By Vicki Owen
Remote Employment, a website for flexible and home-based jobs, has announced the winners of the Remote Worker Awards.
Hundreds of entries were received for the awards, which celebrate the benefits of remoting working, and the judges selected the winners based on the individuals or companies that demonstrated how remote working had created the greatest positive impact on their work life.
Mick Hegarty, strategy and commercial director, BT Business said: “It is estimated that 3.5m people work from home and BT Business research shows that 55 per cent of the UK’s employees are working from home more often than they did before in the current climate. These awards highlight some of the best examples of how remote workers are helping the environment, increasing business productivity and improving quality of life. The commitment of these fantastic award winners coupled with technology that enables flexible working means that even more people can now work in this way and get more out of their working and home lives.”
Paula Wynne, Founder of Remote Employment and organiser of the Remote Worker Awards, said: “It has been a highly rewarding experience to see the wide variety of talented people who embrace flexible working and seeing just how many companies champion it. It’s been such a pleasure reading the variety of entries and choosing such deserving winners.”
The categories and winners of the Remote Worker Awards (more details can be found at remoteworkerawards.com):
The BT Home Business Award: Becci Coombes-Burr, Billingshurst, West Sussex
Girls Travel Club is an online boutique specialising in travel accessories and gifts for women. It began as a small internet home business, after Becci returned from travelling around the world and couldn’t find anyone catering for the women’s travel and outdoor market. Run from a charming Second World War Anderson Bunker in Becci’s garden, Girls Travel Club’s ethos is to sell what women need for travelling, with an emphasis on stylish design, practicality and ethical credentials. It now has excellent web and press presence, employs three people and is growing in size and strength every day.
Working in partnership with many credible women’s safety organizations, Becci is also a recommended adviser on the Foreign Office’s Gap Year site and has supplied equipment to the Department of International Development for peace-keeping missions. The judges were impressed with Becci’s determination and fortitude, and believe Girls Travel Club is an excellent example of a successful internet home business born out of expediency, necessity and the motivation of its founder.
The Microsoft Remote Worker Award: Shirley Pickford, Oakenholt, Flint
Remote working gives both Shirley and her employer, Anglia Ruskin University, based in Cambridge, superb benefits. Exploring the use of new technologies and social media to work with staff and students has increased Shirley’s productive work time. Remote lecturing has its rewards communicating and collaborating with people, regardless of geographical location. The support of Anglia Ruskin University has been crucial in developing an approach that is successful for Shirley and her students.
The Lexmark Home Worker Award: Andrea Dalziel, Harefield, Middlesex
Andrea’s strong work ethic impressed the judges who found her to be a worthy winner after she literally transformed her work and personal life by working remotely. Despite her disability, she works from home for her employer, Naked Nutrition, while taking care of her three children. Not to be taken lightly, Andrea also advises others thinking of working from home to ensure they separate their home and work lives as much as possible to avoid the normal, everyday distractions that go on in the house.
The PCG Freelancer Award: Jane Rimmer, Binfield
As an IT industry marketing veteran, Jane decided to set up a marketing consultancy business that would enable her to maintain a better work life balance and remain at the forefront of new technology innovation. She has achieved both and has gained a bevy of clients over the past five years.
The Babyworld Parentpreneur Award: Amanda Allerton, Dusky Corsham, Wiltshire
Amanda’s Dusky Moon gives families a better night’s sleep. Using their parenting experience, friends and business partners, Amanda and Venetia, create innovative, luxurious sleep products for under 7s. Their first product, Dream Tubes, a revolutionary soft bed guard is sold in 150 UK outlets and 35 countries.
The Arise Be Your Own Boss Award: Deborah Andrioli, from Stratford-upon-Avon
Deborah, a former PR and Marketing Manager for The Press Association, gave up her job three years ago, to care for her two young children, one of whom has Asperger’s Syndrome and has founded an after-school club for children with autism in her local area. As a woman of great determination, who will use her media skills to promote and grow her own business, she is now keen to establish her own venture and can’t wait to get ‘stuck into her community magazine’.
The Lucent Vision New Internet Business Award: Victoria Bell, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
The judges found Victoria to be an all-rounder as she has a diverse range of skills including marketing, advertising, PR and website development. Her BA (Hons) degree, along with her passion and intelligence will ensure she channels her energy into making her own business a success. Victoria is self-motivated and so keen to create her own website, she took it upon herself to learn a new skill and teach herself Adobe Dreamweaver and html coding. Victoria is a worthy winner who will pursue her dream of owning her own business at all costs.
The BlackBerry Remote Employer Award: Amanda Potter, Coulsdon, Surrey
Amanda is Managing Director of Zircon Management Consulting, an entrepreneurial Business Psychology Company specialising in Talent Assessment, Development, Coaching and Engagement Consulting. Established in 2000, Amanda draws their expertise from a team of 140 remote consultants to deliver creative solutions for their clients. Amanda’s choice to run Zircon as a remote business was due to cost, environmental friendliness and a flexible lifestyle for her growing work force. The judges gave credit to Amanda and her team for proving that having a remote work force enables companies to improve business productivity with an eco solution, whilst giving their team the opportunity to have autonomy and a positive lifestyle. Zircon have grown year on year and also encourage new Graduate Psychologists who come into the business by offering them interim roles and placements.
The Helen O’ Grady Special Award: Janine van den Berg from Harrow, Middlesex
Janine’s background in the arts and in particular acting and singing, made her an excellent candidate to operate a Helen O’Grady Drama Academy. Her passions for children and the theatre, along with her business experience, provide her with all the necessary credentials to be a most successful Academy owner. Janine will bring energy, enthusiasm and a positive approach to running her own business.
Tags: business awards, remote working, small businesses, SMEs, Vicki Owen
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