2021-10-12 P&E Agenda - Item 10 - Attachment 1 - Social Return on Investment Evaluation

1.3 Digital Hub - strategy and focus areas
The Digital Hub’s strategy is to help diversify the Noosa economy, with focus on the following three (3) core
areas:

    1. Curating and maintaining a conducive workplace:

        The Digital Hub provides a welcoming, purpose-designed facility which is conducive to innovation and
        digital development. This is tangible representation of Council’s economic development strategy, and is
        supported by the intangible aspects of collaboration, peer-support, mentoring and various programs.

    2. Industry leadership and development:
        The Digital Hub team operationalise and activate the hub to bring together, network, further develop
        and extend the local digital sector, by providing affordable access to infrastructure, technology,
        programs and events. To date, the Digital Hub has provided a home and organisational support for
        seven (7) technology/industry subsector groups: digital marketers, technologists, screen professionals,
        ecommerce merchants, technology start-up founders, angel investors and digital music producers.

    3. Developing a local pipeline of talent:
        The Digital Hub takes a leadership role to develop and advance local talent. This is delivered at the
        Digital Hub through numerous digital skill development programs, through in-school, after-school and
        holiday programs.

        The reach of these programs is significant, with hundreds of primary and high school students exploring
        their interests and extending their technology and digital related skills. As part of the talent
        development strategy, the Digital Hub offers two (2) major artificial intelligence (AI) and Design
        cadetships each year.
        The Digital Hub also offers a year-round after-school inventor club for younger students and weekend
        programs for gamers and other young people with interest in the application of technology.




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