The North West's top hybrid working hotspots have been revealed, with businesses urged to offer more flexibility to retain and attract the very best talent.
TalkTalk has released new data showing that 87% of office workers across the region think hybrid working - a mixture of both office and homeworking - will be an "important factor" when searching for a new job as the post-pandemic landscape begins to take shape.
The research also said 42% of office workers have moved home or considered moving during the pandemic, with nearly a quarter of these happy to live more than hour away from the office.
Additionally, 28% of employees now see the office predominately as space to collaborate on tasks or hold important business meetings.
The data from TalkTalk also shows towns across the North West are becoming hybrid working hotspots.
The top four - rated on the increase in internet usage during the pandemic - were Crewe (44%), Preston (43%), Warrington (43%) and Stockport (42%).
Jonathan Kini, managing director of TalkTalk Consumer and Business, said: “Our research clearly demonstrates that the way we work has changed forever, with both employees and employers now seeing the benefits of hybrid working.
"The pandemic has allowed people to balance their professional and personal lives through increased time spent at home, and we are proud to have helped facilitate this shift, not just as an employer, but as a provider of fast, reliable connectivity.”
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The research also showed that many employees have already invested significant amounts in their homeworking set ups.
The average spend on home office spaces in the North West over the course of the pandemic is £221 while one in ten 海角视频 office workers have spent over £500.
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The most popular areas for investment have been faster, more reliable broadband (27%), a new laptop or PC (22%), a wireless mesh router (17%) and smart cameras (16%).
James Suzman, anthropologist and author of Work: A History of How We Spend Our Time, has predicted that most businesses will never return to a five day office week.
He said: “The pandemic has forced employers to conduct a home working experiment they were never willing to take, with spectacularly positive results.
“Hybrid working is regenerating rural communities across the North West, as demonstrated by TalkTalk’s network data. People are looking out for neighbours, shopping locally and spending less time commuting, all of which has obvious environmental, mental health and societal benefits.
"This is only made possible by fast, reliable connectivity that allows people to work productively and efficiently no matter where they are based.”