Just an aide mémoire on what is needed:
- 2000 square feet minimum (around 200 square metres)
- Light and heat
- Internet Access (with wireless and wired points)
- Desks and seats
- Catering faciities
- Several square kilometres of whiteboard space
- A way of paying for itself (which includes it being my office)
- Links to Youth Organisations
- Private companies.
The space will then be open to any digital company that doesn’t focus on services – but on products aimed at a global marketplace.
The space will be open to a digital business which commits to always collaborating at lunchtimes if they’re in the office. Core hours of work may be sacrosanct to their own business but at lunchtimes or if you take a coffee or comfort break, expect to be asked questions.
The space will be open to companies who will take on at least one apprentice. That means they’ll have to have a spare computer, they’ll have to dedicate a day to training and they’ll have to pay proper attention.
The space will be open to anyone who want to come in and learn a new digital trade. It’s not limited to being socially deprived or being part of some programme. If you want to learn, come in, take a desk and learn. You might not get the same attention as if you were on a formalised course but you’ll be immersed in it.
The space will be open to companies who will always take on school placements and that means we’d want them to get a member of staff registered with Access NI.
So, what am I missing?