The Bristol & Bath tech cluster has been revealed as being the largest in the UK in a new government-backed report announced today.
Tech Nation, an interactive data project organised by TechCityUK that shows the growth of digital businesses within certain geographic ‘clusters’, found that the digital sector in Bristol and Bath employs over 61,000 people. This makes the west of England cluster the largest in the UK in terms of employment outside of London.
As well as a detailed analysis of 20 different geographic clusters, the TechNation report found that the digital sector in the UK employs 1.46 million people, equivalent to 7.5% of the entire workforce and 74% of all digital companies are based outside of London.
“The west of England digital sector cluster is the largest in the UK in terms of employment outside of London”
The highest rates of digital employment exist in Inner London, Bristol & Bath, Reading and Greater Manchester and the UK’s fastest growing tech clusters in terms of new digital companies formed since 2010 include: Liverpool, Inner London, Belfast, Greater Manchester, Brighton & Hove, South Wales and Bristol & Bath.
Tech business growth in the UK
The report was welcomed by the Chancellor, who said, “The UK is a world leader in the technology and digital sectors and what’s so exciting about today’s Tech Nation report is that it shows how we’re seeing the growth of tech businesses right across the country.”
“What’s so exciting about today’s Tech Nation report is we’re seeing the growth of tech businesses right across the country”
“As part of our plan for a truly national recovery we will do everything we can to support this growth and back the different tech clusters that are emerging around Britain.”
You can see the TechNation Infographic on the Bristol & Bath Digital Cluster below:

Shona Wright
Shona covers all things editorial at TechSPARK. She publishes news articles, interviews and features about our fantastic tech and digital ecosystem, working with startups and scaleups to spread the word about the cool things they're up to.
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