It's never too late to learn how to use the internet ...
With the continued advance of new technologies, working from home is a dream that is becoming a reality for more and more people. Thanks to the widespread availability of high speed broadband, anyone thinking of starting their own business from home can now do so with the same resources that would only have been available in the workplace a few years ago.
It is not only people living in the big cities who are enjoying the benefits of a superfast Internet connection; Carol Smith an IT teacher and computer troubleshooter, explains how she has been able to set up her own business from home in the rural countryside of the Herefordshire.
Living in the Herefordshire where tourism is the biggest local industry, Carol recently diversified her existing business into designing websites for local bed and breakfast establishments.
Using Wordpress, an online blog publishing application, to design the websites Carol also offers to train her clients on how to maintain and edit the site themselves. Her business also provides troubleshooting services and 'friendly computer training' - her speciality is making computing fun and accessible, especially for 'mature' learners:
"Most of my students are 60 plus. In fact, I have had several students in their 80s and even some in their 90s. I currently have a lady who is well into her 80s who is keen to learn how to use the internet to keep in touch with her grandchildren. Her sons bought her a laptop for Christmas however they were convinced she would never use it. She had never used a mouse before.
"I had a chat with her and found out she was a Mah Jong player. I found a Mah Jong shape matching game on her computer, although it's not the real game, she recognized the tiles. I left her playing that after the first lesson as this is a good way of practicing mouse control. A few days later I received an email from her son saying: 'Just to let you know that mum seems to have taken to the Mah Jong game and is pleased as to how much better her mouse skills are'.
"One of the big tricks with teaching older learners is not to teach them too much at once. I am confident that pretty soon she will be able to talk to her grandchildren on Skype, as long as we take one step at the time. It's never too late to learn how to use a computer. Computers have endless patience. They don't mind how long it takes you to learn to use them and the mental challenge is a good way of keeping your brain active".
Carol offers her clients private lessons in the comfort of their own home which is a very popular offer, especially among her older customers.
"Working in a business that operates online means that I can be more flexible, it allows me to do exactly the same work at home or in my client's home as in an office. Being self-employed is the only option for me as it gives me freedom to plan my own schedule. I couldn't do the job I do without reliable broadband and I couldn't live in an area with slow broadband because my work and ultimately the way I live my life would become impossible," says Carol.
The particular broadband service which enables Carol to run her working life more flexibly is provided by Nildram, one of the UK's leading and award-winning broadband service providers.
"I am totally dependent on reliable, high speed broadband provided by Nildram to build and design websites, without it, my business wouldn't be possible," Carol explains. "We receive broadband speed of up to 6Mb which is pretty good living in a rural village. I actually have the fastest and most reliable speed of anyone I know!
"I chose Nildram because it has received very good reviews. It also has a UK based business customer support centre which I find particularly important as my business relies on good customer support. So far I have been very happy with their service."
In summary, thanks to Nildram's high speed broadband she can work flexibly in her home and in the homes of those who may not be able to be as flexible. With Carol's business, there is no excuse! Anyone, no matter what age can learn how to use the internet!