Small and medium sized enterprises (SME) could attract more potential staff members by adopting flexible working practices, the employment consultancy Croner claims.

A recent survey commissioned by the company found that flexible working is the number one priority for 39 per cent of people when looking for a new job.

This means that SMEs who seek to accommodate home working, job sharing or later start times for example could tap into a brand new pool of candidates who may not otherwise apply.

"Today's employees aren't solely motivated by money and are looking for other perks and conditions to help them balance their work and home life," explained Gillian Dowling, technical consultant at Croner.

Indeed, the government insists that flexible working can have benefits for employers as well as employees as it can help to increase motivation amongst staff and reduce levels of absenteeism.

Croner's advice to SMEs follows the publication of a new booklet on flexible working by the employment relations service Acas which aims to help employers understand how flexible working can benefit their workplace.