Cabinet Office Injects Nearly £6.5m in Devices as Part of Remote Working Drive

The Cabinet Office, the ministerial department coordinating and delivering government policies, has injected almost £6.5 million in remote working technology to enhance digital infrastructure and support flexible working.

The research was revealed under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, and analysed by the Parliament Street think tank, uncovering the investment in remote working devices by the department for the past three financial years.

A total of £6,411,133.30 was invested in remote working devices from April 2021 to April 2024, including laptops, tablets and phones.

Laptops accounted for 87 per cent of the overall expenditure, with the largest investment coming in FY21-22 to facilitate remote working follow the pandemic.

Tablets made up 12 per cent of the spending, while mobile phones were only 1 per cent of the spending. 

Sheila Flavell CBE, COO of FDM Group, commented: “Hybrid working is a positive solution to existing limitations and as our latest ‘Gen Z Research Whitepaper’ showcased that 75 per cent of the workforce prefer hybrid working. To achieve seamless hybrid working, not only do staff need the latest technology to meet demands, but they also need digital skills training to maximise the benefits of the technology . Introducing experiential learning is a great way to give people the hands-on experience to get comfortable with new technology and remain productive regardless of where they’re working.”

The role of the Cabinet Office is to support government development and implementation of policies, a task that requires seamless communication and efficiency, regardless of location, to deliver an excellent service.

Sachin Agrawal, Managing Director for Zoho UK, commented: “The Cabinet Office investing in remote devices to support work-from-anywhere is a welcome sight and should be an example for other organisations. This provides staff with the freedom to log-on from any location and remain productive, giving greater flexibility and allowing them to avoid crowded urban centres.”

“Alongside devices, it’s important that organisations invest in applications and tools that facilitate real-time communication and collaboration, creating a seamless employee experience whether they’re working from the office or from home. Investment in this technology will improve the overall employee experience and boost attraction and retention rates for staff due to the greater freedom and flexibility.”