The Princess of Wales is today revealed as the “driving force” behind a new report calling on businesses to introduce more family-friendly working practices.
Its Royal Foundation Early Childhood Business Working Group has launched a major new report arguing that investing in early childhood could generate more than £45.5bn for the national economy each year.
Downing Street, as well as senior ministers from the health and education departments, have already been briefed on its findings, although palace officials are at pains to point out that this is not a political campaign.
A Kensington Palace spokesperson also stressed that the news should not be seen as Kate, 42, returning to work after undergoing major abdominal surgery and revealing she was receiving “preventive chemotherapy” against cancer.
He has not made any public commitments at all this year.
The Princess of Wales is today revealed as the “driving force” behind a new report calling on businesses to introduce more family-friendly working practices.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, attended a Shaping Us event with the Royal Foundation Center for Early Childhood in November last year. The project is said to be her “life’s work.”
But they confirmed that she has attended to all aspects of the report from home, despite her illness.
Their spokesperson said: ‘Work on The Prince and Princess projects’ is “always active”… early childhood is a big priority for The Princess and so it has been kept fully up to date throughout the development of the work. of the Working Group and has seen the report. . ‘
A senior royal aide added: “The Princess of Wales was the driving force behind the business taskforce. She has been kept up to date since the inception of the task force and has read the report and been briefed on it.
‘This is a clear commitment that she has made and that throughout her life of public service this will be the focus. That will continue when she returns to work. But we’ve been very clear that she needs the space and privacy to recover right now. ‘She will return to work when she has received the green light from the doctors.’
Christian Guy, chief executive of the early childhood centre, added: “This is another pivotal moment for Her Royal Highness’s work in early childhood… her impact and the work of her Early Childhood Centre. I know that, Having informed The Princess about this, she is enormously grateful to the members of the Working Group who have made such fantastic progress on this work over the past year.
Its Royal Foundation Early Years Business Working Group has launched a major new report arguing that investing in early years could generate more than £45.5 billion for the national economy each year.
William and Kate at the launch of the Royal Foundation Center for Early Childhood’s Shaping Us campaign in January 2023
‘She is passionate about the transformative impact of doing this right, both for the current generation and for many more to come. I know she is keen to encourage all businesses, no matter their size or purpose, to join us on this journey and looks forward to seeing momentum grow in the coming months.”
A source close to the princess said: “She is excited about this. The action is very important to her, so she is excited that eight of Britain’s biggest companies are coming forward to make their case to their fellow business leaders. “It’s a priority in the future.”
The report is the result of six months of research into how companies can better prioritize children at the most crucial stage of their lives, between birth and age five.
Working group members (Aviva, The Co-operative Group, Deloitte, Iceland Foods, IKEA, The LEGO Group, NatWest and Unilever UK) have identified key opportunities for businesses to help their workforce, whether a small cafe in Wolverhampton or a great cafe. International corporation.
Kate was last seen in public on Christmas Day. Pictured with Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince William, Prince Louise and Mia Tindall.
It argues that adequate investment in this field could generate more than £45.5 billion for the economy, including £12.2 billion from helping to improve people’s social and emotional skills in the early years, a saving of £16.1 billion in public funding in recovery support for those who have adverse childhood experiences and £17.2 billion from supporting working parents, particularly with more affordable childcare.
The authors of the reports also set out how “building a culture” that prioritizes early childhood within businesses, local communities and society at large is crucial to preventing a range of social, health and mental problems in later life. .
This includes offering parents and carers greater practical support, resources and flexibility in their work, and better access to quality, affordable and reliable early childhood education and care.
And he issued a “big appeal” to fellow business leaders across the country to support them and the princess.
Companies such as The Co-op have already committed to raising £5m over the next five years to create more than 600 apprenticeships, while NatWet is expanding its lending target for the childcare sector to £100m.
In a joint statement, the eight inaugural members of the task force said: ‘Last year the Princess of Wales brought us together. She asked us to think radically about our approach to early childhood and the golden opportunity it presents to transform children’s lives…
‘If we do it right, the results for business, the economy and society will be clear to everyone. ‘
Guy added: “Tomorrow some of Britain’s biggest companies will join forces to make a ‘big early childhood rally call’ to their fellow business leaders across the country… urging their peers to support them.” “said the Center for Early Childhood. and The Princess to help transform the way our country supports the vital early years.
‘Through a historic report and by announcing the first tranche of initiatives they have developed, the members of the Taskforce are taking a step forward to defend that other companies must act alongside them, for the good of the country now and in the future, even to unlock a huge £45bn economic return for Britain. ‘
More details about the report and its conclusions can be seen at centreforearlychildhood.org