Susan Watson, chair of Innovate Guernsey, set up by the States last year, said the closure of the facility in Market Street could be an opportunity for something more independent, agile and commercially sustainable to be built by industry.
‘We genuinely want the new organisation to succeed. Guernsey needs it, and from the brief conversations I’ve had since the news broke there are people and organisations willing to help build it,’ she said.
But Ms Watson also supported the track record of the local digital innovation centre, which opened in 2016, and said it was important to recognise its achievements.
She said that a recent survey had revealed that 73% of start-up founders who responded attributed their success to it.
‘Surveyed businesses collectively generate an estimated £1.09m. in annual revenue, support around 46 local jobs, and contribute an estimated £294,000 in income tax and social insurance,’ she said, adding that the Greenhouse had not made enough capital from its successes.
Ms Watson has also recently been chair of the Greenhouse’s interim oversight board, which took over the running of the facility earlier this year, and said that from that perspective, she was disappointed at the news.
‘The board was established to strengthen and refocus the Digital Greenhouse, so we were naturally disappointed that it will close when there was significant regeneration planned,’ she said.
She resigned from the board on Thursday, along with fellow board member Katie Inder.
‘The board was appointed for its experience in strengthening, refocusing and regenerating the Digital Greenhouse – not to manage its closure,’ she said.
‘Once the remit changed from regeneration to wind-down, we felt it was appropriate for that process to be led by people with the relevant mandate, authority and expertise.’