Talent is not lacking on the Isle of Wight. What’s lacking is the will to use it?
How many times do we hear in Island conversations that so much talent exists on the Isle of Wight? Regardless of whether as much talent exists in populations of a similar size across the UK, we are rightly celebrated for creativity, ingenuity and depth of skill.
From aviation engineers and product designers to marketers, our boatbuilders, consultants, branding specialists and digital experts, there is no shortage of talented people and ambitious growth-hungry businesses based and working here, or from here. Yet when it comes to awarding contracts or commissioning work, too often those opportunities are placed with businesses based on the mainland. The result is that the very money earmarked to develop our Island’s economic growth flows straight back across the Solent with the prevailing winds.
This is not a new problem - but it has become more pressing to ask why we are failing our own. Since the pandemic, the Island has welcomed back many highly skilled professionals who previously commuted to London or worked internationally. Others have chosen to relocate permanently, turning second homes into primary residences for the enviable lifestyle the Island offers. The result is a broader, richer pool of expertise than ever before. These people bring with them not only hard-won professional experience at the highest levels, but also a genuine passion for the Isle of Wight and a commitment to see it thrive. They also want to transfer their skills to our younger people, but doing it within actual projects is always going to be better than a publicly funded workshop or another networking event.
One reason may be perception. Buyers of services—whether in the public, private or charitable sectors—may simply assume that the necessary expertise cannot be found locally. It may be easier, or feel safer, to turn to established mainland suppliers. But this overlooks the fact that many Island-based professionals have delivered major national and international projects and understand the unique challenges of Island life. They are not only qualified; they are proven and inside the problems for which we need solutions.
Another reason may be due diligence. Too few commissioning bodies take the time to fully understand what is available on the Island. Without a clear map of the skills and services here, decisions are made on incomplete information. That lack of knowledge comes at a cost: lost contracts, lost opportunities, and the erosion of the very economic growth we all claim to support.
Supporting local businesses and individuals is not simply about loyalty or sentiment. It is about economic sustainability. Money spent with Island companies circulates here, supporting jobs, apprenticeships, and community life. It strengthens supply chains, builds confidence, and creates the conditions for more innovation and investment. In short, it keeps the benefits of growth where they are most needed—on the Island itself.
That is where Connected Wight comes in. The platform exists as a wayfinding portal not a destination website, to show what we have to offer especially in the form of people’s stories. Their experiences of living, working and playing here in writing, pictures and video. Connected Wight is a celebration of the Island, the expertise, creativity and enterprise that too often goes unseen. It’s a celebration of local talent and a place where people and businesses on and off the Island can see all aspects of this place, all in one place. It is an evolving resource for anyone serious about supporting Island growth, while also achieving the high standards their projects demand. And it has been designed and produced by the very talented and creative people we are talking about, showcasing the Isle of Wight as it is today. It faces up to and takes on the tired external perception of a society decades behind the mainland.
If we are to take economic development seriously, we must look first to the doorstep. The Island’s people and companies are ready to deliver. What is needed now is for our own organisations, especially our public services, large and small, public and private, to take a fresh look at who is here, and to make procurement choices that match their rhetoric with reality.
