New digital hub opens in Cootehill
Digital working hubs have the potential to change the way people work, according to a Cootehill man who has just opened a new hub in his home town, writes Michael Keaveny.
Ronan Kelly opened a new digital hub on the site of an old family barber shop.
Speaking at the launch on Monday afternoon, Ronan said: “I worked for Pfizer. There was no need for me to be in Dublin, I’d rather be at home in Cavan.
“The property was derelict and family owned so I thought, when Covid came and everyone was working from home, I thought that remote working could be the future. You could get just as much done as if you were in the office. So, for us now, it’s trying to just not have to go back to Dublin and try and bring the advantages of Dublin to the local community.”
Funding was made available to develop the hub as part of ConnectedHubs, through the Rural Development Plan.
“Connected Hubs is a network of digital hubs around Ireland, which is encouraging remote workers to stay and work in rural and local communities. It is part of Minister Humphreys Rural Development Plan,” he explained
This funding was essential to the project going ahead. “They’re not very viable. For me to put in this type of investment on its own, that would be would be very difficult. It’s a service to the community. People can stay locally, which can be of benefit to local businesses such as coffee shops, clothes shops etc.”
Ronan also hopes to create a space where people can come together and share creative ideas.
“I’m hoping to create an environment where people can think outside the box, where people from different companies, working in the same area, could be having a coffee and, all of a sudden, you know, you solve problems in different ways. It’s more of an innovation idea. It’s not just pure office space.”
Minister Heather Humphreys was also on hand to cut the ribbon. She spoke of the need to encourage more remote working to reduce long commutes and boost quality of life.
“We need to break down the barriers and the concerns of employers because their concern is, if they can’t see their employees working, then they must not be working. People face long commutes, which leads to stressful days and less time spent with families. Hubs can give a better quality of life and I believe that it will improve productivity in terms of what people can offer to their employer.”
As part of an incentive to encourage workers to use the hubs, the department of rural development launched the Connected Hubs Voucher Scheme, which will see remote workers receive three free vouchers at hubs across the country.