Book The Spool Factory on ConnectedHubs.ie Here
“ConnectedHubs.ie is absolutely brilliant, it’s going to be a game changer for co-working hubs in my eyes” said Brian Nerney, the owner and operator at The Spool Factory co-working hub and events centre, County Roscommon. Brian continued, “People can book desks and spaces from all over, in all the hubs around Ireland. I think it’s very exciting and it’s a very exciting time to be involved in the co-working business”.
The Spool Factory was founded in 2017 after Brian felt the effects of isolation from home working while operating his website Boyletoday.com. That summer, he set about re-imaging the space and saw the need for a co-working hub in Boyle that could offer local people and new arrivals a place to thrive. “I was editing Boyletoday.com from my kitchen table but I was seeing nobody and meeting nobody and it wasn’t good and I knew that had to change,” recalls Brian, a self-confessed ‘people’s person.’ He had heard about the concept of remote working and after meeting Tracy Keogh of Grow Remote, he went and visited a number of Hubs for inspiration.
Since then, The Spool Factory has gone from strength to strength and Brian is grateful to have received funding from the Atlantic Economic Corridor (AEC) initiative and Western Development Commission to upgrade conferencing and technological facilities.
The Spool Factory will use ConnectedHubs.ie to attract both locals and visitors to Boyle to the co-working space. Already, it is home to up to 10 co-workers enjoying up to 1GB broadband, free parking and access to an instructor-led on site fitness centre called the Fitt Factory. They work remotely for Irish, US and UK-based businesses including banks, an animation company, a tour company and some multi-nationals.
Brian plans to add some additional ground floor private offices and short term rental private offices on the existing co working floor. The Event Centre is used for community and training events (when there are no Covid19 restrictions in place) and where people can network and meet like-minded individuals who may be working in Boyle and the surrounding region.
Brian has worked hard to ensure people stay connected at The Spool Factory – an important part of its ethos. “We have a monthly meeting that we call the ‘Network Factory’ for those who use the facilities of the Spool Factory and it takes place between 8am and 9am and it brings people together to network and meet. You need that sociability factor that provides the work/life balance.”
Brian’s outlook for the future, is very bright. “Boyle is on the cusp of major change. We have the beauty of Lough Key Forest Park nearby, we are just 30 minutes from Ireland West and there are daily trains to and from Dublin. The quality of life here is second to none. We have a nice small-town feel but there’s innovation too.”
ConnectedHubs.ie is a part of the Our Rural Future initiative by the Department of Rural and Community Development. The project is being delivered by the Western Development Commission.
