FLEXIBLE WORK IS the new normal. Arguably one of the only positive outcomes of the pandemic is that we now know the importance of having a sustainable work/life balance. Gone are the days when we’re chained to a desk promptly at 9am – in today’s economy employers know the importance of balance and that employees need the freedom to create a work environment that works for them. As the summer days stretch out ahead of us, where we work is just as important as how we work, that’s where Connected Hubs comes in. 

With over 350 hubs across Ireland, Connected Hubs is a game changer for people seeking to live life to the full while also maintaining their careers. By simply using the booking platform, ConnectedHubs.ie, you have the ability to find a desk anywhere in the country. This simple decision allows you to extend your holiday time by adding on some “working from a hub” days. 

If you’re coming from abroad this summer, or simply travelling within Ireland, availing of hubs means you can travel home sooner to spend more time with family and friends and stay longer after the break, crucially without having to take extra holiday leave. 

Whether it’s scenic locations you crave or a more urban backdrop, these hubs offer up unique opportunities for work flexibility and allows us to save up those annual leave days for what truly matters. If we were to look at Arklow Business Enterprise Centre as an example – with two convenient locations just off the M11, ABEC offers flexible and affordable office solutions that can also encourage business growth. Whether it’s an occasional hot desk, or a private self-contained office, ABEC has a solution for all business needs and with 24-hour access, super-fast broadband and EV charging facilities on-site, you’re covered on all fronts. 

As we head into the summer holidays, the kids are off school, and this can present a real problem for families across the country. How do they juggle their own careers while making valuable memories for their children over the summer months? Catherine McLaughlin, a tax consultant living and working in Dublin, uses the ABEC hub when staying in her family mobile home in Arklow during the holidays. Catherine explained to us why it’s a no-brainer for her family:

The coworking space at ABEC is ideal for me to work from when staying in the area.  The hub is easy to get to with plenty of parking and the space is quiet and airy, with excellent internet speed and a friendly reception/admin service.  I can get so much more done here than in my restricted space in the mobile with children running around!  The soundproof booth is really useful for the occasional Teams meeting or sensitive phone-call.

With its coastal location to the Garden of Ireland County, when it comes to scenic opportunities, ABEC is fortunate to offer up a wide variety of attractions for visitors, as hub manager Donal Murray explains:

Arklow has a huge amount of destinations on its doorstep,  including,  Glendalough and the Wicklow Way,  Avondale House and the Beyond The Trees Experience and The National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh.  Arklow is an ideal gate way to all of the attractions for a memorable holiday. It is spoilt with many beaches in particular the renowned blue flag beach of Brittas Bay. 

This is just one example of the many hubs across the country that people can visit. We all know that the way we work has changed – whether you’re a start up looking for a community, an SME who wants to work different, or an individual who longs for balance for you and your family, don’t give us those annual leave days and transform your work day with Connected Hubs. 

Connected Hubs is part of Our Rural Future – the Government of Ireland’s national policy for rural Ireland, which offers direct access to over 350 hubs in 26 counties.  Connected Hubs is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development.