£2.5 million business hub proposed for former Omagh Health Centre

by Gráinne Connolly

Omagh Enterprise company has proposed to turn the former Omagh Health Centre into a business hub.

It was revealed in a letter written to Councillor Brendan Hegarty, the Chief Executive of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (FODC). 

The letter explained how the Enterprise Company wanted to "transform the site into a centre for aspiring entrepreneurs and technology businesses". 

The hub that costs £2.5 million, could create 125 jobs; which will in hand regenerate the town centre and support the development of a vibrant local economy. 

It will consist of 14,000 square feet of workspace over two to three floors that can cater for up to 30 businesses. 

The infrastructure and general facilities will be top of the range and business/work orientated including: 

• Pre-incubation hub facilities
   
• Hi-tech infrastructure
   
• Hot desks
   
• Co-working space
   
• Super-fast broadband
   
• Innovation and incubation support 
   
• dedicated space for existing technology-focussed businesses and new entrepreneurs. 

The hub will also act as a Centre of Excellence for Entrepreneurship for students and teachers in the Strule Shared Education Campus and South West College. 

The letter also explained that Omagh Enterprise Company already works with six schools and the Education Authority to deliver an Education to Enterprise programme. 

They recently held workshops with 128 students and teachers. 

Further workshops and mentoring sessions are also planned to explore entrepreneurship as a viable career option. 

The company also has cross-border relations as they work with the Letterkenny Institute of Technology.

The partnership works to prepare young people by giving them the ambition and skills they need as entrepreneurs, while also making links with hi-tech companies in the United States. 

Omagh Enterprise Company also works with the Western Trust under the Community Asset Transfer Programme; as the creation of jobs on the former Health Centre site will provide a legacy by improving the health and wellbeing of local people.

The letter concluded with: 

"The Board is actively seeking partners to ensure the ambitions of the project are achieved and would welcome a meeting with the Regeneration and Community Committee."