LLYN Llech Owain has become a 'flexible working site' as part of the Welsh Government's remote working scheme.

Ministers have set a long-term ambition for 30 per cent of the Welsh workforce to work away from a traditional office, to be achieved by giving people more options and choice on their workplace.

Six flexible working sites in the Valleys Taskforce area are being supported through £500,000 in Welsh Government funding.

This includes giving people the opportunity to work close to local beauty spots and heritage sites, with spaces situated in the Discovery Gateway at Llyn Llech Owain Country Park, Gorslas.

More locations will be confirmed in the coming months and people are still being invited to suggest locations through an engagement exercise hosted by Commonplace.

Locations are also being made available for remote working in towns across Wales, giving people an alternative to working from home or working in a traditional office environment.

This ambition is intended to help town centres, reduce congestion and cut carbon emissions.

In the Swansea Valley area ‘Indycube’ are trialling turning underused office areas and community centres into community working spaces.

Employees and businesses are being invited to come forward if they would like to try working locally to where they live and rent space in order to provide more choice for their employees. Where applicable the desks are free for the period of the 12 month pilots which will be open when Covid restrictions allow.

Lee Waters, Deputy Economy and Transport Minister, said:“One of the lessons we’ve learned from the pandemic is that many people don’t want or need to be in a traditional office environment.

“Remote working can help people escape the commute and develop a better work-life balance. For businesses there’s a real opportunity to maintain and increase productivity while making their staff happier.

“We’re not approaching this looking for a one-size-fits-all solution. The locations will help develop evidence across a range of different circumstances and will help inform our thinking as the policy develops.

“I encourage businesses to grasp this opportunity and be part of the future of the Welsh workplace.”

Mike Scott – Indycube 2021 said: "Indycube has supported freelancers and remote-workers for over a decade. Our local coworking spaces help remote-workers out of the isolation of home-working, offering them easy access to shared space, reducing the need for travel while allowing people the opportunity to work together. Our mission is to make it easier for people to start and maintain Coworking locations where they live, and to help existing spaces like community centres offer new services to the growing numbers of home workers."