Remote office space hub available at Trim's Knightsbrook Hotel
Cllr Aisling Dempsey has secured office space within the Knightsbrook Hotel for people who require space to work remote from their offices. This will provide facilities for people who have had to work from home during the Covid-19 pandemic. A recent Institute of Directors survey has shown that 90 per cent of businesses expect working from home to remain a feature of work post Covid-19.
Cllr Dempsey said: "The Knightsbrook Hotel has generously converted a meeting room into a hot desk facility. Businesses are likely to encourage employees to work from home in future as social distancing measures become part of continuity planning. For employees, this will mean a blurring between the office and home and is not without challenges - not least little ones demanding to attend zoom meetings! The reality is that Meath people working remotely will need space, broadband, and facilities to enable them to work effectively. My survey together with last year's Commuter Survey shows a strong demand for spaces like this and I hope to build a network of these spaces across local businesses until a long term dedicated building can be sourced and funded."
Patrick Curran, general manager of Knightsbrook Hotel said: "We recognise the enormous pressure people are under whilst balancing family and career whilst working remotely, sometimes in tight spaces with poor broadband and no quality coffee! With childcare currently an issue, this balance can be impossible to achieve. We are very keen to offer spaces and facilities to those helping to keep the economy going."
The room contains four desks with appropriate social distancing and be available to remote workers from 8am until late. Tea and coffee will be provided free of charge in the morning. The lounge will be open to users all day for all beverage and food needs. Additional meeting space is available if required via the hotel. Broadband is provided.
Cllr Dempsey said: "Remote working hubs have been one of my main priorities since election last year. The reality is that Meath can make itself more attractive to business investment if we have more fully functioning hubs for employees. We don't have enough of these facilities and that's going to impact on our ability to provide quality jobs to Meath people.
"There are no council owned buildings available to provide the space in Trim currently so I will continue to work on delivering a remote working hub with the council and elected representatives, who too understand the pressures of commuting and work life balance. Meath County Council are fully supportive of delivering a remote working hub in Trim, and have provided some of the equipment for this hot desk facility.
"My recent ongoing survey has established that there is a demand for these hubs and spaces. I’d urge people to complete the survey as the results will inform how, where and when a hub in Trim is established - www.aislingdempsey.ie/surveys. The overwhelming majority of replies to the survey to date confirm that those of us remote working at present would like it to remain a feature of their work life going forward but the same number are unsure of what their employers opinion would be. I am encouraging those conversations to be undertaken soon.
"Users will have to register initially at a cost of €10 via hotel reception. There are no charges after this but desks will need to be booked on a daily basis, again via reception. We hope demand will exceed the supply over the initial three-month period Knightsbrook Hotel have agreed to provide the space to us. I would like to thank Knightsbrook sincerely for coming on board at cost to themselves despite their prolonged closure and wish them well on re-opening. They have recognised the need of remote workers at present as well as the long term benefits to keeping our one time commuters within our town."
Pictured above: Launching the Trim Business Hub at Knightsbrook Hotel were Cllr Aisling Dempsey, Des Foley of Meath County Council, Gary O'Meara of Meath Enterprise Board, Deirdre Healy, Meath County Council, and Patrick Curran, general manager, Knightsbrook Hotel and Golf Resort.