When it comes to looking for a job millions of Britons are guided by the kind of flexibility a particular position will give them, according to a recent survey.

Figures from the Croner company show that more than one third (39 per cent) of job candidates consider flexible working opportunities as being an important factor as they aim to find a suitable employer.

In fact, the research has demonstrated that being able to operate flexibly is as important to would-be workers as having the chance to gain financial bonuses, reports onrec.com.

"Today’s employees aren’t solely motivated by money and are looking for other perks and conditions to help them balance their work and home life," said Gillian Dowling, Croner’s employment technical consultant.

"Although little can be done about location, home working can be a powerful benefit to employees, as can offering other flexible solutions such as later start times or job sharing."

HSBC revealed recently that it intends to enable close to 4,000 of its Canary Wharf-based staff to operate from their homes.