The state of how we work forever changed in March after the pandemic forced millions of companies across the world to move employees to remote working positions.
Now, the Irish government is working to build funding for digital hub centers that would support small businesses during these unprecedented times. These digital hubs supported by the National Association of Community Enterprise Centers, the Irish network organization for hubs and community centers, would serve as a workspace for remote workers who are struggling with isolation and fatigue from their remote working arrangements.
These hubs focus on nurturing a sense of community by offering various facilities and events, such as meeting rooms, wellness seminars, collaboration spaces and much more. For instance, the Galway Technology Center features an onsite cafe, virtual office services, yoga classes and even implemented antibacterial light switch covers from MedScan3D, a company that worked out of the center.
Digital nomads and entrepreneurs aren’t the only users of these office spaces. Even large companies that operate completely remotely utilize these types of hubs for pop-up meetings and collaboration opportunities with one another.
“At an international conference last year, I encountered a digital nomad whose true passion was surfing, and he told me of his working holiday come surf trip along the Wild Atlantic Way,” said Rowena Henningan, author at RTÉ Ireland. “Surfing early in the morning and spending the rest of his days working remotely at various coworking locations in Donegal, Sligo, Galway and Clare meant that he could truly enjoy an unparalleled work/life balance.”