A national awards ceremony to celebrate remote working employees and their companies has been launched across the UK.

The Microsoft Remote Worker Award (in association with BT) is aimed at employees and their employers who promote flexible working solutions such as working from home.

Certain companies have already been shortlisted for the awards as a symbol of recognition for their flexible working strategies.

Shirley Pickford, a lecturer from Anglia Ruskin University, who teaches students on a fully online work-based degree, is among those shortlisted for an individual Microsoft Remote Worker Award.

Although working for Anglia Ruskin University, with its campuses at Chelmsford and Cambridge, she is based at her home at Oakenholt, Flint in Wales.

Shirley said, “Rather than overcoming adversity, I first moved into remote working because I wanted a change and a challenge after nearly 20 years based in schools as a classroom teacher.

“I would like to win the award to remind my employer – and other employers – that remote staff contribute to the green agenda, are productive and are only at the end of the phone/email.”

The Awards will culminate in a ceremony on 1 September at the Connaught Rooms, London.