August 2003
How high-speed internet is helping Projectlink employees work from home
Improving work/life balance is prompting many people to look at spending more time working from home. Equally, companies are realising that they can have a happier, more productive workforce by encouraging teleworking.
For one Hastings resident, Colin Bewes, broadband technology is making this possible.
Bewes is a project director for Projectlink, one of the UK's fastest growing staff motivation consultancies. The company works with over 300 blue-chip clients in the UK and Ireland, developing and delivering employee motivation programmes to improve staff morale. Bewes' role is very much focused on the web. He develops online delivery systems for employee recognition awards. This means designing websites for large corporate clients to promote awards programmes and highlight staff achievements across the organisation.When Bewes signed up to BT Openworld broadband back in January 2001, he was one of the first 100 installations in the town. Now, there are over 2,200 people using broadband in Hastings.
"When I first started using broadband I was amazed at the speed of connection. It was just like being in the office and I realised that it would make working from home a real possibility," explained Bewes.
As a result, Bewes now works from home three days a week, spending the other two in Projectlink's head office in Teddington, Middlesex. Rather than spending 25 hours commuting each week, Bewes can spend more time on client work."Much of the work I do can be done from home just as easily as if I was in the office," said Bewes. "The high-speed internet connection from BT Openworld means I can connect to the web 10 times faster than with a standard dial-up connection. This makes developing and updating award websites for our clients quick and simple."
The speed of connection also means that Bewes can link into company servers to access client files and information quickly via a Virtual Private Network. He's even set up a wireless network in his home so he can log on wherever he is in the house.The fact that BT Openworld broadband is 'always-on' means there's no need to keep dialling up very time he wants to access the internet - once it's on, it's on."Like every business, much of our communication is done via email these days," said Bewes. "With broadband, I have real-time access to email so even when I'm not in the office, I can be kept up-to-date on what's going on."Without broadband, I would have had real problems working from home. The slow speeds of a 56kbps dial-up connection can really impact on your productivity as you can spend so much time waiting to dial up, access email and up/download files. With broadband, I can work just as efficiently as if I was in the office," he added.
In his spare time, Bewes also runs the website for his old school in Zimbabwe, Falcon College. Many former pupils are spread across the globe in the UK, US, Australia and South Africa. The website is designed to help old school friends keep in touch, regardless of where they live today.
"I have been managing the site for over four years but when broadband came along the whole process got a lot easier. The high-speed means that I can upload information to the site much more quickly than before, ensuring it is up-to-date and keeping all the old boys in touch with what's going on," he added.Based in Teddington, Middlesex, Projectlink is one the UK's fastest growing staff motivation specialists. It offers sales incentives schemes, reward and recognition programmes, customer service, loyalty and long service or dealer and distribution programmes. Its client base spans businesses of all sizes and a wide range of industry sectors.Colin Bewes
Projectlink