Member Article

Half a million home working fund launched

A £500,000 fund has been secured to help businesses looking to take on new home-based employees in the North East.

The Home Working Fund, managed by Entrust, will contribute up to £3,000 towards the costs of training and equipment for each new home-worker.

During the initial phase of the project, the business services firm, has helped 12 companies to successfully access the fund and create over 220 jobs.

Bob Travers, managing director of Vir2all, a home-based virtual call centre, comments: “With modern technology, our call handlers can operate anywhere irrespective of geography.

“Our future operating plans will require us to double our workforce and invest in a new hub to manage our expanding home working team.”

Philip Marley, managing director of Home Heating Solutions Ltd, commented: “Due to working hours being completely flexible and people being able to carry out work from the comfort of their own home, there is also a hugely positive impact on morale which in turn increases productivity.

“The Home Working Fund provides the assistance we require to keep up with the unprecedented demand we are experiencing.”

Director of VeryCheapHolidays.com, Nick Jackson also added: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to take part in this exciting project.

“Part of our USP is having the flexibility to offer home working positions to all staff that we recruit and employ.

“5 to 9 working is a vital part of our service offer and enables us to stand out from High Street based competitors.”

Chief executive of Entrust, Dan Brophy encouraged businesses large and small to think about the benefits from increased productivity from home workers, and reduced overheads.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .