Rural remote working and coworking hubs: A win for enterprise, community and wellbeing
A research project led by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and University College Cork (UCC) has been exploring the potential for creating a national network of remote working hubs in Scotland, inspired by Ireland’s successful Connected Hubs initiative. Ireland’s Connected Hubs network, established in 2021, now supports nearly 400 hubs, contributing €1bn annually to local economies. These hubs, with strong government backing, not only offer workspace but also community services, reducing commuting needs and carbon emissions.
In Scotland, about 165 coworking hubs exist, with 42% located in rural areas. The research suggests that a national network could boost economic growth and social well-being in rural regions, following Ireland’s example. Ongoing initiatives will focus on building this network to support Scotland’s rural communities.
Today we have published a research briefing that presents the current state of play of coworking hubs in Ireland and Scotland, evidence of impact on rural communities, and outcomes of the research.
This research was funded by the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Royal Irish Academy through a Ireland–Scotland Bilateral Network Grant.
The research briefing can be read and downloaded here