Interim board to help develop project's next phase

An interim governance board has been set up to take over a project which aims to help businesses.

The States of Guernsey previously said the Digital Greenhouse project was under review, but the new board would take responsibility for its services and budget and support programmes.

The scheme, which has been running since 2016, supports start-ups and entrepreneurs with business growth through several schemes and by providing an alternative to renting an office space.

The government said theinterim board would report to the Committee for Economic Development and look to develop the project's next phase.

The interim board is set to be chaired by Justin Bellinger, existing chairman of the Innovate Guernsey Board.

He said the board was keen to "build on the great work of the Digital Greenhouse to date".

Bellinger added it aimed to further support local entrepreneurs and students through the project.

"By drawing in more industry insight and individual expertise, we can complement these existing initiatives to further drive local innovation," he said.

The States said the board would include Barrie Duerden, a non-voting member of the Committee for Economic Development, and two more members of the Innovate Guernsey Board.

It would also have a rotating seat to bring in flexibility and subject matter expertise as required.

Sasha Kazantseva-Miller, Economic Development President, said supporting innovation, technology adoption and upskilling was a "key priority" for the government as it was "essential to Guernsey's economic and sustainable growth".

She said: "These interim arrangements would allow us to progress at pace the vision and the plans of the Innovate Guernsey Board and shape the future strategic and operating model of the Digital Greenhouse."

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