Connection and collaboration: powering UK tech and driving the economy
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Connection and collaboration: powering UK tech and driving the economy
PRIME MINISTER
Rt Hon Theresa May MP
Over the last year, the performance of the United Kingdom’s
digital tech sector has been world-leading, with British firms
attracting more capital than any other European country.
Our great strength in technology and innovation, built on the
UK’s excellence in R&D and creative thinking, is demonstrated
by the breadth of tech activity right across the country, and
the powerful networks being forged by the next generation
of entrepreneurs.
As this 2018 Tech Nation Report makes clear, the digital tech
sector makes an essential contribution to local economies
in our towns and cities. Clusters built around AI, machine
learning, cyber security and big data industries are supporting
growth, jobs and productivity in communities large and small.
Ambitious people are brought together by a passion for new
technologies and together become pioneers.
As Prime Minister, I am proud of the strengths of the UK tech
sector and ambitious for what it can achieve in the future.
That is why the government has made tech a core component
of our modern industrial strategy, and we will continue to invest
in the best innovations and ideas, in the brightest and best
talent, and in revolutionary digital infrastructure.
For years, our tech sector has been concentrated in London
and the South East. In line with the wider aspirations of the
industrial strategy to promote economic growth and prosperity
across the whole UK, I want to see our tech sector realise its
huge potential to boost communities and economies across
the entire nation.
Every entrepreneur, every innovator and every employer in the
tech sector and beyond can help make this happen. Together,
we can build a stronger and fairer country — a Tech Nation which
sets the UK apart, and brings us all closer together.
The Tech Nation team that worked on this report includes
Francesca Cahill, George Windsor, Henri Egle Sorotos,
Lucy Cousins, Safa Boga and Sahra Bashir Mohamed.
This report benefited greatly by feedback from Caroline Rae,
Gerard Grech, Nadia Kelly, Paul Abbott, Tia McPhee, Vicki Shiel,
and support from all colleagues at Tech Nation.
This work contains statistical data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS)
which is Crown Copyright. The use of the ONS statistical data in this work does
not imply the endorsement of the ONS in relation to the interpretation or analysis
of the statistical data. This work uses research datasets which may not exactly
reproduce National Statistics aggregates.
Design: PHILPOTT Design
Find out more at technation.io/report2018 Find out more at technation.io/report2018 3This report would not have come to fruition FOREWORD
without the support and significant resources Gerard Grech, Chief Executive, Tech Nation
dedicated by our data partners and sponsors. Eileen Burbidge, Chair, Tech Nation and Partner,
Passion Capital
Special thanks to data partners Adzuna, Welcome to the 2018 Tech Nation Report — the most
comprehensive guide to the UK’s digital tech ecosystem to date.
Beauhurst, the Office for National Statistics, Using a rich mix of official, open and web data, the Tech Nation
Report 2018 dives deep inside the themes that are essential
Pitchbook, Startup Genome, Streetbees, and to the success of the UK’s tech entrepreneurs. This year, the
Tech Nation Report lives online. This booklet summarises the
our 2018 report sponsors Barclays, EY, and JLL. key insights. Interactive data visualisations, community insights
and founder views all await at technation.io/report2018.
From international competitiveness to jobs and skills, we are
The Tech Nation Report 2018 lives online. proud to provide cutting-edge data and information that helps
move the UK’s digital economy narrative forward. Indeed, the
This booklet summarises our key insights. UK’s digital economy has seen astonishing growth over recent
years. But it has also experienced challenges, some shared
Explore new findings and more detail including by the economy more broadly. Amongst these, of course, is the
UK’s changing relationship with the EU. Like the Tech Nation
interactive data visualisations, community team itself, however, the tech communities we surveyed this
year remain resolutely optimistic about the resilience of the UK’s
insights and founder views online. digital ecosystem.
So as we power into that future, we must support founders,
investors, international talent and our homegrown digital
workforce. Helping them to connect, learn and share, to ensure
the UK remains the best place to start and scale world-class
digital businesses. This is what Tech Nation is about; it’s not about
creating tech hubs but connecting the most ambitious tech
entrepreneurs across the UK, so they are successful in their own
cities, inspiring the next generation of local tech entrepreneurs
through programmes, event and insights.
This year’s Tech Nation survey received the largest response
yet from members of the UK tech community. In more than
3,400 submissions, they told us about achievements they are
celebrating and the challenges they face. The report also
features over 70 business case studies — all online.
We would like to thank our Tech Nation community partners, our
board, the UK Government, the Department for Digital, Culture,
Media and Sport and of course, the awesome Tech Nation team —
a team we are incredibly proud to be part of.
4 Find out more at technation.io/report2018 Find out more at technation.io/report2018 5KEY FINDINGS
Collaboration and global connectivity
helps the UK tech sector grow 2.6 times faster
than the rest of the economy
This booklet summarises Pages 8 – 10 Pages 11 – 13 Pages 14 – 18 Pages 19 – 21 Pages 22 – 23
our key insights. Explore 1
INTERNATIONAL 2 DIGITAL TECH 3 COMMUNITY 4 COLLABORATION, 5 JOBS AND SKILLS
new findings and more COMPETITIVENESS BUSINESS PERCEPTIONS CONNECTIVITY AND
detail with interactive CULTURE
data visualisations,
community insights and •
The UK cements its position • T
he UK has digital suburbs, •
Access to talent and •
UK software developers •
Jobs in digital tech are
founder views online. as a global tech leader not just cities investment continue to are highly collaborative on the rise
This is the fourth in an annual challenge tech communities
Its digital tech sector is
London’s digital density is
Data on 52,000 UK Github
From 2014 to 2017 digital
series of groundbreaking across the UK
a shining light not only in below the UK average at users reveals important, tech sector employment
reports that give deep insight Europe but also on a global 0.92, while Newbury at 15.5 In 83% of clusters, the often hidden, ways that rose 13.2%. Its workers
into the UK tech ecosystem scale. In London 33% of is the most tech specialised tech community cited developers collaborate. are more productive, on
to further the understanding tech company customers local economy in the UK. access to talent as their Languages associated average, by £10,000 per
of the sector’s key challenges, are based outside the UK, biggest challenge. with web development are worker. Jobs requiring
opportunities and trends for compared to 30% in Silicon prevalent, the top three digital tech skills command
the year ahead and beyond. •
Healthy mix of growth
Valley and 7% in Beijing. are JavaScript, Python higher salaries, at £42,578
It highlights the unique stages across the UK • U
K tech communities value
and PHP. compared to £32,477 for
strengths of clusters and quality of life and sense
The highest proportion of those that do not.
considers how to support •
Global connections are of place
clusters (36%) emerged as
their growth in an evolving key to domestic success •
The UK tech community
balanced ecosystems, 26%
Communities identified
political climate. is highly connected •
Diversity remains a key
25% of the world’s are scaleup dominant, and the top ecosystem
challenge for digital tech
Here is what you need to know entrepreneurs report a 12% startup dominant. strengths as: 1) appealing
We found 3,527 tech meetup
about the ecosystem in 2018. significant relationship with area; 2) a helpful tech groups, with over 1.6 million
Only 19% of the digital
two or more others based community; 3) proximity to members across 283 tech workforce is female.
in London, a figure beaten a university. locations. Their interactions Despite the stereotype that
only by Silicon Valley. indicate a vibrant grassroots digital tech jobs are for
tech scene and highlight millennials, 72% of workers
emerging trends such as AI. are aged over 35.
6 Find out more at technation.io/report2018/keyfindings Find out more at technation.io/report2018/keyfindings
technation.io/report2018 71. INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS
Sponsored by: EY The UK cements its position as
a global tech leader
With the digital sector growing twice as fast as the economy The UK tech sector is a Data from Startup Genome
as a whole, it is clear that technology is a critical component of shining light in Europe, but allows us to create a detailed
UK growth, both now and for the future. Brexit is forcing the nation to picture of the dynamics
think bigger. It is therefore driving global tech startup
However, EY’s recent Regional Economic Forecast also found
critical that the UK looks ecosystems. It helps us to
that digital tech growth was fastest in the south of the country.
beyond its borders and judges answer important questions
Today, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reposition
its performance on a truly from founders and CEOs, such
the country. Against a backdrop of changing trade dynamics
international scale. as: where should I form my
and technology-led disruption, we believe that the UK regions
tech startup to maximise my
have a critically important role in strengthening the country’s The tech sector has
chances of success? Where
position on a global stage. experienced rapid growth
should I open a second office?
over recent years, both across
The success that London’s tech sector is currently enjoying Or, how can I help address my
the UK and beyond. At each
internationally is a positive story, and one that other regions can ecosystem’s challenges?
stage of growth, ecosystems
learn from. 33% of its tech company customers are based outside
experience shared challenges
of the UK, making it the second most connected tech ecosystem
and find shared strengths.
in the world, following only Silicon Valley. But all of the UK’s
tech ecosystems now have a vital role to play in driving the
country’s international connections and ensuring our continued
competitiveness.
So, as we find ourselves faced with a real opportunity to place
the UK at front and centre of the international digital tech
economy, now is the time for a renewed focus on the digital LONDON SECURES ITS POSITION AS 3RD GLOBAL
landscape across the country. Tech Nation provides a platform
for the UK’s regions to learn from successful and established TECH STARTUP ECOSYSTEM
ecosystems. It helps forge connections, joins the dots and
supports local networks to flourish. We are proud to be part
of that journey’s start.
Mark Gregory
EY Chief Economist, UK
Debbie O’Hanlon
EY Managing Partner, UK Regions
Performance
of the top
12 global
tech startup
ecosystems
Source: Startup
Genome, 2017
8 Find out more at technation.io/report2018/international Find out more at technation.io/report2018/international 92. DIGITAL TECH BUSINESSES
Global connections are key Sponsored by: Barclays
to domestic success
“
Having contacts London is second only to Physical proximity often aids We can learn a huge amount about the UK’s tech ecosystem
across the world has Silicon Valley for inbound collaboration, so we must by better understanding the innovative businesses across the
helped Deliveroo’s global connections. 25% of not underestimate the nation that are driving economic growth. Barclays is delighted
growth go from entrepreneurs across importance of domestic to support Tech Nation’s vision of galvanising tech ecosystems
strength to strength, the world report having networks. But it is increasingly right across the UK.
expanding to 12 a significant relationship important that UK tech clusters
The impact of high-growth, digital tech companies is hugely
markets since 2015 with two or more entrepreneurs are seen as local nodes within
positive. They create employment, generate new opportunities
in Europe, Australia in London, compared to an international web.
for investors and grow the economy in all corners of the UK. In fact,
and the Middle East.” 33% for Silicon Valley.
Since the success of firms in the tech sector is an important part of a much wider range of local
Will Shu These connections extend the the knowledge based economy economies than we previously realised — we see tech hotspots
Co-founder & CEO UK’s market reach and drive is increasingly dependent on throughout a range of digital suburbs like Stevenage and Welwyn
Deliveroo innovation in a process that their ability to innovate, the Garden City, as well as cities such as Bristol.
is inherently collaborative. importance of these global
We know that tech companies are powered by relationships.
networks to the performance
By helping to forge meaningful connections, Barclays look
of the UK tech sector cannot
to support the ecosystem — connecting businesses to peers
be overstated.
and experts, and offering innovative and bespoke support to
accelerate growth.
Digital disruption is impacting all industries — we only have to
look at the way technology is becoming an enabling force in
sectors like healthcare and transport to see this. But this type
LONDON IS THE SECOND MOST CONNECTED ECOSYSTEM IN THE WORLD of disruption inevitably has a wide range of implications — and
consensus will need to be built around the way we manage the
global changes tech is already bringing about, and the UK’s place
in this new world.
High-growth small businesses and large corporates must be united
in this journey. Barclays are excited to support Tech Nation’s
mission to bring these businesses together, catalysing a national
network of ambitious entrepreneurs, and to help the UK’s digital
tech economy thrive.
Tom Easterby
Head of Venture Capital Coverage
Barclays
Inbound
connections
for the top 20 Inbound Connections
global tech
Note: Inbound connections refers to the percentage of entrepreneurs from international
ecosystems
ecosystems (in another country) who report a significant relationship with two or more
Source: Startup entrepreneurs in a given ecosystem. The size of the bubble on the map corresponds to
Genome, 2017 the percentage of entrepreneurs in a given ecosystem.
10 Find out more at technation.io/report2018/international Find out more at technation.io/report2018/business 11The UK has digital suburbs, Healthy mix of growth stages
not just cities across the UK
Digital tech is powering local The value generated by a digital “
As an ambitious and The number of digital tech To look at the age of tech
economies across the UK. But as tech worker varies considerably. early stage SME, that companies born in the UK has companies we segmented
the map below shows, it is far from Clusters where we see a high digital is tackling a globally boomed, with a staggering 50 Travel to Work Areas into
uniformly distributed. density also tend towards higher defined problem, 78% increase between four groups:
productivity per worker. collaboration is key 2009–2010 and high growth
Nor is it the sole preserve of large, 1 BALANCED An even
for us. We look for was sustained until 2015–2016
metropolitan cities. In digital In fact, there is a ‘productivity power distribution of businesses of
the support of when the business birthrate
suburbs like Guildford and path’ from London to the mouth different ages, from startups
government and fell by 17%.
Aldershot, Slough and Heathrow, of the River Severn, travelling along to mature companies
health departments,
digital tech density is significantly the M4 corridor and spreading to The highest proportion of
as well as industry 2 MATURE A higher than
higher than the UK average, Southampton and Portsmouth. clusters (36%) emerged as
giants to find ways average proportion of
while employment and turnover Turnover by employee ranges balanced ecosystems,
that we can innovate, companies aged 10–18 years
are amongst the highest of all from £27,650 in Campbeltown to 26% are scaleup dominant,
and grow together.” and 19 or over
UK clusters. £320,000 in Bristol. The UK’s and just 12% startup dominant.
strength as a Tech Nation rests on Devika Wood This analysis paves the way 3 SCALEUP A higher proportion
comprehending, and valuing, this Co-founder for more targeted support of companies aged 5–9 years
diversity of economic activity. Vida for each.
4 STARTUP A higher
proportion of companies
aged four or under.
DIGITAL SUBURBS UNCOVERED A HIGH PROPORTION OF
ACROSS THE UK CLUSTERS WITH A BALANCE
OF COMPANY GROWTH
STAGES SUGGESTS A HEALTHY
UK ECOSYSTEM
>2
1.5 Growth Stage
Digital tech distribution
density in 1 of companies in Startup
Travel to Work Travel to Work Scaleup
Areas across 0.5 Areas across
the UK the UK Mature
Source: Tech 0 Source: Tech Balanced
Nation, 2018; Nation, 2018; ONS,
ONS, Business Note: Digital density measures digital tech specialisation in clusters compared to density Business Structure
Structure in the UK. A figure above 1 indicates relative specialisation, and below 1 indicates relative Database, Note: Data on 50 Travel to Work Areas are presented due to low sample sizes in the
Database, 2017 lack of specialisation in digital tech. 2000—2016 rest of the UK.
12 Find out more at technation.io/report2018/business Find out more at technation.io/report2018/business 133. COMMUNITY PERCEPTIONS
Sponsored by: JLL UK tech communities share
key experiences
At JLL, we understand just how important the place you work To develop a deep under- of 3,428 submissions, they
can be. But, as this report confirms, places are nothing without standing of the UK digital told us about the opportunities
dedicated communities supporting them. 57% of clusters across tech ecosystem, it is essential and challenges their local
the nation flagged the tech community as a top local strength. to explore a mix of official, ecosystems face, and
web and open data, as well the digital tech leaders
We are here to make sure you choose the right location for
as probe the experiences they admire.
your business, to help create inspiring workplaces, and to show
and perceptions of ambitious
you how the buildings you occupy can make your talent more The majority of respondents
entrepreneurs, support
productive. More than this, though, at JLL we share the same (33%) were founders and CEOs,
organisations and employees
ambition as Tech Nation — to help digital tech communities followed by workers in tech
in the sector.
flourish across the UK. What better way to engage with the companies (31%).
pressing issues experienced in tech, than to hear from those This year’s Tech Nation survey
ambitious entrepreneurs driving the sector forward? received the largest response
yet from these members of the
Many of the challenges that tech businesses in the UK face
UK tech community. In a total
are not exclusive to where they are based. Although they vary
from place to place, broadband speeds, living costs, transport,
affordable workspace and even access to the best talent, are
needs shared across the country. That is why we are supporting
Tech Nation’s work on community perceptions this year — to
share insights, and facilitate connections. Access to talent and investment
The UK is at an inflection point. We have the opportunity to unite
a rich and diverse range of communities across the country to continue to challenge tech
come together on key issues defining your ecosystem. We hope
that you will use these insights to make informed business communities across the UK
decisions, and accelerate your success at this incredibly exciting
time for UK tech.
The challenges experienced The maps overleaf show
by people living and working top challenges and
Michael Davis in UK tech clusters are strengths perceived in the
Tech and Media Sector Lead seldom exclusive to their clusters we surveyed.
JLL own environment.
The top challenges identified
in survey areas were:
1 Access to talent
2 Access to funding
3 Bad transport links
14 Find out more at technation.io/report2018/community Find out more at technation.io/report2018/community 15Community perceptions Explore your region online at
of local tech ecosystems technation.io/report2018/community
KEY STRENGTHS KEY CHALLENGES
PERCEIVED BY PERCEIVED BY
THE LOCAL TECH THE LOCAL TECH
COMMUNITY COMMUNITY
Access to Proximity of Appealing Proximity of Limited Lack of support Access to talent Lack of
Strengths resources a university area large tech Challenges infrastructure from wider awareness
Access to
of local tech companies of local tech tech community of local tech
Good quality Creativity/ Good transport Cost of living funding
ecosystems ecosystems community
of life innovation links Digital Bad transport Remote area Availability
Source: Tech Source: Tech
Helpful tech Access to Access to infrastructure links Retaining talent of workspace Lack of tech
Nation and Nation and
community workspace talent Diversity of training
Streetbees, Streetbees, Lack of support Few nearby
2018 talent 2018 from government tech companies
16 Find out more at technation.io/report2018/community Find out more at technation.io/report2018/community 174. COLLABORATION
UK tech communities value quality CONNECTIVITY AND CULTURE
of life and sense of place UK software developers are highly collaborative
“
Norwich businesses The top strengths identified in Strengths as well as challenges Software innovation is critical Data on 52,000 UK Github
value working survey areas were: are shared — suggesting that to the success of the UK digital users shows that the
together, both locally benefits could come from tech sector, yet how developers languages associated with
1 Appealing area
and as part of the better connections that enable collaborate is seldom captured. web development are most
much bigger tech 2 A helpful tech community founders and CEOs to learn We have done so using data prevalent, the top three are
community in the UK.” 3 Proximity to a university from one another and from leading software JavaScript, Python and PHP.
open up new opportunities development platform, Github.
James Duez The connections that users
through collaboration.
Investor, Co-founder Productive connections require make on Github are best
& Executive Chairman The UK’s strength as a tech collaborators to communicate illustrated through the networks
Rainbird Technologies nation lies in the diversity of effectively. In the case of they create. As a project is
local clusters and cultures development, this does not developed, Github stores
that come together to form a necessarily mean speaking the and manages revisions made
dynamic, national ecosystem. same language, but coding the by its users. It also enables
same language. them to ‘fork’ projects — copy
another user’s work from an
open source code repository.
This extensive, and ostensibly
hidden, network of digital
collaboration is evidence of
the depth of the national tech
ecosystem.
Diversity among UK tech leaders
remains a challenge
GITHUB SHOWS HOW UK TECH DEVELOPERS
We asked members of the tech Tech leaders do, however,
SHARE CODING LANGUAGES
community who they saw as inhabit a spectrum of roles.
the most influential tech figures 48% of those identified Javascript 7,769
in their local area. Unsung are members of the wider
heroes emerged alongside ecosystem and 51% Python 4,511
better known figures, but only are heads of, or working PHP 3,472
11% were women. in, tech companies. Some are
industry veterans, such as Java 3,343
This is concerning. A diversity
Hermann Hauser at Amadeus C# 2,272
of role models is important if
Capital. Others are disruptors Top
people are to identify not only
like Demis Hassabis at programming
Ruby 2,245
with leaders in the field, but
DeepMind, Lawrence Jones languages
with tech itself. HTML 2,118
at UKFast and Paul Smith used on Github,
at Hyperloop One. by number CSS 1,644
of users
Source: Tech C++ 1,505
Nation, 2018;
Github, 2018
C 1,105
18 Find out more at technation.io/report2018/community Find out more at technation.io/report2018/collaboration 19The UK tech community
is highly connected
“
Calling in favours, The UK’s tech community TOP 400 MEETUPS HIGHLIGHT
asking for advice is highly connected.
and sparring with
EMERGING TRENDS, WATCH OUT
Meetup.com data reveals: FOR AI AND BLOCKCHAIN
fellow entrepreneurs
has helped me build • 3,527 UK tech groups
AS THEY TAKE CENTRE STAGE
a big business (and • 1.6 million members
keep my sanity!) IN THE CONVERSATION
• 283 locations
over the last 5 years.”
Tech meetups are inclusive
Andrew Hunter and collaborative — 91% of
Co-founder UK groups are open for all
Adzuna to attend. 9% require approval
and only 0.03% are closed.
They highlight emerging trends,
for instance, in Manchester
a mass of groups are
discussing new technologies
like Blockchain, and a strong
data science community is
making itself felt in London.
The network diagram here
shows the top 400 meetups
in the UK, by size of
membership. Meetups are
clustered not by geography,
but by specialisation — the
more similar the tags used
to describe them, the closer
they appear on the diagram.
Software development is
a core part of this network,
and an integral component
of UK tech, both now and
for the future.
Top 400 tech 23.75% 20.75% 17.25% 16.25% 15.75% 3.75%
meetup groups Pink cluster: Green cluster: Blue cluster: Black cluster: Orange cluster: Purple cluster:
by membership Main theme: Main theme: Main theme: Main theme: Main theme: Main theme:
in the UK Open source Software development Web design Emerging technology Artificial intelligence Java
Source: Tech Linux Scrum CSS Virtual currency Big data .NET
Nation, 2018; System administration Agile UX design Mobile technology Python PHP
Meetup.com, Project management Product design Reg tech Hadoop Ruby
2018 Robotics
20 Find out more at technation.io/report2018/collaboration Find out more at technation.io/report2018/collaboration 215. JOBS AND SKILLS
Jobs in digital tech are on the rise Diversity remains a key
challenge for digital tech
Between 2014 and 2017 Employer demand is increasing “
With almost half Only 19% of the digital tech On average 72% of UK digital
employment in the digital tech too. Non-digital tech companies of our exec and workforce is female, compared tech workers are over 35,
sector increased by 13.2%. are becoming more reliant management team to 49% across all UK jobs. challenging the stereotype
Workers in digital tech are also on digital tech workers, as tech being female, The diversity of the digital that jobs in this sector are
more productive than those pervades every business and diversity is the glue tech workforce can be probed the preserve of millennials.
in non-digital sectors, by an new forms of work evolve. that holds our business further using the ONS’ Annual East London, the site of Silicon
average of £10,000 per person together, and the Population Survey. This finding Roundabout, is the only region
per annum. However, tech does not fuel that allows us flags a diversity dilemma in where the majority of digital
currently offer equal to keep innovating.” tech, reinforcing a groundswell tech workers (51%) are under 35.
Jobs requiring digital tech skills opportunities for all. There is a of industry activity to address
Norm Johnston
command higher salaries, on growing movement to promote inclusion and equality in digital
CEO
average, £42,578 compared to diversity, with a number of companies.
Unruly
£32,477 per year, while digitally initiatives aiming to address
enabled jobs — those requiring the gulf between men and 15% of those in digital tech
only some engagement with women’s employment in the jobs are of black, Asian
digital tech – bring in £35,227. sector. Other inequalities also and ethnic minority (BAME)
Overall, digital tech jobs are deserve attention. background. This is significantly
good for workers, and good higher than the 10% across
for the UK. all UK jobs. Ethnic diversity
is above UK average, yet
gender diversity is significantly
lower — this reminds us of the
importance of taking a nuanced
approach to understanding
workforce composition.
THE MORE DIGITALLY SKILLED A UK JOB IS,
THE HIGHER ITS AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY
WOMEN IN TECH ARE
£42,578
OUTNUMBERED 4:1
Digital native
Digitally enabled
£35,277
Gender
diversity of
people working
£32,477
in digital
Non- digital tech jobs, 2017
Source: Tech
Average annual Nation, 2018;
salary of jobs ONS, Annual
Source: Adzuna, Note: Jobs are categorised based on their digital skill level according to the Population Survey,
2018 DCMS definition of technology literacy. Wave 3 2017
22 Find out more at technation.io/report2018/jobs Find out more at technation.io/report2018/jobs 23DIGITAL PERFORMANCE
INDICATORS
568%
526%
7. Wolverhampton & Walsall
BRISTOL TOPS
8. Dunfermline & Kirkcaldy
429%
422%
418%
397%
380%
PRODUCTIVITY
£ per person
OF LOCAL TECH
6. Newcastle
320K
3. Edinburgh
Bristol
ECOSYSTEMS
11. Glasgow
1. Leicester
14. Dudley
Newbury 304K
Swindon 296K
Slough and Heathrow 285K
Basingstoke 259K
Portsmouth 250K
Reading 234K
Telford 225K LEICESTER HAS
London 201K EXPERIENCED
Stevenage & Welwyn Garden City 196K THE LARGEST
Southampton 192K
York 188K INCREASE IN
Stoke-on-Trent 186K DIGITAL STARTUP
Guildford & Aldershot 168K
Wolverhampton & Walsall 165K BIRTHS
2006 VS 2016
9. Stevenage & Welwyn Garden City
13. High Wycombe & Aylesbury
536%
514%
562%
562%
412%
385%
2. Slough & Heathrow
381%
369%
12. Milton Keynes
15. Cheltenham
10. Medway
5. Newbury
4. London
Productivity Digital startup
(£ per person), births within Travel
turnover by to Work Areas,
employee for the percentage change in
top 15 UK Travel digital startup births
to Work Areas 2006 vs 2016
Source: ONS Source: ONS
Business Structure Business Structure Note: A minimum threshold of 10 companies per Travel to
Database, 2017 Database, 2006, 2016 Work Area has been applied to the underlying data.
24 Find out more at technation.io/report2018 Find out more at technation.io/report2018 25RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
AMBITIOUS ENTREPRENEURS
London has powerful Analysing the age The challenges that Learning from others Across the UK, employer
global connections, but distribution of companies communities face are could reduce the time demand is outstripping
tech clusters across the within each of the UK’s seldom exclusive to their it takes to innovate and supply of digital tech skills.
UK are going global, and tech ecosystems paves cluster — they include accelerate success.
Increasing diversity would
all must elevate their the way for more targeted access to talent, funding,
Informal industry meetups broaden the talent pool.
ambitions to perform on and appropriate support transport and workspace.
are a good way to test new But communities across the
an international stage. for each.
Use the Tech Nation ideas, discuss emerging country also stated that
Begin expanding 26% of clusters are Report 2018 to identify the topics, and meet like- their ecosystem’s ‘proximity
yours by learning from categorised as ‘scaleup challenges experienced minded individuals or to a university’ was
founders and CEOs with dominant’ economies, in your local digital tech potential collaborators. among its key strengths.
international experience. and just 12% as ‘startup ecosystem. Do they align Relationships should be
By tapping into the
Engage with UK networks dominant’ ones. with your own? cultivated with student
networks that we highlight
like International Tech tech societies. Startups
Mechanisms that expose Connect with communities you could find local groups
for Good. Tech Nation’s can also engage with
startups and scaleups across the country, learn that you have never
Future Fifty and Upscale students directly through
to corporates should be from the experiences of previously come across.
programmes, for late career fairs like Silicon
embraced. If you are a your peers, and share
and mid-stage scaleups, Dive into this powerful Milkroundabout.
digital tech entrepreneur, your experiences. The UK
run tailored sessions on network. Explore the
look for opportunities to network is unique, and our Working with a local
going global. connections between
engage with corporate rich ecosystem strengthens code club for children can
groups, or search for terms
Support is also available accelerators or work the country’s position as a help future-proof your
you are interested in.
through the Department spaces, like Barclays’ world-leading Tech Nation. talent pipeline. Norwich’s
for International Trade’s Eagle Labs or Wayra’s Step Into Tech, for example,
Exporting is GREAT Accelerator. helps children develop
campaign, the Mayor their love of all things
If you are a corporate,
of London’s Go to Grow tech, while Raspberry Pi
make the process
programme, British promotes digital making
transparent. By setting
Chambers of Commerce with their small, affordable
KPIs, focusing on real
and local Chambers. computers.
internal needs and securing
senior ‘buy in’, you can
smooth the journey.
Learn
Engage with from peers,
Get support, corporates accelerate Collaborate Recruit talent
go international in new ways growth to accumulate creatively
26 Find out more at technation.io/report2018/recommendations Find out more at technation.io/report2018/recommendations 27ABOUT TECH NATION COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Tech Nation empowers ambitious tech entrepreneurs to grow The work we do as Tech Nation is made possible by the support
faster through knowledge and networks. We help the UK and time invested by our community partners. We want
compete globally to bring jobs, skills and higher productivity to extend a huge thanks to every individual and organisation
to the nation and build an economy fit for the future. We do across the UK that got behind the Tech Nation Report 2018.
this through:
Thanks to the 3,428 people who completed our survey and
the 70 organisations featured as case studies.
Growth programmes Digital entrepreneurship Thanks to our community partners who helped to promote the
tailored to each stage skills survey and thanks to those who provided additional support
of your business lifecycle and content for the report.
DIGITAL BUSINESS ACADEMY
RISING STARS Free courses to help start,
Showcasing the UK’s best grow, or join a digital business.
early-stage tech startups.
TECH IMMERSION
UPSCALE Workshops on the UK’s startup
Helping the UK’s leading ecosystem, tailored to your
scaleups grow into the tech business needs.
giants of tomorrow.
Visa Scheme
FUTURE FIFTY
A powerful network of the Tier 1 employment visas for
UK’s leading late-stage exceptional international
tech companies. tech talent.
FOUNDERS’ NETWORK
Peer-to-peer network for Research and insights
tech startup founders. Championing the UK digital
FINTECH sector through data, case
Helping UK fintech startups studies, and outreach.
scale, at home and abroad.
28 Find out more at technation.io/about-us Find out more at technation.io/report2018/communitypartners 29With special thanks to Brian Baglow
DIGIT
Kieron Cropper
Wired Sussex
Gareth Jones
Town Square Spaces
Emma Seward
Tech Nottingham
Megan Bagnall Charlotte Crossley Phil Jones Cathy Skelly
Silicon South Innovation Birmingham Wired Sussex Invest Liverpool
Gregg Bayes-Brown Lyssa-Fee Crump Sian Jones Paul Smith
Oxford University Innovation Software Cornwall Welsh Government Hyperloop One
Colin Batten Alan Dobson Mel Kanarek Ruth Spencer
Innovation Point Dundee City Council Sheffield Digital Bournemouth Borough Council
Laura IH Bennett David Dunn Catrin Kemp Nick Sturge
Sheffield City Region LEP Sunderland Software City Welsh Government Engine Shed
Lyndsey Britton Gillian Easson Mark Lawler Kris Sum
Campus North Creative Dundee Baltic Creative Tech Exeter
James Brown Carwyn Edwards Fiona Lettice Antonia Taylor
GFirst LEP North Wales Tech University of East Anglia Antonia Taylor PR
Adrian Burden Steve Ewing Oliver Littlejohn Mark Thwaite
Key IQ Ltd Informatics Ventures CodeBase Digital Lancashire
Paula Byers David Greer Robert Lo Bue Stewart Townsend
Lime Cloud Limited Invest NI Cardiff Start Digital Lancashire
Dev Chakraborty Rob Glover Paul Osbaldeston Steve Wainwright
GFirst LEP Tech Exeter Welsh Government Futurelabs
Emma Cheshire Jennifer Hartley Andrew Parker Belinda Waldock
Dotforge NewcastleGateshead Initiative Custard Factory Software Cornwall
Louize Clarke Michael Hayes Steve Pette Doug Ward
ConnectTVT RookieOven Ormeau Baths Tech Britain
Stuart Clarke Charlie Hoult Polly Purvis Daniel Watson
Leeds Digital Festival Hoults Yard ScotlandIS Middlesbrough Council
Neil Cocker Paul Hughes Ben Ravilious
Cardiff Start Allia Leicester Tech Startups
Claire Cockerton Tatjana Humphries Tim Robinson
Plexal Invest Bristol & Bath Tech East
Judi Coe Alison James Huw Sayer
Cambridge Network Baltic Creative Hot Source
Jamie Coleman Christian Jenkins Alan Scrase
CodeBase Plymouth Science Park SETsquared at the University
of Southampton
John Connolly Simon Jenner
C4Di Silicon Canal Andrew Seward
Tech Nottingham
30 Find out more at technation.io/report2018/communitypartners Find out more at technation.io/report2018/communitypartners 31technation.io/report2018 THE STATE OF THE UK TECH NATION The Tech Nation Report 2018 lives online. This booklet summarises our key insights. Explore new findings and more detail with interactive data visualisations, community insights and founder views online. @TechNation Sponsors:
You can also read
