In today’s fast-changing work environment, regional remote offices are emerging as a smart solution for businesses aiming to balance employee satisfaction with operational efficiency.
For large companies, the town of Omagh in Northern Ireland offers a unique opportunity to establish a regional base that adopts happier, more engaged employees while reducing costs.
With shorter commutes, a rich pool of local talent, and a close-knit community atmosphere, Omagh is perfectly positioned to support your workforce and business goals. In this blog, we’ll explore how a regional remote office in Omagh can help your company thrive.
Sean Donnelly, Technical Services Manager for Graham Facilities Management who is based in Omagh Enterprise Coworking space shares his experience.
I am responsible for the day to day running of an M&E Contract with Northern Ireland Water. Graham FM have been servicing this contract for the past 8 years and last July retained it for another 5 years. There are 40 engineers working right across NI on sites as varied as small pumping stations on the side of the road right up to multimillion-pound treatment plants.
I started working remotely in June 2017, initially for 2 days a week. Since Covid however I’ve been working remotely every day.
When I was commuting, it was adding 3 hours to my working day, which is an additional 15hrs per week! Its now reduced to 1.5hrs per week. Once I found out OEC had a coworking space, it was the perfect solution for me.
Working from home can be difficult especially if you don’t have the space for a designated working area – its difficult to concentrate while family life is happening all around you.
Using the coworking space means that there is a clear distinction between work-life and home-life that is sometimes absent when working from home. Having such a clear distinction between the two in my opinion is very important.
What I also really enjoy is the opportunity to have a chat and a cuppa with people that work in different sectors. Although they might not have experience in my line of work, quite often advice or opinions on something is totally transferrable. Contrast that from working from home where quite often I had no face-to-face interaction with anyone for days. Working in OEC has provided great opportunities to connect with professionals through social events and casual interactions.
The need for childcare is also reduced. I can plan my day around appointments and family commitments much more easily.
I would recommend this coworking space for its productive environment, networking opportunities, flexibility and access to essential amenities. It’s a friendly and productive space that promotes focus, creativity, and professional connections.
Ronan McGurren, Program Manager – Spatial Data Analytics & Engineering for Here Technologies. Ronan has a private office in Omagh Enterprise and he shares his experiences of working for a global company in a local office.
I’m a Program Manager at HERE Technologies, the world’s leading mapping and location intelligence company. We set the standard for automotive-grade maps, serving leading automakers, logistics firms, mobility providers, and technology brands.
My role is all about connecting people, processes, and systems to ensure the seamless ingestion and conflation of map data. In short, I align and coordinate teams across the world to deliver the best possible map data solutions to our customers.
I have been working remotely since 2019, right before the pandemic.
The reason I choose Omagh Enterprise – Working from home certainly has its perks but it can be hard to draw a line between work life and homelife. With the laptop always within reach, I was found myself working longer than necessary.
Another big one for me is the OEC internet connection, whilst it is decent at home, it let me down too often. Less than ideal when you are in the middle of a meeting.
Also, I could only blame the kids for eating the chocolate digestives for so long, at least here I have my own stash!
Working from home compared to commute – I work virtually with colleagues from all over the world… multiple time zones with packed calendars… OEC is a short drive from home, so I can jump on an early call from the house, then nip into the office for the rest of the day
It has eliminated that locked-in commute we have all suffered, and so many still endure. It just eats up your day, and I am grateful to have cut that out. Plus, with the kids now at school in town, it’s nice to be close, and available to nip out for lifts, parent teacher meetings etc.
The biggest advantage to working in a satellite office, aside from the flexibility, is the structure. I start and end my workday properly, without the blurring the lines with home life too much. The reliable internet is a big one as well, oh and the café on site means on the days I forget my lunch or have back to back calls (both things happen a lot) I don’t go hungry!
With regards to productivity, I have noticed a difference. With the structure working in OEC brings, I am motivated to stay organised, I plan my day much better. There is also that sense of being in a professional environment, it helps me to ‘tune in’ and focus.
At home, there’s always that temptation to log back in for a quick check of emails—which quickly turns into two hours of work. At OEC, when I pack up, my workday is for the most part done.
I have also found myself more likely to fit in some exercise before I get back to the house and plonk myself down on the sofa for the evening.
Managing family and commitments is much easier too. Being closer to home means I can step out if needed, whether it’s picking up the kids, running a quick errand, or dealing with a last-minute appointment—without it disrupting my workday. The flexibility is great.
I’ve also had the opportunity to meet other professional in OEC. There’s a nice mix of remote workers and small business owners, so you get to meet people from different industries. Sometimes it’s just a quick chat in the corridor, but it’s a refreshing change from only talking to people on video calls all day!
It’s a great space to interact with others without doubt – If you’re working remotely but don’t want to be stuck at home all the time, it’s the perfect solution. You get a professional space, flexibility, and the chance to interact with others—all without the hassle of a hectic commute.
Storm Eowyn really brought it home how beneficial it is to work from OEC. No electric for days and still no internet at home…. I would not have been able to do my job without OEC.
Summing up working in OEC in one sentence I’d say – Have you seen Severance on Apple TV? It’s a bit like that….I am kidding, of course.
By establishing a regional remote office in Omagh, large companies can access a wealth of benefits—from happier, more productive employees to easier recruitment and significant cost savings.
Omagh Enterprise offers the perfect balance of affordability, flexibility, accessibility and community spirit, making it an ideal location for forward-thinking businesses.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your regional remote strategy, the Omagh Enterprise team is here to help. Contact us today to explore flexible workspace options tailored to your needs!
Working from OEC offers me separation between work and home with a heavy dollop of flexibility.
