A Ripon firm has ended the five-day week for its staff after a trial showed having a half day off actually boosted performance.

Digital marketing agency Bronco Ltd is introducing a four and a half day working week while maintaining full pay for all employees.

All 11 employees at the Yorkshire digital marketing agency will now work a 33.5 hour week, finishing at 12.30pm every Friday, following the success of a structured internal trial.

The move has been made permanent after the company, which was founded in 2003, saw positive results across productivity, energy levels and team wellbeing.

A more productive and happy team - Ripon firm Bronco Ltd has taken the radical step of ending the five day week for staff without cutting pay. (Picture contributed)

placeholder image — A more productive and happy team - Ripon firm Bronco Ltd has taken the radical step of ending the five day week for staff without cutting pay. (Picture contributed)

Becky Naylor, Director at Bronco, said: “Moving to a 4.5 day week has been a genuinely positive change for the business and for our team.

"We have seen no drop in productivity and in many cases the energy, focus and quality of work has improved.

"Giving people more time to recharge has created a healthier work life balance and a more motivated team, which ultimately benefits our clients.”

Bronco is a full service digital marketing agency offering SEO, paid advertising, social media management, and web design and development services to clients across the UK.

The agency has now been accredited as a Silver Standard employer under the 4 Day Week Foundation’s Employer Accreditation Scheme, which recognises organisations that have permanently reduced working hours without reducing pay.

It began trialling a shorter working week to explore whether a better balance between work and personal life could be achieved without impacting performance or client delivery.

Bronco has confirmed that the move will not affect client service levels, with systems in place to ensure responsiveness and delivery remain consistent.

The agency sees the new working pattern as a way to boost creativity, support employee wellbeing, and promote long-term sustainability.

The four day and reduced hours working week has gained significant traction in recent years, with studies consistently showing improvements in wellbeing, job satisfaction and retention, alongside stable or improved productivity.

Major trials in the UK and internationally have demonstrated that shorter working weeks can be a win for both employers and employees.

More information at: https://www.bronco.co.uk/