Digital Greenhouse to continue operating as is until April 2027 with bidders now told they must provide a physical innovation hub
- Digital Greenhouse will continue operating from current premises until April 2027
- Formal tender process for new operator delayed and will begin no later than October, with decision expected within 3-4 months
- Several parties have already expressed interest in taking over innovation hub services
- New operator must maintain a physical hub on the island but location remains flexible
- Transition period of 4-5 months planned between operator confirmation and April 2027 handover
Economic Development has said that the Digital Greenhouse will continue operating from its current premises until April 2027 amid ongoing uncertainty over the committee's plans to transition the services to a new private or third sector operator.
The confirmation received today by members follows Economic Development's announcement on 28 August that the committee no longer wanted to fund the island's innovation hub and that it expected the current operation to continue until the end of this year.
Despite pledging then that the formal expressions of interest would then be live within a week, they have still not been published.
The committee has now also decided that any new operator must maintain a physical hub on the island.
The new timeline will allow between four and five months for a transition period once a new operator has been confirmed.
The Committee has reported "significant interest from several parties" who have already approached them for information ahead of submitting formal proposals. A formal tender process is being arranged, with submissions expected to begin no later than October.
The Committee aims to confirm the identity of the new operator and finalise how services will be delivered within the next three to four months. This timeline would allow for the transition period before the April 2027 handover date.
While the new operator may choose to remain at the current Digital Greenhouse premises, this is not a mandatory requirement.
Interested parties will be asked to propose their own plans for the location and operation of a physical hub as part of their wider applications.
The Committee has acknowledged the uncertainty created for Digital Greenhouse members during the transition process and has committed to providing regular updates as the tender process progresses.
Officials have indicated that some questions from members may not be fully answerable until the process is further advanced.
The Quarry was founded on the back of taking part in Digital Greenhouse programes and is based in the hub.
Q&A
Q: When will the Digital Greenhouse stop operating under its current model?
A: The Digital Greenhouse will continue operating from its current premises until April 2027, allowing time for a transition to a new operator.
Q: When will the new operator be announced?
A: The Committee for Economic Development aims to confirm the new operator within the next 3-4 months, following a formal tender process beginning no later than October.
Q: Will the Digital Greenhouse remain at its current location?
A: The new operator may choose to remain at the current premises but this is not mandatory. However, maintaining a physical hub somewhere on the island is a requirement for any successful applicant.
Comments ()