Improving mobile 'connectivity confidence' could give UK workers back three weeks a year — and boost the UK economy by billions

UK workers could unlock more than three weeks of unproductive time a year by embracing flexible working
However many say they aren't confident in their mobile networks
Boosting connectivity could lead to a potential £115 billion productivity boost to the UK economy

Embracing flexible working could help give the British economy a major boost, and unlock productivity across the nation, new research has claimed.

A report from VodafoneThree says boosting "connectivity confidence" to work on the go could help unlock more than three weeks of unproductive time a year, leading to a potential £115 billion productivity boost to the UK economy.

However, the report noted this all depends on being more confident in such mobile working, which can only happen if the UK's mobile networks are resilient and reliable enough.

No more wasted time

The study, which surveyed 2,000 adults across the UK, found a third of Brits feel they are unable to leave their home or office Wi-Fi to get things done on-the-go, while almost half (46%) spend most of their working day at a desk.

Nearly half (43%) of those with a job said they would prioritise working on the move if they felt more confident in the quality of the UK’s mobile networks, with accessing and collaborating on work documents, taking calls on commutes and joining remote NHS consultations from phones all named as big tame savers.

British workers said they wasted almost two hours a week being unproductive on the commute, and over an hour sitting in waiting rooms and waiting to pick up children or dependents - wasted time which totals more than 10 hours a week, more than France, Germany, Spain, Australia, Singapore, Hungary and South Korea.

The lack of flexibility even extend into the weekend, as more than a third (34%) said their weekend to do list would be shorter if they could be more productive on the go, with booking all GP appointments through apps or their phones (23%), pay utility bills (27%) and book tickets on-the-go (16%) also named as tasks which could benefit from better connectivity.

“Boosting the UK’s productivity doesn’t have to mean spending more hours behind our desks," noted Andrea Donà, Chief Network Officer at VodafoneThree. "But to change the way the nation works, we need mobile networks that keep us connected to colleagues, technology and essential services on the move."

“The UK Government is rightly taking this issue seriously. With improvements to the planning system and regulations fit for the digital economy, our networks can help to make public services more accessible, close digital divides and lay the foundations for growth.”

The survey comes as VodafoneThree looks to continue its rollout of a UK-wide £11 billion investment programme to help raise the speed and quality of connectivity across the country following its merger with Three in 2025.

The company hopes this expansion will bring 5G Standalone coverage to 99% of the UK population by 2030, and 99.96% by 2034, helping millions of people to work, shop and access public services seamlessly.

Mike Moore is Deputy Editor at TechRadar Pro. He has worked as a B2B and B2C tech journalist for over a decade, including at one of the UK's leading national newspapers and fellow Future title ITProPortal. When he's not keeping track of all the latest enterprise and workplace trends, he can most likely be found watching, following or taking part in some kind of sport.