Warwick District Council WiMax

At Business Week there's a piece on Warwick District Council's trial of WiMax wireless technology. The south of the area is planned to be WiMax enabled by the middle of next month to encourage flexible working patterns and homeworking.

Under-25s homeworking

Under the heading 'Tech-savvy kids demand flexible hours' Silicon.com reports that the under-25s are getting keen on homeworking. Commenting on a Microsoft-commissioned report, Gemma Simpson writes: "Half of young employees reckon being able to choose when and where they work is more important than a fat pay cheque.Many workers now view the opportunity to work away from the office as a right rather than a privilege with more people wanting a good social life as well as a good career. The report also found 47 per cent already work outside the office - whether that's mobile-based, homeworking or in a wi-fi enabled coffee shop."

Tony Blair on homeworking

In the latest Our Nation's Future lecture, Tony Blair concentrated on the role of work in the modern world. You can read a full transcript here. He talks a lot about work/life balance (with a decidedly puritan 'work is great' slant), flexible working and also homeworking, but he doesn't really back homeworking as a major step forward nor mention any way in which the government is encouraging people to become homeworkers, or indeed shedworkers.

The Shed - issue 9 now out

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Choosing a shed - Anglo Igloo

Perhaps you have a mug of coffee in your shed. Maybe a sandwich. But how about a barbeque? What you need is The Anglo Igloo, created by Richard and Sara Whittall who were inspired by a trip to the Arctic Circle in their motorhome. As they quite rightly say: “Whatever the weather or time of year, the Anglo Igloo creates a unique ‘inside outside’ atmosphere.”

The Deluxe model, built from their Hampshire workshop, is individually handcrafted from weather treated pine, coloured to the client’s spec. It has two opening windows built into the side walls and a skylight above a secure locking door. Inside there’s plenty of room to work not to mention seating for 15 people on luxury fitted cushions around the central Ultimate Barbeque, with three fully adjustable rotating grill plates. It has a static chimney hood to draw the smoke away from the fire and a roof finished in colourful felt roof tiles, not to mention a telescopic chimney.

Normal optional extras on a garden office shed usually include extra windows or desks. If you buy an Anglo Igloo you could also choose a Lazy Bones Spit Roaster, seats which can be converted into beds, and a fridge. There is also an Anglo Inglet option, an annexe building with internal locking doors connecting to the Igloo as well as a door giving access to the garden. Plus benches which turn into a bed platform.

Anglo Igloo also appeared on BBC's excellent Working Lunch programme recently and you can see them and find out more about their business here.

A version of this article appears in the latest issue of The Shed.Email me here to receive a free pdf copy.

Work Wise Week - programme details

The folk at Work Wise have announced more details of Work Wise Week (16 May to 22 May):
* Wednesday May 16 - Work Wise Summit at the QEII Conference Centre in London, looking at smarter working via keynote speeches and panel discussions: focus on being internationally competitive
* Thursday May 17 - the Stern Report and how smarter working can help the environment
* Friday May 18 - National Work from Home Day: employers and staff around the country are being encouraged to work from home on this day
* Weekend May 19/20 - Wise Work Weekend: a consumer-focused initiative to provide guidance and help to those people who would like to work smarter.
* Monday May 21 - the transport impacts of smarter working.
* Tuesday May 22 - employee benefits and social impacts of smarter working
Further information about Work Wise UK can be found on their website.

This site will be celebrating National Work from Home Day in our own special little way so don't forget to be here on May 18...

Michelle Kaufmann's Breezehouse

Michelle Kaufman is a big name in the world of green prefab building in the US. While none of her projects could be described as garden offices, her work does blur the boundaries of home and garden. For example, her Sunset Breezehouse (pictured) is built around a series of courtyards and private gardens for every major room. So while it's not exactly shedworking, it's maybe the next evolutionary step. You can find out all about her various interesting projects at her excellent and informative website here.