British Telecoms (BT) has claimed that flexible working can be of benefit to small and medium-sized enterprises.

Speaking at the Work Wise UK summit, BT's head of employment policy claimed that the average commuter spends 29 days every year commuting to work.

BT asserts that technological innovation has lead to an increase in flexible homeworking with a growth rate of 11 per cent in 2005, according to Flexibility figures.

Caroline Waters, director of employment policy at BT, said: "The only reason most managers want people close is because they think it gives them control."

She added that the green credentials of flexible working are becoming increasingly important and it also allows employers to "reach out and get the best people who all have different perspectives".

A case study by the Work Foundation states that by utilising its own technological products and services, BT now employs over 9,000 homeworkers.