How The Northern Tech Sector Can Grow Into Maturity

The UK tech sector is fuelling growth up and down the country. With the industry going from strength to strength Britain gains a competitive edge worldwide and attracts investors from around the world.

Richard Lane speaking at London Technology Week

How important and dynamic the tech sector became was clear to us again when we held a growth strategy workshop at European’s largest tech festival, London Technology Week. During our workshop we worked with a mixed audience of businesses, supporters, entrepreneurs and other significant players from the UK tech sector who came together to learn from one another; enabling growth of all tech-related organisations through collaboration.

Flourishing tech scene outside of London

Collaboration has been an important keyword of Tech North, who went to London Tech Week to raise the profile of Northern England as a favourable business location for digital tech companies. Gerard Callaghan, Director of the Leighton Group, was there to explain why he decided to set up digital tech businesses in the North East and what opportunities it holds: “The North East provides an excellent stream of really talented technical, digital and creative people from the 5 universities based in the region. In digital industries where the output is weightless, businesses in the North East can compete on a world stage from a comparatively low cost base.”

Gerard Callaghan at Tech North event

During the event we identified 3 types of collaboration that are essential to truly grow the Northern Tech industry into maturity:

• Collaboration among tech businesses: Gerard Callaghan explains further that “collaboration in the North East tech scene generates ideas, closes skills gaps and helps create the collective ‘noise’ needed to develop the sector. Once people and businesses see ideas coming to fruition then new entrepreneurs are inspired to start something new and bring more opportunities to the digital economy within the region.”

• Collaboration with public services: The Digital Powerhouse report, commissioned by Tech North, argues that better collaboration with public services is another essential factor for unlocking the full potential of the Northern tech sector. Tech North champion initiatives that support the development of the North’s digital economy, working with local and central government to inform policies that help accelerate growth. Jennifer Hartley, Deputy Head of Tech North, says: “Greater collaboration between city regions and combined authorities could see a collective Northern Powerhouse region join the top tier of global destinations for tech business and entrepreneurism.”

• Collaboration with local businesses: Prominent success stories from the seven Northern Powerhouse’s tech cities Hull, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and Sunderland demonstrate win-win collaborations between digital tech companies and established local businesses. The growth of the Northern tech sector depends on an accessible professional services market for commercial knowledge and skill transfer. In contrary, tech companies play a vital role to lead regional businesses through the wave of digitisation.

As business performance professionals practising in tech, it is our responsibility to build the infrastructure of professional support needed to give the North's technology communities easy access to the specialist knowledge and skills. The North is being taken seriously within the national and international tech sector, but it is also up to local people and business networks to turn their - and ultimately our - success into reality.

After the sales strategy workshop for people in tech in London, durhamlane is committed to organising similar events in the Northern part of England; helping tech companies to develop a commercial mind-set and to make business on a higher level.