In February 2025, Tony Moretta, chief executive of Digital Jersey, provided insights into the organisation’s progress and future initiatives aimed at fostering innovation and economic growth within the digital sector. The operational plan for the year focuses on three primary objectives: supporting local tech companies, creating a robust innovation ecosystem, and enhancing workforce skills in technology, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI).

Digital Jersey has seen significant engagement from the local tech community, with over 200 corporate members participating in its activities. Moretta highlighted the importance of collaboration among various stakeholders, including government entities and trade associations, to achieve their goals.

Supporting Local Industry and Innovation

This year, Digital Jersey has made strides in its support framework for start-ups and scale-ups. The previous Bootcamp initiative has evolved into the Start and Scale Pathway, tailored to meet the specific needs of innovators. This programme includes well-attended Member Meet Ups and connections between innovators and mentors, providing critical networking opportunities.

The ProMatch platform has been extended to include all sectors of Jersey’s economy, facilitating local procurement and promoting the use of regional digital expertise. This initiative is expected to boost the economy significantly by encouraging local businesses to collaborate and share resources.

In the first half of 2025, Digital Jersey reported a record number of inquiries from tech entrepreneurs looking to relocate to the island. This surge in interest is attributed to the collaborative efforts with government bodies such as Locate Jersey, which aim to attract top-tier digital talent and enhance the island’s economic landscape.

Empowering Innovators and Developing Skills

A key highlight of Digital Jersey’s innovation strategy is the ongoing Impact Jersey programme. This initiative aims to support innovators in delivering digital solutions addressing real challenges in the local community. Recent developments include the announcement of grant recipients for the CareTech Challenge, with companies like Orchid Connect and Good Boost receiving funding to advance their projects.

Additionally, the organisation participated in UK TechWeek in April, facilitating connections with similar organisations across the UK. This collaboration has opened discussions about shared challenges and positions Jersey as a potential digital sandbox for innovation.

In the skills development arena, Digital Jersey has successfully assisted around 200 individuals in enhancing their digital skills through various training courses. A standout achievement was hosting the inaugural F1 in Schools competition, which saw around 100 secondary school students design and race their own small-scale Formula One cars, underscoring the importance of STEM education.

Looking forward, Digital Jersey plans to enhance its digital ecosystem further. The organisation aims to publish an Agritech roadmap to promote technology adoption in agriculture, and an AI Playbook to embed AI into the island’s future projects. They also intend to extend the F1 in Schools programme to include primary school pupils, fostering early interest in technology and engineering.

The anticipated TechAwards in October 2025 will highlight these initiatives and introduce a new AI category, recognizing the growing importance of technology in various sectors.

Through these efforts, Digital Jersey remains committed to cultivating a culture of innovation, believing that the island possesses the necessary talent and ambition to drive progress and improve its digital landscape.

Child poverty in Yeovil has reached alarming levels, rising from 17.7% in 2019-20 to 20.4% in 2023-24, according to new figures from the House of Commons Library. Adam Dance, the Liberal Democrat MP for Yeovil, has criticized the government for what he describes as a neglect of families in rural areas. He has called for immediate action from ministers to address the growing crisis affecting children in his constituency.

In a written Parliamentary Question directed to the Department for Work and Pensions, Mr. Dance sought clarification on the government’s plans to combat child poverty. In her response, Minister of State Alison McGovern confirmed that a new Child Poverty Strategy is set to be published in autumn 2025. This strategy aims to enhance household incomes, reduce essential costs, improve support services—especially for early years—and bolster financial resilience for families.

Despite this announcement, Mr. Dance expressed concern that the proposed measures are insufficient. “Far too many children in Yeovil are growing up in poverty, and that number is rising, not falling,” he stated. He emphasized that families are grappling with tough decisions regarding heating, food, and rent. While he acknowledged the government’s commitment to a strategy, he insisted that immediate action is necessary. “Children in our community need action now, not vague plans for the autumn,” he added.

The government has introduced initiatives to alleviate hardship, including a £1 billion Crisis and Resilience Fund, the expansion of free school meals, and investments in affordable housing and family services. However, Mr. Dance has argued that these initiatives often overlook rural communities like Yeovil.

“Tackling child poverty means investing in local services, schools, mental health support, and transport—all areas where rural communities like ours have been overlooked,” Mr. Dance stated. He urged the government to take more decisive steps to ensure that children in Yeovil receive the support they need for a better start in life.

The full response from the minister is available online, and child poverty data by constituency can also be accessed for those looking to understand the broader implications of these findings.

A new vaccination programme aimed at preventing gonorrhoea will commence in Northern Ireland in August 2024. Eligible individuals, particularly gay and bisexual men with recent histories of multiple sexual partners or previous sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are encouraged to schedule appointments now.

According to the Public Health Agency (PHA), gonorrhoea has become the most frequently diagnosed STI in sexual health clinics across Northern Ireland. This vaccination initiative follows a recommendation from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) in November 2023, prompted by a significant increase in gonorrhoea cases. England is also set to roll out its vaccination programme in the same month.

Rachel Spiers, Immunisation and Vaccination Programme Manager at the PHA, noted that approximately eight out of ten gonorrhoea infections occur in men. She stated, “Gay and bisexual men are most commonly affected, so by offering the vaccine to those most at risk it will not only help to protect them against the disease but will also help to reduce the spread.”

The vaccine being deployed is an existing one for meningococcal B disease, known as 4CMenB. Research from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) suggests that individuals receiving this vaccine could achieve protection from gonorrhoea of up to 40%, potentially addressing the rise of antibiotic-resistant strains of the infection.

Rising Gonorrhoea Cases in Northern Ireland

Gonorrhoea diagnoses in Northern Ireland have surged sharply since 2022. The PHA reported a total of 1,606 diagnoses in 2022, which is two and a half times higher than in 2021. This elevated level of diagnoses has remained consistent in 2023, though there was a slight decline in 2024, with 1,208 reported cases.

Transmission of gonorrhoea occurs easily through unprotected sexual contact. Alarmingly, about one in ten infected men and nearly half of infected women do not display any symptoms. Additionally, the infection can be passed from a pregnant woman to her baby, potentially leading to severe complications, including permanent blindness in newborns if left untreated. Notably, gonorrhoea is not spread through non-sexual contact, such as hugging, or via surfaces and materials like toilet seats and towels.

Even individuals who have undergone successful treatment for gonorrhoea previously can contract the infection again. The introduction of the vaccination is a proactive step aimed at curbing this public health concern and protecting at-risk populations.

As Northern Ireland prepares for this vaccination rollout, health officials urge those eligible to take advantage of the opportunity to safeguard their health and contribute to reducing the prevalence of gonorrhoea in the community.

Three dedicated athletes from Aberystwyth Athletic Club (AC) recently showcased their endurance by tackling two significant ultramarathons in South Wales and the Alps. These events pushed their limits far beyond traditional running distances, as they embraced the challenges of long-distance racing.

Balazs Pinter participated in the Dragon Coastal Ultramarathon, organized by Run Walk Crawl events. The race commenced in Rhossili on July 19, 2023, and posed a daunting task: covering 100 miles with an ascent of 3,400 metres. Runners had until midnight on Sunday to complete the course, which concluded at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff. Pinter finished the race in an impressive 31 hours and 9 minutes, earning not only a medal but also a celebratory finisher’s dinner featuring cheesy chips.

Meanwhile, the previous weekend saw fellow Aberystwyth AC members Dave Powell and Louise Barker compete at the Grantrail Courmayeur Mont-Blanc in Italy. Louise opted for the GTC55, a challenging route of 51 km with an elevation gain of 3,500 metres. She completed the race in 11 hours and 1 minute, demonstrating her grit and determination in the face of a demanding course.

Dave Powell took on an even greater challenge with the GTC100, which required running 100 km with a staggering 7,400 metres of ascent. He finished this ultra in a remarkable 26 hours and 17 minutes, solidifying his reputation as a formidable long-distance runner.

The achievements of these Aberystwyth AC athletes reflect not only their personal dedication but also the growing popularity of ultramarathons. These events attract runners from various backgrounds who are eager to push their physical and mental boundaries. As the sport continues to evolve, more athletes are likely to take on such challenges, inspired by the impressive performances of individuals like Pinter, Powell, and Barker.

The commitment to long-distance racing exemplified by these runners highlights the resilience and tenacity required to excel in the world of ultramarathons. Their experiences serve as motivation for others to explore the limits of their endurance and perhaps take on their own ultramarathon journeys in the future.