Glandore unveils 300 more desk spaces in €1.5m Cork expansion
Originally published in The Sunday Business Post on 17.02.19
Tanaiste commends Glandore for encouraging FDI and helping to meet the needs of growing businesses. Flexible workspace provider Glandore last week opened a new co-working space in Cork city. Headquartered in Dublin, the firm has invested €1.5 million in its new flexible office and co-working space at City Quarter at Lapps Quay in Cork city centre. Last week, it opened additional office space to the 1,672 square metres it launched at City Quarter last autumn.
A family-run business established in 2001, Glandore is one of the largest providers of flexible workspace in the country. The additional 300 desk spaces at City Quarter bring the company’s capacity to almost 3,000 desks, across nine locations in Cork, Dublin and Belfast.
The new offices are laid out over two floors, with capacity for more than 300 desks of flexible workspace, co-working and private office space as well as social, meeting and event space to meet the growing demand in Cork.
Officially opening the new offices, An Tánaiste Simon Coveney, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, welcomed the new work spaces.
Coveney said: “The choice of Cork city for Glandore’s latest flexible office space expansion and investment is a key part of ensuring that spaces such as these drive Ireland’s foreign direct investment growth. I commend Glandore for contributing to Cork’s business ecosystem, and their new offices in City Quarter will greatly help to meet the needs of growing businesses in Ireland.
“Some of Ireland’s most dynamic and celebrated multinationals began their life in Glandore’s workspaces, including Facebook, Twitter, Dropbox and current members here in Cork, Park Place Technologies.”
Glandore encourages collaboration and connections between members. It offers a range of facilities and services, such as a complementary wellness programme, access to a range of onsite events including business advisory and learning and development seminars, as well as workshops, and social and networking events.
Part of Glandore’s MO is to help members to expand their networks with the wider business community, including Glandore alumni, who will become business mentors and potential investors if particular start-ups catch their attention.
Founder Michael Kelly, who runs the business with daughters Clare and Rebecca, said: “As our company name suggests, we have always had a love for Cork, having spent many family holidays in west Cork.
“In terms of business, it has been our vision to bring our experience, professionalism, care and hospitality to local and international firms seeking a base outside Dublin, and Cork was the natural location for our expansion – it is set to become the fastest growing city in Ireland over the next 20 years.
“We can also attest to Cork’s accolade as one of the friendliest places in the world – we have been given such a warm and supportive welcome by the local community.”
In 2017, an estimated 1.2 million people worldwide were co-working in nearly 14,000 spaces, and this is set to reach four million by 2020.
This trend is matched in Ireland, where Glandore has seen many member companies grow from a one-person operation to a staff of more than 70 without having to move.
Mick Finn, Lord Mayor of Cork, said: “The opening of Glandore’s newest office and co-working space is a welcome addition to Cork city’s docklands area. Glandore is a dynamic, innovative, flexible workspace provider, and their first Cork location reflects the growing investment to entice start-ups, SMEs and multinational companies to the area.
“Since opening, a number of new businesses have located in the heart of Cork, bringing jobs and vibrancy to the city. This expansion is a real, tangible vote of confidence in Cork.”
A Glandore Cork member, Dillon Burke, the operations manager at Park PlaceTechnologies, said: “In November we announced we were setting up our new EMEA operations headquarters in Cork, and Glandore at City Quarter has provided the perfect space and strategic location for our expansion.
The flexibility Glandore provides means that we have been able to scale as needed, and has greatly assisted in building out a fantastic team in Ireland, alongside the terrific talent pool that Cork City has to offer. We couldn’t have wished for a better start in Cork.”
Glandore offers an immediate set up from €75 per month for co-working community desk memberships, hot desks from €300 per month or €370 per month for use in all Glandore locations across Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Dedicated desks are available from €400 per month and private office space prices vary and are available upon request.