Over the course of the past year, London Tech Week and the UK Tech Cluster Group have been producing cluster reports to explore the unique ecosystems and tech trends across every region of the UK – and this month the South West is taking centre stage.
12 Clusters of Tech charts the companies, sectors, and case studies that make up the entire UK tech landscape. The tenth report in the series is on the South West, which you can read here.
Tech in the South West
The South West has established itself as one of the leading UK regions for technology business and startups, building on a proud tradition of scientific and industrial advancement.
From the first photograph and the first chronophotographic camera, to the invention of plasticine and being at the forefront of transport and infrastructure innovation since the 17th century, the region home to the Bristol, Swindon and Gloucester triangle – Silicon Gorge, has been at the heart of innovation and creativity in the UK for a very long time.
The tradition continues today, with strong roots in more modern pastures. Across the region, Telecomms, Data and AI, and creative technology flourishes, grounded in that proud heritage of creative exploration and practical implementation of technology.
Some of the world’s largest technology brands have bases in the region, with the likes of Dyson, JustEat, Hewlett Packard, BT, Future Publishing and IMDB alongside public bodies like the MET office and GCHQ, all adding to the tapestry of innovation in the region. As you can imagine, it was no mean feat narrowing it down to just the highlights.
When we reached out to the featuring companies on why it’s so great to be based in the South West, Louise Pasterfield (pictured left), Founder and Director of Strategy, Marketing & Communications at Sponge tells us, “It is an amazing beautiful place to live and work. With beaches and countryside nearby it offers the perfect work/life balance. We have had access to some top talent coming out of our Universities from creatives to technical experts. We’ve been able to recruit from well-known and respected universities in Falmouth, Plymouth, Exeter, Bristol and Bath.”
Anders Hakfelt, SVP Product and Marketing at Ultraleap adds, “Bristol and the South West’s long heritage of innovation and technology has been invaluable for us as a growing business. Ultraleap was born out of research at the University of Bristol and our headquarters have remained here due to Bristol’s fantastic position as a fast growing and vibrant tech hub. Bristol is also a very attractive city for young professionals, and access to talent is very important to us.”
The tenth report covers:
- An overview of the tech landscape in the South West
- Profiles on the Established Tech Leaders (including Dyson, IMDB & Future Publishing)
- Scaleup Stories (the tech companies spearheading growth)
- Ones to Watch (uncover the rising stars…)
- Deep dive into the region’s cluster hotspots including Data & AI, Creativity and Telecomms
Read the full 12 Clusters of Tech – South West report here.
