Tech North announces first advisory board... a year after launch

Tech North, which is part of Government-funded Tech City UK, was set up to help attract and develop talent, entrepreneurship and investment in the North of England.

It has a £2m budget from Innovate UK, the Government agency.

Herb Kim, executive chair of Tech North and board member of Tech City UK, will lead the advisory board with five other additional leaders from the North of England’s digital community.

The board members are Hugh Campbell, managing partner of GP Bullhound, Alex Depledge, chief executive of Hassle.com, David Richards, chief executive of WANdisco, Mike Bracken, chief digital officer of the Co-operative Group, and Lee Perkins, UK managing director at Sage.

Mr Kim said: “We’re extremely happy to have recruited such an esteemed group of leaders to help us realise the potential of Tech North and the North’s digital ecosystem. Tech North is lucky to have access to some of the most experienced digital entrepreneurs and business leaders in the North of England.”

Claire Braithwaite, head of Tech North, said: “We have ambitious goals to evidence growth in digital employment, digital start ups and digital investment and are confident the experience and expertise of our new board will ensure we can fulfil this vision.

“Their governance and guidance will be vital to shaping and informing our plans to support the region and ensuring that we are creating a greater impact for the digital economy as a whole in Britain.”

Nick Clegg launched Tech North during a visit to Sheffield in October 2014.