Leeds City Council is proud to continue its support for Leeds Digital in 2023.

Leeds has a thriving digital and tech sector, and is home to one of the largest tech clusters in the UK, which consists of over 3,000 digital and tech businesses.

The sector has been thriving in recent years, with the city seeing significant investment in infrastructure and talent development, which in turn has led to the creation of thousands of high-quality jobs, making the sector a major contributor to the local economy.

As a council we are committed to Leeds becoming a digital city as one of our main ambitions around Inclusive Growth. We want to grow the digital sector, ensuring we make every business a digital business, develop a skilled and resilient workforce, strengthen digital and data infrastructure, increase digital inclusion and use technology to improve health outcomes and tackle health inequalities.

One of Leeds’s major strengths is the strong, collaborative ecosystem and diverse economy which supports thriving sub sectors including health-tech, fintech, legal-tech, big data, creative media and gaming. We have real diversity right across our tech businesses, from the smaller firms, right up to the larger better known names in the city, and it’s great to see the success right across the spectrum.

Our city boasts a strong infrastructure, with excellent digital connectivity (including high speed broadband) and access to talent from the local universities, as well as a range of coworking spaces and incubators to support start-ups and entrepreneurs.

Platform, Open Innovations, Nexus, Duke Studios and Avenue HQ are just a few of the names that offer space, support and expertise to the sector and beyond. Alongside these superb networks such as Fintech North, AITech North, WILD, ide@community and North Invest and support programmes such as Digital Enterprise, AD:Venture, Propel YH, Next Up and BUILD, Leeds provides a brilliant ecosystem for growth.

Recently we have welcomed new names into the city such as The UK Infrastructure Bank, Bank of England Northern Hub and the Financial Conduct Authority, Cognizant, Iwoca and Global Shares all of which provide confidence in the city and future opportunities, as well as building on the presence of a number of leading tech companies, including Sky Betting and Gaming, Crisp and Rockstar Games who call the city home.

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, deputy leader and executive board member for economy, culture and education said:

“Leeds has become a hub for digital innovation and entrepreneurship in the UK, and its reputation as a leading digital destination continues to grow.

“The council is taking a proactive approach to support and promote the digital sector in the city, recognising its potential to create jobs, boost the economy, and transform the future of the city.

Leeds Digital will play a vital role in ensuring that the momentum and benefits that the Leeds Digital Festival, strong tech networks, meet-ups and events across the city continues throughout the year.  It will also provide a space to showcase the incredible work being done in the city, whilst also providing opportunities for collaboration and growth in the industry.

“We are proud to throw our support behind this great initiative.”