In an increasingly digitalized world, it is perfectly possible to make your home in Menorca while your work is elsewhere. Join us to discover how and why this important change is possible.
Not that long ago, anyone considering relocating to Menorca had to think carefully about what job they might find here to support themselves or, for those more inclined to set up a business, what kind of product or service they could offer that locals or visitors needed.
But thanks to today’s technology, everyone from remote workers to entrepreneurs can find ways to earn a living from here.
For some, freelancing represents the ultimate in flexible lifestyles. Whether a freelance translator, website designer or online tutor, it gives individuals the freedom to choose where and when they work. Co-working spaces where freelancers can rent a desk in a shared office space and network with others in related fields have opened in both Mahon and Ciudadela to support this sector.
While remote workers were few and far between prior to the pandemic, now that employees have proved they can be just as productive from home, a growing number are either relocating or spending more time working from their homes in Menorca, where they can enjoy the lifestyle but also have the security, salary and support that come with a permanent position.
And then there are those who arrive in Menorca – or are already based here – and ask themselves: What kind of business can I set up that has a global reach, but allows me to live here? More often than not, the answer lies in technology.
Marcos Martin is one such entrepreneur, who in 2015 launched Decelera Menorca, a business decelerator that each year selects 20 of the most promising new tech start-ups with a focus on sustainability, to attend a 10-day program in Menorca where they slow down and zero in on their challenges, strategy and purpose, and hopefully receive funding at the end of it.
According to Martin, more and more tech founders, including some who attended the program, are buying properties in Menorca and spending as much time as they can here. There are also several tech enterprises founded by Menorcans, who live here but recruit people with the right skill sets from around the world to join their virtual teams.
It’s creating an interesting mix of minds and new ideas, and while traditional work and business opportunities may have been limited in Menorca, it’s an ideal base from which to launch and run new ventures that don’t require physical headquarters in a big city, whose potential clients could be anywhere, and whose employees can easily be remote.