Serving the Teesside Business Community | 33
Dan Watson
– DigitalCity
cluster and
innovation
manager.
Middlesbrough named as one of
leading digital clusters in the UK
T
ech City UK, the UK government backed organisation
tasked with accelerating the growth of digital
businesses recently launched the results of its Tech
Nation 2017 report.
The largest community-driven research project of the UK’s
digital tech industries, the report details the role digital tech
businesses are playing in boosting the economy.
In the report, Middlesbrough was named as one of
the fastest-growing digital clusters in the country, with
6,970 digital jobs adding more than £211m to the regional
economy.
The third annual publication of its kind the Tech Nation
report examines data from the UK’s digital tech economy,
highlighting the areas that are the most active.
Among the key initiatives contributing to the success, the
report names Middlesbrough as a hotbed for digital tech
innovation and it includes Boho One based Double Eleven
and Big Bite as some of the many success stories.
These companies are served by world-class facilities,
which include Boho One and Boho Five, which provide
space for start-up’s and established creative and tech
businesses.
The area is also supported by DigitalCity and Teesside
University, both praised in the report as being critical to
the cluster, with Teesside University’s specialist degrees,
such as Computer Gaming and Animation, producing the
talent that growing
businesses need.
Middlesbrough’s
gaming sector is also
thriving. The UK’s largest festival of animation and computer
games, Animex, is hosted in the town.
Now in its 18th year, this world-class festival draws some
of the games and animation industries’ biggest names like
Pixar and Dreamworks to share their knowledge with the
next generation.
This report also focused on business birth rates – a
measurement of new companies as a proportion of all
businesses in an area and Middlesbrough was placed in the
top third, with a 15.1% birth rate.
Dan Watson, DigitalCity Cluster & Innovation manager
said: “The latest Tech Nation Report puts Middlesbrough and
the wider Tees Valley firmly on the map – showcasing the
significant contribution our digital tech industries make to
the economy, locally and nationally.
“At DigitalCity we are focused on supporting the further
growth of the cluster in Tees Valley, through a programme
of activity that has been developed over the last 13 years
alongside a wider Teesside University offer.
“The area already has an outstanding reputation for its
digital tech industries but it’s great to see the businesses
receive the recognition they deserve in this national report.”
Boho5_Ad_v3.pdf
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23/05/2017
15:54
New office space for digital and creative
businesses. Designed for forward thinking
companies to create, collaborate and thrive.
at a competitive price. The building is all about creating an
environment for businesses to flourish and it’s great to see so
many of our tenants are at the forefront of our flourishing digital
and creative economy”.
The building is situated close to Middlesbrough town centre and
is surrounded by excellent road and rail links. Middlesbrough Train
Station is just a two-minute walk away, while a five-minute walk C
takes you into the town’s shopping district.
M
Y
Double celebration for
Boho One businesses at
regional awards
B
oho One-based businesses Double Eleven and Ithica
Films walked away winners at the North East Business
Awards. Double Eleven won the ‘Let’s Grow Award’
which goes to companies that have shown significant
increase in turnover and profitability and Ithica Films was
named ‘Creative Business of the Year’.
Businesses interested in relocating to Boho Five can
telephone 01642 228692 or email [email protected]
to arrange a viewing.
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
Built specifically to
support new and
growing companies in
the digital and creative
sector, Boho Five sits
within the Boho Zone -
Middlesbrough's digital
and creative industries
quarter.
Boho Five has all the features a
digital or creative company needs
to flourish, including:
Broadband speeds of up to
200Mbps
24/7/365 secure access
Flexible terms
Affordable pricing
Meeting and networking spaces
Kitchen refresh areas
Showers and locker facilities
On-site parking
Bicycle shelters
Contact: [email protected] | 01642 224706
Want to find out more? Email [email protected] or call 01642 228692