Ireland is experiencing phenomenal innovative growth right now. The future of work is well and truly upon us and technological advances mean startups are sprouting all over the country, big businesses are opening their own innovation hubs and global tech companies are bedding down here.
But it’s not all rosy in the garden. The hyper-development of Silicon Docks has increased already sky-high rents in the city centre, as talent migrates to where the roles seem most concentrated.
Another effect of Dublin’s over-development is on the regional towns in the rest of the country. A study from University College Cork (UCC) earlier this year highlighted the 10 towns in Ireland that were most at risk of automation, with Edgeworthstown in Longford being the most at risk. Other towns featured on this list included Ballyjamesduff in Cavan, Carrick-on-Suir in Tipperary and Portlaw in Waterford.
However, RECRUITERS director Jane Gormley said that while Dublin and other key cities in Ireland remain the largest recruitment areas, associated costs of living there are a huge challenge. “In our own experience, we are seeing a major push from senior candidates looking for career moves in the regions. There needs to be a heightened awareness from employers, investors and entrepreneurs that there are huge benefits to enabling operations to move outside the capital,” she said.
“The regions still need significant support, and the ‘Dublin boom’ isn’t necessarily being experienced by many smaller towns around Ireland. There are ways though to outsmart the situation in the capital, and optimise what’s available to us all outside the densely populated urban areas.”
With this in mind, Tangent, Trinity’s Ideas Workspace have developed a new innovation and enterprise development course, which is specifically designed to be available in a number of regions across the country. In fact, with the course running in Longford, Cavan, Tipperary and Waterford, Tangent is directly addressing the concerns raised by the UCC study.
Bringing this course to regional towns will give local businesses the ability to upskill their staff. “The key challenge to business is attracting and retaining staff,” said Gormley. “This can be changed and eased with clever investment and organic growth of new businesses.”
Gormley added that upskilling and training in innovation and entrepreneurial development is crucial to retain agile, fresh, engaged team members. “Also, for those people looking to create with a new product, business idea or even relaunch something within an existing organisation, we need to exercise innovation.”
The programme will commence in September 2019 with a total of 80 places available – 20 spaces in each region. A fee of €300 applies to those in employment. To apply or for more information on the programme click here.
By Andrew Sheehan
Andrew Shehan is the Marketing Manager of RECRUITERS
Landscape photo by Nils Nedel on Unsplash
