Figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that numbers of teleworkers in the UK have increased by 19% over last year. The Institute of Employment Studies’ (IES) estimates that more than a quarter of a million people have become teleworkers since spring last year.

Ursula Huws, Associate Fellow of the IES and one of the UK’s leading teleworking authorities, welcomed the figures: "The fastest expanding teleworking occupation is management, with an increase of 25% in managers working from home. This is a radical change from last year and shows that flexible working policies for employees are being implemented."

The 7th European teleworking conference, Telework 2000 (www.telework2000.com), is held at London’s QEII conference centre from 13-15 September. It is backed by the UK Telework Association (TCA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the EU, with many speakers coming from companies which already have experience in corporate flexible working policies including BT, ICL, Siemens, and Sulzer Infra.

Pro-teleworking organisations, such as the TCA, have been continually lobbying the Government to lead the field in implementing flexible working policies. Huws, who is speaking at Telework 2000 Conference in September, added: "The DTI is sponsoring the European teleworking conference in September, providing the ideal platform for the UK and fellow EU countries to address the employment issues, as well as impacts on transport and housing."

Huws concluded: "The UK is the only country in the EU which formally records teleworking statistics, allowing us a head start in managing major workstyle changes. Any major organisation that has still not considered flexible working is going to miss out."

Anna Lagerkvist