Wired Differently: Meet the Business Pioneers Driving the Fastest Growing Digital Cluster Outside of London

Middlesbrough has become the second-fastest growing region in groundbreaking digital technologies, with some 630 businesses driving pioneering research, development and production of all types. 

In the first session of a packed three-day Tees Valley presence at UKREiiF, things got off to a flying start with amazing digital businesses at the heart of the groundbreaking sector outlining its present advancements and future opportunities. 

Gaming giants Double Eleven, Radical Forge and Behaviour Interactive took part in the panel, alongside schools-focused AI automation firm Assessable, chaired by innovation consultancy Alt Labs’ Chief Executive Imran Anwar. 

The first discussion point was simply “Why Middlesbrough?” with Behaviour Interactive’s Bob Makin pointing to the entrepreneurial spirit in Teesside – and Teesside University’s support for the sector and in developing top-quality graduates each year.  

Kimberley Turner, Double Eleven’s Financial Director echoed the sentiment about University support, as well as the great commercial opportunities on offer, from start-up incubator space to Boho X – the building at the heart of Middlesbrough’s digital offices. 

Support from innovation consultancy firm Alt Labs as well as Tees Valley Combined Authority and Middlesbrough Council were highlighted as other major advantages when choosing where to locate. The collaborative nature of the business landscape, with resource support easily available was singled out by Imran, alongside huge inward investment and backing from venture capital funding. 

The environment and locale of Tees Valley itself is a huge driver, with Bob giving real-life examples of colleagues looking to relocate after they visited, noting the positioning of country and coast being so close to Middlesbrough. More focus, though, needs to be placed on redeveloping the town centre, he argued. 

Discussion then turned to how local and national Government could do more to support the sector. Kimberley highlighted the need for more project-related funding whereby companies could receive funding to create something new while ultimately placing the financial risk of innovation with Government. 

The success of this approach was emphasised by Bob, who pointed to popular online multiplayer game Dead by Daylight, which secured a $400,000 grant from Montreal’s regional Government. It has now celebrated its ninth birthday with 70million players and a half billion-dollar turnover. 

Assemble founder Lisa Gosnay also addressed AI impact in the sector on a local and global level. She thinks that very soon AI is going to become so integrated into life that the concept of “Powered by AI” will be the rule rather than exception as people become less risk averse. It’s bringing those people on the journey that is key. 

Radical Forge’s Chief Commercial Officer David Dixon spoke of the need for ecosystem development, and connecting the dots between institutions, businesses and partners to allow these benefits to be felt by the sector and supply chain.  

National and local Government can play a huge part in the future of the industry, agreed Bob, pointing to what TVCA is doing locally with Teesworks, the UK’s largest industrial zone. Also looking to the future, David underlined wider non-sector specific digitalisation as a key element of future growth, bringing opportunities for learning as well as growth. 

The audience raised how businesses can access the skills they need to grow. David highlighted the incredible feedstock from Teesside University in both the number and quality of students, and its wraparound support for the industry. He also talked up the opportunities presented by digital apprenticeships, taking young people out of Further Education and putting them directly into the marketplace.  

There is plenty more to learn about Tees Valley at UKREiiF, so check out the other blogs – covering Mayoral Development Corporations, Teesworks and the Teesside Creative and Digital Investment Zone by clicking here.