No matter where you go in Yorkshire, you’re likely to see lush countryside, quaint pubs, and traditional values. However, did you know it’s quickly becoming the place to be for tech businesses?
Across Leeds, Sheffield, York, Harrogate, and beyond, the cities of Yorkshire are building up opportunities for tech firms to develop their innovations and find top talent. Why is this happening, and could the region outstrip the rest of the UK when it comes to technological innovation and growth in the years to come?
Let’s take a look at some of the main reasons tech firms are eyeing up the north for their next big move.
There’s an immense pool of talent
Yorkshire is home to thousands of tech graduates across its many universities, with more than 50,000 specialists currently employed across more than 9,700 digital firms across West Yorkshire alone. That number is only set to grow.
This means that any tech firms or innovators who are setting up shop in the region will be spoiled for choice when it comes to bringing on board talented people to elevate their brands to the next level.
The scope of tech talent across Yorkshire is impressive. You can easily find experts in robotics, artificial intelligence, web design, and game development.
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While there are plenty of tech hires available in and around London, there seems to be increasing choice and specialisation up in the north, providing even more reasons to look beyond the Watford Gap.
Yorkshire is excited about technology
A crucial point to keep in mind is that many people in Yorkshire aren’t just working in or with technology for the sake of it. They are genuinely invested in what it can do and how it can change lives for the better.
Areas such as Huddersfield, Barnsley, Leeds, and Sheffield have all invested heavily in tech innovation hubs over the years, with Leeds in particular setting up the UK’s biggest event for open platform tech. Leeds Digital Festival is a celebration of innovation and opportunity across the region and beyond.
Take a look at the number of scale-ups and startups you can find in West Yorkshire alone. With more than 280 at last count, that’s the biggest congregation beyond the capital.
Beyond all of this, Yorkshire consumers are always embracing new ways to use tech to make life more convenient. For example, they’re already diving into new digital loyalty apps for indie businesses; why stick to the same old Nectar cards?
There are a lot of funding opportunities
Government bodies have also noticed the immense growth in technological interest up in Yorkshire, to the extent that there have been ample new funding opportunities in the last few years alone.
For example, Innovate UK’s joint effort with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority saw £500,000 offered to innovative businesses across the region. The scheme is closed now, but it was a genuine highlight of the UK’s ‘Levelling Up’ agenda.
Tech companies and entrepreneurs heading to Yorkshire will find that they don’t necessarily have to foot the bill for kickstarting their ideas from scratch, and given the immense growth across the region right now, this is unlikely to change any time soon.
It’s perhaps too early to say whether Yorkshire’s cities will compete with Silicon Valley for tech innovation the world over, but its prospects are looking good. Yorkshire is more than just cobbled streets and traditional pubs; it is a forward-thinking region with tons of exciting ideas up its sleeves!
