FINDING satisfactory childcare is a challenge for working mothers. Even when plans are in place there is the issue of what happens on those days when the usual childcare is not available for some reason.

This is not a problem at the investment bank Goldman Sachs in London, however. “We have a number of childcare solutions, including an on-site backup childcare centre,” says Louise Armitage, who manages the childcare facility. “Parents can book their children in in advance, the night before or even the same day in some cases, and bring them into the centre here.”

Caroline Hudgell, executive director in hedge fund derivative sales, has benefited from the facility, which has been in place since 2001. She had her first baby 11 months ago and returned from maternity leave in April. In the first month back from maternity leave staff are entitled to use the centre for four consecutive weeks if they so wish.

“Before I went on maternity leave, I went down to see the centre and registered my little one. When I came back to work I used the facility for the first four weeks. The quality of care was great, they played games, painted pictures, went for walks and provided great quality food,” Hudgell says.

Since then she has probably used the centre three times in the last four or five months. “The really great thing is that you can book it up two months or 24 hours in advance,” she says.

“If my normal childcarer is sick, or the nursery is shut, for example, I can call downstairs and ask if they have space. I’ve never had a situation when they have said no.”

What’s good for the parents is good for the company too. “We wanted to respond to the needs of our parents,” Armitage says. “However hard you try to organise your childcare, there are always times when your usual childcare is not available. It is facilities like the children’s centre which mean, ultimately, that our working parents are more relaxed, happier and able to concentrate at work, knowing that their children are well taken care of.”

With more than 800 families taking advantage of the facilty this year alone, that is a lot of happy employees. To read about and debate the issues that affect women go to timesonline.co.uk/women

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