People are increasingly realising the advantages that can be gained through flexible working such as home working or contracting, one expert has said.

Shirley Borrett, development director at the Telework Association, explained that the debate about employment rights hindering small businesses had given flexible working a bad name but that it has "come quite a way" since then.

"What got missed in that was the much bigger picture in terms of the benefits of organisations – not just the improved productivity, but desk-sharing, hot-desking and all those sorts of things that mean you save on real estate," she said.

Meanwhile, figures from Swinton Home Insurance revealed that one in five homeowners is currently starting a new company and working from home for themselves.

Reasons for this included recent job cuts, or an inability to work in the field they desire due to a shortage of jobs.