BOURNEMOUTH has been declared one of the UK’s top “Zoom towns” by research naming it a hotspot for remote and hybrid working.

Recruitment platform Indeed worked with Zoom, the video conferencing service, to identify the areas that had seen the biggest growth in remote working opportunities since the start of the pandemic.

Bournemouth was 14th on a list of towns where job adverts offering remote working had more than tripled as well as growing at a faster pace than the local jobs market.

Another coastal resort, Worthing, topped the table with a 650 per cent growth in remote working opportunities compared with a 50 per cent rise in jobs overall.

The rest of the top 10 consisted of Burnley, Stoke, Southend, Dundee, Plymouth, Edinburgh, Bristol and Manchester, while Bournemouth outstripped the likes of Cardiff, Liverpool, and Newcastle. London lagged behind in 22nd place.

Phil Perry, Zoom's head of UK and Europe, the Middle East and Africa North, said: “The UK has the potential to be a global leader in hybrid working, and Indeed’s data shows how greater access to remote roles is already helping to drive growth in overall opportunities across the country.

“During the pandemic, adoption of video conferencing tools like Zoom by SMEs was higher in the UK than in any other G7 country, and we are now beginning to see how greater availability of hybrid roles is expanding opportunity in areas outside of London and the South East.

“This underlines the vital role hybrid technologies can play in levelling up the country, and getting the conditions right now will help the UK reap long-term economic benefits.”

Jack Kennedy, UK economist at Indeed, said: “The increased availability of remote and hybrid options across the UK is a boon for workers, giving them much greater choice over where they live and work.

“It’s particularly important for those who want or need flexibility to accommodate their commitments outside of work. Employers benefit in being able to widen geographic access to talent and accommodate workers who would otherwise face barriers, which is especially valuable in a tight labour market. Moreover, being able to offer employees better work-life balance means organisations can reap the benefits of a happier and more productive workforce.”