New organisation launches to help West Yorkshire tech firms ‘flourish’
A major new organisation designed to strengthen West Yorkshire’s technology sector is being launched with backing from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
Tech West Yorkshire will operate across Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Calderdale and Kirklees, bringing together technology businesses, universities, investors, entrepreneurs and skills providers under a single regional banner.
The group’s central aim is to connect people and companies across the region more effectively and help build a “stronger, more resilient” tech ecosystem that supports economic growth throughout West Yorkshire.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “From our Northern Square Mile of FinTech firms to our multimillion-pound HealthTech Investment Zone, our great region is building its reputation as a leading digital, tech and AI powerhouse.
“By bringing together our world-class talent, ambitious businesses and innovative universities, we will help companies across West Yorkshire to flourish, supporting the creation of good, skilled jobs.”
The launch comes at a time when the region’s digital economy continues to expand rapidly.
Figures from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority show there are around 9,700 digital, tech and AI businesses operating across the region, employing more than 50,000 people.
West Yorkshire also has more technology scale-up businesses than anywhere in the UK outside London and the South East.
Leeds is home to more than 3,500 digital and tech firms and has the third-largest concentration of high-growth businesses in the UK outside the capital.
According to the Combined Authority, Leeds’ tech sector is growing 125 per cent faster than the national average, with software development and cyber security among the strongest performing areas.
Deb Hetherington, director of Leeds Digital, said: “There is already a huge amount of good work happening across West Yorkshire, but too often businesses and communities have operated separately from one another. The opportunity now is to build stronger connections across the region and make it easier for people to collaborate, share ideas and create opportunities together.
“We want businesses in Bradford to feel connected to businesses in Leeds, Wakefield or Calderdale.We want startups to have better access to investors and universities, and we want people entering the sector to feel there is a strong regional community around them. If we can create those connections consistently over time, the whole region benefits.”