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The first in a series of Global Entrepreneurship Week events organised by Startup Guernsey saw more than 60 delegates from the island’s business and technology communities gather to discuss plans for an innovation centre in the island.
The event, titled “The Digital Greenhouse: what does it mean to you?”, was led by Guernsey’s Commerce and Employment department and featured an introduction from the department’s minister Deputy Kevin Stewart and an official launch announcement from its chief officer Jason Moriarty.
Mr Moriarty explained how funding for the project had been unlocked in principle and that the task now would be to report on specific details and financials, looking at the four key areas of the Digital Greenhouse concept: a co-working space, a coding academy, a community digital centre and a space for advice and networking.
The presentation was followed by an open brainstorm discussion among delegates, facilitated by Michelle Johansen, owner of Johansen Executive Coaching, where attendees were encouraged to help challenge what the innovation centre should and shouldn’t be.
Tony Brassell, General Manager of Startup Guernsey, said the discussions had been extremely valuable and a good step towards the project finding fruition.
“The ideas were well thought out and the feedback will be very useful for Commerce and Employment during this phase of the project. The ethos of the Digital Greenhouse project is that it will be facilitated by government but shaped by Guernsey’s community, which is why we wanted to get the relevant individuals involved as soon as possible.
“We had a wide range of attendees from across Guernsey’s technology, creative, financial services, telecoms and public sectors and they demonstrated resoundingly through their comments that Guernsey does want to strive for innovation, diversify and encourage talent,” he said.
Central themes emerging throughout the session included making sure that the Digital Greenhouse is community-minded, focused on skills and inclusive – catering for all ages and benefitting all industries, not just the digital ones.
One discussion group outlined the ideal achievements of the centre as being new businesses, new jobs and wealth creation through new opportunities and skills that arise out of ‘sublime collisions’.
Sasha Kazantseva, director with Startup Guernsey and event organiser said: “There was a lot of inspiration and enthusiasm on display and it is clear that Guernsey is highly enthused about the project. Startup Guernsey firmly believes in the importance of engagement, transparency and openness in such a critical and strategic project and hence is keen to drive open dialogue. We hope this event was just the beginning of this engagement process and are encouraging people to continue the debate online throughout Global Entrepreneurship Week and beyond, using the hashtag #DigitalGreenhouse.”
A full programme of this week’s Startup Guernsey events can be found online here: http://www.startup.gg/articles/global-entrepreneurship-week
