16 | Tees Business
TECH TOWN
COLLABORATIONS HELP
MIDDLESBROUGH’S DIGITAL
SECTOR THRIVE
A £20m investment has been
secured from Tees Valley Combined
Authority for the first phase of
the masterplan, which will deliver
80,000 sq ft of office space.
M
IDDLESBROUGH’S digital
sector continues to be one of
the star performers of the UK’s
hi-tech economy.
And the influential Tech Nation 2019
report points to the growing stature of the
wider region through collaborative working.
The sector’s strength, depth and breadth
were key features of last year’s report,
which highlighted its faster growth rate than
the wider economy.
Tech Nation provides an annual
snapshot of the UK’s tech sector, with
recommendations for tech businesses,
policymakers and corporates looking to
accelerate growth.
This year’s report reveals more than
30,000 highly skilled jobs across the North-
East’s digital tech industries.
The number of digital tech businesses
grew by 8.8% in the North-East during
2018, with the highest growth of 11% in the
Tees Valley, and turnover similar to last year
at just under £1.3 billion.
And ambitious plans are in place to
maintain momentum, including the Boho
Next Generation high-level masterplan to
expand Middlesbrough’s digital and creative
quarter, The Boho Zone, to create a 21st
Century digital campus.
A £20m investment has been secured
from Tees Valley Combined Authority for the
first phase of the masterplan, which will
deliver 80,000 sq ft of office space, seeing
The Zone grow to ten physically clustered
buildings dedicated specifically to digital
tech companies.
Dan Watson, Middlesbrough Council’s
Digital Middlesbrough manager, said the
availability of business accommodation fit
for purpose for digital tech businesses had
been identified as a key barrier to growth.
He said: “It’s essential that we are
prepared for the growth of indigenous
digital tech
companies while
also ensuring we
are well placed to
capitalise on further
inward investment
opportunities.
“That’s the focus of
the Next Generation
masterplan – by
working very closely
Buoyant digital firm Mabo was
with local property
named Best Small PPC Agency at
the 2018 European Search Awards.
developers, we will
provide a secure
future for the sector.
“There’s also a
always remain in Teesside.
big focus on digital transformation in wider
“All five directors of Mabo are born and
priority sectors, and given our industrial
bred in Teesside and we are driven to build
heritage this is unlocking a number of key
the biggest and best PPC management
opportunities for businesses in both digital
agency in the UK – and we’re going to do
and non-digital sectors, but it’s vital that we
that from Middlesbrough.
continue to provide support and break down
“People from Middlesbrough are
barriers for our growing core digital tech
responsible, passionate, approachable and
industries.
honest. These key personality traits are
“The digital sector is very strong and
what our company ethics are built upon,
we’re seeing more and more product spin-
so why wouldn’t we want to be based in
outs coming out of these companies, many
Middlesbrough?”
of which are in the area of e-commerce
Kraken IM build software tools for the
tech.”
engineering and construction sector. CEO
It’s an environment that is welcomed by
Ian Cornwell added: “There’s a small but
the companies shaping the future, not just
vibrant tech scene in Boro, plus, for what
in Middlesbrough but across the Tees Valley
we do specifically there’s a cluster of world
and beyond.
leaders right here in Teesside.
Mabo Media marketing director James
“There’s a will locally to build our tech
Lees summed up a buoyant mood following
scene and the support is fantastic, from the
a year which saw Mabo named Best Small
awesome Teesside Uni Launchpad team,
PPC Agency at the 2018 European Search
the council, all the way up to the mayor and
Awards: “Middlesbrough is our home. Our
combined authority.”
business was born in Teesside and will
Teesside University recently staged the