Award-winning community interest company Cosmic is celebrating 30 years of helping people, businesses and charities build skills and confidence in an increasingly digital world.
Founded with the aim of improving access to emerging digital technology to rural communities, the organisation was born in 1996 when community and youth workers established the Centre for Ottery St Mary Internet Café, or COSMIC.
The following year, Cosmic’s first internet café opened at The Station, providing public internet access, community workshops and drop-in support. Its outreach extended via a ‘Space Shuttle’ which travelled across Devon and Somerset providing access to technology and training. 
Since then, 163 people have been part of the Cosmic team including numerous apprentices who have given the company the chance to develop the next generation of digital talent. As a team they have helped more than 20,000 people with in excess of 100,000 hours of digital support.
To celebrate these achievements and its important milestone, Cosmic invited customers, friends, partners and colleagues to an event at Escot House, Ottery St Mary. Speakers included Sean Anstee, Director of Operations, Devon and Torbay Combined Authority and Liz Williams, CEO of FutureDotNow and Chair at Good Things Foundation.
Chair of Cosmic, Martin Davies, CBE, told the gathering that he was immensely proud of what Cosmic had achieved and especially proud that it had stayed true to its founding model and belief that everyone should be able to use digital skills to succeed.
Julie Hawker, MBE and CEO of Cosmic said: “This is a chance to look back with enormous pride on 30 years of success, impact, friendship and partnership. It is not just about looking back, however, as our 31st year starts now and we enter it at a challenging time”.
The economic and trading conditions we have experienced during 2026 have reinforced just how difficult the coming years could be for organisations like Cosmic. Our work to tackle digital exclusion remains as important as ever but sustaining that work requires strong partnerships and continued support.
“If anyone has an idea, a connection or an opportunity which could help shape our next chapter, I urge them to get in touch. We would love to have the conversation,” she said.
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