More start-up e-centres to be created

More start-up “cocoon centres” for businesses are to be created in Co Cork towns and villages — where a fully equipped office can be rented for just €50 a week.

Cork County Council opened its first enterprise incubation unit, or e-centre, in Charleville last year. The council has expanded the scheme to Macroom, Fermoy and Bantry with plans to create similar centres in Glanmire, Millstreet, Bandon, Kilnamartyra, Goleen and Clonakilty.

The council is also in talks with community groups in other parts of the county.

Funded by the local authority’s Economic Development Fund (EDF) new e-centres will be more sophisticated than the Charleville one, which has eight cocoon units.

Ger Power, who heads up the council’s EDF, said the council is working with community groups to find suitable vacant spaces in towns and villages which the owners would hand over for the initiative.

“We fund and kit out the units. They would have single individual desks, full IT and telephone facilities, meeting rooms and a break-out area. We also provide support for people working there,” Mr Power said.