"Think about the economic impact if thousands of commuters" worked in Laois

Laois and other counties would benefit from a huge economic boost if the thousands of commuters did not have to leave the county each day for work, according to the organisers of a conference to be held in the county this summer.

Portlaoise is host Ireland's first national Remote Work conference. Described as "vibrant" by the organisers, they note the huge number of commuters who leave Laois daily for work.

"Every morning in County Laois 11,500 people leave their homes, get into their cars, onto buses or trains to commute to work in places like Dublin and Kildare. Imagine the impact if they could stay and work in Laois instead. 

Joanne Mangan is the Remote Transformation Manager at Grow Remote, the social enterprise organisation behind the conference. 

"The vibrant town of Portlaoise is the perfect place to hold our national remote work conference. We are so grateful for the support and warm welcome we have received from the local community and we want to do our part in showcasing everything the Midlands has to offer. Ireland’s Midlands could become the centre for remote work in Ireland," she said.

"Think about the economic impact if thousands of commuters could work locally instead and spend their money in local coffee shops and restaurants. Think about the environmental impact if they did not have to travel by car, bus and rail every day. And think about the social impact if they could spend more time with friends and family, or in their local community, rather than spending it on the road to work. 

"Remote work opens up thousands of new job opportunities for people in the Midlands. 

"According to the CSO, the Midlands is the lowest region in terms of disposable income. Making remote working opportunities visible and accessible to people in the Midlands could be the most effective way of closing this gap. With the ever-growing number of remote working opportunities, the old phrase ‘there are no jobs here’ is no longer the  reality. 

"With a talented, young, educated and multilingual population there is a great pool of talent in the Midlands for companies who hire remotely. 

"Remote work means people are no longer restricted in where they live and since the pandemic 10% of remote workers in Ireland have relocated to other parts of the country and many more have expressed a desire to relocate. The Midlands is a very attractive location for remote workers as they can enjoy a great quality of life, lower prices for housing and childcare, in an accessible and central part of the country. 

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"The Midlands is an ideal place for remote company retreats with its proximity to Dublin airport, accessibility by road and rail, and the many attractions and amenities that Ireland’s ‘hidden heartlands’ have to offer. These company retreats are often held off-season, a great potential source of tourism income during traditionally quiet times of the year," Ms Mangan said.

The Grow Remote Summit 2023 takes place on June 8 and 9, based at the Music Generation Laois hub.

It will have a host of industry speakers. It also will feature a remote recruitment fair, a technology & ecosystem expo, a connection and collaboration space and and a festival trail in Portlaoise.