• 25% of homeworkers are contributing to their local economy by visiting coffee shops and cafés each day, according to new Vodafone research.
  • Commuting time has been swapped for work time as homeworkers notch up almost a month in overtime.
  • 40% say they’ve been more productive since the start of working from home in March.
  • The research comes as Vodafone launches new broadband package for small business customers featuring a £125 credit to offset broadband bills for up to six months.

While city centres are taking time to recover, there’s better news elsewhere, new Vodafone research into small business employees suggests. Local economies are benefitting from the rise in home working, with 25% of homeworkers spending at least once a day at their local coffee shop or café.

The research, which surveyed 1,003 small business employees, also found that working from home has not hindered Brits’ productivity, with 40% of workers putting in an average of 642 additional hours, equal to 26 extra days, since lockdown began back in March.

60% of employees said they’re working in the time they’d usually be commuting, and 61% say they now don’t mind picking up tasks at any time of the day. Not only are home-based employees working extra hours, but 40% also say they’ve been more productive than when they were working in the office.

Anne Sheehan, Business Director, Vodafone UK said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has reshaped the working world, seemingly for the long-term. Workers are now contributing more where they live, and that will be a boost to local businesses during these difficult times.”

To continue to help Britain’s five million small businesses through difficult times, Vodafone has today launched a new broadband package that will give new and renewing customers who sign up for Vodafone’s Unlimited Business Broadband package a £125 credit (ex. VAT) to offset their broadband bill for up to six months.

Once the £125 credit has been used up, the monthly fee will revert back to the standard Unlimited Business Broadband Superfast 1 package price of £19.17 (excl. VAT) per month or £22.50 (excl. VAT) per month for Superfast 2.

In addition, Vodafone is also offering its Secure Mobile Office bundle, which includes access to Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Vodafone Cloud Backup and Lookout Mobile Security for just £11.60 per month (excl. VAT) a saving of 20%.

Business customers should visit https://www.vodafone.co.uk/businessbroadband to find out more about the new offer.