61 high-growth tech firms have invested in Leeds, says Bruntwood SciTech

Bruntwood SciTech said the city’s economy has also been strengthened by its expanding fintech workforce, which grew from 6,300 professionals in 2019 to an estimated 7,800 in 2023.

A Bruntwood SciTech spokesman said: “Following these additions, the city is fast emerging as a leading destination for tech, digital, and, in particular, fintech companies, with firms in the sector recently having been revealed to be growing 125 per cent faster than the UK average, according to data from Leeds Digital Festival and Datacity.

“The rapid growth of tech firms within the city has underscored the success of Leeds’ growing Innovation Arc, a key factor in the city’s status as the UK’s largest financial and professional services hub outside of London.

"Spanning multiple districts, this ecosystem provides a foundation for advancements across sectors such as health tech and digital technology, fostering collaboration between these industries.”

Katrina Jones, Associate Director for Bruntwood SciTech, said: “Leeds is rapidly establishing itself as one of the UK’s leading tech and innovation hubs.

"The recent opening of West Village, alongside the well established innovation communities at Platform and 14 King Street, underscores our commitment to supporting the city's expanding tech and digital landscape.

"These new and refurbished workspaces are integral to fostering the connections, collaborations, and resources that forward-thinking businesses need to flourish.”

Bruntwood SciTech - a joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal & General and Greater Manchester Pension Fund -has this year invested more than £20m into its Leeds city centre innovation hubs and campuses.

This latest announcement comes a year after Bruntwood SciTech announced an additional £500 million investment into the science, tech and innovation sector. It also added the UK’s largest local government pension fund, Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF) into the joint venture.

Today, Bruntwood SciTech has £314m of investment underway across Leeds, Manchester, Cheshire, Birmingham, and Liverpool, and is bringing to market 1.45m sq ft of workspace for innovation-led businesses.

The statement added: “The continued expansion of businesses already based in Leeds underscores the city’s growth opportunities for innovation-led businesses, with many leveraging the ecosystem's network of investors, business support mentors, accelerators and universities, alongside taking advantage of more flexible, scalable office environments.”