Web advances 'enable remote working'

22nd April 2008

As internet technology has developed, one not-for-profit organisation network observes that it has become easier to work remotely.

Business are now able to introduce flexible working initiatives because they have the telecoms and IT capacity to do so, says George Derbyshire, chief executive of the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies (NFEA).

The NFEA representative explains that "many of today's business operations can be run with a mobile or by email".

Advantages of such strategies include cost-savings and a better work-life balance, Mr Derbyshire says.

He comments: "A virtual office can also provide the appearance of a much larger organisation, while allowing a business owner to continue working from home or on the move."

However, such routes are said to be not limited to new companies, as many established organisations pursue these working practices too.

Figures from employment research resource Flexibility indicate that homeworking in the UK grew by nine per cent in 1997, ten per cent in 2001 and 11 per cent in 2005.