RTÉ News measures up remote work at Laois hub in Portlaoise
RTÉ News picked Portlaoise for its latest venture outside Dublin 4 with the focus of its coverage remote working at hubs around the country.
Sharon Tobin anchored the Six One News on Friday, July 14 from The Cube on Towerhill - the Celtic tiger building that was falling into dereliction before a major Laois County Council-led refurbishment.
Ms Tobin interviewed Caroline Hoffman, Managing Director of The Cube and Yvonne Foy, Contract Training Officer with the Laois Offaly Education and Training Board.
Ms Tobin asked Ms Hoffman, who also represents Laois Chamber, if the commuting pattern of thousands of people driving to work in Dublin from Laois has changed.
“Absolutely, Covid-19 has shown everybody that there is so much on their doorstep here in Laois. I moved here five years ago for three reasons - the affordability of housing, connectivity and work-life balance.
“Not only do we have affordability of housing and new private housing, we also have affordability for businesses for example lower operational costs,” she said.
She also highlighted the connectivity of the county due to its proximity to main ports and airports because of the closeness to the motorway network.
Ms Hoffman said there are 'definitely fewer' people in their cars due to hybrid and remote working and getting involved in their local communities.
“We have seen that with local hubs. They revitalised town centres and increase footfall and that really benefits businesses.
As to whether there is enough support for remote working, Ms Hoffman said there has been a lot of Government investment in remote hubs. She cited Laois as an example saying there are remote hubs in every town in the county.
However, she suggested some improvements.
“What we do need to se is some incentives to encourage employees and employers to utilise these brilliant facilities,” she said.
Ms Hoffman added that hubs are not just about access about desks and high-speed internet but they are also community spaces with a host of services on site.
“I know from The Cube that we are very fortunate to have the support of Enterprise Ireland and Laois County Council who have given us funding and been visionary in terms of making this project happen.
“There is also EU funding to help revitalise derelict buildings. The Cube was derelict for over 15 years and now we have 80 staff working from here at various times,” she said.
Ms Tobin asked Ms Foy about what is involved in training people for remote working. She said LOETB has been involved in providing three types of remote working training modules with Solas, Grow Remote and the IDA.
She explained that these programmes are fully online and can help people who are starting to work remotely, progress their career remotely and lead teams remotely. She said they focus on collaboration, communication, remote work cultures. It's not just a case of sitting down at your kitchen table with your laptop,” she said.
Ms Foy added that the aim is to demystify remote working but also show that employment and progression options can be achieved by working outside the office.
She said LOETB has trained people in the HSE after the cyber attack, eBay staff as well as companies that are switching to remote operations.