Remote working hubs in Offaly visited by Rural Community Network

A remote working hub in Tullamore was recently visited by the Rural Community Network (RCN).

RCN visited enterprise centres and remote working hubs within the ConnectedHubs.ie network and spoke with managers who shared their experiences of setting up and running their successful businesses such as Mary Hensey who is the Business Development Manager for e-Hive, Edenderry, and The Junction in Tullamore.

The Junction Tullamore and e-Hive Edenderry provide affordable offices and desks for start-ups, entrepreneurs, and those choosing to work close to home, all serviced with high-speed internet.

The hubs visited were the Hive (Carrick-on-Shannon), Mohill Enterprise Centre, The Spool Factory (Boyle), Ballinasloe Enterprise Centre; The Junction (Tullamore).

The Western Development Commission, which manages the nationwide ConnectedHubs.ie network, last week hosted a delegation from Northern Ireland who wish to learn about remote working policy and practice in rural Ireland.

The group included representatives from various governments and community groups such as Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, National Trust NI, Centre for Cross Border Studies, Department of Rural and Community Development, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and others.

Aidan Campbell, Policy Officer, Rural Community Network said, “Policy and practice in Northern Ireland are at an earlier stage compared to the Republic, where the development of policy and practical support arrangements has accompanied the roll-out of improved physical infrastructure and services."

"The two-day visit allowed us to learn more about the work of the Western Development Commission in supporting rural remote working and the policy environment in which this work is taking place, and to engage with and learn from practitioners in several remote working hubs."

"This will assist us as we begin to consider policy and practice implications for Northern Ireland.”

CEO Tomás Ó Síocháin said “The Western Development Commission was delighted to build cross-border relationships of this nature.”