Beta site under development
Innovation Wight is a major new initiative from the Isle of Wight Council to support the owners of local small businesses – and its home is Building 41
Unlike it’s highly classified counterpart Area 51 in the Nevada desert, building 41 in Northwood, Cowes couldn’t be any more welcoming or relevant. Post-pandemic, many Island SMEs looked long and hard at their cost structure. There was a paradigm shift afoot with resources like WeWork and Regus showing the way that small, flexible workforces could make the very best of co-working spaces with other, like-minded people.
On the Island, the Go for Growth programme provides owners of SMEs with access to a team of specialists offering support across 7 areas: Marketing and Branding, Finance and Funding, Human Resources, Technology and Digitisation, Innovation, Exporting and Strategy.
The programme operates out of the Council’s recently completed flexible co-workspace - Building 41 - and is managed by Digital Islands, a company that specialises in setting up and running business support projects. The project has received funding from the Isle of Wight Council and the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund and aims to provide FREE support to up to 110 businesses.
Inside Building 41, you’ll find two state-of-the-art co-working areas, designed to encourage collaboration. With a range of informal co-working and meeting spaces, there is also a fully equipped kitchen and several private meeting booths.
The Isle of Wight Council has ambitious and achievable plans for the Island’s future growth and sustainability. This unique and proud community is reinvigorating itself, not only as the much-loved holiday destination that it’s been for several centuries, but also as a viable lifestyle choice to live, work and invest.
Work has begun on an exciting programme of regeneration for the Isle of Wight. Public sector assets have been set aside for development and concept design work has been undertaken across several sites, demonstrating viable and exciting development opportunities.
The Isle of Wight Council is ready to identify its future development and investment partners to help turn aspirations into reality; partners to help deliver growth in the economy, raise the aspirations and opportunities for future generations and build on the experience and knowledge of world-leading businesses.
Julie Jones-Evans, Cabinet Member for Levelling UP, Regeneration, Business Development and Tourism said:
“We have been very fortunate to secure European funding for our new office, co-working, and event space, Building 41, along with programmes of free business support.
“The team that has been put together for Go for Growth are experienced in their fields and the combination of south coast and island professionals just hits the spot. I encourage all small businesses to take the opportunity for this free support to grow your business and skills base.”
