Reading: Slow broadband puts people off remote working, says Regus research

More than one tenth of Reading’s professionals are put off from working from home due to slow or inadequate broadband, according to research from global workspace provider Regus.

When quizzed on their attitudes towards remote working, 17% claimed that inadequate internet provision was the biggest hurdle.

This is despite the fact that in previous research, the ability to work remotely was heralded as being beneficial to the productivity (47%) and morale (35%) of Reading’s professionals.

The issue of inadequate broadband provision in the UK has once again hit the headlines recently, with Lord Adonis, the chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, highlighting it as one of the key infrastructure challenges the country must address – or risk falling behind on the international stage[1]. The UK currently lags behind countries including the USA, Netherlands and Japan for 4G and broadband speeds.[2]

The Regus research underlines the essential role the internet plays in facilitating remote working, with the majority of respondents highlighting the necessity of internet-enabled tools such as Dropbox (65%) and Skype (77%) to communicate with fellow team members when not in the office.

Richard Morris, UK CEO, Regus, commented: “The benefits of remote working are undeniable and the take-up of flexible space in our centres across the UK provides demonstrable evidence that increasing numbers of forward-thinking firms are adopting this model.

“Having access to fast, reliable internet – along with a quiet, professional working space – is one of the essential ingredients for successful remote working.”