O2 is putting flexible working to the ultimate test today, with the creation of a mid-air, outdoor office in London’s east end. Suspended over four metres above Great Eastern Street in Shoreditch, Hackney, O2 has worked with a local small business employee to brave the British elements and conduct a whole morning of work suspended in the air – literally demonstrating that with the right tools, technologies and devices, we truly can work anywhere.


From logging on at 9am until going on his lunch break at 1pm, our flexible worker called Casper will go about his daily business as usual, from industry research and presentation writing, to speaking to clients on the phone – all while suspended in the air. Passers-by can get a closer look at the view from our worker’s mid-air office through a live video link (www.o2.co.uk/workanywhere), which will broadcast throughout the day as he conducts the ultimate flexible working experiment above one of London’s fastest growing business districts, near Silicon Roundabout.

“80 per cent of British workers are now employed by small businesses and the success of these young, dynamic companies forms a vital part in helping to propel the UK economy forward, driving innovation and creating new employment opportunities,” Claire Darley, Head of Sales for O2 Small Businesses.  “For small business teams or entrepreneurs flying solo, the ability to remain connected to their business at all times is essential. By keeping costs low and employees agile, implementing effective flexible working practices is increasingly important for small British companies.”

Where: A wall, 17-19 on Great Eastern Street, The City, London. EC2A 3EJ

When: 29th February 2012, from 9.00am

See it for yourself:

Claire Darley continued “We are calling on a greater number of small and medium businesses to review their flexible working arrangements in what is going to be a very big year in terms of events in the UK.  Our approach connects a range of products and services under the Joined Up People service – helps all types and sizes of businesses increase productivity, work collaboratively, reduce costs and maximise competitiveness and responsiveness through flexible working.  Often using simple cost effectiveness technologies that most small businesses often already have.”

O2 helps businesses embrace flexible working with a range of products and services that enables them to connect better and more easily with the things that matter most.  It is a consultancy based approach which tailors advice and recommendations based on businesses’ specific needs. Flexible working can mean anything from using conference call on your mobile, getting emails on your phone, accessing the WiFi network via your laptop, setting up a home office. And everything in between.

Journalists can contact the Virgin Media O2 press office on:
press@virginmediao2.co.uk 01753 565656
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