28 November 2008

Can Home Working Save The Planet?

A new report for the Smith Institute and the Live Work Network shows how remote working - and home working in general - cuts carbon emissions.

How homes can become workspace in a low carbon economy is edited by Tim Dwelly and Andy Lake of the Live Work Network and includes the thoughts of leading world experts (including World Wildlife Fund policy adviser Denis Pamlin and BT head of policy Caroline Waters) on the environmental impact of the shift to home working and live/work property.

Live Work Network is a membership organisation for everyone with an interest in providing live/work units - properties that combine workplace and home. They believe they are the UK's sole information service on live/work. As well as running this resourceful website, they also hold seminars, keep members in touch with email newsletters, and offer fast track referrals, linking members with others they can learn from and share knowledge.

Chapters include in-depth comparison of carbon emissions by home workers and office workers, new statisticts from Strathclyde University on home based businesses, ideas for low carbon live/work developments and ways employers can benefit from a shift to home working.
Responding to this news, Paula Wynne, co-founder and Director of Remote Employment, an online home working network said: “This report shows that there are more efficient, productive, and greener ways of working. Small businesses should be more proactive in tackling climate change and reduce costs through reducing their energy consumption. Home working is one way to achieve this.”
Remote Employment is dedicated to flexible jobs working from home, work from home jobs, and home based business and home based franchise opportunities and they are extremely proud of their recent BT Global Action Plan ‘Responsible Business Day’ Award.
From a national search, Remote Employment impressed judges with their passion and determination to understand and reduce their current impact on both the environment and society.

Remote Employment agree with Live Work Network that the case for home working goes beyond the proven environmental benefits. There are also other tangible advantages to both employees and employers from working at home. With commutes becoming ever longer and more unpleasant, home working offers the opportunity for a much less stressful working experience and a better work-life balance.

Individuals can work more flexibly, while cutting out the need to commute regularly gives people more free time. The authors of this new report also provide evidence that there are real savings for businesses by reducing the need for valuable office space, as well as higher levels of workforce satisfaction, improved staff retention and reduced absenteeism.
The trend is towards more home working and greater flexibility, with new technologies allowing individuals to connect their homes to the global marketplace. These changes are transforming society and present new challenges to the way we live and work. The report’s collection of essays examines these challenges up close, and concludes that there are lasting individual and collective benefits by moving to a more environmentally friendly home working economy.

Flexible working, which includes an ability to work from home flexibly and to structure hours more around the needs of family life, should not be confused with making a substantial reduction to our carbon footprints as workers. This is because most home working employees are only temporarily away from their ‘main workspace’ - a building that remains fuelled day and night (and had to be constructed in the first place).

The carbon benefits of employees’ occasionally home working are likely to be relatively small. If however, employers use the potential of home working to reduce or remove their office or workspace infrastructure, as some employers like BT are increasingly doing, then significant benefits can flow.

Contributors to the 115 page report include Treasury adviser Kate Barker, Places for People Group chief executive David Cowans, World Wildlife Fund policy adviser Denis Pamlin, BT head of policy Caroline Waters and CABE chief executive Richard Simmons.
Acknowledged carbon expert, Professor Peter James, reveals key data on the net carbon benefits of home working compared to ordinary office working. The report includes a comparison of carbon emissions by home workers and office workers as well as ways in which employers can benefit from a shift to home working.

Tim Dwelly said: "This brings home the critical importance of live/work and home-based business to the future low carbon economy. We simply cannot go on assuming that commuting between separate homes and workspaces will remain the norm. We are no longer in the industrial era. With over 40% of all UK businesses now home-based and numbers likely to rise in the downturn, it is time for policymakers to urgently review their approach to employment and business and recognise the potential contribution of the live/work part of the UK economy."
For more information, browse www.remoteemployment.com or download the full report here.

Karen Darby's Top Tips for Business Success


There are literally thousands of business opportunities for entrepreneurs and small business owners to develop. Choosing a home based business that allows you flexibility and convenience can also be rewarding.

Evaluating and building your work at home business opportunity into a successful business can be one of the most exciting activities in your career!

Karen Darby shared her top tips for business success at The National everywoman Conference 2008.

Here is a summary of Karen's top tips:


Do what you love
Create a white hot burning desire
Create leverage – commit to doing something with determination
Maintain a laser beam focus on your business idea
Use someone else's money – seek funding opportunities
Be a rhino – learn how to handle rejection
Employ smart people + network like crazy – surround yourself with a strong team
Be enthusiastic
Live the brand – you are the best possible PR for your company
Give yourself a check up form the neck up on a regular basis
Hypnotize yourself – tell yourself you're wonderful and your ideas are wonderful
Know when not to listen – especially to negative comments
Double your failure rate
And finally…

Remember timing is everything!

19 November 2008

Karen Darby's Hints for Beating Unemployment


Responding to the announcement that the number of people out of work in the UK has jumped by 140,000 to 1.82 million, the highest in 11 years, Karen Darby of SimplySwitch fame says it is not all ‘doom and gloom’ and gives her suggestions for finding the right job, despite the hike in unemployment.

Even though Karen sold SimplySwitch for £22m to the Daily Mail, she was also once in the same situation as many thousands of UK workers. Karen Darby, who is a highly successful and inspirational entrepreneur, had a classic ‘rags to riches’ story. One of five children, Karen grew up on a council estate in Mitcham and left school at 16 with one GCSE.

Before seizing her entrepreneurial spirit, Karen worked in a supermarket, a florist and a fish and chips shop. Her determination to find a job often made her walk from Mitcham to Croydon in search of employment – and she never went home until she found a job. Even though she sold her her third and most successful venture to date, SimplySwitch to the Daily Mail for £22m, she was once one of millions of people walking the streets to find a job.

Here Karen gives her top tips for finding the right job in today’s depressed employment market.

Learn and keep learning
Use this time as an ideal opportunity to think hard about what you want out of life. Take control of your destiny. Many people allow themselves to drift along and stay in the rut. Karen is a great believer that we should do what we love and the opportunities will follow. She says: “You can put a square peg in a round hole. You simply have to shave the edges off.”

Do Your Research
Apply to numerous jobs and be proactive. Go online and find out about the company. If the business interacts with the public, try their services and go along for the experience so you can tell them why they are better than their competitors. They will love that! By doing this you can also tell them why you would be best for their job. Go for quantity and quality.

Persevere
Keep looking until you find a job. Karen advocates that job seekers must have a Rhino skin and be able to handle rejections. Many people may have been looking for a long time and still not able to find the right job. They must accept that perhaps they don’t tick all the right boxes for an employer. Every employer is looking for something different and something very specific. She says: “It’s hard when you don’t get a job, but you must be prepared for that and have thick skin to walk away with your chin up and still keep looking. Maybe consider taking a step down. Over time show off your skills and later move back up again.”

Work For Yourself
Perhaps people should consider working for themselves. A tough market often brings out the entrepreneurial spirit in people. Karen advices job seekers to see their own potential, to look at their strengths and go for it. A job for life is only for those who work for themselves. Karen says: “I decided at a very young age that whatever happens in life, I could deal with the worst of it. Why not take charge of your destiny and go it alone?”

Positive Attitude
Lots of people returning to work after a career or work break may find the job market has moved on. The key is to be positive and see what you can bring to the table. Thinking positive, whatever your situation, will bring about change. Karen firmly believes something will change. “If you keep knocking on doors, somewhere, somehow, someone will say yes. Go out and get it for yourself!” Karen recommends that job seekers should not rely on advertised jobs and go out and find one that might be there for the asking. “And don’t take no for an answer.”

Any Job is Better Than None
With unemployment so rife, employers can be choosy. Job seekers need to be in the right place at the right time. She says: “If someone came to me and they were flipping burgers to stay working, I would be inclined to employ them. They might be the right person for the job and they could move up the burger flipping management ladder!”

Realizing you don’t have a job can be terrifying and millions of people are now in fear of losing their jobs. “I would say this could be the opportunity to go for it. We only have one life and we must squeeze the juice of it!”

Market Yourself
Imagine yourself as a product that you have to market. Karen explains that many people are judged by the way they look and the way they sound. Karen came from South London and on her way up the entrepreneurial ladder she soon learnt that it was vitally important that her communication and presentation skills were top notch. So she went through a self-marketing process to refine her accent and appearance in order to appeal to employers, and eventually used this skill to bring potential investors into her own business.

Be Lateral
Find different ways to work. There are many alternatives to traditional employment and Karen now works from home as a coach and inspirational speaker. Karen suggests that people should consider flexible working instead of full time employment. She says: “Remote Employment might help, they have loads of jobs working from home. This helps to balance all options. Working from home or working remotely for a company can make a difference in people’s lives and to the employment culture in the UK.”

Become An Entrepreneur

Lastly, why not run a small home business from home? Becoming an entrepreneur doesn’t mean a business needs to be earning top whack. Many small businesses are entrepreneurial just by being different and thinking out of the box. Karen urges the unemployed not to sit at home, and mope, but instead try other ways to earn a living such as outsourcing their skills to employers and invoicing them for a few hours per day or week instead of being unemployed. “Here again, websites such as Remote Employment can help with flexible working options and home business opportunities.”

Mumtrepreneur
As a mother with two young sons, Karen often worked from home and became a "mumtreneur". In her company that provides training for call-centre staff, Karen Darby Direct, she has personally trained hundreds of people in the call centre industry and for many it was a life changing experience. In fact, many champions were raised in ‘Karen’s Stable’, several of whom have gone on to set up their own highly successful businesses.

Karen’s story, of creating several major business success stories while also juggling a real life at home, is a tale of our times – of what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur, woman and mother in the 21st century. Karen prophesises that the current economic climate could bring out a whole new culture of home workers, and raised from the unemployment ashes, another generation of Entrepreneurs.

On a last note, Karen says to all the unemployed: “Be really flexible, be determined, stay positive and you can’t fail!”
For more information on Karen Darby, browse www.karendarbydirect.com or for information on Remote Employment browse jobs working from home at www.remoteemployment.com.

10 November 2008

Remote Employment Wins Mentor Competition


(10 November 2008) Ten women from London had their dreams of being mentored by the best women in business become a reality in a ceremony at the BT Tower on Friday 7th November.

Eager entrepreneurs from across London entered their business ideas to the competition, run by FreshIdeas Events, and they met with their allocated 'Make A Difference' (MAD) Woman for the first time in the stunning surroundings of the Tower.

The panel of MAD women will be guiding the aspiring businesswomen to success over the next six months and you can track their progress by visiting FreshIdeas Events, www.freshideasevents.com.

Innovative ideas ranging from an ethical image consultancy encouraging clients to dress more eco-friendly, an online information business for those passionate about socialising and dining out in London, and a new sustainable, community-run hotel were among the winning ideas.

One of the winners is Paula Wynne, from Remote Employment, an online website dedicated to remote working and flexible home working options. Paula says: "This competition is excellent for businesswoman like myself to get access to the skill, experience and wealth of knowledge that the mentors will provide. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with Karen, who has so much enthusiasm and energy for the concept of remote working."

"Essentially, Remote Employment wants to make a difference to the employment culture in the UK by helping employers recruit talented job seekers in a cost effective way. Equally we want to help employees improve their quality of life while maintaining a career path at the same time. With Karen's help and guidance, we look forward to taking Remote Employment to the next level of growth."

Other winners and their mentors include:


Paula Wynne, from Remote Employment who has started an online business dedicated to home based, flexible and remote working. She has been matched to inspiration entrepreneur and founder of Simply Switch, Karen Darby, who sold her company to the Daily Mail in 2006 for £22m.

Michelle Peers, who runs an online business called Socialite London for people who are passionate about socialising and dining out in London has been matched to Founder of Everyclick.com, Polly Gowers, who was voted WEBE Ethical Entrepreneur of the Year 2007.

Georgina Stevens, a Virgin employee working on sustainability issues planning to put a business pitch to Richard Branson for a sustainable, community run hotel - matched to Jo Haigh, Head of Corporate Finance, MGR.

Zoe Robinson, a professional actress who plans to set up 'Think Style', an image consultancy with an ethical slant which will encourage clients to dress more eco-friendly. She has been matched to Director of EaKo, Babaloo and Bio-Supplies, Kresse Wesling.

Ila Panik, who plans to create a new alternative, trendy and positive development program for young women called U4U. She has been matched to founder of Club Asia Radio 963+972AM, Sumerah Ahmad.

Irene Okoro, who currently works in PR and aims to launch her online business idea, blackbrides.co.uk in January 2009. She has been matched to Saima Butt, Managing Director of Enterprise Business Technologies.

Gina Varela, who has started her own events massage company, Divine London. She has been matched to Krista Madden, editor of Beautyandthedirt.co.uk.

Amy Kilbane, who is currently a European Marketing Manager and wants to develop to become a leader in her organization. She has been matched to
Managing Partner of Fitch, Lucy Unger.

Emily Shenton, who has recently joined her partner at Arrival Education which develops innovative concepts and programs to find an alternative to the current state education model. She has been matched to the CEO of FreshMinds Group, Caroline Plumb.

Katharine Roseveare, manager of Intelligent Marketing which is now one of the UK's most successful marketing agencies. She currently has 30 employees and wants to take her business to the next level. She has been matched to Karen Hanton, the Founder and Chief Executive of toptable.co.uk.

Jackie Brennan, Director of FreshIdeas Events, the independent company that helps women to succeed in business says: "The ceremony was a huge success and it was great to be able to introduce the winners to their mentors for the first time. After the winners were announced by the BBC's Satnam Rana, the work began with a mentoring session from Suzanne Doyle of Doyle Morris Coaching.
"I believe that mentoring is a terrific way of giving entrepreneurs vital advice to help them on their way or take their businesses to the next level. It's been terrific for us to be able to help these women and develop their businesses to become a success like their mentors."

Fran Currie from Business Link in London says: "We are proud to be supporting the competition as it gives women from the capital the opportunity to start and grow their own businesses with the confidence of having an experienced mentor advising them on their way to success."

Business Link is the popular information service which provides impartial help and advice to businesses.

For more information on the winners and their mentors and to track their progress visit www.freshideasevents.com

7 November 2008


Ken and Paula from Remote Employment are thrilled with their BT and Global Action Plan 'Responsible Business Day' Award!

Recruitment Business Wins Green prize

Recruitment small business Remote Employment has today been announced as the winner of a responsible business prize awarded by BT Business, in partnership with environmental charity Global Action Plan, to mark this year’s Small Business Week 2008.

From a national search, selecting 10 businesses across the UK, Remote Employment impressed judges with their passion and determination to understand and reduce their current impact on both the environment and society. Paula Wynne said; “Our business strongly advocates a healthy work life balance for employees through remote working. This practice provides a much more efficient, productive and greener way of working. The BT Business Responsible Business prize will definitely help us to practice what we preach and help us promote greener working to other employers as well as employees.”

The online recruitment connection service, Remote Employment, is dedicated to flexible jobs working from home, work from home jobs, and home based business and home based franchise opportunities. There are no agency fees as they use the website to match freelancers and home workers to employers.

This award comes as new BT Business research shows that 39% of small businesses in the South East say cutting back on energy use is the main thing they are doing to help the environment. This compares with 42% of businesses nationally.

Bill Murphy, managing director, BT Business said; “BT Business is proud to be awarding, Remote Employment this prize. It’s vital that small businesses tackle climate change and BT has partnered with GAP to offer this much needed support. We hope that Remote Employment will set a good example for other businesses in Berkshire and demonstrate that often what’s good for the environment is also a win for business.”

In addition to environmental management training and support from Global Action Plan, the prize includes a month of audio conferencing and a 12 month BT Tradespace Premium subscription from BT Business. It is designed to help support, Remote Employment in their efforts to reduce their energy consumption and reduce costs through greater efficiency.

For more information, browse www.remoteemployment.com

6 November 2008

Mentor Competition Winners Announced in Ceremony at the BT Tower

Here Come the Girls – Mentor Competition Winners Announced in Ceremony at the BT Tower

(3 November 2008) Ten women from London will have their dreams of being mentored by some of the most successful women in business become a reality next week as FreshIdeas Events announces the winners of this year’s Mentor Competition.
Eager entrepreneurs from across London entered the competition in the hope of having their ideas put into practice with the help of the best in the industry.

On Friday 7th November press are invited to the awards ceremony on the 34th floor of the prestigious BT Tower where the winners of the competition will be announced and the women will meet their mentors for the first time.

The panel of ‘Make a Difference’ (MAD) Women who will be guiding the aspiring businesswomen in London to success include Saima Butt, Managing Director of Enterprise Business Technologies, who has run her own business successfully for over three years. Saima now has a customer base of 35,000 SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) and employs 22 people.

Saima says: “The competition is an excellent opportunity for us to give aspiring entrepreneurs essential advice to help guide them through the first few months of their business enterprise. Winning this competition could change women’s lives irrevocably as we can inject knowledge and experience into their businesses and help them achieve their goals.”

This extraordinary panel of women who unquestionably ‘Make A Difference’ when it comes to female success in business are from a variety of sectors and background. The eclectic panel joining Saima include:

• Karen Darby, inspirational entrepreneur and founder of SimplySwitch, which was sold to the Daily Mail in 2006 for £22m

• Karen Hanton, Founder and Chief Executive of toptable.co.uk; Karen was named as one of today's top 30 entrepreneurs in New Business Magazine

• Sumerah Ahmad, Co-Founder and Director of Club Asia Radio 963+972AM is no stranger to success and winning awards. Since launching Club Asia five years ago, she has scooped the Asian Women of Achievement Award and was listed in Management Today’s Top 35 Women Under 35, while her radio station, which she launched with her sister, was named the Brightest New Business in 2005 at the HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards

• Jo Haigh, Author and Head of Corporate Finance of MGR, has bought and sold over 300 companies in the last 20 years. One busy lady, Jo is also Partner of fds, a successful training and consultancy organisation; the author of three successful business books, one of which sold out in the first five days after going on sale; and has made her way into the 2008 edition of “Who’s Who of Britain’s Business Elite”

• Kresse Wesling, Director of EAKO, Babaloo and Bio-Supplies, is passionate about all things eco. She won the Entrepreneurial Woman of the Future award at the Real Business Awards in 2007, and was named in Management Today’s “35 Women Under 35”

• Polly Gowers, Founder of Everyclick.com, a search engine that gives half of its revenue to charity. Polly was voted WEBA Ethical Entrepreneur of the Year 2007 and a Blackberry Woman in Technology Award winner in 2008.

• Krista Madden, Founder and Editor of widely read online magazine, www.beautyandthedirt.com, who has been running her own businesses for the past 17 years.

• Lucy Unger, Managing Partner EMEA for renowned international design consultancy, Fitch.

• Caroline Plumb, CEO of FreshMinds Group, the business she co-founded in September 2000 straight after leaving Oxford University. With a 75-strong team, FreshMinds was crowned ‘Most Innovative Employer’ at the Market Research Awards in 2006 as well as ‘Best Agency’ which they won for the second year running in 2007.

Jackie Brennan, Director of FreshIdeas Events, the independent company that helps women to succeed in business says: “Mentoring is an excellent way to give entrepreneurs confidence as well as essential knowledge and skills. The winners will have the chance to learn from some of the best women in business and to benefit from the array of valuable experience the women have.”

Business Link provides help and advice to businesses is also supporting the competition. Fran Currie from Business Link in London says: “We are proud to be supporting the competition as it gives women from the capital the opportunity to start and grow their businesses with the confidence of having an experienced mentor advising them on their way to success.”

Further details about the competition can be found at www.freshideasevents.com.

5 November 2008

Work from Home with Skype

Work from Home with Skype
Whether you plan to work from home, have a home based job or run a business at home, when it comes to phone bills, don't let them cost the earth! Try making calls through your computer with Skype!

Make Skype calls without a computer
You don’t always need to be connected to your computer to use Skype. Cordless handsets simply plug into your computer’s USB port and allow you to make Skype calls from anywhere in your house or office.
Skype Certified™ cordless handsets

Make Skype your own
Change the way you look to the rest of the world by adding a personalised avatar that looks just like you. You could also add a new ringtone or play games with your friends. You’ll need to buy a little Skype Credit to pay for items. Start personalising now.

Staying safe online is important.
You can accept or deny any request from other Skype users asking you to join their contact list.
Open Skype and click the Tools > Options > Privacy, and set your preferences for receiving communications.
Handy tip: Your online status is set automatically. To change it yourself, click the green tick symbol at the bottom of the Skype window.

Communicate with Many People at Once
Set up a conference call with up to ten people for business or pleasure. Communicate with many people at once. Or use Skype to have a group chat with up to 100 people at once. Need to add more people to your contact list? Spread the love and get your colleagues to use Skype as well. Tell your colleagues about Skype

Organising your contacts into groups
Sorting your contacts into groups allows you to send group messages, as well as easily organise group chats and conference calls. Import your Outlook™ contacts into Skype. Then send any Outlook™ contact a message to download Skype. View Outlook™ contacts in Skype.


To read the full article on Remote Employment: Work from Home with Skype

How to set up a home office ...

Before you set up a work station at home, check out our Seven Top Tips on how to work from home:

Your Home Office
Ideally, you will have a spare room to create a home office. If not, a corner of another room, will be fine as long as you are not constantly distracted in the family fast lane. Set up your kitSet up your computer, files and phone to give you maximum comfort for long hours. Have enough plug points for PC, printer, phone, scanner, mobile charger, fax machine and answer phone. Even better get an all in once mod con to save on a jumble of cables and wires.

Pick your desk location
You should be able to see the door of the office from where you are sitting or at least more of your surroundings. Beware of facing the garden and the bird bath – too tempting to watch the world go by! A hard chair will give you backache so spend a little extra on a good one.

Working Hours
Working outside 'normal' working hours helps to balance your work and home life so don't feel guilty dashing off to take the lads to footie after school, as long as you get your work done. Catching up in the early morning or later in the evening works well, but also watch out for going OTT. Make sure you close down and walk away at some point or the family will go hungry.

Have a breather
No matter what kind of work you do or what home you do it in, you can go bonkers if you spend 24 hours a day at it. Get out, whenever you can, to clear your head and to see other people. Use lunch time as a good break to pop down to pick up groceries for dinner, step outside to feed the birds during your coffee break or walk the dog around the block to clear the cobwebs. This is also a great way to mull over a document or get inspiration for new ideas.

Keep in Touch
Have no fear that your social life at work comes to an end if you leave your office to work from home, in fact in some cases your relationship with your colleagues may improve. Email is instant but be careful of 'funnies' – they can eat up a huge chunk of time. Chat through business issues by phone and meet for a quick bite every now and then.

Goal scoring
Give yourself little goals and objectives and then reward yourself when they are complete. Make sure family and friends know your hours or days of working at home and stick to that. Don't be tempted to pop over for a coffee or cook a large meal. Give yourself this time as a reward for getting up early on a Monday to finish a long-winded report. Or if you score well with a new client take five to put your feet up before the school run. Whatever incentives work for you, use them to motivate yourself to balance your time around your other responsibilities.

If you have any suggestions on working from home, please submit your articles to grace@remoteemployment.com.

Remote Work

Remote Employment is a brand new online recruitment site specialising in remote working and home based appointments, professional jobs working from home, home based career opportunities, high quality office-home job combinations and flexible work positions that can be effectively managed away from the office.

Register to find professional, jobs working from home and self employed home based business opportunities. Search to find Candidates, Freelancers, Consultants and creative projects.

Do you want to work remotely