Couple set to travel world while working remotely
12 cities in 12 months for Chris and Suzanne
A GLOBE-TROTTING Hinckley couple are set to work ‘remotely for the next year - from 12 cities across the world in a 35,000 mile adventure.
Chris Smith and Suzanne Walker are spending 2017 visiting far off places like Kuala Lumpar, Phnom Penh and Bogota.
But unlike most people with a passion to go travelling, they haven’t had to quit their fulltime careers.
Instead, bosses at Mattioli Woods are allowing them to keep their jobs – working their normal contracted hours via the internet in some of the world’s greatest cities.
Chris, 36, said: “We live in an age where technology means people no longer have to be tied to the office to get their work done each day.
“We might not always be working at the exact same time as our colleagues back in the UK because of different time zones. But we will always be contactable and, thanks to the digital age, we will have the means to fulfil our work duties just as though we were at our desks”.
The couple have jetted out to Mexico City on the first leg of the once-in-a-lifetime trip.
They will spend a month in each of the 12 locations, working remotely from serviced offices during the day and connecting with local cultures and business ecosystems.
They will reserve evenings, weekends and holidays for sightseeing and exploring.
Suzanne, 33, said: “Most tourists have to cram in so many things in a very short space of time. We won’t have that pressure, as we’ll have a month at each destination to fit in everything we want to do.
“It’s incredibly exciting to be the first people in the company to trial this arrangement. Everyone at work has been really supportive and positive about it”.
Technical specialist Suzanne and Chris, a senior customer relations manager, will join a party of more than 70 fellow professionals – known as ‘digital nomads’ - on an expedi- tion organised by USbased specialists Remote Year.
The company has put together a package including travel arrangements, accommodation and office facilities.
Suzanne added: “We will fly to each destination with the rest of the group and there is opportunity to meet up with them whenever we want to, but most of the time we’ll be doing our own thing and exploring the surroundings.”
Mattioli Woods’ chief people officer, Sara Andrews, said: “To retain key talent we sometimes have to make things happen that are outside our comfort zone.
“I am delighted that, as a business, we have been able to support Suzanne and Chris on the Remote Year programme, which enables them to combine work with their dream of travelling.
“We look forward to regular updates from their destinations, but also to see how effective and productive remote working can actually be.” Travel log – the couple’s itinerary January – Mexico City, Mexico
– Bogota, Colombia March – Medellin, Colombia April – Lima, Peru May – Cordoba, Argentina June – Buenos Aires, Argentina July – Prague, Czech Republic August – Belgrade, Serbia September – Valencia, Spain
October – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia November – Chiang Mai, Thailand December – Phnom Penh, Cambodia