Changing Ireland called into the Hub on the Hill and spoke to three clients about why they like being tenants of the enterprise centre. Here’s why Shane Riley of Moyee Coffee, solicitor Siobhan Conlon and telephone entrepreneur David McDonald are so enthused with the place.
Social enterprise aims to turn the coffee industry “on its head”
Moyee Coffee (moyeecoffee.ie/) roasts coffee at origin in Africa, ensuring that more jobs and profits remain in the producing countries, then sells it to outlets in Dublin and beyond.
And co-founder Shane Riley could not be more enthusiastic about his business location on Constitution Hill, Dublin 7.
“We roast coffee at origin in Ethiopia and Kenya so more of the jobs and profits stay there. We call our model FairChain. It’s about turning the coffee industry on its head and making sure it’s a 50-50 split between coffee producing countries and consuming countries. We’re a limited company. We kind of see ourselves as a for-profit social enterprise,” he said.
“We fit in completely with the vibe and the atmosphere here in Hub on the Hill,” he added.
Asked about the coffee that Changing Ireland enjoyed upstairs in the common meeting area, he said, “That’s the Kenyan roast! It’s roasted by a partner roastery outside Nairobi where 15 staff are employed.”
• Coffee beans being dried, roasted and packed for Moyee Coffee at source, boosting local employment.
Shane named three attractions to working in the hub:
“There’s a great atmosphere here. There’s a great link between established for-profit companies and social enterprises. The location is fantastic as well for us, so we supply to a lot of tech companies in the city centre and we can deliver by cargo bike,” he said.
Being in the city centre is also handy for “popping into meetings” and clients are always impressed when they visit the hub for meetings. He gave examples of new customers that came his way thanks to networking at the hub.
He said the hub’s new plans “look fantastic” and will lead to more opportunities for all.
“It will be great to welcome more businesses in. That can only help us collaborate more,” he said.
Solicitor and her clients like “the ethos”
• Solicitor, Siobhan Conlon at work in the Hub on the Hill. Photo by AM.
Siobhan Conlon (pictured) is a solicitor working in human rights, based out of the Hub on the Hill.
“We represent a lot of asylum seekers and immigrants and other vulnerable people,” she said. “For me, this place works really well because diversity and inclusion is a big aspect of the hub. So my clients feel very welcome here. I feel very welcome here and my staff feel welcome.”
She said businesses operating from the hub “all kind of have the same ethos” and she appreciates when collaboration occurs. For example, some of her clients go on to receive support through ICE to set up in business.
“The hub just really works. I think the main reason is the people,” she said.
More info: siobhanconlon.ie/
David prefers hub to corporate setting
• David McDonald relaxing in the common area in the Hub on the Hill. Photo by AM.
David McDonald (pictured) is the managing director of Dialsave (dialsave.ie) which is based one of seven businesses currently operating from the Hub on the Hill. In an interview with Changing Ireland, he highlighted the benefits of working in a collaborative environment compared to a corporate setting.
His company specialises in internet telephony, but working alone can be hard on self-employed people and he enjoys the good company at the hub. There are plans to provide space for more businesses and social enterprises.
The A-to-Z of establishing a social enterprise hub in Dublin’s inner city
