A recent survey carried out by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has suggested that businesses around the country are backing the growing trend towards having a home-based workforce.

Figures from the organisation show that the proportion of employers offering their staff the chance to work from home has increased from 14 per cent to 46 per cent over the course of the past 12 months.

In its most recent Employment Trends research, the CBI insists that home-based working is on the rise because of its potential to increase business productivity and to help employees establish a better work-life balance.

Moreover, the CBI points out that home-based workers are likely to contribute less to the UK’s carbon emissions total and will avoid adding to congestion in major cities.

John Cridland, the CBI’s deputy director general, commented: "That teleworking has quadrupled in three years is testament to how far and fast firms have come in adopting new technologies for the benefit of staff and the business."

The CBI is among a host of high-profile organisations backing the Work Wise UK campaign to encourage the trend towards homeworking among British businesses.