BT hopes to reduce the high cost of office space

Managers have been asked to look at their teams of employees and suggest who could work from home.

Sales staff and engineers already operate "on the road" most of the time, but BT believes its office staff could also work from home, using computers, fax machines, mobile phones and the Internet.

The company would save office costs and would be able to close buildings across the country if it achieves its target.

Better quality of life

BT is aiming to have 10% of its 100,000-strong staff working from home by March.

Teleworkers can avoid getting caught up in traffic jams

The company also wants to reduce the number of office workstations in inner London from 10,000 to 3,000 over the next four years, with many of the remaining desks being shared.

The programme will bring big benefits to workers' quality of life and have environmental advantages from the reduction in home to office travel, BT believes.

The programme will also create a showcase for BT to demonstrate its flexible working technology to the rest of British industry.

'Huge savings'

Ray Jenkins, head of portfolio services at BT Property, said the benefits will be "immense".

"BT will make major savings in its estate running costs and capital savings by reducing investment in new offices and expensive refurbishments," he added.

Les Clarke, BT's facilities general manager, said: "The programme will help make better use of the company's office space. Currently many workstations are unoccupied, while those which are occupied are regularly vacant for up to 50% of available working time."

Talks are taking place with unions on the terms for home-based workers.

BBC pilots home-working

Many firms are now starting to offer home-based working opportunities to their staff as demands for more flexible arrangements have grown.

BBC News is currently running a pilot scheme where 17 employees, including journalists, correspondents and producers, a management accountant and a documentary-maker all work from home.

Geoff Adams-Spink, project manager for the scheme said: "It is very popular with staff. They are happier, use their time more productively, are less stressed. They are saving money commuting and are able to spend more time with their families.

"Good information technology support is absolutely crucial to the success of any home working scheme. It can make or break it.

"It is also vital to make sure that staff do not overwork and and that the equipment they are using at home is safe."

The good life

Alan Denbigh runs an organisation dedicated to the promotion of teleworking from his country cottage in Nailsworth in Gloucestershire.

He gave up commuting to work for a software firm in Bristol nine years ago and has never looked back.

Mr Denbigh, executive director of the Telework, Telecottage and Telecentre Association, said: "According to government figures there are now something like 1.14m teleworkers.

"That figure is growing rapidly as people become more familiar with technology and its potential.

"Larger companies like BT are also starting to address the issue seriously.

"There are a lot of benefits for the worker and the employer. For example the average London commuter probably spends something likes 10 hours commuting, getting to and fro from work.

"They could use that time far more productively working at home. They could also spend more time with their family and get involved with the community.

"Working at home does require some self-discipline and some people fear being isolated. But I have never found that a problem - quite the opposite.

"Companies are also able to reduce expensive office costs and they also get the chance to hold onto and recruit good staff from all over the country.

"Teleworking is a trend that is definitely going to grow."