Gloucester seminar highlights how smarter working can boost business

Published by Jenny George for Two Rivers Housing in Housing and also in Communities, Environment

 
Live/Work specialists joined forces recently to discuss how new ways of working and having a mobile office at your finger tips has led to a trend in the development of live/work property as well as creative Workhubs.

Hosted by Two Rivers Housing at the Quays Creative Centre in Alexandra Warehouse at The Docks with the help of Gloucester City Council, delegates from local councils, housing providers and key decision makers in planning and regeneration were welcomed to this free interactive seminar.

Flexible working arrangements are proving a popular choice for small home-based businesses and large organisations alike. Smart working can help save money, improve productivity and give organisations an opportunity to cut carbon emissions through a reduced need to commute to a traditional office space every day.

A major trend in the UK towards home-working is growing as people look to start their own businesses and balance their work and home commitments. In a report produce by the Live/Work Network figures suggest that since 2001 Live/Work businesses have grown to the point that now 1 in 12 UK workers are home-based.
Garry King, Chief Executive Two Rivers Housing said: “As many organisations become more environmentally aware, Two Rivers included, there is definitely scope to employ a workhub or home working model to make sure our business reduces carbon emissions and works smarter whilst enabling our staff to balance their work and home commitments more effectively.  As we grow we want to maintain our visibility in communities, workhubs would help staff can stay local and not have to travel larger distances to work.”

Tim Dwelly, Director of the Live/Work Network added:
“This free learning seminar has been hugely successful in encouraging local organisations and business people to rethink assumptions about the 20th century approaches to work such as the separation of home and workspace and the need to commute.”

The venue for this free seminar was appropriately chosen as it already contains a creative workhub which is hugely successful.