When people first started talking about coworking as a concept, it merely offered startups a cheaper alternative to expensive real estate. A decade from then, coworking spaces in Ireland are becoming the office of choice for corporates, startups, freelancers, and consultants from around the world.

In recent years, there has been a growing trend in the amount of employees and candidates seeking flexibility in the workplace. Coworking spaces in Ireland suit the change that’s inevitable. As compared to the rigid design of conventional offices, coworking provides a more open, dynamic, and easily accessible work environment. 

Whether startups or corporates, coworking spaces have become the primary choice of many businesses in Ireland. With more flexibility, better opportunities to collaborate, and cost-effectiveness, the coworking ecosystem in Ireland keeps getting stronger.

What’s Empowering Ireland’s Coworking Ecosystem?

In Ireland, coworking spaces are prevalent in all major cities, especially Dublin. From small spaces for tech startups to warehouse-sized complexes, Dublin has the perfect mix to encourage innovation and growth. 

In these offices of the future, freelancers, startup founders, and corporates rub shoulders, saving a good amount of money on real-estate while enjoying several other benefits. Instead of chasing leases and sorting paperwork, a simple subscription plan is enough to get started with work from a coworking space.

According to a report from Emergent Research and DeskMag.com, the number of people working from coworking spaces worldwide in 2010 was close to 20,000. In 2018, it crossed 1 million!

During this period, there has been exponential growth in the number of shared office spaces. Moreover, the sector is getting highly specialised with a steep rise in facilities, such as office supplies, common areas, networking events, and more.

Low up-front cost has always been the immediate lure of coworking spaces. Spending something between EUR 200 to EUR 700 can get you a desk or a private office space. However, the ability to work with like-minded people, community events, and necessities under one roof have become major draws for people and businesses interested in coworking.

Coworking Spaces in Ireland – A Growing Trend

The concept of coworking was first introduced by Brad Neuberg in 2005. Workplace Revolution, targeting freelancers and entrepreneurs, was highlighted by the New York Times. Inspired by Europe’s coffee houses in the 18th century, it was based around the ideals of collaboration, openness, and flexibility. 

It didn’t take long for the concept to become popular in the UK, Germany, Australia, India, and Ireland. According to Small Business Labs, the number of coworking spaces in 2018 reached 12,000. These vibrant and low-cost offices spaces house over 1 million SMEs, freelancers, and startups.

Though Ireland’s share of the global coworking market is relatively small, there has been significant growth backed by Government policy, investment opportunities, collaborations, and mentorship programs. In fact, one of the most prominent goals in the recent National Policy Statement on Entrepreneurship in Ireland has been the development and growth of coworking spaces across the country.

Not Just Work Desks and Chairs

Leading experts in the industry claim that networking is one of the most important aspects of a good coworking space. Shared office spaces like CoCreate keep this in mind while providing a good blend of facilities and services. Private meeting rooms, office registration, subscription plans, and other facilities go beyond the idea of an office with just desks and chairs.

The Community Factor

The secret to building a vibrant coworking space is all about a strong community. George Boyle, the Co-founder of Ireland’s most successful shared office brand, believes that like-minded people need to be clustered around a similar identity and ethos. 

A lot of companies are setting up coworking spaces in Ireland to make some money. Only the ones exuding shared principles and supporting the idea of collaboration will last long. Fortunately, Dublin has many such spaces, where people can engage, collaborate, learn, and inspire.

Customised to Different Requirements

It goes without saying that not all coworking spaces suit all businesses or people. Privacy is one of the most important aspects of an exclusive office. In a coworking environment, it’s important to focus on this aspect to customise offerings. 

Coworking spaces in Ireland haven’t adopted a generic culture, with each space offering something different in terms of ambience, facilities, subscriptions, and more. 

While most spaces target startups and freelancers, coworking spaces like CoCreate have been getting popular among corporates and SMEs. A private office, physical office location, mail archiving, and other such services have encouraged companies to skip the idea of a traditional workspace in favour of a dynamic work environment.

Unsurprisingly, Dublin is one of the most important hubs for the coworking revolution in Ireland. In the last couple of years, it has become home to a good number of shared office spaces. This number is only going to keep rising!

With passionate entrepreneurs, highly committed teams, and long leases from the Dublin City Council, the coworking ecosystem in Dublin has shown promising growth. In fact, Dublin has the potential to empower an already booming sector in Ireland.

According to the ‘Entrepreneurship in Ireland’ report, the number of shared office spaces has been increasing outside Dublin too. Given the encouragement from the Government, and the adoption of coworking spaces in Ireland, this relatively new ecosystem is here to stay and grow.