Businesses in the UK need to focus on smarter working practices in order to remain competitive in the global economy, leading experts have claimed.

At the end of the recent Work Wise Week, business leaders acknowledged that smarter working practices would help improve staff wellbeing and make businesses more inclusive.

In particular, experts said that it was necessary to reduce the average length of the working week in the UK, as well as cutting down commuting time. Both of these things can lead to worker stress and ill health.

"Much of this stress is caused by outmoded working practices centred on work taking place at a central location, involving long commutes, and inflexible hours, making it difficult for people to balance work with their social and family commitments," explained Phil Flaxton, chief executive of Work Wise UK.

"The social impact of work is considerable. The health cost, as well as the impact on family life, must be huge."

Experts added that technology could play an important role in helping to improve working practices in the country.

At the conference, figures from the Office for National Statistics were cited which showed that broadband internet connections have helped the number of home workers increase by 18 per cent over the last nine years.

Similarly, data from BT Business recently indicated that faster internet connections had helped the bosses of small businesses achieve a better work-life balance.