Innovation Fund success story "overshadowed by shambles" in the States

Thursday 19 January 2017

The Innovation Fund’s first ever investment won a UK-wide award yesterday while the States debated who was to blame over the programme’s failings, it has emerged.

BrandBabyHub was awarded gold in the Best Travel Product category at the Mumii Family Awards for its portable SleepSpace cot – a patented design that can easily be erected and folded with one hand.

But this is just one of many accolades the product line has received.

In 2016 alone, the travel cot won bronze at the Dad Network UK awards, while its creator Catherine Curtis, became a finalist in the British Inventors’ Project, and beat off competition from over 12,000 entrepreneurs to become a finalist in Richard Branson’s VOOM ‘Pitchathon’.

That's me at the back with my BabyHub t-shirt! Loved it! Well done Virgin on great organisation of such a big event! https://t.co/B4zlCiZ1yE

— catherine curtis (@BrandBabyHub) June 3, 2016

This might never have been possible, however, if the St Mary resident hadn’t secured £60,000 of support from the Innovation Fund for Stumpydog Innovations back in 2014 – the baby product development company behind the BabyHub brand.

Speaking at the time, Mrs Curtis commented: “Accessing growth funding for early stage, start-up companies can often prove difficult, and it is therefore important to recognise the forward thinking of States Members in establishing and funding the Innovation Fund.”

The Jersey Innovation Fund began with £5 million to invest in inventive local companies. The former Innovation Fund Advisory Board Chairman Tim Herbert said that he was “delighted” with the investment in Mrs Curtis’ company, adding it was, “…fitting that the recipient is a strong example of an enterprising and innovative local start-up company that has identified a significant niche within he global baby-care market.”

The States of Jersey Twitter account praised the start-up for its achievements last night, but one Islander replied that it was, “A shame that good news like this is overshadowed by the shambles of the fund.”

Good to see #jerseyci Innovation Fund start-up @BrandBabyHub winning gold for best baby travel product https://t.co/5BftGUb1Wf

— States of Jersey (@StatesofJersey) January 18, 2017

This “shambles”, which involves the potential loss of up to £1.4 million of taxpayers’ money, caused a storm in the States Chamber earlier this week, leading to the “stepping aside" of Senator Philip Ozouf.

However, the former Assistant Minister warned that other Ministers may also have to answer for the fund’s failings.