Tech North boss quits after just nine months

The head of a flagship Government initiative to promote the North of England's fast growing technology sector has quit after just nine months in the job.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Jan 2016, 16:47 BST
Updated 22nd Jan 2016, 16:49 BST

Claire ​​Braithwaite​, the ​h​ead of Tech North​, said: “​I will continue to support both Tech North and the technology sector in the North of England in my new role that I will announce details of in the near future.”

​Tech North was unable to say what this role would be.

Following rumours that Ms Braithwaite stepped down because of budget cuts, Tech North’s executive chairman of the advisory board Herb Kim said: “There’s been no cut to the funding of Tech North. As was originally planned we have been given notice by central Government that Tech North has an additional two years of funding at £2m per year. This is pending approval of a business case and delivery plan which is standard process.”

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Tech North said: “Ms Braithwaite has played an invaluable role in steering our efforts to boost digital clusters across the North of England and to build a truly amazing team around her.”

​A spokesman added: ​“Tech North has the backing of Tech City UK, which is committed to ensuring that the allocation of Tech North funding from Government continues to benefit the North of England.”

Tech North has suffered from delays and it only announced its first advisory board in October, a year after former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg announced the initiative.

Part of Government-funded Tech City UK, Tech North was set up to help attract and develop talent, entrepreneurship and investment in the North. The region has a fast growing tech sector and it was recently claimed that there are 50,000 software development jobs waiting to be filled across the North.

Related topics:EnglandGovernment