Coworking solutions are being considered as a viable way to benefit rural communities and promote economic development in Scotland.
The Scotsman reports the country is taking inspiration from Ireland’s thriving coworking hub scene to revitalize rural communities. It’s reported that Ireland’s Connected Hubs network contributes an estimated €1 billion annually to local economies.
A research project led by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), in collaboration with University College Cork (UCC), has determined a plan for Scotland, influenced by Ireland’s Connected Hubs network.
“While Scotland faces many similar rural challenges to Ireland — such as depopulation, maintaining rural services for a local community, challenges from tourism and shortage of affordable housing — no network of remote working spaces exists in Scotland, and professional work opportunities remain centralized in major cities,” said Anna Sellars, Senior Consultant with SRUC.
The plan aims to establish a similar professional network promoting remote work hubs that could reduce commutes and overall emissions, drive development in rural economies, and offer essential community services beyond the standard business use-cases.
Insights from SRUC’s research are set to inform ongoing and future initiatives in Scotland supporting the development of additional coworking spaces in rural communities.
The program is jointly funded by the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Royal Irish Academy through the Bilateral Network Grants, and seeks to address rural challenges such as depopulation, inadequate service provision, and an aging population.
“Ireland’s approach has shown us that greater connection between rural hubs can be hugely beneficial for areas of the country that are challenged by depopulation,” said Sellars.
It’s reported that as of July 2024, Scotland had around 165 coworking and community hubs across the country — primarily catering to knowledge-based, service, and creative industries. Approximately 42% of these work hubs are located within rural areas, compared to greater concentrations of privately owned hubs in urban centers like Glasgow and Edinburgh.
With the rise of hybrid and remote work environments globally, these hubs could decentralize professional opportunities that are traditionally confined to larger city centers. By allowing professionals to work from rural areas, coworking hubs and flexible work environments reduce the need for commuting to cities, allowing people to live and work locally.
Additionally, these hubs could help establish collaborations and partnerships between rural and urban workforces — creating more equitable access to professional opportunities while promoting economic development.
As Scotland takes steps toward this ambitious plan, the hope is that establishing a national network of coworking hubs could help bridge the gap between rural and urban areas — promoting regional development and offering new opportunities for economic growth. These initiatives could inspire other countries to launch similar economic development strategies.
