No surprises in Newcastle – this North East cluster continues on a steady upward trajectory.
The presence of some of the UK’s biggest digital tech businesses, such as Sage, has long attracted innovative startups to the area.
These are stimulated by support networks such as Dynamo North East and Digital Union, by co-working spaces such as Campus North and Hoults Yard, and by access to finance from local investors, including Northstar Ventures, which has more than £100 million under management.
Newcastle is producing companies with significant staying power. Last year, True Potential became the only UK fintech firm to make it into the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 three years in a row, while Performance Horizon raised $15.4 million in Series C funding.
Newcastle and Northumbria Universities continue to support and strengthen the cluster. They have long acted as a strong talent pool for regional players, such as French gaming giant Ubisoft.
Newcastle Science Central, a joint venture between the University and the City Council, is a £350 million investment intended to house a series of National Innovation Centres. Northumbria University champions the region’s ‘connected construction’ cluster through its world-leading BIM Academy.
Out in the wider ecosystem, the Newcastle-born Ignite accelerator expanded into London, while Newcastle Startup Week launches in May to boost startups in the community.
All eyes are now on the North East Futures UTC set to open in September 2018. NewcastleGateshead is also host to the Great Exhibition of the North in 2018. The exhibition will focus on industrial heritage and the current innovation boom.
Sage is the market leader for integrated accounting, payroll and payment systems. It is the largest UK-owned tech company in the FTSE 100 with more than 13,000 people in 23 countries serving an extensive network of business people, partners and accountants.
The region’s commitment to STEM through its schools, apprenticeships, colleges and universities is strong. Combined with the unusually high level of collaboration that we enjoy with local businesses, this results in a lasting cultural legacy encouraging and nurturing creative digital talent. This is a thriving community, which creates a highly valuable digital tech talent pool and strongly contributes to the nation’s digital tech sector
Leaf is a music discovery and fan engagement platform. We have 2m+ users across 195 countries and our goal is to provide the best digital experience at the points where fans and artists connect.
The tech ecosystem in the North East has been extremely helpful to Leaf. From the Ignite accelerator through to landlords, local councils and access to finance, we’ve been supported at every level.