Smart Work for Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in Regions

Non-metropolitan territories face significant challenges in a globalised world as the number of jobs in traditional rural sectors is decreasing and regional and urban disparities – increasing. At the same time, information and communication technologies as well as the changes in professional duties allow medium and small-sized towns, as well as the rural community to participate in the knowledge economy distantly. Thus telework, defined as a work form when the duties are being performed using ICT outside the premises of the employer, may serve as an instrument to achieve Cohesion Policy and Europe2020 regional development goals. A number of 2007-2013 regional development programmes (e.g. in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Estonia), supported by the EU Cohesion policy, shows that one of the tools for the facilitation of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in the non-metropolitan regions is the development of smart work centres (SWC), also called telework centres, enterprise hubs or co-working spaces. SWCs are special premises for distant working employees or companies considerably near the person’s living place. The basic facilities offered by the SWCs are a computer with appropriate programs, office equipment and ICT. SWCs offer a stimulating professional environment thus raising the productivity and satisfaction of its clients, as well as facilitating synergies among its users. Such centres bring benefits to employees, employers and local communities. Employees get the chance to live in a more peaceful, natural environment, decrease their commuting time, achieve a better work-life balance etc. Employers on the other hand can decrease personnel and operating costs and recruit better motivated employees. The local municipalities and communities can achieve an increased perception of the quality of life, advance economic activity and consequently local budget income. Based on the international experience, we propose policy recommendations in support of niche regional economic development areas in order to guide policy-makers with practical observations and evidence-based approaches on how to better exploit smart ICT-supported working forms. These recommendations could help to design new Cohesion policy instruments in Latvia and other EU countries to attract qualified workforce to less populated regions thus facilitating smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in the EU regions. Also a typology of smart work centres has been developed based on a survey of 10 SWCs across the Europe. The typology takes into account such criteria as the accessibility, user groups, opportunities to co-operate, in-house business support, infrastructure and available community services and distinguishes such types of SWCs: Economic Development SWC, Enterprise SWC, Socio-economic hub SWC and Distance Working SWC