employers.)   How does the Slivers-of-Time marketplace operate? 

n     A true Slivers-of-Time marketplace can only work if based on the web. Otherwise the overheads are too great. It provides a compelling reason for individuals to make use of public Internet access: “earn money now”. 

n     Anyone who wants to sell their spare time: (a) registers themselves online (b) goes along to a recruitment agency offering their version of the system to be vetted (c) tells the marketplace when they are available day to day, when they undertake to be contactable then provides the locations and the terms under which they will work. Additionally, they can view demand for their services in their locality at any time. 

n     Any employer who has been accepted by a recruitment agency can then: (a) input details of their requirements (b) immediately see a list of eligible, available, contactable workers willing to fulfil those requirements.   What’s the business case for Slivers-of-Time Working? 

n     Accenture have scoped the potential for this new marketplace. 13.7m people in the UK need this way of working at some time each year. 22% of employers have a need for top-up workers in this way. 

n     Further research by Middlesex University shows that, when target groups have the Slivers-of-Time marketplace explained to them, 68% say they want to try working this way.  

n     A report by Oxford Economic Forecasters shows that with only a 5% take up among target groups, the new marketplace could quickly save government £400m+ a year.   Current status of the Slivers-of-Time marketplace: 

n     The service was launched in December 2005 in Newham and now has 165 individuals actively selling their time. A further 400 are waiting to join after word of mouth spread through local Jobcentres. 

n     Buyers in the pilot market so far include Newham Council (various departments), East Thames Housing, Pinnacle Housing, Centre for Innovation and Partnerships. 

n     Case studies from existing market activity show how this new service: (a) cuts costs dramatically in the delivery of services (b) encourages economic regeneration by spreading work and training around in ways not otherwise viable.  Who can Slivers-of-Time now benefit? 

n     Anyone with work that they want to be done by local people, particularly if that work is relatively low skilled (or can be taught in a day or so of training).  

n     Types of work being purchased in the Newham pilot marketplace include: leafleting, market research, stewarding at events, data entry, office admin and labouring. 

n     The system is ready to be launched anywhere in the UK. There are multiple relationships already in place to support a fast launch.  What are the benefits of incorporating Slivers-of-Time within an employment or regeneration project? 

n     It spreads the work around. Rather than creating, say, 25 full time jobs, induct perhaps 150 local people, then let them sell their time to your project around other commitments. 

n     It seeds further activity. Those 150 people are able to build a demonstrable track record of reliability and flexibility which becomes attractive to other employers who want top-up workers. 

n     Slivers-of-Time sellers can provide one-on-one support for new market entrants. East Thames Housing in Newham already have a scheme where computer confident individuals sell their time as trainers for individuals who have spare hours they badly need to sell but who can’t use a computer.  

The history of Slivers-of-Time: 

n     Slivers-of-Time originated in work done at Demos in the mid 1990’s, championed by Geoff Mulgan who then became Head of Policy at Ten Downing Street. With the support of Charles Handy, the UK’s leading expert on the future of work, two books were then published about the potential of this sort of marketplace. 

n     This marketplace is only now possible. Although extraordinarily simple for its users it relies on sophisticated processing applied to low value transactions. The full extent of this processing is only now economically viable when funded by a fractional mark-up within purchases of hourly workers. 

n     The Slivers-of-Time programme is funded jointly by ODPM and the private sector. It is unique in the world and holds extraordinary potential for addressing both long standing problems of worklessness and labour force inefficiency.  

Further details at: www.sliversoftime.com 

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