Mitchelstown and Cobh get new remote working hubs

By Peter McCarthy, Corkman

Businesses based in east or north Cork or people working remotely there will now be able to avail of new flexible work hubs in the towns of Mitchelstown and Cobh.

The Mitchelstown hub is located above the library in the heart of the town. It has 36 desk spaces, including hot desks, a large office with space for 10 people, several smaller offices and a meeting room. It's open for use 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Cobh hub has 15 desk spaces and three offices for two or three people. It's co-located with Cobh Library in the Arch Building on Casement Square, a historic building that dates back to the early 1800s and which was a former market house and town hall.

The two hubs were co-funded by the Department of Rural & Community Development under the Town & Village Renewal Scheme and by Cork County Council. There are now 387 remote working hubs in Ireland as part of the Connected Hubs network, including 39 in County Cork.

Speaking at the opening, Cork South-Central TD and Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Jerry Buttimer, said remote working hubs help to enhance local economies and revitalise communities by offering diverse services to remote workers, SMEs, and start-ups.

"These hubs are essential in promoting sustainable, flexible work options. They can also increase productivity, help to improve collaboration and create networking opportunities as well as saving money for businesses and their employees," he said.

“The flexible work hubs are a wonderful addition to the town centres, providing working facilities and private offices for the local communities. The new hubs will significantly enhance the local capacity to start, expand and scale enterprises. In North Cork, the hub will complement the fantastic work being done by the Mitchelstown Enterprise Centre," said Mayor of Cork, Cllr Joe Carroll.

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Moira Murrell, said the hubs will contribute to vibrant and inclusive local economies by nurturing an ecosystem and offering workers the freedom to choose where they live and work.

"These initiatives can have a positive impact on personal and family lives, as well as promoting economic growth and fostering opportunities for sustainable development,” she said.

Daily, weekly and monthly rentals of the hubs are available. Enquiries and reservations for a desk or office can be made on the Connected Hubs website www.connectedhubs.ie