Hot-desks and high-speed broadband are just a few perks of working in Gorey’s new 5,000 sq ft Hatch Lab which opened in June.
The first in a range of ambitious projects to attract jobs and investment to Wexford became a reality in June with the opening of the 5,000 sq ft Hatch Lab by Cathaoirleach Cllr John Hegarty. Located on the M11 Business Campus in Gorey, the Hatch Lab offers incubation and co-working facilities for fledgling micro-enterprises within the innovation and technology sector.
The state-of-the-art facilities have been modelled on similar world-class innovation centres both in Ireland and abroad, with the result that clients and companies from across the south-east region who choose to locate in the Hatch Lab can enjoy services such as hot-desks, meeting space, joint administrative services and high-speed broadband within a unique co-working and start-up environment.
This world-class facility has been developed in a unique tri-party arrangement, with private investment by Redmond Brothers of Gorey, support from Bank of Ireland through a €1m partnership agreement over a 5-year period to provide people, events and marketing, while a lease by Wexford County Council of a portion of the building space provides assurance of financial return to the investors during the early years of the project. Cllr Hegarty said that the Hatch Lab is already enjoying “considerable success” and so far has hosted a number of exciting companies.
Tom Enright, Chief Executive of the Council added: “The Hatch Lab is one of a number of property solutions investments planned by Wexford County Council for each of our main towns. Just like our other property solutions, the Hatch Lab has been designed and constructed to meet the very high standards of today’s business investor. We fully expect that these new high-quality commercial office and manufacturing facilities, together with County Wexford’s other attractions of a skilled and talented workforce, affordable housing, enviable amenities, excellent motorway access and high quality of life, will encourage businesses to strongly consider Wexford as a viable and attractive option, when seeking a location for new investment or expansion of existing operations”.
Enniscorthy Enterprise and Technology Centre supplies the Hatch Lab with administration and operation services, while other supporting agencies include Wexford Local Enterprise Office, Enterprise Ireland, IDA, South East Business Innovation Centre, National Digital Research Centre, Gorey Chamber of Commerce and Guinness Enterprise Centre.
County Manager of Bank of Ireland JJ Keyes expressed his delight over partnering with Wexford County Council and Redmond Brothers. He said: “Bank of Ireland’s investment of dedicated staff, supported by a targeted marketing and promotion plan, amounts to almost €1 million over a 5 year period, and it has allowed the Hatch Lab to attract clients and be fully functional right from Day 1”.
The Hatch Lab is the first building in Wexford County Council’s ambitious property solutions development programme to come to fruition and is based in the first of three 36,000 sq ft buildings being developed by Redmond Construction in the brand new M11 Business Campus in Gorey town. In response to strong interest, plans are being developed to extend the space by another 5,000 sq feet to include private office space for small teams of 4-6 people.
