Flexible working is changing the way that we do business. This year the right to request it was extended to anyone who has worked at an enterprise for more than 26 weeks. And thanks to cloud computing, small business owners can benefit from a more flexible workforce.

While free tools allow SMEs to collaborate with customers, employees and external service providers in a quick, straightforward way, the sheer number of cloud-based services on offer may seem daunting to business owners. Just how do you set up an effective remote working system? What do you need to be wary of and how do you prepare staff for the change?

Technology will play a key role in the growth of small businesses, enabling enterprises to scale up, and offering easy access to outsourcing opportunities. Are you prepared to make the most of the latest digital innovations or are you still running shy?

This Q&A will look at how small businesses can use cloud computing to enable flexible working, with advice from a panel of experts and businesses. We’ll discuss the most effective tools and trends and the methods available to small business owners to manage their staff. Post your questions in the comments section below, tweet us at @GdnSmallBiz or join us live between 1pm and 2.30pm on Thursday 30 October to chat directly with our panel.

Our panel

James Schmidt is the director of partner product management, EMEA consumer and mobile, at McAfee, where he leads a team of implementation and product management specialists

Ben Threlfall is the director of telco and mobility channels - EMEA for Box, where he is responsible for creating and developing telecoms partnerships across EMEA

Sarah Lafferty is co-founder and director of Round Earth Consulting, a PR and communications consultancy for pre-IPO enterprise software companies, that runs completely on cloud software

Michael Smith is co-founder and director of technology service provider, Appamondo, which helps SMEs make the transition from desktop to cloud

David Barker founded 4D Hosting aged 14. Today it is an award-winning colocation, connectivity and cloud provider

Benjamin Dyer, the CEO of Powered Now, works on the move and has a virtual team. The business’s web app is designed to help field-based tradesmen streamline their paperwork and get paid faster

Ian Tomlinson is the founder and CEO of Cybertill, a cloud-based EPoS system for retailers

Kelly Bains is the director of Sensée Ltd, a virtual contact centre outsourcer. He has appeared on BBC radio to discuss the impact of the BPO industry on UK jobs and the benefits of homeworking

Neil Thomas is a product director at Claranet, where he has responsibility for the company’s product strategy, product marketing and product development, including the development of the company’s portfolio for cloud

John Davis is the managing director at BCSG, a cloud service provider for financial institutions and telecoms companies. He was previously MD at Barclays Business and head of business development at BSkyB

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This content has been sponsored by O2 Business, whose brand it displays. All content is editorially independent.

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