Good base for e-working and telecommuting in West Cork

By Frank O Donovan Saturday June 5th, 2010

TRADE and Innovation Minister Batt O’Keeffe this week launched a new report that examines the potential for e-working and telecommuting in the West Cork region, along with its benefits for individuals and the community at large.

The report was initiated by the West Cork Development Partnership, in conjunction with the West Cork Technology Task Force. International consultants PA Consulting was asked to undertake the review of the region’s suitability to host and develop new flexible forms of working made possible by new technology and the local broadband infrastructure.

The comprehensive report – which is available to download free of charge at www.wcdp.ie – examines the West Cork region’s suitability and capacity in terms of:

• The potential of e-working and telecommuting as well as the tasks and work types that can be enabled by technology.

• An analysis of the available broadband mapped by location and type.

• The productivity and financial benefits as well as work/life, environmental and

wider socio-economic benefits.

• E-worker skill sets, roles, availability and qualifications.

• The development of an e-worker environment, including recommendations for support and implementation

Drawing from the experiences of a number of West Cork enterprises that facilitate e-working, the report also cites case studies which show the successful development of e-working initiatives in Spain, Wales and England. It also presents sample work policies that would help employers to promote this practice among its employees.

Speaking at the launch in Macroom on Monday Ian Dempsey, CEO, West Cork Development Partnership said the application of new and emerging technologies must be harnessed effectively if a remote, rural region such as West Cork is to share fully the potential economic and social gains.

‘The report is a further step towards this goal and builds on our previous support for the development and marketing of the West Cork Technology Park and our involvement in the West Cork Technology Task Force and forms a considerable element of our current enterprise development strategy for the West Cork region.

‘I believe that at a time of considerable change and uncertainty, the report represents a unique opportunity to consider how the region might develop for the future. It offers local stakeholders an opportunity to consider how innovative strategies, new business models and skills can be developed to create diverse, sustainable economies, build local entrepreneurial capacity and enhance social and cultural capital in the region,’ he said.

Kevin Moloney, of PA Consulting, outlined the main points of the report in a presentation to the gathering.

In his address, Minister O’Keeffe commended West Cork Development Partnership for initiating the study, which is very much in keeping with the vision statement for WCDP in providing sustainable development that will lead to prosperity in the West Cork region.

‘We all know the difficult times we are in, rural areas can sometimes feel the brunt of recession more than urban areas, so it is important that we look at innovative ways to encourage and advance rural development in regions like West Cork,’ he said.

He added that it was a very comprehensive report that looked at all of the relevant issues in terms of the potential of e-working and the types of work and tasks that are suitable, the potential benefits and what skills are required by e-workers and, of course, broadband availability.

The National Broadband Scheme is a key component of the Government’s communications policy. ‘The scheme aims to provide affordable, scaleable broadband services to areas where the service is not adequate. I’m very conscious of the need for a good broadband service for businesses all over the country, particularly in the context of supporting regional development.’

He said e-working holds many benefits for the employee, the employer and also for the wider community. ‘I’m glad to see from the report that e-working is alive and well in West Cork. You would expect to see many e-workers associated with ICT-type businesses, but I was fascinated to see the wide range of businesses that are supported by eWorkers in the area – from shipping to transport to the creative arts. There is a good base already here - which we can build on and learn from.’