Fancy running your own business AND working from home? This is why it’d be good for you
90 per cent of people think they can work effectively out of the office wit the right technology
HOME is where the heart is – and for most of us, it’s where we’d like to work.
In fact 90 per cent of people reckon they could work effectively from any location outside of the office if they had the right technology, according to a new survey.
But despite the obvious benefits, just 36.5 per cent of Brits now work from home for some of the time.
The study by cloud-based communications firm Fuze has been timed to coincide with Work From Home Week. The initiative ends on Sunday and aims to promote how remote working can create a better work/life balance.
In the research, 85 per cent said flexibility in work location and hours is important to them, while 83 per cent said it is not necessary to be in an office to be productive.
More than two thirds believed they had better technology at home than at work.
Commenting on Work From Home Week, Tom Pressley, marketing director at Fuze, said: “Working away from a traditional office location is highly appealing to UK employees and, as the new app generation enters the workplace, working from home is going to move from a perk to an expectation.
“Businesses need to view flexible working practices as an opportunity to attract talented workers and improve productivity, putting in place technologies that allow employees to connect and collaborate with colleagues and customers from any location.”
Firms such as Pink Spaghetti are on a mission to make working from home viable for many.
Its work-from-home “virtual” PAs provide a valuable service to busy professionals and businesses.
Founded in 2009 by friends Caroline Gowing and Vicky Matthews, Pink Spaghetti now has more than 20 franchisees across the UK.
Vicky said: “Home working brings so many benefits to modern working families, finally enabling us to be in two places at once.
“It’s also more time-efficient as it saves a huge amount of time commuting every day.
“According to the Office for National Statistics, the average daily commute lasted almost an hour in 2015, with 3.7million workers travelling for two hours or longer each weekday.
“As business owners, home working is also more flexible as you can respond to customers quickly and easily.
“This brings greater freedom to manage your day and time as you want, which works brilliantly around the school run and after-school activities.
“All it takes is practice and good time management but this comes easily when it’s your own business.
“The benefits are so great for the whole family that it’s worth investing the time to make it work for you.”
Pink Spaghetti has franchises available throughout the UK and is currently looking for new franchisees to start in the spring.
Franchise puts Laura in the pink
WORKING mum-of-two Laura Dodswoth, 36, admits she and husband Ricky, a chef, felt continually frustrated at the lack of family time.
So marketing expert Laura ditched her London job and switched to working from home in Ashford, Surrey, to spend more time with him and their children Gracie, four, and 18-month-old Poppy.
Laura says: “Ricky starts work at the crack of dawn so the focus was always on me to get the girls to childcare.
“With long days for everyone and very little family time, we were stressed. Something had to change.”
She heard about Pink Spaghetti on a parenting forum. Laura says: “It sounded perfect and I grabbed it with both hands and set my own business up in September.
“Pink Spaghetti offers flexible PA services to individuals and businesses so the work is really varied. I do everything from setting up social media profiles to sorting couriers and organising events.
“Home working has been wonderful. I was warned it would be lonely – pah! I am constantly out at meetings and networking events.
“The best thing about owning a franchise is the complete freedom. I can work the hours that please me, and that work around the children. And I have so much support – it’s the perfect happy medium.”
Tastier options
MORE young people than ever are looking to the hospitality industry for a career boost.
A poll for Costa Coffee found 56 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds believe working in food and drink would help their prospects.
The coffee chain, which employs 7,000 people in the age group in the UK, recently crowned its 2016 Barista of the Year, hailing its most skilled worker.
Costa’s Kate Seljeflot, below, said: “A career in hospitality offers a solid grounding for future employment opportunities.
“Our baristas learn vital skills like communication, teamwork and customer service which are invaluable to many employers.
“They’re learning a craft which enables them to showcase technical skill and a deep understanding of one of Britain’s best-loved beverages.
“Our annual Barista of the Year championship saw nine of our best baristas from around the world compete to be crowned ‘best of the best’.
“The winner, 19-year-old Giorgio Ventisei from Dundee, is a shining example of a true craftsman who impressed the judges with his technical skill, creativity and abundant passion for making great coffee.”
Winter wobbles
MORE than half of British staff admit they do not work as hard during the winter months.
Distractions include darker days spoiling their mood, frustrations over office temperatures and over-indulging on unhealthy snacks, according to British Summer Fruits.
And a recent study in Belgium found brain activity may follow a similar pattern to the Seasonal Affective Disorder, or “winter blues”.
Food psychologist Dr Christy Fergusson said: “Relying on high-sugar foods, biscuits and crisps to keep us going can leave us riding a blood-sugar rollercoaster.
“We feel buzzed for a spell but soon our energy, concentration and mood can plummet. As the dark nights roll in and our serotonin levels nosedive, we can find our energy drops.”
Fashion career pep ups
GET dressed for success with a career in fashion.
Discount clothes chain Pep&Co is planning to double its size and take on 300 people across the country.
The six-month-old brand is opening 50 outlets in stores of sister company Poundland over the next 100 days.
The company expects to recruit around five to six new staff for each outlet.
There will also be a further 12 jobs created at Pep&Co’s Watford support centre.
The stores, which offer women’s, men’s and kids’ fashion, will begin opening in February.
The first to launch will take place in Hanley, Staffs, on February 3.
To apply for positions, see .
Britain has got talent
THE UK has placed third in the world in a new report measuring countries’ ability to attract, retain and grow talent.
Only Switzerland and Singapore did better in Adecco Group’s Global Talent Competitiveness Index.
It is the UK’s best placing since the first report in 2013.
Adecco’s John L Marshall said: “Our flexible labour markets and openness are just some of the factors that help the UK outperform many of its peers. But we continue to lag behind in areas such as vocational training and women’s equality.
This is bad for business and for Britain.
“To make a success of Brexit, it’s important the Government protects the country’s ability to attract investment and top talent.”
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Dress or impress
DRESS codes are a turn-off for 61 per cent of job hunters, giving them a negative perception of the company.
And 78 per cent of UK workers say they would feel more productive and put more effort into their appearance if there was not a dress code, according to a survey by wet weather gear manufacturers Stormline.
Let’s hope that is true as 68 per cent said they were more likely to trust a well-dressed colleague than someone in the same position who was less smart.
Occupational health expert, Sir Cary Cooper CBE, says: “Uniforms and workwear that protect or help the wearer be identified have obvious utility, but employers should trust their people to let them dress how they please.
“We must also consider the challenges of a formal dress code for people with disabilities.”
Cheers for fears
RECENT research has revealed that young people worry they will never achieve key milestones.
Learning provider Coursera found almost a quarter of 22 to 35-year- olds feel unprepared financially to move out.
Here, Rick Levin, CEO of Coursera, gives his five top tips for getting the most out of life:
- Be ready to reinvent yourself: It’s never too late to change your career path. Millennials are expected to change jobs as many as 15 times.
- Aim high for your dream job: Once you have decided what you want to do, make it happen. Set aside time each week for networking or take a course.
- Use your commute wisely: Learn a new language or do a business course from the comfort of a train or bus.
- Build a portfolio: Include examples of work and links to courses you’ve taken on your CV.
- Money matters: Ask your parents, peers and bank for long-term financial advice.