62% of those who work mainly at home class themselves as self-employed.

If you’re considering working from home, there is plenty of advice out there on how to make your home office every bit as productive and efficient as your work address.

• Ensure your desk or workspace is quiet. Background noise has a negative impact in two ways; it distracts you from your work and also does not deliver a good impression to clients on the telephone.
• Treat your home as if it were an office – lockable filing cabinets, a shredder for the disposal of confidential paperwork, and door locked at the end of the day/when you are going out
• It is not enough to expect your household insurance to cover your needs if you are a professional working from home – you will need business insurance as well
• Stick to a usual work and sleeping routine and keep a strict division between work and social or family life
• Ensure you have regular breaks and switch tasks regularly to ensure concentration and motivation are maintained.