Steps to develop tech Industry
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WQ.95/2026
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
BY DEPUTY M.B. ANDREWS OF ST HELIER NORTH QUESTION SUBMITTED ON TUESDAY 7th APRIL 2026
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 14th APRIL 2026
Question
“Will the Minister detail what steps, if any, have been taken to further develop the existing tech industry in Jersey, including any actions to support the relocation of entrepreneurs to the Island and, if no steps have been taken, will he explain why not?”
Answer
Development of the existing tech industry
As the Government’s key delivery partner, the work of Digital Jersey Ltd. has been central to driving growth and diversification of the Island’s economy since 2012. Digital Jersey focuses on three core areas in its current strategic and annual operating plans: driving economic growth and productivity through tech adoption; development of a thriving digital ecosystem through attracting new businesses and supporting tech start-ups; and enabling technology focused research and development.
Digital Jersey currently records over 400 digital and technology businesses operating on the Island and more than 3,000 people employed in digital-tech roles. In addition, Digital Jersey’s membership base has continued to grow and now encompasses a large proportion of Jersey’s tech businesses and digital professionals - supporting collaboration, scale-up activity and inward engagement within the tech industry on Island.
Support for relocation of entrepreneurs and tech businesses
Under the ‘Locate Jersey’ brand, Government promotes the Island for inward investment and relocation of entrepreneurs across multiple sectors. Officers work in partnership with Digital Jersey to attract new tech business to the Island and there have been 18 successful tech sector businesses approved to relocate over the last 3 years and as a result, we are seeing the development of a biopharmaceuticals hub and have also seen a business that plans to manufacture hi-tech materials, grow within the island.
This accounts for 32% of all business approvals and covers businesses operating in areas such as AI, Fintech/Digital Assets, Cybersecurity, Regtech and proprietary development.
Government undertakes practical steps to support these relocations, providing application guidance and advice, and ongoing relationship management and aftercare. Digital Jersey works closely alongside Locate Jersey to provide specialist support to those relocating companies including access to incubator and coworking space at the Digital Jersey Hub, business planning and staff permissions assistance, community networks and introductions to local partners.
Business support and productivity measures
Support for technology firms also sits within the wider business support work delivered through Jersey Business. In November 2024, the Government announced a £30 million package of business investment across the economy and support schemes, including productivity, skills and innovation grants to be made available.
£5.3million of this funding is for the Better Business Grants, which are delivered by Jersey Business. The grants are designed to support projects that improve productivity and skills, enabling employers to invest in their businesses through the adoption of digital tools, automation, software and systems changes, alongside workforce upskilling. This investment aims to raise competitiveness and output per worker, and, by consequence, support the growth of the digital ecosystem. From 2026, the number of businesses that are investing specifically in technology projects is being monitored. To date this year, 38.9% of projects approved for grant funding in 2026 are technology related projects.
Digital Jersey also delivers targeted initiatives to help drive innovation and support the local tech industry. These include supporting innovation “sandbox” projects and management of the Impact Jersey programme, which was agreed by States Members in 2022. The Impact Jersey programme was created to accelerate and strengthen Jersey’s technology ecosystem by awarding funding to the Island’s innovators and businesses with tech projects that can help tackle some key issues faced by the Island.
Clear strategic direction
More broadly, the technology sector is recognised as a key driver of productivity, innovation and diversification of the Island’s economy. The Strategy for Sustainable Economic Development and the Future Economy Programme set a clear ambition for the Government of Jersey for the Island to become a “consistently high-performing, environmentally sustainable and technologically advanced small island economy by 2040.” Annual delivery updates to the States Assembly have reported on progress against actions in the short-, medium- and long-term.