BRITISH Telecom says company cars will remain an essential business tool despite launching a project to enable thousands of its staff to work from home. The company is offering all its office-based staff grants averaging about £650 to allow them to equip themselves for 'home-working' in a response, BT says, to employee demand, and a wish to reduce commuting time and costs.

Many of those affected are London-based, but the offer will also apply to those working in BT's offices across the UK. They will be offered advice on their suitability to work from home and also on the most appropriate technology to invest in. BT expects about 7,500 volunteers to be working from home by March next year as part of project Operation 2000 and it is hoped that many of its 75,000 office-based staff will take up the offer. However, the company insists this move will not impact on its 16,500-strong company car fleet.

A spokesman said: 'It's not an issue. The employee's job will remain the same and the need for the company vehicle will remain, be it to visit customers, clients or suppliers. Only, instead of travelling to work and then on to a meeting, they will go straight from home.'