Around two-thirds of UK small business owners are likely to use their mobile devices for work purposes when not at work, according to recent research.

62 per cent of people who run a small business said that they would be ‘very likely’ or ‘fairly likely’ to access their mobile devices for actions such as checking emails and managing business data, in a study carried out by YouGov on behalf of FreeAgent.

Over 500 small businesses owners were surveyed, with 37 per cent saying they’d be ‘very likely’ to access their mobile phone, tablet or laptop for work purposes and 26 per cent said they would be ‘fairly likely’ to do so.

The results suggest that small business owners are increasingly taking on a ‘worliday’ mentality, where they are able to combine work and holiday, using mobile devices so that they can keep in touch with important business matters while on holiday.

FreeAgent’s CEO Ed Molyneux said: “Our research shows that there are a lot of small business owners who choose not to ‘switch off’ when they go on holiday, but that’s not necessarily bad news.

“For some of them, staying connected is actually likely to be an important way for them to keep on top of their business and ensure everything is in order, so they can actually take a holiday in the first place.

“Of course, it can be very beneficial to detach from work completely when you take a break – and it’s possible to do this by getting all of you admin done in advance, so that your business runs smoothly while you’re away. But not everyone who runs a small business will have the confidence to do this, as they may be worried about chasing invoices, paying bills and missing out on vital sales leads while they are on holiday.”