A Bolton business is one of dozens across Greater Manchester and throughout the UK to stick to a four-day week after the success of a six-month trial.

Outcomes First Group, a provider of care services and education services, was one of more than 60 firms involved in the start of the trial in June 2022.

At the end of the trial, coordinated by think tank Autonomy and campaigners from the 4 Day Week Campaign, and researched by Boston College in the US and the University of Cambridge in the UK, it was revealed 56 companies (92 per cent) intended to stick to a four-day week. Of these, 18 companies said the switch was a permanent one.

The Bolton business, based on Spa Road, is one of the 56, according to the 4 Day Week Campaign website.

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Joe Ryle, the director of the movement, said: "This is a breakthrough moment for the movement towards a four-day week. Across a wide variety of different sectors of the economy, these incredible results show the four-day week with no loss of pay works.

"Surely the time has now come to begin rolling it out across the country," he added.

Other revelations from researchers after the six-month trial, which saw companies cut the hours worked by employees by 20 per cent with no loss of pay, included a decrease in anxiety and stress and related issues such as sleep issues.

There was little increase in performance or revenue, but the companies claimed these were at least maintained over the course of the trial.

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The research, which concludes a shorter working week is 'ready to take the next step from experimentation to implementation', reads: "The benefits of a shorter working week for no reduction in pay are now both well-known and well-evidenced – employees are happier and healthier, and the organisations they work for are often more productive, more efficient, and retain their staff more readily."

The Bolton News approached Outcomes First Group for a comment.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.