Tech South West launches as figures reveal major growth

Businesses and organisations came together at Exeter Science Park today (Dec 8) to launch Tech South West and discuss the future of the region’s technology sector.

Tech South West is an initiative covering Bath, Bournemouth and Poole, Bristol, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire. With over 10,900 tech companies in the region, latest figures reveal the South West’s technology sector to be worth £2.8billion and expected to grow to £4.2billion in just five years.*

Business and public sector leaders met at the headquarters of blur Group, on Exeter Science Park, to discuss Tech South West and whether the region can become the UK’s leading technology centre.

blur Group, whose cloud-based platform helps companies reduce waste and inefficiency in their procurement process, moved from London to Exeter Science Park in 2013. It is already working with companies, universities and councils across the South West region.

Philip Letts, CEO of blur Group, said: “We are a global business committed to helping companies eliminate waste and inefficiency in their procurement process. We employ the same principles in our own business, using it as a living lab to eliminate waste. Our challenge has been to be as global as possible whilst also being as lean as possible. One of the fastest ways to do this has been to become increasingly virtual by embracing digital business processes.  It gave us the freedom to base the business in exactly the right place. 

“We chose a science park in the South West that’s home to what will be one of the most powerful supercomputers in the world. This is a region with leading companies from Cheltenham, Swindon and Bath, to Bristol, Bournemouth and Plymouth. The challenge now for Tech South West and the thousands of companies that would reap the benefits, is to decide if and how we can become a truly world-leading technology centre.”

According to Government figures, there are just over 10,900 technology companies operating in the South West, with 1,711 in the Bath area, 1,398 in Bristol, 1,388 in Bournemouth and Poole, 681 in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, 1,238 in Devon, 824 in Dorset, 1,684 in Gloucestershire and 911 in Somerset. Between them, they employ an estimated 126,333 people.*

Paul Taylor, Head of Strategy and Operations at the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, helped launch Tech South West.

He said: “We’re delighted to support Tech South West, and in particular to see the region’s businesses coming together to lead on growing our reputation in technology, compete in a global economy and attract inward investment across many different sectors.

“I was really encouraged by the conversations. There is real belief that the region is a leading technology hub, but that we must do more to showcase the great work that’s happening, and to get us on the map. It’s clear to me that we must do more to shout about the start-ups and established businesses trading their expertise and products around the world, and the growing international reputation of our universities, science parks and research companies.”

The Tech South West event comes just days after Chancellor George Osborne unveiled plans as part of the Autumn Statement to put the region at the centre of his drive to ‘rebalance Britain’s economy’.

The Chancellor highlighted major investments in transport and innovation, announced new and extended Enterprise Zones in Bristol, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, a new cyber innovation centre in Cheltenham, new National College for Nuclear in Somerset and £13m of investment per year in the Met Office Hadley Centre for Climate Change in Exeter.

This week, letters are being sent from Tech South West to business and public sector leaders across the region, calling on them to set out what they think Tech South West should focus on, and how the region can become a leading technology centre.

Ion Core Technology, a 3D printer company in North Devon, venture technology company Koncept and Exeter Innovation Centre were amongst organisations at the launch.

Shane Nelson, owner of Ion Core Technology, said: “The South West is a great place to do business on a global platform.  We already export to around 15 countries around the world. For us Tech South West is about talent. We really need to see a focus on businesses partnering with schools and colleges to encourage school leavers and graduates to remain in the area. They will only do that if we have a brilliant technology sector that offers them these opportunities. We cannot afford to see our region’s very best talent ebb away.”

The first Tech South West report gathering the views of people and organisations across the region will be published in January. Conversations about the new Tech South West initiative continue on Twitter using the hashtag #TechSouthWest.

Visit www.techsouthwest.org.uk for more information.