Londoners Skipping the Office Today – 100,000+ Employees Embrace Remote Work

Move Over, 9‑to‑5: London’s Flex‑Crew Hits the Field

More than 100,000 Londoners are beating the clock today

Thanks to the Smarter Working Initiative, a crowd of over 100,000 employees from 120 different companies is embracing flexible hours across London. The launch was marked by the first day of the school summer holidays, giving parents a kick‑start to pick up their kids from school or drop them at extracurriculars—without being shackled to the usual office routine.

Big names leading the charge

RED Driving School – showing that even rides can be flexible.
Purplebricks.com – turning the estate business into a hybrid playground.
Orlebar Brown – proving that high‑fashion can adapt to modern work life.

By joining forces, these enterprises aim to prove that flexible work arrangements benefit both businesses and their teams, and help break the walls of a rigid 9‑to‑5 culture.

Why this matters – words from the mastermind

“Culture is the biggest barrier to flexibility,” says Jason Downes, Managing Director of Powwownow and founder of the initiative. “When you let people experience the real perks of free‑time, the magic of modern life shines through. The boring 9‑am–5 routine? Outdated and unproductive. Flexibility is the new normal.”