Our world of work has been changed forever by Covid-19. 80% of us now favour a hybrid model, working remotely for a portion of the week and on-site for the rest, and many will never go back to the way things were before March 2020.
The Irish government has acted fast to open up funding for existing digital hub centres to provide support for small businesses, with this fund being open to both private and public hubs. It's a move in the right direction, bolstered by the National Association of Community Enterprise Centres, the Irish network organisation for hubs and community centres. Now all they need is the awareness and demand from these former commuters to ensure success.
What is a digital hub?
Digital Hubs are hives for remote-workers, an emerging job sector in itself, bolstered by support from the community organisation Grow Remote and the increase in availability and demand for remote working roles in Ireland. They provide a ready-made business community, help counteract the risks of individual remote worker isolation and loneliness and also have positive environmental benefits, as commuter journeys and carbon emissions are reduced.
For many of us, the pandemic has influenced our views on living and working. Many are now seeking to leave the big cities for a more regional or rural lifestyle. One of our authors, Maébh Coleman, has recently moved from Dublin to the west of Ireland and visited the Galway Technology Centre to research more about how to stop 'living at work' and move toward a more sustainable remote working model.
The Centre has been in existence since 1994 and affords the ultimate guide to developing an effective hub with shared ideation spaces, an onsite O’Briens café and a thriving startup scene where the energy is palpable and the welcome is warm. Many international companies work globally from the site and the facilities are excellent. State-of-the art learning and networking experiences are scheduled by the management team - there is even a yoga class for wellbeing.
The experience of working remotely from a hub while attending on-site was very real. The facilities and networking opportunities were outstanding. Because of Covid-19, safety measures surpass expectations on many levels. A company from the Centre, MedScan3D, provided anti-bacterial lightswitch covers using their innovative new technology. The hub is also enabling 'virtual office' space, where you can create your own blend of working from home and using the state-of-the-art affordances of the centre.