Get flexible: Smarter working for small businesses08 May 2006
Technology is becoming an increasingly central part of the UK economy and the way in which businesses operate and grow within it. The rapidly expanding number of broadband subscriptions nationwide testifies to the importance of high-speed internet connections. Research from uSwitch found that the number of broadband connections increased by 61 per cent in one year to hit ten million at the end of 2005.
A new initiative was launched last week that looks set to encourage even more businesses to take advantage of the benefits of broadband technology. Called Work Wise UK, the scheme is aimed at promoting the adoption of "smarter working" through remote, mobile, flexible and home working practices - via which some 5.4 million employees in the UK already work.
It is hoped that such practices will assist both employers and employees in achieving a mix of improved productivity and work-life balance while helping the environment as congestion is reduced. Director general of the Confederation of British Industry Sir Digby Jones said: "Flexible, smarter working is here to stay. Nine out of ten requests from staff to work flexibly have been accepted by employers and the UK leads the rest of Europe in numbers of part-time workers. New technologies will help more people in the future to telework from home or on the move."
How to work smart
While this initiative is sure to raise awareness throughout British businesses, there are a number of ways in which small businesses can use their existing broadband service to "work smarter".
- Remote working - providing the equipment for staff to work wherever they may be when out of the office increases their productivity as well as improving customer relationships through enhanced efficiency and faster response times. By simply investing in a package such as Teleworker and Teleworker and BT Remote Access Pack
- Home working - enabling staff to work from home not only reduces the impact of staff sickness or absence on small businesses, but also helps promote a productive and driven team. It means that part-time workers can be utilised and allows employees to divide their time between office and home, striking a good work-life balance. Making use of remote access software means that employees who are off site can access shared drives and files, email and data in the same way as if they were sat at a desk in the office. Technology such as broadband voice services also means that staff are easily contactable - at no extra cost to the business.
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