More Britons are working from weird and wonderful locations, poll claims

Some had taken calls at a Tibetan temple and Norweigian fjord

Jack Peat
Tuesday 23 April 2019 11:33 BST
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Britons are hard at work even when they are on holiday, operating from tourist spots around the world
Britons are hard at work even when they are on holiday, operating from tourist spots around the world (PA)

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Public toilets, zoos and mountain tops have been named as some of the odder places from which people hot desk for work.

A poll of more than 5,000 sole traders, entrepreneurs and small businesses revealed people were increasingly turning their backs on the office and running company operations from their mobile phones.

Those running animal care operations were found to be the most likely to work remotely, with a quarter running firms on the go.

People working in arts, entertainment, media, marketing and hospitality were also found to be the most mobile in their day-to-day jobs.

When asked about the coolest and weirdest places from which they had sent emails or sealed deals, public toilets was the most popular answer for 17 per cent of the respondents.

This was closely followed by public places, including zoos, with one business owner admitting she took part in a teleconference call at London Zoo while colleagues and clients heard animals in the background.

Some continued to work while on holiday, from cruise ships, trains and tourist spots.

The Eiffel Tower, Edinburgh Castle, The Vatican, Jokang Temple in Tibet, a Norwegian fjord, volcanoes and a Polish monastery were among locations for those working on the move.

US changes visa rules to make travelling to country more difficult for British tourists

"In the gloomy landscape of Brexit, this report reflects how we are conducting business in the UK today and how much the world has changed," said Shadi Halliwell, a spokesperson for Three, which commissioned the poll. “Mobile devices have given every business owner the opportunity to be free from the traditional office environment and even core working hours.”

She added: “The typical nine to five working day is just not a reality for most of these innovative types of people. Equally, there is a trend to having a day job but focusing on building the business of your dreams on the side, demonstrating the passion that is out there.”

SWNS

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