Brighton businesses have been urged to sign up to a four-day working week trial.

The Sussex 4 Day Week project is a major new study being launched by the University of Sussex.

Dr Charlotte Rae, psychology lecturer and leader of the project, is calling on local firms to sign up and trial a four-day work week.

“It’s been widely argued for a while now that the five-day, nine to five working week is outdated and no longer fit for purpose for various reasons, including significant health, cost and environmental ones,” said Dr Rae.

Several Brighton and Hove businesses have already trialled the four-day working week, including Hove skincare brand Five Squirrels.

The company was selected as part of an international pilot which began in June this year.

Gary Conroy, chief executive of Five Squirrels, said that despite the trial now coming to an end, his firm will continue with the four-day week “indefinitely.”

“It has been going really well and we have actually been more productive than before," he said.

“Our profits are up and we are seeing fewer mistakes because our staff are more focused.”

Five Squirrels began to reduce the length of its working week in March by cutting hours back on a Friday.

“My advice to companies looking to try the four-day week would be to look at making behaviour changes before jumping straight in.

“It would be a car crash without changing working techniques,” said Mr Conroy.

“There have been some challenges along the way and we have had to change the way we work, for example we made our meetings shorter.”

The Sussex 4 Day Week project is one of a number of national trials being conducted. However, it is the only one measuring the biological benefits of reduced working hours alongside business performance.

The trial will last for three months, with employees receiving 100 per cent of their wage for working 80 per cent of their normal work hours.

Dr Rae said: “Our research is showing that a four-day working week can provide huge benefits not only for staff wellbeing, but also overall workplace performance.

“We hope as many local employers as possible will take part in our trial. By doing so, they will not only be supporting important research, but hopefully will also experience valuable benefits for their business and workforce.”

Dr Rae and the Sussex 4 Day Week research team will be presenting their research findings at an event on Wednesday.

Businesses can sign up to the trial after the event.

For more details on The Science behind the Four Day week event, you can visit: https://www.brightonchamber.co.uk/event/the-science-behind-the-four-day-week.