A new co-working hub opens in Edenderry

The authorities in Edenderry helped reduce commuting time through a new co-working space

Offaly is one of the 26 Irish counties and is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Ireland. In the east part of this county, you will find a small town called Edenderry with a population of a little bit above 5,000 people. Recently, the town has come under the spotlight thanks to a new co-working space called E-hive accommodated in the Edenderry Town Hall.

The commuters

Commuting is not something uncommon in Ireland. Every day, thousands of people travel to work every day. People like those living in Edenderry who may not have reliable public transport available all the time or do not have enough money to spend on a car and its maintenance, find it quite challenging to travel to work every day.

A survey was made not so long ago, which enquired commuters about their situation. The results showed that 53% of them do not feel happy about commuting and 42% said they have the possibility of a home office at least once per week. This survey was part of a bigger project to regenerate the town and was funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development. It also included a renovation of infrastructure and certain buildings.

A state-of-the-art solution

The problem was identified by Offaly Co. Co. and they created an approach that combines proximity, digitalization, and technology to give people an excellent co-working space with all the latest, up-to-date amenities one may need from an office. It was officially inaugurated by Minister Michael Ring at the end of 2019.

With the support of Town and Village Renewal Scheme funding, the town of Edenderry now has a brand new, state-of-the-art co-working space. It comprises of spacious open office area, a meeting room, telephone booths for the privacy of conversation, and comfortable kitchen facilities.

There are 16 desks, each equipped with a 27-inch screen for comfortable work. People can rent one monthly or on a day-to-day basis. In the first case, you will have 24-hour access and in the second -  Monday to Friday with standard working hours.

It is not only work and no play. There are a few relaxation areas and the bright colours of the interior contribute to the nice atmosphere this co-working hub creates. The people from Offaly Co. Co. comment that such areas in small towns help create an even better community. Caroline Spollen, Business Development Manager, says that people working from such a place can “meet people” and “share ideas”, “share knowledge” and “gain knowledge”.

Co-working spaces are becoming more and more popular across the world. With more distant jobs appearing every day, people will need similar co-working hubs in even the remotest parts of countries.