The Isle of Man has been described as a new Silicon Valley emerging in the Irish Sea.

And the island is changing to attract young entrepreneurs to its shores

That’s the verdict of a wide-ranging article in the UK ‘quality’ daily The Times.

Writer David Byers puts the focus on business in the article.

He says the island is already a tech hub and online gaming is said to account for about 30 per cent of the island’s economy, with companies such as Playtech and Poker Stars based here. He says other highlights include the isle’s 95 miles of uninterrupted coastline. Andy Stewart, head of policy and strategy at the Department for Enterprise says: ‘We’re looking for entrepreneurs, people with IT skills, or an engineering background — a brains trust for the future.’

Mr Byers also looks at property prices and transport links and argues ‘the Manx government is attempting to expunge the island of its reputation as an offshore haven for the murkier members of the global super-rich.’

He says: ‘Anyone thinking of relocating to the Isle of Man must balance the employment opportunities and open spaces with the constraints of island life.