Cork County Council aims to aid more start-up businesses

Cork County Council is looking at creating more centres for start-up businesses following the success of its hot-desking facilities around the county.

Louis Duffy, head of the local authority’s economic development unit, said that seven centres set up by the council had proved very popular with one-person businesses, many of which were now expanding.

The council has set up the centres in Fermoy, Bantry, Charleville, Millstreet, Bandon, Mizen Head, and Bere Island.

The so-called e-centres are predominantly manned by people using their own computers for start-up projects. There are up to 16 desks in some centres and people share a communal office space.

Mr Duffy said the clients appreciate this because it offers them company rather than being on their own.

He said that occupancy rates at the centres have been very good and some of the start-up operations have grown so much that the council is now looking to provide them with their own centres.

“We are currently in the process of reviewing operational aspects of the project, with particular emphasis on requests by a number of other towns seeking support to establish e-Centres,” the economic development unit boss said.

“We will ultimately review the offerings in light of the demand for own door offices in preference to hot desks, in certain locations.”

The council is providing e-centres from its own resources, or in conjunction with community groups and Local Enterprise Offices.