Anyone know anything about flexible working requests?

[SirChenjin]

Specifically - if your boss says that they won't support the request because they don't want to lose the hours and won't be able to recruit to cover the hours you want to drop, and you know that the market is such that they will have no problem recruiting, can they be forced to advertise before rejecting your application?

Nope, sorry. Not being able to recruit is a valid reason for declining, you can't appeal based on that.

You can appeal if you think the reason they have given doesn't apply in your circumstances. You should explain in your appeal why you think they would not struggle to recruit.

There are lots of details on applying and also appealing on the direct.gov website. I had to appeal for my position when working from home was refused and I won my appeal as there are (from memory) only 8 ground
DS under which they can refuse your application eg cost, adverse effect on customer service, opening hours etc.

You'll need to look at them and see if they have a) followed proper procedure anyway and b) have refused you under correct grounds.

Good luck.

The request has already been met with disapproval by the manager prior to the formal meeting to review it - it's one of my colleagues who has submitted the request. Manager has said that they won't be able to recruit to fill the extra hours (hasn't actually advertised), but we all know that this isn't the case - any vacancies in our field are as rare as hens teeth and always attract a high number of good candidates (I've shortlisted/interviewed and can confirm this).

It seems from what Flowery has said that this might be a useful point in an appeal - if I've understood correctly?