TECH
How Middlesbrough is becoming the digital city
We are digital
WORDS : MIKE BROWN PICTURES : DAVE CHARNLEY
A world-renowned , thriving digital and creative sector is right on our doorstep - and it ’ s only getting bigger and better .
Building creativity – Dan Watson of Middlesbrough Council is forging a digital community in the Boho zone .
T he Boho zone has been described as Middlesbrough ’ s hidden gem . But , in reality , the breakout success of companies in the town ’ s thriving digital sector shows the secret has been out for some time .
“ I would describe it as an ecosystem of creativity ,” says Dan Watson , Middlesbrough Council ’ s digital manager .
“ What goes on down here – not everyone in Middlesbrough is aware of it , and I think some people would be quite shocked if they knew .”
Big success stories include Double Eleven , which works on some of the world ’ s biggest video games , and Big Bite , which builds web platforms for huge media organisations like the New York Post .
Whether it ’ s those global operators , or the smallest start-ups , the Boho Zone has grown into its own community , with a culture of support and co-operation which raises everyone up .
Dan ’ s role is at the heart of that community , providing practical advice , support and problem-solving .
He runs networking and social events – many hosted at the burgeoning group of venues offering something a little bit different “ over the border ”, like Base Camp , the Zetland and Hit the Bar .
He links up with established business networks , and world-leading conferences like Animex at Teesside University .
Then there ’ s the sporting gettogethers at football , basketball and running clubs .
Dan said : “ My job was to help build something – Boho isn ’ t just a bunch of offices with companies in them that never speak to each other .
“ It ’ s almost like a university campus . It ’ s really inclusive and welcoming , and it provides something extra – an incentive for companies to be based here .”
Even during the Covid pandemic , when employees reverted to home working , all the benefits of Boho ’ s campus community helped it emerge stronger .
“ At the start of the pandemic there was a thought that office working might have changed . It is going in absolutely the opposite way . Companies want double the space . They want to social distance and they are very creative ,” continues Dan .
“ They ’ re sticking to guidelines but delivering things they want .”
Bringing in new tenants – and working with resources for start-ups like Studio 109 and the Teesside University Incubator – is key to finding new talent to keep the Boho zone vibrant .
“ The over-arching thing is getting businesses to stay in Middlesbrough ,” says Dan .
“ Historically , we have seen businesses growing to a certain size and then moving to maybe Newcastle or Leeds . Now 95 per cent of businesses stay , that ’ s one of our main goals .
“ And we ’ re actually seeing businesses coming the other way , setting up satellite offices here .”
There ’ s an ethos and culture of cooperation , not necessarily competition , says Dan – meaning that companies collaborate and share opportunities .
“ People are very open to sharing ideas . You can ask other successful people , ‘ How did you solve this ?’
“ Yes , there are companies that do similar things and are competing for the same customers . But it ’ s like Baker Street and Bedford Street , people go for a pub-crawl , they don ’ t only go to one pub . Having them together creates more business .
“ External companies are now saying ,
50 | Tees Business