Leeds has long been renowned a major UK tech hub owing to its one-of-a-kind digital ecosystem. But what really makes Leeds such a great place for tech businesses and talent alike? In this article, we’re highlighting some of the key factors behind its good-for-tech reputation.
Leeds is a city that never stops learning, with an ever-growing population in further education across the region’s nine universities, including the University of Leeds, Leeds Trinity and Leeds Beckett University. In fact, the West Yorkshire county is home to over 11,000 students currently studying digital-related subjects [West Yorkshire Combined Authority], including data science, machine learning, and AI. Our graduates are here to stay too, boasting one of the highest graduate retention rates in the country at around 27%.
With a heavy focus on research across the city, from the top-ranking universities to the revolutionising tech companies, Leeds plays a key role in the development of new technologies that have a real-world effect. This includes major HealthTech projects that are actively transforming health and care, from trialing unprecedented medical advancements to helping overhaul how the NHS works with data. This synergy fosters an ideal environment for innovation that merges industry with academia – from startups to tech giants and everything in between.
In fact, the Leeds tech sector is growing 125% faster than the national average, with top growth areas including software development and cyber security [The Data City]. With substantial investment in digital infrastructure and a large pool of skilled graduates, Leeds has become a magnet for startups and established tech firms alike. Take PEXA, for example, the Aussie-hailing digital property exchange platform who decided on Leeds as their northern hemisphere home.
Companies like Channel 4, the Bank of England and Utterberry all have their UK HQs in Leeds, but the city also happens to be home to 673 high-growth businesses – the third largest concentration in England [Beauhurst 2024]. The sheer density of high-growth businesses alone showcases Leeds as a major player in the Northern Powerhouse initiative, driving regional economic growth and fueling change that reaches beyond the region’s borders.
The wider West Yorkshire county is home to 9,700 digital and tech businesses, employing over 50,000 people in industries ranging from FinTech to SpaceTech. Bringing this community together are organisations like WILD Digital, which aims to make tech more equal and accessible to all through various events and initiatives, and Nexus, the innovation hub of the University of Leeds bridging the gap between academia and industry.
Leeds Digital is an open platform that spotlights year-round tech and digital news and events put on around the Leeds City Region, from Bradford right through to York. The annual Leeds Digital Festival is the biggest event on the region’s digital calendar, taking place in September with 200+ events that showcase all the community has to offer. It’s a real collaborative affair open to people and organisations to both put on events and attend them – the latter usually free of charge! Event submissions for the 2025 Festival open in June.
Yorkshire and the Humber ranks 3rd in the country in terms of infrastructure, behind only the Greater London and East England regions [Local Digital Capital Index 2024]. That means it’s one of the nation’s best-equipped regions when it comes to both the physical and organisational structures and facilities needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, including buildings, roads and power supplies.
Central Leeds itself benefits from 95.4% Superfast Internet coverage – a must for all tech businesses. And when it comes to transport, improvements are well underway to make the area surrounding Leeds Train Station more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly. These are set for completion in 2025, while new plans are being developed to introduce a tram system in the next few years.
Firmly in between Liverpool, Manchester and York, Leeds sits happily along the Transpennine Route (which is currently being upgraded!). That means lightning-fast rail travel across the Pennines and beyond, including 50-minute journeys between Leeds and Manchester – with around 240 trains per day!
It’s also conveniently situated between London and major northern and Scottish cities, from Lancaster and Newcastle to Glasgow and Edinburgh. Need to head down south? LNER trains can take you from Leeds to the capital in around two hours – particularly handy for any cross-city matters minus the hotel stay.
While Leeds may be the third biggest city in the UK population-wise, it offers plenty of easily accessible green spaces to catch your breath in (great for dog owners!), away from the hustle and bustle – we’re talking 4,000 hectares of public green space. Strolls around historic marvels like Kirkstall Abbey, breathtaking views at Ilkley Moor, and forest ganders through Gledhow Valley Wood await!
Our love for all things nature is also reflected in the city’s strides towards building a more sustainable future. This is something that extends to the local tech sector, with recurring events like the GreenTech Gathering bringing together Yorkshire’s GreenTech community, with an aim to make Leeds the UK’s First Net Zero City.
Leeds’ food and drink scene is star-studded with absolute gems. From proper foodie destinations like White Cloth Hall to fine-dining establishments like The Owl and The Whitehall, and street food extraordinaires like Bundobust, the city’s love for food puts it at the forefront of the race for the country’s food & drink capital.
Whether it’s work or leisure, there’s something for every occasion in Leeds. Lunch breaks promise tip-top options like perfectly assembled sandwiches from Things in Bread, while coffee shops such as Laynes offer great brews and bakes to enjoy over a meeting. Meanwhile, the long list of fantastic bars and pubs throughout the city make business catch-ups and social events a breeze.
Leeds’ tech scene is driving innovation with no sign of stopping, making it an attractive location for both talent and investment. Companies big and small benefit from the city’s dynamic, collaborative environment, which incorporates a shared drive between young talent and skilled workers, supported by a strong academic presence – there’s nowhere like Leeds for digital.