isle of man delegation to interceltic business forum

Distinctive by Design: What Makes the Isle of Man Different as a Place to Live and Do Business

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Discover what makes the Isle of Man a unique place to do business, from innovation and collaboration to UNESCO Biosphere status and quality of life.

At this year's Interceltic Business Forum in Lorient, Business Isle of Man hosted a panel discussion titled ‘Distinctive by Design: What Makes the Isle of Man Differentas a Place to Live and Do Business’.

Moderated by Kirree Gooberman, CEO of Business Isle of Man, the discussion brought together Peter Tylee, Founder of Plainstep; Maddie Landels, Business Development Executive at Business Isle of Man; and Sarah Mercer, Head of Engagement and Sustainability at Shuttleworth, Co-Founder and Director of Earthscope, and UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man Board Member.

The panel explored how the Isle of Man has built a distinctive identity by combining economic opportunity, collaboration and an exceptional quality of life.

The Isle of Man: A Small Island with Big Business Advantages

With a population of around 84,000, the Island's size is often one of its greatest strengths. Strong connections between businesses, government and communities allow ideas to move quickly from conversation to action, creating an environment that is agile, accessible and responsive.

A key focus of the discussion was the Isle of Man's UNESCO Biosphere status and how it helps shape the Island's long-term approach to development. Sarah Mercer explored how the Biosphere provides a framework for driving economic growth with environmental responsibility, cultural heritage and community well being. Rather than restricting ambition, she highlighted how our Biosphere status helps strengthen the Island's appeal as a place to live, work and invest.

“Our global economy is changing, away from short term financial profit and towards an economy that benefits people, planet and prosperity. Our Biosphere provides us with the blueprint to achieve it.” – Sarah Mercer, Co-founder and Director of Earthscope.

The panel also discussed the growing importance of quality of life in economic development. Access to nature, shorter commutes, safe communities and strong local connections are increasingly important factors for attracting and retaining talent, while helping businesses create environments where employees can thrive.

Business Isle of Man's Local Economy Strategy

Maddie Landels highlighted how Business Isle of Man's Local Economy Strategy places collaboration at the centre of economic development. Through regular engagement with businesses across the Island, the strategy creates a continuous feedback loop between industry and government, helping to identify emerging opportunities and challenges.

This ongoing dialogue informs support initiatives, policy development and business engagement activity, ensuring that businesses have a meaningful voice in shaping the environment in which they operate. The approach reflects a commitment to working alongside industry and responding to changing economic conditions.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Isle of Man

Drawing on his experience as founder of Plainstep, Peter Tylee shared insights into how the Island's collaborative culture supports innovation and business growth. He reflected on the value of accessible networks, strong relationships and a willingness among organisations to work together to solve problems and create opportunities.

His experience highlighted one of the Isle of Man's often-overlooked strengths: the ability to connect people quickly and bring together the expertise needed to move ideas forward. For businesses looking to innovate, this collaborative mindset can be a significant advantage.

“The Isle of Man has a genuinely collaborative business community. Its size makes it easier to build trusted relationships, connect with the right people and turn conversations into action. Our experience through the Isle of Man Innovation Challenge demonstrated this perfectly, creating a real win-win environment where businesses can grow and innovate while also contributing positively to the Island and its wider community.” – Peter Tylee, Founder of Plainstep, which builds software for regulated operations in healthcare and the public sector

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Sustainable Economic Development and Celtic Business Networks

The discussion also challenged traditional perceptions of sustainability. Rather than viewing it solely as an environmental responsibility, panelists explored how sustainability can act as a driver of innovation, resilience and long-term competitiveness. Supporting sustainable businesses and encouraging entrepreneurship helps create an economy that is adaptable while maintaining the qualities that make the Island distinctive.

Another important theme was the value of strong networks, both locally and across the Celtic nations. Innovation rarely happens in isolation; it develops through trusted relationships between businesses, policymakers, educators and communities. Sharing knowledge and experiences helps smaller economies address common challenges while retaining their unique identities.

Set against the backdrop of the Festival Interceltique de Lorient, the discussion provided a reminder that places do not need to compete on scale to succeed. Instead, they can build on their own strengths, foster meaningful partnerships and create environments where businesses and communities can flourish.

For the Isle of Man, being Distinctive by Design is more than the title of a panel discussion. It reflects an approach to economic development that values collaboration, quality of place and long-term resilience.

The message resonated beyond the Island. Across the Celtic nations, there is an opportunity to embrace what makes each place unique while learning from one another's experiences. By investing in people, supporting innovation and maintaining strong connections between communities and industry, smaller nations can build economies that are both competitive and sustainable.

Ultimately, the discussion reinforced a simple idea: long-term success comes from creating places where people want to live, work, invest and contribute. The Isle of Man's combination of collaboration, identity and ambition continues to demonstrate how smaller nations can turn their distinctiveness into a genuine advantage.