The Isle of Wight has made a disproportionate contribution to Britain's industrial economy for decades, even though it is isolated. The Vestas wind turbine plant on the island, which is controlled by the Danish giant, once stood as an example of the way isolated towns could be included in the renewable energy economy. It produced 279-foot-long blades, which were shipped to the mainland aboard specialist vessel Blade Runner Two. But in recent months, the crossings have diminished, the New York Times reported.
Vestas announced it was slashing radically at its Isle of Wight factory. With foreign demand trending towards longer blades for offshore windmills, the firm viewed the island plant as too small to compete. Although an agreement with the British government allows the factory to produce shorter blades utilized by onshore turbines, the workforce is being reduced from 600 to 300. To a population that has long depended on a few large employers, the blow is staggering.
An economy shaped by geography
The Isle of Wight, with some 140,000 inhabitants, is physically isolated from mainland Britain. Lacking bridge or tunnel connection, it depends totally on ferries, which locals bemoan as costly and unpredictable. This has discouraged companies from growing, students from getting to university, and young workers from gaining work without departure.
Tourism is still the hub, but tourist traffic declined over recent years. Its legendary beaches, scenery, and cultural heritage—Jimi Hendrix once played a rock festival on its shores—attract tourists, but the lack of investment has left its former great sea resorts such as Sandown to rot. Faded hotels are reminders of the good times, restaurants and small businesses hanging on. "It just needs a bit of T.L.C.," said island restaurateur Vivette Fryatt, the mix of pride and exasperation typical among islanders.
A demographic crisis
The biggest issue, though, is demographic. Nearly a third of islanders are already in their 65s, the highest proportion of any area in Britain. That proportion will swell to 38 percent by 2047, well above the countrywide average. The influx of retirees has filled housing and healthcare demands, but has also swiped away the workforce. The younger generations migrate to the mainland to work or study, which leaves behind a shrinking pool of trained manpower. This makes it difficult to sustain growth or attract new industries.
Bright spots in defence and shipbuilding
In spite of such challenges, much of the island's industrial base still remains strong. Britain's largest defence contractor, BAE Systems, has a Cowes factory producing radar equipment. The factory has added 15 percent to its workforce over the past few years and still benefits from increasing defence budgets. BAE has also made investments in Island schools to stimulate science and engineering skills, which underscores its commitment to the region.
Wight Shipyard, Cowes-based like Cammell Laird, specializes in aluminium boats and recently delivered an electrically driven ferry for the Thames River in London. The company's reputation for sea-going innovation serves as a reminder that there are still niches of world-class expertise in the island.
Back to flying machines
One of the most iconic of renaissances is the return of the small but old-fashioned aircraft manufacturer Britten-Norman. The company, best known perhaps for its rugged Islander aircraft, transferred much of its manufacturing to Romania years previously. Now, with new investment of £10 million from Beechlands Enterprises, Britten-Norman is extending its original Isle of Wight factory at Bembridge.
The Islander, or the "Land Rover of the Sky," has sold nearly 1,300 units worldwide. Selling for approximately $2.4 million each, it remains sought after for rough terrain. Long-time employees like Pete Dowers, who have worked for the company since 1978, see the comeback as proof that the island can sustain manufacturing. "There is bound to be some sort of manufacturing base here on the Isle of Wight," he replied, as apprentices drill and bang airplane parts.
Searching for balance
The Isle of Wight is at a turning point. Its natural beauty and less frenetic lifestyle remain strong magnets, but its economic foundations are thin. The destruction of large-scale manufacturing like the wind turbines has left gaps that cannot be filled by smaller industries and tourism. Policymakers have the challenge of reconciling the desire to attract new businesses with the need to maintain the island's special character and environment.
The tests for the island's residents are genuine but so is their spirit. As Fryatt put it, even during a recession, the Isle of Wight remains a place of unmatched beauty. The issue now is how to ensure that the next generation is able to thrive on it, not just admire its beauty from afar.
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