Peter Knowles, from BT, (right) says 70% of staff can work everywhere – what he calls “location based”. 40-50% of the time desks are empty – desk sharing or hotdesking can improve utilisation of property. Each desk costs on average £9k per year. BT’s view was that every job was to be a home working job unless it was business justified. Technology used to support this includes: virtual number, desk and chair supplied and supported, central support for stationery ordering delivered to home etc. Now the sales pitch: BT having done this to themselves are now selling management services to companies like us…

Noel O’Reilly talked about his year working remotely in Barcelona and stressed the personal motivation to do it and the risks of 24 by 7 access.