Homeworkers are benefiting from a social boost through online communities, it has been noted.

One of the main downsides to working from home is the isolation that many people feel when they don't have a chance to interact with their colleagues on a daily basis.

However, with more and more social networks cropping up people are starting to find alternative sources of social interaction. Some of these networks are general, such as Facebook or Twitter, but others focus on a sector or business area.

Fiona Lewis, an author and working mother, explained: “By joining niche-specific online communities people who run their business from home can cut through the ‘white noise’ of the internet and really tap into the expertise of those who have become experts in those niches.”

She added that there are a number of other benefits to joining these communities, including the chance to share information ad advice with others in your sector. This can even lead to referrals for more work in some cases. “Contributing to these forums are akin networking meetings that take place in the offline world, and the relationships that are fostered can lead to your professional advancement, recognition and peer referrals,” Ms Lewis added.