Working from home? Make that a holiday home 

young people working on laptops in a bar

We’ve all got used to not going into the office but now some of us are realising we don’t even need to be based at home to get the work done.

A new breed of nomadic workers is emerging, one that takes advantage of being able to work anywhere – including a holiday cottage.

In fact, one in five of us are thinking of setting up office from a holiday location, even if it’s with friends and family. Londoners are especially keen, with almost two in five planning to do so this summer.

The trend was identified by Virgin Media O2 Business who spotted this emerging group of employees coming out of Lockdown, keen on the ability to work from a mixture of places, even if one of them involved travelling abroad.

Working from a holiday home
Falmouth: 4G boost makes it an ideal holiday work spot

To support this, the network says it has delivered a 4G boost in 31,300 postcodes so far this year – and upgraded almost 600 cell sites at the nation’s favourite tourist destinations and seaside areas since last summer, such as Bognor Regis, Bath, Falmouth, Plymouth, Cambridge and Stirling. It says it has also continued to roll out its 5G network, focusing on strengthening coverage in towns and cities while introducing the next generation to tourist hotspots such as: Edinburgh Castle, Bournemouth Pier, Tynemouth King Edwards Bay and Llandudno West Shore.

Also benefiting from new outdoor 5G connectivity are a range of museums and galleries, including the V&A, the National Portrait Gallery, Natural History Museum, the Mary Rose Museum, York Castle Museum and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

It’s never been so important for businesses to stay connected, especially as we emerge from Lockdown restrictions

Jo Bertram, Managing Director, Business, said: “It’s never been so important for businesses to stay connected, especially as we emerge from Lockdown restrictions; whether you’re a ‘mobilepreneur’ selling online at the seaside or an office worker joining meetings from your holiday let.”

SME Publications/ SME XPO 2024

Jemma Clifford, Director at the Rural Business Group, said: Our membership relies on network operators like Virgin Media O2 to provide strong and reliable connectivity that keeps them connected to customers, colleagues and suppliers. For businesses in the hospitality and tourism sector, we know that providing customers with good connectivity can be crucial to success.”

Related:

Remote working: the hidden health benefits

Remote working? Some say productivity has gone up

Remote working not working? There’s an easy answer for SMEs

SME Publications/ SME XPO 2024