Digital Jersey had been on the cusp of announcing a new pan-island initiative with its Guernsey counterpart when it was caught off-guard by an announcement that the Island’s politicians were pulling the plug on the Sarnian innovation hub in its current form, Express has learnt.
Digital Jersey chief executive Tony Moretta told Express that the organisations had been preparing to unveil a reciprocal hot-desking agreement with the Digital Greenhouse when it emerged that Guernsey’s Economic Development Committee had made the controversial decision to either have the hub close or transition some or all its services to the private or voluntary sector.
Mr Moretta said that this could prove “short-sighted” if the Digital Greenhouse is lost entirely with no replacement – but that it could also be “the right move” if there is a transition to an arms-length-style operating model.
Guernsey has certainly been talking to us for a number of years about how they might emulate our model – if this is the first step towards doing that then I would agree with that, but only if that is what it is and not just closing it
Digital Jersey chief executive Tony Moretta
The States of Guernsey established the innovation hub in 2016 and spends around £450,000 a year on it.
But the committee’s vice-president, Deputy Marc Laine, has stated that: “We strongly believe the private and voluntary sectors are now better placed than the States to lead and facilitate innovation development initiatives.”
Expressions of interest to submit proposals for the delivery of commercial ‘innovation incubator’ initiatives are being invited, including proposals “to take on some or all the current Digital Greenhouse services”.
It emerged yesterday that talks had begun with interested parties.
“Short-sighted” or “the right move”?
Established in 2013, Digital Jersey is an arms-length organisation intended to drive growth in the island’s digital economy underpinned by collaboration between government and the private sector.
It has over 230 paying companies, comprising small and large businesses, as members.
Mr Moretta revealed that Digital Jersey had been very close to announcing a reciprocal hot-desking arrangement with the Digital Greenhouse, with a press release “ready to go”.
He told Express that he did not know whether it would now be going ahead.
Commenting on the Economic Development Committee’s decision, he said that if Guernsey was left without “something like the Greenhouse”, it could prove “short-sighted”.
But he also contended that: “If this is part of a move to take the Greenhouse out of direct government control into an arms-length body then that is the right move to do.
“Guernsey has certainly been talking to us for a number of years about how they might emulate our model – if this is the first step towards doing that then I would agree with that, but only if that is what it is and not just closing it.”
Asked if the situation could mean more inter-island involvement by Digital Jersey, he said: “it would be up to government if they wanted us to do something”.
Guernsey’s Chamber of Commerce is among those concerned about the potential closure of the Digital Greenhouse, stating that Sarnian businesses “still need somewhere to turn for innovation support and diversification”.
