As previously reported, a number of initiatives are attempting to create an environment to promote and facilitate job creation. The Portershed, Galway’s first startup hub and the Ludgate@Skibbereen startup hub initiative, are two examples where actual premises are custom fit to attract new startup companies. Digital Dún Laoghaire is a twist on this approach where the concept is promoted around what is called a cluster – that is a group of companies that are actively engaged in a specific industry. In this instance it’s the digital space.
The chief goal of Digital Dún Laoghaire ‘is to build a strong cluster of digital companies in Dún Laoghaire for the innovation and urban regeneration that this will provide.’ The approach to focusing on the 60 or so existing companies is an interesting one. Freed from the requirement to furnish and maintain a dedicated incubation hub, the initiative can focus its efforts on helping the existing companies to reach their job creation targets, some 450 over the next two years.
The benefits to the local economy are obvious – 450 new workers that on a daily basis will make numerous trips to the town centre to avail of a range of local services.
The local council is a keen supporter of Digital Dún Laoghaire and points out that the location boasts office space at a fraction of Dublin city centre prices yet is only a 10 minute Dart ride from Grand Canal Dock.
The initiative is being managed by the Dún Laoghaire Business Improvement District and in a survey of the constituent companies, most were in agreement that being part of the cluster is good for recruitment in that it was sending the right messages to the market in terms of reassuring candidates that Dun Laogiahre is a good alternative to other city locations.
The chair of the entire operation and the plan to help facilitate the hiring of 450 jobs over two years is Anthony Quigley. In his other life, Anthony is the co-founder of the Digital Marketing Institute and with over 15,000 graduates under his belt, we can assume that Anthony knows a thing or two about building a brand.
We’ve been supplying accounting and invoicing software to businesses in the Dún Laoghaire area for over 20 years and we’re delighted with Digital Dún Laoghaire, and look forward to contributing to the cluster. With planned meetups and events we’ll contribute to the community as it’s only through active participation by of all the business community that the initiative will thrive.
