ONE OF THE RECURRING topics during Irish OpenCoffee sessions in Limerick concerns serviced offices, hot desks and incubation spaces. Howard Doyle of Office Suites has carved out a template for this emerging sector. The idea plays well for laid-off executives who need to set up consultancies. The serviced space can start as an entire unused building that gets sliced into smaller spaces offered as short-term leases to individuals who often walk to the office from their homes. One-person offices rent for as little as €390 per month through OfficeSuites with broadband costing another €20 per month. Like the Greenhouse Incubator in Limerick, OfficeSuites offers connections to solicitors, accountants, web designers and life coaches. If Doyle's serviced space proves viable in locations like Blackrock, Malahide, Howth, Monkstown, and Dalkey, he may roll out similar spaces in Galway, Cork and Limerick. The idea plays nicely in an economy that is forcing 20% vacancy rates onto the Irish commercial property sector. It's highly unlikely that any of these serviced spaces will look like one of my first serviced spaces, found aboard a sailing ship like the one above left.Sent mail2blog using O2-Ireland Nokia E90 Typepad service in the rain under the Rock of Cashel.
Laura Noonan interviewed Howard Doyle in a "Beat the Recession" piece for the Irish Independent. Brian Keating of Shannon Develoment offers low-cost office space in Thurles. Evert Bopp promotes the Greenhouse Incubator in Limerick.
Bonus Link: The most open shared space I've found.
