Remote working: a world of opportunities on your doorstep

The benefits to employers are clear. Not only are there significant cost savings on real estate and operating expenses – estimated to be a staggering $10,000 per employee, per year – but research suggests remote workers tend to be happier, healthier, more productive and are more likely to stay with the company.

I’m working with people from all different walks of life who I would never meet otherwise. We all have different backgrounds but we speak the same programming languages.

We spoke to Fred Yiga, a developer who works for UK-based tech company JustPark but still lives in his native Uganda.

“I started programming in 2017 and am mostly self-taught. Due to financial challenges I wasn’t able to go to university so when I saw the advert for Andela I knew it was a great opportunity for me. Andela partners with companies around the world to supply software engineers who are based across Africa.

“Right now I work with a team of people based in Lagos, Nairobi and London. I would say that’s the main advantage of this role: the exposure. I’m working with people from all different walks of life who I would never meet otherwise. We all have different backgrounds but we speak the same programming languages. We get to have an exchange of knowledge you’d never get elsewhere and I have made a lot of friends through work, some of whom I’ve never met face-to-face but I know I can ask them for help when I’m facing a new problem.”

I’m not limited to being in an office at a specific time. And I have complete control over what I want my career to be.

While remote workers save their employers a lot of money, there are also big financial incentives for them. It is estimated that by working from home full-time you can save as much as $7,000 a year on costs such as commuting, food, clothing and childcare. But cost saving is not the only reward for Fred.

“The best thing for me about my role is the flexibility. I can decide when I want to work, where I want to work – I’m not limited to being in an office at a specific time. And I have complete control over what I want my career to be. If I study the right things, manage my time well and deliver on my work then I have everything in my hands to make a successful career.”

As with any role, remote working has some challenges as well.

“Time management is very important,” Fred explained. “If I work from home I have to be tight on my time to make sure I achieve my work but also maintain a good work-life balance.”

The University of London’s flexible new BSc in Computer Science offers you the opportunity to develop core skills needed for successful remote working. You will be expected to complete group projects with colleagues based around the world, adapting your approach, managing your time and learning from each other to meet deadlines.

Companies just want the highest calibre staff, whether that talent is homegrown, or they look to other countries and continents to find it.

A global talent pool also offers real opportunities to improve diversity in the tech workforce. Melissa Dean has worked for a number of multinational companies and is now programme director at The AA.

She said: “Whether you look to India, where there is an extremely high calibre workforce specialised in back office IT systems, or to the Philippines or Africa, it makes business sense to source staff from these centres of excellence. Ultimately companies just want the highest calibre staff, whether that talent is homegrown, or they look to other countries and continents to find it.”

Prepare for a world of opportunities with the University of London’s BSc Computer Science degrees.