The document outlines plans for the Whitehaven Hive, a living lab for change in Whitehaven, UK. It discusses creating a magnetism through attracting and retaining talent, constant physical renewal, strong leadership, connectivity, identity, new ideas/innovation, and attracting investment. An overarching model is proposed to achieve these goals through projects, ventures, businesses, social/physical change, and inclusion/investment. Key aspects of the model include developing Whitehaven as a place for new beginnings, new thinking, and opportunities through projects like a digital grid, electric vehicle infrastructure, and a new Master's in Disruption degree between the University of Cumbria and local businesses.

1. WHITEHAVEN HIVE
A Living Lab for Change

3. Constant
physical renewal
Strong
leadership
To be a positively attractive place, that acts
like a magnet, it is not just one simple
solution.
It is more like a combination of factors, with
a series of actions, requirements and
activities beneath each subject:
Attract & Retain Talent
This will vary by place, and is based on
filling the gaps identified within the
demographics.
Whitehaven needs to retain and attract 24-
35 year olds – the next generation of
“wealth creators”. This relies on numerous
factors including (but not limited to)
opportunities, housing, culture,
infrastructure, eco-credentials.
Constant Physical Renewal
A place needs to be aware of its outward
face, and keep buildings fresh and relevant.
New techniques, looks and design, while
respecting and maintaining existing
property.
Strong Leadership
An absolute to achieve change, and one
facet where Whitehaven preforms well, and
could build upon.
Physical & Digital Connectivity
In line with today’s fast-moving world a
place must have strong connections in all
senses, and where there is a weakness,
innovative solutions need to be found.
Strong Sense of Identity
For magnetism to be universal each place
needs to be known for something, and
instantly identified. Very often towns portray
similar characteristics, losing their unique
attractiveness. Whitehaven must develop
its own identity as part of this process.
New Ideas & Innovation
To be attractive to residents, visitors and
businesses, it is important to be
somewhere that facilitates and embraces
“new” – whether that is design, creativity,
ideas or facilities.
To become magnetic, a place has to plan
for new ideas, presenting spaces,
investment and opportunities, so
encouraging internal and external
developments recognised by the wider
population.
Attract Investment
A magnetic place attracts investment for
development, projects and people.
A magnetic place needs to make it easy to
invest, and provide funders with the
potential for good ROI.
Whitehaven, as a place, is already a good
investor, enabled by the Social Impact
Fund of Sellafield Ltd. This is a great base
to build from, and shows a positive outward
face for the area.
MAG
NET
ISM
Attract & retain
“talent”
Physical &
digital
connectivity
Strong sense of
identity
New ideas &
Innovation
Attract
Investment

4. To create and lead E-Revolution 5.0
Changing the future, while celebrating the past. A people-centred
approach to harnessing emerging technology, creating a SMART PLACE

5. WHITEHAVEN
HIVE
Creating a place that is
great to live, visit, invest
and stay - respecting
nature and surroundings
Building BEAUTIFUL
Believing in self, today
and future
Leading the way in the
future of citizen-centred
living
A GREAT PLACE…
Culture, retail, harbour, walks, events, science, beach,
countryside, Georgian property, grid town, history….
There is much to Whitehaven. Part of the vision process
will be to uncover, develop and even SHOUT about the
place, its character and combine it with future technology
and opportunity
BUILDING BEAUTIFUL
To compliment the past ambition of the fabulous buildings,
any future developments should be equally beautiful in a
modern way - embracing design, methodology and
attractiveness
BELIEF
There is a strong need for BELIEF – whether in the town or
people, and this will be a key theme throughout the
projects and businesses driving change in Whitehaven
CITIZEN-CENTRED LIVING
True empowerment requires leadership strong enough to
allow it, and the pathway to achieve it. Whitehaven Hive
will create the platform to make this possible

6. It’s about joining the dots - combining
investment, direction, and ambition, while
opening doors to new ideas and
opportunities…but what does that mean?
Whitehaven has a local golden nugget– Sellafield Ltd – which brings with it a supply chain eager to have a social impact
in the area.
To date this has manifested in numerous local schemes, with each company pursuing individual programmes, supplying
social and commercial investment, with positive results…just imagine what could be achieved if this was pooled?
It would be great to have a combined effort, all pushing in the same direction, reporting total investment, and showing
enhanced outcomes…JOINING UP THE DOTS…let’s start with some annual themes….

7. Events,skills,vibrancyInfrastructureAnnualTheme
2019
DISRUPTION
Changed
thinking
2020
RUM
…is the new gin
2021
YELLOW
…5th Earl as
inspiration
2021
FILMS
…100 years of the
Gaiety Cinema
2022
MARS
…colonising the
red planet
Exciting new developments…
Buzz Station New 4* Hotel Wellbeing Village North Shore Development Phase 2
Digital GRID West Cumbrian Mining Whitehaven Academy
Electric Vehicle Charging Network Mark House Development Maritime Activity Centre
Turning heads….
MA in Disruption Business incubators ISH Digital retail Celebrating the C2
Rural Medicine Robotics Centre Tourism Digital hotel Christmas Haven

8. NEW BEGINNINGS
NEW THINKING
NEW MODEL
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
NEW DEGREE
NEW DIGITAL GRID
NEW NETWORK
NEW EV INFRASTRUCTURE

9. Projects &
ventures
New
businesses
Social &
Physical
Change
E-Revolution
5.0
Social &
Physical
Change
Inclusion,
Investment,
Improvement
Whitehaven HIVE Model
To achieve the vision, and
ensuing MAGNETISM,
there needs to be a model
to underpin, enable and
empower
New Beginnings
Whitehaven needs to
become a place for
entrepreneurs and new
business creation, growth
and development
New Thinking
This is a time when “same-
old” will not suffice.
New Model
Magnetism, achieved
through the MA, Digital
GRID is a different
approach to the need for
social change. The model
is launching in Whitehaven
– soon to become a place
of “firsts”
New Degree
MA in Disruption is shaking
up university education. No
formal entry requirements
– it is based on GRIT
scale, entrepreneurialism
and “inspire me”, recruiting
through social media; no
student loans –
supplemented by businesses
and international students;
graduation is on viability of
business, project or social
enterprise
Digital GRID
Connectivity, free wi-fi, 5G
ready, beacons, sensors and
digital welcome - first of its
kind technology join-up
New Network
A place where people come
to live, work and play, where
entrepreneurship is the new
normal
New EV Infrastructure
The county’s most
developed and connected
EV market for users and
consumers, whether
personal or business.
Connected and enabling

10. Digital GRID
As one of Europe’s first planned grid towns, it is only fitting that Whitehaven is home to one of the world’s
most developed and connected digital grids.
At it’s most basic it will be a secure digital mesh covering the heart of Whitehaven, providing opportunities for
all – whether business, resident or visitor.
Free wi-fi – will give access to everyone in the town centre to be digitally included
Touch Secure – online protection beyond any firewall presently available when using the service
Connectivity – beacons, sensors, footfall, inclusion, development, intelligence
Data – to drive informed decisions for businesses, local authority and residents
Citizens – the ability to have everybody involved in local decisions
SMART CITY TECHNOLOGY TO DRIVE DIGITAL CHALLENGE, CHANGE AND UPTAKE

11. Working in partnership with Zapinamo, SSE, Copeland BC, Sellafield and BEC to create the country’s
most complete EV infrastructure and vehicle uptake/use case
Funding sourced (SSE), with a fully inclusive installation and maintenance plan
Go live Jan 2020

12. MA in Disruption with University of Cumbria will be a first of
its kind qualification, to drive social, economic and physical
change
Students will be recruited on talent, applying the GRIT scale
instead of judged by performance in exams/school
The Work will be focused on issues and local problems, and
students will design a business, social enterprise or project to
solve one (or more of the issues)
Entrepreneurship will be at the heart of the MA, coupled of
course with disruption – whether physical, digital or other, it
will always be about challenging the norm
Student Fees will not be applied, unless the participant is a
business, public sector or international. However, students will
be expected to give “sweat equity” in some form
Graduation is when the student’s (or group of students)
business/project is viable – so, designed, tested, funded and
ready

14. andrea.winders@disruptieve.com