Press release
State of the art incubator hub for Tallaght launched by Tánaiste
From Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Published on
Last updated on
A new state-of-the-art, eco-positive facility geared to kick-starting new entrepreneurship in Tallaght was officially opened by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar today, Wednesday, 26 October.
‘The Edge’ located near Tallaght village and just off the M50, will provide 20 offices of different sizes, 12 dedicated desks, 20 hot-desks and sound-proof booths for zoom calls.
Key features include a ‘Black Box’ meeting facility with high-end technology for board meetings, podcasting, video production and theatre-style events. Solar panels, heat pumps and a heat recovery system with air exchange is designed to deliver carbon neutral heating and power.
The centre has been developed by Partas, a long-established social enterprise that has supported both private and social enterprise jobs across the broad Tallaght area since 1984.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said:
"It’s fantastic to officially open the Edge incubator hub here in Tallaght, which is aimed at start-ups and SMEs in South Dublin County. There’s a strong focus on innovation and creativity and the hope is to attract a new generation into business, including people just starting out on their careers.
"I am delighted that my own department has provided funding of almost €1.4 million for this exciting project through our Regional Enterprise Development Fund and Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme.
"Partas has redesigned the older enterprise centre to give it a fresh feel and to make the most of the available space. So there’s space for hotdesking and co-working, there are single private pods and multi-person units, and the hangout area in which we are launching this great facility.
"The Edge is conveniently located for the M50 corridor. I’m confident it has a very bright future and will be the launchpad for many bright careers."
Carol Gibbons, Divisional Manager and Head of Regions and Local Enterprise at Enterprise Ireland said:
"Strengthening enterprise development is a key focus for Enterprise Ireland, and we are proud to have supported the development of this new state-of-the art, sustainable facility through the Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) and the Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme (RETS).
"The Edge incubation hub will provide numerous start-ups and entrepreneurs with the space and support needed to thrive and prosper and, in turn, create employment opportunities. There is a real sense of enthusiasm and energy here today - I look forward to seeing the positive impact this new home of innovation will have in the community."
Partas CEO, John Kearns, recently appointed as expert advisor on social enterprise to the European Commission, said that:
"‘The Edge’ is “aimed at changing the face of how new business ventures are supported and encouraged, by combining established high-end entrepreneurship with start-up ventures and offering ‘gold-standard’ eco-positive facilities.
"The broader Tallaght area, which in the past has experienced high levels of unemployment and deprivation, is now a growing, vibrant and dynamic business centre. This development represents the cutting edge of this emerging entrepreneurial confidence of the area and its people."
Clients already on site include Alexandra Hambling - an interpreter for the Nordic Countries, who worked as interpreter for French President, Emmanuel Macron during the recent COP26 in Glasgow, translating from her office in The Edge via high-speed broadband.
The Echo newspaper, the only sold, audited local newspaper in Dublin with a distribution of 10,000 copies weekly, has also based its offices in The Edge.
Work on the centre, which also contains a boutique-style coffee lounge with local artisan food, began in 2020.
John Kearns says that The Edge is:
"a sustainable work haven powered by a community of self-driven individuals and change-makers under the management of Partas. Sustainability is one of its main pillars, to guarantee a low carbon footprint in the local community."
The Edge is situated on the new, almost complete Dodder Greenway. When complete it will stretch for over 17km, linking Sir John Rogerson’s Quay in Dublin City Centre to the entrance to the Bohernabreena reservoirs at Glenasmole, South Dublin.
Other businesses already on site include:
Cadent Sourcing Ltd provides Recruitment-as-a-Service and a fixed single price sourcing for all your open vacancies, presenting a candidate shortlist from which a number of staff can be hired with no added cost
Thrive Talent Ltd is a recruitment agency working in the area of technology.
InDigital Marketing is run by Curtis Harley Murray.
Home Hunter Report is a one-stop shop for property research, collecting information from over 15 different sources to take the complexity and effort out of property research for buyers.
Get House Survey.ie use their experience in product and software development to simplify the process of booking a survey for house buyers and connect them with the best surveyors in their area, meeting the requirements for all Irish banks and financial institutions for residential mortgages.
FS Recruitment was established with the sole focus of providing a best in class, efficient, effective and enjoyable staffing experience to employers and job-seekers within the financial services recruitment sector.